Chapter 2: The Hidden Inventory Part 1
Previously on JJK
Satoru Gojo, Suguru Geto, and Shoko Ieiri sat in anticipation in their classroom, awaiting their next mission assignment. It had been several months since their first mission, and they were eager for their next challenge. As they waited, Geto couldn't help but wonder aloud, "I wonder what's taking Yaga-Sensei so long?"
Gojo, his trademark confidence on display, replied, "Who knows, maybe something came up, and we'll get a free day."
Just as they speculated, their discussion's subject entered the room, accompanied by an unexpected guest. Yaga stood before his students, and the girl who had entered with him stood at his side. Yaga addressed his students, emphasizing the importance of treating their new first-year classmates with respect and welcome.
"Go ahead and introduce yourself," Yaga instructed the young girl.
With a polite bow of her head, the newcomer introduced herself, "Hello, my name is Naruko Uzumaki, and I can't wait to work with all of you."
Satoru's eyes widened in disbelief when he heard her name. It couldn't be true, could it? The girl he had been thinking about since he was 12 years old, ever since that fateful meeting, stood before him now. He couldn't help but remember her vividly. Naruko had left an indelible mark on his memory.
As Naruko looked around the room, her gaze paused at Gojo. Even though he wore those dark shades, she could still discern the beautiful blue eyes beneath. These eyes had haunted her dreams for years. When their eyes met once more, an extraordinary phenomenon occurred. Naruko's eyes transformed into her Sharingan, this time adorned with three tomoe. Red met blue once again—the Heaven's Eyes encountering the Six Eyes.
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Now,
A year had gone by since Naruko joined her godmother's former school, Tokyo Jujutsu High. The past year has been quite interesting. She had formed strong connections with her classmates, finding them fun and each having a unique personalities. Shoko came across as very relaxed and easygoing. Geto displayed kindness, politeness, and patience, which puzzled Naruko, considering his close friendship with Gojo, who was quite the opposite. Among all, Satoru Gojo was the person who lingered in her thoughts since their reunion last year. His personality resembled Naruko's in some ways – outgoing, charming, and playful with those he cared about. However, Satoru could also be very self-centered at times, a trait that Naruko found hard to tolerate.
Naruko held a deep respect for Yaga-sensei, admiring how he reprimanded Satoru when he acted foolishly. However, her feelings towards the higher-ups at Jujutsu were far from favorable. She quickly developed a strong aversion to them due to their exploitation of Jujutsu Sorcerers for their gain, a practice she found utterly intolerable. But what pushed her over the edge was when they disparaged her family. From that point onward, the higher-ups became permanent entries on Naruko's list of people she wanted to get back at. Consequently, whenever Naruko had to interact with them, she ensured they received a memorable parting gift. In their last encounter, Naruko spiked their drinks with laxatives and covered their entire meeting room in bright orange paint as a playful but pointed message.
Naruko did end up serving a month-long detention for her prank, but she considered it entirely worth it. Her classmates, upon hearing what she had done, couldn't help but burst into laughter.
At present, Naruko was on her way to a small town in Okayama known as Kurashiki. There had been troubling reports of a sorcerer targeting and killing the town's residents. The higher-ups dispatched Naruko to handle the situation. The journey from Tokyo to Kurashiki was a lengthy eight-hour trip. Naruko hoped the mission would wrap up quickly, as she had plans to meet up with Shoko and Utahime. Plus, she was craving a bowl of ramen. Umino Iruka, her assistant manager, was driving her to the last reported location of the sorcerer.
Iruka brought the car to a halt in front of an abandoned building. "According to the report, this is where the sorcerer has been holed up for the past few days," he informed Naruko.
Naruko glanced at the desolate structure and activated her Sharingan. With her Sharingan engaged, she could perceive curse energy. A frown creased her brow as she spotted not just one but ten distinct traces of curse energy, accompanied by at least three grade 1 cursed spirits.
"Iruka-san, I thought the report mentioned the rogue sorcerer was alone," Naruko pointed out.
"Yes, that's what the report states," Iruka confirmed, double-checking the information.
"Never mind. We won't be too long. Just make sure to set up the veil," Naruko instructed before entering the building.
Upon entering the abandoned building, Naruko immediately sensed an overwhelming presence of curse energy saturating the premises. The intense negativity in the air made her feel queasy. "Ugh, let's wrap this up quickly," Naruko muttered to herself as she retrieved a scroll.
Naruko infused the scroll with her curse energy, summoning forth a katana named Enma. She firmly gripped the weapon and advanced. Enma held deep significance; it was originally owned by her grandmother, Asuna Uzumaki, and then passed down to her mother, Kushina. Now, it rested in Naruko's possession. Enma was among the renowned 12 powerful swords of the Uzumaki Clan, a blade that required its wielder to undergo rigorous trials before they could harness its power. Naruko had completed these trials and was now capable of wielding Enma.
Proceeding through the entire first floor without any findings, Naruko ascended to the second floor, where she encountered two grade 1 curses. The curses locked eyes with Naruko, their malevolent grins sending shivers down her spine. Without hesitation, the curses lunged at her.
Naruko, her expression devoid of emotion, calmly drew Enma from its sheath. She imbued her sword with her curse energy, enveloping it in a sinister aura. In a swift, diagonal slash, she cleaved through the curses, exorcising them from existence.
"Let's begin," Naruko declared.
She pressed on, dispatching every curse that crossed her path. Eventually, Naruko reached the door where she had sensed the presence of the ten curse energy. With a firm grip on her sword, she forcefully kicked open the door. The individuals inside the room turned their heads toward the sudden intrusion. Before Naruko stood nine cloaked men encircling another man who knelt before a shrine.
"Who dares to interrupt my prayer to Lord Jashin?" the man demanded as he rose from his kneeling posture.
As the man turned to face Naruko, she had the opportunity to observe his appearance more closely. He sported medium-length grey hair, slicked back, and striking purple eyes. His upper body was bare, except for a black coat with a fur-lined hood, worn-over maroon pants, and black combat boots. When the man recognized Naruko, a smirk played across his face.
"Well, well, a jujutsu sorcerer. It appears that my offerings to Lord Jashin have drawn the interest of those from Jujutsu Tech. What's your name?" the man inquired.
"Naruko Uzumaki and I'm here to kill you," Naruko stated.
The room's occupants exchanged glances before bursting into laughter. "You think a woman like you can take down Lord Hidan?" one of the cloaked individuals remarked.
"That's why I'm here, dumbass," Naruko retorted.
"YOU BITCH!"
"Now, now, gentlemen. That's not how we should treat our guest," Hidan interjected. "How about this? Instead of fighting against us, you join our ranks and become one of Lord Jashin's devoted followers."
Naruko responded with a smirk, "Nah, I'll pass. I have no interest in this deranged cult or your false god."
"How dare you!" Hidan exclaimed. "Gentlemen, deal with our guest. Show her the consequences of crossing Lord Jashin."
The nine cloaked figures turned their attention to Naruko, only to find her vanished. As they spun around in search of her, they were met with the sight of Naruko standing behind them and in front of Hidan. In an instant, she cleaved the nine men in half, slicing them cleanly down the middle. Hidan wore a smirk as he gazed into Naruko's Sharingan eyes.
"Impressive. You dispatched my men without the use of a curse technique," Hidan remarked as he gripped his weapon.
A three-bladed scythe rested on Hidan's shoulder, and he continued to smirk at Naruko. He charged at her, their weapons clashing fiercely. After a moment, Hidan broke away from Naruko, only to come charging at her once more. However, Naruko deftly parried each of his attacks. When he attempted an overhead strike, she countered with a spinning heel kick to his stomach, sending Hidan hurtling backward.
"Hmm, you're more resilient than you appear," Hidan acknowledged.
"Listen, can we speed this up? I want to head back home and grab some ramen. I've got plans with my friends," Naruko urged him.
"Don't fret; this will be over sooner than you expect," Hidan responded, launching his weapon directly at Naruko.
The scythe hurtled toward her at such a velocity that Naruko wouldn't have been able to evade it if not for her Sharingan. She skillfully dodged the scythe, causing it to crash into the ground behind her. Spotting Hidan vulnerable, Naruko swiftly closed the distance between them. Hidan wore a knowing smirk and tugged on a wire attached to his right arm. His scythe surged back towards him, cutting Naruko across her cheek as it returned.
"Haha, I've got you now! Finally!" Hidan exclaimed with joy.
Hidan licked the blood off the scythe and smiled with glee. Naruko felt a mixture of disgust and curiosity as she watched Hidan's body transform. His skin darkened, and bone markings materialized across his form, giving him the eerie appearance of a grim reaper. Hidan then stabbed his hand with his weapon, using his blood to create a diagram.
"It's been quite a while since I had a suitable offering. Brace yourself, Jujutsu Sorcerer! YOU ARE ABOUT TO BECOME ONE WITH LORD JASHIN!" Hidan's voice echoed with fervor.
"I don't like the looks of this. I'd better put an end to this quickly," Naruko thought as she charged straight at Hidan.
"Oh, no you don't," Hidan says as he stabs himself in his right leg.
Naruko crashed to the ground, experiencing excruciating pain in her right leg. "What on earth?" Naruko wondered as she noticed blood seeping through her stockings.
"How do you like my Curse Technique, you insolent brat?" Hidan questioned.
Technique Release: Voodoo link
"After consuming your blood I essentially become a voodoo doll. Anything that I do to my body happens to your body. For example, if I was to do this," Hidan says as he stabs himself in the abdomen with his triple-bladed scythe.
Naruko swiftly clutched her stomach and coughed up blood, grimacing in pain. Hidan simply laughed. "Hurts, doesn't it? Feel the agony," Hidan taunted as he began to twist and turn the weapon.
"Oh, I'm going to relish this," Hidan murmured as he retrieved a black staff from his pocket.
"Lord Jashin, I trust you will savor your latest offering!" Hidan shouted as he stabbed himself in the heart.
The light in Naruko's eyes dimmed as she fell lifeless to the ground. Hidan smiled and casually stepped over her. "Next time, send a Grade 1 or higher-level sorcerer," Hidan muttered. As he reached for the door, the world around him shattered, and Naruko stood before him, completely unharmed. Stunned, Hidan turned toward the lifeless figure of Naruko and realized one of his special-grade curses had taken her place.
"YOU! HOW DID YOU DO THAT? I killed you I know I did! I saw you die!" Hidan shouted in rage.
"No, you merely witnessed what I allowed you to see. The instant you gazed into my eyes, I had you exactly where I wanted you, dumbass" Naruko declared.
Hidan gritted his teeth in anger. He grabbed his scythe and was about to charge at Naruko. When his head was suddenly cut off Naruko was standing right behind him with her blade covered in blood. Hidan's body dropped to the ground and his head rolled right by Naruko's foot. With a sigh, Naruko sealed away Enma back in her scroll pulled out her phone, and called Iruka.
"Iruka-san, it's me. The job is finished," Naruko says.
"You damn bitch. You're going to pay for cutting off my head!" Hidan shouted.
Naruko widened her eyes looked down by her foot and saw something that completely shocked her. Hidan's head was talking to her. "WHAT THE FUCK!" Naruko shouted.
"Naruko-san, what's wrong? Is everything all right?" Iruka asked.
"Holy shit you're still alive," Naruko says in wonderment as she picked up the head.
"Of course, I'm still alive. You dumb bimbo. And when I get reattached to my body I'm going to kill you," Hidan says.
Naruko studied Hidan for a moment, pondering her next move. An idea struck her, and she couldn't help but smirk. She gently set the severed head on the ground and unfurled a scroll. Hidan watched with confusion, unsure of Naruko's intentions. She carefully placed the scroll on the ground, and when Hidan read its contents, his eyes widened in realization. He understood what Naruko was about to execute.
"You plan to seal me, you fucking bitch?!" Hidan stated.
"That's correct. We can't risk someone stumbling upon a talking head," Naruko replied.
Naruko swiftly performed a series of hand signs and slammed her hand onto the center of the scroll, infusing it with curse energy to initiate the sealing process. Ethereal hands materialized and seized Hidan and his lifeless body. Hidan's furious curses filled the air as the hands pulled him inside the scroll. When the process was complete, the kanji for "seal" appeared.
"Man, that guy was a pain in the ass. The higher-ups are going to love him," Naruko says as she picks up the scroll and closes it.
Naruko walked towards the door, her eyes catching Hidan's scythe left behind. A devilish smirk curved her lips as she snatched the weapon. "Sweet, a souvenir," Naruko quipped.
Back outside, Iruka glanced at Naruko in astonishment, observing the weapon slung over her shoulder. He could only shake his head as Naruko climbed into the car. While Naruko was relishing her find, her classmates were far from pleased.
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With Gojo, Shoko, and Geto
The three second-years received a mission to assist two jujutsu sorcerers, Utahime and Mei Mei, who had been missing for two days. The Jujutsu High leadership dispatched the three most powerful students to help. Upon arrival, they left their Assistant Manager behind, and Gojo obliterated the building with his cursed technique.
"I'm here to save you, Utahime. Wait, are you crying?" Gojo teased.
"I'm not crying! Show some respect to your elders!" Utahime snapped in anger.
"If I were crying, would you console me?" Mei Mei asked playfully.
"Nah, you wouldn't cry, Mei-san. You're strong," Gojo remarked, further irking Utahime.
Utahime rose from the ground, ready to berate Gojo, when suddenly a curse materialized right behind her. Another curse emerged and trapped the first one in its mouth. "Don't swallow it. I'll absorb it later," Geto said, appearing behind Utahime.
"Satoru, it's not nice to pick on the weak," Geto admonished.
"Yeah, but what kind of idiot picks on the strong? Hm, maybe Naru-chan," Gojo remarked.
"Naruko will most definitely pick a fight with someone stronger than her," Geto concurred.
"You're the one who is picking on her, Geto. You don't even know it," Mei Mei pointed out, drawing an angry look from Utahime.
"Utahime-senpai, are you okay?" a concerned Shoko asked as she appeared beside Gojo.
"Shoko!" Utahime exclaimed with glee.
"I was getting worried. We haven't heard from you in two days," Shoko mentioned.
Utahime hugged Shoko tightly and expressed her joy. "Shoko, don't become like those two, okay!" she urged.
Shoko laughed and patted Utahime's back for comfort. "Don't worry, I won't become trash like those two," she assured.
"Wait a minute, did you say two days?" Utahime inquired.
"Ah, was the cursed spirits' barrier one of those that mess with time? They're rare, but that does happen here and there," Gojo remarked.
"It seems like it. Looks like I'm going to be charging extra for those two days. Anyways, what about the veil?" Mei Mei asked the three students.
Gojo, Shoko, and Geto looked at her in shock as they had forgotten the most important thing. When they returned to school, the three students were instantly scolded by their teacher as the news report of what happened played on the TV.
"One of you said that they'd put the veil up themselves. That same person abandoned the assistant manager behind," Yaga said, disappointment in his voice as the three students looked down in shame.
"Fess up," Yaga ordered.
Shoko and Geto pointed their fingers at Gojo without his knowledge, while he raised his hand and shouted, "Sensei! I ask you, please stop your hunt for the culprit," Gojo shouted.
"So, it was you," Yaga said as he slammed his fist down on Gojo's head.
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With Naruko
It was nighttime when Naruko returned to the school. She had fallen asleep during the ride back, and Iruka shook her awake to let her know they had arrived. Naruko thanked Iruka and made her way to the building where the elders were waiting. She stood in front of the Jujutsu higher-ups and began her mission report.
"I have cleared the area and sealed away the sorcerer," Naruko stated.
"Sealed?! Uzumaki, your mission was to eliminate the sorcerer, not seal him," one of the elders remarked.
"Why did you seal him instead of killing him like you were told to do so, Uzumaki?" another questioned.
Naruko retrieved the scroll and unsealed it. "This is why," she stated, pouring curse energy into the scroll to demonstrate.
Hidan's head and his body appeared. "Where the fuck am I?!" Hidan questioned.
The higher-ups gasped in shock at this unexpected revelation. Naruko resealed Hidan back inside the scroll and addressed the council. "The sorcerer known as Hidan possesses the ability of immortality. To prevent anyone from coming across his body and potentially unleashing him, I decided to seal him inside this scroll for all of eternity," Naruko explained.
"Ahem, well done, Uzumaki," one of the elders commended, offering a nod of approval. "You may leave the scroll with us, and your payment will be processed in a few days."
Naruko acknowledged with a nod and handed the precious scroll to one of the workers in the room. As she turned to exit, she couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Her mission had been a success.
Just as Naruko was about to leave the school's premises, fate had other plans in store for her. She inadvertently bumped into Satoru, causing a momentary collision of their worlds.
"Naru-chan, you're back!" Gojo exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Toru-kun, hello," Naruko greeted him with a warm smile. "Yeah, I just got back, and I was about to head home for the night."
Observing the late hour, Gojo offered, "Oh, it's getting late. Why don't I walk you home?"
Naruko hesitated briefly but then replied, "You don't have to. I don't live that far anyway."
Gojo chuckled, "No, I insist. What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't?"
With a shrug and a hint of amusement, Naruko conceded, "Well, okay then."
The two students walked together out of Jujutsu High. As they made their way towards the Senju compound, they shared stories of their recent missions. Naruko couldn't help but burst into laughter when she heard that Gojo had forgotten to put up the veil during his mission. She playfully slapped his arm and scolded him for teasing Utahime, though there was a smile on her face.
Gojo, on the other hand, was taken aback when he heard that Naruko had faced someone immortal and could even link bodies with his opponent. The world of jujutsu sorcery was indeed full of surprises.
Soon, they arrived at the Senju compound. "Well, here I am. Thanks for walking me home, Toru-kun," Naruko said with gratitude.
"It was my pleasure," Gojo replied sincerely.
Naruko smiled and said, "Well then, goodnight," as she started walking towards the main house.
Gojo waved goodbye, watching her with a faint hint of longing in his eyes. However, he quickly shook off his emotions and headed back towards the school.
Naruko entered the main house, not expecting what awaited her. "I'm home," she called out as she walked into the living room and came face-to-face with someone she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Naru, long time no see," greeted a familiar voice, surprising her.
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Well, there you have it the second chapter. I did promise to release it today and I am man of my word. I kind of rushed through the end there, but it's okay. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and I'll see you guys next time.
Also, I plan to make Naruko's and Gojo's relationship somewhat like Spider-man and Silk when we reach the main timeline. Right now I'm trying to go for the Miles and Gwen kind of dynamic with a little of Peter and MJ.
Naruko is going to have the rinnegan with all of the abilities in the future. And she will have the mangekyo sharingan as well.
Until Next time.