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Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Conspiracy in the Shadows

In the dim light of the shrine, Kaede, newly reborn in the body of Naoya Zenin, approached Miyako, who was seated on the edge of the stairs, gazing serenely at the landscape of the new era for the first time. The atmosphere was charged with calm and a subtle aura of satisfaction at the success of the ritual.

Kaede, still adapting to Naoya's body, walked towards Miyako with firm steps. His face bore Naoya's features, but his expressions showed a calmness and serenity that were distinctly his own. Miyako looked up as she sensed Kaede's presence, her Six Eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"So, Kaede," Miyako said, her voice soft and composed. "Now that you have a body, what's your plan?"

Kaede stopped in front of Miyako, crossing his arms with a calculating expression.

"My first goal is to infiltrate the Zenin clan," Kaede began. "The clan has been seeking to strengthen its position, and my presence there as Naoya will be an advantage. Sukuna's fingers, as you know, are hidden in various locations."

Miyako nodded, understanding the importance of finding those artifacts. "And what will you do after you find them?"

Kaede continued, his tone firm and resolute. "Once I locate the fingers, I'll consume them. My soul is still bound to Sukuna's by the vow, but once the condition is met, the vow will no longer be valid, and my soul will be entirely independent. My infiltration won't stop there. Meanwhile, I need you to go to the Gojo clan. They also have valuable information, and with your ability to see cursed energy, you can keep an eye on any moves they make regarding any situation."

Miyako gazed at him intently, her eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation. "And how do you plan to keep in contact?" she asked. "Communication will be vital if we're going to coordinate our efforts without raising suspicion."

Kaede smiled slightly, revealing a hint of his former confidence. "I've thought of that. We'll use a system of discreet signals. Whenever you have an update or need to coordinate something, you'll use a special symbol that only you and I understand. We'll keep everything secret to prevent any observer from getting in our way."

But Miyako's doubts only deepened. "And how will we meet?"

"To do that, I propose that we pretend to be romantically involved. This body is the heir of the Zenin clan, and my presence there won't be easily questioned. Besides, your body is from a secondary branch, meaning the Zenin won't pay too much attention to your movements."

She just rolled her eyes. "You're cruel..."

"What do you mean?" he asked, surprised by her words.

Miyako frowned, putting aside her whim. "And how do you plan to handle the complaints or problems that might arise with the Zenin?"

Kaede smiled with a mix of confidence and cunning. "I'll handle any complaint or inconvenience that arises. My position within the Zenin clan will allow me to manage those situations effectively. The important thing is that we act discreetly and don't raise suspicions."

Miyako nodded, understanding the importance of subtlety in their plan. "And in the Gojo clan, what role will I play?"

"Your task will be to act as a person of interest to the Gojo clan. After all, they wouldn't mind if one of their members ended up with the heir of another clan, especially if that member is someone of little interest according to them," Kaede explained. "You need to integrate in such a way that you don't raise suspicions. Your knowledge and skills will be valuable in obtaining information on the movements and possible locations of Sukuna's fingers."

Miyako leaned slightly, showing her acceptance and understanding of the plan. "Alright, I'll infiltrate the Gojo clan and keep an eye on any movement related to Sukuna's fingers. Make sure not to leave any traces that could give you away."

Kaede nodded. "Don't worry, Miyako. We know what's at stake. We'll keep our goals in mind and won't let anything stand in our way."

Miyako looked at the unconscious body of Itadori and, with a sigh, approached him. "I'll return Sukuna's vessel to the jujutsu school," she murmured as she leaned over the young man. "You need to return to the Zenin clan as soon as possible. It's been an hour since his disappearance, and we don't want to raise suspicions."

Kaede silently nodded. He raised a finger, focusing cursed energy into it. "We'll meet again over the weekend with the information we gather. Any inconvenience, you know what to do."

With those words, Kaede opened a rift in space and disappeared, his presence fading into the air.

Miyako watched him for a brief moment before focusing again on Itadori. With a fluid motion, she lifted his body and, using her technique, also disappeared from the temple, taking him back to where she had taken him.

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Satoru Gojo walked through the halls of the jujutsu school, his usually carefree energy having turned into a slight unease. He had felt something strange during his recent battle, as if his eyes were receiving double the information and his technique was malfunctioning, as if he had reverted to the time when he was a novice with Limitless. Upon reaching the training room, his eyes fell on Itadori's inert body lying on the floor.

"Yuji..." Satoru murmured, quickly advancing toward him. He knelt beside him, placing a hand on his forehead to check if he was injured or if there was any sign of cursed energy in his body. There were no signs of physical damage, but someone had used reverse rituals on his system.

The training dummy that Itadori had been using lay destroyed a few meters away. The scattered pieces around the area were evidence that something else had happened. Satoru frowned, trying to understand what had happened in his absence. He knew Itadori was strong, but this didn't seem like a simple accident.

"What the hell happened here?" he wondered aloud, while concentrating to detect any trace of cursed energy that might explain what had occurred. He felt that something or someone had been in that place, but it was too late to track it accurately.

With a sigh, he carefully lifted Itadori. "All this smells like trouble."

With that, Satoru began to walk toward the infirmary, carrying Itadori in his arms, determined to find out who or what had been responsible for this.