An: It's actually been really calming and fun to do bite sized chapters again. Not very daunting yet easy to put together.

Hope you enjoy.

Danzo Shimura had known Hiruzen Sarutobi his entire life. Regardless of the fact that their personal ideologies conflicted at times, they were friends. Comrades.

They had both shed blood for one another and for their village.

So when Danzo stepped into the observation deck of the maximum security cell and caught sight of the Third Hokage, he made no comment.

He stood with his back to the door, his gaze focused on the sight in the Cell below.

"Are you up to speed?"

It was not Hiruzen who spoke to him.

His tone was that of The God of Shinobi.

"The Scroll of Seals and the Ninetails" Danzo calmly replied, eyeing the empty room briefly, "a dangerous situation"

Alone stood the Hokage, but the room was filled with ANBU.

"There was a traitor"

The Hokage then looked over his shoulder, his eyes fixed directly upon Danzo.

It was an unspoken threat.

'Did you have anything to do with this?'

And Danzo walked alongside the Hokage, regarding the God of Shinobi with a steady gaze.

"I am aware there was a traitor" he glanced down into the pit, "an Academy teacher Chunin. Mizuki"

Hiruzen emerged, a wide shock in his gaze.

"You knew?"

Danzo held back a smirk.

'Don't be so surprised, Saru'

"ROOT has kept him under surveillance for two months, once we confirmed his allegiance"

Hiruzen hummed. His mind in thought. He turned his gaze back to the restrained figure beneath them.

"Why did you allow the situation to devolve?"

Danzo took a moment.

There were many choices here.

Lying was indeed an option.

But Konoha's Shadow decided to go with honesty.

"I have another now under Surveillance"

Danzo pointed down at the figure below.

"Ryo may be a traitor, Hokage-sama"

Hiruzen's eyes widen slightly, before his gaze narrows.

"Are you certain?"

"My Agent witnessed him lie to the Nine Tails. He helped him to learn from the Scroll of Seals before taking from the Scroll as well"

"You believe he planned this?" Hiruzen wondered.

Danzo nodded, "my Agent confirmed that he selected whatever technique he stole with intent. He seemingly knew the Nine Tails was bringing the Scroll of Seals, he waited for him, then he distracted the Nine Tails before searching for what he was after, Hiruzen"

Hiruzen's posture straightened.

"Do you know what it was, exactly, that Ryo-kun interacted with, Danzo?"

Danzo remained silent.

"A Seal" Hiruzen's mind was elsewhere as he spoke, Danzo could tell, "Gifted in secrecy to the First Hokage's Great-Grandfather from a dying Monk hundreds of years ago. The Monk's last wish was that one day someone would find a way to destroy the seal and its contents"

Hiruzen sighed softly, pulling his tobacco pipe from his robes.

"Its existence has been kept a secret since the Shodai. Only the Hokage knows of its existence"

Danzo's head twisted slightly in confusion.

'Then how would Ryo know of its existence?'

Hiruzen was likely of a similar thought.

The Fire Shadow gestured at the cell with the tip of his pipe as he started to pack the bowl with the dried leaves.

"The Seal was dangerous. It severely wounded, or killed, any that interacted with it. And now, young Ryo has merged with the contents"

"And what did it contain?" Danzo couldn't help the question.

Hiruzen shrugged, lighting the tobacco in his pipe with a single finger of white hot flame "only a name was given"

He refocused on Ryo's bound and chained form, restrained to the floor around him. The link of each chain had been reinforced with Fuinjutsu.

Sealing tags covered the boy's body.

His Chakra was tightly restrained.

Hiruzen took a small puff, exhaling it softly.

"Sukuna"

"So, brat, shall we make a deal?"

I'm standing in a puddle of water.

The last thing I remember is the seal on the scroll. Touching it.

And then I saw a great roaring beast, four swirling red eyes and a devilish presence. I remember that wave crashing into me, completely dragging me beneath the depths of roiling immense energy.

And now I'm beneath a black sky, standing at the base of a pile of skulls.

Atop this macabre throne, is the smirking owner of the voice.

I gaze up at this being.

A King of Malevolence.

Monster.

I'm the presence of a beast beyond my comprehension.

And it wants to make a deal with me?

This thing, that wears my visage with such wrongness… it's borrowed my features, but it is not me.

Black Tattoos and Red eyes.

Not the Sharingan…

And the Seals are strange? I've never seen them before.

Fuck.

I don't remember this guy from Naruto.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

"Who are you?"

His red eyes glint.

The next thing I know a knee connects with my chin, my teeth clacking together as the blow sends me flying.

My back slams into the floor, the ankle high water managing to break my fall only somewhat. Even as my head rings and pain shoots up from my chin- I'm lucky I didn't bite my tongue off- my mind is capable of shouting a few questions.

'What the fuck have I gotten myself into'

A sandal, my sandal actually, finds a place on my torso, pinning me to the ground of this strange sunken place.

"Watch your tone" it threatened briefly, increasing the pressure on my chest.

I gasp in pain, grabbing hold of his leg.

"My apologies! But I really don't know- AGHK-" the pressure increased, "-know who you are!"

The foot pulls back. I gasp in air as I let go of the limb. Trying to fight it was-

He kicks me in the face with the same leg that had held me down.

I tumbled through the water for some time, eventually coming to a beaten stop.

"You're honest at least" the being mocks, already atop his throne once more.

I gag, clutching my face and chin as I slowly get to my feet.

"I don't understand…" I whisper, breathing heavily, "...I don't understand whats happening"

The red eyed monster stayed quiet for a moment, slouching further back into his throne in silent consideration.

"My name is Ryomen Sukuna" a taloned finger lazily pointed toward Ryo, "and I have been binded to you, brat"

'HUH?'

Binded to me?

Ryomen Sukuna?

I want to sigh.

'That tells me nothing. I don't know that name and I don't know what a bind means'

The seal that he had touched had been addressed to him. A gift from the thing. To be honest I had expected a weapon or some kind of unique ability.

Not a living being?!

And one that certainly doesn't seem like a good guy.

Even so…

"I'm sorry" my shoulders relax, "but I didn't mean to get you all wrapped up in this shit. I don't who you are or why you were in the seal but-"

"Silence"

I shut my mouth.

From everything so far, I wouldn't be ignoring this guy's orders.

He's considering me again.

I met his eye.

And he grins.

"Honest, stubborn and completely clueless" he chuckles to himself, before frowning. Instantly he is before me, observing me with a tart look of frustration.

"Because you have pulled me from that accursed jail, I will make this offer only once. Forge a Pact with me now. Accept my conditions. You will not get another chance"

…this sounded fishy.

Something was up.

A Pact? Conditions?

It sounded serious.

But I'd play ball… and try something out.

"Fine. I'll forge a Pact with you"

Sukuna's face didn't twitch.

Yet somehow I could feel it from him. He was on edge.

"But, only if I may ask you some questions first"

"You may ask three, and I will answer them. Truthfully"

He was prepared for that question, and with a counter offer. That last word, 'truthfully' was tacked on seemingly as an added bonus.

….

I'm beginning to think that there are some unspoken rules at play here.

To validate that suspicion, I would have to-

"I accept"

I feel it tighten around me.

A physical cord, one that I certainly can't see. Across my skin and around my bones, I feel this ethereal tether lock into place.

So this… this is a pact?

"Ask" Sukuna almost growls. I suspect a similar feeling has passed through him.

He's not a fan of the sensation, and fair enough because I can't say I am either.

Right, where was I...

Questions, yes.

"What does it mean that you and I are binded?"

Whatever question he was expecting. It certainly wasn't that. In my opinion I felt any other question was pointless.

Who are you? Where are we? What's going on?

This guy doesn't seem like the straightforward type. Better to ask something specific, and I figure that the action of 'pulling him from his prison' was what binded him to me. So I want to know about that first.

"Our souls are currently intertwined"

My lack of understanding was immediately exploited. But I'm right about Sukuna not being the straight forward type.

I get the feeling that he has to tell the truth. But can do so vaguely, so long as what he says is objectively true.

Probably means he's a good liar too.

First Kakashi and now whoever the fuck this guy is?

Fuck.

"What does that mean?"

Sukuna's gaze turned murderous.

"We are connected to one another, fated to inevitably become one"

….

…

WHAT THE FUCK?!

"One more" Sukuna snarled, "ask. Quickly"

Okay.

Shit.

Fuck.

I get my thoughts in line, trying my best to think of my last question. After this it was time to form a Pact.

Hmm.

He wants this. I can't say that's something that is good. This Sukuna seems like bad fucking news.

If I know anything about Bad Guys though…

"Will you teach me?"

Sukuna's bad mood rescinded immediately. Instead there's a brief look of confusion. And then consideration.

I'm still holding his gaze.

He's searching for something in me but I can't tell what. And whatever it is, he either didn't find it or did, I can't quite tell. An expressive brick wall... what a paradoxical analogy.

Sukuna eventually grins at me though.

"I'll teach you everything and more"

His grin is scary. But I'm trying not to focus on that. I'm already fairly certain that this Sukuna guy isn't from Naruto. In fact, he's probably a pretty serious problem from wherever he's from.

Sealed away?

Yeah. That doesn't happen to just anyone.

But that also means he's strong.

A strong teacher, who's quite literally bound to me, sounds like a good idea. Whatever his morals may be, I'm sure I can come to terms with it.

"So…" I awkwardly start, "what's the pact going to be?"

Sukuna seems pleased, as he raises one of his hands, his fist balled.

"I will teach you and I will prevent this body from dying"

…sounds good.

"And your conditions?"

A finger popped up.

"You may never use any of my techniques against me"

A second finger rose into the air.

"If you are to receive a mortal wound, I will be granted complete control of the body, and I will not relinquish control until the perpetrator of the attack is dead"

Two conditions for two promises.

I couldn't really ask for more… but in the words of his condition, he's made a fatal mistake, one he was hoping I probably wouldn't notice.

He revealed more than I was aware of.

Now this might not be the best way to go about it, but I kinda want him to know I'm not that stupid.

"So I can swap with you then?" I wonder aloud, "but it's only a willing exchange from my end… as in you can't swap with me, eh?"

He regards me silently for a second.

A hand coils around my throat and I'm hoisted from the ground.

His glare is murderous, but he is still silent.

The only noise is my choking, and the splashing of my feet against the shallow water as I kick out randomly.

As my world starts to go black I'm released.

"Do you accept?" Sukuna snaps down at me. Both ignoring my question and answering it at the same time.

I cough.

I raise a hand.

But then I cough some more.

"If…" fuck my throat hurts, but I manage to continue, "...if I find myself up against an enemy I can't beat-"

I blearily look up at the menacing King.

"-will you be my trump card?"

He processes the addendum.

Something has him at an unfavorable advantage.

I've pretty much figured out that he wants to form this pact to create some kind of benefit for himself. Which means somehow, I'm currently in a better off situation than he is… this guy doesn't seem like the type to bend so easily for others.

Let alone a wimp like me.

But going by the silence he's considering accepting this.

"On the condition that I may experience the world as you do" he nodded and extended his hand down to me, "I accept"

I take his.

"Great-"

I'm hauled to my feet and brought right up to his face.

"If you pit me against weaklings, I will make sure you live to regret it"

And as the pact forms, the world lurches.

Inoichi Yamanaka isn't sure what to expect as he is led into the depths of the ANBU facility.

This wasn't his first foray into the Maximum Security section of Konoha's prison. It also would certainly not be his last. But due to the events of the previous night, and the fact that the Hokage had called for his expertise specifically, Inoichi had never been as worried.

The Nine Tails Chakra had been felt by every experienced Shinobi. No one can mistake that kind of energy, especially with those that had sensed it before.

Whatever had happened, likely involved a traitor of some kind.

Why else would the Hokage call for a mind reader?

The ANBU had relayed the Hokage's instructions.

Ascertain the mental state of Genin-prospect Ryo. Awaken if necessary. Eliminate if necessary.

An academy student….

The Yamanaka Clan head could hardly believe it.

Down a long corridor he is taken, before they stop at the very last cell.

The end of the line.

In the next second, it is just Inoichi and the Cell's occupant.

From above him, the Interrogation specialist knows he and the heavily restrained Academy student are being observed.

Inoichi calms himself and approaches the unconscious youth.

The boy is barely emitting a Chakra signature.

'But if these precautions are believed to be necessary…'

Inoichi sighed.

He would be careful.

Standing right before Ryo, the mind walker reached out and placed a hand upon the boy's head.

And as soon as he attempted to reach out with his technique, something else reached out to him.

Inoichi's eyes widened as his heart skipped a beat.

He couldn't resist it.

An image passed before his gaze as a vile energy swarmed within him.

A four eyed beast, roaring with gleeful and maniacal passion rolled through him. And then it was all gone.

But sweating profusely with his heart in his ears. Inoichi was quick to realize that he no longer in the ANBU prison cell.

This was some sunken world… barren and empty, expect for-

Inoichi's startled gaze was pulled to the pile of skulls. Towering so very high into the air was a mound of bovine skulls. Atop it, resting so casually on its dead throne, was a being.

Red eyes burned down upon the mind reader.

"You dare touch my soul?"

Inoichi didn't know what to say, a spike of fear working its way up his spine. His technique wasn't releasing, even though he was trying to force it to do so.

He was trapped here with this red eyed demon.

The figure leaned forward. Studying him.

"...you're one of the brat's people though…" it hummed, toying with a serious of thoughts and considerations before coming to a painfully clear verdict "I'll let you off with a warning"

Relief flooded through the mind walker. But only for a moment. Because this red eyed demon wasn't done talking to him.

"But there won't be a second time"

The being rests its chin upon a lazily opened palm. It's fearsome gaze had never left Inoichi's own.

The being chastised him once again.

"Know your place, fool"

And Inoichi was standing in the cell once more, his body shaking slightly as sweat trickled from his brow. Only a second hand passed since he made contact with Ryo's mind.

ANBU were already in the room, their weapons drawn and ready to be used.

"I'm alright" Inoichi barely managed to speak.

"I'm-"

Ryo's eyes opened.

Inoichi, if he was being honest, expected the gaze to be as red as the monster he had just seen. But it wasn't.

Two dull blue orbs were fixed upon him, a bleary expression slowly morphing into place on the youth's face as he took in his situation.

Ryo grunted once, likely trying to move the chains which bound him, before settling his attention on all the figures before him.

"I uh… I'm probably in a lot of trouble right now, aren't I?"

Naruto Uzumaki awakens suddenly, his eyes snapping open to one of his least favorite ceilings.

The white and sanitary pureness of it all meant he could be in only one place.

Konoha's Hospital.

"Naruto" a voice by his side catches his attention, "I'm glad your awake"

Turning his head a bit, the whiskered youth is greeted with the robbed figure of the Third Hokage sitting comfortably by his bed side.

"Old man" Naruto speaks quietly, his voice a little stiff, "I didn't know Mizuki was-"

Hiruzen raises a hand and Naruto goes silent.

"You were tricked my dear boy. And once the truth was revealed to you, by all accounts you acted as a true Shinobi would. To accept both danger and duty without hesitance, even at such a confusing time, is a great quality for a ninja to possess, Naruto"

Hiruzen reached into his robes, drawing forth something that glinted against the light from the window.

"You have earned this, Naruto. Wear it proudly"

The headband was placed beside him, the insignia of the Hidden Leaf emblazoned in the center of the material.

"But…" with shaky hands, Naruto slowly picked up the headband, "but I…"

An old hand gently held his forearm.

"Iruka says you learnt the Shadow Clone technique. I would consider that a more than appropriate substitute than the traditional clone technique. You've met the academy requirements and then some, Naruto. Starting now, you have been recognised as a Genin of Konoha"

Naruto was barely able to stifle his tears as the old man pulled back and favored him with a soft and warm smile.

"I did it!" the blonde joyfully exclaimed, "I'm a genin too! I-"

And that's when the memories came running back in.

Ryo suddenly changing into not-Ryo.

Getting beat up.

The weird burning Chakra…

"Old man" Naruto's fingers idly flipped over the headband, his eyes blankly tracking the movement "what happened?"

"Mizuki-"

"That's not what I'm asking Jiji" the blonde looked directly at the Hokage, "after that. Something happened to Ryo. He attacked me, called me names, he almost killed-"

The youth shook his head in disbelief.

"Ryo touched something in the scroll, and then… is he alright?"

Naruto didn't notice how the Hokage's expression thinned somewhat.

Hiruzen favored the boy with as calm of a look as he could manage. He tried not to lie to children. But sometimes the truth was far more damaging than it was worth.

"Ryo is currently under special observation. His condition is stable"

Naruto frowned at the obvious lack of detail, but pounced on his opportunity.

"When would I be able to see him?"

"That would depend on Ryo" Hiruzen was quick to reply, slowly getting up from his seat and adjusting his robes, "I must be going now, Naruto. But when you are finally discharged, what do you say to a chat over some Ramen?"

Naruto obviously wanted to grumble and ask more about his friend, but he understood the not so subtle prodding that Hiruzen was giving him.

'Don't ask. Not yet'

"If you're paying" Naruto not so slyly requested .

Hiruzen chuckled fondly.

Once Inoichi had been removed from the Cell, Danzo shut everything down. Nobody went anywhere until the Hokage got back.

They had expected a mental interrogation to take a half hour, maybe longer, so Hiruzen had gone off to see the Nine Tails. An ANBU had reported that the boy was seemingly coming to, and the old Monkey had gone off to see him.

In the meantime, Danzo was entrusted with direct supervision of the Cell and situation.

Everything seemed fine.

Until the impossible happened.

The completely sealed and restrained Ryo, had thrown a Yamanaka Mind Walker out of his own head.

And going by how frazzled and stunned Inoichi was, the effort was conscious and forceful.

Not a good sign.

Danzo was certain this had to do with whatever this 'Sukuna' entity was.

Whatever had been in the Ancient Seal was beyond simple understanding. Those that had possession of the seal had given its contents a name.

Nothing more.

Sukuna.

'This is more than a powersource'

Inoichi was able to explain that there was an additional personality within Ryo now. And it was most certainly hostile.

Not a good sign.

The Hidden Leaf's Shadow thought to himself for a deep moment.

His most cold and logical side of his consciousness was telling him to kill the boy. Sometimes power was far more trouble than it was worth, and the amount of sheer unknown factors surrounding this 'Sukuna' did not ease his worries.

Restrained as he was, now as likely the only opportunity Danzo would have to deal with whatever Ryo had absorbed.

…but after hundreds, if not thousands of years, a person had finally been able to bind with the seal and its contents.

Surely there was an opportunity here somewhere. Surely Danzo could find a way to twist this… this cursed thing, and use it to Konoha's benefit.

Hiruzen likely sought to preserve the youth, but Danzo had his mind on the entity.

'Whatever it is, it can wield a force other than Chakra'

Sage Techniques, perhaps?

Or something like it?

Danzo wasn't sure, but all the seals in place made it a sure sign that whatever 'Sukuna' had done to resist Inoichi wasn't accomplished through the use of Chaka.

In the next second Hiruzen appeared beside him.

"I am going to confront him. I hope to speak with the entity as well. Will you join me?" the Hokage offered.

His colleague and friend thought it over.

"Is there any instance in which you give him over to me?"

"Perhaps" the Hokage answered honestly, and turned away. Four ANBU guards materialized alongside him as he walked to the door of the observation deck.

Danzo followed a second later.

These chains are no joke. There's four of the heavy bastards, one for each limb. I'm sitting on the floor in the center of my brightly lit cell, not able to move a muscle as I barely attempt to stay conscious.

Either the forming of that pact had exhausted me, or Sukuna using my body for a bit had just drained me.

But I suppose it doesn't really matter.

The bright light in the room is keeping me awake and I can't really do anything about it. I get the feeling that any chance of being able to sleep was whisked away after Ino's dad went running off.

I saw what Sukuna did to him. I guess techniques such as a Yamanaka Mind Walk effect Mister Grumpy Four Eyes and myself equally.

And I'm not at all surprised that a person as tart and vicious as Sukuna certainly seemed to be valued their privacy.

'Touching souls though' I can't help but wonder.

That meant that the Yamanaka ability didn't just read your mind, it made contact with your soul?

That sounded… dangerous.

Perhaps that's why the Yamanaka technique was so superior amongst others of its kind in the Naruto-verse. Touching souls certainly seemed more serious of a base concept than just 'mind reading'.

Anyways, after Sukuna scared him off, my Cell had gotten oh so quiet.

Painfully quiet.

Deathly quiet.

Under-constant-watch-by-a-bunch-of-ANBU, quiet.

And that's not good.

So very not good.

It's been at least two days in the Naruto World and I've already caused so much fucking trouble.

At least the blonde idiot had learnt the Shadow Clone technique.

…before I nearly beat him to a bloody pulp. And then Kakashi. Damn. And then-

As if thinking of him brought him forth, the Hokage appeared.

He was flanked by a figure I did my utmost not to recognise, but still risked a few glances toward.

I did my best to position myself as respectfully as possible in my weighed down and seated position.

"Hokage-sama" I nodded toward him.

The Third Fire Shadow fixed me with an initial look of apprehension, before a bitter touch of disappointment sunk in.

Ouch.

"Ryo" he addressed, "I must say, this is not your brightest moment"

I bow my head.

Damn. There's something about slowly spoken wise men… their words can really cut deep.

"I have questions for you. You will answer them"

"Hai, Hokage-sama" I keep my head bowed. Hiruzen deserved my respect and consideration. For such a hard path of life that he walked, the Third Hokage was one of the kinder people in this fucked up world.

"Were you aware that Naruto Uzumaki was going to steal the Scroll of Seals?"

Ryo blinked, his face turning confused as he looked right up at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"I knew Mizuki was up to something. But I wasn't sure it was going to be that"

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, "you knew of a traitor, and did not report it?"

"I…" Ryo glumly looked down again, "I basically came to the conclusion this morning"

"How"

Hiruzen glanced briefly at Danzo, the one who had demanded further explanation.

I looked toward the bandaged man, before fixing my eyes upon Hiruzen.

I'm looking for permission to speak. Even though Hiruzen likely trusts me less than Danzo right now, I will defer to him.

"Any question that comes from this man shall be treated as if it came from myself, Ryo, are we clear?"

I nodded before looking toward Danzo.

"Mizuki's always been weird. I see how he treats Naruto. And it's not like some of the other teachers or the civilian students, it's targeted and consistent"

I shake my head.

"Something didn't seem right with him"

"So it was a hunch"

I glare at the bandaged man. The glare is real. Danzo's one of my least favorite people. After all he's indirectly, if not straight up responsible, for the existence of Nagato as Pain. That alone is enough to infuriate me.

"I was right, wasn't I?" I grouchily respond, giving the bandaged man a testy once over "Naruto said Mizuki gave him some kind of exam. A secret one. Yeah okay maybe I should have pieced it together earlier, but I'm not as wise as an old coot like you-"

"Mind your tone," Hiruzen warned me.

"Right. Yeah, sorry. But I've been suspicious of Mizuki long enough. If Naruto was going to get a secret exam, it woulda come from the Hokage, not him. Probably should have said something then…"

Hiruzen pinched the bridge of his nose.

"This doesn't explain how you knew where Naruto-"

"Whenever we're working on something secret, or a special technique, we always practice it in the forest" I counter, already anticipating this question, "he wasn't at any of the regular spots, so I figured he was there"

Hiruzen digests that information.

Danzo presses further.

"You were waiting for him"

I attempt a shrug.

"Lucky guess"

That was not the right thing to say.

Hiruzen glared and Danzo seemed to stiffen.

What?

"Was it also a lucky guess to find whatever you were looking for in the Scroll of Seals?" the bandaged man asked.

'Find?'

Oh.

They thought I had been intentionally looking for abilities. That I knew which one I wanted…

Well I had been curious per say, but they were mistaking my intent.

"It hurt my head a little, but I could read the seal. It was addressed to me, after all"

Hiruzen's eyes went wide.

Danzo stiffened again.

For how powerful these individuals both were, I enjoyed getting such a huge response out of them.

My statement technically wasn't a lie.

It wasn't my name ringed around the seal, that was for certain, but it was indeed meant for me.

Little Soul.

I fucking hate that name.

"The Seal is Ancient" Hiruzen calmly stated, "how could it possibly-"

"Oh. Is the Monkey worried about something beyond his control?"

That mocking and snide voice hadn't come from my lips. I felt the slit under my left eye open, as a hole formed on my cheek.

More specifically, a mouth.

I now had almost a face, on the side of my face.

"Uhhh…" I try, but am met with a clear and concise order.

"Quiet, brat. The adults are talking"

"And what are we to talk about, Sukuna?"

Hiruzen's question certainly gave the taunting entity some pause. Perhaps it was the use of its name.

"You believe you want to control me" the malicious voice tisked, "but you can't"

That was a statement. A matter of fact.

But Sukuna wasn't done.

"Gather all the might at your disposal, and then some more, and it still wouldn't be enough"

Damn. He was really going for it. Disrespecting and taunting two of the Hidden Leaf's most powerful and notable Shinobi… and he was doing it with MY FACE!

"You want to control something? Try the brat"

And just like that, he faded away.

The slit under my eye closed, and the face receded into my cheek.

"A bit dramatic" I muttered weakly, "but I think I'm warming up to him"

Hiruzen didn't react to my statement at all.

Instead he turned around and promptly exited the room.

Danzo followed after him immediately.

I have the slightest feeling that whatever was going to happen, wasn't going to be good.

AN: Chapter 3. Bang bang bang. So just a little more set up and back story before Sukuna and Ryo set out to be amongst the main cast. Uh so since this is my story and all, shit's gonna be AU.

And I mean AU. Loads of stuff is being changed for the sake of accommodating Sukuna's existence, so don't get your fucking panties in a twist if you don't like what's coming.

Either grow up or fuck off lol.

Don't like it, don't read.

All the best,

Freedom.