I shouldn't have to tell you this but obviously I don't own Jujutsu Kaisen or Naruto. Hell, not even Gege Akutami or Masashi Kishimoto truly own them...
...Shueisha does btw...
This is indeed a one-shot, read A/N towards the end.
"No clan feels deeper love than the Uchiha."
"Love is the most twisted curse of all."
"Let me assure you, love is worthless."
Yuji Itadori never understood what it was about him that separated him from the rest. One would think it obvious if they knew him: excelling in sports since elementary school, holding firmly to his beliefs, and never backing down from a fight, for better or for worse. Thankfully, he was also born with an inherent combat prowess.
Despite this, Yuji always thought of himself as no better or worse than his peers. He never shied away from being part of the group and was always eager to engage and learn about others, aiming to connect and form bonds. He excelled at this, in fact; his charisma and kindness drew others to him, and in turn, Yuji welcomed everyone.
Yuji Itadori loves most people unconditionally, never expecting reciprocation. As taught to him by his grandfather.
Speaking of which.
"Fool! I told you to stay away. Someone like you shouldn't have to bother keeping a dying old man company. Don't you have after-school activities, anyhow?"
Rolling his eyes, Yuji strode over to the sink, rinsing his hands and the inside of the vase in which he would keep the large bouquet of flowers he had bought for the nurses. Ignoring the jeers and mutterings of his irate grandpa, he moved the vase, filled with water, to the nearest window, taking care to ensure the flowers wouldn't wilt. Wanting to break his grandpa out of his rant, Yuji decided to interject.
"The flowers aren't for you; they're for the nurses."
"All the more reason to keep your money!" the eldest Itadori berated. He was well aware of the kindness that dwelled within Yuji and how much of a strength it was, but buying a new bouquet with every visit? These things weren't cheap!
"What about your after-school club? Your friends? What about your club?! Where are your friends?!" Wasuke Itadori yelled. The elder's frail body was somehow still able to shout at the top of its lungs.
Despite the yelling, there wasn't a shred of hostility between the two. Yuji's calm smile was a testament to that.
"Oh, would you relax? After-school activities ended at 5:00 PM, and all of my friends have lives, you know? Besides, I wouldn't visit you if I didn't have free time."
Huffing the elder closed his eyes.
"You could still be training, but I suppose this is alright. Since I have some free time of my own, I'd like to speak to you," the old man began.
"Not interested." Yuji didn't let him get far.
"These are my final words to you; it's regarding your parents. I nee—" Cutting off his grandpa once more, the pink-haired boy didn't let up. Not bothering to face him completely, Yuji looked over his shoulder.
"Will you stop trying to act all cool before you die? Just be your usual self, okay?" The chagrin in his tone was nothing compared to the other's chagrin.
"Y-you brat! A man wants to go out in style, you know! Don't you get it?!" The man was tempted to throw something—anything—at his insolent grandchild, but alas, he reined in his anger for what he knew would be the last time.
"Yuji." The levelness in his tone was enough to turn the boy in question's head.
"Yeah?"
"You're a strong kid, so... help people." A no-nonsense feeling crept into the elder's tone. The grandson and grandfather's eyes met, but these were not the same hazel eyes that connected the Itadori family through generations.
Or so people thought.
Rather, there were two sets of bizarre and almost demonic eyes. The irises turned red, with the outline of a circle featuring three commas (tomoe) spinning around the shrunken black pupils, akin to a wheel. These were a dojutsu long thought to have been lost—a rare jujutsu trait from a long-lost and forgotten era. These eyes were known as the Sharingan, or the Copy Wheel Eye, for the scientific.
Yuji's own, however, were not like this; only a single tomoe spun in each iris. This meant that Yuji's eyes had yet to reach maturity and their full potential, unlike his grandfather's.
Despite this, his capabilities with those eyes were not to be taken lightly.
The three tomoe in the man's eyes spun. As they spun, the commas converged on themselves, and from the black ink that formed the tomoe, a new pattern was born. It was a kaleidoscope in the shape of a three-pointed shuriken. These eyes went beyond even the fully matured Sharingan—eyes so rare that they hadn't been seen in over a thousand years. Yuji's own childish eyes spun in wonder, analyzing and dissecting his grandpa's. The wonder in them was palpable.
"Mangekyō," he whispered, still amazed and feeling privileged at the opportunity to see an eye whose existence was unknown to everyone except Yuji's ever-dwindling family.
Looking at his grandfather's kaleidoscope for the first and final time, the man closed his eyes and turned to his side, knowing these would be his final words.
"You don't have to help people all the time; just do so whenever you can. There will be times when you feel lost, no doubt, but don't expect gratitude—just help them."
Yuji's gaze froze on his grandfather's back, watching his slowing breaths.
"When it's time for you to go, make sure you're surrounded by others. Don't end up like me. When the time comes, take my eyes and use them to protect others."
With one final exhale, his breathing stopped and his heartbeat flat-lined.
"Grandpa?"
"Yes, how may I help you?"
". . ."
"Mr. Itadori?"
"My Grandpa's dead."
Unbeknownst to himself, at that very moment, his Sharingan reacted to an influx of cursed energy unique to members of a long-lost clan. The cursed energy seeped into his eyes, evolving them into their next stage. Another tomoe had manifested.
"Uh, will this be all?" Looking up from a set of documents, Yuji's gaze met that of a kind and smiling nurse.
"Yup! That should be it for the paperwork." Taking the documents from him, the pink-haired boy spoke.
"Thank you. Um, I'm not sure if he spoke with the doctors about it, but it's regarding my grandpa's eyeballs." The boy rubbed the back of his head. He accepted that this conversation would be weird. The nurse blinked at that and perked up when it dawned on her what the boy was referring to.
"Oh right! Your grandfather requested that his eyes be given to you upon his death and before cremation." After repeating this back to him, the nurse felt a sliver of disgust appear on her face, causing her to recoil. Quickly realizing her rudeness, she apologized repeatedly.
"I—I'm so sorry, please forgiv—" Her stammering was drowned out by the pink-haired teen's laughter.
"It's okay, I understand that it looks creepy as hell but it's just a family tradition." The nurse simply nodded, grateful for his kindness, although the intrigue caused by the peculiar "tradition" never left her mind.
They shared a moment of awkward silence. The nurse noticed that despite the young man's smiling visage, his eyes told a different story. The guilt resurfaced tenfold; she couldn't believe herself for putting down a person who was in mourning—a child at that! An urge to comfort the young man took hold, but before she could attempt to reach out, a male voice was heard.
"Yuji Itadori, correct?" The two individuals standing by the front desk turned to look at the newcomer. Emerging from the shadows was a young teenage male roughly around the same age as Itadori. His hair was black and spiky, bearing a striking resemblance to a sea urchin. He wore a navy-blue uniform that appeared extremely uncomfortable for summer. The serious look in his eyes was enough to suggest that he wasn't there to console him.
"I'm from Jujutsu Tech. Sorry, but there is no time to explain. The cursed object you have there is extremely dangerous; hand it over right away." This new guy's cadence and attitude was not winning him any brownie points with the pink-haired boy. He was mourning, dammit! Why couldn't his day pass without people judging him or demanding things of him?
"This. You have it, yes?" The phone was shoved in his face; he wasn't even given the option to not interact. Yuji took a deep breath, allowing the law of energy conversion—which states that energy can't be created or destroyed, but rather can only be transformed from one form to another—to take effect. In essence, the innate energy that comes with experiencing negative emotions is converted into the energy known as Cursed Energy. This is a process that all humans naturally and subconsciously undergo. Yuji, however, had a knack for this. It wasn't a skill inherently unique to him, as it could be achieved through training, but this just solidified the urchin-haired boy's suspicions—suspicions he had since he first saw the guy back in that high school.
"I was just on my way out. Would you like to walk with me?" Yuji suggested. It was clear from the look in those green eyes that this conversation could go south really quickly, and if that was going to be the case, Yuji didn't want the lady behind the desk to get mixed up in all of this.
"Lead the way." His voice, cold and demanding.
Sighing, Yuji started walking towards the exit; however, after traveling just a few meters, he stopped and turned around completely to speak to the lady at the counter, who had so kindly helped him the whole time.
She looked at the duo with slight worry. The nurse quickly picked up on the coldness in the newcomer's voice. The sharpness in his stare and the hostile intent behind his eyes only seemed to deepen her concern for the boy who was now without the only family he had left.
Not to mention, the matter of his grandfather's 'eyes' had yet to be explained to him fully, as far as she knew.
"Thank you. My grandpa told me what the process was before cremation. I'll be dropping by to pick them up later." Without saying another word, the two boys promptly made their way out of the building. With a pep in their step, they exited the hospital. Why they seemed to be rushing, the woman at the counter could only guess. A whisper escaped her lips.
"...be safe."
The sounds of rubber and other synthetic footwear materials slamming against the concrete in a hurried cadence were some of the only sounds echoing through the late-night streets of one of the many suburbs of Sendai City. Nothing was said, neither wanted to say anything that might upset or trigger the other. Itadori wasn't sure how he was going to approach the situation, but he was concocting something as they walked. He hoped it worked.
Minutes that felt like hours later, both stood before one another in an empty lot. The black-haired teen glared daggers at Yuji, serving to further his worries. The aforementioned steeled himself; this would work.
"I'm not your enemy, if that's what you're wondering," the pink-haired teen began, choosing to be the one who reached out. Megumi, however, remained unmoved.
"Who are you, and where is the cursed object?" The choice to forgo formalities and address the matter directly left Yuji feeling dejected, his shoulders sagging. Yet, he clung to a glimmer of hope.
"My name's Yuji Itadori, but I guess you already know that. Honestly, I've never encountered this object before," the pink-haired boy confessed. Yuji seldom delved into the realm of sorcery beyond his own abilities, as his grandfather had repeatedly warned him—often physically—not to get involved with sorcerers or their matters. The wielder of the Sharingan rarely lingered after defeating a curse, leaving behind only chaos and traces of an unidentified cursed energy for Jujutsu Tech members to discover. No sorcerer has managed to pinpoint his cursed energy, nor is it likely they ever will, as Itadori has figured out a way to address the issue.
"Bullshit. I could feel the cursed object's energy coming from you the first time I saw you at your high school," retorted the boy with wild hair, his posture tense and his fingers intertwined in an unusual gesture. Yuji didn't require his Sharingan to detect the significant cursed energy signature radiating from the stranger's hands.
"His cursed technique no doubt."
The fifteen-year-old took a stance of his own. Yuji had no interest in fighting another human being—even a sorcerer—but he knew that actions spoke louder than words. This random sorcerer who had crashed his night was going to have to be communicated to in a language all men, especially sorcerers, understood. Combat.
"If we're gonna tear each other apart, can I at least get your name?" Yuji's last attempt to make peace was met with two full sized wolves emerging from a puddle of black ink underneath his new opponent's feet.
"Shit."
The unnatural canines growled ferociously at the pink-head. Itadori Yuji truly had no intention of fighting and potentially bringing harm to another human being.
"You're leaving me no choice man. Let's talk it out."
Letting the cursed energy flow through him freely and without restrictions, Yuji's cursed energy was laid bare to the urchin-haired stranger.
Said stranger became confused.
The energy radiating off of the cursed object was unlike the one that stunk of Itadori Yuji.
It appeared as if the cursed energy coming off of Itadori was his own and not the cursed object's. This went against the strange sorcerer's own lived experience, however. The raven-haired teen recalled having clearly sensed a darker and more menacing cursed energy coming off of Itadori that same day.
It made no sense!
"What in the world is happening?!" The stranger gritted his teeth, overwhelmed with more questions than answers. Like his would be enemy, the raven-haired man had no desire to engage in combat with humans right now. This was meant to be a straightforward retrieval mission with little to no interaction with non-sorcerers. Gojo-sensei had practically badgered him into accepting the task, and he had naively assumed it would be a breeze, never anticipating the involvement of a curse user.
It was far too late to consider the would haves and could haves, however.
Before the still unnamed shadowmancer could let his dogs loose on the presumed curse user, he felt a chill in the air.
A gust that reeked of negativity crashed into him. His senses going haywire, the sorcerer turned his attention east and witnessed a coalescing of cursed energy occurring in the direction he had arrived from earlier. The direction of the school.
In that brief instance, the unnamed sorcerer sensed it.
"The cursed object!" Deciding that the guy before him was no longer the main priority, the unidentified boy and his dogs ran in the direction of the cursed energy.
Dumbfounded by the guy's sudden change of mind, Yuji quickly picked up on the cursed energy radiating from the east. Every fiber in his being told Yuji that this coalescing of cursed energy was coming from a single source of origin.
Sugisawa Municipal High School #3. His school.
Another realization dawned on Itadori. He knew his friends of the Occult Research Club had a habit of returning to school late at night to continue their 'summoning rituals' or their 'magic spells'. The thing was that his, usually, poltroon pals were unable to remain in scary locations without him. Despite their fascination and enthrallment with the supernatural they could hardly withstand its effects. Always cowering behind the unaffected Itadori, clawing at his shirt as the three would walk into the new scary location of the week.
Yuji knew better of course, but he played along. They were his friends after all.
Having ghost member privileges in a club was a life saver.
This time, there were no assumptions. If his zealous friends gathered the bravery to return to the high school at night, without the company of the sole cursed energy user they unknowingly had a bond with, then...
Yuji ran after the mysterious sorcerer. He could be assured that the guy knew which direction to head.
"Crap, you guys picked the worst time to be brave!"
Megumi Fushiguro didn't think a basic retrieval mission would spiral into this cluster fuck.
Dealing with curse users was one thing, but coming across one so young meant there were certain protocols he was expected to follow. Protocols which called for the immediate seizure of these persons with the intent to be brought to justice by a tribunal of jujutsu elders and elites.
In almost all cases the curse user was sentenced to execution. However, in the instances where they were not, they could expect a fate worse than death.
Even so, as he sprinted toward Sugisawa Municipal High School, a strange knot twisted in Megumi's gut, the air was thick with cursed energy, a sensation he could feel vibrating against his skin. It was unstable and chaotic, and that uncertainty set him on edge.
One thing Fushiguro despised above all else was the feeling of being caught in the crossfire of something much bigger than he could comprehend, and yet there was no time for hesitation.
"That Itadori guy. What the hell is he?" It was baffling. During their initial meeting, he radiated the same cursed energy as the artifact Megumi was seeking. Yet, just hours later, he found himself standing in front of an unknown curse user—that same individual, now emitting a curse energy signature entirely distinct to the aforementioned object.
"How is it possible for someone to have two sources of cursed energy?" The question in itself annoyed him. It meant that he would need to follow up on it and make mention of it to his superiors. Two things he was hoping to avoid. Unless he never mentions it of course. As far as he knew, his sensei and superior Gojo was nearby, but the special grade had a knack for worsening Megumi's mission success rate rather than actually assisting.
Regardless, the mystery of Itadori Yuji would have to wait until after Megumi retrieved the cursed object.
"I can't get it off!" Setsuko Sasaki shot a frustrated glare at the object she believed was cursed, her finger aching from the relentless scraping.
Across from her, her friend and classmate Takeshi Iguchi lounged in a chair, the flickering candlelight revealing his unremarkable features in the otherwise dark room, where thick curtains blocked any moonlight. Doubt etched on Takeshi's face, a chill crept up his spine, intensifying his unease—especially with Itadori absent. "Did we really need to sneak into school for this?" he asked, skepticism threading through his voice.
"The atmosphere matters for things like this, you know? Plus, I'm sure nothing will happen; setting a creepy mood just adds to the thrill," Setsuko replied as she finally peeled off the sealing wrap after numerous attempts.
"Oh look, it came—ahh!" Setsuko's cheerful exclamation transformed into a terrified shriek, causing Takeshi to nearly topple from his chair.
"What's wrong?!" he shouted, but Setsuko remained too engrossed, leaning in closer to examine the object that had appeared. The only other person in the room raised his eyebrows in disbelief, staring at the unsettling sight.
"A human... finger?" they uttered in unison, both standing frozen, captivated by the grotesque appendage exuding an unsettling aura that sent chills through their bodies. While Setsuko's fear flickered like a candle, her classmate trembled with abject horror.
"Is it real?" she asked, desperately holding onto the hope that there might be a logical explanation. Unbeknownst to them, a dark, eldritch mass coalesced in the ceiling above, swirling ominously and birthing vile curses drawn to the potent energy emanating from the finger, eager for the promised power.
Takeshi just wished they'd brought Itadori along.
Megumi Fushiguro's heart raced as he sprinted through the narrow alleys, the call of duty urging him forward. The familiar figures of his two Divine Dogs, Black and White, flanked him on either side, their ears alert, and their senses keen. They were more than just shikigami; they were his companions, steadfast and loyal, attuned to the shifting energy that enveloped the school.
"This way!" he commanded, picking up speed as they neared Sugisawa Municipal High School. His mind was reeling to come up with strategies on how to confront whatever awaited him in the heart of the building. The chaos of cursed energy surged ahead, an ominous beacon drawing him closer.
As he approached the school's façade, the aura thickened, responding to his presence. It was no longer a mere sensation; it pressed against his chest, driving an unsettling curiosity within him. Kicking the door open, Megumi stepped into the haunting stillness of the empty halls, illuminated only by a moonlight that increasingly dimmed due to the thick layer of cursed energy enveloping the school.
These curses were determined to claim the object for themselves, but Fushiguro refused to let that occur.
"Black and White, scout ahead," he ordered, and instantly, the two canine forms darted through doorways, sniffing for cursed energy or any hint of danger. He moved cautiously; the air laden with tension.
Unbeknownst to Megumi, the awakened curses prowled in anticipation, eager for chaos after being lured by the grotesque finger's power. As he pushed deeper into the school, his heartbeat echoed through the silence, matching the thrill of the hunt. This was the realm of both danger and responsibility, a dichotomy he faced daily as a sorcerer.
The first of the curses attacked from the shadows, a grotesque humanoid form with elongated limbs and hollow eyes. It lunged at Megumi with primal ferocity, a gaping maw wide open as it screeched before him. He felt the surge of cursed energy pulsing in the air—his instincts kicked in, and he fell into a fighting stance.
A swift but reinforced punch to the curse's head was all it took to send it crashing to the ground, dissipating into a swirl of cursed energy. Megumi's focus sharpened, adrenaline flooding his system. Yet, he knew this was only the beginning. As the remains of the first curse evaporated, a deeper darkness swept through the hallways.
The sorcerer's legs moved as quickly as possible, driven by urgency. Megumi had to retrieve the object at all costs, as its current possessor faced imminent peril. Additionally, the looming threat of a newly created cursed womb—a terrifying entity likely spawned from the consumption of the special grade cursed object—added to the stakes. The situation could easily spiral into the worst-case scenario.
Guided by a link shared with his Divine Dogs that had ventured ahead, Megumi followed it like an ethereal thread, ascending several flights of stairs until he reached the fourth floor.
Upon reaching the top of the staircase, the sorcerer encountered a scene that should have eased his worries but instead heightened the tension. His Divine Dogs proved efficient at reducing the onslaught of curses filling the hallway, biting and ripping apart anything that exuded negativity. However, this left them unable to save the two students, who were being gradually consumed by a monstrous curse intent on the cursed object the female student clutched tightly, even in her unconsciousness.
"It's trying to consume both them and the object, I was too late!"
Before Megumi Fushiguro could spiral into panic about the unfolding situation, a massive glass window to his right shattered with a powerful kick as Yuji Itadori crashed through, using his momentum to deliver a drop kick to the curses that were desperately holding onto his unconscious friends.
With Setsuko Sasaki cradled protectively in his arms and Takeshi Iguchi securely positioned on the floor, Yuji executed a swift pivot, his movements a blur as he spun around at neck-breaking speeds. In one fluid motion, he unleashed a devastating kick, driving his right foot into the gaping maw of an insistent curse that had foolishly inquired about the time. The curse was launched down the hallway, dissipating into a whirlwind of cursed energy long before it reached the wall behind it.
Meanwhile, Megumi stood at the sidelines, his expression a mix of disbelief and awe as he witnessed the spectacle unfold before him.
"He reinforced himself with cursed energy." The questions regarding this guy kept piling up, each one more curious than the last. "This is the fourth floor."
"Itadori!"
The boy in question turned to meet the cautious sorcerer, whose shikigami now stood by his side. Green eyes did not meet the same hazel eyes as the ones back at the hospital, instead Megumi came face to face with a set of glowing blood red eyes with what looked like two tomoe (commas) in each iris.
Fushiguro would find himself stunned once more when he realized that the terrifying appearance of Itadori's eyes did not coincide with the relaxed smile on his face. Holding the girl with a single arm, the pink-haired teen waved at his fellow cursed energy wielder.
"Yo! Looks like I made it in the nick of time."
If this continued the raven-haired felt he would need a notebook to jot this all down.
"Think fast!" Yuji's words prompted the sorcerer to raise his hand to catch whatever it was being thrown his way.
It was the special grade cursed object, the finger of Ryomen Sukuna. At least one of them.
With a curious expression, Megumi watched as Itadori strolled down the hallway, his pink hair swaying as he effortlessly carried both of his classmates on his shoulders. There was no sign of struggle or exertion, and his back was completely exposed and vulnerable. Megumi couldn't quite decide if Itadori's behavior was the result of stupidity, innocence, or arrogance. However, one thing was certain: Itadori was far from an ordinary curse user.
Just hours earlier, Megumi had been taken aback by Itadori Yuji's astonishing display of speed and strength, which appeared to surpass world records with ease. He considered the possibility that Itadori might possess some sort of Heavenly Restriction, similar to Zenin-senpai's abilities. This alone should have made him a subject of interest for a sorcerer like Megumi, who was expected to report findings to the higher-ups in the jujutsu community.
However, the power-hungry elders perched atop their ivory towers had underestimated Fushiguro Megumi. He had no loyalty or sense of duty to the authorities governing this cursed world that he had been reluctantly drawn into.
Consequently, betraying an unregistered curse user who could fall into the merciless hands of those despotic elders would only serve to strengthen their grip on power—something that neither he nor his mentor, Gojo, desired.
"H-Hey, where are you going?" Megumi called out, still bewildered by the chaotic situation unfolding around him. His eyes were fixated on the retreating figure of Yuji, who seemed unconcerned with the presence of the ebony-haired sorcerer. The pink-haired teen spun around; confusion etched across his face as he met Megumi's gaze.
"Uhh, to the hospital... Where else are they going to get treated?" Yuji replied, his innocent question prompting Megumi to take a step back and reevaluate his perspective. In his frantic analysis on Itadori's possible goal and alignment, he had inadvertently overlooked the well-being of the non-sorcerers around them. Protecting them was the very core of his commitment to jujutsu sorcery, rooted deeply in his desire to safeguard his sister Tsumiki and others like her.
"You can't just waltz out of here, walk into the emergency room with those two slung over your shoulders, and expect to blend in," Megumi countered, a sense of urgency creeping into his voice. As realization dawned on Yuji, his eyes widened in shock. He glanced down, and when he looked back up, his expression was almost comically naive—a small glimpse into his true, albeit somewhat reckless, nature.
"...Shit, you're right," Yuji admitted, chuckling sheepishly.
Megumi couldn't help but stare in disbelief, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple as he thought to himself, Is this guy for real? He shook his head vigorously, as if trying to rid himself of the absurdity of the moment. Regaining his composure, Megumi adopted a more serious demeanor. He realized that this exchange was veering dangerously close to the ridiculous interactions he routinely had with his eccentric mentor, Gojo. The journey to this point had already nearly given him a headache, and it felt incredibly frustrating to think he'd be drawn into the antics of yet another bumbling fool.
"Listen, I'm a jujutsu sorcerer, no doubt you're familiar with our kind?" Megumi spoke first, gauging the situation. Peace with the unknown curse user was the optimal path, both for the mission's success and his own safety. He couldn't ignore the growing unease emanating from the teen's hypnotic crimson eyes, which seemed to bore into his very soul.
Itadori's posture snapped taut, the relaxed facade and playful smirk evaporating at the word "sorcerer". Countless times, his grandfather had warned him against them, against their machinations in Tokyo and Kyoto. Itadori had grown up with the whispered tales of the backward world of jujutsu sorcery – a realm of ancient, powerful families who held sway over the populace, all with the tacit approval of the Japanese government.
These power-hungry, unelected bureaucrats held the fate of towns and neighborhoods in their hands, determining whether they were safe from curses. Their ineptitude had forced a preteen Yuji to take matters into his own hands. Despite the typical black-and-white view of sorcerers as good and curse users as evil, his grandfather had ingrained in him a more nuanced perspective. Being government-approved did not make sorcerers virtuous; they were just as prone to wickedness and corruption, especially when dealing with non-sorcerers and curse users who had no recourse, no justice system to appeal to.
No, Yuji Itadori did not trust sorcerers. He wasn't about to begin now, even if it meant arousing suspicion and having to concoct an entire cover story.
Yuji remained still, his classmates still perched on his shoulders, his crimson eyes narrowed at the sorcerer. His distrust was palpable. Megumi, who stood a few meters away from the unregistered curse user, shuddered at the intensity of the flaring crimson eyes. It evoked a powerful sense of déjà vu, reminding him of the first time he saw his teacher, Gojo's, eyes. He suppressed a shiver.
Throughout the day, Itadori had demonstrated feats of strength that set him apart. Even with his shikigami, Black and White, growling at the pink-haired teen, sensing Megumi's hidden apprehension, the wielder of the Ten Shadows technique was unsure of his ability to fight Itadori if the situation escalated. The urchin-haired teen had been witness to the pink-haired boy's incredible skills all day.
It was clear that this random teenager in the Japanese countryside was no ordinary curse user. The vast majority of curse users couldn't mold cursed energy like Itadori had done on numerous occasions. The level of skill necessary to reinforce one's body with cursed energy in such a proficient manner was currently beyond Megumi's capabilities, and he'd been training since primary school!
Ridiculous strength akin to someone under a Heavenly Restriction, an adept understanding of cursed energy molding and reinforcement, reserves of cursed energy larger than Megumi's own, and worst of all, a mysterious dōjutsu that exuded an aura akin to that of his teacher's. This was bad. Very bad.
Before either of them could react, a surge of cursed energy washed over them, announcing the arrival of a formidable curse that twisted through the ceiling above. It lunged toward the black-haired teenager, clearly intent on retrieving Ryomen Sukuna's finger.
"Get away!" the sorcerer shouted, barely managing to voice the warning before he leaped back several meters, narrowly evading the massive hand that snaked out to grab him. Fushiguro's loyal Divine Dogs sprang into action, their powerful jaws snapping as the twin beasts clamped onto the hideous, insect-like curse. The creature let out a gut-wrenching roar as the cursed energy-infused wolves shredded chunks of its grotesque flesh. It writhed and convulsed amid the narrow school hallway, slamming into the walls with a deafening crash that sent debris scattering. Seizing an opportunity born of chaos, Fushiguro charged at the uncontrolled spirit with a fierce determination.
With a powerful kick, Megumi Fushiguro launched the abomination out through the gaping hole in the ceiling, sending it tumbling onto the rooftop of an adjacent building. His Divine Dogs, relentless in their pursuit, continued to gnaw at the creature's grayish hide, their ferocity a testament to their master's will. As he prepared to rejoin his shikigami in the fray, Megumi glanced down the hallway where the enigmatic Itadori and his unconscious friends had once stood—now, they had vanished without a trace. A frown creased his brow, but he forced himself to push the matter aside; the unruly-haired boy would need to address that complication later.
Clasping his hands together in front of his chest, he formed a silhouette that mimicked a pair of outstretched wings, palms oriented inward. The intense focus in his eyes sharpened as he murmured the incantation.
"Nue!"
From the swirling shadows at his feet, a magnificent owl-like creature erupted into being, its vibrant orange feathers contrasting against the walls, its white, skull-like mask lending it an air of eerie majesty. Megumi marveled at its human-like teeth, glimmering like polished ivory under the fractured moonlight filtering through the chaos. In an instant, Nue spread its vast wings and surged forward, rocketing toward the abnormally strong curse that was preoccupied with his Divine Dogs.
With impressive agility, the shikigami adjusted its flight to dive directly at the distracted monster, its knife-like talons poised for the kill. In a breathtaking display of speed and precision, the owl swooped down, striking the curse and enveloping it with a crackling embrace of electricity. The sickening sound of flesh being torn echoed through the night, accompanied by the creature's agonized wails—an unsettling symphony underscored by the thunderous crackle of discharging energy.
While it was common for schools across Japan, particularly high schools, to harbor significant levels of cursed energy, the concentration saturating Sugisawa Municipal High School #3 felt almost palpable, shrouding the area in a dense aura that blotted out the moonlight above. Yet as the cursed spirits were steadily exorcised one by one, the oppressive haze of cursed energy began to dissipate, revealing the night sky once more.
At that moment, the bug-eyed, human-mouthed curse was bombarded—assailed by a relentless flurry of claw attacks, savage bites, and powerful releases of crackling purple electricity.
With urgency coursing through him, Megumi propelled himself off the exposed wall left in the wake of the curse's rampage, landing deftly beside his shikigami on the rooftop. The tide of battle was turning. Meaning it wouldn't last for much longer.
As if the universe had conspired to complicate Megumi's existence, the cursed spirit, which had momentarily faltered, now prepared to counter the onslaught from its attackers. Coiling its cursed energy like a spring, it lay in wait for just the right moment to unleash its wrath.
However, Megumi remained unfazed by the curse's resurgence. He was certain of the prowess of his shikigami, confident that their collective efforts would exorcise the malevolent spirit. Yet, his resolve was momentarily shaken when the pink-haired boy—whom Megumi believed to be the source of the chaos—suddenly appeared behind the cursed spirit. He struck it with an open palm, catching everyone off guard.
"He didn't even reinforce his palm with cursed energy," Megumi thought. It was both astonishing and revealing; the sheer physical capability of Itadori was undeniable, a testament to his strength even without the aid of cursed techniques.
The previously summoned shikigami, which had fiercely swarmed the cursed spirit like a veritable storm, broke away from it. They returned to Megumi's side, leaving behind a canvas of bite marks, scratches, and charred imprints as a testament to their obedience and power. Itadori's attack had launched the already battered curse hurtling toward the opposite side of the building. To Megumi's disbelief, instead of plummeting to the ground as physics dictated, the cursed spirit began to float upward, defying gravity itself.
Itadori's gaze was intense, his crimson dōjutsu glowing fiercely as he locked eyes with the thrashing curse now suspended in midair, overwhelmed and desperate. With a fierce determination, Yuji leaped, propelling himself into the sky. To Megumi's shock, he too circumvented the pull of gravity, soaring toward the struggling spirit like a comet racing through the night.
As Itadori narrowed his eyes, he focused intently, accelerating his movements and employing his unique cursed technique to liberate himself from the constraints of gravity. He shot forward effortlessly, flying with an ease that left Megumi momentarily stunned, his analytical mind racing to weave together the jigsaw puzzle of events taking place before him.
The curse, now hanging high above the ground, flailed its limbs wildly, grasping at the air in a futile search for stability as it was pulled upward by some unseen force. Yuji, however, had strategically chosen to stay beneath the curse, waiting for just the right moment. With an outstretched arm, he activated his technique once more, rolling back its effects and allowing gravity to reclaim the curse.
Suddenly freed from its buoyancy, the curse began its steep descent, and its horror became palpable as it plummeted toward the ground—straight into the waiting fist of Yuji Itadori.
The impact was devastating; the strength of Itadori's reinforced right hook, combined with the momentum of the falling curse, created an explosive collision. The moment their forces met, the malevolent spirit shattered into a cloud of purplish smoke, dissipating into the ether as if it had never existed.
The moment was surreal, akin to witnessing an ancient prophecy fulfilled before their very eyes. As the swirling remnants of the curse vanished into the night, the air around Megumi Fushiguro felt lighter, almost electric with unspent energy and possibilities.
Yuji touched down, his feet finding purchase on the rooftop as he turned to face Megumi, a triumphant grin spread wide across his face. His crimson eyes, bright with exhilaration, sparkled almost as though they were the very source of that energy. "You don't have to be such a stiff you know, I told you already, I'm not your enemy."
Megumi Fushiguro's initial impression of Yuji Itadori had begun to shift, though he was reluctant to let it. Yuji Itadori captivated even the most hardened sorcerers, effortlessly blending kindness and strength in a way that felt both refreshing and unnerving; something even his Gojo-sensei couldn't pull off. Despite Megumi's suspicion, no one could deny the extraordinary feats Itadori had just exhibited.
"Who the hell are you?" he asked for the second time that night, his voice barely betraying the intrigue swirling in his chest. His hands remained taut, ready for any sudden movements from this unexpected ally. Yet deep down, he knew they weren't adversaries.
Yuji Itadori chuckled nervously, still riding the adrenaline from the intense encounter moments before. His heart raced, but not from fear—this was excitement.
The curse that the duo had encountered wasn't exceptionally strong, especially when measured against Yuji himself, yet it had been weeks since the pink-haired teenager had utilized his cursed technique in such a liberating manner.
Confronting curses could indeed be fun.
"I'm just a high school student trying to live my life." The tone of the teenager conveyed a heaviness, packed with burden and weariness. It was clear that the events of the night had done little to alleviate the concerns weighing down Itadori.
Megumi could see that the curse user in front of him held certain beliefs about the jujutsu world and perhaps the so-called 'higher-ups'—his earlier reaction had certainly suggested as much. It was evident that Yuji Itadori did not place his trust in government-sanctioned sorcerers or anything related to them. In Megumi's view, the dōjutsu wielder was justified in his skepticism, and he admired him for it even more.
As he had many times before, Megumi Fushiguro found himself at a moral crossroads, where his sense of duty clashed with his moral compass.
Although he had only known the guy for less than an hour, Megumi felt a surge of empathy for him. He recognized the immense responsibility Itadori had taken upon himself to protect his friends, all while navigating a jujutsu world that desperately needed individuals like him. To Fushiguro, it resembled a parallel to his own story: Itadori representing himself and the curse user's two unconscious friends mirroring Tsumiki, Megumi's sister. The unsettling similarities seemed almost poetic.
But still...
Fushiguro growled in frustration, clenching his teeth and tightening his fists shut.
How he hated this job.
"Dammit! It was supposed to be a simple retrieval mission!"
"Hey man, can you do me a favor?"
Again, the wielder of the Ten Shadows was broken from his internal conflict by the voice of Itadori. The high schooler in navy blue raised his head to have his green eyes meet with the ever-creepy red eyes that were under the pink haired boy's command.
"Favor?" the sea urchin-haired sorcerer responded reflexively, still wrestling with the strange turn of events that had unfolded before him, caught between his sense of obligation and his moral dilemma.
"Yeah! I mean, as you pointed out, I can't just waltz in there looking like a total suspect, right?" the pink-haired teenager scratched the back of his head, a flush of embarrassment creeping onto his cheeks as he recalled his earlier bravado. "And since it was cursed energy that put them in this position…" Itadori's voice trailed off, silently hoping the sorcerer would understand his unspoken meaning.
And thankfully, he did.
"I can take care of that!" Megumi blurted out, his voice filled with uncharacteristic eagerness as he nodded briskly, ready to aid the unregistered sorcerer. But the moment those words passed his lips, he faltered, surprised by his own eagerness. What had compelled him to offer so readily?
Yuji's grin beamed back, invigorated by the sorcerer's willingness to help. Maybe Megumi wasn't as distant as the pink-haired teen had feared.
"Thanks! You're not such a bad guy after all, Fushiguro!" His genuine warmth broke through the intensity of his piercing crimson gaze, grounding their conversation with sincerity. With a resigned sigh, Fushiguro shook his head and approached the odd pink-haired boy who had managed to complicate yet clarify his mission.
"Don't mention it; it's just part of my job," he replied nonchalantly, brushing off Yuji's gratitude. The pink-haired teenager grinned and gestured for the sorcerer to follow him.
"So where are they?" The dark-clad sorcerer couldn't help but speculate on the whereabouts of Itadori's friends, unconscious and exposed without proper care. Another detail that illustrated Itadori's disconnect from the official jujutsu community, any sorcerer would know the protocol to not leave non-sorcerers unattended to, particularly in situations like this.
"I left them in the infirmary! I couldn't just leave them on the floor, you know?" Itadori responded, prompting another curt nod from the wielder of the Ten Shadows. It was evident that the unregistered sorcerer genuinely cared for his friends—an insight that secretly impressed the raven-haired boy.
Megumi Fushiguro was determined to find a way to transport them to somewhere that could provide the curse victims the treatment they needed. There was a spark of resolve in Yuji's eyes as he made the leap to trust a sorcerer with the care of his friends—a choice that would've drawn disapproval from his grandfather. Yet an instinct deep inside urged him to believe that this Fushiguro was trustworthy.
So, Yuji chose to place his faith in him.
"Hey, Fushiguro, do you by any chance—" Yuji's words faltered as his superior vision caught sight of a figure materializing just a couple of meters behind Megumi.
The abrupt cessation of the boy's words caused Megumi to sharply shift his gaze to follow Yuji's, and there, towering before them at an impressive height of 190 centimeters (6'3") was a familiar figure.
"Gojo-sensei!"
"Yo, Megumi! What's the situation?" The man, sporting an unusual black blindfold over his eyes, had his spiky snow-white hair arranged in a way that seemed almost animated. His complexion matched the striking whiteness of his hair, creating an ethereal appearance. Clad in an outfit reminiscent of Fushiguro's—baggy and navy blue—this 'Gojo' looked ill-suited for the sweltering summer heat, leaving Yuji unable to discern the true shape of his physique. In his left arm, he carried a small paper shopping bag that raised countless questions about its contents.
However, these peculiarities were overshadowed by what truly captivated Yuji's attention: an overwhelming and almost blinding aura of cursed energy radiating from the man. It was a force greater than anything he had encountered throughout his life—more potent than any curse, surpassing his grandpa, and even eclipsing Megumi and the sinister relic that belonged to 'Sukuna.'
"Who the hell is this guy?"
"Y-yeah, mission was a success, sensei. We recovered the cursed object without any casualties... What are you doing here though?" Even after all this time, Megumi found himself continually astonished by his mentor's uncanny ability to appear unannounced. Few could approach him without his notice.
"Outstanding! I knew you could handle it! As for my presence, the higher-ups went bonkers when they learned Sukuna's finger had gone missing and demanded it back—so rude! I only agreed to help because they let me squeeze in some sightseeing as well!~"
A visible twitch manifested on Fushiguro's forehead—a comically large tic that made Yuji worry that he might burst a blood vessel. With a resigned sigh, the black-haired teen fell back on the foundations of emotional control essential to jujutsu sorcery, steadying his nerves. Despite feeling he had adapted to his mentor's antics, it seemed he still had a ways to go. With a final, uneasy glance at the cursed object he held, Megumi pulled it from his pocket and tossed it toward Gojo, who effortlessly caught it and scrutinized it.
"Yup, this is definitely Sukuna's finger! Great job, Megumi!" The teenage sorcerer nodded, feeling drained yet slightly appreciative of his teacher's praise, though he considered it ultimately unnecessary.
A brief hush settled over the atmosphere, thick with anticipation, until Gojo turned his gaze to the only other figure nearby besides his student. "Hoh? Who's thi—" His words faltered mid-sentence as he caught sight of the enigmatic boy unwittingly embroiled in the world of sorcery. Even shrouded by his blindfold, both Megumi and Yuji could see Gojo blink in rapid succession, leaving them to wonder whether he was more astounded or bewildered by the sight before him.
An uneasy sweat began to bead on Megumi's forehead as concerns over his mentor's unexpected reaction took hold of him. A troubling premonition flickered through his mind, especially regarding Itadori. Though they had only crossed paths a mere hour ago, the thought of seeing the unregistered sorcerer come to harm, or worse, sent a chill through him.
But then came a twist that surprised Megumi even more: Gojo reached up and gradually pulled his blindfold away. What emerged were cerulean eyes so rarely glimpsed — vivid and crystalline, like gazing into the clearest oceans or the brightest summer sky. It was one of the Gojo clan's signature features, the idiosyncrasy they boasted about, renowned throughout the ages—the legendary Six Eyes.
"Is this guy an idol or in a J-pop band!?"
For the first time in history, those stunning cerulean orbs met the crimson red Sharingan, the swirling tomoe spinning with a mix of curiosity and wonder.
Gojo held his gaze, admiration mirrored in Yuji's expression, both boys aghast at the extraordinary scene unfolding before them. It was a sight so remarkable that even their trusting eyes struggled to accept reality.
Then, Gojo's nose wrinkled slightly, as if he were dissecting something deeper within Yuji. The wielder of both the Limitless and the Six Eyes shifted his attention back to the object of his grasp—Ryomen Sukuna's finger.
He flicked his gaze between Yuji and the cursed artifact, first to the boy, then back to the finger.
Then back to the boy, and to the finger again.
After another heartbeat of profound silence, Gojo's face broke into a dazzling smile, one capable of making men envious and women swoon.
"You both have a lot of explaining to do!" His tone was less a command and more a joyous announcement, devoid of any malice. To Yuji, it felt like the spark of a thrilling new adventure.
But for Megumi, this offered no sense of comfort.
"This was supposed to be a simple retrieval mission!"
A/N: I've had this in the oven for a chunky minute, it was supposed to be a series, but alas, it was not meant to be. Why? Well, the Sharingan Yuji concept was one I've always like, but as I wrote this pilot/prologue, I realized this wasn't what I ultimately wanted, especially when taking into account that I was going to equalize the Sharingan completely.
The thing is that it wasn't necessarily the OP aspect that put me off, as that was the whole point of this story, but rather that I didn't want Yuji to just be a better version of Yuta, and honestly, genjutsu alone negs the entire verse, especially for the headcannon I'd made up for this story. Speaking of, I was also going to fit in the Uchiha as a clan that had thrived long before the Heian Era and the formation of the Three Great Clans, only to vanished before the Golden Age of Jujutsu began. Same with the Senju.
The Itadori's would've been descendants of the long lost Uchiha.
This would've given me leeway to have genjutsu be a long-lost form of jujutsu that even Kenjaku wasn't sure how to deal with. Very broken indeed.
I was gonna also have Yuji copy the innate techniques of all of the Disaster Curses, including Idle Transfiguration, also giga OP. With it, he probably could have saved Mai... if you know, you know.
Did I mention he also has the Anti-Gravity System from Mommy Kenjaku, hopefully you caught on to that as you read!
Don't even get me started on the Mangekyo... OP indeed. Speaking of which, as I'm sure you noticed, Wasuke had Itachi's Mangekyo pattern... I'm sure you know what the plan was.
Btw, why isn't Wasuke in the character selection? So annoying!
I almost forgot, imagine when Sukuna takes over Yuji's body (because in this one-shot Yuji's still born with his unc sealed) ... may God have mercy.
Part of me is sad I won't continue this, but I've decided to go forward with another idea. In fact, this was only one of the five different drafts I had in mind for my official JJK series, only four of them were ever typed out and only two of them will release as one-shots. The fifth and final one will be the actual JJK series I make since I feel the concept fits Yuji more! Can't wait to make it!
So yes, this won't be the only one-shot I pump out. Expect another one in a day or two. I'll also be posting this on Wattpad and AO3!
Feel free to adopt it or rewrite it if you wish, just inform me so I can read it too! ;)
Also, the cover picture isn't mine, so I might have to change it... maybe.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
