Chapter 85

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The body is the soul, and the soul is the body.

Itadori used to hear discussions about this even in his previous life.

He didn't know if the rules regarding the soul in this world applied to his old one, but since he now possessed an ability that allowed him to see deeply into others' souls, he could answer most of the questions he used to have.

The soul was the body; that was indeed a truth. Affect one, and you affect the other, but in different "degrees."

The soul didn't come first, nor did the body. Both emerged equally, without one superseding the other.

But to be precise, it was as if the two remained in different realms, yet still affected one another.

For this reason, accessing the soul in a distinct way was possible, but affecting it without causing damage to the physical body was impossible.

Essentially, the soul carried information, and it was responsible for both emotions and cursed energy. As for the body, it served as a "glue," keeping the soul always together.

A rather strange concept, but one that seemed to work for the world of Jujutsu Kaisen.

This explained why Geto was still able to impose his will against Kenjaku's control even after death, but it didn't explain how only Sukuna's soul resided within Itadori's body.

Without a body, there should be no soul...

Yet, somehow, some people were able to defy this rule.

But that didn't really matter, because the only thing Itadori needed to know was whether or not he could access the "realm" of Maki and Mai's souls, the intertwining of their souls.

If he could do that, breaking the twins' curse shouldn't be impossible.

"..." Observing the pale faces of the two girls lying before him, Itadori took a deep breath as he knelt down.

He needed to be quick, or they would end up dying from internal injuries.

If he could heal them, he wouldn't be under so much pressure, but maintaining the shape of their souls wasn't a simple process, especially since he couldn't even "correct" the form of his own soul without risks.

And reverse cursed energy was still a strange concept. He could feel the information of the technique being "etched" slowly into his body after Sukuna's use and the miracles, but it wasn't really an easy concept to reproduce.

Especially when healing others.

Footsteps

Noticing the countless footsteps outside the warehouse, Itadori narrowed his eyes as he waited for them to move away.

His clone was serving as a decoy to give him enough time to act without interruptions.

50% wasn't much, but it should be enough to hold them off for a few minutes. He just hoped it would be enough time.

"Let's go." Clasping his hands together, Itadori turned to the two, an apprehensive sigh escaping his lips.

If he made a single slip-up, he could affect their souls in an irreversible way, so he would need to muster as much concentration as possible.

The lives of two beautiful women were in his hands... It wasn't that different from his job as an electrician on the space station, when he stopped to think about it.

With a nervous smile, he let cursed energy cover his hands, his fingers touching both Maki's and Mai's foreheads.

"Don't abandon me now, luck."

As his cursed energy enveloped their bodies, in his concentration, he didn't notice when a soft glow emanated from the triangular tattoo on his forearm.

"...!"

.

Alarm!

When an alert bell rang throughout the clan's village, Naoya turned to Jinichi with a curious look.

"We should move," Jinichi stood up, and Naoya followed as the two began walking down the corridor.

"Jinichi-san!"

A voice calling for their attention made them turn to see Ranta running toward them.

"It seems someone is attacking us! He's already taken down some members of the Kukuru Squad and destroyed a few towers!" Ranta said urgently.

"Just one person?" Naoya raised an eyebrow, and Ranta nodded to confirm.

"Then why hasn't the Kukuru Squad taken him out? What did the scouts say?" Jinichi narrowed his eyes.

The members of the Kukuru Squad weren't ordinary sorcerers. They were trained from a young age to be proficient with all kinds of weapons, as well as being strong martial artists.

If someone didn't have a technique that gave them an advantage, a squad of four members would be enough.

"They only reported that he was fast and had good control of cursed energy, no technique was mentioned."

Naoya scratched his head in irritation. From Ranta's words, whoever the invader was, didn't seem to be much.

The Kukuru Squad seemed to be slacking off too much to be killed by trash. He would make sure to reform them when he became the clan leader.

"Where's Nobuaki?" Jinichi rubbed his chin with a thoughtful look.

"He…" Ranta rubbed the back of his neck, nervousness evident in his expression, as Naoya and Jinichi stared at him seriously. "He was the first to encounter the invader…"

"...Sigh." Jinichi shook his head in disappointment, and turning away, he signaled for the two Zenins to follow. "Let's deal with this."

"..."

The three walked briskly down the corridor, and it didn't take long for them to exit the traditional house, with Jinichi immediately spotting members of the Kukuru Squad moving around.

"What a mess…" Naoya spat in disgust. "Without Nobuaki, they're lost like rats."

"Right-"

!

Just as Jinichi was about to speak, an explosion drew the attention of the three, with pieces of wood flying everywhere.

"What was that?!" Ranta asked in bewilderment, while Naoya clicked his tongue beside him.

"Damn it! These idiots are letting that trash make fools of us!" Naoya complained.

Jinichi cautiously observed the chaotic environment, his eyes scanning the area quickly as he thought about what to do. "Ranta, come with me. Naoya, go find Ogi. I have a bad feeling."

Naoya turned to Jinichi with a questioning expression, but when Jinichi gave him a firm look, he turned away in irritation. "Fine, fine."

And disappearing in a flash of speed, Jinichi and Ranta were left side by side.

They didn't need words to decide their next moves; after all, they were members of the Hei Squad.

The strongest squad in the Zenin Clan.

Boom!

With another explosion tearing through the building next to them, the two immediately turned when footsteps echoed from the rooftop.

"..." As a shadow emerged from the explosion's smoke, the first thing the Zenins noticed were the pink locks of hair. Ranta immediately widened his eyes, recognizing their attacker.

"Jinichi-san, that-" Ranta pointed in bewilderment, Jinichi turning to him questioningly. "That's Sukuna's vessel!"

Jinichi's eyes narrowed, and turning to Itadori cautiously, the Zenin clenched his fists as cursed energy surged through his body. "Keep your distance, we don't know what he can do."

"Right!" Ranta nodded, beads of sweat forming on his face.

Itadori narrowed his eyes.

He might be a clone, but he retained all the memories of the original body, so he immediately recognized Ranta.

The Zenin must have an interesting technique that allowed him to paralyze anyone under his gaze.

Given his cursed energy, he didn't seem to be a direct combatant, but he was certainly the most dangerous to Itadori. With only 50% of his full power, he couldn't afford to take direct hits.

If he got paralyzed, he'd be an easy target for the rest of the clan members.

Ranta had to be the priority target.

"Ranta, now!"

!

Startled when Jinichi suddenly ordered, Itadori leaped to narrowly escape Ranta's paralysis, his eyes widening as a gigantic fist smashed through the house in front of him.

Boom!

Hit directly, Itadori gritted his teeth as he dug his feet into the ground to halt his momentum.

Giant fists—this seemed to be the long-haired Zenin's technique, Jinichi. Interesting, but nothing too serious.

Moving behind a house, Itadori reached into his pockets for a smoke bomb.

After taking out some common members, he managed to gather some equipment that would greatly help him in this battle.

He couldn't rely solely on the destructive power of his fists or techniques; he'd use every strategy available.

!

Feeling the ground beneath his feet tremble, Itadori had no time to react as an enormous earth pillar shot him and the wooden house upward, his body spinning as he saw Jinichi charging at full speed toward him.

'Earth manipulation, huh,' the clone thought, and landing firmly on the ground, he prepared himself as Jinichi pulled back his fist. 'I want that.'

Ducking under the Zenin's punch, Itadori countered with a precise blow to the ribs, the air escaping from Jinichi's lungs in surprise.

'Such strength!' The Zenin pushed himself away with a burst of speed.

But caught off guard when an object appeared in front of his eyes, he barely reacted as an explosion of smoke enveloped him, obscuring his vision.

Itadori smirked at this and passed by him, immediately spotting Ranta on a rooftop. The Zenin noticed him, his eyes widening in surprise.

But before Itadori could reach him, another earth pillar struck him, sending his body crashing through a house.

"Thank you, Chojuro-san!" Ranta exclaimed as Chojuro, an elder of the clan with the technique to manipulate the earth, landed in front of him. "I just need to paralyze him, and everything will be solved! I'm counting on you!"

The old man nodded and, leaping from the rooftop, landed on the ground and moved his hands toward the earth.

!

But before his palms could make contact with the ground, his eyes widened as a blade appeared in front of him, slashing his throat.

Chojuro coughed up blood, and just as he tried to press the wound in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding, he didn't react in time as Itadori appeared before him and drove his elbow into the hilt of the knife, driving the blade completely through his throat, leaving a gaping hole.

"Chojuro-san!" Ranta shouted for the elder, gritting his teeth in frustration as he prepared to use his technique.

"Get down, Ranta!"

But as the command reached him, Ranta was startled when Chojuro's body was hurled towards him. The Zenin caught it and ducked down.

Itadori pressed his lips together in frustration, turning to see Jinichi running toward him.

"Boy," the Zenin spoke firmly as he retracted his fists. "You're going to regret coming here."

Boom!

With numerous giant fists being launched at their target, Jinichi paused for a moment to assess the damage, noting how most of the houses behind where Itadori had stood were completely demolished.

"Wait..." But not seeing any sign of Itadori's body, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. "I don't see him—"

Stepping forward, he was startled when his foot suddenly sank, his eyes dropping to see a hand gripping his leg.

Raising his arms, he blocked a fist charged with cursed energy as Itadori emerged from the ground, sending his body upward.

'Even if I can't use techniques…' The clone smiled, landing a full punch to the Zenin's abdomen, causing Jinichi to spit blood as he was pushed back. 'My body is still abnormal!'

!

Just as he was about to advance on the enemy, Itadori gasped as his body froze against his will, a tingling sensation rippling through every inch of his muscles.

"Now, Jinichi-san!" Ranta shouted, his hands raised as he kept his eyes wide open to maintain Itadori's paralysis.

'I can't move!' Itadori smiled as the tingling sensation tickled his entire body, his eyes moving to see Jinichi recovering from the previous attack and running toward him with cursed energy-filled fists. 'This technique…'

With Itadori's smile widening, he prepared himself. 'I want it!'

Ranta, focused on keeping his technique active, didn't notice when a piece of flesh moved on Chojuro's body, a hand forming and grabbing an object inside the dead elder's shirt.

'Even if I can't use other techniques, that doesn't mean I can't manipulate my own body,' Itadori thought.

"Hold him, Ranta!" Jinichi shouted as he neared Itadori.

"Right! He won't escape—"

Boom!

With a smoke bomb exploding from Chojuro's body, Ranta was caught off guard, his eyes closing instinctively.

Consequently, Itadori regained his mobility immediately, and Jinichi didn't notice as he finally reached him, launching a fist toward his chest.

!

Surprised when Itadori dodged his punch, Jinichi had no time to react when a fist connected squarely with his solar plexus.

'At 50% of my total power, I should be on par with myself from a month ago.' Grabbing the Zenin by the hair, Itadori slammed his face into the ground with enough force to bury it. 'That's more than enough to deal with you.'

'What a disappointment.'

Letting cursed energy overflow from his fists, Itadori launched a punch toward the Zenin's buried head.

'Black Flash!'

And with black lightning crackling throughout the area, Jinichi Zenin's fate was sealed.

"Cough, cough!" Ranta staggered out of the smoke cloud with narrowed eyes, his mouth dropping in disbelief the moment he saw Itadori standing over Jinichi's body. "What…?"

And as Itadori placed a finger to his lips in a gesture of silence, the Zenin realized...

He was screwed.