Chapter 44

The months flew by.

Yuuji has continued non-stop in his education. The lessons have sunk in, the battle to come was quickly approaching. Each and every day, he prays he has done enough to prepare.

He has to win no matter what!

He began to feel it in his heart. The time was approaching. "Yuuji?"

He turned to see Gojo sensei peering in. "Ready?" he asked.

Yuuji nodded. "Yes sensei," he said and nodded.

#

Battered, bloodied, wounded… he endured it all.

Yuuji has learned to take strong strikes, endure crushing blows and to fight without limbs or even to just move out of harms way until they have regrown.

At the same time, he has been training his technique.

He has learned through various means and ways as to his curse power. He understands why he is able to do the things he does. As well, why this power will be used to the greatest degree in his final battle with Sukuna.

He created a technique not even revealed to Sensei Gojo or Kitsune. He wants to keep it a secret, just in case, somehow, Sukuna found out about it.

Yuuji has learned many new skills; he has mastered the ones belonging to friends and has since trained himself to combine attacks and abilities.

But no one has to see those yet.

In the few days remaining, he will work hard to polish the method.

#

"It will happen tomorrow. The trial of body and soul"

Kitsune had to sit with the elders once more and explain the rules of battle. "No one is to interfere. Those who come to witness the contest are able to do so without fear of harm. However your abilities will be suppressed until the battle ends." She explained.

"What happens if Sukuna breaks the rules?" Gojo asked.

"He will lose his right to challenge and be sent to hell." Kitsune stated. "But he is too conniving to break the rules. He is going to believe Yuuji has no chance against him…"

Gojo snickered. "I can't wait to see this too…"

"You are not going!" one oldest elder protested. "You should be on patrols to ensure no one interferes!"

"No one will interfere," Kitsune vowed. "My sisters will be patrolling the area to ensure the contest remains truth and fair."

"What about the boy?" One elder asked.

"What about me?"

The room jumped as he appeared out of nowhere. Gojo was falling over laughing his ass off at it all. "You got them good! High ten!"

Yuuji was confused but lifted his two right arms for his sensei to high five.

Kitsune rolled her eyes to it all. "Young master, are you ready for tomorrow?" she asked of him.

He stood as tall and proud as he could. "Yes!" he said in a matter of fact tone.

"Good, you better get some rest tonight, and be prepared."

"Yes Sensei Kitsune!" he vanished shortly after, but the elders were not impressed.

"We better make a backup plan…" some whispered.

Gojo however cleared his voice. "You may as well plan your funerals," he said. "If you have no faith in his kid, then you put your belief in the wrong person."

"What are you talking about Gojo?!" one demanded.

He stood up from the table, teasing to leave the room, but paused at the door, he opened it to leave, but not before saying. "He surpassed me a month ago."

#

There was something happening.

Yuuji was use to meditation by now, he has done it to increase his curse energy, relax his mind and reflect on the lessons he gets from Kitsune and Gojo sensei. But as of late, he could feel something was drastically different from it all. He has seen a barren cherry blossom tree in a vast open field, despite how peaceful it appeared, he felt tense. As if something was not happy in this land.

"This again…" he thought.

But as he tried to figure things out, his mind was bombarded with strange sounds, voices and then sensations. One, he felt trapped in a vice, two, he could hear chants of spells and felt the bindings grow around his body. Third, he saw Sukuna laughing aloud to it all.

That last sensation he knew all too well.

"What is this trying to tell me?" he wondered.

Then his heart ached, he felt a great loss to himself. Like when his grandfather passed away. It was the same feeling of dread and loss. Tears fell from his eyes as he continued to feel this emotion. "Something else is here… I am feeling what they feel…" he muttered.

Then he remembered Kitsune speak of her 'master' that resides in him. "Is this it? Is this the Master she speaks of?" he wondered.

He tried to get closer to the tree, yet as he did, he felt the resistance against his body. Until…

A deafening roar was aimed right at him!

But as he took a closer look, he saw there was a hollow within. He tried to peer into it, but as he did, three shining eyes stared back at him!

He snapped out of his meditative state. "What the hell was that?!" he whispered.

His heart raced in his chest, he settled himself down, but still, those eyes haunted him. "What did I just see?"