103 Gaiden - Zenin Zoro 4

The Strongest.

A title possessed by the strongest.

However, in the sorcery world where Zoro resided, the title of the strongest wasn't exclusive to him; three people held it.

The current strongest sorcerer, Gojo Satoru.

The strongest swordsman of all time, Zenin Zoro.

The strongest curse in history, Ryomen Sukuna.

It wasn't unusual for there to be three individuals considered the strongest. In Zoro's previous life, there was also the world's strongest swordsman, the world's strongest man, and even among those not called the strongest, there were several who could stand up to those who were.

Among those involved in the sorcery world, there was no one who didn't know these three were the strongest. However, if asked who the real strongest was among them, no one could answer.

For one, Ryomen Sukuna had not manifested for over a thousand years and was currently using Itadori Yuji as a host body, making neither Zoro nor Satoru a suitable opponent to fight with all their might. Neither in a complete state, and killing him would mean killing Yuji too.

As for Zoro and Satoru, they had fought fiercely for a long time but could never truly determine a winner.

If they were to seriously fight, it would be dangerous.

Dangerous for Zoro or Satoru?

Not just them, but in fact, the area surrounding their battle and the people living nearby were in greater danger. For example, if they fought in Tokyo Jujutsu High, not just the school but Tokyo, and potentially even Japan, could be split into three. Thus, they never went all out in their fights except when Zoro was a child.

Since neither side used their full power, considering the damage to surrounding buildings and people, the battles between Zoro and Satoru always ended in a somewhat lukewarm draw. It had been quite some time since they even did that much.

Yet, Gojo still called Zoro the strongest.

Zoro himself did not claim the title of the strongest, as he hadn't clearly won against both Ryomen Sukuna and Satoru.

As Zoro was pondering where to begin this story, he sensed a presence outside and looked in that direction.

"—!"

Gojo also jumped up and stared out the window.

In the open space right in front of the infirmary, a swirling blue energy was whipping through the air. Like the beginning of a tornado, the energy violently tore through the space, becoming increasingly vivid.

Among the swirling energies, Satoru, sensing a certain energy, froze and could not take his eyes off the vortex.

Hidden by the swirling energy, but unmistakably felt by Gojo Satoru, was the presence of another sorcerer's energy. Although another sorcerer's energy was felt nearby, Gojo could not focus on it at the moment.

No, even if he hadn't felt the energy, Satoru would have known who it was. As long as he was Gojo Satoru, he could not fail to recognize that person.

The owner of the energy was his one and only close friend, with whom he shared the most brilliant spring.

'Suguru is dead, though.'

...No, that's the story in this world.

Perhaps... in Zoro's world, Suguru hadn't died?

As this thought crossed his mind, memories overflowed in Satoru's head.

The seemingly eternal, blue season they had shared.

The faculty, excluding Gojo, immediately went into combat readiness. Itadori also shifted his gaze and was startled by the sight.

"What's happening— Eh, what's that?"

Nobara silently gathered her nails.

As the second-year students were about to get out of bed, Zoro said, "Wait," stopping them.

"There's no need to panic."

"...What?"

"They're with me."

It seemed that someone from Zoro's side had found a way back to his original world before Zoro did.

"Looks like they've come to pick me up."

Crackle!

The aftermath of the blue vortex tore at the infirmary's walls. Zoro stood in front of the beds where the students were and blocked the energy. Then, he swung his sword, dispersing the vortex.

Hiss!

The energy scattered like sand sparkling under the sun. However, Gojo could clearly see the presence of the energy drawing closer.

The space twisted, and then spat out a person onto the ground first. A man with blonde hair, wearing glasses, a beige suit with a tie, and holding a broadsword. Most people present knew him.

"Na, Nanamin?!"

Itadori shouted the man's nickname.

Nanami Kento, upon hearing himself called "Nanamin," reflexively frowned, then slightly relaxed his expression when he saw that Itadori was the one who had called him that.

"Please don't call me that, Itadori-kun."

"Whoa, it's really Nanamin!"

Nobara glanced at Itadori and said,

"You know him, Itadori?"

"We've worked together. He's a Grade 1 sorcerer."

Utahime, surprised to see a junior she hadn't seen in a while, asked,

"Nanami, why are you here?! ...No, wait, are you the Nanami I know?"

'The Nanami I know.' It seemed Zoro had grasped his situation and shared the information. Thanks to that, explanations were likely to be a bit easier than expected.

"I'm afraid not, Iori-san. I am Nanami Kento from another world."

"Why have you come here?"

"I came to find a missing person."

Nanami turned towards Zoro.

"Are you injured, Zoro-kun?"

"Ah."

Well, if he had been injured, that would have been surprising in its own right. This is Zenin Zoro, after all.

"Do you know where you are, Kento?"

"It's a parallel world temporarily connected by a curse. We've now created a bridge between the two worlds, allowing you and us to cross over."

In essence, Nanami came to guide Zoro back. Since Zoro, on his own, couldn't return to his original world even knowing the two worlds were connected. He wasn't a sorcerer, and he was directionally challenged.

Zoro glanced at where Nanami had emerged. He felt the presence of two very familiar entities beyond that space.

"Two more will be arriving soon."

"I know. But wouldn't you have been enough?"

"...Please don't say that."

Zoro didn't know what reaction there had been when the news that he disappeared due to a curse was shared over the phone.

"—Right, I shouldn't say that. My son."

Toji appeared silently beside Zoro.

Zoro caught every movement of Toji coming towards him from the split space. However, to the students, it seemed as if Toji suddenly appeared out of nowhere, which startled them.

"Whoa! Wh-Who are you?"

"This brat's father."

Toji was grinding his teeth.

After receiving a call from Nanami about Zoro being swept away by a curse, Toji, who had hurriedly returned from a mission, gathered information from several sorcerers at the school and managed to get here with the help of barrier technicians.

Knowing that Zoro had gone to a parallel world but not how dangerous it was, he was extremely anxious.

"Son, don't we have something to discuss?"

"Not really."

"That's not true, you directionally challenged marimo."

After finally going out on a rare mission and ditching the assistant supervisor to wander off alone, catching a special grade curse, and then disappearing due to a curse. The hours it took to figure out what happened, devise a plan, and finally reunite with Zoro felt like days.

'Always floating off on your own.'

This time, he had to straighten out his wayward marimo child.

Zoro expertly avoided Toji's scowling gaze. It seemed unlikely this would just blow over easily this time.

Gojo Satoru was about to turn his attention to the newly arrived Toji Zenin.

Had his head not suddenly frozen at the sound of a voice, he surely would have.

"Zoro, you might want to listen to Mr. Toji this time."

"You were worried, huh." A gentle male voice echoed.

Yaga's face hardened.

"...Could that voice be?"

The space twisted violently, and a young sorcerer appeared from a hole in thin air. All faculty members tensed up, and the second-year students looked ready to leap into action at any moment.

It was Geto Suguru.

He stood there, his hair tied up in a style reminiscent of Gojo's memories of their bright spring days, wearing a neatly pressed suit instead of a school uniform or kasaya, and appeared as mature as Gojo.

Geto stopped in his tracks upon seeing Gojo of this world, his eyes widening. Then, with a smile, he raised one hand.

"Hey."

Hello, this world's Satoru.

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