Chapter 16: The Monk and the Uncle

The Next Day. Early Morning.
​Inumaki, Maki, Yuta, and Panda walked side by side down the main path of Jujutsu High, discussing the mysterious new teacher.
​"Maki, you really can't guess?" Panda asked, leaning in. "Gojo-sensei said it's someone you know well."
​Maki pushed up her glasses. Her expression turned cold. "If we're talking about 'acquaintances,' it can only be someone from the Zenin Clan. And none of them are worth knowing."
​The group fell silent.
​Yuta leaned toward Panda and whispered, "What's wrong with Maki-san?"
​Panda covered his mouth with a paw. "The Zenin Clan is one of the Three Great Families. They value Cursed Energy above all else. Since Maki has none, she was treated... poorly."
​"Oh, wait," Panda corrected himself. "Not all of them. Rumor has it the Clan Head is actually quite good to her."
​"Oh." Yuta nodded.
​...
​Third Floor Hallway.
​Gojo Satoru and Principal Yaga watched the four students from the window.
​"First, Suguru resurfaces after ten years," Yaga sighed, stroking his stubble. "And now the Zenin Clan Head is coming to teach. These are turbulent times."
​"I wanted to meet him back then," Yaga continued. "I never expected we'd become colleagues a decade later."
​"Life is interesting, isn't it?" Gojo grinned, hands in his pockets.
​Suddenly, Gojo’s smile vanished. He looked up at the sky.
​"Tch."
​Yaga sensed it too. A massive Cursed Energy signature was descending rapidly.
​"All Sorcerers Grade 1 and above! Assemble at the front gate!" Yaga shouted, sprinting for the stairs.
​...
​The School Grounds.
​Maki and the others stopped walking. A shadow fell over them.
​A colossal pelican-like Cursed Spirit with four wings plummeted from the sky.
​"It's rare for a Cursed Spirit to attack the school directly," Panda muttered, slipping on his Cursed Tool knuckles.
​Thud.
​The giant bird landed, kicking up a cloud of dust and leaves.
​"After all this time," a voice sighed. "Nothing has changed here."
​A man with long black hair, wearing a Buddhist kasaya (monk's robe), stepped off the bird.
​Geto Suguru.
​Behind him, two girls in sailor uniforms crawled out of the bird's beak. Mimiko and Nanako.
Behind them were his commanders: Larue (the shirtless man with heart tattoos) and Manami Suda.
​Maki gripped her spear. "You aren't authorized personnel. Get out."
​Inumaki unzipped his collar. "Salmon."
​Whoosh!
​Before they could blink, Geto appeared right in front of Yuta.
​"It's a pleasure to meet you, Okkotsu Yuta."
​Geto took Yuta's hands in his, smiling like a benevolent saint. "You possess great power. Rika-chan is truly magnificent."
​"I sincerely invite you to join us. Let's create a perfect world together."
​"Can you do me this favor, Yuta?"
​Yuta blinked, bewildered. "What... what kind of help?"
​Geto leaned in.
​"Kill all the non-sorcerers in the world."
​"Create a paradise just for us."
​Yuta stared at him. Kill everyone? Is he joking? Is he a comedian?
​Panda and Maki looked at Geto like he was insane.
​"Stay away from my students."
​A voice, cold and familiar, cut through the air.
​Geto turned around, smiling brightly. "Satoru! Long time no see!"
​Gojo stood ten meters away, radiating menace. "I said... get away from my students, Suguru."
​Geto’s smile faded slightly. He stepped back. "No wonder the first-years are so strong. They're your students."
​"Special Grade Sorcerer, Okkotsu Yuta."
"Mutated Cursed Corpse, Panda."
"Cursed Speech User, Inumaki Toge."
​Geto’s eyes landed on Maki. His lip curled in disgust.
​"And finally... the failure of the Zenin Clan. Zenin Maki."
​"There is no place for a monkey like you in my world."
​"You bastard—!" Maki shouted, stepping forward.
​But before she could strike, a loud, mocking voice interrupted them.
​"HEY! YOU! The long-haired monk in the dress!"
​"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
​Everyone froze. They turned toward the school gate.
​A sleek black sports car rolled in.
​Standing in the passenger seat, leaning over the windshield, was a creature with chalk-white skin and green hair, wearing a black cloak with red clouds.
​White Zetsu.
​"A Cursed Spirit?!"
​Yuta and the others were shocked. But not because of its power.
​Grade 4? Maybe Grade 3?
​It was weak. Incredibly weak. Any of them could crush it with one finger.
​But it was talking. Fluently. Arrogantly.
​"Hey! I'm talking to you, Monk!" White Zetsu shouted, putting a foot on the car door. "Why are you staring at me? Are you impressed by my handsome face? Sorry, I'm not into men!"
​Then, White Zetsu saw Maki.
​"MAKI-CHAN!"
​His tone shifted instantly to pure delight.
​"It's been so long! You haven't come back to visit your Uncle White Zetsu!"
​White Zetsu leaped out of the moving car and ran toward her with open arms. "Don't be afraid, little Maki! Uncle is here to protect you!"
​"This monk is bullying you, right? I'll tell Mirai-boy to wipe him out!"
​"Uncle...?!"
​Yuta, Panda, and Inumaki stared at Maki. Their jaws dropped.
​Is this Grade 4 Cursed Spirit... Maki's uncle?
Is Maki actually part Cursed Spirit?
​"WHITE ZETSU!"
​Maki shoved the hugging creature away, her face turning red with embarrassment and rage.
​"That's enough! Stop calling yourself my uncle!"
​It was an old grudge.
​Years ago, when Maki first got her glasses, Mirai had introduced her to White Zetsu. Being eight years old, and trusting Mirai, she believed him when he said Zetsu was her "distant uncle."
​By the time she realized he was a Cursed Spirit, the nickname had stuck.
​"Aww, don't be like that!" White Zetsu pouted.
​As the chaos unfolded, the back door of the sports car opened.
​A young man stepped out. He wore a high-collared black uniform similar to Jujutsu High's, but richer in quality. His presence instantly silenced the courtyard.
​He looked at Geto Suguru. He looked at Gojo Satoru.
​And finally, he smiled.
​"Well," Zenin Mirai said smoothly. "It seems the reunion is in full swing."