Second-year students

Time was like sand in the palm, slipping unnoticed through the fingers.

By the time the cherry blossoms bloomed again and the new school year began, Madara Uchiha had become a second-year student at Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu High School.

One afternoon in April, the sunlight was just right, and cherry blossom petals drifted like snow through Jujutsu High's courtyard.

Madara had just finished his morning training and was sitting by the corridor, wiping away sweat, when he heard Satoru Gojo's distinctive, smiling voice from the school building.

"All right~ Everyone, gather around~"

Panda was the first to run out of the training ground, his furry body squeezing through the corridor as he waved. "Oh, a newcomer? I'm Panda."

Maki followed with a naginata over her shoulder, pushing up her glasses with a somewhat resigned expression.

Inumaki walked quietly. Okkotsu had just returned from an overseas mission, and although the fatigue of the long journey still showed on his face, he wore a gentle smile.

Madara put down his towel, stood up, and walked over too.

Satoru Gojo stood in the open space in front of the school building, one hand resting on a black-haired boy's shoulder.

The boy looked fifteen or sixteen. His sea-urchin hairstyle was conspicuous, his expression cool as he calmly watched everyone gather.

"Right, right." Satoru Gojo clapped the boy's shoulder hard enough to make him frown slightly. "This poker-faced boy is our new first-year-Megumi Fushiguro~! Welcome, welcome~!"

The words "poker-faced" made the corner of Megumi Fushiguro's mouth twitch, but he did not argue. He merely nodded slightly. "I'm Megumi Fushiguro. I look forward to working with you."

Panda introduced himself enthusiastically. "I'm Panda! As you can see, I'm a panda~"

Maki kept it brief. "Maki Zenin. Second year."

Inumaki lowered his collar a little. "Salmon roe." ("I'm Toge Inumaki. I look forward to working with you.")

Okkotsu spoke gently. "Yuta Okkotsu, second year. Welcome, Fushiguro."

Madara reached the edge of the group and looked at the new boy.

Megumi Fushiguro-of course he knew that name.

In the original plot, he was one of the key characters in this story, a companion of Sukuna's vessel, Yuji Itadori, and the boy who would become Sukuna's vessel in the future.

And now he stood here, alive, fifteen years old, newly enrolled.

"Oh~ Madara's here too," Satoru Gojo said, noticing him and waving him over. "Perfect, perfect. Get to know each other. This is Madara Uchiha, another second-year~"

Madara walked up to Megumi Fushiguro and held out his hand. "Madara Uchiha. I look forward to working with you."

Megumi Fushiguro looked at him, then shook his hand with a moderate grip, neither too light nor too firm.

"Megumi Fushiguro. I look forward to working with you."

Time continued to pass.

After spending some time together, Madara and Megumi Fushiguro gradually became familiar with each other.

Megumi Fushiguro was a boy of few words who took things seriously.

He never slacked off during training and strictly followed procedures on missions.

His cursed technique, the Ten Shadows Technique, was highly unusual. He used hand shadows to summon shikigami through shadows as a medium, and its potential was immense.

As his "senior"-though Megumi Fushiguro might have been introduced to jujutsu earlier-Madara occasionally gave him pointers on practical combat.

Megumi Fushiguro gradually discovered that although his senior Madara usually seemed somewhat laid-back, he became a completely different person once he entered combat.

One afternoon, Satoru Gojo called the two of them into the office.

When Madara pushed the door open, Megumi Fushiguro was already there, standing straight as though awaiting orders.

Satoru Gojo sat on the desk with his legs crossed, holding a newly purchased box of Kikufuku.

"What is it, Gojo-sensei?" Madara asked.

Megumi Fushiguro spoke first. "There's a mission, isn't there?"

"Yep~" Satoru Gojo hopped off the desk, casually set the box of Kikufuku down, and took two documents from a drawer.

"I've got a mission for you. Abnormal cursed energy fluctuations have appeared in the sewer system. Window's observations put it at a Grade 2 cursed spirit, but there could be complications. Go investigate. If you confirm it's Grade 2, exorcise it. If anything's off, retreat and report."

He handed the documents to them.

"Madara, you're in charge. This is Megumi's first official mission, so keep an eye on him."

"Understood." Madara accepted the document and quickly skimmed it.

Megumi Fushiguro took his copy too and nodded. "Yes."

The sewer system here was more spacious than they had expected.

Madara and Megumi Fushiguro climbed down the maintenance ladder and stepped into ankle-deep sewage.

The air was thick with the stench of mold and decay, but neither reacted much, clearly already accustomed to it.

The maintenance lights overhead cast a dim yellow glow, reflecting in broken patches on the filthy water.

Moss covered the pipe walls, and rats occasionally scurried past with a rustle.

"Fushiguro," Madara said as he walked ahead, sweeping his flashlight beam over the dark tunnel. "What grade of jujutsu sorcerer are you now?"

"Grade 2." Megumi Fushiguro followed behind him, also holding a flashlight as he warily surveyed their surroundings.

"Really..." Madara's voice echoed through the tunnel. "Then we're the same grade."

That was no surprise.

As a student personally taught by Satoru Gojo, Megumi Fushiguro had an unusual cursed technique and outstanding talent. It was perfectly normal for him to be rated Grade 2 upon enrollment.

Although Madara's strength far exceeded Grade 2, he had turned down promotion himself-Grade 1 jujutsu sorcerers had more missions, and more demanding ones, which would take up a great deal of time and leave him no room to "interfere with the plot."

He had to retain a certain freedom of action.

Megumi Fushiguro fell silent for a few seconds, then asked, "I heard you turned down a recommendation to become a Grade 1 jujutsu sorcerer, Madara?"

Madara's steps paused briefly.

Word really travels fast.

Then again, jujutsu society is only so big. Even the slightest stir gets around to everyone.

"Ah..." He continued forward, his tone casual. "I feel I'm still short on experience and need more practice. Grade 1 comes with too much responsibility. I'm afraid I couldn't handle it."

That was the official explanation.

The real reason was that once he became Grade 1, he would be sent on missions all over the country, leaving him unable to appear in key locations at key moments.

He had to stay in Tokyo, at the center of the main plot.

Megumi Fushiguro glanced at his back but did not press him. "Is that so?"

The two continued deeper.

The sewer system was a tangled underground maze.

After about twenty minutes of walking, Madara suddenly stopped.

Almost simultaneously, Megumi Fushiguro stopped too.

They exchanged a glance, then both turned toward a side tunnel on their left-it was darker and narrower than the main tunnel.

"Feel that?" Madara asked quietly.

"Yes." Megumi Fushiguro had already taken a defensive stance. "A cursed spirit."

The cursed energy fluctuations were clear, cold and viscous, laced with malice. Judging by their intensity, it was roughly Grade 2.

Madara stepped back, making room. "It looks like a Grade 2 cursed spirit, so I'll leave it to you for now, Fushiguro. I'll back you up."

This was standard procedure for guiding a newcomer-the newcomer took the offensive while the senior observed and supported from the side, allowing them to gain experience while ensuring their safety.

Megumi Fushiguro nodded. "Yes, Madara."

He drew a deep breath and formed hand seals in front of his chest-the distinctive "hand shadows" of the Ten Shadows Technique.

His fingers interlaced, their shadows twisting and changing beneath the dim yellow light.

(Ah... being called someone's senior feels kind of unsettling.)

Madara thought this, but showed nothing on his face, merely watching quietly.

"Divine Dogs."

At Megumi Fushiguro's low voice, two masses of shadow rose from beneath his feet and rapidly took shape-two large dogs, one black and one white.

The black dog was slightly larger, with solid muscles and a keen gaze.

The white dog was slightly smaller but moved more lightly, its ears pricked as it warily surveyed its surroundings.

They were Megumi Fushiguro's shikigami, the most basic yet practical manifestations of the Ten Shadows Technique.

"Go."

The Black Divine Dogs growled and shot into the side tunnel like an arrow.

The White Divine Dogs stayed beside Megumi Fushiguro, crouching slightly, ready to protect their master at any moment.

Battle erupted in the darkness.

Standing in the main tunnel, Madara quietly activated his Sharingan.

His blood-red eyes shone like two ghostly flames in the darkness, piercing it to see the battle inside the side tunnel clearly.

The cursed spirit resembled a lump of rotting flesh, its surface covered with pustules and tentacles.

The Black Divine Dogs nimbly dodged the tentacles, tearing open the cursed spirit's body with sharp claws and biting through pustules with their fangs.

Every attack was precise and effective, clearly the result of rigorous training.

Megumi Fushiguro stood in place, maintaining the hand shadow with both hands, connected to his shikigami through the shadows as he directed the battle remotely.

His expression was focused, his eyes fixed on the battle in the darkness as he occasionally issued quiet commands.

In less than three minutes, the cursed spirit had been completely torn apart by the Black Divine Dogs, and dissipated into black cursed energy residue.

The Black Divine Dogs returned to Megumi Fushiguro's side with a little of the cursed spirit's slime on their bodies, but they were in good spirits, their tails swaying gently.

"Well done," Madara said, slowly deactivating his Sharingan.

But before he finished speaking-

"Woof, woof, woof!!!"

The White Divine Dogs suddenly began barking wildly, their sharp voices carrying an unmistakable warning.

The Black Divine Dogs immediately turned as well, baring their teeth and growling low toward the depths of the side tunnel.

Megumi Fushiguro's expression changed. "This feeling-a Grade 1?!"

Stronger cursed energy fluctuations came from deep within the side tunnel, cold and heavy, pressing down like tangible malice.

The ripples on the water grew chaotic, and the moss on the pipe walls stirred without any wind.

Madara appeared beside Megumi Fushiguro in an instant, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Step back, Fushiguro."

His voice was calm, but it carried an unquestionable authority.

Megumi Fushiguro looked at him, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but followed the order and took three steps back, recalling both Divine Dogs to his side.

A figure slowly emerged in the darkness of the side tunnel.

It did not walk out from the depths, but "crawled" out of the remains of the cursed spirit they had just exorcised-like an insect molting, a new body emerging from its old shell.

It had the outline of a woman, but was twisted beyond human form.

Her skin was a sickly grayish white, her long, wet hair plastered to her body and covering most of her face.

Through the gaps in her hair, they could see one blood-red eye and a mouth stretching to her ears, filled with sharp teeth.

She hunched over, both arms held against her chest as though protecting something.

"M... Mo... Mommy..."

Her voice was hoarse and halting, like a toddler who had only just learned to speak.

But the cursed energy within it had unmistakably reached Grade 1.

Megumi Fushiguro clenched his fists and asked quietly, "What do we do, Madara? Should we call for backup?"

A Grade 1 cursed spirit was not something a Grade 2 jujutsu sorcerer could handle alone.

According to procedure, they should retreat immediately and request support.

But Madara shook his head.

"Ah, no need, no need," he said lightly. "I'm enough."

Megumi Fushiguro froze for a moment.

Although they had spent some time together, he had never actually seen Madara's true strength.

During training, Madara always stopped short and never went all out.

Megumi Fushiguro's understanding of Madara's strength came mostly from rumors and Okkotsu's occasional mentions.

And now, facing a Grade 1 cursed spirit, Madara had said, "I'm enough."

Madara took a step forward, and blue light seeped out of his body.

The light condensed and took shape-first, rib-like bones emerged from empty space, surrounding his body.

Then a massive arm, likewise formed from blue bones, extended from the shoulder.

Susanoo.

To avoid damaging the narrow sewer structure, Madara used only its initial form-the ribs and a single arm.

The cursed spirit seemed to sense the threat and let out a piercing shriek, lunging forward on all fours.

She was fast, like a streak of grayish-white lightning.

But the blue skeletal arm was faster.

While the cursed spirit was still in midair, the skeletal hand opened and caught her body with precision.

The movement was as effortless as catching a flying insect.

The cursed spirit struggled madly, her tentacle-like hair winding around the skeletal arm as her sharp teeth gnawed at its blue bones.

But Susanoo was far harder than imaginable. Those attacks could not even leave a scratch.

Madara stood where he was, not even moving.

He merely watched the captured cursed spirit, his gaze so calm it was almost indifferent.

"Although I think I lack experience," he said softly, as though talking to himself, "that doesn't mean I'm weak."

The skeletal hand began to tighten.

The cursed spirit let out a shrill scream, her body deforming and splitting under the immense pressure.

Her grayish-white skin burst open, revealing black, viscous flesh beneath.

Then Madara clenched his fist, and the skeletal hand clenched in unison.

Squelch-

It sounded like a bag full of water being squeezed until it burst.

The cursed spirit's body was crushed into a ball in an instant, then burst apart, turning into black cursed energy residue that splattered in every direction.

From the cursed spirit's lunge to its exorcism, the entire process took less than ten seconds.

The blue skeleton slowly dissipated, its light fading, and Madara stood beneath the dim yellow light once more, without so much as a drop of water on his uniform.

He turned and looked at Megumi Fushiguro.

Megumi Fushiguro stood there, his expression somewhat blank.

The black and white Divine Dogs quieted down too, tilting their heads at Madara, seemingly also trying to understand what had just happened.

A Grade 1 Cursed Spirit-killed in an instant.

Madara walked up to Megumi Fushiguro and waved a hand in front of his eyes. "Hey, snap out of it."

Megumi Fushiguro abruptly came to his senses and looked at Madara, a complicated emotion now in his eyes-awe.

"Madara, you..."

"Yeah," Madara interrupted, pointing back the way they had come. "Mission complete. Let's head back. I'll write the report. You fill in the details."

He turned and headed toward the maintenance ladder, his steps as light as though he had just returned from a stroll.

Megumi Fushiguro watched his retreating figure, then looked at the spot where the cursed spirit had just vanished.

He took a deep breath, recalled his Divine Dogs, and hurried to catch up.

Walking behind Madara, Megumi Fushiguro truly understood for the first time what Okkotsu had once said: "Madara might even be stronger than me."

He had thought that was an exaggeration before. Now he knew it was probably true.

The two retraced their steps, climbed the maintenance ladder, and returned to the surface.

The sun was setting, dyeing the sky a warm orange-red.

Madara stood beside the shaft opening, stretched, then looked at Megumi Fushiguro.

"How do you feel? Any discomfort?"

Megumi Fushiguro was silent for two seconds, then said earnestly, "No. Everything's fine."

Madara patted his shoulder. "Good. Let's go report back, then I'll treat you to ramen-there's a really good place nearby."

"Okay."

The two walked down the street toward the station.