Chapter 26: NO. 26 - The Ends Justify The Means?

Chapter 26: NO. 26 - The Ends Justify The Means?

The Reverse Cursed Technique, a rare and exclusive ability in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen.

The process of turning negative energy into positive energy is simple in theory.

A negative multiplied by another negative creates a positive. That should mean that I should be able to multiply my cursed energy by itself to create reversed cursed energy.

Sadly, it wasn't that simple.

Reversed Cursed Energy, or RCT, is mainly used to heal oneself or another. The latter is much harder to do, considering only three characters could do so in JJK.

Those being Shoko, Yuta, and Sukuna. Not even the strongest sorcerer of the modern era, Gojo Satoru, could heal someone else with his RCT.

RCT is capable of healing large wounds, poison effects, or even healing an entire lost limb's back. Thus making having the RCT in your arsenal a massive boon.

There was also another bonus effect of the RCT besides healing.

That is the ability to fuel one's cursed technique with positive energy to create its reversal. Gojo's Reversal: Red is a prime example.

The only caveat of RCT is its formidable complexity. It's incredibly hard to use and understand, a challenge that only a handful of jujutsu sorcerers in JJK have managed to overcome. Those sorcerers were either geniuses or extremely talented at jujutsu.

The skill ceiling on this technique was practically among the stars, considering that I've failed to grasp how to use it over the past six years. Not even the boost of CE understanding granted to me from a Black Flash helped me get any closer to understanding the core of cursed energy.

"I really hope I don't have to be nearly killed like Gojo to understand RCT. Even then, I doubt it's a guaranteed skill to learn when I'm bleeding out."

Standing atop the rooftop of an old building in my jujutsu uniform, I leaned against the gritty concrete, letting the cool evening air wash over me. Before me sprawled the city of Osaka, its skyline punctuated by a blend of sleek glass towers and aged brick structures, each one telling a story of its own.

Cars raced along the avenues, their headlights streaking past like shooting stars against the darkness. I could hear the distant echoes of laughter and conversation, hints of life woven into the fabric of the night. The aromas of street food wafted up, teasing my senses with the promise of adventure and indulgence.

"There he is."

I looked down at a lone male student with black, unkempt hair. He had a striking resemblance to Izuku that one wouldn't be remiss in assuming Hasashi cheated on Inko. He was dressed in an expensive-looking school uniform as he walked down the lone street towards his home.

"Hello there, Saito," I muttered as my black tattoos burned to life. Brushing my hair back, I grinned at the unsuspecting student. "About time you showed up."

I raised my hands, fingers spread, placing one in front of the other while my thumbs hooked on one another.

"Nue."

x x x

[General POV]

"Yes, Mom. I'm fine. Just a little tired," Saito said as he spoke on his phone. "I should be home in a few minutes, okay? Alright, see you soon."

Slipping his phone into his pocket, Saito jumped as a deafening roar echoed around him. Saito turned with his heart racing in his chest, just in time to see a shadowy form swoop down from the darkening sky.

'W-what was that!?' Saito thought as he looked around the sky in fright. 'A Villian?!'

Before he could scream or run, thick, a tight pressure latched onto his shoulders, lifting him effortlessly into the air. Panic surged through Saito as he dangled high above the ground from the invisible force, his home city sprawling like a patchwork quilt below.

"Saito, right?" A sudden voice said from above, causing Saito to look up and see a hooded figure somehow standing in thin air above as they flew through the sky.

"W-who are you?! What is this?!" Saito's yells pierced the blowing winds as he thrashed and kicked, but whatever was holding him had an ironclad grip.

Sukuna grinned at Saito but remained silent. Saito yelled in fright as they jerked upwards into the air. They grew higher and higher, up until the point that the city below seemed so small.

"Oh god... Oh god!" Saito muttered in terror as his body came to a stop in place in the sky. "So high! I'm going to die!"

"Heh, don't worry. You won't die." Sukuna said as she looked down at Saito with a grin. "That is if you do as I say."

"W-what do you want?"

"It's simple really. A month and a half ago, a girl named Toga Himiko stabbed you and drank your blood. Allegedly," Sakuna said as his voice turned cold and uncaring, a far cry from the playful tone he had before. "You're going to drop all charges against her, and you're going to tell the police that you attacked her. Acting in self-defense, she defended herself with a boxcutter she found on the ground. There was a struggle, and you ended up stabbed. Toga then tried to help you, but it was misinterpreted as her drinking your blood by a scared and confused onlooker."

"What!? That's not what happened! That psycho-"

Saito was interrupted when his left shoulder was suddenly released, causing him to yell as he swung around from solely his right shoulder. His old stab wound burned to life, sending pain through his chest. Saito's eyes turned down to the city below, and fear began to squeeze his throat.

"...why are you doing this?"

Sukuna said nothing and walked over to stand beside Yoichi. Sukuna then grabbed the top of his hood and pulled it back to reveal his young, tattooed face.

"You know who I am?"

"...yes. Those tattoos. Those clothes... You're him. You're Sukuna."

"Correct. You do know what me showing you my face means, don't you?"

Yoichi looked away from Sukuna's cold, expressionless face and nodded.

The seasoned Detective knew what Sukuna was implying. Now that he knew what he looked like, Yoichi and, by extension, his daughter's lives now belonged in the hands of this competent and dangerous individual.

Detective Ige Yoichi was now in Sukuna's pocket.

"...I do."

"Good. Now, here's what you're going to do for me."

x x x

[Shimizu Souta POV]

I slid down a brick wall in some dirty alleyway with a groan. I yanked my hood off my head as my tattoos melted away. I rubbed my eyes with the back of my forearm and let out a long sigh.

"Damn, that was harder than I thought."

I, of course, had no real intentions of hurting any of the people I threatened tonight. It was all a big bluff in the guise of the threat of bloody murder.

Yes, a bluff...

While I may have gone a bit overboard with Saito, my whole plan relied on him following through. His confession was pivotal for the case to be thrown out to ensure Himiko's freedom. While I did feel a bit bad about turning him into the attacker and possibly ruining his life, I quickly didn't care.

Himiko came first.

That meant I had to put the fear of god into him.

When it came to threatening Sayaka, the girl who witnessed Himiko drinking from Saito like a cup of juice, I kinda ended up making her cry. Like a lot. Damn girl was an ugly cryer. But at least I knew she wouldn't talk.

Threatening to burn her house down with her and her family inside was rather effective.

I was worried things were going to get dicey when it came to the Detective, thankfully, my carefully crafted plan worked to get him in my back pocket.

Sure, it cost me a bag of cash and beating up a crew of Yukuza, but it was a long-term investment. He would be my prime source of information when it came to the police or any ongoing investigations with the heroes.

Hopefully, my money would help his kid...

Oh, look. I do have a heart.

As insurance, I had a crow watching each of them just to be safe.

Despite not completely agreeing with my evil methods, I couldn't disagree that they were effective in getting my chess pieces to move where I wanted them to. The only piece left was to take down the king piece.

The king piece being Himiko's parents.

This time, however, I was rather excited about threatening them. Depending on how they reacted, I wouldn't be opposed to actually going through with my threats.

"Now then..." I pulled out my phone and looked up the Toga family name. "Where to start."

-

AN:

I want to say I'm shocked you guys got your second bonus Chapter in a day, but at this point, I shouldn't be. That makes three new Chapters in one day! You'll run out of your weekly supply at this rate.

Anyways, let me hear your thoughts and opinions on this Chapter. This was one of the harder ones to write for me so some feedback would be appreciated.

Until next time!