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Satoru was determined to have a good day. One good day, that's all he was asking for here!
After all, he got to tease Utahime! He got to tease the Kyoto principal! Today would obviously be a good day!
He vastly underestimated how badly the third year kid from Kyoto didn't like Megumi. He also underestimated how much Yuuji-kun would take offense to someone insulting Megumi.
Which is why Satoru is now watching Yuuji-kun fight Tōdō-kun. And is actually winning.
Satoru is aware that his grin can come off as cocky as hell, but right now, his grin is proud as hell. Look at Yuuji-kun go! Actually, look at both of them go, neither of them are using cursed techniques yet, and they're still having fun beating each other up.
"Are you not going to do anything? Who is that student?" Utahime hissed.
"Hmmm? You haven't heard of Yuuji-kun? What a shame, he's such a good student too! Very unlike yours, such a sweet boy." Satoru taunted, watching Utahime's face contort in rage.
Ah, Yuuji-kun, thanks for the opportunity to taunt Utahime. I'm getting you special popcorn for your movie marathon with Junpei-kun tonight.
And then he saw it.
If Satoru didn't have Six-Eyes he wouldn't have seen it. The flicker of Yuuji-kun's cursed energy. A flicker different from what he had been able to produce before.
Bodies under duress often adapt faster. Satoru thought, finally making a move to step towards the fight, something he was loath to do.
Because Yuuji-kun was winning! He had been sparring against the second year's for a week now, and had nearly won spars against Yuta-kun and Maki-chan. Granted, they went a bit easier on him, since he was still in the recovery period.
But he was winning against a third year!
And, yeah, it was a third year from Kyoto, but Yuuji-kun was winning a brawl against a third year! Satoru was allowed to cheer about this fact and spoil Yuuji-kun rotten!
The cursed energy surrounding Yuuji-kun finally materialized, a chain wrapping around Tōdō-kun and holding his arm in place, making it so he wasn't able to draw it back for another punch.
The two fighters blinked at the chain, seemingly confused at its existence. Satoru teleported straight over.
"Yuuji-kun!"
Said boy startled, looking like a boy with his hand stuck in the cookie jar. "Uh, Gojo-sensei? What's this?" He asked, rattling the chain that was currently connecting him and Tōdō-kun.
"You've finally manifested your technique! Quick, someone get a camera!"
"Um, I don't think it'll show up on camera, Gojo-sensei." Yuuji-kun muttered, the tips of his ears turning pink.
"Ah well, I have it ingrained in my memory! Let's figure out how to free the two of you, shall we? Yuuji-kun! Didja feel anything before the chain came into existence?" Satoru asked, pulling the edge of his blindfold up to get a look at Yuuji-kun's technique with Six-Eyes.
A solid chain, one that was able to hold Tōdō-kun of all people, was no small feat, technique or no.
"Just, determined to win?" Yuuji-kun replied. Tōdō-kun, who had stayed silent this entire time, decided to finally speak up and ask his million yen question.
"What is your preferred type of woman?"
Yuuji-kun squirmed. "I- I'm not really interested in women, but, aesthetically, I guess someone like Jennifer Lawrence? Pretty, tall, and with a good butt?"
Satoru's cackle made Yuuji-kun duck his head, which only made Satoru ruffle Yuuji-kun's hair. "Don't worry, don't worry, I won't tell Megumi~!"
Yuuji-kun squeaked. "I don't know what you're talking about!" The chain finally let go of Tōdō-kun.
"Suuuurree you don't~!" Satoru teased, keeping an eye on Tōdō-kun to make sure he wouldn't attack again. He turned away to smirk at Utahime.
Satoru turned away for two seconds. Two seconds.
But apparently, something had happened in the two seconds he had turned away from Yuuji-kun and Tōdō-kun.
Because for some reason, Tōdō-kun is declaring Yuuji-kun his brother, of all things.
Satoru got the distinct feeling that Chōsō would be far from pleased when he learned of this development.
"I- why?" Yuuji-kun squirmed, obviously looking for a way out.
Tōdō-kun continued to spout off about brotherhood and high school friends and that was where Satoru drew the line.
"O-kay! We'll deal with this later, but you need to get your head checked, Tōdō-kun. Maybe one of Yuuji-kun's strikes caught you there and rattled something." Satoru said cheerily, scooping Yuuji-kun up and getting ready to teleport him back to the first year dorms.
"But-!" Tōdō-kun tried to say, as he tried to grab Yuuji-kun.
Oh that won't do.
"Now now, Yuuji-kun has just manifested his technique. I'm sure he's more than excited to get back to the rest of the first years and show them." Satoru placated, before he and Yuuji-kun were gone in a flicker of space.
He gently set Yuuji-kun down on the couch, since Yuuji-kun looked like his legs would give out beneath him. "Are you okay? I know it's the first time I've teleported with you. Do you need some water? Some tea? Something else to calm your stomach?"
Yuuji-kun blinked up at him (Like a lost little kitten. Satoru thought to himself.) before flinging his arms out and wrapping them around Satoru, making him freeze.
"I finally have one. I finally have a technique." Yuuji-kun choked out.
Satoru could feel himself physically, mentally, and emotionally melt at that, his own arms coming up to wrap around Yuuji-kun. "Yes you do. And it kept one of the best fighters in hand-to-hand combat that I've ever seen in place. It's a powerful technique, Yuuji-kun."
Yuuji-kun buried his face into Satoru's collar, the shaking in his shoulders showing just how affected he was by this, but Satoru didn't dare comment. Yuuji-kun was always so open, but only about certain things. Satoru really needed to get the jujutsu world therapists in here, yesterday. Because this boy, this child, has already been through so much, but refused to truly TALK about it.
Once again, Satoru cursed Kenjaku in his head, damning the twisted body-snatcher to all nine realms of hell, and then some. He was really making a habit of cursing the damn thing everyday now.
(Most often it hit when Nanamin handed him a cup of coffee, made just the way Satoru liked it, and the burn scars were easily seen. It hit when he looked at Maki-chan's now short hair, burned away from Shibuya. It hit when he saw the scar on Megumi's face, created by trying to fight his own reincarnated father. It hit when Junpei-kun was far more jumpy on some days, summoning his shikigami at the drop of a hat because someone moved in his peripheral. It hit when he looked at Toge-kun, at Yuta-kun, at Nobara-chan, at Panda-san.)
(It hit most of all when Yuuji-kun looked up at him, smiling his soft smile, and those damn surgical scars were displayed, because Yuuji-kun didn't notice that the bandana had slipped. Satoru wouldn't point it out. Not when Yuuji-kun was smiling.)
It was quite safe to say that Kenjaku had quickly climbed the ladder of "Satoru's Shitlist," easily taking a place beside the elders.
And Satoru would have a hand in the damn brains murder, see if he wouldn't.
But for now, he held Yuuji-kun close, and then gently passed him off to Chōsō when he investigated what was upsetting his brother.
They could figure out Yuuji-kun's technique later. They had the time for it. The patience in coaching him when he got downtrodden. The power to draw it out. The love of a brother who was now overjoyed that his brother could defend himself better.
Later. Satoru promised himself. Later, that brain will die. A very slow And painful death. But for now, I need to tell Nanamin.
~~~~~~~~~~
"A chain?" Nanamin blinked, sharpening his cleaver, before starting to rewrap it.
"Yup~!" Satoru cheered brightly, leaning against the doorway. "It kept Tōdō-kun pinned for quite a while."
Nanamin polished the handle, humming thoughtfully. "A very interesting technique, especially since he didn't use a hand motion, you say?"
"Mhm! He's like you, Nanamin!" Satoru grinned, noticing how Nanamin brightened ever-so-slightly at that. "It could be that he simply needs to channel his energy, rather than use a fancy little hand motion."
"Don't let Fushiguro-kun catch you saying that." Nanamin said dryly, finishing his polishing and placing his blade in its holster. Satoru waved the notion away with a wave of his hand.
"Megumi would forgive me, if only to assure Yuuji-kun that the hand motions aren't everything."
"That he would." Nanamin agreed with a shake of his head. "He spoils you too much."
"Hey! I should be the one spoiling him!" Satoru pouted, sliding his sunglasses down to give Nanamin puppy dog eyes.
"You already do that through Itadori-kun." Nanamin deadpanned, making Satoru sigh and thunk his head against the doorway lightly.
"They really need to stop dancing around each other!" He whined, not moving until Nanamin shoved him lightly out of the doorway. "It's so obvious that they like each other! Yuuji-kun is always spoiling Megumi and Megumi is always going out of his way for Yuuji-kun! And Nobara-chan and Maki-chan need to get their act together too! So do Yuta-kun and Toge-kun!"
"Maybe you should get a relationship counselor in here?" Nanamin offered dryly as they headed to the meeting with the elders.
"And miss out on all this wonderful drama!? Absolutely not!" Satoru flailed. "This is the most entertainment I've gotten since you came back to the jujutsu world!"
(Somewhere in the first year dorms, Yuuji sneezed. Chōsō, Fushiguro, Kugisaki, and Junpei looked at him with worry, but he waved it off, stating that they needed to get back to the plan to get Gojo-sensei and Nanami-san together.)
Nanamin hummed, before changing the subject. "Do you know the reason why the elders have called a meeting?"
Satoru felt his mood plummet rapidly. "No. I don't. And I hate not knowing. But if they come after my students. . . ."
Satoru could only trail off, plans quickly unfolding in his mind's eye.
"At least you're giving me plausible deniability this time." Nanamin deadpanned, making Satoru bark out a surprised laugh. "But do remember that you have allies that you can lean on, Gojo. You aren't alone in this fight to protect the younger generation."
But it's not just them that I want to protect- Satoru's traitorous mind whispered, before he strangled it into oblivion. "I'll keep it in mind." He decided to go with, and started to humm obnoxiously.
"Let's see what bullshit the elders tried to come up with this time."
~~~~~~~~~~
"I'm sorry." Satoru said softly, drawing it out. The elders started to squirm in their seats slightly.
As they should. Satoru thought viciously.
"You heard us." One stupid elder ventured.
"Oh I heard you alright." Satoru replied. "I just thought I would give you time to think it over. It works wonders for my students when they give me a wrong answer. Although," Satoru continued, wanting to seal the deal, "my students are far brighter than you lot."
"Because who in their right mind suggests that the kid whose body was TAKEN from him should try and become the vessel for Ryoumen Sukuna?" Satoru said blithely, his rage making Infinity start to swirl around him.
"Who would suggest a thing like that, right?"
The elders continued to squirm, and Nanami and Yaga sat in stony silence, glaring at them as well.
"You stated in your report that Kenjaku had said that the boy was created to be Sukuna's vessel-" Gakuganji, the principal from Kyoto started, and Satoru accidentally broke the window next to him.
Gakuganji had been on his shit list for years, the very top of the elders sub shit list. Mainly for the fact that he seemed to hate any and all progress being made in the jujutsu world.
Progress that comes in the form of children's lives not being ruined. Progress that comes in the form of sorcerer's not being killed by being sent on missions high above their grade.
Gakuganji hated Satoru too. Simply because Satoru held Limitless and Six-Eyes. Making Satoru "too powerful to contain."
Fucking arrogant prick, thinking that he can try and get to Yuuji-kun while he's under MY protection.
I am a god of this world.
My will is absolute.
"Kenjaku did state that." Satoru said coldly. "However, he's also a deranged body-snatcher who has been around since the Golden Age of Jujutsu. I think anything he says should be taken with a mountain of salt."
Gakuganji scoffed. "You're far too soft for this, simply because he used the body of a classmate and the boy's-"
"Repeat yourself." Satoru interrupted. Gakuganji gave him a scalding look, one Satoru returned with a deadly glare. "Repeat, yourself."
"He used the body of one of your classmates and the boy's-" Gakuganji started again, rolling his eyes.
"Exactly so! Yuuji-kun is just the tender age of 15!" Satoru said, false cheer leaking out of him, along with rage. "And, he just developed his technique today! One that held Tōdō Aoi in place."
He looked over his sunglasses at the elders, who froze. Gakuganji seethed, making Satoru's mood slightly better.
"Surely, dooming such a promising young sorcerer is a bad thing, right?" Satoru pushed, feeling a shit-eating grin start to take hold.
"I agree."
Satoru's eyes flicked to Utahime. He wasn't surprised, per se, as she was a teacher too. She cared for the younger generation. Just not as much as he did.
"Dooming such an incredible young mind, only on the words of a madman who orchestrated the Shibuya incident? I can't condone such an action." Utahime continued, eyeing Gakuganji. Satoru felt his grin turn victorious.
"Not to mention," Nanami started, "if you doom Itadori Yuuji-kun to such a fate, you have his brother, Chōsō, to deal with. And that is not a fate I wish on anyone."
"Not only this." Yaga stated, moving his own glasses down to look at the rest of the elders, "But Itadori Yuuji is under Gojo Satoru AND my protection. He is under Jujutsu Tech's protection. I do not see why this is being discussed, because quite frankly, it's a stupid course of action. Kenjaku could spout anything he wanted, as he was trying to make Satoru stay still for the Prison Realm. But we do not know if Itadori would survive absorbing Sukuna's energy and becoming his vessel. It is simply too much of a risk."
Satoru beamed brightly as the elders started to crumble. All but one.
Gakuganji narrowed his eyes at Satoru.
Satoru narrowed them right back.
Bring it, you bag of bones. Let's see how you handle yourself against a god.
~~~~~~~~~~
Satoru entered the first year dorms, and was greeted with laughter. The only kind of laughter that was created when you were surprised and simply HAD to laugh at the sheer stupidity at what had happened.
When was the last time I laughed like that? When Shoko still lived outside of her office? When Suguru was around?
Satoru shook off the thoughts, and set about finding the first years and what was so funny.
And honestly?
Satoru had to get a few pictures.
It seemed that Yuuji-kun was experimenting with his chains, and they decided to latch onto Chōsō. The unfortunate consequence of this action was the fact that apparently Chōsō had used the connection and tugged Yuuji-kun to him, and was simply holding Yuuji-kun in his arms like a stuffed bear.
"How cute!" Satoru cooed, making Yuuji-kun startle, then try to escape.
"Gojo-sensei! Don't record this!"
"But I have to! And I need to give Chōsō the recording afterwards!"
"I would appreciate that greatly."
"Send it to me too, Blindfold-sensei. It's perfect blackmail." "Same here."
"Kugisaki-san! Junpei-san!"
"Will do~! Me~gu~mi~! Do you want the recording as well?"
"Sure."
"Ah! Look at how red his ears got!"
"Shut up!"
Satoru joined his students in laughter, watching them relax.
I will protect you.
This is a god's oath, and I will see it to fruition.