Chapter Twenty Two: It's Your Time To Shine

Everyone was looking at Satoru, who was casually scrolling through his Facebook account, lounging as if he hadn't a care in the world. "Damn, I never thought staying away from social media for a few days would get my notifications jammed like this."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable as they stared at him incredulously.

"I mean, look at this— France won the World Cup? Like France? I prefer Argentina, but you know they never made it to the finals."

"Gojo," Nanami began, his voice steady but with an edge of frustration. "Explain yourself."

"Sure, I mean Messi—"

"About your Binding Vow with Sukuna," Nanami interrupted, his patience wearing thin.

"What about it?" Gojo asked innocently, blinking as if he had no idea what the fuss was about.

"You know what you did, Old Man!" Naruto yelled from his seat, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and concern. "You basically threw me out of the picture. Do you really believe you can take on Sukuna just like that without me?"

"Sure, we can," Gojo grinned, his nonchalance only fueling Naruto's frustration.

"No, you can't!" Naruto yelled, standing up abruptly. "He'll kill you. Really. I saw… it."

Everyone turned to look at the white-haired boy, their curiosity piqued. Yuta stood up, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean by that?"

"Yeah," Yuji added, leaning forward. "Did you see the future or something…?"

Naruto sighed deeply. "Guys… my eyes… they are not just the Rikugan."

"What do you mean by that?" Maki interjected, her impatience evident. "Just finish this talk already. I have business to attend to."

'Like killing the Zenin and getting yourself killed instead?' Naruto mused inwardly. "Listen, my eyes, 'The Six Pure Eyes' or Jōrikugan, can perceive a bit of the future."

"Really?" Hakari cracked his knuckles, an eager grin spreading across his face. "How much money am I winning this week?"

"Not like that, just… I don't know." Naruto said, exasperation creeping into his voice.

"What did you see, Naruto?" Satoru asked, his tone serious, but there was a hint of a smile on his face.

"You die." Naruto admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked at Choso. "You." Then he looked at Yuta. "You." Finally, he turned to Nanami. "And you."

A heavy silence settled over the room, each person processing the gravity of Naruto's words.

"All because you were out of the game?" Yuta finally broke the silence, his voice tinged with disbelief and fear.

"...Yeah." Naruto's shoulders slumped, the weight of his visions pressing down on him.

Everyone glared at Satoru, their collective frustration now directed at him. "Now, now, it's not my fault—"

"It is!" Everyone yelled in unison, their voices echoing through the room.

Gojo sweatdropped, scratching the back of his head. "Come on, now. Tell me, Naru-chan, can't the future be changed?"

"I-I don't know. But the future is shaped by what we decide now," Naruto said, his voice firm despite the uncertainty in his eyes.

"Future doesn't exist," Nanami tilted his sunglasses, his tone philosophical. "In the universal system, there is no future, only present and echoes of the past."

"...What?" Everyone stared at him dumbly, the profound statement leaving them momentarily speechless.

He sighed, pushing his sunglasses back up. "Future can be changed."

"Ok."

"So…" Maki said, breaking the contemplative silence. "Are we going to change the future by sitting here and talking about philosophy?"

"And Facebook!" Satoru added, waving his phone enthusiastically. Before anyone could react, Choso sent a Blood Bullet at blinding speed, effortlessly making a hole in it. "My iPhone 7 Plus!"

"Now," Nanami stood up, adjusting his tie with a determined look. "It's time for some serious training."

"Oso!" Yuji yelled, his voice filled with determination as he clenched his fists, ready for whatever came next.

oOo

The following night, Naruto sat in the shrine, a small, ancient structure nestled within a forest clearing. The moonlight streamed through the gaps in the trees, casting ethereal patterns of light and shadow on the wooden floor. The air was cool and crisp, filled with the faint sounds of nocturnal creatures stirring. Naruto's six-year-old frame seemed even smaller in the vastness of the night, but his shining amethyst eyes held a depth of wisdom and determination far beyond his years.

He gazed up at the stars, a sea of twinkling lights scattered across the inky black sky. Each star, he thought, was like a tiny spark of life, connected by invisible threads to the world below. In the world of Jujutsu and Shinobi, those stars represented the countless souls that had come before him, each one a warrior, a guardian, a protector. The stars were a reminder of the eternal struggle between light and darkness, of the never-ending battle to protect those who could not protect themselves.

"What should I do?" Naruto murmured to himself, his voice barely a whisper in the stillness of the shrine. The enormity of the situation weighed heavily on his young shoulders. He was not allowed to fight Sukuna now, a restriction that gnawed at him. To make things even worse, Sukuna was much stronger than before because he had devoured the flesh of his dead master, Kush Sarito—the father of Jujutsu. The thought made Naruto's blood boil with a mix of anger and helplessness.

He clenched his fists, the memories of his past life swirling in his mind like a tempest. He remembered the voices of those who had believed in him, who had looked up to him as their hero.

'We believed in you, Naruto!'

'You are our hero!'

'Uh-huh! Naruto-sama is the Kami Nō Shinobi!'

'All my life…you have been my idol, so I won't stand down! Because—'

A soft smile tugged at Naruto's lips as he recalled Naruko's words, her voice filled with unwavering conviction. "I never give up," he whispered to himself, the familiar phrase filling him with renewed resolve. "That is my nindo, my ninja way."

He looked back up at the sky, his eyes reflecting the starlight. "I will save everyone, believe it!" His voice rang out with a clarity and confidence that belied his age, the words echoing through the quiet night.

The shrine seemed to hum in response, the ancient wood and stone bearing witness to his vow. The stars above continued their silent vigil, each one a testament to the countless warriors who had fought and fallen, and those who still carried the torch forward. Naruto knew that he was a part of that legacy, a single spark in the vast tapestry of the universe, but a spark that could ignite a flame.

The night was long, and the path ahead was fraught with peril, but Naruto's heart was steadfast. He would find a way to overcome the obstacles before him. He would honour the legacy of his past life and forge a new path in this one. The stars above seemed to shine a little brighter, as if offering their silent support to the young warrior sitting alone in the shrine.

oOo

In the training ground, the air was thick with tension and the scent of sweat. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the expanse of dirt and grass. The occasional chirping of crickets broke the otherwise heavy silence. The ground was dotted with worn-out training dummies and equipment, a testament to the relentless practice that took place here.

Yuji stood beside Choso, his face a mix of determination and confusion. Choso, with his characteristic calm demeanor, was explaining something crucial. "Yuji, you have the potential to use Blood Manipulation because you are the son of Kenjaku. But to unlock your true power, you must consume the Cursed Wombs."

Yuji's eyes widened, and he shook his head vehemently. "No way. I'm not going to eat my brothers."

Choso sighed, understanding the turmoil within Yuji. "Yuji, you are a special case. You have the unique ability to merge with anything cursed you consume without losing your essence. You would still be you, but stronger."

Yuji frowned, trying to process the information. "But it's still… weird and wrong. I can't do that to them."

Choso placed a reassuring hand on Yuji's shoulder. "Let me explain Blood Manipulation to you. It's the ability to control your blood as a weapon. You can harden it, make it sharp like a blade, or even use it to heal yourself. It's an incredibly versatile and efficient technique. Imagine being able to manipulate your blood flow to increase your physical abilities or to create powerful weapons on the fly."

Yuji looked down, still hesitant. "I don't know, Choso. It sounds amazing, but it's complicated. I'd rather master Black Flash than learn all these new techniques."

Choso's expression grew serious. "Black Flash is powerful, yes. But Blood Manipulation is something far more efficient and versatile. It's a skill that can adapt to any situation, giving you an edge in battle. It's for the best if you learn it."

Yuji was still not convinced about consuming the Cursed Wombs. The idea made his stomach churn. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Satoru Gojo appeared, munching on a sweet burger. "Yo, Yuji, my precious student, how is it going?"

"Ew, sensei," Yuji took a step back, wrinkling his nose. "How do you eat all this disgusting stuff?"

Gojo chuckled, swallowing a mouthful of his burger. "You should have seen my nephew then. He eats stuff that would even make worm-eaters vomit."

Yuji made a disgusted face. "I'm not going to ask what he eats."

"Salt ramen with ice cream," Gojo said with a cheeky grin.

"Oh no," Yuji said, looking horrified. "I think I'm going to be sick…"

Choso tried to pull his brother out of his misery by changing the subject. "I was trying to convince my brother that consuming our remaining brothers would only strengthen him further."

Gojo made a disgusted noise. "Now I think I'm going to be sick."

"I know, right, sensei," Yuji said, glad for the distraction.

"Yeah, but…" Gojo began to walk away, then paused. "I think you should do it."

"Wait, what?!" Yuji exclaimed.

"Yep," Gojo said, turning back to face them. "By 'eating'—"

"'Consuming'," Choso corrected.

"—you will not be killing your brothers. Instead, they may get a new life inside you," Gojo finished.

Yuji's eyes widened in horror. "Like Sukuna? Do you mean I'll have a demon inside me?"

Gojo shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. I don't know for sure. But one thing is certain about you."

Yuji looked genuinely curious. "What?"

Gojo's face softened, a rare look of seriousness crossing his features. "It's your time to shine."

oOo

Author Note: A short chapter, yes; but trust me, this was a really important chapter for the progression of the story. My exams are in full motion, even then I decided to write this chapter just for you guys. One may question that I am writing other stories then what is special about this? The answer is pretty simple. This story is one of my four major stories— and unlike my other stories these four are very critical to deal with.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. The next chapter will be coming soon. So make sure to stay tuned. Till then, you can enjoy my other stories. Check out them in my profile, who knows, you may find a story that you will fall in love with.

Till next time!