A/N: I have officially received a request for Naruto as Sukuna's descendant. I'm trying to fend it off...
In other news...WEEKLY UPDATE IT IS~!
Once more, I wanted this to feel like an actual Jujutsu Kaisen episode. Hopefully I succeeded on that front.
Likewise, we should see a weekly update for "Surpass You Limits" on Thursday. I've set aside some time to knuckle down there.
I need to update other categories, though! Elden Ring, RWBY and Demon Slayer are calling my name, to say nothing of Genshin and Fate.
Everyone wants Jujutsu Kaisen these days...so here we go.
With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.
And of course, there are times when I look to the future ahead and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.
Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch lest it poison my mind; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Feels like everyone's lost their minds. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.
Now for a quick Q&A, because we've got some things to clear up here
Don't worry, we'll keep it brief:
Q: (Broad question here) What, exactly, is his cursed technique? And does he have a domain?
A: Yes, Naruto possesses a domain...though he doesn't realize it yet. Needless to say its right up there with Unlimited Void in terms of being broken. First one to figure it out gets a prize~!
Q: Please don't pair him with every bloody woman out there.
A: Rest assured, this will be a small pairing. Our boy lost his family. That leaves a mark. He's not the sort to leap right into love; not in this tale. Nor is he the only one with a pairing, at that.
For instance, I can't see Gojo with anyone other than Utahime, given how much he loves to tease her.
And doesn't poor Yuji deserve a chance at happiness with Yuko?
Naturally, Miwa shall be paired with Kokichi. (Mechamaru)
I could go into further detail, but that would spoil things.
Q: Is...is this Baryon Mode Naruto?
A: Yes, this is essentially Baryon Mode Naruto as a cursed spirit...with very little mercy in him. Process that for a moment, ye who are reading this story. Got in your head? Good. Now remember how absolutely broken that form is and how f****d his enemies are. You deliberately break a promise, he comes after you. HARD. Mahito learned that lesson; and he's not the only one who will.
Clearly he's going to throw hands with *SPOILER* and *SPOILER* and ESPECIALLY *SPOILER* in the upcoming chapters.
Naturally he's not the sort to kill you for a single slip-up. So long as someone tries to keep their promise, they're good.
But if they pull a Mahito and deliberately flaunt the rules...well. We know what happened to him.
Alright, that should do it!
As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes, or memes. Not a wit or a one! They're tributes to legends far greater than I.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
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~!
Our boy keeps his promises, no matter the cost.
As expected for a Cursed Spirit of Vows!
"Please, help me. I need time to recover. In return, I swear never to be your enemy."
"...promise received. I'll look after you until you can defend yourself."
"You have my most sincere thanks, Cursed Spirit."
"Call me by my name, please."
"If that is what you wish..."
~The First Vow.
A Binding Vow
Jogo sputtered incoherently. "Mahito was killed?!"
Hanami heaved a sigh. "Unfortunate. He had such potential...
Dagon burbled sadly, the little cursed womb unable to express himself with words.
Kenjaku narrowly resisted the urge to throttle the lot of them. Useless, each and every one! Did they not understand how pivotal Mahito was to his plans? No, of course they didn't. All the Disaster Curses cared about was the death of their so-called "friend" and the void left behind by his absence. Oh, boo! As if anyone could be friends with that psychopathic child!
Honestly, their sentiment sickened him. They were worse than humans. He watched them fuss and fret and nearly vomited.
Yes, he too was a Curse, but he at least held himself to a certain standards. He did things because they were interesting; he made plans and enacted them with a will-while that vicious brat had done whatever he pleased, whenever he pleased, however he pleased! He'd spent lifetimes working toward this moment and now it all balanced on a knife's edge; all because the little fool couldn't do as he was TOLD and keep a simple binding vow. Instead, his petty act of spite had wrought hell upon them and released something even worse than Sukuna.
An Ancient Cursed Spirit of Vows.
His strength wasn't a problem, it was his innate nature; not only did he seem to be good -inasmuch as a Cursed Spirit could be- but that aspect of Vows and Oaths promised to be a problem down the line. That implied he had morals which meant he wouldn't easily be swayed to their side. If someone were to enter into a Binding Vow with such a being...they could gain great power.
That Curse had even unleashed a Black Flash there at the end!
Did they have any idea how rare it was for a Curse -even an Ancient!- to accomplish that?!
Now his precious Culling Game might never take place, or if it did, it might be radically different. He would have to adjust and-
...Geto." Jogo rumbled, accidentally drawing his ire. "Who killed him? Was it Gojo Satoru?"
Blast, the unlikely trio was looking to him for answers, and he must give them. Clearly, they'd expected something when "Geto" called them together. He could tell they were unsettled by Mahito's death; more than that, they wanted revenge. One look was all it took; they would have it, by hook or crook.
"I'm afraid not." So he plastered a smile across face -a smile he didn't feel!- and forced himself to address them. "It was another Cursed Spirit. They devoured him. He may have consumed his technique as well...
Hanami growled. "Do we know where he is?"
Ahhh, if only! If he knew where Naruto was hiding, he wouldn't be here!
"Unfortunately not, he's laying low at the moment, there's no sign of his residuals...
Kenjaku couldn't remember the last time he'd been this baffled.
His grand plan would never work now-no. He must adjust.
But how to go about it...no, wait. An idea dawned.
"Find him. Our plan may well hinge on it."
(.0.0.0.)
Seven days.
It took Kokichi Muta an entire week to fully recover -even with healing!- from the ghastly horrors Mahito inflicted upon his new body. It wasn't just his lungs that had been tampered with you see, but his throat as well; the vicious Curse had been determined to inflict as much pain as possible; as such a time it was difficult to speak for a time, let alone breathe. He didn't regain the ability to speak without pain until the sixth day.
Not to say he was idle until then of course; he wasn't. He'd grown accustomed to being stuck in one place after all, and while his physical form might be on the mend, his mind was not. Wounded though he was, he still had his vast resources and all the puppets he'd created at his disposal. Moreover, he still had Ultimate Mechamaru: Mode Absolute to utillize and seventeen years worth of stored cursed energy to burn. Those would come in handy later, as would the small army he'd assembled.
One of said puppets had been discreetly dispatched to warn Gojo Satoru of Suguru's Shibuya Scheme only yesterday...and to admit his part in said scheme.
Gojo had torn that "Mechamaru" to pieces.
He should've know the name "Geto" would set him right off.
But anger or no, he'd done his duty. The Strongest Sorcerer had been warned.
Now he needed to recover. Which meant sleep.
Naruto kept an eye on him the entire time, nursing him back to health and refusing to let him do anything even remotely strenuous until he recovered. The blond's haven proved little more than a cavern carved into a mountain, something he must've stumbled upon by sheer chance. He never left it, never gave up his vigil...but copies of him did. A cursed technique? It seemed useful. Each came back with food -Ramen of all things!- admittedly lukewarm, but he appreciated the sentiment almost as much as the blankets they brought.
As per their vow, he fed and cared for him without fail, without complaint, with barely even a word.
Until on the seventh day, three days before the Shibuya Incident...Kokichi Muta awoke...
To find his savior, captor, possible enemy, wasn't sure...
...talking to himself...
"I am a curse."
(.0.0.0.)
"I am a curse."
"I think, therefore I am."
"I'm still me, so I have to do keep my promise; its what he would've done."
Reciting the words brought Naruto some small meager measure of comfort, albeit not much. What would he do now? It was that very question that tormented him so. The indecision-not knowing what came next-and the bitter realization that, for better or worse, the world had changed while he was asleep. The world of the shinobi was truly dead and gone; it had given way to that of the Jujutsu Sorcerer and Cursed Spirits, of tall towering metal buildings and strange metal boxes that drove people around.
Still, there was a silver lining in all this.
He'd kept his promise. Mahito was dead and gone, that dirty promise breaker, and he was never coming back. Some small semblance of his power lingered within him for now, but it would probably fade in a few hundred years, just like most of the Otsusuki powers he'd gained.
'Idle Tranfiguration, was it?'
He frowned and focused upon one fingers of his right hand, trying to harness the newfound power nestle within him. That twisted Curse had shifted his shape so easily during their battle. Surely it couldn't be that hard. He need only focus...there! For a fleeting moment he managed to turn his finger into a serrated blade; shocked by the shift, he let go and his soul snapped back into its natural shape.
Well, he'd learn to use it eventually.
A gift like this was wasted on a wretched worm like Mahito.
Something stirred in him. "If I had this back then, I could've saved everyone...!
He choked on his anger, that foul fire flickering deep within his chest...and forced it down.
"Who are you talking to, Cursed Spirit?"
Naruto's head snapped up.
"...!"
(.0.0.0.)
"Who are you talking to, Cursed Spirit?"
Kokichi Muta immediately regretted speaking the words as soon as he said them; because Naruto absolutely rounded on him. For a moment he thought the blond might actually attack him, such was the ire in his eyes. He didn't dare move beneath such a gaze. His aura was different than that of Satoru Gojo; a peerless, powerful presence that promised pain for all those who pissed him off.
There was a pause as the blond blinked at him.
...myself." he said at last. "I was thinking of the past."
His tight-lipped expression said it all. Kokichi knew better than to pry. He sought another avenue of attack instead.
"Are you truly certain that curse is dead?" it wasn't the first time he'd asked and it likely wouldn't be the last. Mahito's specter haunted him still. In many ways the Cursed Spirit had left his mark upon him. He would never truly forget that awful smile until the day he died.
"Awww, you do care!"
Ice shot down Mechamaru's spine.
"Calm down,' he reassured himself. 'Its nothing. He has no presence within you. No residuals, no nothing. You checked, remember? You're imagining things...
There was no response. Yes, he must've imagined it. That, or the sheer stress he'd suffered was causing him to hear voices. Mildly worrying, that...maybe he should see Miss Shoko and get it checked out.
-lopped off his limbs, cut him in half and ate his soul." Naruto was saying as he came back to himself. "Come to think of it, I was cut in half once, too and that didn't kill me." those soulful red eyes squinted at him in quiet concern. "Can people survive without their souls?"
Kokichi heaved a rueful sigh. "People operate on a different level than curses."
Naruto blinked again. "They do, don't they? I'm sorry. I forgot." For some reason, the admission seemed to sadden him. "Still, you seem better now. Your voice has returned to..
He shook his head and walked away, mumbling to himself.
Something clenched in Kokichi's chest. It felt like fear.
"Where are you going?"
"Where?" the Blond Curse paused and peered over his shoulder. "I honored my vow. You're fully healed and as such, I no longer have a purpose here. I've done what I promised." He turned to leave again. "Keep your word and we won't have any problems-
"Wait!" he stumbled to his feet. "What will you do now?"
...I don't know."
An idea dawned. "Then you lack a purpose?"
Another pause. "My purpose is promises. That's all I need."
"Then make one with me." he held out his hand. "Another binding vow, just like before"
Naruto's right ear twitched, crimson cloak swaying, just so. He has his attention, good! "What kinda vow?"
"The kind that will forever give you a purpose." judging by the blond's tilting head, he had his curiosity, if not his attention. "Swear to fight for what's right, for the good in the world. And there is good!" at the blond's sour smile, he was quick to reassure him. "Jujutsu sorcerers fight against it every day! If you so swear...then my life is yours in perpetuity."
"That's not a vow made lightly."
It was not; but there was no hesitation in him.
The Jujutsu Sorcerers needed this man on their side.
If he joined their enemies, they'd be wiped out. He just knew it.
"I was weak." he glared down at the stone floor, hands balling into fists at his sides at the reminder. "And in my weakness, I failed to trust my friends. It nearly cost me my life. Never again." his jaw clenched, teeth gnashing against one another. "I'll spend the rest of my life atoning for that mistake."
...you remind me of someone."
Mechamaru's head snapped up. "I do? Who?"
"A son I once had." Naruto regarded him with a small smile. "A boy I adopted. His name was Kawaki. He was willing to do anything for those he loved, too.
Kokichi made a gamble then. Some might say it was foolish to place your trust in a Cursed Spirit. No, it undoubtedly was. Cursed Spirits were often fickle, and even when they weren't, they often viewed the world through a singular focus, discarding all else. But what other choice did he have? Naruto could tear him limb from limb and would, if it came to a fight.
They. Needed him. On their side.
"I'll be your new son!" he flung himself down on his knees and bowed his head low, forehead kissing the cold stones. "Just please, protect my friends!" Todo, at least, could probably fend for himself, but he was terrified for Miwa and the others. They weren't weak, but neither were they strong enough to weather the storm that was coming. "I beg of you!"
Naruto blinked at him the most surprised he'd ever been, ever seen, really.
Then he chuckled.
It was a hoarse, rusty sound, one he clearly hadn't used in centuries.
But he didn't speak. Not at first.
"Raise your head."
A bead of sweat ran down Kokichi's brow as he stared at the floor. He could feel his heart pounding in his ears, drowning out the world around him. Thump. Thump. Thump. Was this it? Was this the moment he died? He could feel the tension in the air bearing down on him; an awful pressure that promised pain if he didn't speak true. Reluctantly, he did as he was bade and raised his head...
"...?!"
Naruto's face was less than an inch from his own, slitted red eyes searing into him with the heat of a thousand suns.
Kokichi nearly fainted dead away, such was the intensity of that fearsome expression.
A hand swept out, clawed fingers reaching for his face with infinite slowness.
This was it, then. Death. He'd tried so hard and got so far...!
That hand came down on his head and ruffled his hair.
...I acknowledge your binding vow."
Breath rushed out of the young sorcerer in an explosive sigh. Relief! Now he nearly fainted for a different reason!
"I still don't fully understand this Jujutsu world of yours," Naruto rumbled, "But don't worry you and yours are under my protection now.
A thought struck him, an ugly worm burrowing through the walls of his heart." I did betray my friends, even if it was to protect them. The higher ups will take issue with that...
"No." Naruto declared the word with the utter surety of a leader, the sternness of a man who once commanded legions of trained killers while he was alive. "You're under my protection now. If you superiors try to take you, I'll end them. Maybe I'll find purpose in that."
A beat of silence passed between them.
Finally, the glowing blond's stern facade cracked a little.
...heh." he leaned back with a wry chuckle, palming his face. "I sounded like the old Gaara for a second there.
"Gaara?"
"A good friend, long dead with the rest." he sat down beside him, face closing down again. "My friends an family would've liked you, I think. You've got spirit."
Dare he push his luck? This curse was his best bet for preventing the upcoming horror in Shibuya; quite possibly the key to his survival.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
"I...know what it is to live with regret." He stared down at his hand, idly marveling at how easily it moved; whatever Naruto had done to him left him feeling strong, powerful in a way he hadn't been before; it bolstered his confidence if only a little. "If you've hit rock bottom, then you have nowhere to go but up. And if your family is long gone, then start a new one-
CRUNCH.
A fist lanced out, pulverizing the floor.
Naruto took a deep breath and let it go, teeth bared in a snarl. "Its not that simple."
"Surely you can-
"You don't understand." The pain in his voice was dull, an old wound that hadn't healed right even after centuries in isolation. "I loved them." his fingers curled into a fist, biting down with such force that his palm bled. "I don't think I'll ever love anyone quite like I did my family."
Fair. But he couldn't bear to let him sink into despair. "You don't have to start with love. That comes slowly."
As his had with Miwa.
"Or suddenly," the blond muttered sullenly. He looked like he was recalling some deeply personal memory. Then he looked up. "Where is this Miwa girl of yours?"
Muta's face went red. "She's not mine-
"Then make her yours." he rasped. "Tell her how you feel before someone STABS her in front of you.
...spoken from experience?" He winced almost immediately, cursing himself for the momentary lapse. "Apologies. I didn't mean-
"No, its fine." Naruto waved him down with a weary sigh. "She survived that time. Not...what came after.
He winced. "May I ask how she...?"
"They beheaded her."
Muta gagged.
"Tell her." Naruto stared at him; it was practically a plea. "Before you lose her like I lost my family."
"..."
What could he say to that?
He couldn't even imagine what that must be like; no, he didn't want to.
It would be akin to finally finding happiness with Miwa; her reciprocating his feelings, settling down with her, raising a family of their own, only for a Curse to suddenly rip all that away in an instant. He couldn't imagine the pain. Merely thinking about it was enough to shut his brain down. Small wonder this man had become a Special Grade Curse. If it were him, he wouldn't rest until Miwa's killers were scattered across all of JAPAN.
...I'll tell her."
"Good boy," Naruto patted his head with a sad, fatherly smile. "Trust me, its better this way; better to tell her before she tells you."
Maybe. She might not even feel the same way, but that was fine. So long as she was happy. Her happiness was his happiness.
Their sanctuary trembled overhead. Dust rained down upon them.
Naruto looked up. "Huh. Seems they found us. Time to go."
Kokichi tensed. "What will you do now?"
"Take you to her, probably." Naruto closed his eyes for a moment. Frowned. "Then I'll deal with them. She's the one with the sword, right?"
"Yes," Mechamaru frowned, "But why-no, wait, I don't need-
Naruto grabbed him.
The world blurred.
(.0.0.0.)
Miwa yelped as the ceiling above her imploded and a Blond Curse dropped a sullen boy in her lap.
Hot tea went flying everywhere as she cried out.
What else could she do?!
She'd been enjoying a simple cup of said tea aboard the train as she fretted over Mechamaru's unexplained absence. No one was telling her anything...but she knew. She'd known for days now. Everyone thought she was Useless Miwa -they really didn't- but she wasn't stupid. Stressed, but not stupid. Hence the tea. It really was a very nice cup, just the sort to ease her worries away as they returned to Kyoto from a log mission...
.
..
...right up until this happened!
She couldn't think, she couldn't blink, she could barely even breathe.
Those wild red eyes glared down at her and she felt small.
"Are you Kasumi Miwa?"
"Y-Yes...?"
"Good." he patted the head of the baffling boy still planted in her lap. "He kept his promise. Be good to him."
"Tch." said boy groused. "I said I didn't need your help."
Still getting it. The blond curse flounced away.
"Meddling bastard...
That voice!
"Wait...are you...Meachamaru?!" The blond curse didn't answer, but the sullent grunt her "guest" made was answer enough. "You didn't really betray us...did you?"
The young man tumbled off her lap and landed in the seat beside her. "I'm afraid I did...
Something lodged in Miwa's throat.
"Its not about that anymore." he clasped his hands and refused to look at her. "It was Mai, Kamo, Nishimiya and Utahime, too.
Why didn't you talk to me about it? Why didn't you ask for help? Aren't we friends?" her shoulders hunched inward. "Is it because I'm weak?"
"No, I'm the one who was weak." he palmed his face with a sigh, covering his eyes. "Because I was weak, I made a mistake. And I couldn't even see that mistake through because of my own inherent weakness.
Daring to peek through his fingers, he barreled on.
"There was this girl I loved." something lurched in her chest when he said the words. "And I didn't care what happened to the world so long as I could be at her side and protect her. Even if that girl didn't want me to be the one to protect her, I wanted her to find happiness. Whatever shape it took, as long as she was happy...that was enough for me and-
Tears stung at her eyes, a sob strangling her words...
Miwa buried her head in his chest.
"You big dummy...!
(.0.0.0.)
Jogo did not expect him to return.
In truth it came as a surprise; he'd thought that this Vow-Cursed-Spirit would flee and return.
Yet here he was, stood before him, Hanami and Dagon, glaring balefully at the ruin that was once his home.
"That was a nice cave." he muttered mournfully, words echoing in the gloom. "I liked that cave. I had RAMEN in that cave...
Ramen? What was Ramen-no, it didn't matter.
"Brat." he thrust a finger at him. "You will come with us!"
Hanami hissed out a startled breath. "Jogo!"
What? Why was she concerned? Why...
.
..
...why did his arm hurt?
Baffled he looked to it, only to find himself staring at a ruined bloody stump, dripping viscous violet blood.
Naruto was clutching the rest of it in his right hand.
...you ruined my meal," he hissed. "Its only fair that you repay me in kind."
'I didn't see it.' his single eye widened as horror dawned with him. 'No, I couldn't see him move; didn't even feel the pain until it was done!'
As he looked on the blond took a great big bite out of it and ate the arm, fingers and all. He devoured the damn thing like five-star cuisine, wiped the purple stain off his mouth with a tattered sleeve, then stepped forward. Somewhere between step one and two Jogo lost track of him; just like that, he found him stood between the three of them.
'This one...this one's just as violent as Sukuna...no, wait, he might actually be WORSE-
He was still processing that thought when clenched knuckles barreled into his face.
Pain was the reward for his epiphany...and all hell broke loose.
A/N: NARUTO IS UNLEASHED!
You're not ready for the next one.
Hope this chapter felt like an actual episode~!
That said, would you like weekly updates? Possibly?
Hopefully, someone, somewhere, enjoyed this. I just don't know anymore these days. If folks don't enjoy it, I'll likely delete it.
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 AND SPOILERS AHOY~!)
It was three against one. So how?! HOW WERE THEY THE ONES LOSING?!
"Oho?" a voice sing-songed ahead of them
Naruto Am I interrupting?
"Its no secret that you're fond of Miss Miwa over here. I had a hunch and decided to lurk a little bit.
She sweatdropped. "Were you...stalking me?"
"Now, now, don't say it like that! But who's this?
He'd been so focused on her that he'd almost forgotten the two titans in the room with them. The world held its breath. Miwa fidgeted in his lap, already nervous Sparks flashed between Naruto and Gojo.
"Hmm...You almost look human," he hummed. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were one of us.
Muta panicked. "Don't attack him! He's a Special Grade Curse!"
"Special Grade, eh?" Gojo stared at him for a long moment. Slowly, he peeled back his blindfold. "Friend or foe?"
"Neither." A yawn answered him. "M'sleepy. You haven't broken any promises. Not fighting you."
His enthusiasm dimmed. He wasn't going to fight? Really? "You're a bit odd. Just what kind of curse are you?
Another yawn. "The kind that keeps his promises. Can I go now...?"
Huh. So they weren't going to fight.
Neat.
He relayed everything he knew.
"Well, that's annoying. Eh, don't worry. Whatever plan they have, I'm still the strongest. And your friend here...?
From what I understand, he's a spirit of vows.
Vows, eh?
Promises." came the clarification.
You do realize the higher ups aren't going to be happy about this.
I would offer my head as recompense, but I...you made a binding vow with him, didn't you?"
A nod. What else could he say? "He's promised to fight on our side for now You didn't see what I saw. He butchered Mahito like it was nothing. It...it wasn't even a challenge for him.
Well, that's a bit of a problem. Can't say I've ever worked with a Cursed Spirit before, let alone a Special Grade." Something hard passed through his eyes just then, lending him a decidedly wicked look. "I wonder how strong he is.
"Gojo-sensei, no!"
Aww, is he your pal?
Miwa glared at him intently.
Meh!" Satoru shrugged. "First time for everything. You lovebirds have fun! I wanna have some words with our friend here...
So what do I call you...
Kokichi is fine, though I'd understand if you prefer Mechamaru.
Naruto walked.
Well, shuffled, really.
He didn't know where he was going. What he was doing.
Find a family, Kokichi had said. Easier said than done. But he would try.
By sheer chance, he would find his own way into Shibuya.
Just as all hell broke lose.
Sukuna opened an eye. "Interesting."
He closed it again and slept.
Until then.
"You want to keep your promise, even after all this time." His hand patted her head as no one hand since she was small. "Good girl. You live."
Nobara blinked. "Ha?"
His peace said, the curse walked past her.
"Oi!" she fumbled for her hammer. "Get back here! I was gonna exorcise you!"
He just kept walking. She launched a nail at the back of his head, only for him to walk around the corner. Her nail wedged itself in a stop sign -where his head had been a second ago!- with an audible clang. In hindsight, she should've taken that sign as...well, a sign, and let bygones be bygones.
Her right eye began to twitch. Oh, hell no. No way in hell was she being ignored!
"I AIN'T DONE WITH YOU!"
Her ax whistled in at his face.
He saw it coming this time and swayed aside, giving ground steadily, almost lazily-until a crow slammed into his back and blew off his shoulder alongside a good portion of his torso and ribs besides. It should have killed him. Instead he growled...and before her very eyes, the wound mended itself in an instant.
His right hand flicked out, clawed fingers clenching. "That hurt...
Mei Mei frowned. "Oh, dear."
Then he was on her.
R&R~!