[Author-Notes: Next chapter is going to have a time-skip to when Sukuna and everyone else graduate from the academy.]
[Quick question: Would it be an issue if I used plotlines for the movies as missions for Sukuna and his team? I rewatched some of the Naruto-Movies and I'm thinking about including some plotlines from the movies into this fanfic.]
[Jujutsu Kaisen manga spoilers ahead.]
February 20th 2001:
Many townsfolk and Shinobi occupied the several streets inside of the enormous Hidden-Leaf village. Students adjusted their backpacks on their journey to school. Adults were out and about, focused on work.
Ryomen Sukuna had a languid expression illustrated onto his features. Yawning into his hand, he grunted to himself.
Inserting his hands into his pockets a brief moment later, Sukuna ventured off in the direction of the Shinobi-Academy. For the last ten days or so, he had been training the Ten-Shadows technique.
Having approached the front gate to his place of education, Sukuna ignored the other children and their parents. Rock-Lee and Might-Gai had also given him one of their iconic green outfits for him to wear.
Sukuna had left that outfit in particular in the cabinet in his bed-room. Stepping into the spacious class-room, Sukuna took his seat, crossed his arms, leaned back, and yawned once more.
The usual sound of pointless conversation buzzed around in the air of the class-room. For once in his life-time, Naruto Uzumaki had arrived at school at an appropriate time. He had fallen asleep on his desk.
Head buried into his arms, Naruto snored to himself and moved around a small amount in his sleep. Sukuna ignored his friend, instead looking outside of the window and counting the clouds in the blue sky.
Conversation then ceased upon the entrance of Iruka Umino to the class-room. Hands clasped behind his back, Iruka took a mental note of the students who were and weren't present in class at the moment.
Once satisfied that every student in the class had been accounted for, Iruka had everyone exit the class-room for their morning race. Every student filed out of the class-room, resuming their conversations.
Nudging Naruto on the head to wake him up, Sukuna left the comfort of his wooden chair at the back of the room and followed everyone. He then walked out of the academy.
Naruto had hurried outside to the section of the training-grounds where the morning-races took place. Shoulders slouched, Sukuna heard Iruka call out the four names of his students for the first race.
Ino Yamanaka, Hinata Hyuga, Shino Aburame, and Sasuke Uchiha stepped up onto the starting-lines of the make-shift race track. Sukuna had zoned out, disinterested in how this race would turn out and end.
Sukuna was kicked out from his zoned out state by the cheers from Sasuke's supporters when he emerged first place. The reincarnated child sighed in annoyance, four eyes closed.
(-)
Sukuna and his class-mates were undergoing a lecture about the importance of weapon maintenance and care. Iruka held a whetstone and a blunted Kunai in his hands.
Bored out of his mind, Naruto had spent the last fifteen minutes of the lecture doodling a picture of Sasuke being beaten up by him into his note-book. Sukuna had a palm placed under his cheek.
Completing his lecture about the importance of weapon maintenance, Iruka checked the time and clapped his hands together. Naruto jolted at the sudden noise, dropping his pencil. It clattered onto the ground.
Shaking his head at the lack of attention from Naruto for a minute, Iruka then said. "All of you! We're heading out for Shuriken practice."
Sukuna rose from his position on his chair, rolling his shoulders to alleviate the dull ache within his muscles. Naruto picked up his pencil, walked to Iruka's desk, pocketed a Kunai, and left the room.
The two of them were the last ones out to the training-grounds. Clipboard in hand, Iruka called up Sukuna, Kiba Inuzuka, and Naruto. Sukuna picked up three Shuriken from the box, positioning himself.
Following Sukuna's example, Naruto stood next to him at a suitable distance and adjusted his stance. Sasuke had made sure to teach the Uzumaki about the proper procedures involved in throwing a Shuriken.
Kiba stood next to Sukuna on his left instead. Sukuna flexed the muscles in his arm, flinging his three Shuriken dead-centre. Naruto's Shuriken hit the top of the target. Kiba's ones hit the bottom of it.
Unbeknownst to everyone outside in the Shinobi-Academy's courtyard of sorts, Kakashi Hatake was perched on a tree-branch. Most of his concentration was fixed on Naruto—the son of his deceased mentor.
A copy of Icha-Icha-Paradise was being held in his gloved hand. Kakashi hummed. "Isn't Sukuna the one Gai raves to me about?"
Whenever Gai would have Kakashi partake in his shenanigans and challenges, the Taijutsu-oriented man would tell him about Sukuna. Kakashi had taken a small amount of interest in the red-eyed student.
Alongside Sasuke, Sukuna was one of Naruto's only real friends. Kakashi closed his copy of Icha-Icha-Paradise, stashed it away, hopped off of the tree-branch he was on, and vanished in a blur.
Kakashi found himself settled onto a roof-top in the middle of Konoha. Hiruzen had told Kakashi in advance of his intention of assigning Naruto, Sasuke, and Sukuna to him if they graduated from school.
"What a hassle for me." Kakashi huffed through his mask. "Why do I always have to be given the troublemakers and traumatised ones?"
(-)
School had ended for the day at last. Sukuna had bid farewell to an exhausted Naruto—who had returned home for some slumber. Sukuna reached his usual spot in the forest, keen on extra training.
Performing the shadow-graphic hand-sign for the Ten-Shadows, Sukuna summoned a black-furred wolf and white-furred wolf. Ruffling the fur on their heads, Sukuna turned around and faced a single tree.
The middle of a hapless tree exploded in a shower of wood as Sukuna applied a ruthless Dismantle onto its trunk. Satisfied by his improvement, Sukuna decided to test out his Divine-Dogs' strength.
A Kunai was unsealed from one of the storage-scrolls Sukuna kept on his person. Understanding Sukuna's intentions, the white-furred wolf bit its teeth down onto the edge of the Kunai and shattered its metal.
Retrieving the Kunai from the Divine-Dog's mouth, Sukuna checked out the amount of damage it had inflicted onto the end of the Kunai. The black-furred wolf wagged its tail, nudging Sukuna in the leg.
"I should really name you two." Sukuna murmured to himself, patted the wolves on the head, and smirked. "It's like I have two new pets."
The medical files about Sukuna, sealed in the lower vaults of Konoha's main hospital, stated his Kekkei-Genkai was a mutation of chakra called cursed-energy. No-one knew what abilities it gave him.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi—who had ordered for his medical files to be made private and sealed away—was not aware of what type of abilities he would gain from this new and illustrious Kekkei-Genkai.
Sitting cross-legged on the grass-covered surface beneath him, Sukuna thought about his next step in growing his skill and power. The Divine-Dogs were positioned next to him, having their heads patted.
Knuckles propped beneath his chin, Sukuna hummed a little. "I've mastered Divergent-Fist and my cursed-energy control is pretty good."
In moments of boredom like this one, Sukuna would have perused the area for Lee so they could train their Taijutsu together. Lee was out on a mission outside of the village, hunting down some stray bandits.
The Divine-Dogs dispersed in the shadows, then vanished. Sukuna climbed to his feet, stretched his limbs, sighed in frustration, left his normal spot in the woods, and entered the streets of his huge village.
Ichiraku-Ramen was Sukuna's destination. The flap to the Ramen-based restaurant was opened and a bell chimed out. Teuchi turned to Sukuna, a broad smile on his face. "Welcome, Sukuna!"
Since Naruto was such an addict to Ramen, he would sometimes drag Sukuna out to Ichiraku-Ramen and have him pay for their meals. Sukuna took a seat, giving Teuchi a polite wave. "Hey, old man."
Cleaning one of the dirtied bowls of Ramen from his shelf, Teuchi chuckled. "I'm not old enough for brats like you to be calling me that."
Sukuna snorted in amusement, fished out his wallet, ordered a bowl of Miso-Ramen, paid for his meal, and relaxed on his seat. The scent of sauce, noodles, and heat drifted across the area and into his nose.
A bell chimed out for the second time as someone took a seat on Sukuna's left side. Disinterested, Sukuna directed his gaze to the pictures of Ramen plastered on the walls of the restaurant.
"Hi, Kakashi!" Ayame's voice was seeped in familiarity. "I haven't seen you here in a while! How have you been? Oh, and what's your order?"
Surprised by the announcement of Kakashi's name, Sukuna then guided his crimson gaze to his left and grunted a little in recognition. Kakashi curved an eye up, posture slumped. "Tonkotsu-Ramen."
Returning his attention to Teuchi, Sukuna was handed his bowl of Miso-Ramen at a discounted price. Sukuna devoured the noodles while Kakashi glanced at the four-eyed boy in minimal curiosity.
Sukuna had no interest in him and Kakashi having a conversation. Kakashi was given his bowl of Tonkotsu-Ramen, somehow being able to eat the noodles without having to take off his mask from his face.
The flap to Ichiraku-Ramen was opened for a third time and the bell rang in everyone's ears. Naruto emerged from the other end of the flap, patting his stomach in avid hunger. "Sukuna, you're here?!"
Rolling all four of his eyes at the volume of his friend's voice, Sukuna said. "What? Do I have to get your permission to come eat here?"
"Nah." Naruto smirked at Sukuna, taking the unoccupied seat on his right side. "But you haven't paid me back for the Ramen I bought you."
Unamused and annoyed, Sukuna responded. "What the hell are you prattling on about, you moron? I'm the one who you owe money too."
"Miso-Ramen for me, old man!" Naruto ordered his meal, then looked at Sukuna out of the corner of his eye. "Keep telling yourself that."
Clicking his teeth together in irritation, Sukuna slurped on his Ramen. "And you should keep telling yourself that you're a damn dumbass."
"Look in the mirror!" Naruto shouted in response, elbowing Sukuna and grinning. "Hey! Remember that wind-style Jutsu I used?"
Eye-brow lifted at the blond-haired boy, Sukuna said. "What, at the Rinne-Festival? I remember you throwing us up into the clouds."
"You enjoyed that, don't deny it." Naruto grabbed his bowl of Ramen. "I mastered the stupid Jutsu at last! It's called Wind-Style: Burst."
"Sounds kind of weak." Sukuna shrugged at Naruto in mockery. "Maybe it could be useful for drying off your clothes or something."
Chop-sticks pointed at Sukuna in irritation, Naruto growled. "You're just jealous I can use elemental Ninjutsu and you can't, asshole!"
"Wait til I get my pyrokinetic abilities." Sukuna grunted in his mind. "Why the hell would I be jealous of a blond dumbass like you, huh?"
The two of them talked some more and argued. Teuchi and Ayame were both used to this. Kakashi listened in on their conversation, absent-minded as he feasted on his delectable bowl of Ramen.
After paying for his bowl of Tonkotsu-Ramen, Kakashi exited Ichiraku-Ramen. From what he had observed, Naruto and Sukuna were the type of friends who insulted each other and argued a lot.
Gloved hands slid into his pockets, Kakashi strolled around the village until he was intercepted by Gai—whose team had returned from their assignment ten minutes ago. Kakashi ignored his rambunctious friend.
Accosting Kakashi for a second time, Gai pointed a finger in his direction. "Kakashi Hatake! I, your eternal rival, challenge you!"
Kakashi rubbed the back of his head at Gai's antics. A Shadow-Clone materialized next to him before he vanished in an imperceptible blur. The original Kakashi walked out of an alleyway, humming to himself.
Hiruzen had given Kakashi permission to look into Sukuna's medical files. Sukuna had been called a genetic anomaly because of his unique Kekkei-Genkai—a rather unnatural medical mutation of chakra.
The Third-Hokage had allowed Sukuna to explore the limits of his Kekkei-Genkai without having to tell anyone what abilities it gave him. According to Hiruzen, it was to build up Sukuna's trust in the village.
Although, Kakashi had grown curious how Sukuna passed classes where the utilization of chakra was involved. He had learned from Iruka that Sukuna was exempted from those classes in particular.
Despite being exempted from classes where chakra was involved, Sukuna performed well in the theoretical and physical portions of the Shinobi-Academy to the point where this issue was overlooked.
Since Hiruzen had told Kakashi Sukuna would be on his team, the Hatake had taken ample time in researching the red-eyed child. Kakashi was neither impressed nor unimpressed, more neutral.
(-)
Hiruzen was nestled into his seat in his office in the Hokage-Tower. Hidden in the shadows of the room were his hand-picked guards. Someone knocked on the door. Hiruzen tapped his pencil on his desk.
An Anbu guard materialized from the shadows of the office, opening the door and disappearing in an untraceable distortion. Danzo Shimura walked into the room, one cane in his wrinkled hand.
Mouth twisted into a somewhat amicable smile, Hiruzen spoke. "Ah, Danzo. How can I help you on this fine evening? I am busy right now."
Maintaining his stone cold demeanour, Danzo then grunted. "I'd like to talk to you about the last Uchiha and Jinchuuriki of our village…"
"In eleven months, those two will graduate." Danzo tapped a finger onto his cane. "What are your plans in regards to team placement?"
"I'll keep that to myself for now, old friend." Hiruzen smiled, picked up his pencil, and waved a hand. "I must ask you leave me, please."
"Of course, lord Hokage." Danzo lowered his head in respect, leaving the room and vanishing into nothing. "He's hiding something from me."
(-)
February 26th 2001:
School had ended for this Thursday. Concealed amongst the bushes of the forest, Sukuna watched his Divine-Dogs spar each other. Sukuna left them to their little scuffle, touching the trunk of a tree.
Cleave shattered the tree in a vortex of wood. Sukuna flexed his fingers once his wolves approached him, wagging their tails. These two Shikigami were rather strong and durable, Sukuna had seen.
Everything was going well for Sukuna. Cleave and Dismantle would be useful in a real battle. Divergent-Fist had been mastered. The Divine-Dogs were also powerful. Sukuna felt satiated by all of this.
Although, Sukuna wondered if he could use a form of Blood-Manipulation like Yuji Itadori had when he fought a true-form Sukuna in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga. Sukuna shrugged, unsure.
Sukuna had yet to test out the pyrokinetic abilities he had. Breathing out in avid concentration, Sukuna flared his cursed-energy, clenched his fists, widened his four eyes, and chanted out. "Open…"
Nothing happened. Sukuna blinked at his hand in annoyance, repeating 'open' multiple times. Once no flames had manifested on his hand, Sukuna rubbed his eyes. "You've got to be kidding me, damn it."
The two Shikigami close to him disappeared into the shadows. Rolling both of his shoulders, Sukuna chanted 'open' for the umpteenth time. He touched his face, frustrated. "So I can't use his flames yet, huh?"
Sukuna had also been thinking about how he would conquer the Ten-Shadows to master the other nine Shikigami of the technique. If he remembered, he would have to perform a subjugation ritual.
"I should cast a Veil when I try to fight another Shikigami." Sukuna cupped his chin. "If I go by order, I would have to tame the Toad next."
Orochi was the third Shikigami Sukuna would have to tame. Sukuna was interested in what type of abilities he could give his Shikigami once he put them under Totality. There were so many possibilities.
Leaving behind the woods, Sukuna glanced at the evening-accentuated sky and cracked his neck. Hands tucked into his pockets, he ventured into the downtown section of the large village.
Nothing interesting had occurred for the last few weeks. Sukuna's routine went on like normal—head out to school, train, talk to either Naruto or Sasuke, return home, eat, read some books, and sleep.
Even in his last life, he was an individual who maintained some type of routine throughout his days until his death. Sukuna rubbed his head. Most of the memories of his old life had been snuffed out over time.
Only a few details about his old life remained. Sukuna sighed, rolled one of his shoulders, and meandered down the streets of the village. One of the benefits he had was his insane cursed-energy reserves.
Naruto was someone who had unnatural chakra reserves. Sukuna was like him—but in cursed-energy volume rather than chakra. Sometimes he wondered if he could learn to create positive energy.
Satoru Gojo had learned Reverse-Cursed-Technique on the verge of death after he had encountered Toji Fushiguro in battle. Sukuna was not sure if he would also have to be on the brink of death to master it.
Sukuna entered his home, slipping out of his shoes and shutting the door. Closing his two lower eyes in a small amount of fatigue, Sukuna grabbed a book from his shelf, sat down on his sofa, and sighed.
(-)
February 29th 2001:
It was another mundane Sunday for Sukuna—today was supposed to be a day of relaxation for him. He had taken a break from his usual daily training to give his body some rest.
Seated down on the wooden chair in his bed-room, Sukuna adjusted the pencil in his tattooed hand. Iruka had given them homework—they had to write about the Hokage they respected the most in history.
For Sukuna, it was a tie between Tobirama Senju and Minato Namikaze because of their roles in Shinobi society. Though, Sukuna held a semblance of respect for the one called the God-Of-Shinobi.
The essay was due on Tuesday at the end of the school day—so Sukuna decided to leave his homework for later. Sliding off of his chair, Sukuna planted his pencil down onto his desk and yawned.
Sukuna wondered about how powerful he could become in the future once he mastered all of his abilities to the limit. Scratching his head, Sukuna exited his apartment-complex to get a little fresh air.
It was a somewhat warm day at the moment. Sukuna slid his hands into his pockets, slouched his shoulders, and walked around. Like usual—a few people glanced in interest at his anomalous appearance.
Unbothered by these occasional ganders and gazes, Sukuna flipped onto the top of a building close to him. Hopping across the village, Sukuna approached the Hokage-Stone-Faces for some solitude.
Having touched his feet down on Minato's Hokage-Stone-Face, Sukuna seated himself—cross-legged—on it. Fist settled underneath his chin in contemplative boredom, Sukuna let out a low-pitched hum.
There was around eleven months or less than that amount of time until he would graduate from the Shinobi-Academy. Sukuna closed his vermillion eyes, feeling the wind ruffle against his tattooed features.
His one goal in this world remained the same—to become one of the strongest creatures in Shinobi history. No matter the cost, no matter what it took, and no matter what happened, he would fulfil this goal.
All four of his crimson eyes opened at the same time, a miasma of endless intensity glinting in these crimson abysses of indifference. Sukuna lowered his head, grinned for a moment, and then laughed.
(-)
June 26th 2001:
Sukuna emerged from the bushes of the forest behind him in a rather bored gait, a black-furred wolf and white-furred following him. Drenched in sweat from his training, Sukuna stretched his arms.
The last four months had been a wild ride for him. Sukuna had tamed the Toad Shikigami two months ago—a useful creature for restraining opponents to keep them bound in a battle. He patted the wolves.
Naruto had made a few developments in the department of power himself—mastering an appropriate number of wind-natured Ninjutsu. Sasuke had focused on increasing the power of his physical prowess.
Sukuna's physical prowess was already unnatural because of his unique body and circumstances. Physical exercise helped him less than it would help the usual person. Sukuna flexed his fingers.
His Taijutsu skills had improved from being one of Gai's semi-students, training alongside Lee sometimes. Ten-Ten remained indifferent to him while Neji Hyuga maintained a cold attitude towards him.
On one of the training sessions between him and the two youth-obsessed fellows, Neji had gotten into an argument against Lee about the concept of fate and destiny. Sukuna had tuned them out.
The Divine-Dogs beside him disappeared into the shadows. Despite everything, Sukuna was disinterested in other people's affairs. All he cared about was refining his Taijutsu to a suitable level of mastery.
Once he graduated from the Shinobi-Academy, Sukuna was hoping for his teammates to be both Naruto and Sasuke. They were his two real friends and two of the only people Sukuna was able to tolerate.
Sukuna rubbed his head as he stepped into the streets of Konoha. The air was crisp at this hour in particular. He had also been thinking about whether or not he should learn how to wield more weapons.
Shuriken and Kunai were standard weapons all Shinobi had mastered. Blades and weapons like a blade were common. Sukuna had thought about buying metal gauntlets or brass-knuckles but decided against it.
In the Jujutsu Kaisen manga, Ryomen Sukuna had utilised a dagger-like weapon called Kamutoke against Hajime Kashimo. Kamutoke had the unique ability to generate masses of electricity.
It would be close to impossible for Sukuna to procure such a weapon, though. Most weapons could conduct someone's chakra affinity into its metal and thus materialize that affinity onto the entirety of the tool.
Sukuna had cursed-energy. Unlike Kashimo, Sukuna's cursed-energy had no electric properties or attributes to it. Although, when Sukuna tamed Nue, he would have a source of thunder to call upon in battle.
Elemental-based attacks would be accessible to him in due time. Nue would give him electricity. Max-Elephant would give him water. 'Open' would give him flames. Sukuna had accounted for all of these details.
If he mastered the Ten-Shadows to the level of a professional, he would be able to manifest the abilities of its Shikigami without having to summon them in a physical form. Sukuna was excited about this.
Sukuna had returned home at last. Slumped into his sofa, Sukuna had his legs kicked up on the table in his living-room and had a mystery book in his calloused hand. He then opened up another page.
Reading had been one of his more avid hobbies since he had been reborn in his world. Sukuna lowered his book onto the table, rotated his wrist to relax his muscles, and rose from his position on the sofa.
Darkness twisted around him, materializing into the body of the toad-themed Shikigami he had tamed two months ago. Toad ribbeted at Sukuna, its elongated tongue sticking out for a brief minute.
Sukuna dismissed the Shikigami a moment later, the shadows in his home dancing and twirling. Rolling one of his stiffened shoulders, Sukuna entered his room and took a seat on his comfortable bed.
One of the abilities he wanted to master was Domain-Expansion—but he was nowhere close to even being able to cast Malevolent-Shrine. Sukuna leaned his head back, blinking his four eyes in deep thought.
"Whatever." Sukuna grunted to himself, falling flat on his back onto his bed. "I'll worry about somehow learning Malevolent-Shrine later."
Bored, Sukuna glanced at one of the pencils on his desk and applied a weakened Dismantle onto it. Split into three chunks, the pencil drifted downwards onto the carpeted surface of Sukuna's bed-room.
Grabbing one of the Kunai on his bedside table, Sukuna used Cleave to scatter it in a hurricane of destroyed steel. Tossing the handle of the broken Kunai away, Sukuna crossed his hands behind his head.
The proficiency he had in regards to Cleave and Dismantle was acceptable for the time being. Sukuna was more focused on taming the ten Shikigami from his second Cursed-Technique to grow stronger.
He sighed.
A/N: Thanks for reading.