Jujutsu Kaisen: Limitless

Time seemed to continually lose its value. The more techniques and expansions Yūgen Sōjun developed, the more there was to improve.

There simply wasn't enough time.

Although Yūgen Sōjun could multitask on five levels, this wasn't because that was his limit—it was simply because he only had five clones.

Now, he needed more clones to handle more tasks.

As he stepped out of his dorm, with every step he took, another version of himself emerged. After five steps, five separate figures appeared, each heading in different directions. Only three peculiar ones, unsuitable for going outside, remained in the dorm to handle other matters.

Under the white-bone tree, construction had already begun on a new pavilion. Sōjun planned to move there soon, staying close to the core of the barrier, at least for appearances, to show his commitment.

Still, he felt a pang of regret. He had only been living in his current residence for a few months, and it was a great place—secluded, well-positioned, near the inner walls of the campus, with a vast forest just beyond. Many of his bio-inspired creations were still thriving there.

In contrast, the white-bone tree was at the very heart of the campus, a location that clashed with his preference for keeping a low profile. Thus, he had one request: the pavilion's courtyard must be expansive, not only to deter prying eyes but also to accommodate small animals.

More importantly, the barrier itself needed careful consideration.

He insisted on personally supervising the construction to ensure no interference with the barrier.

Since he would be living there, Sōjun saw this as an opportunity to create a safe haven. From site selection and material choices to the pavilion's layout and structure, every detail required meticulous planning. Each brick and tile had to be arranged according to specific placements, embedding the entire structure into the campus like a vital anchor.

There was much to do.

Sōjun soon made his way to the medical ward.

Tennai Riko was the first to spot him and ran over, her voice loud and cheerful, "You're here!"

"Stop acting so giddy," Sōjun rubbed his temples. Despite her petite stature—barely reaching his chest—she somehow had an overwhelming energy. Her voice, amplified like a resonant echo, left his head buzzing.

Riko stepped back a few paces and collapsed into a chair, sprawling over a desk with her arms stretched out. She sighed dramatically, "Studying is so exhausting!"

Things had certainly changed. Once a model student eager to spend every day at school, she now detested studying. Back then, external pressure and assimilation gave her boundless motivation to explore and make new friends. Now, with plenty of friends and time, she found no joy in academics.

Sōjun felt a mixture of frustration and disappointment. Many people avoid the hardship of studying only to endure the hardship of labor later in life. It's the difference between proactive and passive effort.

Like a nagging parent, he lectured, "If you don't study hard now, you'll regret it later when you amount to nothing."

Sōjun found himself slipping into the parental role he had once promised never to emulate. He recalled how, as a child, he would dismiss his own parents' similar warnings, silently vowing never to be like them.

Looking at Riko now, he sighed inwardly. Fine, fine, even a leaky jacket can still keep you warm.

Riko shivered suddenly, realizing something was off. You see me as a friend, but you're treating me like a parent?

Clenching her fists, she raised them toward him. "Let me tell you something! If you keep looking at me with that tone and expression, I'll beat you up!"

"Blah blah blah~"

In truth, her progress in training wasn't slow, a fact that could easily provoke those struggling more. Her innate talent was exceptional. Though her technique remained unclear, her ability to refine cursed energy was remarkably fast.

Leaving the sulking "leaky jacket" behind, Sōjun turned to Shoko Ieiri. "How are things lately?"

"The usual. No, wait, it's worse—way worse," Shoko replied, lighting a cigarette and taking a deep drag. "More and more injuries recently."

The smoke irritated his nose, so Sōjun kept their exchange brief. Draping a white coat over his shoulders, he hurried to the operating room.

Riko, who had been watching him closely, quickly followed. Her spirits revived, she alternated between walking briskly ahead of him and falling behind, her voice echoing around him:

"Is there any way to get stronger quickly—?"

Her tone was deliberately drawn out.

You're so annoying.

Riko knew exactly how to push Sōjun's buttons. She trailed him all the way into the operating room, chattering incessantly until injured patients arrived, finally silencing her.

After treating one patient, Sōjun didn't need to say a word. Riko, perceptive as ever, stepped forward to clean up. The two worked tirelessly until noon. Despite the long hours, Riko remained full of energy.

After lunch and a half-hour break, Sōjun found some free time in the afternoon to teach her jujutsu while stationed at the medical ward.

Later, returning to his dorm, Sōjun found that one clone practicing martial arts had returned. Without pausing, it prepared to leave again, joining another clone refining cursed energy for missions to assimilate curses and earn money.

Even the development of techniques required scheduling, and there were matters to address with the Cursed Fly Head and Handle Spoon factions.

In short, there weren't nearly enough clones.

He needed a solution.

Deciding to combine his constructed clones with golden pills, he planned to model the results on his current cursed technique for similar effects.

No sooner thought than done.

...

At Yaga Masamichi's residence:

"Why are you so free every day? Always here playing with puppet dolls. Didn't your parents buy you enough toys as a child?" Yaga sighed in exasperation at Sōjun, who sat nearby, utterly unbothered.

"It's just cursed technique development—why bring up my childhood?" Sōjun feigned confusion. "Now that you mention it, though, these puppets are quite cute. They do look like children's toys…"

His expression turned mockingly dramatic, face full of astonishment. Who would've thought, with those thick brows, that your heart is actually pink and fluffy!

Yaga took a long, deep breath. Precisely because of Sōjun's poor acting skills, the breath felt even longer. Glancing toward the corner of the living room, Yaga saw multiple Sōjuns sitting in a circle, each holding plushies shaped like bears, kappas, foxes, and other adorable figures.

He couldn't hold it in anymore.

"If you have this much energy, go make yourself useful!" Yaga bellowed. "Why do I see your clones everywhere lately?"

"Because we are many," Sōjun replied with a small joke.

In reality, he had no more than ten clones—his limit for multitasking.

This ability was powerful, but not invincible. Each clone shared his cursed energy limit.

The clones didn't affect his physical body or soul, as they were created entirely from cursed energy and connected via golden pills. The number of clones he could make depended entirely on his energy reserves and ability to multitask.

However, his overall cursed energy was finite. The more clones he created, the lower each individual clone's energy reserves, and thus their combat capabilities.

Sōjun was adept at balancing quantity and quality.

His peak combat state required meticulous control over every detail: maintaining a perfect energy equilibrium, staying slightly hungry to avoid over-satiation, and carrying an unshakable belief in victory. Only then could he reach his full potential.

Having clones active reduced his combat effectiveness, so he viewed the ability as primarily for training.

For tasks like gaining experiential knowledge, the benefits stacked. However, physical conditioning didn't stack—only the experience did.

This was fine by Sōjun. To him, ultimate power belonged to the self, while his clones were tools for uncovering that power. Everything aligned perfectly with his desires.

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