-New beginnings- BOOK 1: THE ORIGIN OF DARKNESS

-CHAPTER 9: THE SILENT RESENTMENT-

The dimly lit room in Jujutsu High's inner sanctum pulsed with a quiet tension, each shadowed figure cloaked in a mixture of distrust and frustration. Principal Yoshinobu Gakuganji stood at the head of the table, his gaze distant but stern, as the faint glow of paper lanterns cast his face in harsh, judgmental lines.

He began with a weighted sigh. "Our school exists to uphold the delicate balance between cursed energy and humanity. And yet, here we are, our reputation compromised by Satoru Gojo's reckless intervention in the affairs of Itadori Yuji."

The other faculty members exchanged uneasy glances, hesitant but unable to deny the weight of his words. Though they'd witnessed Itadori's power, his potential, and the flashes of goodness that Gojo so staunchly defended, the darkness that accompanied Sukuna's presence within him was undeniable.

"Letting that boy walk free—" Gakuganji continued, his voice filled with a simmering resentment, "—it's an open invitation for catastrophe. Gojo's arrogance blinds him to the threat Itadori poses. And worse yet, we have Megumi Fushiguro to thank for nurturing this 'hope' in him."

One of the advisors, an older woman with sharp eyes, spoke up. "Fushiguro is strong, but he's young, impressionable. He's convinced himself that Itadori can be a hero."

Gakuganji's fist clenched against the polished table, his knuckles turning white. "That belief makes him dangerous. If Itadori is allowed to continue unchecked, then Fushiguro, with his loyalty, may very well be the greatest tool we can use—if handled correctly."

A younger teacher furrowed his brow. "Principal, are you suggesting...?"

Gakuganji's eyes narrowed. "We cannot risk an all-out confrontation with Gojo, nor do we want to alienate Itadori outright—not when he could be directed toward a purpose that suits us. But Fushiguro..." His gaze hardened as he looked over the assembled group. "Fushiguro is vulnerable in his loyalty. If we can weaken Itadori at his core by targeting that loyalty, we might just crack the hold Gojo has over him."

Silence fell over the room, the weight of Gakuganji's words sinking in. Fushiguro, devoted to his comrades, would be the ideal wedge. And they knew it.

"Break his support," the principal murmured, his voice barely above a whisper but heavy with conviction. "Force him to question his beliefs, his loyalty. Fushiguro may think he can save Itadori, but he will only lead him down a path to ruin." A grim satisfaction settled over his expression. "If Gojo's arrogance blinds him to this boy's danger, then it falls to us to ensure that Itadori never forgets what he carries within him."

The older woman leaned forward, eyes cold. "And Fushiguro?"

"Watch him," Gakuganji replied, his voice laced with unyielding resolve. "If he shows weakness, exploit it. Show him what it costs to hold out hope for someone like Itadori."

The atmosphere in the room darkened further as Principal Gakuganji's gaze turned steely, and his voice dropped to an even colder tone.

"If Fushiguro refuses to see reason," he continued, "we may need to resort to stronger measures. His loyalty to Itadori is blinding him, and that blindness is dangerous. We can't allow his ideals to compromise our mission, or to spread like a contagion to others. If words alone aren't enough..." he paused, his face hardening, "...then he'll be forced to feel the consequences."

A murmur of unease swept through the group, and the older woman nodded solemnly. "Are you suggesting physical intervention, Principal?"

Gakuganji's gaze remained fixed, unwavering. "If that's what it takes. A few calculated reminders might force Fushiguro to reconsider where his loyalties lie. And if pain is what's needed to sever his attachment to Itadori, then so be it. Perhaps he will come to understand that aligning himself with such a dangerous ally will only bring him harm."

Another faculty member, a younger man with a hardened expression, leaned forward. "It's risky," he said cautiously, "but it could be effective. Fushiguro has a protective streak—and if we make it clear that his choices put himself at risk, it may just break his resolve."

The principal's lips curled into a thin, ruthless smile. "Precisely. If we press him to understand that his loyalty comes with a cost—one he will feel on his very skin—then perhaps he'll finally see the true threat Itadori represents."

The older woman's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Do we have specific measures in mind?"

"We do," Gakuganji replied, a chilling finality in his voice. "When the time comes, Fushiguro will find himself in situations where his strength will be tested—deliberately and repeatedly. If he suffers a few injuries, he may realize that his allegiance to Itadori is a weakness that will only continue to drag him down."

The group nodded in quiet, grim agreement. It was a ruthless plan, but to them, necessary. They'd create circumstances where Fushiguro would face escalating challenges, each one a veiled punishment for his loyalty to Itadori.

Gakuganji's final words were spoken with a cutting certainty, echoing through the chamber. "Fushiguro will learn, one way or another, that his devotion has consequences. And if we must break his spirit—or his body—to save him from Itadori, then that is what we'll do."