Playing Ninjutsu in Jujutsu Kaisen!

The doctor waved his hand and left.

"Thank you, Doctor."

Natsu Hiraku looked at the Tibetan Mastiff in the cage, which had finished eating and was licking its lips. He reached out with his right hand to pat its head and said with a smile, "Hmph, this must be fate. Meeting me today was your lucky break. So, do you want to come with me? Training might be a little tough, but you'll never lack food or shelter. As long as you bark once, I'll..."

Before he could finish, the Tibetan Mastiff barked at Natsu Hiraku, then gently rubbed its head against his outstretched hand. It had no idea what he was saying, but as long as he gave it food, that was enough. I don't want to go hungry anymore.

"What a good boy."

Natsu Hiraku rubbed its head vigorously again and called out to the doctor, who was playing on his phone, "I'll buy this cage too. And give me a few cans of goat milk powder."

"Sure."

Two minutes later.

Natsu Hiraku walked out of the pet hospital with the cage in his right hand and a bag of goat milk powder in his left.

He needed to raise it from a young age, but that was fine. That would make it more loyal. Next, he just had to return and form a Blood Pact with it. This little guy probably wouldn't resist.

Honestly, it looked rather cute bald like this. It was just a little too skinny.

"Let's go home, little guy. From now on, you'll be a member of Jujutsu High too. Train hard, okay?"

After saying that, Natsu Hiraku hailed a taxi and told the driver, "Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical High School."

"Got it! Buckle up, we're off!"

Even though it was morning rush hour, the driver's hardcore lane-cutting skills got them to Jujutsu High within half an hour.

Natsu Hiraku felt like the whole ride had been a gamble. They nearly crashed or scraped against something every time, and he told the driver several times that they weren't in a rush and could take it slow during rush hour. But the driver answered with absolute confidence:

"Trust my skills. I used to be a racing god."

Damn it, the ride was so rough that my dog threw up the goat milk it had just drunk this morning and is now playing dead in its cage.

Watching the taxi drive away, Natsu Hiraku glanced at the Tibetan Mastiff still playing dead, opened the cage, and picked it up. "Since you're unconscious, I'll grant you a little fortune, puppy."

With that, he bit his index finger. Red blood flowed from the wound as he drew a circle on its forehead, then carefully wrote his name inside it. Once he was done, he began forming hand seals.

"Boar, Dog, Rooster, Monkey, Ram, Summoning Technique!"

The bloody letters on the Tibetan Mastiff's forehead slowly vanished and fused into its body. Their spiritual levels connected, allowing him to clearly sense its dizziness and nausea. He could also send cursed energy into its body with a thought. Perhaps because it was right beside him, the summoning failed.

"The Blood Pact worked? Then I'll head into the school and try summoning it again."

Natsu Hiraku gently stroked the Tibetan Mastiff's head, then carried the cage and goat milk powder into Jujutsu High.

It was already 7:30. Everyone had gotten up and was doing morning laps around the training ground. Seeing Natsu Hiraku carrying a cage in his right hand and a bag in his left, they waved to welcome him.

Panda: "Hiraku-kun! Want to run with us?!"

Yuta Okkotsu: "Good morning, Hiraku."

Toge Inumaki: "Salmon!"

Megumi Fushiguro: "Morning, Hiraku. I'll beat you in tomorrow's duel! Though the wolf and dog are gone now."

Maki Zenin: "Natsu Hiraku, what kind of crazy stunt were you pulling this morning? Did your brain break?"

Natsu Hiraku responded to each of them, "Not now, Panda. I've got something to do. I'll come over in a bit."

"Good morning, Yuta."

"Toge, you're as energetic as ever!"

"I won't go easy on you tomorrow, Megumi."

"Maki, don't say that about me. I got a little too excited this morning. I haven't been back in a while, you know!"

"No, I don't understand at all, and I don't want to," Maki Zenin retorted.

"Later. I need to head back to my room for something. I'll come run with you guys afterward, and I'll introduce you to a new member too." Natsu Hiraku ran toward the dormitory as soon as he finished speaking.

As they watched Natsu Hiraku leave, everyone kept wondering what this "new member" meant. Teacher Gojo hadn't said they were recruiting another student!

"Click—"

Natsu Hiraku returned home, locked the door, and placed the goat milk and dog cage on the floor.

The Tibetan Mastiff had already woken up, but since it couldn't see him, it was barking wildly.

Because of their spiritual connection, anything Natsu Hiraku wanted to say to the Tibetan Mastiff would directly echo in its mind.

Stop barking. I'm taking you home now.

Hearing its master's voice, the Tibetan Mastiff stopped barking and obediently lay down where it was. It had no idea where the voice was coming from, but it knew it only had to listen.

After all, it had seen others of its kind get tasty food simply by wagging their tails. Every time it wanted to go over and eat, it had been too afraid to leave.

Good boy. From today onward, your name will be Shura.

After soothing the Tibetan Mastiff, Natsu Hiraku bit his right thumb and rapidly formed hand seals with both hands. "Summoning Technique!"

"Whoosh, thud—"

As the white smoke dispersed, Shura, who had been lying outside the school gate, appeared in the room. Faced with the sudden change in scenery, Shura seemed somewhat confused. But when he spotted his master beside him, he immediately walked over, rubbed against his leg, and let out two soft howls. "Awoo~"

"Alright, alright, I'll get you some goat milk."

Knowing what he meant, Natsu Hiraku grinned happily. He took out the goat milk powder, boiled a pot of warm water, and mixed it for him.

Seeing the delicious food in front of him, Shura licked his lips, barked cheerfully at Natsu Hiraku, then began lapping it up in huge mouthfuls.

"Eat slowly. There's more if you're hungry. Once you can eat meat, I'll start training you, Shura."

Natsu Hiraku rubbed his head, his mood excellent. There was still more than a month until the Friendly Match, so he needed to train hard.

"Oh? This is kind of interesting."

Natsu Hiraku had just experimentally transferred 100 units of cursed energy to Shura. He had wanted to transfer more, but Shura was still too small, and he was afraid he wouldn't be able to handle it. Honestly, even 100 seemed like a bit much. Yet this little guy had accepted all of it.

Shura also sensed the sudden power inside his body. He clenched his paws, seeming to feel his strength increase, then instinctively swiped at the floor.

"Scrrratch—"

A scratch instantly appeared across the once neat and smooth floor.

"Oh? You can use it right away?"

Natsu Hiraku found it increasingly interesting. Animals seemed to have a stronger sense for this than humans. When he had first controlled the cursed energy in his body, it had only happened instinctively after he had been pushed to the brink in a fight.

Shura had taken only five seconds. And for the first four seconds, he had merely been curious.

"Interesting. I'll take back the cursed energy in your body first. Go get acquainted with your older brothers and sister outside."

After saying that, Natsu Hiraku withdrew the cursed energy from Shura's body. As for other tests, they could wait until tonight when he had time. Maybe... he could try some other tricks too. Besides, he had a feeling Shura could withstand even more cursed energy.

Although Shura was still young and had been starving for so long that he was malnourished, his broad frame alone showed that he would become something great in the future.

At the very least, he could serve as a meat shield. There was no doubt about that. Anyway, he could take a beating better than Natsu Hiraku. When trouble came, Shura would take the hits. When there was no trouble, Natsu Hiraku would step in himself. The tactics were crystal clear.

As for why he hadn't chosen a flying mount, what eagle could take a beating as well as this dog? If he later drew the Flying Thunder God Technique, or if his Sharingan evolved into a Mangekyo and awakened space-time ninjutsu, he wouldn't need one anyway.

He could just place a mark on the dog. When it was time to run, he could let the dog flee first, then teleport over himself. More importantly, he didn't know how to train an eagle, and he had no idea how big that species could grow.

Forget it. The Blood Pact had already been made, so there was no point thinking about that. He should just focus on training the dog.

"Come on, Shura. Let's go meet everyone."

Natsu Hiraku opened the door and headed toward the training ground with Shura.

Everyone was sweating it out on the field, while Panda sat to the side watching and loudly cheered, "Come on, Yuta! You're already three laps behind! Catch up with everyone!"

"I'm already trying my best!"

After shouting that, Yuta Okkotsu gritted his teeth and sprinted forward. But after half a lap, he was back to square one.

Maki Zenin, already more than three laps ahead, urged him on. "Faster, faster! I've already lapped you three times. Even Natsu Hiraku's skinny body is stronger than yours, Yuta."

"I'm already trying my best..."

"Hey! Maki, what do you mean by that? You can insult me, but don't call me weak. Watch me run you into the ground today."

Natsu Hiraku had just arrived when he heard Maki Zenin indirectly calling him weak. There was no way he would let that slide. He handed the dog to Panda, rolled up his sleeves, and asked, "Panda, watch him for me. How many laps has Maki run now?"

"She's already at ten. If you can't handle it, don't run. Just admit defeat. Maki won't stop before twenty laps."

Panda took the dog. Seeing that Shura didn't bare his teeth at him, he gently patted his head and asked, "Why is this dog so skinny? Where's all his fur?"

"I picked him up today." Natsu Hiraku stretched as he spoke. "His fur all fell out from malnutrition. I'm planning to raise him up over the next few days. Panda, when you have time, teach him how to take more hits."

"Huh? Take hits? What the hell does that mean?"

Panda was completely dumbfounded. Just as he was about to ask more questions, Natsu Hiraku had already shouted, "Don't underestimate me!" and taken off.

Looking at the clueless puppy, Panda could only stroke his head and comfort him. "Little guy, your good days are over."

Shura merely responded, "Awoo~"

"I hope you understood that..."

The day's training passed quickly. Everyone got to know Shura and sympathized with his past. After receiving ten million yen from Principal Yaga, Natsu Hiraku went out that afternoon to buy groceries. He only returned satisfied after spending fifty thousand yen on vegetables.

By the time dinner was ready, it was already evening, and Principal Yaga shamelessly came over to mooch a meal.

Yaga Masamichi and Gojo Satoru each held a bottle of beer, boasting while picking at the dishes. Everyone was cheerful, chatting about amusing things that had happened recently.

Toge Inumaki could only listen...

Normally, Panda would translate, but he was busy eating at the moment and hadn't stopped moving his mouth the entire time.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they cleaned up the leftovers, tidied the table, and returned to their rooms.

Natsu Hiraku did not return to his room. Instead, he took the well-fed Shura outside for some testing, since the house was too small to withstand any damage.

They arrived at the Back Mountain.

Natsu Hiraku directly transferred 150 units of cursed energy to Shura and said, "Like this morning, swing your paw at that tree in front of you."

"Awoo~?"

Shura felt the sudden power inside his body and looked confused. It had appeared this morning, then vanished again. Would it suddenly disappear again soon?

Natsu Hiraku sensed Shura's confusion and continued, "I gave you that power, so don't worry. Like this morning, scratch the tree in front of you."

Shura nodded and replied, "Awoo~" (Got it.)

"Good! Then..." Natsu Hiraku brushed back his hair with his right hand, then suddenly pointed at the tree in front of Shura and shouted:

"Shura, use Rampaging Claws!"

"Awoo~!"

Shura let out a soft, adorable cry, ran toward the tree five meters ahead, and swung his paw at it.

A distinct claw mark appeared.

Natsu Hiraku, who had seen everything clearly with his Sharingan, nodded in satisfaction. "Looks like you can start training now. Don't forget that feeling just now. Use Rampaging Claws continuously on the tree!"

"Awoo~!"

Shura himself had no idea why he had to do this, but he knew that obedience meant food, and his master would not abandon him.

"Not bad, keep going! Keep it up! Don't worry about using up the cursed energy in your body. Just spend it freely!"

Natsu Hiraku shouted encouragement from the side.

One hour later.

Natsu Hiraku's voice was hoarse, his lips cracked from all the talking. Sitting against a tree, he weakly said, "I feel like my body's been drained dry..."

"Awoo..."

Shura was also lying on the ground, playing dead. He had swung his paws for an hour and scratched trees for an hour. I'm so tired. I don't want to move anymore...

Feeling that he still had the last 50 units of cursed energy in his body, Natsu Hiraku remembered that he still had to spar with Megumi Fushiguro tomorrow. He slowly got to his feet and said, "Sigh, that's enough for today. If we keep training, my body really will be drained dry."

Looking at Shura lying on the ground, he picked him up and carried him toward his room. "It's okay if you're tired. We'll continue tomorrow, and the training results will double. I'll raise you into the strongest dog."

"Awoo..."

The moment Shura complained, I don't want to move, Natsu Hiraku covered his mouth. "No, Shura, you can't think like that. How can you have such lazy thoughts? In the future, you'll be taking blades for your dad and drawing enemy fire. I won't allow you to wallow in such self-indulgence."

"Awoo..."