Playing Ninjutsu in Jujutsu Kaisen!

"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving first. I still need to go strengthen the bond between me and my best friend."

"Wait, Todo." Yoshinobu Gakuganji stopped him. "Your Quasi Grade 1 Sorcerer evaluation has been approved."

"Oh, is that all, Principal?" Todo Aoi looked perfectly composed, as if it were nothing worth mentioning.

"..."

If anyone else had received their Quasi Grade 1 Sorcerer evaluation, they would have celebrated for days, maybe even bragged about it for half a year. Why did Todo act as if it were completely unremarkable, as though it were only natural—or as though he simply did not care about the evaluation at all?

Yoshinobu Gakuganji continued, "What do you think of Natsu Hiraku's strength?"

"He didn't even use his killing move. How would I know? If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving, Principal. Goodbye." With that, Todo Aoi turned and left.

Watching Todo Aoi leave, Yoshinobu Gakuganji slowly uttered a few words. "A killing move..."

Tokyo School dormitory.

Yuta Okkotsu sat in a chair and asked worriedly, "I wonder what kind of criticism Raku will get for burning so many trees."

Kento Nanami comforted him, "He only set fire to a forest. At worst, he'll get suspended like us. It's no big deal."

"Yeah, we got punished not long after entering our second year, and we're still eating and drinking like normal. Nothing happened." Kirara Hoshi lay sprawled across the table with a popsicle in his mouth.

"..."

"What did you guys do to get punished?" Yuta Okkotsu asked curiously.

Kirara Hoshi said, "It didn't feel like a big deal, but forget it. Better not talk about it."

"..."

The less you say, the more curious I get, Senior! Yuta Okkotsu complained inwardly.

"Yoo-hoo! Did you miss us?"

Gojo Satoru's voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention. Natsu Hiraku entered their sight with a miserable expression, as if he had suffered some devastating psychological blow.

Seeing this, Yuta Okkotsu knew Raku had been punished. He hurried over to comfort him. "It's nothing serious, right? How about after the competition ends in a few days, I help you plant the trees back? Maybe they'll revoke the punishment."

"Thanks. It's great having a brother like you. As for punishment... of course there isn't any!"

Natsu Hiraku instantly switched from a choked-up voice to a cheerful smile and shouted, "Today's team match doesn't count! We'll continue tomorrow! The plan has changed to a gang-up strategy!"

"..."

Everyone was speechless. Yuta Okkotsu silently withdrew the hand he had placed on his shoulder.

"Alright, alright. Have fun this afternoon and don't put too much pressure on yourselves. Yuta, come with me. I'll take you to see something nice."

"Okay, Teacher Gojo."

Facing Gojo Satoru's invitation, Yuta Okkotsu agreed, said goodbye to everyone, and left with him.

Watching the two leave, Kento Nanami looked at Natsu Hiraku beside him. "Want to go out for drinks with us, Raku-kun?"

"No, no. I still have something to do. You two Seniors go have fun."

Natsu Hiraku declined. He still had not figured out Reverse Cursed Technique, and he always felt there was some misunderstanding in his grasp of cursed technique theory.

"I see. Then we won't force Raku-kun to come drinking with us. Bye-bye." Kirara Hoshi grabbed Kento Nanami and waved as they left.

"Mm, goodbye, Seniors."

Once the two had left, Natsu Hiraku turned around as well. He needed to return to his room and continue studying Reverse Cursed Technique.

Though he felt he did not really need it at the moment. After all, he did not have much cursed energy to begin with. With the Sharingan's detailed observation, it was easy for him to end up completely out of cursed energy while being perfectly fine himself. Unless he drew a Sage Body, the only way to change that situation was to slowly complete missions.

After returning to his room, Natsu Hiraku took off his shoes, grabbed the drink he had bought yesterday from the fridge, sat on the bed, took a sip, and placed it on the table beside the bed.

He opened the system panel and looked at his remaining 32 points, feeling troubled for a moment. Although entering would cost him 8 points and leave him with 24, logically speaking, that was enough to draw something good.

But with his eternally awful luck, the chances of pulling something good were pitifully low.

But if he really did draw something good, wouldn't he take off?

Natsu Hiraku grew increasingly irritated as he thought about it. He slammed his head against the spotless white wall by the bed several times, producing a series of loud thuds. He only stopped once his mind had completely stopped dwelling on it. That was why he hated overthinking—whenever he thought too far ahead, he had to forcibly calm himself down.

Looking at the peeled white paint on the wall and the remaining bloodstains, Natsu Hiraku knew he had cracked his head open again. He got up and went to the bathroom to wash his face.

Looking at himself in the mirror, he unconsciously recalled memories from his previous life.

He had been a strange person. A very strange person...

Sometimes, when animals died before him, he would cry and feel sorrowful. Yet when his father suddenly died of illness, he had not shed a single tear. It had almost felt like a release. After that, he moved from one relative's house to another. Back then, he had been numb, like a puppet that only knew how to study and had no desire to face reality.

As he grew older, he came to understand that people needed to find a reason to live. So, throughout his journey of studying, he searched for that so-called meaning.

Although his middle school classmates called him an ill-mannered kid with no family upbringing, he never paid them any attention. Because he knew he could not become a burden to his relatives.

In the end, through his own efforts, he was admitted to medical school. Then he met someone special to him...

Liu Yang.

Liu Yang had been his first friend and had taught him many things. More importantly, Liu Yang had helped him find the meaning of life:

"Living itself is meaningful. No one can possess both absolute goodness and absolute evil. Just do what you believe is possible."

That also applied to this life. It was just that, on top of that, he wanted the strength to protect the friends close to him. After all, only after losing someone did one understand the value of friendship. He did not want to be alone. Otherwise, darkness would engulf him once again.

After recalling the past, Natsu Hiraku let out a soft sigh. Looking at himself in the mirror, he muttered, "If I don't figure out this technique today, you're not fucking sleeping."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone knocked on the door. Todo Aoi's voice came from outside. "Best friend, want to train together?"

"Train... together?"

Natsu Hiraku was surprised by Todo Aoi's sudden arrival, but then he seemed to realize something. His complicated state of mind instantly cleared, and he muttered inwardly, That's right! Train together! Everyone might understand Reverse Cursed Technique differently. Why not ask Suguru Geto? He's a Special Grade Sorcerer too. Asking won't cost me anything. It's not like he can come through the phone screen and beat me up.

Even as he rejoiced, he did not forget to respond. "No, I have something important to do today. Thanks, best friend. I sincerely appreciate it!"

"No time... huh..."

Todo Aoi looked as if he had suffered a blow. In his mind, he imagined himself holding a thick book and waiting in the classroom corridor. He was waiting for his best friend from another class to get out so they could read together beneath the cherry blossom trees.

But... his best friend's teacher had kept the class late!

In the end, he returned empty-handed...

Natsu Hiraku had no idea Todo had left in disappointment. He happily sat back down on the bed, picked up his phone, and called Suguru Geto.

At that moment, in some church in Japan, Suguru Geto was wearing robes as he exorcised a cursed spirit from a woman.

He quietly told her not to move, then extended his right hand as though it possessed some kind of attraction. The cursed spirit originally clinging to the woman was torn away, eventually forming a black orb in Suguru Geto's hand.

The burden that had tormented the woman for months suddenly vanished. She rubbed her no longer heavy shoulders and exclaimed, "Huh! Seriously? I feel so much lighter!?"

Suguru Geto smiled kindly. "It's already gone."

"Thank you." The woman, who had not truly believed in churches driving away evil spirits, was instantly convinced.

"It's nothing. If you encounter any more problems, feel free to come back anytime."

Suguru Geto politely saw her off until she had gone far away. His kind expression immediately turned disgusted, and he muttered, "If I didn't need to gather enough cursed spirits, I wouldn't bother with monkeys like you—"

Before he could finish, the phone tucked into his robe suddenly rang. He took it out in confusion and discovered that Natsu Hiraku was calling. His expression brightened as he answered.

"What is it, Natsuhi-kun? Want to come over? Or is there something you need to ask me?"

Natsu Hiraku said, "Yes, I wanted to ask, Mr. Geto, how do you understand Reverse Cursed Technique? I understand all the principles Teacher Gojo explained, but when I try putting them into practice, I get confused."

Rather than immediately explaining the technique's principles, Suguru Geto spoke as though he were an older brother chatting with a neighbor. "Gojo actually taught you Reverse Cursed Technique? You've only been enrolled for a little over three months, yet you're already qualified to learn it. You're quite talented, huh? Has your Grade 2 Sorcerer certificate been issued yet? If not, how about coming over to my side?"

"Not yet..." Natsu Hiraku said with a headache. "Mr. Geto, if you keep talking like that, I won't come chat with you anymore. I don't have much of an opinion on your plan, but I do know that if too many people die, society's balance will be destroyed. Farming, livestock breeding, electricity supply, scientific and technological innovation, and so on... a lot of convenient things in daily life will disappear."

"Oh! Is that so... I'll think it over carefully. Thank you for your advice, Natsuhi-kun."

Suguru Geto did not get angry. Instead, he accepted Natsu Hiraku's advice with a remarkably optimistic attitude and continued, "Alright, as payment for the chat, I'll explain what I think Reverse Cursed Technique is."

Author's Note: (Not filler)

On life's journey, there were always countless whys. For example, why did the author give up a job paying six or seven thousand a month to write novels? Naturally, it was to settle down and seek the meaning of life. Life was not only about getting married and having children; there was also passion.

No one was born perfect. Striving for what one deserved was the best thing, and the most unforgettable thing.

Ten minutes later.

Under Suguru Geto's explanation and guidance, Natsu Hiraku successfully gained enlightenment in Reverse Cursed Technique!

Sometimes, failing to learn something was not because the student was incapable. Perhaps one should consider whether the teacher was bad at teaching.

Teacher Gojo made it sound simple and easy to understand, but actually doing it felt like being lost in the clouds. Who knew how he had learned it in the first place?

The scabbed wound on his forehead completely healed under the treatment of Reverse Cursed Technique. If not for the dent marks and bloodstains by the bed, he would have thought he had never hit his head.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Geto." Natsu Hiraku picked up the phone lying on the bed and said gratefully, "If you have time, I'll treat you to a meal. I'll cook personally. I think my cooking is pretty good."

"It's nothing. I'm happy to teach a junior who is also a sorcerer. As for treating me to a meal... next month. I'll send you an address then. Don't tell anyone else, alright?"

"Okay, please rest assured, Mr. Geto. It's already autumn, so keep warm and don't catch a cold."

"Mm, goodbye."

Suguru Geto hung up and looked toward the sun in the sky. "This junior is really likable. It feels like such a waste to let that good-for-nothing Gojo raise him."

"Who were you talking to? You stood here smiling for more than ten minutes."

A woman's voice came from behind him. Suguru Geto turned around and said, "A cute junior."

"A junior... I wonder whether he'll obstruct Lord Geto's mission?"

The woman's previously kind expression instantly darkened, as though she intended to kill the junior Suguru Geto had mentioned.

"It's fine, it's fine. This junior has good character, and at least he's smart enough. He won't have much impact on the plan. Keep looking for cursed spirits. If we're going to deal with Gojo Satoru, we're nowhere near having enough."

As Suguru Geto spoke, he swallowed the black orb formed from the cursed spirit in his hand. Even after swallowing it, he could not help complaining, "Disgusting."

"I see. Then I was being unreasonable, Lord Geto."

Now that he had learned Reverse Cursed Technique, Natsu Hiraku felt completely refreshed. He downed the soda on the table in one gulp and lay leisurely on the bed.

"Creak, creak—"

The iron frame outside the window rattled. Natsu Hiraku looked over curiously. This was the third floor, after all. What could possibly be climbing the security bars...

"Holy shit! Todo Aoi!"

Todo Aoi currently had tears in his eyes. With both hands gripping the security bars, he stared at Natsu Hiraku through the window and said, "Best friend! Let's skip class together and admire the fleeting years of this world beneath the cherry blossom trees!"

"What the fuck is wrong with you! This is the third floor! Get down from the security bars already!" Natsu Hiraku got up and complained.

"No... If you won't come with me to admire the beautiful scenery beneath the cherry blossoms, I won't leave."

"Stop acting crazy! Cherry blossoms bloom in March. Winter hasn't even passed yet, so get down now!"

As soon as Natsu Hiraku finished speaking, the security bars could no longer bear Todo Aoi's weight and began creaking loudly. Then... they broke...

"..."

Natsu Hiraku stared wordlessly at the vanished security bars and Todo Aoi. He silently stepped forward and locked the window. He put the phone from the bed into his pocket, put on the shoes by the door, and went outside.

Honestly, he was really glad Kyoto School had not been the one to find him back then. Otherwise, Todo might have pestered him until he could not take it anymore.

As soon as he went downstairs, he saw Todo Aoi waiting beside the stairwell. Todo was leaning against the wall with one hand, his black school uniform still perfectly neat, as though he had not just fallen from the third floor. "I knew that, as my best friend, you wouldn't abandon me."

"Yeah, yeah. So what is it? It's not like I have anything to do this afternoon anyway." Natsu Hiraku spoke helplessly. He felt that if he did not accompany Todo today, Todo would pester him until nightfall.

"Of course there is!"

Todo Aoi discarded his previous demeanor and said with a serious expression, "During our spar this afternoon, I noticed that your hand-to-hand combat is excellent. The flow of cursed energy in your body is extremely refined. Whether it's defense, blocking, or boosting your strength, everything is just right. So I want to teach you a move."

"What?"

Natsu Hiraku asked with interest. He was very interested in anything Todo Aoi was willing to teach. He would never complain about having too many trump cards.

"Black Flash!"

Todo Aoi raised one finger and said, "I can tell that you're already close to reaching that realm. But the reason you haven't made any progress is because you rely too much on Cursed Tools."