Chapter 14

It would be two weeks since the incident.

Suguru was running the household. Shin, Rook and Mochi has since calm down and came to terms with what had happened. Rook was still disappointed in himself that he couldn't do anything.

"You have yet to master your ability, it takes time. Granted, Sukuna puts you through hell but it doesn't quite sink in does it?" he asked offhandedly.

Rook paused. "Actually Pops, it's the opposite" he explained that Sukuna makes him think on his feet, since throughout the whole sparring process he explained. 'Life and dead are merely seconds apart, what you chose will decide if you live or die' It's why I was so upset with myself back then… I hesitated."

"You didn't hesitate, you merely were trying to find the best solution in minimal time. It's one thing to think for yourself in battle, but it becomes a difficult battle when you are trying to think for everyone else." Suguru explained.

Rook… appeared inspired from that.

"Besides, what you need to consider is this. You had friends who were dragons, they were more powerful as you at that point. Taking into consideration if they used too much of their abilities, they would have done more harm than good. We already went over this, correct?"

The table nodded as they ate their breakfast.

He has never seen the kids eat with such… vigor before. Then again, he sustained them in that soul domain with energy alone… having something meaningful on one's stomach speaks volumes.

They ate seconds and thirds this morning, and when they had their fill, they were about to decide what to do that day when a strong knock came on the door. "SHELLBOY!"

"Why does he call you that?" Rook asked.

"Long story," Suguru replied as he answered the door. Sukuna barged right in and peered at the three. "You," he said pointing to Shin. "With me, now"

"I just ate…"

"You have one hour,"

"That's rather generous of you…" Suguru muttered. "What's going on?"

Sukuna sneered at him, but sighed. "I am taking over their training from this moment. I am going to prioritize who needs what training, and right now. Shin needs the most help."

"But, so do I!" protested Rook. "I'm the weakest one here!"

"You talk like that again, I won't even bother with you!"

Suguru was stunned, so was Rook as Sukuna said such a thing. However, Suguru turned to Shin and nodded to him. "He wouldn't be willing if there wasn't something worth doing," he said bluntly.

Shin nodded to this. "One hour, where do you want to meet?"

"My place, then, we find somewhere to train. You three are going to HATE me by the end of all of this." He decreed and left shortly after.

Rook, froze oddly.

"Why is Oji determined?" he asked.

"Determined you say?" Suguru asked.

"Yeah, the way he spoke just now… normally we are the ones to ask him for a spar session or help. But, he came here to tell us first hand that he's training us…" Rook explained.

Suguru sighed. "It has to do with what happened to your mother." Suguru said aloud. "Something must have happened to Sukuna in order for him to get his power back. At the same time, there this look of concern on his face now. One I am not use to seeing at ALL from him." he said. "But, after what happened to your mother. He is starting to see there are no lengths Kenjaku or other sorcerers for that matter, will go to ensure the Toorus suffer. He wants to be certain that there is no one capable of doing that to your clan anymore. There is also a selfish element to this too since he is bonded to the Tooru name."

The table paused.

"You got all of that just from a few words he said!?" demanded Shin.

"Not just his words, his soul." Suguru explained. "As a spirit dragon… I can see things. I can see people's intentions, I can understand their reasoning, but most importantly, I can see why they do what they do. It's rather remarkable and at the same time, very daunting!"

"So, you see the path of a spirit?" Mochi asked.

"That's a good way of explaining it, yes." Suguru said gently. "A spirit can explain much about a person, not as much as a soul and it does not explain everything… which makes your aunt all the more remarkable. She had years to train herself on this, and she is very good at what she does"

"So… he wants to make us stronger?" asked Shin.

Suguru shook his head. "He wants to make sure no one will dare go against you. If anything, he is going to train you so well… that your names would be feared as much as his."

#

Shin waited the hour before heading over.

Oji was outside, and by the time Shin was in his sights, he pointed east to where a worn in spar pit was. They said not a word on the way, yet when they were in the pit. Oji began to give him a stern look over. "Hallow Purple. How fast can you make it? Your father can take time to warm it up, and it takes time to build that amount of energy. If I were to assume, Satoru Gojo takes on average less than 10 seconds to summon it. Let's see how long you take."

Shin nodded.

It was part of his technique that he had trouble with, due to the duel channels it takes time for one energy to reach the other. In total, it took 25 seconds for him to make hallow purple.

"Not bad… but it's not good enough" Oji said. "From this moment on, before we move forward, you are to bring that time down to 15 seconds."

"How?!" Shin demanded. "You saw what I have to do to summon that!"

Oji merely stared at him. "Is that the ONLY method you have tried? Have you researched others? Have you observed others?"

The question took him aback, but… he was right.

"Listen boy, observation is key. When you know yourself and how your technique works, you are unstoppable. However, if your opponent can see the slightest crack… the smallest flaw in your abilities… you're damn right they are going to get you before you get them."

Blunt as always.

"As well. I wouldn't be telling you to do this, if I didn't think you could do it. You're your father's son… but I am betting more along the side of your mother's blood than anything."

He snickered to that, Shin agreed full heartedly on that too!

So throughout the day, he tried to do hallow purple faster with the same method. But, just as Oji said, it's not helping his progress.

"Damn…" he whispered.

"It's one thing to depend on yourself, it's another to depend on the same method over and over again. You never grow, nor does it guarantee victory. Even if it gave it to you once before…"

Shin nodded. "Oji, can I have some time to research other methods before we continue?"

"I encourage it,"

"Will you help me figure something out too?"

That he hesitated on. "It's one thing for me to tell you how, it's another for you to learn it yourself. You do realize, had I not been… tamed as it were, you wouldn't have this insight now. You would be stuck with your father"

No shocker there…

"You need to see things for yourself, as well, part of the fun of being a sorcerer… you can have fun with this… a technique is usually fully awakened by five, you are aware, right?"

"Mom said something like that too, you are born with curse energy, so those around you know there is potential. But, it doesn't determine the technique or how strong it will be until the age of five. Unless, the sorcerer is my dad…"

"Have you wondered why?" Oji asked of him. "I have guess after being with the Tooru family is this. A child's mind is open to explore and learn, their imagination knows no bounds or limitations. It's one of the few times a sorcerer could have… fun as it were, to figure out what they can do and how to use it. That's just from what I've seen in the Tooru clan growing up. It also explains why they were such grand sorcerers to begin with. They hardly meddled in their child's discovery, they did that with me as well but stepped in when needed."

"It makes sense though since as you said a child's mind is always thinking of how to have fun right? With curse energy, it's almost like a new toy to play with."

"You are your mother's son."

"At the same time, being five, you have adults to guide you as to how to use it…" he paused. "Man, adults ruin everything!"

Oji snickered at that. "No, all imagination dies as an adult. Except for overgrown children like your father."

Shin snickered but paused. "Is that why some are so stagnate? It's how they learned their technique at a young age?"

"Speak with Maki on that notion and ask her about her twin sister."

Shin knew that was a touchy subject when it came to sensei Maki, but he nodded and would ask eventually.

"So, what now boy?" Oji asked.

He paused to consider it, but then, he was inspired. "I'm going to talk to my godfather!" he decreed proudly.

Oji said nothing but nodded, yet from the corner of his eye, he noticed a smirk and Oji uttered. "Defiantly smarter than his father…"

Something tells Shin, Oji wanted him to speak with Choso anyways…