Author Note: Hey guys! I am back with a new chapter early! This was very fun to write, really. Thanks for all the support you guys have been giving me, it means a lot to me.

Note: This is basically a filler. So, you may skip this chapter.

Now, let's begin...

Chapter Nine: The Calm Before Storm

In the tranquil pre-dawn hours, Toge Inumaki, a sorcerer known for his cursed speech, found solace in the silent art of poetry. His words, though often restricted in daily life, flowed freely onto parchment, weaving verses that spoke of the Jujutsu world—a realm where curses and humans intertwined in a delicate dance of power and peril.

On this particular morning, as the first light of day crept through his window, Toge penned a sonnet that captured the essence of his reality:

Within the shadowed veil of night's embrace,

Where curses lurk and twisted spirits roam,

The Jujutsu sorcerers take their place,

To fight the darkness, far from light of home.

In silence, Toge's cursed tongue finds peace,

His words, though sealed, in poetry release.

Each verse a battle, every rhyme a shield,

Against the malevolent forces, we wield.

The binding vows of ancient clans hold tight,

As sorcerers weave their spells with deft hands,

In this hidden war, a perpetual fight,

For balance in these spiritually fraught lands.

Yet hope glimmers like a steadfast star,

In verses penned, healing wounds and scars.

For in the art of words, Toge finds might,

A sonnet's power in the Jujutsu fight.

Toge's sonnet was more than mere words; it was a testament to the struggles and triumphs of those who lived alongside curses. Each line was a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and the unwavering courage of the sorcerers who stood as humanity's shield.

As the sun rose higher, casting a golden hue over his desk, Toge set down his quill. His poem, a mere hundred words, was concise yet profound, encapsulating a thousand-word story within its metre and rhyme. It was his silent rebellion against the curse that bound his voice—a declaration that even in the quietest whispers, there is strength to be found.

And so, with the morning's work complete, Toge folded the parchment, sealing within it the sonnet about the Jujutsu world. Perhaps one day, it would find its way to another, inspiring hope and courage in a world shrouded by shadows and silence.

~• •~

With a mechanical hum, Mechamaru surged forward, his massive form looming ominously over the darkened area. His movements were calculated, precise, a testament to years of combat training and technological prowess. Yet Mahito, with his eerie grin and ever-shifting form, stood unfazed, a dark aura radiating from his cursed essence.

'Geto was right! This does help, fighting against humans lightens up the mood. I feel almost better now!'

"Ah, the steel puppet approaches," Mahito's voice echoed with a chilling resonance. "Let us see if your metal can withstand the touch of curses."

Mechamaru's response was a low growl, the gears within him grinding with determination. He launched himself forward with thunderous force, his metallic fists poised to strike. But Mahito, agile and elusive, danced effortlessly out of harm's way, his form contorting and twisting with unnatural grace.

As the confrontation escalated, the true extent of Mahito's power began to reveal itself. With a malicious grin, he unleashed waves of cursed energy, each pulse threatening to corrode the very fabric of reality. Mechamaru fought valiantly, his armour holding strong against the onslaught, but with each passing moment, he felt his strength waning.

Desperation gnawed at Mechamaru's core as Mahito's relentless assault continued unabated. Try as he might, the steel giant found himself unable to gain the upper hand against his cursed adversary. With each blow, he could feel his systems faltering, his movements growing sluggish under the weight of exhaustion.

Multiple times did Mechamaru think he was successful. But no. He wasn't.

When Mahito used his Domain Expansion, Mahito was sure he had won. But Mechamaru countered it with Simple Domain. Then he, Mechamaru thought that he was successful.

How wrong he was…

When Mahito invaded the core of Ultimate Mechamaru and was just about to attack him with that disgusting grin of his, he thought he was done for.

...except he wasn't.

All of a sudden, just before Mahito was about to tear him apart, he had stopped.

"W-what?" Mechamaru asked, confusion in his eyes. "Why did you stop?"

What he got in answer was unpredicted.

"I-i-i-it's him!" Mahito stuttered. "T-the DEMON!"

Confusion consumed Mechamaru's thoughts before he felt it too.

An extremely dense and potent cursed energy that did not belong to Geto was right on the top of Ultimate Mechamaru.

"That old man was pranking me— the prank king! This is not teleportation, this is…" a childish voice was heard before the sound of throwing up was heard. "Daman! I am never teleporting again this far without practice, dattebayo!" Then, a pause. "But where the hell am I?"

"I-i-i-it's him!" Mahito shouted as he sprouted wings on his back and began to fly away. "T-the DEMON! Geto! We are out of here!"

Ultimate Mechamaru's cameras were destroyed, so Mechamaru couldn't see what was happening outside, but he could hear.

"Who's there… ugh… a ghost!" The child said before the sound of thunder cracking… was that the sound of a… Black Flash…?

Mahito screamed like he was dying, which may not be entirely false.

Really?

"Maybe I messed up your brain real bad." The child sighed. "Look, you were killing people for fun, it was not my mistake I snapped. I am willing to give you a chance. Come with me, we can talk."

"No we can't!"

"Can do!"

"You are a demon!"

"And you are an overgrown Stitch-Faced doll!"

"Let me go…" a wheezing sound was heard, which was followed by Mahito's scream.

"What…" the child said. "Where are you… hey, who are you… is that a ball… hey! Don't eat that… that's disgusting! Eww!" Again, the child began to throw up.

"Is that miso ramen?" Wasn't that Geto? Oh no... "I can smell it from here."

"...yeah."

"You should chew well, little one. It's not wise to swallow like that."

"...yeah, everybody says that to me." A small pause followed. "Who are you?"

Then, a chuckle was heard. "I am a free-working Jujutsu sorcerer, little one." Geto said. "I was fighting that cursed spirit here. Thank you for your assistance."

"I guess." The child sighed. "Hey, monk-sorcerer, what's your name?"

"Suguru Geto." He chuckled. "I should go now. Goodbye, little one."

Mechamaru heard something from behind him, before he could turn, darkness had consumed him.

…

Naruto looked around and wondered where that humongous cursed energy was coming from.

Then he looked below him and frowned.

He instantly punched the robot and made a hole in it. He made his way to the core of it, only to find a bloody body of a teenager.

"Hey, hey!" He tried to heal the teenager using the Reversed Cursed Technique.

"Shibuya…" the teenager said. "Thirty… First October… Satoru… Gojo...seal…"

"W-what?"

Later that day, Mechamru was taken to Jujutsu High.

Mechamru was not dead. But he was in a coma.

~• •~

Mahito lay on the banana hammock, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. He felt nothing but pain and despair, as if his soul had been shattered into pieces. He had been trapped in that brat's Tsukuyomi, a domain that manipulated his perception of time and reality. In that illusion, he had experienced the worst nightmare of his life: he had been forced to kill his friends, Jogo, Hanami and Dagon, over and over again, for what seemed like an eternity. He had felt their curses, their hatred, their agony, as he stabbed, burned, and crushed them with his cursed technique. He had seen their faces, twisted with fear and betrayal, as they cursed him with their dying breaths. He had heard their screams, echoing in his ears, as they begged him to stop. He had felt their blood, splashing on his hands, as he tore them apart. He had done it all, without any control, without any remorse, without any escape. He was transformed over and over again in very painful ways. He was the artist, not art itself…

He had woken up from the domain, only to find out that it had lasted for only a few seconds in the real world. He had been rescued by his friend, Hanami, who had managed to distract Naruto and flee with Mahito from his grasp. Hanami had brought him back to their hideout, where they had tried to heal his wounds and comfort him. But it was too late. The damage had been done. Mahito had lost his sanity, his will, his identity. He had become a broken shell of his former self, unable to speak, to move, to feel. He had become a victim of Naruto's cruelty, a pawn in his game.

Then Geto suggested that he should go and have some fun. Mojito decided to play with Mechamaru.

He was actually having fun, when he was just about to finnish that machine-boy, the demon appeared. Mojito was once again captured. In order to save him, Geto swallowed half of him.

Jogo, Hanami and Dagon watched over him, with sadness and anger in their eyes. They had been his friends, his comrades, his family. They had shared his vision of a world where curses ruled over humans, where they could live freely and happily. They had followed him, trusted him, loved him. And now, they had lost him, to a human, a demon, an enemy. They felt a surge of hatred towards Naruto, the one who had done this to him, the one who had taken him away from them. They swore to avenge him, to make him pay, to make him suffer. They decided to go after him, to find him, to kill him.

"Worry not, Mahito," Jogo said. "I will personally kill that demon brat!"

~• •~

It was a sunny day in Tokyo and Naruto was excited. He had just turned six years old, and his friends from the Jujutsu High School had come to celebrate with him in his house. They were Yuji, Nobara, Megumi, Satoru, Toge, Panda, Shoko, Nanami and Maki. They had brought him a big cake, some presents, and a lot of balloons.

The boy that Naruto had rescued was being treated by cake-butt lady in Jujutsu High. His wounds were fatal, but he would live. He was that robot student from Kyoto that day. After saving him, he was now the third most favourite person on Miwa's list. He wondered who were the first and second…

During his childhood, Naruto was very lonely in Konoha, as he was an orphan who was shunned by the villagers for being the host of the Nine-Tails. He had no friends or family to celebrate his birthday with, except for the Third Hokage, who was his guardian and mentor. Naruto often felt isolated and unwanted, and he craved attention and recognition. He developed a cheerful and prankster personality to cope with his loneliness, and he vowed to become the Hokage someday, so that everyone would respect him. He also found solace in seclusion, choosing to distance himself from others to ensure his own safety. But now, he was not alone.

"Happy birthday, Naruto!" they shouted as they entered his house.

"Thank you, thank you!" Naruto said, jumping up and down. "You guys are the best!"

He hugged them one by one, and then ran to the table where the cake was. It was a chocolate cake, with orange frosting and a picture of Naruto's face on it. It also had six candles on it, ready to be blown.

"Wow, this is awesome!" Naruto exclaimed. "Did you make this, cake-butt lady?"

Shoko nodded as she inhaled from her cigarette. "Yes, I did, kid. It's your special day, after all."

"I love it, I love it!" Naruto said, licking his lips. "Can I have a slice now?"

"Not yet Naru-chan. You have to blow the candles first and make a wish." Satoru said.

"Okay, okay. I'll do that." Naruto said, taking a deep breath. He closed his eyes and thought of his wish. He wished to to protect his friends. He opened his eyes and blew the candles with all his might.

"Yay, Naruto!" his friends cheered. "You did it!"

"Thank you, thank you!" Naruto said, smiling widely. "Now, can I have a slice?"

"Sure, sure. Here you go." Shoko said, cutting a piece of cake and putting it on a plate. She handed it to Naruto, who took a big bite.

"Mmm, this is delicious!" Naruto said, his mouth full of cake. "You're the best, cake-butt lady!"

"I'm glad you like it." Shoko said, patting his head before inhaling smoke from her cigarette. Everyone glared at her.

Naruto finished his cake, and then looked at the presents. There were nine of them, wrapped in colourful paper and ribbons.

"Wow, these are for me?" Naruto asked, his eyes sparkling.

"Of course, Naruto. They're from us." Nobara said.

"What are you waiting for, Naruto? Open them!" Yuji said.

"Okay, okay. I'll open them." Naruto said, grabbing the first present. He tore the paper and revealed a pair of orange goggles.

"Wow, these are cool!" Naruto said, putting them on. "Who gave me these?"

"I did, Naruto." Megumi said. He was a quiet boy, who used shadows and animals as his weapons. He had a pet wolf, called Divine Dog, who was always by his side.

"Thank you, emo-nii-chan. They're awesome!" Naruto said, admiring his reflection.

"You're welcome, Naruto. They suit you well." Megumi said, smiling slightly. "And please, call me Fushigoro."

Naruto moved on to the next present. He opened it and found a replica of something he had seen before. "Wow, this is cool!" Naruto said, holding it carefully. "Who gave me this?"

"I did, Naruto." Maki said. She was a tomboyish girl after all, who was skilled in using weapons and physical combat. "This might not be real, but it is still very dangerous."

"What do you call it?"

"Playful Cloud." Maki smirked.

"Thank you, emo-nee-chan. It's cool!" Naruto said, swinging it around.

"You're welcome, brat. Just be careful with it, okay?" Maki said, warning him.

"Okay, okay. I'll be careful." Naruto said, nodding.

He opened the third present and found a book. "Wow, this is a book!" Naruto said, flipping through the pages. "Who gave me this?"

"I did, Naruto." Nanami said as he tilted his sunglasses.

"Thank you, Nanami. It's nice!" Naruto said, looking at the cover. It was a book about the history of the Jujutsu world.

"You're welcome, Naruto. It's very informative. You should read it sometime." Nanami said, encouraging him. "Take it as a thank you for that day for saving me."

"Okay, okay. I'll read it sometime." Naruto said, putting it aside. Despite hating to read, he was still a prodigy.

He opened the fourth present and found a scarf.

"Wow, this is a scarf!" Naruto said, wrapping it around his neck. "Who gave me this?"

"Salmon." Toge said. Naruto always found him mysterious. When he asked his uncle why he was like that, he got his answer. He had a special power, called Cursed Speech, which allowed him to control anything with his words. But a wrong word could potentially kill ANYONE. Naruto felt bad for him.

"Thank you, collor-ni-chan. It's warm!" Naruto said, feeling the fabric.

"Salmon. Salmon, Mustard Leaf." Toge said, nodding.

He opened the fifth present and found a stuffed animal- a fox. "Wow, this is a cute fox!" Naruto said, hugging it. "Who gave me this?"

Panda waved his hand. He requested Yaga to make it for Naruto.

"Thank you, Panda-nii-chan. It's cute!" Naruto said, squeezing it.

"You're welcome, Naruto. It's fluffy." Panda said, smiling.

He opened the sixth present and found a round pair of sunglasses with an orange tint. "Wow, this is a pair of sunglasses!" Naruto said, putting it on. "Who gave me this?"

"Me, Naru-chan." Satoru said with a smirk.

"Thank you, old man. It's pretty!" Naruto said, admiring it.

"You're welcome, Naru-chan. It's special." Satoru said, winking.

He opened the seventh present, and found a poster of a famous model… no… on the face… It was Nobara's face. Everyone laughed while the teen girl blushed. "Wow, this is a poster!" Naruto said, unrolling it. "Who gave me this?"

"The great Nobara Kugisaki, brat." Nobara said, although she didn't seem too excited, which everyone knew was a facade.

"Thank you, hammer-nee-chan. It's cool!" Naruto said, looking at it.

"You're welcome, kid. It's awesome, just like me." Nobara said, blushing.

He opened the eighth present and found a watch. "Wow, this is a watch!" Naruto said, putting it on. "Who gave me this?"

"Me, me! Naruto." Yuji said.

"Thank you, Yuji-nii-chan. It's nice!" Naruto said, checking the time.

"You're welcome, Naruto. It's useful." Yuji said, smiling.

"Thank you, thank you. I love you guys!" Naruto said, tears in his eyes.

They spent the rest of the day, playing games, telling stories, and having fun. Naruto felt like the luckiest boy in the world, to have such amazing friends. He was happy, and he hoped that his happiness would last forever.

Only if he knew how wrong he was.

~• •~

Geto walked along the narrow path that led to Granny Ogami's hut. He had heard rumours about the old woman, who was said to be a powerful sorcerer and a master of reviving dead people's power in a living vessel. He had a special request for her, one that he hoped she could fulfil.

He knocked on the door and waited. After a few moments, he heard a voice from inside.

"Who is it?"

"Geto Suguru. I have come to seek your help, Granny Ogami."

Kenjaku walked into the dimly lit room, where an old woman was sitting on a tatami mat, surrounded by candles and incense. She looked up at him with a wary gaze, her wrinkled face showing signs of age and bitterness.

"Huh?" She asked, her voice raspy and cold. "What do you want from me?"

Kenjaku smiled, his eyes gleaming with malice. He bowed slightly and spoke in a polite tone.

"Good evening, granny Ogami. I am Suguru Geto. I have come to ask for your help with a very important matter."

Granny Ogami narrowed her eyes and clenched her teeth. She recognized the name of Geto, the traitor who had betrayed the jujutsu world and joined forces with the cursed spirits. She had no love for him, or anyone associated with him.

"What do you want from me, Suguru Geto?" She spat, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do you want me to curse someone for you? Do you want me to sell you some of my rare and illegal items? Do you want me to join your twisted cause?"

Kenjaku shook his head, and chuckled.

"No, no, nothing like that. I want you to do something much simpler, and much more beneficial for you. I want you to revive someone for me."

Granny Ogami frowned and tilted her head.

"Revive someone? Who do you want me to revive? And why should I do that for you?"

Kenjaku leaned closer and whispered in her ear.

"I want you to revive Toji Fushiguro. The Zenin clan's assassin. The man who killed Riko Amanai. The man who almost killed Satoru Gojo."

Granny Ogami gasped and recoiled from Kenjaku. She felt a surge of fear, and curiosity. She knew who Toji Fushiguro was. He was a legend among the jujutsu sorcerers, a man who had no cursed energy, but could fight and kill anyone with his physical skills and cursed tools. He was also a man who had almost killed the man who had ruined her life, indirectly.

She had been a strong woman, who had run a dark business of trading cursed objects, cursed corpses, and cursed humans. She had connections with the underworld and had no scruples about exploiting the weak and the innocent. She had been feared and respected by many.

After the birth of Satoru Gojo, the child with Six-Eyes and Limitless, the balance of power in the world of Jujutsu had shifted. Cursed energy users like herself were forced to hide in the shadows.

They had raided her place and had confiscated all her illegal goods. They had also arrested her and had sentenced her to life imprisonment in a special facility. She had lost everything, her power, her wealth, her freedom. All because of Satoru Gojo.

She hated him, with every fibre of her being. She wanted him to suffer, to die, to rot in hell. She wanted revenge.

Gojo had faced Toji and had engaged him in a fierce battle. The fight had been so intense, that it had caused a huge disturbance in the cursed energy flow of that area.

"Why do you want me to revive Toji Fushiguro?" She asked, her voice trembling with emotion. "What do you plan to do with him?"

Kenjaku smiled and revealed his true intention.

"I want you to revive Toji Fushiguro, because I want him to kill Satoru Gojo for me."

Granny Ogami's eyes widened, and she felt a mix of shock and excitement. She could not believe what she was hearing. Kenjaku wanted her to revive the only man who had ever wounded Gojo, the only man who had ever made him bleed. He wanted her to revive the man who could possibly end Gojo's life.

She looked at Kenjaku, and saw the determination and the madness in his eyes. She realised that he was serious, that he was not joking. He had a plan, a plan that involved Toji Fushiguro, and Satoru Gojo.

She felt a surge of curiosity and asked.

"How do you plan to do that? How do you plan to make Toji Fushiguro kill Satoru Gojo for you?"

Kenjaku leaned back and explained his plan.

"I have a plan, a plan that will change the world. A plan that will unleash the true potential of cursed energy and create a new era of curses. A plan that will require the sacrifice of Satoru Gojo, the one who stands in my way."

He told her about his plan, his plan to seal Gojo in a prison realm.

She agreed to his plan and agreed to help him. She agreed to revive Toji Fushiguro, and agreed to make him kill Satoru Gojo. She agreed to everything, without knowing anything.

He manipulated her, he used her. He used her hatred, her grudge, her desire for revenge. He used her skills, her knowledge, her resources.

He was Kenjaku, the curse of humanity. And he would stop at nothing, to achieve his goal.

She was granny Ogami, the fool of sorcerers. And she would regret it, to the end of her days.

Kenjaku had everything ready. He had the ritual, the ingredient, the sacrifice. He had the puppet, the weapon, the tool. He had the plan, the goal, the vision. He had the power, the cunning, the secret. He was ready to revive Toji Fushigoro, and to begin his final game. He was ready to create a new world, and to destroy the old one. He was ready to face his destiny, and to make history.

He was Kenjaku. And he was unstoppable.

~• •~

Naruto followed his friends to the manga shop, feeling nervous and curious. Yuji, Nobara and Inumaki had insisted that he was old enough to read manga now, so he came with them. Having nothing better to do, Megumi tagged along.

Naruto scanned the shelves, looking for the manga that had his name on it. He saw titles like "Bleach", "One Piece", "My Hero Academia", and "Demon Slayer", but none of them caught his eye. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to see Yuji holding a manga in his hand.

"Look, Naruto, this is the one I was telling you about. It's called 'Naruto'. It's about the son of the legendary ninja Minato Namikaze, who wants to become the Hokage, the leader of his village. It's really cool and exciting. You should read it." Yuji said, smiling.

Naruto felt a surge of shock and disbelief. He took the manga from Yuji and looked at the cover. He saw a boy with blond hair and blue eyes, wearing an orange and black jumpsuit. He had a whisker-like mark on each cheek and a headband with a leaf symbol on it. He looked exactly like Naruto.

Naruto felt his heart skip a beat. He opened the manga and flipped through the pages. He saw familiar faces and scenes from his past life. He saw his friends, his enemies, his mentors, his battles, his victories, and his losses. He saw his own story, told in a different way.

He felt a mix of emotions. He felt nostalgia, sadness, anger, joy, and confusion. He wondered how this was possible. How did someone know about his life? How did they turn it into a manga? How did they get it published? How did it become popular? How did no one notice that he was the same person as the protagonist?

He looked up and saw that his friends were busy browsing other manga. He saw that Megumi was watching him with a curious and concerned expression.

He felt guilty for lying to his other friends. He wanted to tell them the truth, but he was afraid of how they would react. He was afraid that they would think he was crazy, or that they would hate him, or that they would expose him to the world.

He decided to keep his secret for now. He closed the manga and handed it back to Yuji. He forced a smile and said, "Thanks, Yuji-ni-chan, but I'm not really interested in this manga. It doesn't look like my type. Maybe you can lend it to me later, if you want."

Yuji shrugged and said, "Sure, no problem. But trust me, Naruto, you're missing out. This manga is awesome. You should give it a chance. Maybe you'll find something in common with the main character. He's a lot like you, you know. He's brave, loyal, funny, and determined. He never gives up on his dreams, no matter what. He's a true hero."

Naruto felt a pang of irony and sadness. He wished he could tell Yuji the truth. He wished he could tell him that he was the main character. He wished he could tell him that he had given up on his dream. He wished he could tell him that he was not a hero, but a failure, he never actually became the Hokage, he had died.

He nodded and said, "Maybe you're right, Yuji-ni-chan. Maybe I'll like it after all. But for now, let's go and check out some other manga. I heard there's a new one called 'Demon Slayer'. It's about swordsmen who fight demons with special powers. It sounds cool, don't you think?"

Then Naruto saw another book that had a picture of a boy that looked too much like him. The book's name was: 'Boruto Vol. 1'

Intrigued, he took the book and flipped some pages.

'I was supposed to marry Hinata and have a son?!'

He flipped some more pages before stopping as he saw a picture of an adult-Naruto.

'Why do I look so ugly!?'

Naruto was on the verge of tearing the book when Megumi spoke.

"Why do you read it if it annoys you?" Megumi asked, eyeing the 'Boruto' manga in Naruto's hands with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

Naruto, the spiky-haired, amethyst-eyed child, sighed dramatically. "It's this protagonist, Boruto. He's a real piece of work. Thinks he can just waltz around, disrespecting his old man. It's infuriating!"

Yuji Itadori, overhearing the conversation, chuckled as he leaned against a bookshelf. "Sounds like someone has daddy issues," he teased, earning a glare from Naruto.

Nobara Kugisaki, flipping through a manga of her own, joined in. "Well, Boruto's dad isn't around much. Being a ninja seems like a busy job."

Naruto snorted. "Busy doesn't cut it. A father should be a father. This manga makes it look like a joke! Naruto said with a sly grin spreading across his face. "It's funny, isn't it? The brat has no respect! Throwing paint on the Hokage monument? His father must be very proud of him!"

"What's so funny?" Yuji asked, plopping down beside them.

"Naruto's kid in this manga," Naruto waved the book with a dramatic flair, "he's a real piece of work!"

Nobara snatched the book and skimmed a few pages. "He's just like you, Naruto. Always causing trouble," she teased, nudging him with her elbow.

Naruto feigned shock, placing a hand over his heart. "I am hurt! I would never—"

"—Get caught," Yuji finished, winking at Megumi.

Megumi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "But you're just a kid. What do you know about being a father, Tenodakume?"

Naruto's face turned red, and he stammered for a moment before regaining his composure. "I read a lot! And I have… uh, strong opinions!"

The group erupted into laughter, the sound filling the small manga shop. As they continued to discuss the antics of Boruto and his father, Naruto couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia for his past life. He remembered his own days as a brash young ninja, always causing trouble, always striving to prove himself.

As the conversation turned to other manga and the adventures within, Naruto found himself reflecting on the lessons he had learned throughout his life—both as Naruto and now as Tenodakume. He realized that every character, every story, had something to teach.

And perhaps, he thought, Boruto wasn't so different from him after all. Maybe, just maybe, he could learn to appreciate the young ninja's journey, to see the humor in his rebellion, and to remember the importance of patience and understanding.

With a smile, Naruto closed the manga and placed it back on the shelf. Today, he would not let Boruto's antics annoy him. Today, he would enjoy the company of his friends and the endless possibilities

Yuji agreed and followed Naruto to another section of the shop. Naruto hoped that he had convinced him. He hoped that he had avoided suspicion. He hoped that he had escaped his past.

But he knew that he was wrong. He knew that he could not escape his past. He knew that his past was following him. He knew that his past was waiting for him.

He knew that his past was his destiny.

~• •~

It was Halloween night in Shibuya, one of the busiest and most colorful districts in Tokyo. Thousands of people, many of them wearing costumes, were enjoying the festive atmosphere, unaware of the danger that lurked beneath the surface.

In a hidden location, a group of curse users were preparing to execute their plan.

"Are you ready?" Pseudo-Geto asked, holding the Prison Realm in his hand.

"Yes," the curse users said, nodding.

"Good. Then let's begin. Activate the curtain," Pseudo-Geto ordered.

One of the curse users stabbed a nail on the ground, and a dome of purple light enveloped Shibuya. The people inside the dome felt a sudden chill, as if the temperature had dropped. They looked up, and saw the sky had turned dark. They heard a loud voice, echoing through the air.

"Attention, citizens of Shibuya. You are now part of a special experiment. We are testing the limits of human fear and despair. You have two options: stay inside the dome and face the horrors that await you, or try to escape and risk being killed by the guards. Either way, you have no hope of survival. Enjoy the show."

The people were shocked and confused. They didn't know what was going on, or who was behind this. They tried to call for help, but their phones had no signal. They tried to leave the dome, but they were stopped by a wall of curses. They were trapped, and they were scared.

"What the hell is this?" a man in a vampire costume shouted.

"Is this some kind of prank?" a woman in a fairy costume asked.

"No, this is real. This is a curse," a boy in a ninja costume said. He had seen some jujutsu sorcerers fighting curses before, and he knew what they looked like.

"A curse? What do you mean?" the woman asked.

"I mean, we're in danger. There are monsters out there, and they're coming for us. We have to find a way out," the boy said.

"Monsters? What are you talking about?" the man asked.

"Look, there's one!" the boy pointed.

They turned, and saw a huge creature with horns, claws, and teeth. It was a cursed spirit, and it was hungry. It roared and charged at them.

They screamed and ran for their lives.

They looked at the dome and saw the chaos that had begun. The curses that they had hidden inside the dome had started to emerge, and they had started to attack the people. The people screamed and ran for their lives. They had no defence, and no hope.

The Shibuya Incident had begun, and it was a nightmare.

~• •~

Naruto was in his room fast asleep when he suddenly felt a humongous cursed energy spike from the north direction.

"W-what?" He asked, perplexed.

"Whatever that was," his father said. "It was dangerous, very dangerous, Stay out of it."

"I guess," he was just about to close his eyes when he felt a number of very familiar emotions from that direction.

The pain of losing your beloved.

The fear of death.

The fear of darkness.

The pain of being crushed alive.

Eaten alive.

Without thinking any further, he jumped out of his bed, and marched towards the main door.

"NARUTO…!" His mother screamed from inside him. "Get back in the house!"

He stood on an electricity pillar. He needs to teleport. He tried to recall what the old man had taught him…

'...let me explain how I teleport long distances. It's a part of my Limitless curse technique, which allows me to manipulate the space and time around me. I can bend the space between two points and create a shortcut, or a wormhole, that I can use to travel instantly. I can also use my Six Eyes, a special trait that gives me enhanced perception and control over cursed energy, to locate my destination and adjust my warp.

However, my teleportation technique is not perfect. I have some limitations and conditions that I must follow in order to use it. Here are some of them:

One, I must have a clear and unobstructed line of sight to my target. I cannot teleport through walls or other obstacles, as they would interfere with my spatial manipulation.

Two, I must clasp my hands together to activate the warp. This is a gesture that I use to focus my cursed energy and create the wormhole.

Three, I must deactivate my Infinity barrier temporarily. This is a disadvantage that I must accept in order to use my teleportation. My Infinity barrier is a defensive technique that creates an infinite distance between me and anything that tries to touch me. I must lower this barrier when I teleport, as it would prevent me from entering the wormhole. This also makes me vulnerable to attacks during the warp.

And four,I cannot cover very long distances. I can only teleport within a certain range, depending on my cursed energy and skill level. I cannot teleport across continents or planets, for example. I also cannot teleport to places that I have never been to or seen before.

These are some of the basic rules and principles of my teleportation technique. I hope this helps you understand how I do it. If you can master it, then you will become Minato Namikaze from the anime …'

Naruto felt nauseous as he thought about teleportation but didn't bother. He had lives to save. 'Straight line…' he thought. '...clear image… Shibuya…'

"Naruto, don't be a fool," his father said. "If you do this, there may be consequences."

"NARUTO…!" His mother screamed from inside him, again. "Get back in the house! That energy spike was far greater than anything I have seen!"

"I have seen worse." Naruto replied with a sad smile, still in his orange kimono. "I have faced animals bigger than the Eiffel Tower. I have fought assassins, cold-blooded murderers, aliens, demons, Madara and Kaguya. I don't think anything else can scare me now."

"Naruto, you are not a teenager." His father argued. "You're just a child, an extremely powerful one, but a child nonetheless."

"No dad, I am a SHINOBI."

"PLEASE, NARUTO!"

"I can't mom, I have to save them. That is a promise, and I won't go back on my word." he replied, voice stern. "That is my nindo, my Ninja Way."

The Child of Prophecy vanished in thin air.

Author Note:

Wow! Borderline seven thousand words... Thanks for reading this story! The next chapter will come with bundles of surprises.

Next Chapter:

Toji VS Naruto.

Jogo VS Naruto

If you have any suggestions for the fights, do let me know in the review section!

I shall update this story soon. So, make sure to stay tuned!

Revised: 13/03/2024.

Till next time!