Chapter 4

'I think this is going well…' Suiryu thought offhandedly.

Yet his mind kept drifting back to the women who waited in the hallway. Yet as he was distracted, he sensed an attack coming. "I'll show you…"

He moved, just as Naoya went for an attack. Those who weren't skilled in being fast, blinked and missed it. Yet those who were proficient in speed, saw it all, and were dumbfounded.

Naoya was even rendered silent as Suiryu went from sitting in his own seat, to taking Naoya's the moment he tried to strike him down. "You're technique is good, but it's useless against those who are faster and able to perceive the world around them quicker than you can move… huh you didn't touch your sashimi." He didn't hesitate to eat off Naoya's plate. It only pissed him off even more.

"You… pathetic…"

It became a rather odd and yet amusing dance around the room. No matter how Naoya used his ability, Suiryu was faster, out maneuvering him and aways keeping ahead at least two steps. It only frustrated the proud Zenin man as he sneered at Suiryu. "Are you done?" he asked with a rather annoyed tone. "This isn't fun anymore."

"HOW!" he shouted. "HOW CAN YOU BE FASTER THAN ME?"

Suiryu glared down at him. "When I said you were a slow learner, you really are. I told you before, if the person you face is faster and perceives the world around them differently than you… you don't stand a chance. You didn't take into factor the time, space and speed needed to gain to take on me, you don't factor the room into your calculations and assume you can go top speed the moment you want to. You're a damn idiot."

Suiryu took his seat once more, Naoya now no longer finds him amusing. "You hardly have any curse energy… if anything it's a sliver above Mia's!" he protested.

"Okay, time to get you off the family tit. Even if it means ripping you off." Suiryu stated. He stood up once more, peered into the hallway and said. "Make a bet with you. Binding vow and all, give me three hours with one of the women in the hallways, let me train her. In that time, she will be more than adequate to beat you!" he stated.

The room fell into a stunned silence. "Wait?" Naoya demanded. His selfish grin returned. "You think a woman could beat a man of the Zenin clan?!"

"One with no curse energy can so with ease. It's making it all the more clear to me now, the men of the Zenin clan, fear how strong the women are."

It was like a slap to the face, Naoya stood up and stared Suiryu in the eyes through his mask. "What are the stakes?" he demanded.

He paused to consider the options. "Well, if I win, well I'll consider it. If anything, I want the women of the Zenin clan to be properly trained on their curse energy abilities." He said simply. "You win… I will personally train you and give you the power to be a special grade sorcerer… making you undisputed among your clan"

A look of curiosity came over him. "How can you promise that?"

"It's under a binding vow… I have to fulfill it, if not I am punished, am I not?" he asked with a sinister grin. "It's a win-win for you isn't it? I either fulfill my end of the deal or you watch me suffer for not. So, what do you say Zenin?" his hand went out. Naoya took it instantly without hesitation. Suiryu on the other hand was grinning. "I hope you like the taste of dirt, excuse me gentlemen…" Suiryu walked out of the room as he peered at the women in the hallway. They were terrified of him, yet there was good talent here.

"You, come with me please," he said pointing to a young, twenty year old.

She trembled but obeyed.

He led her outside without saying a word, they went to the other side of the school where he looked her over. "Friction," he said instantly. "You can control the amount of friction between two objects."

She froze to his deduction. "How did you…" she was about to ask.

"You are the prefect counter to that asshole back there. His main talent is speed to say the least, but he has no idea you can do this…"

"Sir… I can't go against him… he is the future head of this family…"

"I doubt that," Suiryu muttered, but then paused. He looked to this woman oddly. "You don't believe I can train you well enough to take him on do you?"

She didn't speak, but turned her head away.

"That's fair, a no name teacher like me, I wouldn't have faith either… what if I were someone well known?" he asked.

"What do you mean sir?"

"I'll show you who I really am, but… you cannot tell ANYONE about it, understood? The moment you realize who I am, I promise you… what I said was true, and you can kick that guy's ass! Or at the very least, embarrass him… better off to embarrass him."

She paused, but nodded her head. Suiryu made a domain, that startled her at first. "This is a personal domain, I make these for training purposes. Now… this is what is going to scare you the most." He called out his own curse energy, she froze as she must have felt is suddenly surge before her eyes. But even worst still, when the armor vanished, the helmet disappeared… and the curse marks leeched on to his skin.

"Sukuna…" she whispered fearfully.

"Came from the bastard, but not the bastard. If I were, everyone would have been dead long before you reached the school, right?" he said in his normal, baritone voice.

She settled herself a little. "Why… why help me?"

Suiryu chuckled a little. "Why? Because you don't deserve to be treated like shit, they speak ill will of my student. They are threatening Mika. Quite frankly, that asshole pisses me off. As much as I would LOVE to kick his ass, it would be hallow, since I know I can do it. BUT, having his pride shattered by those he considers lower beings than him… that…" he paused and licked his lips oddly. "That's satisfying to me!"

"Still, why help me?" she asked again.

Suiryu paused to consider his wording. "Strong women are often suppressed by weak men, as I said before with the three great clans, they got to get off the family tit. They are obsessed with their power, always trying to cultivate more and getting to be the strongest, yet refusing to acknowledge those in their family with talent is shameful. Those even without curse energy can become amazing warriors." He said. "Quite frankly, I love a strong woman, one that can keep me in my place and stands her ground against me… I really like." He said in a coy tone of voice. "But that's for another time, we got three hours to get you ready and to humiliate him… but you will also have the tools needed to kick his ass when the time is right! Trust me?" he asked of her and extended his hand.

She was fearful, yet she took it. "Please take care of me,"

#

Three hours passed.

Gojo was back after having to change suddenly, he won't ever admit to what happened, that stays between him and his soggy pants!

But for the moment, he was looking forward to this odd duel. A bet has been made, which only makes him believe that Naoya will be getting his ass handed to him! Yet as they waited, Naoya was oddly friendly towards Gojo. "Just you see, I am going to be standing as an equal next to you!" Naoya vowed.

"Uh… huh?" Gojo said with great uncertainty. Either way, if it makes the kid happy, whatever. Wait, he's only a year younger than him… oh well!

The councilmen and the other members of the great families were whispering as Suiryu appeared once more with a rather confident woman behind him. Gojo remembered her in the halls, she was very humble and startled young woman. My, how much a person can change in three hours!

She didn't wear the traditional uniform the other women are forced to wear in the Zenin family. In fact, it was a lot like Mika's uniform, but she wore pants rather than a skirt. Suiryu turned and whispered something into her ear before nodding to the young woman confidently.

He then turned his attention to Naoya. "You are going to agree to the rules of our binding vow correct?"

"I was going to ask you the same!" Naoya said with a confident grin. "I thought you were one of those gentlemen kind, that would always fight for a woman. I appear to be mistaken, you use them as a meat shield don't you?"

Suiryu cackled aloud. "Oh, that's rich. No, not in the least bit. I just find it far more satisfying to see someone get their asses handed to them by someone they consider inferior. I could beat you within an inch of your life in mere seconds. Not that satisfying, to watch someone you have tormented… take revenge for themselves… that's a turn on for me!" he paused and peered down. "Huh, chose the wrong thing to wear today…"

Gojo snickered once more, but was quick to silence himself.

"The rules are simple, we will have the contestant battle until one cannot stand after the count of ten!" Yaga announced. "Do not aim to kill, do not aim to do long lasting damage…"

"Sucked the fun out of it…" Suiryu muttered.

"Contestants, ready?!" Yaga shouted.

"YES!" came the woman.

"It will be over instantly…" Naoya stated.

"BEGIN!"

Naoya already vanished.

With the wider space, he was able to gain the speed he needed to end this fast. Yet, there was something wrong. He could sense this woman's curse energy spreading throughout the ground, yet nothing was gathered in her fist or any other part of her body. "What is she…" Suddenly, his foot slipped!

Naoya crashed into the cement rather disgracefully! Worst still, due to his speed, he thought he would have come to a skidding halt, instead, it was very fast and sudden as his body was already feeling the effects. "What the fuck!" he demanded.

He tried to stand, but couldn't do that either! The energy suddenly shifted and he found himself sliding across the ground! He couldn't get up!

"What the hell! What's going on!?"

"3… 4… 5…" counted Yaga.

Gojo was snickering as he realized what was going on. "Wait, she controls friction?" he whispered to Suiryu.

"How can one run if they cannot stand? How can they run if the resistance against them is too much to overcome? Remember Satoru, even when walking, wind offers resistance, and there is friction as it comes against the skin… this little Zenin has no chance against her…"

"10!" Yaga finished the count.

"WAIT! NO! THIS ISN'T FAIR!" Naoya protested. "I want a rematch! I want to fight you!" he shouted to Suiryu.

"Okay," he said in a disconcerting tone.

Naoya was released from the friction jujutsu, he glared at the woman who embarrassed him before turning his sights to Suiryu. "We duel with weapons! I choose!" he stated.

"Sure," Suiryu was still disinterested to it all, until Naoya smirked, he snapped his fingers as a collection of weapons appeared. He went over and began to look at the offerings before he picked out one. He took a sword for himself, then tossed two daggers to Suiryu. He peered at the weapons and back at Naoya. "You sure about this?" he asked. "I don't want to embarrass you."

"Oh please, by the sounds of your pathetic origin story, you never handled a weapon before besides that stupid battle ax!"

Gojo stepped back as suddenly, Suiryu demonstrated his skills with the daggers. He moved with them so fluidly, no one could see the blades, let alone his hand movements. It was almost as if he danced with them, making his movements rather odd to those around him, until he was inches before Naoya and had a dagger to his throat, and the other was poised at his heart. "You were saying?"

He suddenly changed his mind on the kind of weapon Suiryu should use. He took a spear and tossed it to him… but even that he was too proficient in. He made three jabs to the air, and then they all felt and heard the sonic boom from it! No one moved as the spear was quickly taken back.

'Wait, if I remember correctly. Sukuna was the master of the sword, spear, ax and dagger… and bow and arrow too… wait… he probably knows how to use every weapon on that rack…' he snickered at the notion, and it only proved to be true as they went through each weapon and Suiryu displayed his talent with it!

It came to the point where Naoya was regretting the challenge. However, Suiryu promised Yaga he would keep the peace as best he could. "You know what, I think I am going to check on my students, this is boring anyways…" he tossed the last weapon he had in his hand back to Naoya. "TBC," he said and walked off.

Yaga appeared relieved to see it ended before something could happen. Naoya however wasn't going to let it rest. "I wish to duel him, and I want to use your training forest to do it!" he ordered the council.

"We… advise you not go against Sensei Raze…" one said meekly. "For your own safety"

"Our family head is more than capable of taking him out!" shouted one of the other Zenin members. "In fact, we will all take him out!"

"I really wouldn't if I were you…" warned Gojo. "Wait, what am I saying trying to discourage this… it's going to be fun to watch you try!"