-New beginnings- BOOK 1: THE ORIGIN OF DARKNESS

-CHAPTER 1: THE CHASE-

The forest was alive with the sounds of pursuit. Branches snapped underfoot, leaves rustled in a frantic rhythm, and the distant call of an owl was swallowed by the growing tension. Shadows shifted between towering trees, their silhouettes blurred by the thick mist curling through the undergrowth. The wind howled through the dense canopy, but it was the heavy, hurried breaths that truly filled the air. Feet pounded on the forest floor, slipping on the damp soil as the chase gained momentum. Every step felt closer, every heartbeat louder, as predator and prey wove through the forest, racing against the inevitable.

Ahead Yuji Itadori sprinted through the dense forest, his breath coming in ragged bursts. He could barely make out the path ahead, branched and undergrowth blurring as he pushed himself harder. The cool night air was thick with mist, chilling the sweat on his skin. Behind him, the sound of snapping twigs and pounding footsteps was growing louder. He knew who it was, and he knew he couldn't slow down.

"Itadori!" Megumi Fushiguro's voice cut through the forest, sharp and commanding. His tone was edged with frustration, maybe even concern, but Yuji couldn't stop to explain.

Megumi was relentless, weaving through the trees with a predator's precision. His dark eyes stayed fixed on Yuji's silhouette darting in and out of sight between the tree trunks. This forest was familiar to Megumi, every twist and turn playing to his advantage. He moved with purpose, his jaw set. Yuji had done something reckless - again- and there was no way he'd let him disappear into the night without an answer.

-A couple hours ago -

Yuji Itadori sat on the cold stone floor of his cell, the weight of the silence pressing down on him. The dim light of the single flickering bulb overhead cast long shadows across the small, confined space. Iron bars framed his world now, cutting off any hope of escape. His brown jumpsuit clung uncomfortably to his skin, a reminder of what awaited him.

Execution.

He had known it was coming ever since he swallowed Sukuna's first finger. But now that the moment was near, it felt surreal. He stared down at his hands, once used to save people, had also unleashed something terrible into the world. Sukuna's cursed energy still pulsed faintly within him, a dark reminder of the monster that lived inside. But it was more than that . Even without Sukuna, there was still blood on his hands. People had died - people he couldn't save, no matter how hard he had tried.

His heart was heavy with a mixture of guilt and resignation. He wasn't afraid of death. Not really. He had come to terms with it , especially after everything he had been through. What stung more was the idea of leaving his friends behind - Megumi, Nobara, Gojo-sensei. They had fought so hard for him, risked everything, and now it was all coming to this. It felt like he was letting them down.

He leaned his head back against the cold stone wall, eyes drifting up to the ceiling. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and rusted iron, the oppressive quiet occasionally broken by the faint echoes of guards outside. He wondered what they were thinking. Did they see him as a monster, too? Or just a boy who'd gotten in over his head?

Footsteps echoed from down the corridor. Slow, deliberate. Yuji didn't move, didn't look up. He knew who it was before the figure even stopped outside his cell. Gojo Satoru stood there, hands in his pockets, his usual cocky smirk absent. For once, his eyes—hidden behind those dark glasses—seemed almost unreadable. He didn't say anything at first, just stood there, watching Yuji with an intensity that made the silence feel even heavier. Yuji finally lifted his head, meeting Gojo's gaze. "Is it time?" Gojo didn't answer right away. His lips twitched, almost as if he was struggling to find the right words. Finally, he spoke, his voice quieter than usual. "Not yet. But soon."

Yuji nodded slowly, his heart sinking just a little more. "I figured." There was another long silence. Gojo shifted, leaning casually against the bars, but there was a tension in his stance, a heaviness that Yuji had never seen before. "Are you still sure about this?" Gojo asked, his tone softer now, lacking its usual edge. Yuji let out a breath, glancing away. "I don't really have much of a choice, do I? Sukuna's still in me. People are still in danger. And... after everything, I think this might be the only way to make things right." Gojo's face didn't change, but Yuji could sense the frustration radiating off him. "There are other ways, you know." Yuji shook his head. "Not for me. I accepted this the moment I swallowed that first finger." Gojo was silent for a moment, his eyes hidden but his posture stiff. "You're a good kid, Yuji," he said finally, the words almost quiet enough to be lost. "Too good for this world, sometimes." Yuji smiled faintly, though there was no joy in it. "Guess that's why it's time for me to go, huh?" Gojo pushed off the bars, straightening. "Don't count yourself out just yet." His usual cockiness was back, if only for a moment. "I've still got some tricks up my sleeve." But as Gojo turned to leave, Yuji wasn't sure if his words were meant to comfort, or if they were just another empty hope. As the footsteps faded, Yuji leaned back against the wall once more, closing his eyes. The quiet returned, pressing in around him like the inevitability of what was to come. Execution. Maybe it was for the best. Maybe, after everything, this was the only way to put an end to the chaos he had unleashed. But deep down, in that quiet moment before the storm, Yuji couldn't help but hope that somehow, against all odds, things would turn out differently.