A/N: IMMA DO IT AGAIN!
EDIT: Fixed some errors and improved grammar, added scenes, hope you enjoy~!
This somehow hit two hundred reviews already so here we are, an early update in less than a week!
Feedback really does kick me into high gear; if this chapter gets a good reception as well, then I'll do my best to update early once more.
Of course, it helps that I recently saw the latest episode of JJK. Really ground my gears.
Alas, in other news depression's starting to hit real hard these days. Seriously. Like a sledgehammer paired with concrete. Sometimes I wonder why I do anything at all. can't claim to understand what's going wrong with my head anymore. I don't even know why I'm feeling this way! One moment I'm fine, then my mood craters for a few hours, then I'm back again for a bit, and the cycle repeats. On and on, round the bend, forever and without end! Its rather annoying; as though I've become a prisoner in my own mind sometimes.
Sure, what's one more mental problem on the pile. Not like I don't have enough, what with already being this old. Feels like every day is a battle sometimes. Meanwhile, my doctor insists that I'm fine. Take a health walk he says. Go fishing. You'll be fine.
But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
As ever, I own no quotes, references, quotes, themes or memes! They're simply tributes to legends far greater than I. I'm just an old man who writes as a pastime. I don't make any money doing this, not a single cent.
This is ALL done for free. Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story.
Simple as that. In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!
Naruto's already taking on a teaching role and like Gojo...
...he's damn good at it when he actually tries.
Some verbatim here for binding vows.
Lastly,I hope everyone ready...
...BECAUSE HE'S HERE~!
"If Toji is the black sheep of the Zeni'n clan...then what does that make Naoya?"
"A damn monster is what he is. Didn't you hear what he did to his clan?"
"No? Should I have? It sounds like a pretty big deal."
"Then you weren't paying attention, Gojo."
"Aww, Geto! Just tell me already!"
"...fine. Listen this time."
~Gojo and Geto.
Hail the Black Sheep
"What's a binding vow?"
The question, when it came, amused Naruto to no end.
He simply couldn't help but smile when Maki started pestering him.
"They're essential tenets of jujutsu sorcery." He held up a finger, doing his best to mimic his mentors of years gone by. Well, maybe not Jiraiya. He wasn't exposing the girls to that tomfoolery. "They're powerful contracts created through cursed energy that one can make. There are two kind. Vows with oneself, and vows with another."
Mai and Maki blinked back up him curiously, each clutching with their melting ice-cream cones in hand.
He'd kept his word, of course. It would take more than a second life to change that.
Precious girls. Must protect.
It had taken the better part of a week, but he'd finally managed to live up to his promise. In a word, ice cream. Alright, that was two words, but still. He'd promised Mai and Maki their fill of frozen treats and gosh darn it he was going to deliver and he'd since brought them to a park well outside the clan complex and bought them a treat with funds "liberated" from said clan's coffers.
What? Not like old man Naobito was using them for anything other than booze, right?
Not a single adult had balked at the sight of three unattended children wandering around in the evening with their delectable dairy treats. Under any other circumstance that might've been genuinely concerning, but today he truly pitied the fool who tried to harm these poor girls. He'd beat them to death.
"Yeah, but what do these "vow" thingies do?" Mai asked.
Naruto took a bite in the midst of his own cone -strawberry!- before responding.
"The textbook definition is a bit boring and goes a little like this." he coughed into a fist and mimed Kakashi's voice on a lark. "The act of abiding by the rules and restrictions agreed upon in these contracts can result in a greater power or the achievement of a goal that you thought was out of reach, but breaking a binding vow has consequences. Self-imposed restrictions, that is to say, things that might prove potentially harmful to the creator, such as willingly limiting amount of cursed energy they can use for a given period of time, or revealing their technique beforehand, increases the amount of cursed energy they can use. Hell, it might even make their technique more powerful. After all cursed energy comes from negative emotions, and those respond to the desires of their user. With me so far?"
The girls shared a reluctant look, but nodded, albeit slowly. Emboldened by their silence, he took a second bite of his own cone -strawberry!- and barreled on heedless of their confusion.
"Simply put, the riskier condition enforced by the Binding Vow, the more your energy can swell. It also depends on the nature of the vow itself. The penalty for breaking a simple vow with oneself is the loss of whatever benefit was gained through the contract, be it strength, speed, or wisdom. Likewise contracts created between multiple individuals are bound by that same energy. In that case, both parties must agree to a particular set of conditions that benefit them. If you break that sort of vow...the penalty can be devastating.
Maki and Mai tilted their heads in unison and made baffled noises. He could practically see multiple question marks forming above their heads. Adorable.
In the end, Maki raised her hand first, if only just. "...I don't get it."
Right, right, they were only five after all, weren't they?
No matter how sharp Maki might be, nor how curious Mai was, it made sense that some things would go flying right over their heads.
"Sorry," he scratched at the back of his head and took a third and final bite out of his cone to finish it off. "That was a little too complicated for you, wasn't it? Maki, you don't really have any usable cursed energy in the first place, and you can't see Cursed Spirits, so the terms of this don't technically apply to you, but I'll still explain it just in case. Would you like that?"
A slow nod.
Good. He didn't want either of them to feel excluded. That would lead to resentment.
Siblings shouldn't fight. He was a firm believer of that rule. If he could foster a healthy relationship between these two, all the better.
After all, Maki's Heavenly Restriction, that is to say the pact she'd been born with, wasn't quite complete...unlike a certain black sheep he'd heard tell of. Unlike "him" Maki hadn't completely escaped from the concept of cursed energy. Until she did, she would forever be bound by her inability to see Cursed Spirits, unable to exorcise them without special tools. He might be able to use Creation of All Things to "adjust" that in her favor but again, he wasn't willing to risk it.
Not until he'd mastered this ability, until he could snatch that one perfect outcome from failure ten out of ten times. Then, and only then would he dare risk it.
In the arcane world of Jujutsu, twins were widely considered to be the same person. They shared a womb, a soul, even cursed energy to an extent. He could vaguely understand the concept as a whole but since he'd never had a proper twin -or siblings!- of his own, he couldn't claim true comprehension. Maybe it was just an established law in this world.
Either way Maki and Mai were all but joined at the hip; where one went, so too did the other. It was almost cute, really. He feared for whatever boy they fell in love with years from now. Whomever he was, he was going to have a rough time. He'd be sure to give that bugger the "talk" when the time came.
Ah, Naruto. Even in another life you're still thick as a brick when it comes to love~!
But oh dear, they were pouting now!
Best stop musing and get on that.
"Think of it like this." he held up a finger as the girls dove into their treats. "Maki, you wouldn't break your word to Mai now, would you?"
She frowned. "Of course not."
He nodded. "And why is that?"
...because she would get mad at me?"
Mai kicked her twin's shin. "I'd do more than that!"
"Heh." Naruto hid a smile behind his hand. "See, it would damage your relationship with her. that's why its important not to make a vow you can't keep. In any case, it helps if you think of binding vows like...promises I suppose. You can say the words all you like, but there's no meaning in it if you don't, well, mean them. Maki, you have so little cursed energy that you can't even utilize it. Mai has a bit more, but only just.
The girl glared at the ground and scuffed her foot against it. "Don't remind me...
"It wasn't an insult, merely a statement of fact."
She growled when he patted her head.
Maybe that energy was split between them somehow? But that was just a theory. He wanted to help them! Really, he did! More than anything. But experimenting on them without a viable solution was wrong; likewise, the consequences for failure would be severe. They might die. He'd never forgive himself if it came to that.
...then again there were others he could use, the Zenin clan had no shortage of healthy subjects-no.
He fought down a shudder. Pulling an Itachi was one thing if you were doing it for a good cause, but he wasn't about to go Orochi-freaking-maru and start experimenting on people unless he absolutely had to. Not even the Zeni'n clan deserved that. Well maybe not yet...
Mail tilted her head, eyeing him curiously. "Speaking of binding vows...you didn't make one with the elders, did you?"
Nice insight, Mai! That'll take you far! He rewarded her with a small smile. "What makes you ask that?"
She twiddled her thumbs. "We haven't seen you for a few days and no one will talk to us...
"You're right on that account, but...nah." he smacked his lips and tugged at his collar. "I offered, but the old man refused; he said he'd get everyone to comply one way or another. I told him that wasn't good enough. He offered me an...alternative. Something we could both be satisfied with, at least in the interim."
Naobito had neither accepted his offer of a Binding Vow, nor been willing to step aside as head of the clan.
And so a third, more radical option had been presented unto him.
He still recalled that evening well. Such a lovely night...
Mai pouted. "Are you gonna tell us already, or what?"
Naruto chuckled. "Maybe if you ask nicely~?"
She clasped her hands. "Pleeeaaase?"
"Alright, alright...
Truth be told, he didn't want to give them the uncensored version. They were young, they wouldn't understand. The rest of the clan hadn't been happy and still wasn't. Least of all the Hei, the Zeni'ns top-ranked sorcerers. They disagreed violently. His declaration upset the delicate balance of power. There was dissent.
And where there was dissent...there came combat.
He remembered the feral smile that split his face as he slammed Jinichi Zeni'n down with a rasengan. The man's chest caved in beneath his technique with a horrible crack. Nobuaki jumped him before he could finish the man off, only to receive a lazy back hand to his jaw. Bloody teeth flew through the air alongside the screams of the wounded and unworthy. Chojuro was next, that foolish old geezer with his cursed earth hand technique.
It didn't save him.
He shrugged off their so-called cursed techniques, took everything they had to offer, then threw it back in their faces. By the time the night was done, he'd broke every bone in their bodies, beaten them within an inch of their lives and left them on death's doorstep. Any who resisted swiftly learned their place; beneath him. Some died instantly. Others lingered on to suffer as he cut through the rest of the Hei, a hot knife through butter, hardening his heart to their pleas. Those who survived would fear him to their dying day. Good. Better they fear him than hate Maki and Mai...
The former noticed his smile. "...what did you do?"
May as well be honest with them. They'd never trust him otherwise.
"Cracked some skulls." he dug a finger in his ear, feigning nonchalance. "Broke some bones." a bubble of laughter escaped him as they balked. "Shattered everyone's pride and their spirits besides. "Its gonna take them at least a decade before they even think about fighting me like that again."
"Oh." Mai blinked, ever the innocent one. "So you're the strongest in the clan now, then?"
Maki proved more perceptive. "...you killed our father, didn't you?"
Yikes. Clever girl, indeed.
"Busted~!" he spread his hands with a sheepish shrug. "When did you figure it out?"
She took another bite of her cone. "Mom says he's on a business trip, but its been a week, now.
"Good." Mai bit into her own treat fiercely. "I didn't like him. He was mean. He can stay gone for all I care."
The fact that they accepted the death of their "father" so easily spoke of little love lost between them. He let them eat in silence for awhile, admiring the sight of fiery sky as the setting sun crept lower and lower across the horizon. The park had gone quiet awhile ago and he was content to bask in the silence while he had it. Most kids would've begun to fidget by by now. Then again he was a teenager trapped in a kid's body, so he supposed it evened out...
Are you really that strong?" Maki again.
"Yup." he mimed flexing a muscle. "Is it really that hard to believe?"
Mai squinted at him, looking like she had difficulty believing it herself. "Stronger that Satoru Gojo?"
In truth he didn't really know. He'd never met him personally. But if calling himself the strongest made these two lost little girls feel better about themselves, then that was a burden he was willing to bear. Maki and Mai deserved to have a happy life while they could.
Besides, how bad could Gojo really be?
Surely he wasn't that strong.
Right?
(.0.0.0.)
Gojo doubled over and heaved a mighty sneeze.
Blue eyes twitched behind dark glasses.
"That darn kid!"
(.0.0.0.)
"I wanna make a binding vow!"
Naruto's head whipped around, drawn from his reverie to find Mai tugging at his sleeve.
A strange mixture of pride and fear sparked to life in his chest and he took a moment to compose himself.
"Careful, now." he chided her. "Those vows aren't something to take lightly. You should only take one if you're absolutely certain you'll benefit from it. After all making one is easier than breaking one. Here," he amended when she looked mutinous. "I'll show you...
He looked past the bench and fond what he was looking for, what had been nagging at him for the last minute or so. A creature slumped out of the bushes, at a shifting ripple of green limbs and legs grasping at a squirrel with its many fingered hands. "I'll only use my pinkie finger to kill that curse. Think of this as a temporary binding vow. But as you can see...
He gathered cursed energy at his fingertip, pointed, formed a gun, felt it swell and-
"Bang."
The cursed spirit never saw what killed it. An unseen bullet of crimson light drilled through it's skull and shattered the tree behind it. What remained of its body flopped down in the dirt and dissolved on the spot. Its would be victim scurried back into the brush, none the wiser of the close call it had suffered.
"See?" he lowered his still-smoking digit and preened a little. "Easily three times as strong. He felt the vow fade away with the death of his intended target, taking the excess power with it. "Now, if I were to swear that I'd only use that trick to kill curses, the technique would become even more powerful-ha?"
Maki looked suitably impressed when he looked down, but he saw stars in Mai's eyes.
"Amazing!" she latched onto his arm. "I want that! I wanna DO that! Teach me!"
"Its not hard. Maybe if we get you a toy gun to practice...
"Thank you!" She squeezed him tight. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you!"
Ah, the words of children. He patted her head. "You say the nicest things...
Maki huffed and adopted a mulish expression. "No fair, getting ahead...
Mai clung onto his arm. "First come, first serve~!
"Now, now...let's all get along-
A shiver shot down his spine, cold as ice on a winter night, and stole the words from his lips.
Someone was watching them.
He didn't know how, he didn't know who, only that they were and they were dangerous. Someone -or something?- was lurking in the trees over there, and he didn't sense them via any semblance of cursed energy, or ill intent, but rather his own innate sixth sense. Even without Kurama he could still sense the life force of others, whenever someone had ill intentions, wherever they were lying and the like. And what he sensed now felt...well, not exactly familiar per se, but he recognized it all the same. The same presence as Maki, but older, stronger, refined with subtle menace and...
.
..
...oh, no.
Breathe, body!
"Oi." he growled. "Come on out."
Silence pervaded the evening, naught but crickets.
"There's no use in hiding now." he pointed to a tree. "I know you're back there-
An awful crack filled the air as pained bloomed in the back of his hand. Naruto winced, not quite comprehending.
Why did his palm hurt so much?
Maki and Mai shrieked and he looked down to find his right hand covered in blood, fingers closed around a metal shell.
He'd heard the bullet long before he saw it coming and acted accordingly before his mind even knew the exact nature of the danger. It saved his life.
Or rather, his technique had.
Auto-counter, another facet of his Creation of All Things, one he'd only discovered recently. By subconsciously channeling cursed energy within his body day after day he created an unseen aura of sorts; one that enabled his body to act independently of his will to anything that breached said aura as an attack and react accordingly.
It had its flaws of course, and he was still working out the kinks, but it served his purpose.
Maki and Mai swarmed him a moment later. "What happened?!
"You're bleeding!"
"M'fine." he willed energy to the wound, forcing it closed before their eyes. "See?"
Maki looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "It healed?"
Mai recoiled, aghast. "How did you do that...?!"
"Ho?" A man stepped out from behind a nearby tree, pistol in hand, grinning ear to ear. "Reversed curse technique? And at such a young age. Impressive. No wonder old man Naobito's so proud of you. All his other brats were failures, but you...you're one in a million."
Naruto blew out a breathy sigh. "Here we go...
Maki and Mai shrank back behind him.
He didn't blame them for their fear.
Clad in a tight black shirt that emphasized his toned physique, mismatched with baggy white pants and dark shoes, his attacker looked ordinary at a glance...until you saw his face. That smug smile, the dark hair hanging lank over his forehead...and those eyes. Those blank, fathomless, dead eyes, the gaze of a man who took lives without batting an eye.
He knew this man.
Everyone in the clan knew him.
Hell, he wouldn't be surprised if everyone in the jujutsu world did.
A ruthless monster stood before them, a callous creature who would do anything for money, known far and wide as the Sorcerer Killer, a man who was supposed to be retired, one of the few beings in this world with whom you did not f**k about and find out.
He was looking at Toji Fushiguro.
Or Zeni'n, if you were feeling suicidal.
'Aw, man. Its too early. I didn't think we'd run into him out here...
His heart began to hammer in his chest, pounding in his ears like the drums of a great hunt howling for blood. Strange as it might sound it didn't fill him with fear...but excitement. Yes, he would always remember the day he met Zeni'n Toji. It was the first day in his new life...
...that he actually he laughed.
A real, genuine laugh. He wasn't even prepared for it; a chuckle burst out of him before he could even think to hold it back. Some might call it fate, a chance encounter or just luck, be it good or bad, he'd never be sure. What were the chances they would encounter them here? It had to be one in a million. But...even if his life was in danger...
This...this might be fun.
"Brave, aren't you?" Toji tilted his head. "Most would've run by now...
Maki and Mai looked like they wanted to do just that, but couldn't out of sheer fear. "What are you doing here?!"
"Satisfying my curiosity." Toji stowed his pistol in his belt. "I was wondering what three kids from the Zeni'n clan were doing out here in the middle of nowhere with no chaperone...so I decided to test you a little."
Mai hissed. "You shot him!"
"Meh." A shrug. "He'll get better."
The girls faltered beneath his stare.
Toji smiled. It was not a nice smile. "Relax, brat. I'm not interested in the bounty on your head just yet."
The rest, was left unsaid. He'd just implied there was one. For him not to have noticed...he'd been slacking off, it seemed.
Powerful jujutsu sorcerers were targeted for death all the time. Naruto was no stronger to that immutable fact of life. Even Satoru Gojo had been targeted once when he was younger, or so the rumors went. It simply hadn't occurred to him that someone would be so inordinately stuppid as to paint a target on his back. But then again, why wouldn't they? He was just a boy to them. A prodigy yes, but still just a child. They had no idea who he truly was. How could they when he didn't allow them to? Such was life.
And right now he was terribly worried, not for his own, but that of Maki and Mai. "You've seen all you need to see. If you're done shooting at me...?"
"No need to be so hasty." Toji stepped out from behind his tree and belatedly, he noticed the puddle of blood at the man's feet. "I wanted to see the boy who bloodied the nose of the Zeni'n clan." He loosed a low, raspy chuckle. Though I'm not a part of them anymore. Still, I couldn't let this one ruin my fun...his Inverse technique was annoying, but easy to get through once you know the trick."
Maki and Mai yelped. Naruto's soon saw why.
A rough-looking man with brown hair lay sprawled at his feet, clad in a creme-colored turtleneck and blue jeans. Judging by wound in his skull and the pallor of his face, he'd been dead awhile. Hours, at least. Maybe a day. Had he been staking this place out beforehand? No, he would've sensed him. He'd noticed Toji's arrival instantly; for someone with Cursed Energy, he would've instantly been on alert.
So why had this man been here and died at Toji's hand hours, if not days ago...?
.
..
...realization clicked into place.
Someone in the clan must've been spying on him, knowing he liked this park.
Someone had placed a bounty on his head.
Someone was gonna die.
"And who do we have here?" Toji's gaze settled on Maki with something vaguely akin to recognition. "You...you're close, but you have a ways to go. And you," he looked to Mai, "You're holding her back."
The girl made a pained noise and recoiled as if she'd been the one shot, not him. "Me...?"
You are, idiot, but you don't even realize it." The Sorcerer Killer flicked a thumb Maki's way. "She has a Heavenly Restriction, which means she should be like me, but she isn't." his brow creased in a scowl. "Because of you. Your cursed energy is a shackle tying her down. So long as you live, she'll never be complete."
Maki bristled. "Why you...?!"
Mai crumpled to her knees. "I'm not a shackle...I'm not! I...!"
Her sister dove down to comfort her before he could even consider it.
Naruto absolutely twitched. He'd made Mai cry. Well, he couldn't let that slide now, could he?
"Hey, Toji."
The black sheep turned to face him. "Hmm?"
He stomped forward, rolling up his sleeves. "Clench your teeth."
"Struck a nerve, have I?" The sorcerer killer made an amused noise. "Alright. As thanks for entertaining me, I'll give you one free hit." he spread his arms wide. "Go right ahead. Make it count. But don't waste it-
He was still speaking when Naruto slugged him in the face.
Clenched knuckles barreled into Toji's smug visage.
And. It. Hurt.
In all fairness it was a proper powerful punch, one that would've made Satoru Gojo himself proud. It dented Toji's cheek and kept going at vicious speed, plowing across the man's nose, breaking it now as sheer bloody momentum dragged him the rest of the way forward, and sent him rocketing past
He landed in a tumble and spun to his feet and rubbed his arm...what was left of it.
'Aw, jeez. Destroyed the tendons again...
Maximizing every muscle in his arm made for one helluva bunch, but striking at full power without sage mode was still a no go it seemed.
He might not have his old regeneration anymore, but he'd learned the Reversed Curse Technique for a reason.
A quick charge, and he was right as rain, flexing his fingers again.
"You little monster." Toji turned his head and hawked a glob of blood into the dirt, spitting out a lone tooth alongside it with a smile. "First there's Satoru Gojo, and now you." he looked pleased, excited, even. "What is it with this generation? I felt that." He thumbed a thin line of blood from his nose and set it audibly. "I actually felt that. Do you have any idea how long its been since I felt actual pain?"
Naruto paused, fists raised. "A while...?"
"Too damn long!" the Sorcerer Killer brayed angrily. "Still, I'll give you a little praise. You're only the second person to notice me standing behind you, and the first to injure me in ages. A word of advice, boy. Get out of the clan while you can. Your talent is wasted with them. They'll chew you up and spit you out." he expected an attack, but his relation -was Toji technically his uncle?- surprised him again by offering his hand. "Whaddya say? Wanna come with me? You needn't fear those fools out for your head and you could learn more about fighting from me than those foolish old farts...
Naruto hesitated.
...would that men leaving Maki and Mai behind or would they be part of said deal?
"No." Toji shook his head heartlessly. "You'd be better off without them in the long run...
Damnit. And here he'd thought he finally found a way out of this.
...or I could just kill them and make the deicision for you."
He could feel Maki and Mai staring at his back with mute horror. Neither dared speak, such was their fear.
If he followed this man he would undoubtedly become strong.
Surpass Your Limits.
But that would mean leaving Maki and Mai all alone.
Surpass Your Limits.
He'd made a promise to them.
Surpass Your Limits!
...I can't." he didn't miss the little breaths of relief behind him. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm afraid I'll have to refuse. Sorry, its a no go."
"Pity." Toji almost seemed sad at that. Almost. It was terribly hard to tell with him." Then as a favor for actually hurting me, I'll give you a lesson to take to the grave. Earlier you told me to clench my teeth, didn't you?"
The hairs on the back of Naruto's neck shot up. "I did...
"Well, this is me telling you to dodge."
A foot slammed into his face.
He took it on the chin and grabbed at the ankle instinctively, only for the elder Zeni'n to whip around and drive a knee into his solar plexus faster than he could hope to react, let alone counter. Breath blasted from his lungs as his feet left the ground, only for another fist to rocket up and nail him right between the eyes.
All this in less than instant.
'Ah. I see.' he grimaced as stars flashed before his vision, followed by trees as his body rocketed away across the park. 'I've made a crucial error.'
In his haste to fight a real fight for the first time in a decade, he'd inadvertently imagined himself back in his old body, with all the speed and power it possessed.
Mistakes were made.
His spine smashed into a tree, bark blasting against his back. Splinters sprayed into the air. A cloud of sawdust obscured his vision and filled his lungs, drawing a retching cough from him. He was still coughing when Toji's fist came crashing in through it. He caught it with a grunt and threw a punch of his own into his side, aiming to break one of his ribs.
"Hrngh?!" A startled cough was his reward as his foe staggered back to rube his side. "You're not half bad. A hit like that would've left old man Naobito retching for air."
Anger sparked in his chest. "Don't compare me to him."
"That was a compliment, idiot. Although," He tilted his head to regard him further, "Not going to use that technique of yours?"
His lips pursed into a thin line. "No."
Toji tutted at him. "And here I was curious to see this Creation of All Things everyone's been bragging about.
The line became a scowl. "You're not used any cursed energy to attack me, so I won't either."
"I can't use any cursed techniques, dumbass. You know I've got Heavenly Restriction."
"Even so, I won't use it to attack." he grimaced. "Not just yet."
He glanced to his mending. "Yet you'll use it to heal."
"Naturally," He smiled and for a moment, unknowingly resembled someone else. "You're an adult picking on a little kid. Shouldn't you be the one giving me a handicap?"
"Bold of you to say so." The Sorcerer Killer clicked his tongue and strode forward. "Well, if you won't use it, willingly I'll just have to force you to-
Naruto's knee crashed into the back of his head, smashing him down to a knee, then facefirst into a tree.
Toji tanked both his with good grace, rubbed his face, then rounded on him.
His gaze narrowed. "Your eyes...what did you do?
Sage Mode, of course. It was only fair. He wasn't used to fighting a bigger opponent and now more than ever he was reminded of his handicap. Toji had better reach than him, and while he could match him in strength, his longer reach ensured he took a hit for every blow he landed. His smaller size was his sole advantage, allowing him to weave in and land punches a proper fighter would've had no business with.
But still he beckoned him on.
Creation of All Things would've made this so much easier, effortless even, but he had a point he wanted -needed!- to prove. Toji wouldn't respect anyone who bested him with a cursed technique. Maybe that made him a bit of a hypocrite. But he wanted to beat him -relatively!- fair and square. Physical attacks only, with a little sage mode thrown in to make up for his lack of physical strength. He wasn't pulling out the big guns yet; heck, he didn't want do if he could help it.
Toji surged in and he twisted aside, hammering an elbow into the man's gut. A roundhouse found his jaw a moment later.
Both staggered back, growled, then rounded upon one another.
This time, Naruto won the exchange, hammering his gut.
His opponent actually choked for a second.
'I can do this!' Confidence blazed in him as their fists collided again and again and again, the impact of that last forcing Toji back. 'I can beat him at his own game! I can-
Toji blurred and his world went black for a split second.
'Huh?'
When he came to he found himself flat on his back, head screaming, jaw aching, blood splashed across his face.
'Okay, he mused, reaching up to set said jaw. 'Didn't see that coming. Guess he's not hold back any...
A shadow fell over him.
...more?"
Toji's shoe stomped down at his face.
Rolling was a mistake he wouldn't make; he knew better than to let the older man dictate the tempo fro here on out. Hesitation is defeat. No, rather than do the sensible thing like any sane sorcerer, he reared up, caught his foot with both hands and twisted.
Hard.
Toji went down with a startled noise of pain, yet somehow managed to throw a haymaker even as he fell, the absolute madlad. In such an awkward position Naruto had no choice but to let his leg go and cross both arms before his face. Even then he felt his bones creak as he hurtled backwards.
Distance! Need distance!
Momentum served him this time; rather than resist and go tumbling, he kicked backward to enhance it and gain greater distance.
"Honestly, you're the monster here, not me!"
"Are you sure about that?" Toji climbed lazily to his feet. "Most kids your age would be rolling around in the dirt right now, begging me to stop. Yet you're fresh as a daisy."
Maki hollered something that sounded vaguely like encouragement on the sidelines.
"Shaddap over there, will ya?" Toji glared over his shoulder at the twins, each of whom bridled under his flat stare before it swung back his way. "Still not enough encouragement? I'm not above wounding one of them to give you some...motivation."
His smile thinned out. "Do that, and you'll die screaming, just like Ogi."
Evidently it was the right thing to say, because the Sorcerer Killer grinned. "There it is. That's the look. Take this seriously or I'll kill all three of you and drag your corpses back to the old man."
He drew himself up with a sigh. "So you want me to try, huh...?"
"Its only fair."
Naruto scowled. "You think I'm afraid of dying?"
"Maybe not, but I know you don't want me to lay a hand on those girls."
Something ugly curdled in his gut. It felt like anger "...there are worse things than death. I should know; I've seen them. Here. Let me show you."
Frowning, he flared his Cursed Energy then raised his right hand and formed the facsimile of a shape with it. Pressing two inward fingers down onto his thumb, while raising his pinkie and pointer finger outward in a vague approximation of ears, he created the image of a fox about to bite down on its prey.
With his left, he mimicked the same symbol and his cursed energy surged.
Grinning from ear to ear, he folded those fingers , forming a pyramid with his hands.
Blue eyes blazed gold as the air above them began to bleed an ominous shade of scarlet.
"Domain Expansion."
Toji tensed, a wide grin nearly splitting his face in two. "Seriously?!
It was a natural instinct when faced when faced with such a technique; that brief half-second of hesitation that no one could truly erase from their mind.
Naruto took full advantage.
Rather than stay put he leaped forward and smashed a kick into the man's ribs. He crashed back into the trees.
No domain formed. He hadn't opened his. He'd never intended to. A bit of energy buildup and a subtle illusion was all he'd needed.
"Psych~!"
Instead he stomped down, once, twice, thrice, and conjured an entire forest of roots down with each successive step. Grinning, he raised his hands and brought his earthen army crashing down on Toji's head. He lost sight of him amidst the tumult of tumbling timber and waited for the dust to clear. Just to be certain, he snatched up a massive fallen tree and zeroed in on where he thought the man would be.
"Maki! Mai! Duck!"
They did, of course, but-
"How are you swinging a tree around, baka?!"
He didn't deign to answer and smashed it down on Toji's last known position as one might a giant hammer. Once. Twice. Thrice now, until his makeshift weapon shattered.
"Gotcha~!" he belted out a low laugh, slapping a knee as he howled with laughter. "I know a Domain is next to useless against you, mister zero cursed energy." And using his with people around promised trouble. "How'd you like that?! There's more where that came from!"
Well, a little more. His reserves were still far from mature; he could only pull that trick off three or four more times. Then he'd be down to his truth seeking spheres and his more lethal handiwork. He didn't want to kill this man, but if that's what it took to make him back off...
Aw, cripes, he was still conscious. He could sense him. Here he came.
The fallen trees shifted to his right.
"Not a bad fakeout, there...
He wasn't surprised when Toji emerged; after all, he wouldn't be Toji if something like that did him in. He'd managed to make his forehead bleed, at least. Although, he had a strange purple cursed spirit sprawled over his shoulders and chest now. Where had he hidden that thing? Where had he been keeping it...and why did he get the feeling he'd pushed him a little too hard?
'Awww hell, that barely scratched him. I might be in trouble...
Toji drew forth a weapon from the creature's maw.
...my turn, now."
Naruto tensed. He couldn't tell what it was. A short spear's tip mounted on some sort of hilt? Or a small dagger? Whatever it was it was a Cursed Tool, and the sight of it made his sixth sense scream. Creation of All Things allowed him to analyze it easily enough; what he found there chilled his blood to ice in his veins. He realized why a second later. He'd hear of a wicked weapon that looked just like that.
The Inverted Spear of Heaven.
'That thing pierces cursed techniques. I can tell. Watch it, watch it carefully, wait until he moves-
He planted his feet, grit his teeth, prepared himself for the fight of his life...!
Only for Toji to put the weapon back from whence it came.
"I've seen enough."
Naruto blinked, baffled. "Wanna run that by me again?"
"Did I stutter?" Toji clicked his tongue in mild admonishment. "Stand proud, brat. You're strong."
His face burned a little. "Are we complimenting each other now?" it still begged the question. Why stop now? He had him on the ropes. "I don't need you tell me that."
"Yes, you do." Toji leveled his weapon past him with a stern look, glancing at Maki and Mai on the sidelines. "Protect those cousins of yours. They're a weakness. Make them strong so they won't be."
Naruto stuck out his tongue. "Already intend to!"
Toji paused.
...good. we'll meet here on the morning every weekend. Seven sharp. Don't be late."
.
..
...ha?" Naruto found himself taking took a step back. "Didn't I just say I wasn't going with you?"
"Congratulations, brat." a small smile was his reward. "You've piqued my interest. Though you might come to regret that...
"I won't."
Toji tutted. "We'll see."
He vanished between one step and the other.
Naruto waited for a moment a moment more, still wary, refusing to let his guard down. Finally, after a full three seconds elapsed and he could no longer sense him...his right knee buckled. His left soon followed suit and down he went, falling right on his arse with a weary laugh. "Phew! Close call!"
"Idiot!" Maki caught him almost instantaneously.
Mai was only half a step behind him, slamming into his ribs. "What were you thinking?! You could've died!"
"Its fine. I got some good data from that fight. I think I know how to fix your problem safely without hurting-hey!" he yelped when she kicked his shin-even pretended it hurt him. "Ow! Stop! You'll never be a proper lady if you go around beating people up like that ya know!"
"I don't wanna be a lady!" she railed at him with tears in her eyes. "I'd rather see you live!"
"I'll be fine." A bit of reversed curse technique put him to rights and forced the worst of his wounds to close. "See? All good."
Mai scooted closer, wringing her hands anxiously. "How did you do that?"
"Well, this is a little too advanced for you-
Maki stomped on his foot again.
"Alright, alright, twist my leg why don't ya. Its getting late anyway. Seems I need to have another chat with the old man...
(.0.0.0.)
Naobito Zen'in looked up from his drink as the door swung open, belched once, then blinked at the figure standing before him.
He took a good, long look at the grinning figure and immediately realized it wasn't his son.
"Hello, there~!" Satoru Gojo beamed bac at him. "Is Naoya in? I've come to play...
A/N: Aaaaand scene!
That said, would you like weekly updates?
For those in the know, yes, Toji offed Jiro Awasaka early. AND NOTHING OF VALUE WAS LOST.
Do you want this to remain a story? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard! Really need to hear from you, here.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself isn't popular? Well...I'll not continue it. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy.
So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write. So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly? Hope you enjoy the previews.
We've got some new ones and some are...intense.
They've been expanded and then some!
I cut down on them to not spoil things.
Read at your own risk:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
SPOILERS AWAIT YOU!
YE BE WARNED!
(Previews)
"So you're the Zeni'n clan's ace, huh? I thought you'd be bigger.
"And you are...?"
"Call me Gojo-senpai~!"
"I refuse." Naruto wrinkled his nose and glared up at the exasperating man. "Why do I have to call you Senpai?"
Gojo grinned. "Last I checked, I was two years older than you, so...
Naruto clicked his tongue. "Tch."
He caught the axe between both hands.
Mei Mei smiled. "Not bad...
Have you all bothered to think about what kind of person you're trying to curse?!
His head tilted. "This is where you're weak, right?"
"Oi. That's my friend. GET YOUR FILTHY MITTS OFF HER."
Finally, he had the cocky little brat. "Idle Transfiguration."
A fist barreled into Mahito's face, cratering it.
"WON'T WORK ON ME!"
He pointed a finger their way, thumb raised to mime a gun.
Focus your energy. Harden it. Sharpen it. Draw it back, imagine a gun and-
Bang. He whispered.
His opponent recoiled, startled by the sudden gaping hole in their chest. He knew better. That wouldn't stop them, not for long.
Bang!
Another hole, right where their heart should have been. He gripped his elbow to steady his aim and growled, a snarl splitting his face.
BANG!
His fearsome foe dropped with a startled grunt as he blasted their leg clean off at the shin. Even then he knew better than to get close. Arrogance had spelled the end of many a man greater than him, and he was no fool. Even then he found himself grinning. Exhilarated, he took aim again.
Not so tough now are you?
His head snapped up with a wild grin, eyes gleaming. "Gotcha!"
The curse swore. "How did he-
And then there was pain.
"Hiya, Mechamaru! Want a new body~!"
"Of course I have more than one technique." He walked past him, grinning as the earth began to buckle and swell underfoot. "Who do you take me for? We're just getting started! You think I've got an ace up my sleeve?! I BROUGHT THE WHOLE DAMN DECK!"
"Hanami, was it?" he gestured to the stump beside him. "Why don't you sit down?"
The entity before him wavered ever so slightly. "...you're not going to attack?"
"Why would I?"
"I am a Cursed Spirit. You are a Jujutsu Sorcerer. We are natural enemies."
Aha! She'd hesitated! Anything was better than brawling out here. They'd wreck the trees.
"Who decided that?" he jabbed a thumb into his chest. "Despite what everyone calls me, I don't think of myself as a sorcerer. If anything, I'd call myself a sage...
"Oh? I dearly hope you have proof, else I might have to kill you for that insult-
He stomped a foot down and an entire forest bloomed behind him.
...what is your name, child?"
Progress! He mentally pumped a fist.
"Well, lots of people call me Naoya, but you? You can call me Naruto."
EDIT: Hope you enjoyed! Looking forward to your feedback~!
Hope you have a great day,
~Nz.