The air around the battlefield was thick, charged with cursed energy that seemed to grow with each passing second. Maki, her body drenched in sweat and blood, was breathing heavily. Though her stamina and physical strength made her stand out in any fight, she knew Misaki was beyond her capacity.
Kaede was also nearing his limits, though his mind was racing. He had used up a significant portion of his energy with the Celestial Projection, a technique of Naoya's that he had barely practiced since taking over his body. But he couldn't afford any mistakes now.
Misaki, wounded yet still imposing, looked at his opponents with a twisted grin. "Do you really think you can stop me like this? Don't underestimate me... I'm far more than you can handle."
With a swift movement, Misaki unleashed a blast of cursed energy that swirled around him like a vortex. Maki tried to dodge it but was hit by the shockwave, sent flying several meters back. Kaede barely managed to block the impact, but his arms trembled from the strain.
"Damn it…" Kaede muttered through gritted teeth. He knew they were reaching the limits of what they could endure. If Misaki kept healing with Reversed Cursed Technique, they'd have no chance of defeating him.
But at that moment, something shifted.
A powerful energy was felt in the distance, a presence so overwhelming that even Misaki froze in place, his expression changing from arrogance to concern. Maki, still on the ground, felt it too. There was a pressure in the air that could only mean one thing.
"Sensei..." Maki whispered, barely able to believe it.
Gojo Satoru had arrived.
Kaede felt it as well. He knew that with Gojo on the scene, their odds against Misaki had completely changed. But he also knew this wasn't the time to reveal his true identity.
Misaki frowned, looking in the direction of the approaching energy. "So, he's here... I have no intention of dying today." His smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. "This isn't over, little brother. But I will have my revenge, I promise you."
With those words, Misaki unleashed one final wave of cursed energy that enveloped him before he started to vanish. His figure disappeared into the distance, leaving them alone on the battlefield.
Kaede let out a sigh of relief but didn't lower his guard. Maki, still in shock, tried to process what had just happened.
As the battlefield grew silent, Kaede turned toward Maki. "Maki-chan, make sure not to tell Gojo about this. We don't want to draw any more attention than we already have."
Maki looked at him, still confused. "Why...?"
Kaede, maintaining the façade of Naoya, simply smiled. "Just trust me for now."
Gojo Satoru's arrival had changed the course of the fight, but Kaede knew there was still much to resolve, especially with Misaki still on the loose.
The air remained tense, but now, with Misaki gone, the silence was overwhelming. Kaede, still in Naoya's body, turned to observe Maki, who was trying to stand, visibly injured. His eyes scanned her body, noting the cuts and bruises covering her skin.
"Let me take a look at those wounds," Kaede said, approaching with apparent concern, though his tone still carried Naoya's usual arrogance.
Maki stared at him in disbelief, frowning. "Since when do you care about a woman's well-being?" she shot back, her voice dripping with skepticism. "And especially if she's not in your bed. Isn't it strange for you to care if you're not sleeping with her?"
Kaede paused for a second, processing her words. His mind worked quickly, realizing that Maki was testing him, looking for any slip in his performance as Naoya. Then, as if an idea had struck him, he let out a laugh.
"Have you been spying on me, Maki-chan? I didn't know you were into that..." he teased with a mocking smile, tilting his head as he looked at her with malice.
Maki blushed instantly, clenching her fists and turning her gaze away from Kaede. "Shut up, idiot..." she muttered, trying to suppress her anger. She was irritated by "Naoya's" attitude but also surprised by how different he seemed, even though he was still a complete jerk.
"We should go check on the others," she changed the subject, avoiding any further awkward interaction.
Kaede remained silent for a moment, looking up at the sky. A crow, which had been watching from afar, seemed to be observing everything with keen interest. "Tch... what a troublesome woman," he muttered just loud enough for Maki to hear.
Maki, arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. "If you don't want to be near me, you don't have to. I can go alone," she snapped, clearly irritated. "No need to throw a tantrum, Naoya."
Kaede was caught off guard by her comment. Could it really be this easy to make Naoya leave her alone? Of course, his disguise was working, but he needed to keep up appearances. With a calm smile, he walked up beside her.
"And miss the chance to see another curse send you flying again?" he replied with an arrogant smirk, his eyes gleaming with mockery.
Maki growled, annoyed by his tone and how irritating it was that "Naoya" kept treating her this way. Yet, something about his attitude was strange. However, now wasn't the time to dwell on it. She simply grunted and walked toward where she believed the others were, with Kaede following close behind.
Misaki reached a dark, secluded place, where the shadows seemed to engulf her in an aura of mystery. A figure in the shadows observed her, an aura of disdain emanating from its presence.
"How did it go?" asked the figure, its voice soft but filled with intrigue.
Misaki sat on the edge of a stone, exhaustion evident on her face. "You said he had only consumed five fingers, that he'd be weak. If I'm being honest, he was slow, and his hits hurt less," she responded, crossing her arms in disdain.
"Heh, of course, he's weak, but that doesn't mean he's an idiot. What sets him apart from all of you isn't just his immense power, but his intelligence. I told you if you went, you wouldn't succeed," the figure retorted, a mocking tone revealing a dark satisfaction.
Misaki growled in frustration, feeling trapped in a game she didn't want to play. "You sent me there, Kenjaku. Besides, he got help from a woman with no cursed energy," she defended herself, trying to downplay the situation.
"So, he held back to maintain his disguise," the now-revealed Kenjaku said with an air of contempt, as if the conclusion was obvious.
"What?" Misaki asked, not fully grasping the implication.
"Come on, if he had used his technique, he would've crushed you. But anyway, you still have one more chance. On October 31st, you must face him before we give the fingers to Sukuna. We don't know if Kaede's soul will also receive them if Sukuna consumes the fingers," he explained, his tone growing more serious.
Misaki only nodded, knowing time was slipping through her fingers. Meanwhile, Kenjaku, hidden in the shadows, reflected to himself, a growing unease clouding his thoughts.
"Why did Kaede bind his soul to Sukuna's? I still don't understand," he pondered, the question echoing in his mind. It was a puzzle that would undoubtedly have consequences beyond what anyone could anticipate.