Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Sukuna! Pay your Rent!
Chapter 1: Sukuna! Pay Your Rent!
Konoha, Year 41.
After the lull of the Second Shinobi World War, there was a baby boom, and this happened just as a new batch of kids enrolled in the ninja academy.
At five and a half years old, Kakashi was already welcoming new students as a student representative.
"Hey! Kakashi..."
Young Obito, wearing his signature goggles, moved closer to the sullen-looking Kakashi with the messy hair.
Kakashi, annoyed, nudged Obito away and said, "Idiot, get away from me."
Obito, usually carefree, seemed to have something on his mind, shuffling awkwardly, saying nothing yet not leaving.
"Obito, do you have something to tell Kakashi?" A girl with purple markings on her cheeks approached.
This was none other than Rin Nohara, the future member of Minato's squad who would sacrifice her life during the Third Shinobi World War.
"Idiot, if you have something to say, say it! The Hokage will be here soon!"
The ninja academy had no fixed curriculum; it had terms every six months, accepting new students each time. The length of study was random, usually dependent on the war situation.
If there was no war, they could study for a few more years; if there was, they'd graduate early and join the battle.
After all, no matter how the ninja academy was glorified, in essence…
It was still a training ground for assassins.
As if making a decision, Obito leaned in close to Kakashi's ear and said, "Kakashi… one of my clansmen is joining today, and he's…"
"He's a really scary guy! Especially when it comes to picking on me!"
"Don't be fooled by his appearance; he's really, really bad!"
"And… I heard the clan sent him here just to deal with you... Ow!"
Tap…
A pebble rolled down from the back of Obito's head with a crisp sound.
"Goggles, it's not good to talk behind people's backs."
A bit of background music and cherry blossom petals would make this scene look like something from a cheesy romance drama.
Unfortunately, there was none.
"Jerk! Don't call me Goggles! I'm Uchiha Obito!"
"Got it, Goggles."
The boy who spoke had short black curly hair, bright and lively eyes, and an innocent smile.
Obito turned red in frustration, and if Rin hadn't held him back, he might have charged at Uchiha Kagami.
Uchiha Kagami was the boy's name, sharing it with the subordinate of the Second Hokage.
He was originally an orphan of the Uchiha clan, adopted by Kagami's wife. To honor her deceased husband, she named him Kagami.
Indeed, people here have a habit of doing this.
Just like how Uchiha Sasuke was later named after the father of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sarutobi Sasuke, as a sign of respect and remembrance.
Of course, in Fugaku's case, it was likely meant as a sign of submission.
Yes, Kagami knew how things would unfold in the future. After all, the day before he transmigrated, he was arguing on a forum about the "Konoha Timeline," debating it all night.
Both sides had their evidence, but neither could convince the other.
It was a mess, impossible to untangle.
They had agreed to resume the debate the next day, but Kagami never showed up.
…
Well, this is a chance for me to see what the timeline is really like!
Looking at the trio before him, Kagami felt a bit nostalgic.
If he were just an outsider, he could joke, "Divine Kamui hides the tears."
But as a member of the Uchiha...
It's not funny at all.
If he didn't know that the root cause of the Uchiha massacre stemmed from issues dating back to the village's founding, taking out Obito wouldn't prevent it from happening.
Otherwise, Kagami would've already taken him out.
"Kagami, don't bully Obito!"
An elderly lady holding a baby approached. The baby, still young, already had a hint of a button nose.
This baby was Kagami's foster brother and future "Shisui of the Body Flicker."
"Sigh~"
"Granny, I'm just giving him a friendly nickname. Look at him getting all worked up as if he wants to hit me."
"Ah!!! Rin, let me go! I'm gonna kill him!"
"Beautiful lady, you can let him go; I'd like to see him try to kill me."
Watching the two argue at the academy gate, Kakashi shook his head in exasperation.
"Uchiha Kagami, right? Quiet down and get ready for the entrance ceremony. The Hokage will be here soon."
Kids in the ninja world mature fast; in the regular world, a five- or six-year-old can barely express themselves fully, while here, the faster ones are already ready to fight and kill.
Kagami studied Kakashi with interest, "Dead-fish eyes Kakashi with the broom head?"
Twitch—
Kakashi's forehead pulsed as he clenched his fists.
"I-AM-Hatake-Kakashi!" he emphasized, word by word.
This was practically bullying by nickname! His nickname was even worse than "idiot!"
Obito, who had been red with anger, now wore a different shade of red.
"Hahaha! Dead-fish eyes with a broom head!! Haha… mmph—"
Rin covered his mouth, nodded at everyone, and dragged Obito, who looked strangely happy, away.
Anger, excitement, happiness… Tch, if he gets provoked a little more, he might awaken his Sharingan.
Stepping closer to Kakashi, Kagami patted him on the shoulder, giving him a harmless smile, "Looking forward to working with you, Kakashi."
"Granny, you should take Shisui home now, okay?"
...
Once the semester started, the not-so-old Hiruzen Sarutobi took the stage and began speaking.
It was the same old speech about the Will of Fire, a doctrine passed down from the First Hokage, unchanged, with vague and contradictory values.
The more Kagami listened, the more bored he felt, and his mind wandered into his mental space.
——
In the dimly lit, blood-red mental space, a crimson iron gate divided the area in two.
From beyond the seal, a thick scent of blood emanated.
Above countless dried corpses hovered a figure, a god of death soaring in a sea of blood.
"Ryomen Sukuna"
Named after the mythical two-faced, four-armed demon, Sukuna was once a real person who, in the golden age of sorcerers, defeated every sorcerer with his overwhelming power.
He was the symbol of evil, the brutal King of Curses!
Now, two souls from different times and places had converged in the Shinobi world.
"Good morning, Four-Arms!"
On the other side of the seal, a massive shadow loomed, and a pair of blood-red eyes glared ferociously.
"Brat… I've told you before..."
"Don't look at me without my permission!"
A terrifying darkness surged forward but couldn't penetrate the seal.
Kagami looked up and smiled, ignoring Sukuna's threats.
At first, he was indeed a bit scared, but after a few tests, Sukuna couldn't break the seal and kill him.
So, Kagami was back in his comfort zone — taunting someone through a screen. Nothing to fear!
As he grew older, he realized he even had some control over this seal...
"You should be grateful you can hide in my body; I heard they're sending Kakarot after you out there."
"Kakarot? Who is that?"
Kagami raised his small hand and lightly punched the air.
"Just someone who can blow up the Earth with a punch."
Sukuna laughed angrily.
"Brat, no such person has ever existed. What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Short hair, short-sighted," Kagami smirked, waving dismissively.
"Forget Kakarot; people here already beat you up long ago."
"Do you know what that means? It means each one of them could hang you up and thrash you..."
"Enough!"
The old Sukuna would never have lost his composure like this, but now...
This cursed seal left him with zero chance of taking over this brat's body.
He couldn't even sense the outside world.
Damn it!
He'd just killed Gojo Satoru and hadn't had a chance to savor his victory before being thrown into this cursed place!
Damn it! Is the Spatial Cleave really this strong?
In the corner of the seal, Kagami noticed a wisp of dark energy seep through, and he promptly sealed the space again.
He skillfully absorbed the wisp, gaining some new slashing techniques.
"Alright, that's the rent for today; I'll be back after I digest this."
"Bye-bye~"
...
"Get back here, you brat!"
In the darkness, Sukuna roared in futile rage.
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