I Play Ninjutsu in Jujutsu Kaisen! Chapter 13

I'll make up for it with four chapters tomorrow. Mark my words.

If I don't, I'm a fucking idiot.

Let this chapter stand as my oath.

From now on, I'll work toward three chapters a day. Don't say the author's short and weak—I get headaches just flipping through the manga. Filling in nearly a blank year has been really hard.

Natsu Hiraku ultimately lost twenty-seven times.

Panda and Yuta Okkotsu, being evenly matched, both emerged as the final winners, while Toge Inumaki tearfully paid for a month of custom meal plans for the two of them.

The next day.

It was also the day everyone had been looking forward to most: the day Natsu Hiraku and Megumi Fushiguro would spar.

At Gojo Satoru's enthusiastic invitation, nearly all the Quasi Grade 1 Sorcerers at the school had gathered to watch.

Yaga Masamichi, the Principal, had also been talked into coming. They told him that the Sister School Exchange Event with the neighboring school would be held soon and asked him to pick a few first-years to go have some fun.

Honestly, if he had to choose, Yuta Okkotsu would definitely be his first pick. After all, if the Special Grade Vengeful Spirit Rika went on a rampage...

Hehehe...

Guaranteed victory!

As for suppressing her, he could leave that mess to Gojo Satoru when the time came. They were his students, after all, so it wouldn't become Yaga Masamichi's problem no matter what.

As for the other students...

Yaga Masamichi glanced at the four people in the field. Panda was immediately ruled out—after all, Yaga had made him himself, and he was no different from a biological son.

That meant he only had to choose between Megumi Fushiguro and Natsu Hiraku. Whoever won would go.

Come to think of it, Megumi Fushiguro was from the Zenin Family. He wondered how many shikigami Megumi could summon with the Ten Shadows Technique.

And Natsu Hiraku's strange eyes were also a mystery. They seemed to have appeared out of nowhere; nothing like them had ever been recorded in the history of sorcerers. Or perhaps they had existed before, but never gained any renown.

Either way, it was a rare bloodline. If it was powerful, that would be incredible. The Three Great Families would probably fight like mad to claim him.

He was really looking forward to this battle.

"Your students all look pretty good, Gojo-senpai."

Nanami Kento, wearing white-rimmed glasses, with short blond hair and a neatly tailored suit, spoke approvingly.

"Right?! They're all promising talents!"

Gojo Satoru's voice carried to every sorcerer present, as though he were showing them off.

Everyone watched with curiosity. After all, there were very few people Gojo Satoru would call promising talents.

Natsu Hiraku was starting to feel uncomfortable under all those stares. If he lost this time, it wouldn't just be embarrassing—he might not even be able to hold his head up at school afterward.

People would say:

"Isn't that the guy who fought a Junior and still lost?"

"Ah, yeah, yeah, that's him!"

"..."

Damn it, he really wanted to tear Gojo Satoru's big mouth apart. Why was there someone who was not only absurdly strong, but also absurdly shameless?

What a bastard!

Megumi Fushiguro glanced at Gojo Satoru on the platform and called out, "Can we start already? We've been waiting ten minutes."

"Coming, coming!"

Gojo Satoru swiftly left the spectator stand and arrived in the center of the field. Looking at the two who were already prepared, he gave a light cough and said, "If you're ready, please nod."

"..."

Natsu Hiraku was speechless. He already had his sword in hand, and Gojo was asking if he was ready? Couldn't he read the atmosphere?

Though he really wanted to kill Gojo Satoru, he knew he couldn't beat him. So he nodded and said, "I'm ready."

Megumi Fushiguro replied, "Same."

"Then good!"

Gojo Satoru placed his right hand between them, drew in a deep breath, and shouted, "Only victory achieved without crippling or killing the other person counts as true victory! Friendship first, competition second!"

"Then..."

"The spar... begins!"

The instant Gojo Satoru gave the signal, he vanished.

Natsu Hiraku and Megumi Fushiguro glanced at each other, both elevating today's outcome into a battle for their dignity.

After all, so many people were watching. Whoever lost would lose all face. It was all Gojo Satoru's big mouth's fault!

Megumi Fushiguro pressed his hands together. The shadow on the ground formed the shape of a dog's head as he said quietly, "Divine Dogs."

Amid a buzzing sound, the shadow beneath his feet slowly condensed into two Divine Dogs, one black and one white. They were enormous, their bared fangs enough to inspire fear.

"Surround him."

The two Divine Dogs that had received their orders sprinted toward Natsu Hiraku, drool occasionally dripping from their mouths onto the ground as their sharp claws carved deep gouges into the earth.

Tch, this is a little troublesome.

Natsu Hiraku frowned deeply, his right hand clenched tightly around the sword hilt. Crimson cursed energy wrapped around his body before vanishing, strengthening him.

After Maki Zenin's beating yesterday, his understanding of the sword had deepened even further. Even without the Sharingan's assistance, he could now strike exactly where he intended.

As if sensing danger, the two Divine Dogs stopped two meters away from him. One in front and one behind, they surrounded him, their pupils fixed on the prey that had nowhere left to run.

"That student surrounded by them is going to lose."

Meimei, who was watching from the stands, remarked.

"No, the real show is only just beginning. Just watch—my student isn't that pathetic."

After saying that, Gojo Satoru turned his attention back to the field. Though he did not know what other trump cards Natsu Hiraku possessed, at the very least, those strange eyes of his had yet to be used.

Show me your true strength here!

Natsu Hiraku.

On the field.

Natsu Hiraku stared at the two Divine Dog Shikigami beyond his attack range, not daring to make a move. After all, no matter which one he attacked, the other would definitely launch a surprise attack.

There was no tactic more disgusting than this.

Now it was a matter of seeing who could hold out longer. Whoever moved first would inevitably expose a weakness!

Seeing that Natsu Hiraku did not dare act rashly, Megumi Fushiguro wore a confident smile, thinking this was all he amounted to.

So that's all he's got!

Then he loudly commanded, "Bite him!"

Having received the order to attack, the two Divine Dogs opened their mouths, baring their fangs. They sprang backward before kicking off the ground and lunging straight for Natsu Hiraku's arms. If that bite landed, even if his arms did not break, he would need one or two months of rest.

"Tch!"

Faced with such a vicious attack, Natsu Hiraku clicked his tongue and cursed inwardly at Megumi for having no sense of restraint!

People like him could only be taught through force!

As his pupils turned red, the attack paths of the two Divine Dogs were fully laid bare before him. The extra room to think gave him a better way to respond.

Natsu Hiraku grabbed the Black Dog lunging at him by the throat with his left hand and smashed it violently into the ground, while the White Dog's bite from behind was blocked by the sword in his right hand.

"BANG!"

With a deafening crash, dust rose from the ground. The Black Dog's head suffered a devastating blow, and it immediately turned into a shadow and vanished, leaving only the White Dog staring in shock.

It could not understand what had just happened. This man seemed to have eyes in the back of his head—his sword had precisely caught beneath its jaw, making it unable to close its mouth.

Natsu Hiraku looked at the Black Dog that had vanished from his left hand, then glanced sideways with his crimson pupils at the White Dog biting down on his blade behind him.

"Woof—owoo~!"

The White Dog seemed to want to say something, but Natsu Hiraku had no intention of caring what it wanted to say. Even if it talked until the sky fell, he would not understand it anyway. They were not even the same species.

"Get away! White Dog!!"

Megumi Fushiguro shouted after coming to his senses.

Natsu Hiraku had just reached out to grab its neck when the White Dog turned into a shadow and vanished from where it stood, not giving him the slightest chance. Only his sword remained embedded in the ground.

So strong!

That was Megumi Fushiguro's first impression. It was completely different from the arrogant impression he had given before—he really was strong!

In an instant, he had stopped two Divine Dogs attacking from different directions. And what the hell were those eyes?

"Interesting. If he gets any stronger, the Three Great Families might drag him off to breed someday."

Meimei sneered.

Gojo Satoru merely glanced at her without saying anything. It was inevitable that rare bloodlines would draw their attention. What he needed to do was protect Natsu Hiraku until he had fully grown.

[465/500]

[464/500]

[463/500]

The cursed energy in his body was decreasing once every three seconds. Unable to bear the drain, Natsu Hiraku directly deactivated the Sharingan.

It looks cool, but the price is a little too steep. One of Megumi Fushiguro's two Divine Dogs had been dealt with. As for whether he had other Shikigami, that was hard to say, but right now was the best time to attack!

Seeing Natsu Hiraku charge at him, Megumi Fushiguro's expression grew solemn. Blue cursed energy covered his entire body before fading away, strengthening him. Then he brought his hands together in the shape of a bird and shouted:

"Nue."

The shadow beneath his feet churned like boiling water, and a massive curse swept outward in all directions. With a sharp cry, a giant owl appeared before everyone, its razor-sharp talons proclaiming its danger.

"Stop him!"

Having received the command, the owl flapped its enormous wings, and the powerful wind whipped up the dust on the ground. It also made the attacking Natsu Hiraku feel a trace of apprehension.

Fight is one thing, but bringing in air support is a bit unfair...

Having no control of the air, he looked numb for a moment, not knowing where to begin.

So Gojo Satoru's "thirty-seventy split" had factored in his inability to deal with flying Shikigami.

Owl shot into the sky, circling a few times before diving at Natsu Hiraku like a fighter jet.

Knowing he was outmatched, Natsu Hiraku did not choose to clash head-on with the thing. As he prepared to dodge, he glanced at Megumi Fushiguro, who was being protected by Owl. It looked like he was still trying to summon the Divine Dogs!

No!

His own combat ability was already formidable. If he summoned the Divine Dogs as well, it would become a three-on-one death trap!

Knowing the situation was extremely dire, Natsu Hiraku stopped holding back. His hands rapidly formed seals, and the crimson pupils appeared in his eyes once more.

Watching Natsu Hiraku form hand seals, Gojo Satoru smiled in satisfaction. This kid really was hiding something else!

"What is Hiraku doing?"

Panda asked in confusion.

"Bonito Flakes."

Toge Inumaki shook his head in reply.

"Could it be that Hiraku is using ninjutsu?"

Yuta Okkotsu said uncertainly, "After all, Hiraku kept emphasizing before that he knew ninjutsu."

"Don't be ridiculous. What ninjutsu? Hiraku clearly knows cursed techniques, yet he keeps hiding them and acting weak all day. Just wait until this match is over—I'm going to teach him a lesson!"