I'm using ninjutsu in Jujutsu Kaisen!

Chapter 27 – Victory

"Wait, wait, what? The new kid's fighting the boss?"

"Yeah, first time I've seen someone so cocky. Walked in and challenged the captain on day one. The last guy who tried that? There's a tree growing out of his grave now."

"Hey, don't underestimate him. I heard he took down both gate guards by himself. That's gotta count for something."

"Gate guards? You mean Ran and Ken? Please, those guys are barely stronger than bean sprouts. I could beat them both with one arm."

The guards whispered amongst themselves while Tatsuro calmly stretched out and placed his pack on the ground.

Inside it was his brand-new cursed tool—his long sword. The old one had already dulled from training with Maki.

"You've got guts, kid. Here's the deal: last ten seconds against me and you win. I won't bully you just 'cause I'm bigger."

Shuuichi Itou glanced at the blue backpack and asked with curiosity, "What's in the bag?"

"A sword."

Tatsuro didn't bother hiding it. Cursed tools were legally allowed for sorcerers.

"Interesting."

Itou crouched low, his leg muscles bulging, and grinned with excitement. "Then let's begin."

"Alright."

Tatsuro exhaled slowly, clenching his fists. He wasn't going to use cursed energy reinforcement right away. He wanted to see how martial arts outside of Maki's style measured up.

Murata, stopwatch in hand, shouted:

"Go!"

Whoosh—!

Itou burst forward like a human tank. Five meters vanished in an instant. His fist, the size of a melon, blasted toward Tatsuro's chest.

Fast!

Tatsuro's arms crossed in front of his chest just in time—but the impact was brutal. It felt like his bones would snap.

Nope. Can't take another one of those.

Cursed energy surged over his body and dispersed. One breath later, the raw force sent him flying.

BAM!!

Tatsuro crashed into a tree five meters away. The impact echoed through the quiet morning—and startled Yuto Mi, who had been asleep.

From her window, she saw her guards crowding around someone in the yard. Itou, the captain, looked excited—arms raised like he'd just won a championship.

What the heck…?

She rubbed her eyes and looked again.

Wait… that's… Tatsuro?

Sure enough, his back was covered in dust, and yet—he was standing up. Facing off against the captain again, fists raised.

"Ow… still hurts."

He shook his arms and said, "We're not done. That was only two seconds. Eight more to go."

He got up?

Murata looked down at his stopwatch. Two seconds—exactly. He'd stopped it the moment Tatsuro hit the tree.

Normally, an impact like that would mean a fractured rib—or unconsciousness.

"You… your arms are fine?"

Itou scratched his head, baffled. The kid's arms were like twigs. He could tell Tatsuro had trained, but this was unexpected.

"Of course they're fine. Want me to get an X-ray to prove it?"

Tatsuro flexed both hands and smirked. "Let's not waste time. Still got eight seconds left. If I win, you teach me all your moves."

"Tch."

Itou snorted and got into stance again.

"So that's what this is about—you're after my skills. That's why you challenged me."

"Exactly. Deal?"

"If you really last eight more seconds… I'll teach you everything, kid. Let's go."

Gulp.

Murata swallowed hard.

It's over… He's serious now.

This kid's toast.

"Start!"

The stopwatch began again.

This time, Itou didn't hold back. Every technique, every ounce of power he'd gained from near-death fights, he unleashed.

He wasn't allowed to kill—but if Tatsuro lost an arm or two? That was just part of training.

Faster!

Tatsuro barely tracked the movement. But this time, he'd already reinforced his body.

The punch came—

He blocked at the weakest point of impact, redirecting the force.

Then grabbed Itou's fist and pulled, trying to off-balance him.

Strong!

Itou instantly shifted to a wider stance, regaining control. His left hand came up to grab Tatsuro's neck.

The two clashed at lightning speed.

Murata stared at the stopwatch, counting under his breath:

"Four."

"Five."

"Six."

"No way… he's still holding up?"

"Seven."

"Are you kidding me?! He blocked the captain's strike?!"

"Eight!"

The captain's attacks were relentless—but Tatsuro wasn't folding. He even slipped out of a chokehold with raw strength.

Nine…

Even Itou started to panic.

Why is he still standing?!

Ten!

"Time's up! Tatsuro wins!"

Murata shouted, stopping the stopwatch.

The crowd fell silent.

They all looked shocked.

Eighty pounds of difference. Totally different weight classes. Yet this skinny kid had held his own against their boss?

"Whoa… did Tatsuro actually win?"

Yuto Mi was still watching from above. A small smile curved her lips.

So it's true. He's stronger than the captain.

Her father was too busy with corporate battles to care for her. With someone like Tatsuro around, she felt safe.

As for why she hadn't chosen the captain?

Simple.

He was too old. Too serious.

Tatsuro, meanwhile, was a cute boy around her age.

And according to her research, he was orphaned recently…

Basically a lonely puppy.

Messing with someone so innocent might be… kinda fun, right?