December 19th 2000:

Particles of sunlight twinkled down upon the isolated training-grounds inside of the Hidden-Leaf village. Ryomen Sukuna leaned against the thick trunk of an oak-tree.

Sweat was coated across Sukuna's tattooed forehead. Exhaustion was evident in his crimson eyes. Sipping some water from his bottle, Sukuna grunted in fatigue.

He had ditched school to practise the control he had on his cursed-energy—a power-source that stemmed from the use of negative emotions. Sukuna gazed at his calloused hand in thought.

According to most of his latest medical documents, he was a genetic anomaly. Sukuna had been found on the outskirts of Konoha by a mundane Chunin: who had taken him to the village's local hospital.

Doctors had sensed no chakra within his body. Instead of chakra, Sukuna possessed cursed-energy and unnatural physical-power. The Third Hokage had ordered all doctors to keep this information hidden.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had let Sukuna enroll in the Shinobi-Academy, despite his lack of chakra-system. Sukuna had assumed the Hokage's kind nature was what allowed him to even become a student.

Sukuna blinked his crimson eyes, taking another sip of cold water from his bottle and dragging himself to his feet. A loud yell of mockery streamed into Sukuna's ear-drums once five seconds had passed.

Glancing into the distance, Sukuna watched from miles away as Naruto Uzumaki stuck his tongue out at a number of irritated Chunin and Genin from his perch on a random roof-top.

"The damn dumbass is back to his pranks, huh?" Amusement burned on the tip of Sukuna's tongue. "I feel bad for his victims…"

He tucked his hands into his pockets. Walking down the path of the sequestered training-ground, Sukuna entered a shopping-district.

Konoha was one of the more livelier and over-populated villages in his opinion. Merchants advertised their products from the safety of their stands. Children ran through the streets. Adults were chatting.

Nonchalance simmered on Sukuna's dull features. Despite the occasional looks of concealed disgust, curiosity, and abhorrence, Sukuna remained unaffected by their judgmental stares. "Whatever…"

Rolling his vermillion eyes to himself and keeping his hands in his pockets, Sukuna ignored the multiple villagers who inspected him. Most people were rather put-off by his anomalous appearance.

Sukuna's tattoos were no different than the tattoos members of the Inuzuka-Clan painted on their faces. It was his four eyes, demonic presence, and general attitude that disturbed the villagers.

He had never been subjected to isolation from his peers and the adults around him. To them, Sukuna's appearance was off-putting. Some of the villagers close to him gave him fascinated ganders.

Naruto—one of his few real friends—was shunned by Konoha because he was the vessel for the Kyuubi. Sukuna turned the corner, finding himself in an empty area and street.

"What the hell should I do now?" Sukuna pondered to himself, contemplation filling his bored mind. "I got nothing to do…"

A small flare of cursed-energy burst out from Sukuna's body, alerting him of the presence of his academy-instructor.

Sukuna lowered his head, annoyed. "What a pain in the ass."

The reincarnated boy snapped his head to the end of the empty street—where he discerned the silhouette of his teacher. Iruka Umino pressed a disappointed finger at the temple of his head. "Sukuna."

"That's my name." Sukuna had an unbothered expression on his face. "How can I help you?"

Lowering his finger from his head, Iruka sighed in disapproval. "Sukuna, this is the fourth time I've caught you skipping your classes."

Sukuna shrugged without a visible hint of concern. "Sorry, teach. I don't really have a good reason for why I keep missing my classes."

"I'm your teacher, Sukuna." Iruka answered, crossing his arms. "My main priority is to ensure you and your class-mates are taught well."

"I'll be there for your next lesson, promise." Sukuna stepped back, waving a hand around in the air. "I'll see you tomorrow, teach."

(-)

Sukuna had decided to return to his normal training-grounds instead of heading straight home to his inexpensive apartment-complex. Cursed-energy leaked throughout his arms and into his knuckles.

Standing in front of a tall and old tree, Sukuna clenched his fists. For the past ten weeks, he had been working on his replication of the Divergent-Fist—one of Yuji Itadori's iconic and most-used techniques.

Knuckles empowered by a simple enhancement of cursed-energy bashed themselves into the trunk of the oak-tree, shattering it into shards of rotten wood. Sukuna flexed his fingers, frustrated.

"I can't copy the time-lag of Divergent-Fist." Sukuna mused in annoyance. "My punches strike the target without the time-lag."

Grinning to himself, Sukuna murmured. "Maybe I could pull off a Black-Flash on my opponent if I become experienced enough."

By this point in time, the Shinobi-Academy would be over and most of its students would have returned to their homes. Sukuna entered a basic stance of Taijutsu, feeling out the cursed-energy inside himself.

"For the time being." Cursed-energy infused itself into Sukuna's arm. "I'll focus on improving my control of cursed-energy and its uses."

Sukuna slammed a multitude of powerful punches into another more durable tree than the one he tested his strength on last time. Ten minutes had passed—until Sukuna heard a determined voice.

Peering deeper into the forest around him and adjusting his senses, Sukuna detected an unfamiliar presence. Curious, the crimson-eyed boy stepped into the bushes.

He was surprised to see somebody else had chosen to train in the forest of his favourite training-grounds. Kicking at a wooden-target, Rock-Lee grunted every so often in exertion.

"Rock-Lee, eh?" Intrigue infected Sukuna's low voice. "I wasn't expecting to find him training in these woods of all places."

Hands settled into his pockets, Sukuna approached him and gazed at the deep indentations he had created on the tree. "If I got that stupid timeline right, then Lee's graduating soon this year."

Lee embedded twenty more kicks into the trunk of the tree, stopping once he had formed multiple layers of cracks into its wood. Turning around, he lurched backwards at the person leering in his direction.

"Ah, my apologies!" Unperturbed by the sight of the tattoo-covered child, Lee shouted. "I don't think I recognize you, my youthful fellow!"

Sukuna chuckled, humour bubbling out from his mouth. "The name's Ryomen Sukuna. I didn't think anyone else trained in these woods."

"A true pleasure to meet you, Ryomen Sukuna!" Lee raised his thumbs up. "I apologise if I was intruding on you and your training!"

Mild amusement burned in Sukuna's casual gaze. He scoffed. "Nah, you didn't bother me."

"I see." Lee scratched the back of his head, confusion seeping into his tone. "Is there anything you want from me, Sukuna?"

"Nothing much." A massive grin of pure ferocity graced Sukuna's face. "I saw how powerful your kicks are, do you want to fight me?"

(-)

Might-Gai had taken a keen interest in the development of Lee—someone who was untalented in the arts of Genjutsu and Ninjutsu. Except for Taijutsu.

Hidden behind the bushes of the isolated spot in the forest, Gai observed Lee bend his body into a decent stance for combat. The other boy—Sukuna—stretched his legs and muscled arms.

Without wasting any time whatsoever, Sukuna rushed forward and generated a small crater in the spot he stood on mere moments ago. Lee parried a roundhouse kick, slapping a palm into Sukuna's face.

Grinning in excitement, Sukuna touched the little bruise on his right cheek before a front-kick was planted into his abdomen. Spitting out the tiniest puddles of blood from his lips, Sukuna lashed his fist out.

Raising his fore-arm to fend off the punch, Lee was stunned when Sukuna pushed him backwards. Feet scraping against the grass-covered ground, Lee smiled. "Your youth burns bright, Sukuna!"

"What an impressive fellow!" Gai cupped his chin. "I think I've heard about Ryomen Sukuna. Is he that truant Iruka spoke to me about?"

"I want to use my cursed-energy so bad." Teeth gritted in exhilaration, Sukuna shoved Lee into the trunk of a tree. "But I can't in this fight."

A merciless head-butt to the nose from Lee propelled Sukuna back. Surging towards his vermillion-eyed opponent, Lee smacked a left-hook into Sukuna's cheek.

Sukuna stumbled for the briefest of seconds. Reorienting himself, Sukuna grabbed Lee's wrist and kicked him in the abdomen. Harsh coughs of pain erupted out from Lee's mouth. "Such strength!"

"Sukuna has more raw power than Lee." Deductions filled Gai's head. "However, Lee has more experience in Taijutsu compared to Sukuna!"

Deciding to unveil himself from the shroud of bushes he was in, Gai disappeared in an untraceable flash of speed and appeared between Lee and Sukuna. His student shouted, confused. "Gai-Sensei?!"

"Might-Gai." Sukuna was interested. "Of course he would have been watching Lee training in time for graduation."

Planting his hand down on Lee's shoulder, Gai grinned. "Good job on your training, Lee! I saw you kick away at that tree from the bushes!"

"And you!" Gai pointed an enthusiastic finger down at Sukuna: who raised a curious eye-brow. "You have the potential to grow strong!"

"My name is Might-Gai, my youthful companion!"

"What the hell have I gotten myself into?"

(-)

Sukuna disregarded the exhaustion in his system from his earlier battle, slumping down into his sofa and staring at the unblemished surface of his television-screen. Today was good.

Checking out the clock ingrained into the wall of his living-room, Sukuna noticed it had become 6:00—PM since meeting Gai and Lee. Climbing to his feet, Sukuna walked into his humble kitchen.

The sight of the knife on the kitchen-counter reminded Sukuna of how he was going to replicate Cleave and Dismantle. Sukuna was capable of accessing his Cursed-Technique—but the results were unsatisfactory.

Dismantle was a technique that was specialised for the destruction of inanimate objects while Cleave adjusted itself to the durability and chakra level of Sukuna's target to guarantee their obliteration.

Moving three fingers downwards, Sukuna activated Dismantle on his kitchen-knife and created three thin slice-marks on its metal. The general power in his Cleave and Dismantle was weak and inadequate.

Sukuna's ultimate objective in his new life was to become strong—so strong that the idea of challenging him would be subjected to ridicule. To ensure he completed his goal, he had to cultivate his strength.

Cursed-energy possessed the potential of granting him numerous abilities. Reversed-Curse-Technique, Domain-Amplification, Sukuna's pyrokinetic abilities, and Domain-Expansion were all in his grasp.

Blinking his four eyes and opening his cabinet, Sukuna gathered the ingredients used to cook spaghetti. An hour had passed. Sukuna grabbed a bowl of spaghetti, licked his lips, and sat down on his sofa.

Sukuna's main priorities at the moment were to refine his overall control over cursed-energy, master the Divergent-Fist, improve his Taijutsu, graduate from the Ninja-Academy, and become a Shinobi.

A rapid knock on the door interrupted Sukuna's desire for a quiet dinner. Groaning in disinterest and annoyance, he meandered into his corridor and opened his front-door. Blue eyes glared at red ones.

"Naruto." Sukuna tilted his head, an uninterested countenance strewn across his tattooed face. "Some of us want to eat dinner in peace."

Naruto spotted how Sukuna had stepped aside for him to enter and walked into the narrow hallway. "Whatever! Do you have any Ramen?"

"You came to my apartment for fucking Ramen?" Sukuna shook his head, disbelief ingrained into his baritone. "Yeah, I got some."

Naruto was Sukuna's best friend in his new life. Most people would find it cliche of him to be a friend to the main protagonist of the world he was reincarnated into. For Sukuna, Naruto was a dumbass.

Sukuna boiled the water for Naruto's cup of Ramen, dumped the bundle of hot noodles into a bowl, and handed it to his friend. Naruto clasped his hands in hunger. "Thanks! I ran out of Ramen!"

"Yeah, yeah." Sukuna rolled his eyes, consumed some of his spaghetti, and snorted. "You're a sucker for those stupid noodles."

Naruto grunted, noodles nestled into the cavern of his mouth. "Whatever, you tattoo-obsessed freak! Don't disrespect the Ramen!"

"At least I ain't a blond dumbass who gets caught every time he paints those shitty stone-faces." Sukuna replied. "I wouldn't get caught."

Naruto poured more of the Ramen from the bowl down his throat. "Oh, shut up! I bet you three-hundred ryo you'd get caught by Sensei!"

"Heh." A nonchalant smirk was plastered onto Sukuna's face. "Let's argue about this shit later. But I did see your earlier prank today."

"You did, huh?" Naruto slurped on his Ramen, wiping a sleeve against his up-turned lips. "I painted an entire shopping-district in bright pink!"

Planting the bowl of Ramen onto the table in front of him, Naruto groaned. "Can you stop skipping all your lessons?"

"It gets boring without someone to talk to." Picking at the entrance of his ear, Naruto mumbled. "All I've been doing in lessons is sleep."

"You skip your lessons to prank sometimes." Sukuna shrugged. "I attend the important lessons and skip the unimportant ones."

"We gotta train together soon!" Changing the topic of their discussion, Naruto growled. "Sasuke beat me in our latest Taijutsu fight!"

In this timeline, Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha were friends and rivals. Sukuna and Sasuke had formed a mutual respect for each other. Nowadays, Naruto and Sasuke strived to surpass the other.

Sukuna feigned impartiality. "It ain't my fault you got your ass beat by Sasuke. Besides, didn't you beat him in your last Taijutsu fight?"

"You are such an asshole." Naruto grouched to himself, annoyed. "Fight me right now, Sukuna! I'll beat you anyday and anywhere!"

"Hah!" Opening his four crimson eyes in mockery, Sukuna taunted his blue-eyed friend. "I'd beat your ass any day of the week, you idiot!"

"Asshole!"

"Dumbass!"

(-)

December 21st 2000:

Iruka had gathered the students in his class out for their daily running exercise. To his most pleasant surprise, Sukuna had decided to not skip out on his lessons and stood at the back of the crowd.

Sukuna had been selected alongside Sasuke, Hinata Hyuga, and Kiba Inuzuka: who jabbed an irate finger towards Sukuna. Kiba gritted his teeth, determined. "I ain't gonna lose to you again, four-eyes!"

Leering at Kiba and dismissing his threat of victory, Sukuna bent his knees and cracked his neck. Sasuke grunted in amusement, performing a few simple stretches. Hinata kept her gaze forward.

"That bastard!" Kiba mumbled, voice irritated beyond belief. "I'll prove to everyone that I'm better than Sasuke Uchiha and Ryomen Sukuna!"

"Maybe calm down a little, you damn mutt!" Naruto yelled from the back of the group of students. "I bet you'll trip on nothing!"

"Settle down! Settle down!" Iruka cut off the jeers from his students. "I hope the four of you are ready for this race! Three! Two! One! Go!"

Sasuke dashed forward. Kiba followed him from behind. Hinata matched Kiba's speed. Sukuna remained at the starting-point, vermillion irises glowing in amusement. "Let's give them some hope."

Exploding into action, Sukuna outsped Kiba and Hinata without an ounce of visible trouble and sprinted next to Sasuke. Scoffing, the Uchiha smirked. "You always have been pretty strong and fast."

"Your physical speed has improved." Red eyes widened in raw excitement. "I guess you haven't been slacking off, then."

Surpassing Sasuke's initial stride, Sukuna bounded to the end of the race-course—where Iruka was waiting for them. The academy-instructor declared. "Ryomen Sukuna is the winner!"

Huffing in irritation as he was denoted third place in the race between him and his fellow students at the Shinobi-Academy, Kiba folded his arms. "I can't believe I lost against those two bastards again, damn it!"

"Not fast enough to beat Sukuna yet." Sasuke clenched an unperturbed fist. "My speed is one of my best attributes, though."

Hinata had been the last to reach the end-line of the race-course, letting loose a disappointed breath. "I'll just have to try harder."

"My stamina is still unmatched." Sukuna grinned in satisfaction—then grunted. "But Naruto's stamina would give me a run for my money."

"Good job, Sukuna." Iruka patted the crimson-eyed child on the shoulder. "This is the reason why I insist you should come to class."

Shrugging off the coarse hand on his shoulder, Sukuna slinked into the back of the crowd. Approaching Naruto, he released a casual chuckle from his mouth. "I think Sasuke's gotten a little faster."

"Who cares?" Punching his knuckles into his open palm, Naruto murmured. "I'm gonna outrun everyone on that race-course…"

(-)

Sukuna and his class-mates had returned to their class-room for a two-hour-long lecture about the history of Konoha's creation. They were going to be given a test on every historical topic they had learned.

Leaning into the wooden-frame of his chair, Sukuna scribbled low-quality notes down into the pages of his book. Naruto was unconscious, head buried into his arms to catch some shut-eye.

Listening to the lecture from Mizuki, Sukuna closed his eyes and propped his knuckles beneath his chin. A small smirk adorned Sukuna's face. "I kinda wish I could get Megumi's Ten-Shadows."

The Shikigami from the Ten-Shadows Cursed-Technique were in possession of incredible abilities. It was such a shame he would never be able to gain that powerful of a Cursed-Technique in the future.

"Mahoraga's adaptation would be useful in a fight." Sukuna pondered. "The ability to adapt to any and all phenomena is too overpowered."

"Sukuna—?"

Wrenching his eyes open and feeling sunlight fill his vision, Sukuna blinked when Mizuki addressed him. The blue-haired instructor smiled. "—Would you please tell me what Madara Uchiha was famous for?"

Sukuna lifted his eye-brow and answered. "Madara Uchiha is one of the founders of Konoha and also someone who defected from it."

"An adequate enough explanation." Mizuki nodded in appreciation, staring at the students in the front-row. "Let's talk about lord second."

Zoning out for the tenth time in the lecture, Sukuna found himself thinking about the potential applications of Mahoraga's adaption-based ability. "Man, I really want the Ten-Shadows now."

"Since I've somehow become Itadori when Sukuna is in control of him, I should also try to use Sukuna's 'open' ability at some point in time."

"I don't have the proficiency to pull off my Domain-Expansion yet." Sukuna touched his chin. "I should also focus on Cleave and Dismantle."

"My cursed-energy output is still on the unstable side." He clicked his tongue. "No wonder why my Cleave and Dismantle are so weak."

(-)

School had ended for the day at last. Sukuna trudged through the endless expanses of grass in an isolated forest and discerned Rock-Lee in his usual training-spot. Sukuna lifted a tattooed hand.

"Yo, you youth-obsessed punk!" Sukuna grinned, slipping his hands into his pockets. "How's your training been going for you, huh?"

Lee wiped off the sweat decorated across his forehead. "Sukuna! I have committed myself to performing two-hundred push-ups!"

"What a training-addicted maniac." Sukuna whispered, amusement embedded into his tone. "He's even worse than Sasuke."

Leaving Lee to his psychotic training-schedule, Sukuna walked out into an empty field between trees, bushes, and logs. Flicking two fingers upwards, Sukuna activated Dismantle on a tree-trunk.

Four thin slice-marks appeared on the trunk of the oak-tree. Rotating his wrist and flexing three of his fingers, Sukuna engraved ten Dismantles onto another tree-trunk. It gained seventeen slash-marks.

"Not good enough." Sukuna let out an irritated breath. "My general cursed-energy output is unstable, yes, but it's still pretty manageable."

One Cleave was drilled into a third tree-trunk. Sukuna suppressed the avid urge to sign in displeasure, opting to resume his training over his manipulation of cursed-energy and using it to enhance his physical ability.

"I'll be a Shinobi sometime next year." Sukuna's thoughts were calm. He charged cursed-energy into his hands. "Who'll be on my team?"

Sukuna's mind was filled by guesses over who his future teammates would be. If he could select his two partners, then he would pick Naruto and Sasuke to be on his team. They were the most tolerable.

An amused chortle rolled off of the end of Sukuna's tongue. "Now that I really think about it, I don't have that many friends right now."

Companionship and friendship were both concepts Sukuna wasn't against since he had formed friendships—albeit a few. Snorting, Sukuna released his cursed-energy as he punched a small tree.

"Cursed-energy enhancement is going well." Sukuna scanned the shattered wood of the tree. "I'm pretty satisfied by these results."

Cupping his chin and humming, Sukuna slinked out of the forest before he reached a more populated section of the enormous village. He tilted his head. "How am I going to pass the graduation exam?"

The existence of Sukuna's cursed-energy was kept private by the Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi—who had taken an interest in the potential of such a potent ability. "They all think it's a bloodline limit."

Despite being a genetic anomaly in the medical world, Sukuna's lack of chakra and subsequent lack of chakra-system had medics chalking his possession of cursed-energy to be some type of Kekkei-Genkai.

Of course—this was all documented information. However, Hiruzen himself had sealed these documentations into a vault in the lower-levels of Konoha's local hospital. His medical-history was hidden.

Evening had visited the skies at last and bathed the heavens in a somewhat orange hue. Sukuna entered a park, planted himself down on a bench, closed his eyes, and leaned against its wooden-frame.

(-)

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed out multiple rings of smoke from his unique pipe and checked on his villagers through a glass-constructed orb. Peering into its reflection, Hiruzen lifted his eye-brows in curiosity.

Sasuke was engaged in a spar against Naruto. Roundhouse kicking Naruto's hip, Sasuke propelled him backwards.

A gentle smile graced Hiruzen's wrinkled features at the sight of such blatant rivalry and camaraderie. Changing the focus of the crystal-ball, Hiruzen gazed into its glass reflection and stared at a red-eyed boy.

Sukuna was another one of Konohagakure's countless wards—a child who had been found in the outskirts of the village. He was also the one who was in possession of a new bloodline limit—cursed-energy.

The Third Hokage released three more puffs of smoke from his pipe, contemplating over the circumstances of the discovery of Sukuna's Kekkei-Genkai. He had not dared deign that information to anyone.

Not even Danzo Shimura had been told about Sukuna's bloodline limit. Hiruzen was much too aware of how greedy Danzo had become over the years when it came to potential soldiers he could mould in his image.

Hiruzen saw Sukuna as one more resident of the Hidden-Leaf village, someone who was entitled to divulge the traits of his abilities to those he trusted. However, Sukuna was also a powerful asset for the village.

Keeping his experienced gaze planted on Sukuna through the glass of the crystal-sphere, Hiruzen was surprised when red eyes gandered at him. How had Sukuna sensed the presence of his glass-orb?

"Truly, Ryomen Sukuna—." Hiruzen let out two puffs of smoke from his pipe. "—I wonder how powerful you shall grow in the future."

(-)

Sukuna glared off into the distance once the foreign gaze on him had faded. His natural instincts had flared at him and warned him of somebody keeping watch of him. Grunting, he rose from the bench.

It had grown late and night-time was settling into the sky. The familiar thud of rainfall drifted into Sukuna's ears. Sukuna cracked his neck, rolled his stiff shoulders, and left the park for his modest home.

Crimson irises glowed amongst the shadows of the unilluminated areas of the village. Sukuna heard the occasional thud of foot-steps of Shinobi from the roof-tops of numerous buildings. Rain poured down.

"How annoying." Sukuna scoffed, flicking off traces of rain from his eyes and resuming his walk to his residence. "I'm all wet right now…"

Having reached the front-entrance to his apartment, Sukuna pulled out an aureate key and unlocked his door. Stepping into the cold corridor of his home, Sukuna shut the door and hiked into his bed-room.

Sliding into a basic wooden-chair, Sukuna sighed, opened a drawer from his desk, and brought out a note-book. Twirling the pen in his calloused hand, the demonic boy flicked through the book's pages.

Sketches and notes he remembered from Jujutsu Kaisen's manga were illustrated on these pages. He chuckled when he noticed the image of Sukuna's true-form on the twentieth page of the book.

"I forgot about this drawing." Sukuna smirked, amused. "I drew this one around eight months ago. Man, my art skills are pure crap."

Ryomen Sukuna's true form was a deformed, four-armed, double-mouthed, and disfigured body. A hum ripped itself out from his mouth. "When the heck am I gonna be able to transform into that freak?"

"This body of mine has a lot of potential capabilities." Sukuna clenched a fist. "How would Domain-Amplification react to chakra?"

Shrugging and climbing off of his chair, Sukuna walked out of his bed-room and walked onto his balcony. The rain had died down. Gazing out at the village, Sukuna touched his balcony's guardrail.

"What the hell does being the strongest even mean?" He grinned to himself and laughed. "Who cares about what that concept means?"

"I'm going to enjoy this life of mine." Sukuna gripped onto his guardrail. "I won't die until I've been satisfied by this damn world."

(-)

December 23rd 2000:

The weekends had approached and had come at last for the students of the Shinobi-Academy. Nestled beneath layers of blankets, Naruto slurped on his cup of hot Ramen and enjoyed the peace in the air.

Most of the time he would be bothering Sukuna or Sasuke about something or even performing a few pranks on the citizens of Konoha. This time, however, Naruto was taking a break from his usual antics.

Some snow had descended onto the Hidden-Leaf, coating the village in blankets of frost and cold. Sipping the broth from his cup of Ramen, Naruto grinned as an old memory bubbled to the surface of his mind.

Four years ago—when Naruto was seven-years-old—he had just escaped an area that he had pranked by painting and breaking the windows of some random shop-keepers. He had entered an alleyway.

That was around the time he had met him—a crimson-eyed boy called Ryomen Sukuna. Sukuna had joined the academy late. So this was Naruto's first time meeting him.

He remembered how bored and disinterested Sukuna's eyes were, unaffected by Naruto's taunts and questions about his demonic appearance. This was when their friendship had been established.

Sukuna had become an official student at the Shinobi-Academy three days later from the time Naruto had met him. Alongside Shikamaru Nara, they were the three most laziest students of the class.

In lesson time, Naruto would either be doodling on his paper or sleeping while Sukuna would either be keeping his eyes closed in boredom or staring out of the windows at the back of the class-room.

"How the hell does that asshole pass all his tests, though?" Naruto crossed his arms, stopping his Ramen from spilling. "Screw his IQ!"

Despite his languid personality, Sukuna saw himself as the most important. Sukuna lacked a general care for the people around him, either somewhat amicable or apathetic towards them.

Minus a few people, Sukuna treated most individuals he crossed without a shred of interest, compassion, or care. He saw people such as Kiba, Hinata, and Iruka as boring nuisances in his day-to-day life.

Naruto wasn't bothered by his best friend's attitude towards people and life. If anything, the Uzumaki was more determined to become stronger so he could prove the village wrong.

"I ain't some stupid freak!" Naruto clicked his teeth, munching on his Ramen. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, the future leader of this damn place."

When Naruto had asked Sukuna what his goal/dream for the future was, the crimson-eyed moron had given him a vague answer along the lines of 'living a good life.' What was that supposed to mean?

"I'll live an even better life than him." Grunting, Naruto consumed the last of his noodles and threw the cup of Ramen into a bin. "Yeah."

Introspection was something Naruto indulged himself in from time to time. He was capable of having moments filled by nothing but pure reflection.

All of his life, the villagers had shunned and scorned him for no obvious reason. Naruto clenched a determined fist, motivation seeping into his blue gaze. "I'm gonna become Hokage, just wait."

Naruto had also spotted how Sukuna was treated by the village. He wasn't shunned, scorned, gossiped about, or hated by them—it was his strange and devilish appearance that put people on-edge.

When Naruto had met Sukuna, even he was somewhat put-off by his strange tattoos and four vermillion eyes. Though, that hadn't stopped the two of them from becoming good friends. Sukuna was odd.

"That dumbass thinks he's stronger than me." Naruto grunted, folding his arms in irritation. "I bet he's scared of me beating his ass up."

The disregard Sukuna had for people was a foreign concept to Naruto—who aimed to earn the acknowledgment he yearned from everyone in the village. In a twisted way, they were opposites.

"I'm glad the old man let me find out what my chakra-nature is." Naruto groused. "I haven't even opened up those wind-style Jutsu scrolls."

Sasuke was able to use some basic fire-natured Ninjutsu. In his pursuit of surpassing his friend and rival, Naruto had gone to Hiruzen to see if he could somehow help him learn about his nature-affinity.

Naruto wondered what Sukuna's natural-element would be and shrugged. He planned on training once the atmosphere was more warm.


A/N: Thanks for reading this chapter.