17 Chapter 17: Curse Spirit of Control

???

"Aiyahh, to think that the kid already did the job without even us knowing. My dignity as the teacher is falling, you know~?" Gojo commented, shaking his head exaggeratedly. "As if it wasn't bad in the first place" Panda retorted but when gazed at by Gojo he immediately feigned ignorance and just whistled poorly. "That guy Kumagawa is really monstrous though. Who the hell keeps a pet that can fight against special grade curses!!" Nobara shouted in frustration.

She was easily played by one of them yet this strange pet managed to escape multiple of them! What does this make her? A worm? "Speaking of which, where is that bastard?" Nobara asked looking at Megumi who sighed. "Apparently, he is currently trying to create another monster using the finger that Gojo-sensei picked up. He has been excited ever since he heard about the exchange"

"Huh? Exchange? What's that Fushiguro?" Itadori asked clearly interested in the thing. "It's an event where Tokyo students does an friendly competition with our neighbors, which is Kyoto" Maki informed the two rookies, earning their full attention. "D-Does this mean we can meet other students?!" Itadori was excited from different thing. "Fool! It's Kyoto! Kyoto you know!"

"Ohh! I forgot! Hooray! Hooray!" Itadori shared Nobara's excitement as the two began doing circles while celebrating. They are excited about what will greet them in the beautiful place. "Huh? What are you celebrating about? We won't be going there" Maki immediately broke their happiness by announcing the cruel truth.

"Whatt?!"

"How could that be?!"

The two reacted violently. "Are you idiots? Just because there is the Kyoto name there doesn't mean that we will be going to that place. The venue this year will be our school so say goodbye to your hopes" Maki grinned saying that. Nobara and Itadori slumped into the ground as they muttered a lot of attraction spots in Kyoto.

Although Gojo was amused by their actions, he needed to confirm something first. "Yuji~, I want to check something. Can you let that guy out for a few seconds? 3-5 will suffice" Gojo said, shooing the three seniors away. He also instructed Nobara and Megumi to stay away since they might be hit by collateral damage. "Eh? Are you sure sensei? He is quite powerful you know" Itadori scratched his head asking for geniuty.

Hearing that Gojo couldn't help but laugh. "It's fine! It's fine. Besides… even if he is at his full power, I'd still win" Gojo lowered his eyepatch revealing a single eye. "Boo! Buzz off, stop acting so stupid!" Nobara immediately attacked that spot. "Okay, here I go!" Itadori shouted as tattoos began appearing all around his body.

BOOM!!

A strong blast was released hurling towards Gojo who just simply stood. Sukuna on the other hand frowned, sensing his attack didn't kill. "What's this? Another worm trying to mess with me? Know your place… foo-?!" Sukuna could not finish his words as Gojo already appeared in front of him, grabbing his head and slamming it on the hard ground.

Sukuna quickly reached out his hand and clawed in Gojo's direction. "Hah! As expected of you pests! You really always do manage to amuse me with your resistance! Calmly accept your death!" Sukuna shouted, throwing a barrage of slashes that Gojo either dodged or brutefully accepted. The two were locked on a battle or rather a game before Sukuna convolted wildly.

"Ah.. what an annoying br..a..t…." he cursed as his consciousness was dragged deeper again into his domain. The tattoos were erased and only Itadori was left standing with no upper clothes on his body. "Ow! Ow! Shit, my body hurts!" Itadori complained, grasping his spamming muscles. They were overexerted and exhausted just from a quick 5 second battle. Gojo observed this smiling.

"Good job, Yuji! It appears that you can really control him. Now this is a unique surprise. A rare constitution that only appears every thousand of years" he said, patting Itadori's shoulder. "Was that enough? My body feels really heavy right now, I want to rest!" Itadori stretched while yawning. His body was overwhelmed with fatigue that he just wanted to forget about it.

"Right, right. You can go ahead and sleep. We still need to inspect the other bastard right now. Who knows what out of this world monster he will be creating" Gojo gave his permission as Itadori instantly dashed out of the place. The other students also gathered around clapping their hands. "That was a good performance, just too idiotic. Who needs style when you can immediately kill an enemy?" Maki commented.

As Itadori was walking away he suddenly sensed a great disturbance inside him. He recognized this sensation as he just experienced it yesterday. "Huh? Is Pride here?" He muttered tilting his head. The others were visibly alarmed by that, especially the students who got ragged by the curse. And although the curse was on their side, they still couldn't help but be cautious.

"Huh? This is different from Pride-chan!" Itadori exclaimed sensing a much greater threat in this one. All of them looked around wanting to know what is happening but their vigilance was broken by Gojo's chuckle. "Hahahaha! What the hell is this? A weapon of mass control?! The madness!" He giggled happily confusing many.

"Be a good boy"

A voice rang, alarming them as they become cautious. "Paw" the feminine voice sounded again but this time it gave an order. And against their wills, the students handed out their hands with no hesitation.

""?!!""

Of course that result would shock them especially Inumaki since what just happened was quite similar to his ability. Strangely though, the effect doesn't seem to only affect their physical body but rather directly to their soul. "W-What is this..?" Itadori muttered trying to control his body and to everyone's surprise, he managed to slowly get out of control. A feat that they are trying hard to achieve.

"Oh my, to think someone has control over their soul here. It might be a subconscious reflex but commendable nonetheless" the voice spoke again this time much more closer to their spot. "Show yourself!" Maki shouted, exerting full force unto retrieving her hand. "Well, I'll introduce myself by the orders of my liege" the voice said before a silhouette appeared near them.

They narrowed their eyes trying to get a clue only to be stunned by the reveal. What appeared was a woman in her 20's. She has long light pale auburn hair, in a loose braid with bangs reaching just past her eyebrows and two longer side bangs that frame her face. Her eyes are yellow with multiple red rings within them, making them the only visible sign of her inhuman nature.

"My liege named me Makima, you might start calling me that from now on. Though with your powers… only one seemed to be worthy of doing that" the woman named Makima said, smiling slightly as she stared at the white haired man. The two did a short stare down before Makima backed down in respect. She recognizes that Gojo is stronger than her so she must use logic at this moment.

"I see! I see! You are a new pet of Kumagawa! Then you can call me Yu-" Itadori was about to introduce himself when Makima stopped him. "Stop right there. I acknowledge that you are commendable but haven't said that you're worthy. With your current strength, rats are more useful than you. So starting today, I will call you Pochi 1" Makima said, pointing at Itadori.

She then proceeds to point at others continuing the order. "Pochi 2, Pochi 3, oh a girl. Then you are Mike 1 while the other is number 2.." she disregarded any feeling they have and insulted them. There was no hint of sympathy in her voice as if what she is doing is merely a boring job.

"I'd have you refrain from what you are doing" Gojo finally spoke, raising his hand at Makima. "Hm? You're interfering? What makes you think that I won't kill your students?" Makima asked tilting her head while pointing her finger at Megumi. Her hand was mimicking a gun.

Gojo narrowed his eyes at the threat. "And what makes you believe that I can't kill you before you can do that?" He asked opening his eyepatch. The current Makima is far too weak compare to Gojo so he is not fazed by her words. His pride is just irritated that someone weak dares to challenge him.

Pressure was scattering all over the place and the students were getting pushed by it. The smiles of the two were already devoid of any friendliness as they looked like they were about to kill each other. Thankfully, the staredown was broken by the voice of Pride who suddenly appeared. "Makima…" he merely said one word yet Makima immediately backed down. "Behave" Pride said before slowly vanishing in the shadows. "Master is… coming"