(The King and the Raven)

--

It had been a quiet day at the Tokyo Jujutsu High training grounds. Gojo, Itachi, Yuji, and Megumi had gathered for a casual practice session, working on team dynamics and cursed energy control. Despite the calm, Itachi's sharp instincts told him something was brewing beneath the surface. He had been watching Yuji closely, knowing the boy carried an unimaginable burden within him—Sukuna, the King of Curses.

Gojo was leaning against a wall, observing with his usual laid-back demeanor, his hands tucked into his pockets. Yuji and Megumi were sparring, exchanging controlled blows, while Itachi observed their movements. He had quickly grown accustomed to this world's techniques and could see the potential in both young sorcerers.

But then, the air shifted. It was subtle at first—just a faint change in Yuji's expression, a flicker of something darker. Itachi's Sharingan activated instinctively, locking onto Yuji as the boy staggered and clutched his chest.

"Yuji?" Megumi called out, his voice filled with concern. But before he could get close, Yuji's head snapped up, and his eyes were no longer his own. The cursed marks crept across his skin, and that malevolent grin stretched across his face.

"It's been a while since I've taken control," Sukuna said, his voice dripping with amusement as he cracked his neck. "I must admit, this boy is a rather boring host, but every now and then, I like to stretch my legs."

Megumi stepped back, fists clenched, knowing full well what was coming. "Sukuna," he muttered. "Damn it."

Gojo, still watching from the sidelines, didn't move, though his expression grew more focused. "Looks like Sukuna's taking over for a bit. Let's see how this plays out," he said, his tone casual yet alert.

Itachi's eyes narrowed. He had seen a similar situation in his own world—the power to take control of another's body, a cursed soul lurking within, much like Orochimaru's possession techniques. But Sukuna was something far more ancient and dangerous.

Sukuna grinned wickedly, his eyes gleaming with malice as he turned his attention to Itachi. "And who is this?" Sukuna asked, his voice dark and filled with twisted glee. "You're not one of these weaklings. I can feel it."

Itachi stood still, his Sharingan fully activated, calmly analyzing Sukuna. "I'm not from your world," he replied, his voice steady. "But I know the kind of power you wield."

Sukuna laughed, a deep, rumbling sound. "Is that so? Then you must understand how futile it is to resist me. Let's see if you're as strong as you look."

Without warning, Sukuna surged forward, closing the distance between him and Itachi in a blink. His speed was monstrous, but Itachi was ready. He sidestepped the attack effortlessly, spinning on his heel to face Sukuna head-on. The two locked eyes, and for a moment, it seemed like time had stopped.

"You won't find me as easy a target as this boy," Itachi said coldly.

Sukuna smirked, clearly intrigued by the challenge. "Good. I've been itching for a real fight."

The ground beneath them cracked as the fight began in earnest. Sukuna launched a barrage of punches and kicks, each one powerful enough to shatter stone. Itachi evaded with graceful precision, his Sharingan reading every movement, every intention. To anyone watching, it would seem like the two fighters were moving in perfect sync—Sukuna's raw power clashing with Itachi's refined technique.

As they exchanged blows, Gojo watched from the sidelines, still not intervening. "It's not every day you get to see Sukuna and someone like Itachi go at it," he muttered to himself, his tone still casual but his eyes hidden behind his sunglasses betraying a flicker of interest.

Megumi stood tense, ready to jump in if needed, but Gojo raised a hand. "Let Itachi handle this. I want to see how far he can push Sukuna."

Sukuna, frustrated that his attacks were being effortlessly countered, leaped back and grinned, raising his hand. "Alright, let's spice things up!" he shouted. "Domain Expansion—Malevolent Shrine!"

The air trembled, and reality itself seemed to warp as Sukuna's domain unfolded around them. A hellish shrine appeared, filled with deadly cursed energy. The oppressive force pressed down on everyone, but Itachi stood tall, unaffected.

Gojo, now paying closer attention, narrowed his eyes. "Sukuna's not holding back now."

Within the domain, Itachi's Sharingan flared as he summoned his Susano'o, the towering spectral warrior materializing around him. The crimson armor glowed against the backdrop of Sukuna's shrine, and Itachi raised the sword of his Susano'o, meeting Sukuna's power head-on.

Sukuna lunged forward, his hands crackling with cursed energy, but Susano'o's blade slashed down, meeting his attack with equal force. The resulting shockwave tore through the ground, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the landscape. Sukuna laughed, clearly enjoying the battle.

"You're good, Uchiha! But you're still nothing compared to me!"

Itachi, still calm, activated his Mangekyō Sharingan. "Tsukuyomi."

The world around Sukuna twisted, and suddenly he found himself trapped in a world of Itachi's creation—a realm of endless torment. For what felt like days, Sukuna endured countless illusions, each one designed to break his will, to torment his mind. But unlike most enemies, Sukuna didn't falter. He grinned through the torture, his will as unshakable as ever.

"It's going to take more than that to break me, Uchiha," Sukuna spat, his eyes gleaming with madness.

But Itachi's genjutsu wasn't meant to break him—it was a distraction. As Sukuna fought against the illusions, Itachi's Susano'o swung its blade once more, and this time, the attack connected. The force of the blow sent Sukuna crashing to the ground, the Malevolent Shrine domain shattering as his control faltered.

Sukuna staggered, wiping blood from his lip, his grin never fading. "You're good, Itachi. I'll give you that. But next time, I won't let you get the upper hand."

With that, Sukuna's cursed marks began to fade as Yuji regained control. The boy collapsed to his knees, panting heavily, his eyes wide with confusion.

"Itachi... what happened?" Yuji asked, his voice trembling as he realized Sukuna had taken over.

"It's over," Itachi said quietly, his Susano'o dissipating into the air. "Sukuna was testing me."

Gojo finally stepped forward, clapping his hands slowly. "Well, well, that was something! Itachi, you're full of surprises." He grinned, his sunglasses gleaming. "I didn't expect you to handle Sukuna that well. Not bad at all."

Itachi turned to Gojo, his eyes calm but weary. "Your world's curses are powerful, but they're not invincible."

Gojo laughed. "Oh, trust me, I know. But still, seeing you fight Sukuna to a standstill? That's something I'll remember."

Megumi helped Yuji to his feet, glancing at Itachi with a mixture of awe and respect. "I've never seen anyone go toe-to-toe with Sukuna like that," he said quietly. "Thank you."

Itachi didn't respond immediately. His thoughts drifted to his own world, where he had faced similar challenges—monsters of unimaginable power, cycles of hatred and violence. It seemed no matter where he went, the struggle was the same. But here, in this new world, he had found new allies, new enemies, and perhaps a new path forward.

"Don't thank me yet," Itachi said softly. "There's still much to be done."