Facing Sukuna's question, Kenjaku smiled.
"I don't need any other help from you. But I do need a very capable subordinate to assist me with something I can't handle personally."
His words left Sukuna visibly confused. What was the point of telling him this? Sukuna was confined to the spiritual realm and had no way to summon subordinates for him.
Noticing his puzzled expression, Kenjaku didn't keep him guessing.
"I have a test subject. Someone you know well. An old acquaintance of yours."
Sukuna narrowed his four eyes and locked his gaze on Kenjaku.
"An old acquaintance?"
"Yes. Uraume. I want Uraume to help me."
At the mention of that name, Ryomen Sukuna went still for a moment, lost in thought.
"Uraume? Uraume is still alive?"
His tone carried a rare hint of doubt. A thousand years ago, Uraume had been his most capable subordinate. Could she really have survived until now?
That shouldn't be possible. As far as he could remember, Uraume didn't have that kind of longevity.
She shouldn't still exist in this era...
"Kenjaku, what did you do to Uraume?"
Though his expression was calm, the cursed pressure inside the Malevolent Shrine surged like a blade. If Kenjaku gave an unsatisfactory answer, Sukuna might strike him down without hesitation.
"If Uraume knew that Ryomen Sukuna-sama still cares so much about her, she might be moved to tears. Although... she probably isn't even capable of crying right now."
Despite the rising pressure, Kenjaku remained completely unfazed.
"Uraume does still exist in the world. But if you saw her now, you probably wouldn't recognize her. Don't worry, Sukuna, I didn't force her. I simply gave her a chance to live."
"However, the process was extremely painful. As a result, she now bears some hostility toward me. She doesn't fully believe that I will succeed in reviving you."
Even though Kenjaku wasn't being fully explicit, Sukuna understood his meaning.
"So, Uraume is under your control now? And you want her to help you? You want me to convince her?"
As his most capable chef and attendant, Sukuna had always held Uraume in high regard. If she were truly still alive, it would bring him some comfort.
But was Kenjaku really asking for help just because he lacked manpower?
"I found Uraume and proposed a body transfer experiment. She agreed—partly to survive, partly to see you again."
"Because the experiment was so painful, she no longer trusts me. So I need you to give me a mark—proof from you—so I can convince her. You know how strong she is. If she cooperates with me, gathering your fingers will be much easier."
"Most importantly, Uraume now possesses a human body. That makes it easier for her to operate in the human world. At worst, people will think she's just a Curse User."
Kenjaku explained the situation clearly and raised both hands.
"So, Sukuna-sama, I didn't mistreat your loyal subordinate. I even got her consent before starting the experiment. I just didn't expect the process to cause such intense pain... enough to make her fear me."
"That fear... only you can resolve it."
The way Kenjaku addressed Sukuna was somewhat strange, but Sukuna chose not to dwell on it.
"As the one in control of the experiment, you didn't know how much pain it would cause? Uraume must've realized that cooperating with you was no different than dancing with death. That's why she won't work with you."
Sukuna shook his head slowly, a rare trace of nostalgia flashing in his eyes.
"I do miss Uraume's cooking."
As he spoke, he raised his right hand. A surge of cursed energy shot toward Kenjaku's right arm.
This cursed energy was powerful, imbued with Sukuna's distinct signature. Any ordinary cursed spirit would have been instantly annihilated.
But Kenjaku didn't flinch or resist. He allowed the cursed energy to land.
The moment it touched his body, it transformed into a sigil—a four-eyed demonic crest—engraving itself onto the back of Kenjaku's right hand.
"This is my proof. With this mark, Uraume will follow your orders and help you collect my fingers."
"However, don't expect this mark to make her obey you unconditionally. If she believes you've done anything to harm me, she'll resist you. That's the level of autonomy I've granted her."
Sukuna returned to his throne and rested his chin on one hand, looking at Kenjaku lazily. From this point forward, the affairs of the world would fall to him.
Standing beneath the throne of bones, Kenjaku looked down at the mark now etched onto his right hand and frowned.
"Sukuna, this is way too conspicuous. How am I supposed to apply makeup like this?"
Veins twitched on Sukuna's forehead.
"I didn't see you trying to hide those stitches on your head. Wouldn't any normal person ask about those first? If you're not covering that up, why do you care about a little mark?"
Kenjaku pursed his lips.
"If it were a more refined design, I wouldn't complain. But this thing? Seriously? If someone didn't know me, they'd think I was a yakuza matriarch."
Sukuna was speechless.
"Kenjaku, have you been playing at being a woman for so long you've forgotten you were a man?"
He couldn't help but comment.
Kenjaku's reply shut him down completely.
"Sukuna, you're mistaken. I am a woman now... and I'm also a mother."
"Oh, and by the way, my child might have a very special connection with you in the future."
His posture and tone sent a chill down Sukuna's spine.
"I'll leave the matters of this world to you. Find out Gojo Satoshi's true goal as soon as possible. With your current strength, he shouldn't be much of a threat."
With that, Ryomen Sukuna waved his hand.
His expression suddenly shifted.
He could feel it. A portion of his power had disappeared.
This meant that in the present world, Gojo Satoshi had completely destroyed his six fingers using Ryūjin Jakka and Sode no Shirayuki.
"It's over, Kenjaku."
A moment later, Kenjaku felt an irresistible force pulling him away.
Before he could say another word, he was expelled from the Malevolent Shrine.
(To be continued.)
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