Chapter Eighteen: An Unfair Spar

Naoya stretched his legs before popping his backbone a bit. That felt relaxing.

"J-juice?" Mai, who was standing behind him, asked as she gave him a glass of lemon juice.

"Cold?"

"C-cold."

He took the glass and took a sip. "Gah!" He sneered as he spat the liquid. "That was too much salt, you bitch!"

"There wasn't any salt!" She retorted.

"You dare to argue with me!?" He raised his hand to slap her on her already bruised face. She trembled and closed her eyes, ready for the inevitable abuse.

Naoya was mentally annoyed. Mai was an easy prey— no fun. Always submit— even if they wre not her fault. Maki on the other hand…

Just when he what about to hit her with his hand—

"Stop."

A demonic voice was heard. He could feel the Inumakis' cursed technique in the air as his body froze. Why was Toge Inukami… no… it sounded too high pitched…

"Move." They ordered.

He looked back to see…

"Gojo,"

"Zennin," Naruto said, his face truly expressionless. It was not cute. It was terrific. It was… demonic. "I thought we were supposed to spar? Then why are you fighting her? Perhaps you wish to cancel today's spar? If that's the case, then by default, the Gojo clan wins."

Naoya licked his lips in anger. This boy was too annoying. Satoru Gojo never paid him any attention, but Tenodakume Gojo was different. "If you are ready, then we can begin." He said. "But since you just arrived—"

"Let's have a 'friendly' spar,"

He blinked to find the boy…in the middle of the arena? That boy was using cursed energy. Ah-huh! He loses—

"Are you coming or not?" Naruto called out, his amethyst eyes glowing the foggy arena like an angel. But everyone knew otherwise.

"You used cursed energy, Gojo," Naoya said. He was looking forward to this spar, it's a shame he wins by default. "Therefore, I—"

"Gojo-san did not use any cursed energy." The old man, what's his name? Ah, Masamichi, who was sitting on the second floor's gigantic balcony, said. "If he had, then this machine—" he pointed towards a white box that was floating above the arena that showed a yellow and purple line. "The purple line, which is at the bottom, would have gone up."

That was pure speed?!

He looked at the boy, who was standing in the ice ring, carefully. That look… the way he was looking down at him…where did he see it?

Then it clicked.

Toji Fushiguro.

He was nothing to him. A pest.

Naoya shivered. No, he wasn't going down without a fight.

With a leap, he entered the ice ring, his feet graceful touching the frost.

"Is the challenger and the accepter ready?" A voice in the mic boomed.

"Hai." "Hmm."

"Begin!"

The ice ring looked like an old battlefield, its surface scarred from past fights. Naoya's breath hung in the cold air, showing how deep the chill ran. His eyes locked onto his opponent.

Across the ice stood Tenodakume Gojo—a mere six years old but with an otherworldly presence. His sonw-white hair flowed like a frozen waterfall, and his amethyst eyes were calm and intense. Naruto's small frame hid the power within, and Naoya knew this was a demon.

Naruto moved first, a blur of white against the icy ground. His fist shot toward Naoya's midsection, but Naoya sidestepped easily. His muscles tensed, ready for the fight. He countered with a swift kick to Naruto's legs, but the boy jumped, barely touching the ice as he evaded.

They circled each other, their footsteps echoing in the cold. Naoya faked left, then right, testing Naruto's reflexes. The boy mirrored him, moving fluidly. Naoya threw a punch, but Naruto ducked, his white hair brushing the ice. Naruto's leg swept out in a spinning kick aimed at Naoya's ribs. Naoya blocked, their limbs clashing like swords.

Naruto's heel struck the ice, and it cracked like a spiderweb. Water seeped through, darkening the white surface. Naoya's instincts took over—he jumped, narrowly avoiding the breaking ice. His almost slipped, he regained his balance.

Naruto, unfazed, moved forward. He feinted left, then suddenly pivoted. Naoya expected a punch, but Naruto's knee shot up, hitting Naoya's jaw. The impact rattled him, and for a moment, stars danced before his eyes.

But Naoya wasn't defeated. He locked eyes with Naruto, refusing to yield. The ice beneath them seemed to hold its breath, its cracks widening. Naoya's fingers brushed the frozen surface, and frostbite bit at his skin. He ignored it, focusing on Naruto. The boy's knuckles were scraped, blood mixing with the water. Naoya's own jaw throbbed, but he grinned—a fierce, battle-worn grin.

Naoya's breaths came in ragged bursts, sweat mingling with the cold. Naruto, relentless, closed the gap again. His knuckles were raw, blood dripping into the ice. He was a force of nature—a comet streaking across the frozen sky.

Their next clash was brutal. Naruto's fist met Naoya's jaw, and stars exploded behind Naoya's eyes. But he wouldn't yield. Not to a child, not to anyone. He adjusted his stance, muscles screaming in protest. The ice beneath them groaned, threatening to swallow them whole.

They grappled, two forces of nature colliding. Naoya's biceps bulged as he tried to overpower the boy, but Gojo twisted free, his small frame defying the laws of physics. Naoya's grip slipped, and the Gojo seized the opportunity. His knee found Naoya's ribs again, and this time, Naoya grunted, winded. The ice beneath them groaned, protesting their struggle. It was a battle of wills—a clash between experience and raw talent.

The Gojo's eyes blazed with determination. He wasn't just fighting Naoya; he was fighting against the weight of expectations, against the very concept of limits. If he lost here, then nobody would ever believe in him. In order to protect everyone that he loves, he will go far beyond the limits of human body.

That is his Will Of Fire.

Naoya acknowledged that fire—the way it burned brighter than any curse energy. But acknowledgement wouldn't win this spar. Naoya adjusted his stance, muscles screaming in protest. He couldn't afford to lose.

Naruto stomped once more, and the ice quaked. Chunks broke free, hurtling toward Naoya like frozen missiles. He had no choice but to leap again, evading the impending avalanche. Water splashed around him, soaking his boots. Naruto used the distraction to close the gap, his movements fluid as he landed a solid blow to Naoya's chest. The impact reverberated through Naoya's sternum, stealing his breath.

Naoya's chest heaved, each breath a struggle. Naruto's small fists pounded against him relentlessly. Each blow reverberated through his body, but Naoya's grip remained unyielding. They separated briefly, panting, before launching into another flurry of blows. Each strike was a testament to their wills—their unyielding spirits. The ice ring bore witness, its frozen heart echoing their clash. Naoya wondered: Was the Gojo the future, or was he the past? Did the boy carry the weight of destiny, or was he a comet destined to burn out?

Naruto decided it is high time he stopped holding back.

Naruto stomped again, and this time, the ice cracked wide open. Water seeped through, soaking their boots. Naoya slipped, but he recovered, using the slippery surface to his advantage. He tackled Naruto, pinning him down. The boy's breaths were labored, but his eyes held no fear. Only fire.

"Submit," Naoya said, his voice full of self-satisfaction.

"Really?" Instead of a nod, he got a swift punch on his jaw. His mandibular bone cracked.

Naruto jumped in the air like a seasoned acrobat. Then he extended his leg, ready to kick. prepared himself for the inevitable kick on his head.

However, instead of the kick he was expecting, what he received was…

The boy disappeared mid-air…

"Surrender," he heard someone say behind him, their frost-cold hand on his neck. "Or I can see how hard this 'salty' little bone of yours is."

A bead of sweat descended from his temple as his breaths accelerated.

"I…submit."

"Naoya Zennin loses the match by submission and the winner of the match is Tenodakume Gojo!"

Naruto let the man go. He began to walk away, not even bothering to spare a glance to his defeated opponent.

Naoya's pride warred with reason. He'd underestimated Gojo, held back. But the boy had overwhelmed him easily. Naoya's fingers twitched, tempted to gouge Gojo's eyes. A dirty move, but…

Gojo twisted his legs, a move Naoya hadn't anticipated. Pain shot through Naoya's joints, and he gritted his teeth. "Never," Naoya growled. But Gojo's grip tightened, unyielding. The ice seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the verdict.

"I thought the match was over," Gojo said, his voice softer this time. "I guess I was wrong." He squeezed Naoya's arms.

Everyone gasped as they heard the sound of bones cracking. The screams of Naoya.

Naruto let go off him as he dusted off his yukata—although there was no dirt.

Naoya continue to scream relentlessly, rolling on the cold surface of the ring.

Naruto leaped from the ring and landed in front of Mai, who was frozen.

"Hey! I hope I was not too naughty!" He indirectly made her remember their first interaction. He gave her a piece of paper. "This is what the Gojo Clan wants from the Zenin Clan." He floated to her level before whispering into her ear. "If it has you again just call me, I will eradicate his entire existence, believe it." He then grinned. "Although, judging by his current condition I don't think he will be able to touch anything from now on."

Mai was stunned by his attitude.

Then, in a blink, he vanished, leaving everyone stunned and slack-jawed.

Mai smiled softly before unfolding the paper and bursting into uncontrollable laughter after reading it.

Everyone stared at her, utterly bewildered.

"The Zenin clan's men must attend every ceremony and meeting wearing green spandex with orange leg-warmers. They must have bowl-cut haircuts..."

A few Zenin members turned ghostly pale, while some actually fainted on the spot.

Naoya was still screaming in agony, but he was yet to be taken to the healer.

Outside the building, Naruto gave his uncle a high-five.

"I hope I didn't go overboard."

"Can't say he didn't deserve it." His uncle said.

"I am starving, can we get some ramen?" Naruto asked.

"Sure," just when they were about to enter the luxurious car, the man's phone rang.

"Hello?"

"What type of women do you like?" Came a straightforward question asked by someone with a feminine voice.

"W-hat?"

"Who is it?" Naruto, already inside the car, asked.

"I don't know. A random lady is asking me about what type of girlsI like."

"Give me the phone." Naruto sighed and extended he is hand.

His uncle raised an eyebrow but gave it to him anyway.

"Naruto here,"

"Oh, Naruto-kun! Can you please answer my question?" came the enthusiastic voice of Yuki.

"No," Naruto replied flatly before asking, "Is there any specific reason you called me or are you just doing your thing?"

"You're no fun! Well, Itadori-kun, Okkotsu-kun and the others are going to meet Tengen-sama and they thought that it would be a good idea to take you along."

"The old hag?"

"You know them?"

"Not 'them'— it's 'she'."

"Oh, so you are coming?"

"Okay."

"See ya!"

His uncle gave him a questioning look.

"Ramen plan is cancelled," Naruto sighed. "To Jujutsu High."

His uncle nodded before just gesturing to the driver to start the engine.

The Rolls Royce roared as it hit the road.

TBC

NEXT: The Cursed Child and the Demon, both trained by Satoru Gojo, finally meet for the first time!