Jujutsu Kaisen: I Can Manipulate Time.

White snow fell gently over the ruins, covering the shattered houses and scorched earth in a soft, silken embrace. The battlefield that had once echoed with chaos was now wrapped in a quiet, delicate peace.

Not long after the battle, Kamihara Hajime was officially granted the rank of Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer, along with a significant financial reward for his role in the Hyakki Yagyō.

But to Hajime—who neither lacked shelter nor indulged in extravagance—it was nothing more than a number. He treated Panda and the others to a feast, and planned to invest the rest in acquiring a cursed tool or shikigami capable of storing or carrying weapons.

His three swords were simply too large and cumbersome. Even in a cello case, they stood nearly half a man tall. But cursed tools like that were rare, and no leads had surfaced yet.

Elsewhere, Yuta Okkotsu, having released Rika from her curse, had his rating dropped from Special Grade to Grade 4. Still, no one doubted he would climb the ranks again—it was only a matter of time. Everyone had faith in him.

During this time, Hajime approached Gojo Satoru with a question that had lingered in his mind.

"So, Sensei. What's the actual criteria for becoming Special Grade?"

Gojo shrugged. "There aren't any formal guidelines. But the one thing they all have in common is... overwhelming power."

"Then what about me? Can I be considered a Special Grade now?"

Gojo smirked. "Actually, the higher-ups have thought about it. But they haven't seen your strength firsthand, and Shuten-dōji's true level as a cursed spirit remains unclear."

"In other words," Hajime said flatly, "it's politics. They're wary of me being under your influence."

"Bingo," Gojo grinned. "With Yuta temporarily downgraded, giving you Special Grade would mean I've got three Special Grades aligned with me. That makes them... twitchy. But if you reveal your Technique, they won't have a choice."

Gojo's expression brightened with curiosity. "By the way, you figured out Reverse Cursed Technique during that fight, didn't you?"

Hajime smirked. "Yup. Right when things were looking bleak, it just clicked. Once I got the hang of it, I could even ignore the damage from a Domain. I'm so strong now, I'm scaring myself, ha!"

Gojo chuckled, raising a brow. "You're full of yourself. Alright, let's test it. Come spar with your sensei."

"Gladly," Hajime grinned. He slung all three cursed swords onto his back. "It's okay, right? Even if I injure you, you've got Reverse Cursed Technique."

Gojo rolled his shoulders and headed outside. "That's the spirit. Just try not to embarrass yourself too badly."

They bantered all the way to Jujutsu High's largest training ground. With Maki and Panda away on missions, the only spectators were Principal Yaga and Byakuro. Yaga was summoned specifically to maintain the barrier technique surrounding the field; without it, the place would likely be demolished in minutes.

Yaga raised a brow when he heard Gojo was going to spar with Kamihara Hajime. He showed up almost instantly.

Hajime removed his jacket, revealing a white fitted top and dark trousers. His long hair was tied back neatly. In his left and right hands, he held Totsuka-no-Tsurugi and Onikiri, while Spider Cutter hung sheathed at his side.

Gojo stood opposite him, blindfold removed, revealing the brilliance of his Six Eyes. He stretched casually, limbering up.

"Ready—" Hajime began, but didn't finish.

A thunderous burst of wind erupted behind Gojo. A deep slash had carved a clean scar into the earth behind him.

Gojo turned, eyes gleaming. "You didn't even use your Technique just now, did you?"

Hajime's speed had caught even Yaga off guard. All the principal had seen was a blur. But with Six Eyes, Gojo had followed the movement and blocked it.

"Totsuka-no-Tsurugi's sharpness is something else," Gojo noted. "Against any normal cursed spirit, that hit would've ended it instantly."

"And that was without my Technique," Hajime added with a cocky smirk.

Gojo cracked his knuckles. "Your Reverse Cursed Technique can heal fatal wounds, right?"

Hajime narrowed his eyes, understanding what Gojo was about to do. He gripped his swords tighter, eyes blazing. "Come on then, Sensei. I'm not holding back either."

The moment the words left his lips, Gojo vanished.

A gust of wind swept behind Hajime—so fast it nearly tore through the fabric of his shirt.

Teleportation using Cursed Technique.

But Hajime reacted. His perception expanded, the world around him slowing to a crawl. In this suspended state, he caught Gojo mid-attack—aimed precisely at his left rib.

If that had landed, I'd be short a kidney...

With a grunt, Hajime crossed his blades, exhaling deeply. His breath roared like a river, and then—light.

Sword slashes filled the space like lightning cleaving through clouds, wind rippling through water, thunder echoing across a stormy sky.

Gojo was submerged in intersecting streaks of cursed sword light.

Hajime reversed and re-reversed his Cursed Energy, attacking relentlessly until he neared his limit. Then he deactivated his Technique—and the storm exploded.

The suspended sword slashes roared to life, fracturing the space like shattering glass. The ground buckled under invisible pressure, collapsing in a perfect circle around them.

And yet—

A searing pain bloomed in Hajime's gut.

He glanced down. A fist-sized hole had been punched clean through his left abdomen.

No time for Reverse Cursed Technique—it was too slow.

Instead, Hajime activated his Time Wheel Spin, using Technique Reversal to jump back to a prior uninjured state. The wound vanished. Even his torn clothes were restored.

But Gojo was already moving again.

A second punch slammed into him. The sheer force of it pulverized his right chest and shoulder.

Yet again, Hajime reappeared behind Gojo, activating his Technique just in time.

He stabbed his blades into the ground, clenched his fist, and gathered cursed energy. No more swordplay. This was raw power now.

A translucent thread stretched between him and Gojo, locking the two in a deadly, turn-based rhythm. Hajime would attack, then deactivate his Technique, and Gojo would counter.

Gojo cycled through Blue, Red, and even Purple. But Hajime evaded it all using his time-bending Technique. He couldn't break Gojo's defense—but Gojo couldn't harm him either.

"How do I break your Technique?" Gojo mused.

"Maybe with Domain Expansion," Hajime answered, frustrated.

"I thought so. You've been trying to develop one?"

"I tried after the Shuten-dōji fight. Nothing worked. I even studied barrier techniques. Still no progress."

Gojo gave a knowing smile. "Don't force it. Domain Expansion sometimes comes through experience. Want to feel what it's like inside mine?"

"What?"

Before Hajime could object, Principal Yaga shouted, "Satoru, don't you dare!"

"Relax," Gojo grinned, raising his hand. "I'll keep it under a second."

He snapped his fingers.

"Domain Expansion: Infinite Void."

Even with full awareness, Hajime didn't resist. He wanted to see it.

He entered the domain—and was immediately overwhelmed.

Information flooded his mind. His senses were paralyzed. He could perceive everything and yet move nothing. The disconnect between body and mind was terrifying.

He couldn't even blink.

Seconds stretched into what felt like hours.

And then it ended.

Breathing hard, Hajime looked up. Gojo was smiling. Yaga looked furious.

"I barely kept it active for a second," Gojo said, laughing as he dodged Yaga's furious swing.

Hajime didn't speak. He was processing it—comparing the experience to Shuten-dōji's Domain. That was violent and direct. This... this was something else.

It wasn't just power. It was control.

"Domain Expansion counters Domain Expansion," Gojo said.

Hajime, still thinking, didn't respond. Gojo casually threw an arm around him. "Don't overthink it. You'll get there. In the meantime, I've got a job for you."

Hajime sighed. "Let me guess... something sketchy?"

"Nope. This is about Megumi. He's ready to start formal training. We haven't confirmed the incoming class, but I want you to visit and help him prepare."

Hajime scoffed. "I send them things all the time. I talk to Tsumiki regularly."

"Yeah, but Megumi treats video calls like surveillance footage. This time, go in person. Shake him up a little."

A rare grin spread across Hajime's face. "Hehehe… let's see how long that poker face lasts."

Gojo tilted his head. "You're smiling like a villain."

"You just don't get memes, Sensei."

---

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