Chapter 12

The next morning…

Sukuna paused.

Rook was taller, stronger and brimming with power, he could sense it and yet… that smile grew ever wider on his lips. "So, this is a very interesting development, isn't it?" he asked of Rook.

Rook shrugged his shoulders. "All I know is I can eat a whole orc to myself now."

"Good, very good… but change out your protein, orc only gets you so far, you need variety!" This was unexpected. Sukuna thought Rook would follow the human standards of aging since he wasn't a sorcerer. But, he had this rapid growth spurt. And it was only a 24 hour process…

He began to wonder how far he needs to push this boy to see if he will get stronger once more. "So Oji, what are we up to?"

Sukuna sighed. "Sadly, our hunt will have to be delayed, I am helping Ryoto with his power. He has learned that when he observes something he retains it." He explained.

"Photographic and kinetic memory… great things to have."

"How did you know about the kinetic memory?! Let alone…"

Rook gave him 'the look' as if it were obvious. "Oji. I figured that out when I was younger, in my seven year old phase when you sparred just to humor me." He explained. "I realized when I did the same attack again and again, you saw it coming. So, I started to train with others, so I would have different footwork and movement and hopefully make my intentions harder to read… needless to say how that worked out…" he muttered the last part.

But that does explain why he was trying to alter his footwork as well as how he threw a punch… the boy was more insightful than he thought. "You are wise but didn't have to go that far…"

"Of course I did!" he protested. "Oji, I had no curse technique to use against you, that would have been a distraction at least and I wouldn't have to focus on my footwork. But… needless to say… when one has no curse energy, fighting you get a little more complicated at the same time… it's simple… but daunting no less."

"You matured too…"

"That remains to be seen…"

Sukuna snorted a laugh. "Well, I have to go speak to my boy about his abilities…"

"I may go do some hunting solo. Maybe Lady Tiamat is about and would have a suggestion on possible prey…"

Sukuna… didn't want to be left out of that. But he promised Ryoto…

"Oji, come with me, bring Ryoto!" he insisted.

"But his curse energy lessons…"

"We can do something along the way, some curses may need to be taken out, so…" he said in a hinting tone.

Sukuna smirked at the notion. Rook knew he wanted to go hunt along with him, but also understood time with Ryoto is also important.

He defiantly takes up after his mother. "So be it then, speak with lady Tiamat, I will find my son."

Rook nodded and ran off to do just that. Sukuna on the other hand found Ryoto speaking with the brat of all people. And yet…

"I just need something to… hide these features of mine… mom told me to talk to you or Suiryu. I know Lady Tiamat would help but Megumi is an infant right now…" He saw Ryoto freeze as the brat reached into his mouth and pulled out a tooth effortlessly! In the span of one minute, the tooth that was human, turned into a dragon fang! The brat smiled as he punctured a hole using his finger instantly.

"Okay, I just have to infuse this with some of my power and…" the brat paused as he peered over Ryoto. He nodded and then began to the process, the fang glowed and then stopped. The brat made a chain and gave it to Ryoto. "Try that." he insisted.

Ryoto put the fang on the necklace and placed it on. Instantly, his extra arms vanished, he had two sets of eyes and what black marks were starting to appear on his skin, disappeared from sight. "Whoa… you're amazing!"

"Think nothing of it… also your dad is looking for you."

Ryoto turned and saw him lingering near by. "Father, I look like what I used to!" he said proudly. "Uh… sorry."

Sukuna forced a smirk. "You are not the only one hiding your true features… right brat?" he asked and peered at his former vessel.

The brat got the message as he suddenly grew up and revealed his markings, eyes and arms. Tapping Ryoto on the shoulder, he turned but stumbled back in utter shock. "Whoa!"

"Yeah… sadly this is STILL a baby dragon phase."

"Don't… remind me…" Sukuna muttered.

Ryoto paused as he turned to him. He was in utter disbelief. "Baby… dragon phase… THIS is a BABY DRAGON PHASE?!" he demanded.

"He freaked out more than you did, then again, it takes a lot to get that kind of reaction out of you…"

"Shut up brat!"

"HOW? HOW IS THIS A BABY DRAGON PHASE!?"

"You really need to catch him up…"

"I said shut up, brat!" Sukuna snapped back.

The brat smirked as he returned to his 'normal' size. "Honestly, my mom and Suiryu's mom is Lady Tiamat. She's a dragon goddess and well… this is sort of a side effect for when we were born… well… reborn…"

Ryoto's face drained of color as he peered to Sukuna. "Father…"

"He's too young," he warned. "Granted, another time but for now… leave it be… not even I know that story…"

For once, the brat nodded in agreement. "You got a lot to learn, this isn't on the top of the list. When you feel more comfortable, I will explain what happened, for now… best not to think about it. Later!"

Sukuna sneered as his son appeared traumatized. "Baby dragon phase… and yet Megumi…"

"I don't even know what to make of it either, and I've seen some crazy shit." Sukuna said in a matter of fact tone. "But for now, get ready, wear clothing you don't mind getting destroyed and ruined… Rook wants you to go hunting with him."

Ryoto paused to this. "Is it because you want to go with him?" he asked bluntly.

"Yes,"

"At least your honest about it, okay. Fine, I'll go with you as well." Ryoto wasn't interested in hunting, Sukuna could see that first hand, but, perhaps it maybe something he and Ryoto can bond over. Their connection has strained greatly ever since he took on his likeness. That happy, young kid is gone. 'I wonder if I know what it takes to handle a teenage version of me…' Sukuna pondered to himself.

#

"Ugh!"

"Yeah…"

"ALL of them?"

"I'll eat one here and lessen the load…"

"Father…"

"He takes up after me, what do you think? Besides, I walked in on that boy after he took down a boar… he was already eating it."

Rook smirked as he saw a perplexed look on Ryoto's face. "I thought he was Gojo's son?" he said bluntly.

Rook snorted a laugh. "Yeah, I get that a lot… more so than usual…"

"Tooru thing," Oji said. Then, that smile grew. "I nearly forgot about that, those they like, they tend to mimic."

Rook paused as he peered to Oji oddly. He bore this smile so it was either true or he's messing with you, yet with the way he has trained Rook… and his mother said earlier he had perfected his uncle's unsettling smile… he was leaning towards the truth aspect of this.

"Anyways, yeah, your dad and I hunt orcs. It's bad enough I was eating their livers and making a juice out of it before you came along… seriously not good stuff… but it did help me get stronger!"

Ryoto peered at his father. "You MADE him eat livers?!"

"Your mother drank the juice when she was expecting you… you turned out fine so far" Oji snapped back.

He shuttered at the notion. Rook snickered. "Go easy on him Oji, this is his first hunt with us… at the same time… you got divine power too don't ya?" Rook asked.

Ryoto nodded, after he mastered his elemental abilities, divine came naturally. The odd thing is, he doesn't make any sort of contracts and yet, he has as much divine energy as curse if Rook were to guess… but he doesn't know it yet.

"Say, mind if I test something out with you…" They were on the rooftop over the latest den Rook had found of orcs. This was one of the largest ones he has seen, at the same time something was going on in there. "Ryoto, being a divine user, can you tell me what is up with the orcs?" he asked.

Ryoto was confused, so was Oji. "What do you mean?" Oji asked.

Ryoto said nothing as he peered into the den, but his eyes widened in shock. "What…" he muttered in disbelief.

"Something wrong?" Oji asked.

He peered again. "The orcs… these are the leaders, orc kings, generals and mutated breeds… they are gathering here… to attempt to evolve themselves."

Rook paused to this, he peered at Oji who was just as shocked. "Evolve themselves? Lady Tiamat has put a ban on boars entering her domain, that's the next evolution isn't it?"

"It is, but the rule states that boars from the heavenly realm can't come here… if they happen naturally on earth then that's a problem… which is why she told me about this place before we left. She had a feeling something like this would happen. They have tried before and failed, but she sensed so many here… there is a good chance that they will succeed." Rook explained.

Oji turned to Ryoto. "So, what do you think we should do?" he asked.

Ryoto kept peering into the den. "We let them do this, we could be facing a boar rather than fifty of these things… at the same time… fifty of these orcs has more meat than one boar…"

"I knew you were my son" Oji said proudly. "See what you get most out of the battle… at the same time your process the needs around you."

Ryoto appeared confused. "But isn't it the obvious answer?"

Rook hung back as Oji took a seat. "Not always, but it is the right answer for the current situation. There will come a time where one boar will be worth the sacrifice of many orcs. But at the moment, our need is meat, the more meat the better. So it is best to cull the orcs ourselves than it is to allow them to fight and attempt to become a boar… granted, boars are more fun to fight, but we don't need that tough meat. Orcs are tender."

"Damn right, I aim to make me some pork cutlets!" Rook said proudly and licked his lips. "I don't think I can wait much longer and it's nearly lunch"

"Then, let's hunt! Ryoto… do you want to watch or join?" Oji asked.

He looked conflicted but then a resolve look came over his face. "I'll fight" he said.

"Good, your old man told me that you learn through observation, let me go in first and follow my lead!"

His young cousin nodded. With that, Rook licked his lips. "Okay, let's do this… for the sake of bacon!" Rook made a dead leap from where he was, he jumped off the rooftop and plunged nearly two

stories to the ground. His landing made the earth tremble… that was a first for him, and yet he suffered no negative impact on his legs from the landing.

The orcs froze the moment they saw him. Rook must have had an Oji look, since all he saw before him was an all you can eat buffet!