Chapter 15

The notion Sukuna had in mind… was put on the back burner for the time being.

This… he HAD to see with his own eyes.

The boy spent all day yesterday training with Chusi, even Shellboy helped out when asked. But the fact remains is this. The boy is every bit like his father. Not to mention the quickness of his reaction and reflexes. He's taking into account the abilities of those around him and how to counter.

Of course, he never landed a hit on Chusi… Shellboy on the other hand got the brunt of the attacks.

But, in the end, the child was satisfied with his growth. Chusi decreed he should be able to hold his own against Yuuji now, however she warns him. "You can stand your ground, but victory will be determined by how badly you wish to win." She explained. "Your father may also go easy on you, however, his dragon side may get the better. If he is determined to ensure that you stay at his side, he will fight you seriously. So you mustn't hold back. Understood?"

The child nodded.

With the lesson well in hand, he was about to call it a night. Until Sukuna stopped him from leaving. "One more round, but with me." He decreed.

"But I could…"

"Yes, but what you are going to do is like what we did the last time in winter. Except, your challenge is not to run. You are going to avoid everything I throw at you. Understood?"

Despite how tired he was, the child agreed to the spar session.

Sukuna made certain he didn't go easy on the child. Chusi kept watch to ensure nothing got out of hand. However, in the heat of battle, Sukuna tends to go a little overboard.

Especially when he is having fun.

In two hours, he wore the child down. Not only is Sukuna still able to throw off a child with dragon instincts and perception, he even struck him a few times! However, instantly, he could tell how different this child was. After all, he took a stone pillar to the stomach. It would have winded one with heavenly restriction, to the boy, he was merely pushed back… and then shattered the pillar out of spite.

But, the fact remains is this. In those two hours he had, Sukuna only managed to strike him four times.

The child was stunned when they finished. He was tired and winded, but…

"Boy, something is happening to you." Sukuna called.

"What do you mean?"

He approached, inspecting the child's flesh, he swore he saw it just a moment ago. "Was I mistaken?"

"I saw it too Ryomen"

Chusi came in for a closer look, she checked he boy's arms but nodded. "Eventually, but it appears not yet."

"What are you two talking about?!"

Chusi smiled and explained. "In the heat of battle, I began to see black markings appear on your body. What would be a curse mark to sorcerers, for a dragon, I believe it's your adult form starting to take shape." She explained.

"WHAT?" The child demanded as he wrenched back his arms. "I don't want marks!"

"Child, it's beyond your control. At the same time, marks like this are beneficial." Sukuna tried to explain.

"What Ryomen means is this. For a sorcerer, when they have curse marks, they can hold and use more jujutsu that would otherwise burn out and overload the mind and body. However, for your situation… I think it's ensuring you look as you do without any… complications."

The child was confused. "HUH?!"

"Lift your shirt," Sukuna ordered.

"What?!"

"Lift… your… shirt." He said slowly.

The child resisted, and yet, the moment he did, he jumped.

He bore thick markings on his body, they went around his torso but Sukuna already noticed what the pattern was. "That makes sense,"

"What… what is this?!"

"Ryomen?" Chusi asked gently.

"It means that you are going to be just like your father and uncle. You're a demon dragons, but, unlike those two who can hide their limbs, yours are hidden by the marking on your body right now. Those are your extra arms that have yet to develop."

"Oh, that's a rather nice feature… Oh and he has the birth mark like his father!"

The child peered down and saw the horn like shape that branched from his naval.

"I… I really am a demon dragon like him…"

"Boy, this is a good thing to occur. You won't be sprouting limbs in a time of inconvenience." Sukuna explained. "If anything, the features that your father bares will come on to you but, they will be hidden more discreetly."

The child sighed.

"Besides, you're ready to face your father."

That… was yesterday.

Sukuna now sits on the sidelines to watch this little battle come to a head. Kiyoshi is confronting his father, the knockoff is going to moderate. "Okay bro, this has to be done so you stop sitting on him!"

"Is this really necessary? I'll stop myself right now!"

"Dad… it's been a few weeks… you STILL sit on me. Even if I go for a nap you tend to take me back to the bed and SIT ON ME!" Kiyoshi protested.

"I do admit, he does tend to his child…" Sukuna muttered.

Chusi elbowed him for that one.

"Okay bro, we are going to let you two fight it out until I say stop. If one of you is harmed, we stop immediately. Understood?" the knockoff decreed.

The boy nodded, so did the brat.

"Begin!"

Sukuna was rather impressed, the boy didn't go into the fight right away! If anything, he stared down his father, letting out low growls and baring his fangs. "Oh, he is showing his father he is serious…" Chusi whispered.

The brat returned the gesture.

"Ooo, Yuuji isn't backing down…"

They circled one another, sizing the other up to see who would dare to strike first.

Then, the boy made a move!

He charged forward, just as his father was prepared to intercept him, the child suddenly went another direction! He threw off his father, to come from behind and sweep out his legs, of course, the brat was solid, he teetered but nothing more.

However a sharp growl came out of him.

"Is he upset he got hit?" Sukuna whispered.

Chusi was silent on the matter as they continued their battle.

Kiyoshi had a solid plan of running in, striking at an opening and then falling back, it's a coward's way of fighting, however, the more he can wear down his father, the better his chances of victory are.

But there is a problem.

Sukuna knows the brat all too well, when he is determined about something. NOTHING will change his mind otherwise. At the moment, his thoughts are more concerned about his eldest child going out on his own, but he doesn't believe he is ready for such a thing.

"Something on your mind?" Chusi asked.

"The child has a far greater fight ahead of him than he realizes. The bra… ahem… Itadori, is a determined young man who will do everything in his power to accomplish whatever goal he has in his mind. Right now, that goal is to have his child under his care and protection. He is merely biding his time until he figures out what his son is doing, and then… he will react."

Chusi nodded, but smiled. "We accounted for that,"

Sukuna smirked. "Oh yes, we did. Here's hoping the boy doesn't mind breaking his father's heart…"

It became clear then and there that Kiyoshi's hit and run strategy was starting to lose its zip. The brat began to pick up on his moments, noticing his own openings and closes them up as Kiyoshi comes within striking distance.

At the moment, it appeared that the brat would catch him… it was time to switch it up.

As Kiyoshi went in for the strike, his father began to make his move. They accounted for this. The brat moves faster, however, the weather has given Kiyoshi the edge, the ground was hard from the cold, and there was some slight frost, that alone is enough to ensure his footing as well as perhaps provide a sneak attack. Since after all, Sukuna notices how little frost there was around them now.

As the brat went in, Kiyoshi struck hard and fast. First he shot powder snow into his father's face, that alone caught him off guard, then, he went in and started striking hard and fast! Forcing the brat back and away until one more shot to the chest would have stumbled the brat.

But he caught the hand.

After he grew out his extra arms…