A/N: ...long Covid is painful, but I'm riding it out.
Docs say I'll be fine, just miserable since none of this is apparently life threatening...great.
Somehow, this surged past 1,200 hundred reviews very quickly while I was recovering, so here we are, ANOTHER early update!
Feedback really does kick me into high gear; if this chapter gets a good reception as well, then I'll do my best to update early once more, as I've been consistently doing for weeks now. Do let me know! In other news...
...I wanted to thank everyone for their support.
My health's been all over the place and now I'm being told I may have an irregular heartbeat due to COVID. Waiting on word from my doctor on that front.
I'm aiming to get back to "Apples and Atoms" "Doctor of Demons" along with my other categories. Those last two are damnably difficult!
Long chapters and all that.
With my sixteenth-year-anniversary on this site rapidly approaching, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.
And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.
Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Feels like everyone's lost their minds sometimes. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.
We'll have a brief Q&A this time to settle some questions:
Q: This arc is giving me OVA vibes...
A: That's intentional.
Q: Do we have to know who these new characters are?
A:...don't worry if you can't ascertain the identity of Toguro and Shiki, much less their backgrounds. They're here to serve a purpose and introduced in such a way as not to interfere with the world of Jujutsu Kaisen overmuch.
Q: We're nearing THAT event, aren't we?
A: Yes, yes we are. And the Jujutsu world will never be the same.
Aaaand that should do it! I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that.
In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!
And remember, as stated prior, the names for Naoya's brothers are:
Naome (Eldest Son)
Natsuo (The Middle Child)
Natoshi (Second Youngest Before Our Boy, Now Very Much Dead)
Here we go! You've all been waiting for this chapter, I know.
I'll do my best not to disappoint you.
"You're nothing like Gojo Satoru. The ability to fear your enemies is one of your strengths. It forces you to reach your potential; pushes you beyond your limits.
But you haven't been scared enough. You're not ready for what lies ahead. You need some...motivation.
That's why I've come here...
...to show you...
...power."
~?
What We Fear
"What kind of woman is your type?"
Naruto blinked. He blinked hard.
"Ha?"
Reality reasserted itself with a violent lurch, his thoughts stumbling and tumbling over one another in tangled chords of confusion. Who in blazes was this woman; more importantly, who was she to come barging in here, covered in blood and ask such a ridiculous question of him? The sheer audacity of it all left him flabbergasted for the first time in months.
He almost didn't want to know who she was...and yet he kinda did, ya now?
Now if only he could figure out why Maki and Mai looked fit to spit right about now...was it something he'd said?
"Yuki Tsukumo." Toguro settled the matter for him with another long-suffering sigh. "Must you always ask new acquaintances that?"
"Yes, we must~!" the baffling buxom blonde brought a winning smile to bear upon the stoic hitman. "Its a personality test! One you never did answer, come to think of it...
...and I still won't." came the black-hearted rebuttal.
"Stingy~!"
Naruto's brow, meanwhile had shot straight up to his hairline. Yuki Tsukumo? The eccentric Special Grade Sorceress? The one who never took on missions anymore? The one who could supposedly flatten a building with a single punch? This was her? He'd never seen her before; she was a recluse, seldom seen in Japan at all; he only knew of her because Satoru had mentioned her once. Once!
He stared at her for a moment with his Eyes of Creation, seeking a better feel for this strange woman. Yet try as he might, he couldn't make heads or tails of her. Yuki didn't look all that powerful at a glance; if it weren't for the cursed energy surging through her like wildfire he would've thought her an ordinary human with an exceptional stance.
What was her Cursed Technique? What made her so powerful? What made her confident enough to walk into a room full of powerful people and smile the way she did? She wasn't tense, but he could tell she was ready for a fight; beneath that lazy posture, her body was coiled like a spring, ready to burst into action at the slightest provocation.
She was still staring at him expectantly. Did he really have to answer her?
It would be annoying if she hounded him, so...
"What's my type...?"
In an instant he became keenly aware of so many eyes upon him. Yuki and Toguro and Shiki he could understand...but why were Maki and Mai staring? They were just kids.
"Absurd." Sukuna heaved a sigh somewhere in the back of his mind. "You cannot POSSIBLY be that naive."
'Naive about what?'
...nothing." he could almost hear the sardonic smile in the curse's voice. "Don't say I didn't warn you. I'll laugh when this inevitably blows up in your face, brat."
"Well," he thumbed his chin with his left hand, and painstakingly began to count down off the fingers of his right, "I guess if I had to pick, it would be somebody strong, but cute; a woman with killer curves who could give as good as she gets, is a fantastic cook, and maybe kick my ass...?"
Maki and Mai slumped behind him with a whine.
For some strange reason, his answer seemed to absolutely, devastatingly delight Yuki.
"Nice answer, boy~!" She flicked him a wink and thumb's up besides. "You have high standards! I can see why everyone's so keen on you."
Shiki tilted her head. "Indeed. He certainly is an exacting individual isn't he?"
Toguro rumbled another sigh. "Aren't you forgetting something, my lady?"
"Oh, my!" the baffling girl touched a hand to her cheek and blinked quickly. "Wherever are my manners? Please, won't you stay for dinner? You've come all this way to meet us on such short notice; it would be rude to send you away without a meal. We can talk business afterward."
Naruto bit his tongue. They'd come all this way to see what the bloody invitation was about, and still no luck.
Just what kind of game were they playing at here...and why did it feel like he was missing something?
Distantly he hoped Toji was having a terrible time with the kids.
If he had to suffer through this...
...then so did that bastard!
(.0.0.0.)
"What have we learned?"
Toji Fushiguro planted a fist on his hip, frowning down at his children.
Megumi and Tsumiki groaned at his feet, thoroughly exhausted, unable to form words.
Well, they'd gotten the gist of it. If not, they'd pick it up sooner or later.
Naoya though running for ten miles was enough, eh?"
Twenty-mile runs it was!
"Up and at 'em~!"
(.0.0.0.)
Dinner was a chaotic affair.
Naruto tried to make sense of it all but lost himself after the second course, soon followed by a third and a fourth; it felt like a never ending train of food constantly wheeled in by attendants, so much so that he barely had a chance to process it all, much less ask what the Kamo were after. Didn't stop him from asking after another helping though. Then another. And yet another...
A hot pot. An-honest-to-goodness hot pot. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had one of those. Delicious didn't even begin to describe it.
Maybe he'd have to see his way to getting the Zeni'n clan a better chef in the future?
Whomever the Kamo had was clearly top tier.
Smiling softly to himself, he polished off the last of his meal.
Yuki and Toguro must've wandered off at some point between the second course and the third; because he didn't see them anywhere. Shiki, meanwhile had somehow managed to corner Maki and Mai when he wasn't looking and began peppering them with questions about all sorts of things. Poor girls were utterly out of their depth. Mai cast a pleading loo his way and he found himself half-tempted to swoop in and save, only to remember how they'd thrown them to the wolves earlier today and abstained.
Instead he sauntered past the unlikely trio and snagged Maki's hair tie as he went -because he was petty- drawing a gasp from his little cousin as her long hair spilled free. He sauntered past, twirling her scrunchy on one finger as he made his grand escape.
Warm and full, he took his chance to stumble outside onto the veranda. The night air was crisp and cool against his skin, silently soothing his soul.
Here at least, he could feel at peace. There were more people in the distance now, more than he'd sensed earlier.
Was that a cause for concern? He could tell they were sorcerers, some even seemed to be headed this way.
On a whim, he both created and flicked a shadow clone their way at speed. There. A good distraction for-
Someone swept open the door behind him, shattering that unpleasant thought.
A familiar voice filled the night. "I'd be wary of that guy, if I were you.
He glanced over his shoulder. "Who?"
"Toguro." Yuki flopped down beside him, wearing a rueful grin, clutching a bottle of sake in her off hand. "The big guy, you know. The one that seems to be interested in you?" the sorceress flailed a hand around for good measure. "The Kamo clan's had him on retainer for awhile now; they like to send him out against curse users and the real nasty cursed spirits. The man's never failed a single mission. Even fought the Sorcerer Killer himself to a standstill, once."
"You mean Toji?"
"Oh?" she quirked a brow. "On a first name basis with him, are you?
"He's my uncle." No point in concealing it; not when she'd find out sooner or later.
Yuuki's face blanked for a moment before lighting up again. "You managed to reign that monster in? I might drop by sometime."
"Please don't." he deadpanned. "You're far too much of a handful. Why are you even here, anyway?"
Yuki beamed. "Well, I was just passing through when I received an invitation, same as you. The Kamo Clan's princess is quite the wonder." she necked her bottle and guffawed with a pleased sigh before her eyes sought the stars above once more. "I think she might be able to make my dream a reality.
"And how's that?"
She winked at him. "With death, of course."
Something in the bland way she said that made him tense.
"She can kill all sorts of things, even cursed techniques, did you know that?"
No, and now he dearly wished he hadn't. Was the Lady of the Kamo Clan truly that dangerous? If she was...then maybe they should leave.
Silence lingered between the two of them for a moment. He didn't like it. He frowned and made to rise-
Yuki tugged at his arm. "Say, Naoya...can I ask you another question before you go?"
He yanked his arm free. "If you ask me what my type is again, I will bonk you."
"Wait, wait! A peal of laughter was his reward. "I won't ask that!" her hands flailed a moment more when he didn't look convinced. "Promise!"
'I'd better not regret this.' Outwardly, he forced a thin smile to his lips. "Alright, shoot."
"What do you think of Cursed Spirits?"
He blinked, baffled. "Some are better than others."
"That's a broad way of saying they're weak. Did they give you much trouble?"
...some."
"Brat." she elbowed him. "What would you do if I told you I want to create a world where cursed spirits don't exist?"
"I wouldn't believe you."
"Excellent." she flashed him a chesire grin. "I dislike blind faith. Y'see, there are two ways to create such an utopia. One," she flicked a finger forward, "Erase all humanity's cursed energy. The second," up came another finger and he found himself stricken with the inexplicable urge to bite it off, "Is to make all humans capable of controlling their cursed energy.
That sounded like a massive undertaking, even for him. He said as much.
"I agree~! That's why I prefer the second method myself." Yuuki waggled both fingers his way. "After all, compared to non-sorcerers, Jujutsu Sorcerers like you and I leak very little cursed energy because we have to consider the cursed energy consumption for using techniques and the difference in capacity. Think about it. "Her hand curled into a fist and thumped him on the chest. "If all humans became Sorcerers, then Cursed Spirits will no longer be produced. They might even cease to exist.
His smile soured.
A world where Hanami and Medusa didn't exist; where they were just...gone.
A world where his newly reborn Biju had never been created.
A world where all his achievements meant nothing.
His lips pursed. "I disagree with that goal."
"Hmmm? And why is that?"
"Once a curse reaches a certain level of sentience, they become intelligent." he propped himself up against the nearby wall and crossed both arms before his chest. "I'm not saying its always a good thing. Curses can be crafty, and most times, they're just as murderous. But don't paint them with broad strokes. I've met at least two who aren't the mindless killing machines you espouse them to be. There could be more out there."
"Kiddo, I've been doing this a lot longer than you, and I have yet to meet a single "nice" cursed spirit-
He slammed a hand down on the deck. "Then you haven't been looking hard enough!"
"Is that so?" Her eyes strayed to the wooden band-ring!-on his hand. "You've already met a few, haven't you? These Special Grades.
Something kicked deep in his chest. It felt like anger.
"You wanna know what I think of Cursed Spirits?" he rounded on her, eyes flashing. "Here's my answer. Let's take your idea and tweak it. Consider Cursed Spirits their own species once they reach Special Grade status. If one eventually gains proper intelligence and reasoning, then shouldn't we teach them the right way to live?"
She balked. "You're mad."
That's what they all say before brilliance." he countered. "We weren't meant to fly. We weren't meant to breathe underwater. We weren't meant to venture out among the stars. The list goes on and on."
"And how will you regulate such a system?" did she enjoy poking holes in his theory? Felt like it.
"I'm working on it." he steepled his fingers in return. "If a curse wants to live in peace and has no desire to harm anyone, then it should be allowed to live in peace."
"Do you even hear yourself?!"
Anger roused itself once more, becoming wrath.
"In that case, why not just eliminate all non-sorcerers?!"
Yuki froze.
"That would be the simplest method, wouldn't it?" he jabbed a finger into her hip so hard that she actually jolted back a little. "Continuously eliminating non-sorcerers, forcing humans to adapt to the environment, survive, and become sorcerers themselves." he was playing the devil's advocate now, he knew, but he didn't care. "That would undoubtedly promote evolution, wouldn't it?
"When you say it like that...
...like what?" he met her stare evenly. "I could do it, you know.
"Could what?"
"Kill everyone in Japan." he let the words fall between them like an iron curtain, firm and heavy. "It wouldn't even be that hard thanks to Creation of All Things. Do you have any idea of the techniques I've been cooking up in my spare time? I've even got a few ideas from reading light novels and manga. I haven't quite gotten them all to work properly just yet, but don't worry, I will.
Her eyes widened. "Oi, now...
"I'll be honest," he blinked up at her, ignoring her words, "I don't have it in me to care for everyone. Not in this world. Not anymore. I'll protect those I hold dear, maybe make a few friends along the way, but why should I care what random people think of me? Half my clan already want me dead, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Higher Ups are actively plotting my demise as we speak. They're all like little...mongrels, always yap yap yap YAPPING and nipping at my heels."
"That doesn't mean you should-
"So many people want me dead."he talked right over her, running her argument right over. "And for what? Trying to do good? Trying to save others? Trying to change the world? Frankly, its a miracle I haven't gone rogue and started offing people already. Do you want me to? Because if not, you really need to work on giving advice. If you said that shit the wrong person at the wrong time, you'd drive them off the rails!"
He finished with a shout, eyes stinging, chest heaving, pulse pounding in his veins. All the while, his hands twitched restlessly at his sides, aching to reach up and give her a good hard shake.
"Yikes." Yuki leaned back and took another long swig from her bottle. "Anyone ever tell you ya sound like an adult sometimes?
A bitter laugh welled up in his throat, only narrowly choked down ."More than you could possibly know."
Something settled in her amber eyes just then, and he had the strangest feeling he'd passed a test.
"It certainly won't be boring, this future of yours. Perhaps I'll visit after all...se seein' ya~!
Yuki walked past him and made to round the corner.
Much to his annoyance she paused just shy of doing so, polished off the last of her bottle, and sighed. "He's all yours."
Naruto wasn't surprised when Toguro emerged from the shadows, looming large.
He'd expected this for awhile now. Felt it in his bones. His very soul.
...I would like a word with you, Naoya Zeni'n."
Yup, he'd seen this coming a mile off.
"Let's take this somewhere else.
...this way."
(.0.0.0.)
He followed Toguro up over the clan wall and into the forest.
All the while, Shiki's retainer said not a word to him. He led him relentlessly onward for what felt like an eternity, until finally, they came to an abandoned grove -more of a clearing really- and stopped there. The full moon waned above them through the trees, casting ghostly light across the grass. It made the scene all the more eerie somehow.
"Alright, spill it." he shoved both hands in his sleeves and planted his feet. "Why'd you call me out here in the middle of the night?
A cold breeze rustled the leaves.
Toguro didn't answer him for the longest time.
"That was a good speech." he finally said at length. "But even so...you're not ready."
His brow furrowed. "Ready for what?"
"For what lies ahead."
Right, screw this. He was losing his patience.
"Can we skip the riddles and jump to the part where I kick your ass already?" he took his hands from his sleeves, fingers hooking into claws. "Or did your little miss tell you to kill me?"
Toguro rumbled out a hoarse laugh, rusty from years of disuse. "Its not nearly so complicated as you make it seem. That girl...reminds me of a dear old friend of mine. I'll see her protected. And what of you, Naoya Zen'in? Do you have the strength to protect those you care for? I won't allow a weakling to stand in her presence."
"That's the not the whole reason, is it?"
"No, "he shook his head, "It isn't. I admit, my motivatons are a bit more...personal than hers."
There was just something about this guy, something that seemed downright familiar. "Who are you, really?
...in a sense, I'm like you." Toguro didn't budge, he had no need to; even as the wind picked up, he just stared at him. "I didn't ask to be reborn either; that choice was taken from me. Your presence here has warped this world, which made such a thing possible in the first place. And you...
The wind rose around them, warping into a howl that threatened to tear down the very trees themselves.
This time, his smile wasn't kind. "...You're afraid of me, aren't you?"
Naruto snorted. "I prefer the term wary."
"Good." Shiki's retainer rumbled a laugh. "That honesty will serve you well. The ability to fear your enemies is one of your strengths." Without warning, he abruptly shed his jacket, casting the green garment aside with a contemptuous flick of the wrist. "It forces you to reach your potential; pushes you beyond your limits. But you haven't been scared enough. You're not ready for what lies ahead; you need some motivation. That's why I've come here...to show you true power.
The wind died.
"I'm a very untalented Sorcerer, you see." Toguro grit his teeth as his very body began to bristle. "I can only increase the size of my muscles...LIKE SO!"
It was instantaneous; one moment a slim man stood before him; in the next, with a shout, he gained height and mass that simply hadn't been there before. Cursed energy slapped him in the face as he stood his ground in quiet disbelief. No, more than that, it kept rising, swelling higher and higher, larger and stronger and oh jeez he's really getting jacked I should probably take my weights off-
A fist slammed into his face, snapping his head back. He staggered once step, heard another blow coming in hot and-
He pivoted and stomped once, dropping his restraints to counter and catch the punch with both hands.
Toguro's punch rattled his very bones and nearly broke every bone in his arm.
Reversed Curse Technique put paid to that quickly, sure, but still, it hurt like hell.
"You think I'm not afraid?!" he grit his teeth as the earth cratered underfoot. "Been there, done that. I've already told someone this before, you muscle head. I'm always afraid. You think ya know what fear is?!
Toguro pushed down on him, driving him to a knee. "Don't bore me with speeches, boy."
"You're afraid this fight will be boring?" His head snapped up, the whites of his sclera tainted a furious black, blue eyes gleaming poisonous shade gold as black marks scrawled across his face, "Lemme spice it up for ya then."
He dropped an arm, twisted his neck, and let that towering fist rocket by. Then his fist scythed out; slammed into then through Togoru's torso, tearing a gaping hole in his body. Momentum ripped him away and flung him back against a tree, then another, followed by five more as the great goliath hurtled into the forest.
"You know what'd be boring?!" cracking his bloody knuckles, he conjured a lava Rasenshuriken just overhead. "If you weren't powered up! So do me a favor! AND STAY EXACTLY THE WAY YOU ARE!"
Laughter answered him.
...good. That's much better. I actually felt that.
Much to his annoyance, the giant slowly righted himself.
As he looked on, the great gaping tear in his torso closed.
Reversed Curse Technique. Of course he had that. 'Are you kidding me?! Today just isn't my day...
"One year from now, a competition will take place, organized by the Kamo clan. I suppose you could call it...a tournament of sorts," his lips quirked in a smile at some unspoken joke, "Organized by Jujutsu Sorcerers and neutral curse users, drawing on the most vile cursed spirits you can imagine as bait. The Gojo Clan will be invited of course, as will the Zeni'n, among others. Each will gather a team of five fighters, and those teams battle to the death. They fight for blood...and a prize. Your brother will be there. As will I. If you're truly the strongest as you claim, then you should have no trouble dominating the competition."
Naruto forced himself to swallow, not from fear, but excitement. "And what exactly is this prize?"
"You already know." Toguro didn't deign to explain further. "Refuse this invitation and I'll destroy everything you love."
His brow flattened. "You'll die before you can get them all."
He wasn't weak. He could take this guy. Yeah, he wasn't at his peak in this younger body, but still...!
"Perhaps," his adversary smiled, "But I'll take at least one of them with me. Can you bring back the dead, Naoya Zeni'n?"
A muscle jumped in his jaw.
He couldn't.
...Not yet.
In theory he should be able to; he could recreate the Rinnegan at will now, in small bursts. But he could barely push or pull things with it; let alone use the more complicated techniques. He didn't even understand the basics of Nagato's yanking out someone's soul, much less resurrection. He didn't think he ever would. Never had he felt more handicapped than he did in this oment.
...I thought not." Toguro chortled softly. "Whoever you were in your past life, you were reborn weaker in this world, just as I. This world wasn't meant for giants like us. But we won't be weak for long now, will we?" a gnarled finger rose, pointing his way. "When next we face one another, I expect you to be much stronger than this."
"Wipe him out." Sukuna snarled. "Erase him! I know you can!"
He could with the Gates, but as he was now, in this younger body, the recoil would be immense...and the grave giant had one last parting gift for him.
"...be seeing you, weakling."
Naruto's mind fizzled.
Weak.
Him? Weak?
No. Not weak. Not ever again!
"...oi. Did you hear what he just said?"
His head drooped long, blond bangs hiding his eyes.
It was one insult too many. His world bled red. "...hey, Muscles!"
The giant turned, mildly nonplussed.
Light filled his vision.
"CATCH."
(.0.0.0.)
"CATCH."
Toguro's every instinct shrilled a warning. He turned quickly; but not quickly enough; even as raised an arm he knew he would be too slow.
At his current strength, it was nowhere near enough.
Clenched knuckles barreled into his palm and sundered it; blowing it clean off at the wrist. His eyes bulged wide. Pain blazed through his veins, short and sharp and oh so savage-so much so that he was still struggling to comprehend it when another punch cratered his skull and smashed him facefirst into the dirt.
Wait, where had the boy gone-
A foot barreled into the base of his neck and slammed his skull down. He felt a hand closed around his skull and smash his visage into the grass.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice!
Again! Again! Over and over again!
"Listen here, you." Firm fingers gripped him by the hair, and yanked him up. Only then did he hear the Zeni'n boy's voice through his ringing ears, "I'll play your game, because it sounds interesting. Fun, even. I'd like a chance to stretch my legs. But if you ever, and I mean EVER threaten my loved ones again," the grip on his skull became crushing, "What you're experiencing right now will feel like a love-tap. You got me?"
Toguro didn't have a chance to reply before the pressure on the back of his skull eased.
Reluctantly, he dared to rise.
Naoya Zeni'n was nowhere to be seen.
He glanced down at his mangled, broken stump and frowned.
...strange. The wound was bleeding, but slow to heal. He suspected it wouldn't for some time; not with that much cursed energy flowing through it.
He'd underestimated him. How refreshing. When was the last time someone so young got the drop on him? Not since Shiki herself.
The barest beginnings of a smile touched Toguro's face. It had been...a long while since he felt pain...
.
..
...the boy had spirit, if nothing else. Just like that one.
Toguro removed his glasses.
"Grow strong, Naoya. Strong enough to destroy me. No rebirth, no reincarnation, just pure eradication."
He turned his eyes to the distant starry sky above and granted them a rueful smile.
Naoya Zeni'n, eh? The by was proving to be everything he hoped for and more.
"I wonder...what would you think of him, Urameshi...?"
(.0.0.0.)
"Achoo!"
Miles away, a young man sneezed in Shibuya.
A bolt of blue light rocketed upward and soared away into the night sky.
"Aw, c'mon." he regarded it with a sigh. "Who's talking about me now? Bastard made me miss." He looked back to the twitching Special Grade at his feet with a rueful sigh. "You cursed spirits are seriously squishy. Didn't think you'd go down with a couple punches." a black boot nudged the spirit in question, drawing a snarl from it. "You were talkin' a good game before when you tried to gobble up that kid, too. Not so tough now, are ya?"
Were they weak?
Or had he just gotten stronger this time around?
Reincarnation was such a pain in the ass; complicated thoughts like this always gave him a nasty headache. Best not to dwell on it.
"Wretched sorcerer..." the curse rasped out, stretching a pale hand his way to feebly grab at his ankle. "Kill you...
"Riiiight. He grinned. "Whatever you say."
It garbled something that might've been a swear. Hard to tell with all those missing teeth.
Almost made him feel sorry for it. Its nothing personal, pal. I just can't stand the sight of your ugly mug."
With an exaggerated swagger he mimed a hand-gun with two fingers and pointed downward at the Cursed Spirit.
"So lets try this again, shall we...?
A bolt of blue barreled down.
"Spirit Gun."
Bang.
A/N: The plot thickens~!
Hope you enjoyed this chapter~!
Pseudo-Dark-Tournament anyone~? Its fun teasing potential ideas~!
That said, would you like weekly updates? Do you want this to remain a story?
Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard! Really need to hear from you, here. Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself isn't popular? Well...I'll not continue it. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy.
So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write. So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly? Hope you enjoy the previews.
We've got some new ones and some are...intense.
They've been expanded and then some!
I cut down on them to not spoil things.
Read at your own risk:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING~!
SPOILERS AWAIT THEE~!
YE BE WARNED~!
(Previews)
Naruto sighed, turned his head aside, and spat out a bloody tooth. "Whoever you are, now's not a good time."
Someone stepped out the shadows. "Is it ever a good time to see an old friend?"
Waitaminute! He knew that voice!
His head snapped up.
"NEJI?!"
Satoru tilted his head. "Think we should do something?"
Suguru shrugged one shoulder. "Its your call...
When he looked back, Gojo was gone.
A rueful smile tugged at his mouth.
"Well, there's my answer."
"You will come with us."
Mai ripped her revolver from her belt and began loading the chamber with bullets.
"Did you not hear me, child?!"
"Hush." she held up a finger. "Almost done."
Her task complete, she closed the chamber and pointed her pistol their way.
"One of these six bullets is special." she smiled, mimicking a shit-eating grin she'd once seen Naoya use. "You feeling lucky punk?"
She mentally pumped a fist.
Yes! She finally got to use that line!
No way was she wasting his gift on a scrub of a kidnapper.
"Listen. That technique of yours is powerful, sure, but its also risky. And I told you to call me Gojo-senpai~!"
"I categorically refuse! Does it matter anyway? You have your Limitless, I have my Creation of All Things. We were born with these abilities."
"Maybe, but think of it like this. Dying to win and risking death to win are two completely different things. With a strong foundation, and a little bit of sense, imagination, even a pinch of regret, it just takes the slightest trigger to change a person...after all, this isn't your first life, is it, Naoya?
Wait, you know? How did you figure it out? I thought I did a good job hiding it from Maki and Mai.
You did for the most part, but its the eyes. People say eyes are the window to the soul.
Now, that we've determined that. Are you going to tell me you really are?"
Alright, fine. You win. My name, my real name is...
"Oi, now." his eyes began to glow. "That's my friend. GET YOUR FILTHY MITTS OFF HER."
"Listen to yourselves! Have you all bothered to think about what kind of person you're trying to curse?!
EDIT: Hope you enjoyed! Looking forward to your feedback~!
Hope you have a great day,
~Nz.