Playing Ninjutsu in Jujutsu Kaisen!

"This..."

Natsu Hiraku scratched his head and said somewhat nervously, "I came to say goodbye to you today, sis. Thank you so much for taking care of me these past few days. I'll miss you. This is the necklace I bought for you, Mashi."

"Thank you. Come play with me when you have time. I'll take you to my house then."

Harukaze Mashi patted Natsu Hiraku's head, accepted the gift, and continued, "Want me to give you the young lady's room key so you can launch a surprise attack? Or you could put the gift inside and quietly leave afterward?"

"No, I can just climb in through the window. You should get to bed early too, Mashi. Good night."

Natsu Hiraku bowed after saying that and left.

"But I locked the window shut. Oh well, that kid probably has some way of getting in anyway. Whatever."

Harukaze Mashi watched Natsu Hiraku's retreating figure disappear into the distance, then closed the door.

Natsu Hiraku did not hurry to Mitsuchi Mi's room. Instead, he wandered around the courtyard, searching for suitable wood to carve a key from, until midnight.

Holding a wooden key carved to an exact 1:1 replica, Natsu Hiraku arrived outside Mitsuchi Mi's door. He sensed the calm cursed energy within and only slowly inserted the key after confirming the cursed spirit was asleep.

Perhaps it was because he felt guilty about being a thief, but every tiny sound made as the key slid in made his heart leap. He knew the noise was too faint to disturb her, but to his ears, it was no different from an alarm clock.

"Click—"

The door opened. Natsu Hiraku took a deep breath, slowly pushed it open, and peeked inside. Then he crawled in on all fours, only feeling safe when he kept himself below the height of the bed.

After crawling to the bedside, he slowly raised his head and looked at Mitsuchi Mi's sleeping profile. He swallowed and stared at her for a full minute. Only when he felt it was safe enough did he slowly rise and look at the ring on her left hand.

He had touched it many times before, but now he had no idea where to begin. Being a thief really tested one's nerves. At that moment, he truly admired those thieves who treated other people's homes as their own while the owners slept inside. They really had guts.

Natsu Hiraku gently lifted her left hand and carefully removed the ring from her index finger. Throughout the entire process, the hand holding the ring did not tremble even once, and the cursed spirit inside did not react at all.

Only after the ring had been completely removed did Natsu Hiraku's tense heart relax. His left hand remained pinched in place, not daring to let the ring sway too much, as he quietly crept out of the room.

He did not close the door. He would have to open it again when he came back later, and he did not want to do this a second time.

Now, he only needed to reach that abandoned building safely.

"How interesting. You really managed to steal that Cursed Object. Let's see just how crazy you are, Natsu Hiraku!"

Gojo Satoru sat in a tree beneath the moonlight, his azure eyes fixed firmly on the fleeing Natsu Hiraku.

Faster, faster, even faster!

Natsu Hiraku ran wildly toward his destination with the ring clenched in his left hand. Though he was running, his left hand remained remarkably steady. However, the cursed spirit inside seemed to have awakened and noticed something was wrong.

Seeing black mist emerge from the ring, Natsu Hiraku ran even faster. Scarlet cursed energy instantly covered his body, strengthening it once more. He crossed ten meters in a single stride and raced toward his destination.

"What... are you doing?"

The cursed spirit poked its head out, its scarlet pupils staring straight into Natsu Hiraku's eyes. Seemingly unable to understand why it had been taken away, it asked in confusion.

"Heh..."

Natsu Hiraku looked at the abandoned building ahead and smiled. "Sorry, but I'm going to exorcise you here."

With that, he violently threw the ring. His originally black pupils turned scarlet, and a tomoe spun rapidly within them.

"Enemy... enemy!!"

The cursed spirit finally realized what was happening. Seeing the cursed energy rising from Natsu Hiraku's body, it had the thought of devouring him. Its entire body then emerged from the ring, and black mist swept toward Natsu Hiraku like an overwhelming tide.

Natsu Hiraku had prepared himself long ago. His hands rapidly formed seals, completing all six in less than two seconds. He sharply inhaled, his chest swelling as he felt a burning sensation within it, and shouted inwardly:

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!

He violently expelled a ball of fire. What began as a flame only ten centimeters wide instantly expanded into a four-meter fireball, catching the cursed spirit off guard and lighting up the previously pitch-black night.

"Ah! It hurts!!"

Burned by the scorching flames, the cursed spirit hurriedly retreated. It touched the area that continued to burn, and the killing intent in its heart expanded without limit. It reached out with its right hand and swiped at Natsu Hiraku as if by instinct.

Yet with that casual swipe, the mist scattered through the air instantly converged, forming a giant hand that grabbed at Natsu Hiraku.

"What?!"

Seeing the giant hand closing in, alarm bells blared in Natsu Hiraku's mind. He pushed off with his calves and hurriedly retreated.

"Whoosh, boom—"

The giant hand missed. As if venting its frustration, it slammed into the ground, cracking the stone path apart.

Natsu Hiraku swallowed. That harmless-looking mist was actually so powerful. If he got caught, he would probably be crushed to death alive.

He took off his backpack, unzipped it, and pulled out a Cursed Tool, which finally put his mind somewhat at ease. That one fireball had directly cost him 150 cursed energy. It looked cool, but he would need to conserve it from now on. If he kept showing off, he would get himself killed sooner or later.

Natsu Hiraku tightly gripped the Cursed Tool, his scarlet pupils fixed on the cursed spirit. For some reason, the sound of dripping water suddenly rang out from the sky, drawing the attention of both man and cursed spirit.

Black cursed energy spread outward like droplets of water. Seeing the familiar scene, the image of Gojo Satoru casually waving surfaced in Natsu Hiraku's mind.

He sneered.

"Teacher Gojo came too, huh... Heh, then I have nothing to worry about. Let's fight to the death!"

He did not know what restrictions the system had set for exorcising a cursed spirit alone, but as long as Teacher Gojo's veil did not take effect, it should still count as exorcising it alone!

And even if he lost, Teacher Gojo would step in and save him. There was nothing left to worry about. He would exorcise it with everything he had!

Natsu Hiraku gripped the hilt with both hands. Veins bulged across his arms, his calf muscles tensed, and he charged at the cursed spirit, which was curiously wondering why the sky had become darker.

"Crack—"

Perhaps because he exerted too much force, the stone path let out a sharp sound and fractured slightly.

Natsu Hiraku clenched the Cursed Tool and swung fiercely at the cursed spirit.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound rang out as the cursed spirit, having reacted in time, caught it in one hand. The giant hand squeezed hard, and the blade shattered instantly.

The sound of "click" echoed in his ears. Natsu Hiraku's pupils contracted sharply, as though he had not expected that outcome. But it seemed that, aside from charging forward, he had no other option. He gritted his teeth.

He released the hilt with both hands, used the giant cursed-energy hand as a springboard, and charged straight in with his fist covered in scarlet cursed energy.

The cursed spirit was now roughly the size of an ordinary person, with most of its body distributed across that giant hand. Faced with Natsu Hiraku's sudden attack, it showed no fear at all. Seemingly relying on its superior strength, it threw a right punch at him.

Seeing how full of openings that punch was, Natsu Hiraku smiled. "Found it—your weakness!"

He had been worrying about how to deal with this cursed spirit. After all, the instant the blade shattered, he knew that hand was absolutely not something he could touch!

But how could a Quasi Grade 1 Cursed Spirit possibly be that strong? It definitely had some weakness. The moment he saw that incoming punch, he understood that its weakness was its own body!

Most of the cursed energy in its body was being used to create and control that giant hand. In other words, its true body was not strong right now. If he had backed down and chosen to retreat cautiously just now—

He might have been entangled to death by that fist. A battle could turn around in an instant. Luckily, Teacher Gojo had come. Otherwise, he really might not have chosen to risk his life against it!

"Die!!"

His right arm shot out, directly blasting apart the cursed spirit's entire arm. Before it could even scream, Natsu Hiraku threw another punch and unleashed a close-range Sanda combination on it, afraid it would control the giant hand to attack him.

In just one second, Natsu Hiraku had already thrown three punches. Red blood splattered all over him. The cursed spirit's head was blown apart, and its body was left mutilated.

Only when the cursed spirit began to dissipate did Natsu Hiraku stop. His scarlet pupils stared at its vanishing body on the ground, while the blood on him seemed to ignite on its own, turning into black ash and fading into the air.

The system panel popped up.

[Mission complete. Mission rewards are being issued: 15 points, permanent increase of 100 cursed energy.]

[Issuance complete.]

"Clang, clang, clang..."

The giant hand completely dissipated, and the shattered blade fell to the ground. Its crisp sounds echoed through the silent night, while Natsu Hiraku's heart could not settle for a long time.

Honestly, exorcising a cursed spirit of this level for the first time gave him a sense of accomplishment, but he also felt a strange sense of loss.

"Not bad. Looks like I'll be able to apply for Grade 2 for you before long."

Gojo Satoru's voice came from behind him, and the veil dissipated along with it.

"It was just luck. If it weren't for the veil Teacher Gojo set up, I wouldn't have charged in without holding anything back."

Natsu Hiraku picked up the ring from the ground and put it into his pocket, then looked at Gojo Satoru behind him and flattered him.

"Don't say that. Luck is part of strength too. Want to grab a late-night snack together?"

As Gojo Satoru spoke, he draped an arm over Natsu Hiraku's shoulder. He pulled out his phone with his left hand, skillfully opened the camera, and took several photos.

"No, I need to return the ring. By the way..."

Natsu Hiraku asked the question that had been troubling him. "Teacher Gojo, if I only wanted to exorcise this cursed spirit, and it hadn't harmed anyone, would I be wrong to exorcise it now?"

"Well... that's hard to say. My advice is to simply have a clear conscience."

"I see..."

When he reached the courtyard gate, Natsu Hiraku walked straight in. Go-in Roku and Ryusui Ruo Bing asked in surprise:

"Vice-Captain Hiraku, when did you go out?"

"Just now. I was testing your defenses, and not one of you noticed me."

Natsu Hiraku complained before walking inside. He was not in a good mood and did not want to chat with them. Getting out had been simple too. After being here for so many days, he naturally knew the gaps in their defenses and easily climbed over the high wall.

As for Teacher Gojo, he was waiting outside. Once Natsu Hiraku returned the ring, they would leave together.

Entering the villa, Natsu Hiraku looked at the ring in his left hand. The curse inside had completely dissipated. That mother, who had only been kind to her daughter, was gone. Perhaps her daughter had escaped the shadows under his guidance—or perhaps she had not.

Who knew? The road ahead would continue, so let time bear witness to it all.

Natsu Hiraku took out the gift he had bought from his backpack. It was also a ring, one he had spent a long time choosing.

He entered the room and looked at the still-sleeping Mitsuchi Mi. He gently raised her left hand and put the ring back on, then placed the gift on the table. After giving her one last look, he closed the door and left.

He jumped down from the corridor window, nimbly avoided the patrolling guards, and climbed over the wall.

"Yo! All done? Let's head back. It's been ages since I last had dinner made by you, Hiraku-kun."

Gojo Satoru, who had been waiting where he stood, said with a grin.

Seeing Gojo Satoru so cheerful every day, Natsu Hiraku's restless mood quietly shifted as well. He took a deep breath and smiled. "Yeah, extra dishes tomorrow."

Life had to go on. It would not do to frown all day. He had to face everything with a smile. As long as he did not find himself embarrassed, the embarrassed one would be someone else. Smile. That was what Liu Yang had once told him.

After adjusting his mood, he lifted his shirt, flexed the muscles in his left arm, and continued, "By the way, Teacher Gojo, arrange a spar with Megumi Fushiguro for me the day after tomorrow. Watch me crush him one-handed!"

"Your confidence really shot up after one fight. No problem."

Gojo Satoru slung an arm over Natsu Hiraku's shoulders as he spoke, pointing with his left hand toward the stars in the sky. "I can tell, you know. Your strength is growing rapidly right now. Though you're only an inconspicuous star in that sky at the moment, with your effort, you'll become a dazzling sun sooner or later."

"At night, there's only the moon. The real sun is you, Teacher. Don't put so much pressure on me, okay? I'm usually pretty lazy."

Natsu Hiraku waved his hand helplessly.

Gojo Satoru merely smiled at that answer. He ruffled Natsu Hiraku's hair with his left hand and said, "Who knows... Let's go back!"

Natsu Hiraku: "..."

Keep pushing me, and I'll slack off right in front of you tomorrow.

Though it was already close to one in the morning, vehicles could still be seen passing through the streets, and people were still working hard for their futures. Gojo Satoru and Natsu Hiraku hailed a taxi back to Jujutsu High.

"Click—"

The door opened. Looking at the pitch-black room inside, Natsu Hiraku stretched and said, "Ah, finally back. These past two weeks have exhausted me."

He turned on the lights, closed the door out of habit, stripped off his clothes and tossed them into the washing machine, turned on the shower, and stood beneath the cold water as he opened the system panel he had not checked in half a month.

[Host: Natsu Hiraku]

[Cursed Energy: 650, Grade 3 Sorcerer]

[Stamina: 17]

[Eye Technique: One-Tomoe Sharingan]

[Ninjutsu: Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation, Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique.]

[Taijutsu: Self-Defense Techniques, Military Fist, Sanda, Jeet Kune Do.]

Even with 650 cursed energy, he was still only a Grade 3 Sorcerer. It looked like reaching Grade 2 was truly difficult. Still, his body had become sturdier after being battered around for half a month, and these four taijutsu styles had turned him from a close-combat amateur into a close-combat master.