Naruto: Uzumaki Yuji [EN]

[ Konan POV ]

In a silence I was already accustomed to, always standing by Nagato's side whenever he needed me, I gently clenched my hands as I saw strands of white hair emerging beneath his red locks, concealing the strain of forcing his eyes.

Despite Yahiko's death having occurred many years ago, I still lament everything Nagato had to endure, all just to save me from my own weakness when I allowed myself to be captured by Hanzo.

And now, Nagato, who was once the shy and kind boy of our organization, has become a cold and intimidating being, controlling Yahiko's corpse with the power of the Rinnegan.

I... I must simply obey.

Tending to the main body, as Nagato had most of his being connected to tubes that supplied him with the necessary nutrients, I noticed how his expression tensed.

"Did something happen?" I asked softly, noticing how his gaze was directed at a dead point hidden in the cave.

"Yes... I sensed a massive chakra presence along with an endless thirst for blood, but it seems there is another... There are two individuals. They could be very dangerous. They're at the coast of Amegakure, where it connects with Kusagakure. You need to go and take a look."

I frowned at Nagato's words, but I simply nodded.

I would not disobey his orders.

"I will return as soon as I confirm their identities. It won't take long." Even though Nagato said that, I would still evaluate whether they could be two formidable enemies.

I slowly disappeared using my paper ninjutsu, my body transforming into origami butterflies, floating endlessly in search of the chakras. As I neared the coast that Nagato had mentioned, I realized that, indeed, in the midst of one of the destroyed cabins, I felt a strong oppression emanating from the place.

This feeling... was not chakra.

It was something darker and more sinister, as if I were being watched by a being worse than death itself. A feeling as if I were about to die at the hands of someone.

With my expression slightly troubled, my half-formed face emerged cautiously as I landed on the ground, my body quickly reforming by gathering all the origami, creating origami shuriken around me, ready to attack at any moment. As I carefully approached the room, I noticed something that surprised me.

I thought I would find a malevolent being overflowing with that sinister and intimidating energy, perhaps a great man thirsty for war.

But...

Why are there two unconscious children here?

As I looked around, I noticed a girl, who seemed older. She didn't particularly concern me, but when I laid my eyes on that boy...

All the malignant energy I felt, the oppressive force heightening my survival instincts, was coming from that small, unconscious boy before me. I pursed my lips in concern because, despite both of them having abundant chakra, the boy was the only one who made me feel threatened.

"This oppressive sensation... this is the first time I've encountered something like this... It feels similar to a..." Trying to think, I truly didn't know how to interpret it. The only ones who exude such a presence, the only thing that comes to mind, is what Nagato described about the jinchūrikis. My eyes gazed at the unconscious boy, confused.

As I approached them both, I noticed the girl was injured. "It's possible they were running away..." That was the only explanation I could think of. The girl's feet were wounded, with cuts trailing up her legs. But when I looked at the boy, he was unscathed.

Despite that unsettling feeling, I looked at both children with pity. I truly hated seeing how children had to flee due to human cruelty.

Very soon, we will begin our plan so that no innocent person suffers what we have suffered.

With care, several origami pieces detached from my body and wrapped around both children. I needed to hide them in case they had escaped from somewhere to shelter them, to protect them.

I found a nearby cave within the village, where I transported the children. This remote location would help obstruct perception ninjas; only highly skilled ones would be able to find them. With calm precision, I placed both children down and approached the only one who was injured. Without showing any emotion on my stoic face, I gently bandaged the girl.

Now, I would let them rest in this place.

Before leaving, my amber gaze once again settled on the boy, who had a peaceful expression. He didn't seem to be in pain, though he constantly emitted a strange sensation one that I couldn't visibly see.

It seemed like he was having a pleasant nap.

What could he be dreaming about...?

I shook my head slightly and returned to the base, where Nagato's main body was.

That boy had too much potential. He could be a jinchūriki, given the persistent darkness his presence emanated toward me. But honestly...

I hope he isn't. If he is, it means he is destined to die at the hands of the Gedo Mazo through the integration ritual.

When I arrived at the base, I found Nagato. Seeing his serious expression, I began to speak.

"They were just two children... I estimate they're around eight and four years old. They look very thin, and both... also have red hair," I whispered softly, noticing Nagato's surprised expression.

This also made me think that those children could be distant relatives of Nagato, especially upon noticing how he tensed.

"Where are they now?"

"It seems they were fleeing. The older one had injured feet, with a deep cut in one of them. It's possible they escaped from Kusagakure since I found them near the border." I spoke calmly, expressing my perspective, noticing how Nagato pondered over it.

"...Give them a place to settle within Amegakure."

Hearing his voice, I simply gave a slight nod, obeying his command. Though Nagato didn't say it explicitly, I would also act to provide them a place to live in the Rain Village. After all, they were merely victims of the last war we endured.

"By the way, did you identify that malignant chakra? Which one of them was it from?" Nagato's insistent gaze made me pause mid-step.

"I... I don't actually think it was chakra. It felt deeper. The boy's chakra is abundant, but not malicious," I recalled that sensation, shivering slightly, though it was imperceptible. "It felt darker, like someone who has killed for a long time. A sadistic presence... The younger boy was the source of that sensation. But I confirm—it was possibly an aura surrounding him. He doesn't seem to be a threat," I responded, still calm, noting Nagato's thoughtful expression.

"How strange... Have you noticed a sealing technique on his abdomen?" It seemed he was also considering the possibility that the boy could be a newly created jinchūriki.

"So far, I haven't noticed anything," I firmly denied, observing Nagato nod in acknowledgment, signaling me to return to the children.

Until now, we have had no reports of an uproar from the great villages about losing a jinchūriki, which also negates the possibility of the boy being a vessel.

But then, what could be that oppressive sensation emanating from the child's body?

I had no answers to my doubts. Before I realized it, I had returned to where the children were. It hadn't taken me long. When I entered, I saw the boy —who had made me uneasy— awake.

Instead of meeting a dead stare as I had expected, that boy, despite his mature eyes, still had a fleeting glimmer of innocence in them.

But to my surprise, the oppressive and intimidating aura he once had... vanished, as if it had evaporated.

"Who are you? Did you bring us here?" The boy's voice was filled with doubt and nervousness.

If I had never sensed that previous unease, I would think he was just a frightened child. However, he was simply being cautious.

"You don't need to be afraid, little one," I said.

Unintentionally, I imagined Nagato in his place.

Because that boy had something Nagato lost long ago.

That light...

The feeling that child gave me, a malignant and wicked unease, disappeared when he dedicated a smile to me so radiant that even my stoic gaze slowly faded away, returning a soft and sorrowful smile, as warm as the morning dew.

That child brought me an overwhelming sense of peace.

And now, the image of a bloodthirsty and dangerous child was twisting into something illuminated.

As we left that cave, I promised them shelter in Amegakure, holding the child's hand to guide him to an abandoned house in the village. Seeing the determination of the little one when I told him he was still weak, at that very moment, instead of seeing Nagato in his features, I could only remember the one my heart cried for every night, Yahiko.

That child had an unbreakable determination, wanting to become strong, and I noticed it.

And now, we have arrived at what will be the new home for these siblings.

___________________________

As they entered, Yūji showed interest. Throughout the journey, he noticed how the village never stopped raining, the streets were mostly deserted, and every person who came out looked at Konan with gratitude and joy. Despite the village's depressed state, that was the only emotion he found in it.

"We've arrived. This will be the place where you'll stay," the redhead heard the elegant woman's voice. Yūji eagerly entered the place, appreciating it, though it was dusty and had peeling paint in some areas. It was still larger than his former home.

"It's very spacious, I like it!" the child spoke joyfully as he ran around, happily looking at the older woman, his smile enormous.

Konan tried to feign her serious expression again, but the softened look on her face betrayed her thoughts.

"Yes, I hope you can adapt and that the rain in the village doesn't bother you. It may seem like a pessimistic village, but it has warmth now that we've managed to provide food and water. I will also give you a ration of food and water so you can grow well," Konan said sincerely. After all, that was the original purpose of Akatsuki, which she still upheld, and Nagato understood but never stopped her.

Although Akatsuki had changed its initial goal and most of its members had scattered, she still helped those in need, so she would help these two orphaned children.

Yūji sincerely expressed his immense gratitude with a soft smile. "Thank you so much, Sister Konan, you're truly a good person."

This time, Konan didn't try to hide her smile, she simply offered it to the boy. "I'll come back in a moment to bring you a month's supply of food and water. For now, rest here and settle in properly."

To the little redhead's surprise, he watched as Konan disappeared into beautiful origami butterflies, making him feel excited to learn ninjutsu. But as Sister Konan had said, he was still very small and weak his body had never undergone any training.

"I have to become strong. It seems, as Gojo-sensei said, that this place might be worse than Japan was with the Cursed Spirits' war," the boy muttered to himself, now left alone with his sister, who was showing signs of waking up. Judging by their stay in the cave, they had likely spent the night there, and it was still early in the day.

Yūji curiously watched his sister, waiting for her to wake up. He wanted to explain everything that had happened. Though it wasn't much, he would help clear her doubts.

"Mmh... huh?" Karin furrowed her brow. As she slowly woke up and looked around, she realized she had collapsed in the forest, but now she saw a ceiling. She didn't even have time to take in her surroundings, as she feared the Grass Ninjas had captured them again and that they were imprisoned in Kusagakure once more.

Startled, she got up, ready to fight, but what she saw left her bewildered. She wasn't chained, there were no ninjas, and her little brother was sitting on the floor, looking at her curiously his expression quickly changing to noticeable joy.

"Yūji? Where are we?" the girl asked, genuinely confused about why their surroundings had changed.

Yūji stood up and handed her the black-framed glasses she always wore. "Some things happened, Sister, but now everything is fine! Those bad ninjas won't find us," the little boy said firmly yet cheerfully, though Karin remained perplexed.

"I see… Can you explain what happened? I didn't even get to hide you, I just collapsed," Karin was genuinely ashamed of her pathetic condition. This time, she had collapsed without even protecting her younger brother.

But she saw Yūji shake his head with a smile. "Don't worry, Sister. When you fell, I carried you and took us somewhere safe, but I fell asleep and woke up in a dark place. A very pretty sister found us and healed the wound on your thigh. I protected you in case she was a bad person, but it turns out she wasn't. Now she brought us to Amegakure and said she would give us food supplies for a whole month. She just left a moment ago," the boy spoke so quickly that Karin could barely process the information flooding her mind. She blinked in disbelief at everything her younger brother was saying.

"Are you sure we weren't kidnapped?" She still felt some fear, her mother had told them that all ninjas would be hostile toward them, that everyone would either hate them or use them for their own benefit.

"No, Sister, I'm telling you the truth! Why don't you believe me?" Yūji complained, shaking Karin's arm slightly, but he was surprised when she hugged him tightly. His small eyes curiously looked at her long red hair.

"Idiot… What a foolish brother I have. You should have protected yourself. What if she had been a bad person? You should have run away and left me! I would never forgive myself if something happened to you," Karin's voice was trembling, surprising Yūji. Feeling that fraternal love something he hadn't felt in so long tightened his throat. Hearing such harsh words about abandoning her and running away like a coward…

His eyes narrowed as he gently returned his sister's embrace. "I would never abandon you. I will always be here to protect you, no matter what… You are the only thing I have," this time, it wasn't his new soul speaking, Yūji said it with seriousness and solemnity, affirming that in this life, the only thing that would ever make him feel safe and whole was his sister.

Karin's teary eyes narrowed, feeling a tear fall from her eyelid, a soft smile forming on her face. "And that's why I say you're a fool beyond saving, thinking of me before yourself…" She wouldn't deny that she was moved by her brother's words. "I'm the one who's supposed to protect you, not the other way around," she gently wiped her eyes and separated from her brother, still giving him a smile. "But let's not dwell on this. What matters is that she wasn't a bad person, and she was kind enough to give us a place to stay."

Yūji simply returned a soft smile, agreeing with his sister.

"Well… So, you're saying we're in the Village of Rain?" Karin asked, calming her emotions as she watched the little redhead's excitement return.

"That's right, Sister. But for now, rest—you're very injured. I'll help clean up this new home," the little boy spoke firmly, though it was somewhat amusing since his squeaky voice and small stature didn't make him look intimidating. Karin just smiled in amusement.

"Alright, little boss, I'll obey your orders," the girl said calmly, watching Yūji move around. As for Karin, she lay back down gently and looked at her bandaged wounds. She really didn't think she'd be able to move for a few days until they healed properly.

Meanwhile, the little redhead, although he said he would help clean, also went to a secluded spot away from his sister to sit down.

'I have to speak directly with Sukuna. If he's tied to my soul, then I'll settle things with that bastard,' the boy thought. Though he put on a tough facade, deep inside, he felt a deep, lingering fear. After all, that man had slaughtered everyone he ever cared about. But he had to be strong, he had to survive in this new world alongside his sister.

Closing his eyes, he now embarked into the depths of his soul. Slowly, everything around him darkened, allowing him to perceive his inner self. Though his soul was a place full of light and life, deeper and farther away, there was a contaminated space vibrant, thick blood with a fetid, nauseating stench of death and heart-wrenching wails. In that space within his soul, he saw himself as he had died in his past life.

With confidence and a firm gaze, he stepped from the space within his soul, which felt like heaven itself, into that harrowing place of death. His steps echoed as if he were treading on water, splashing with each movement. The only sound that could be heard was the reverberation of the surroundings.

At times, he could hear the memory of that blood, the screams and pleas of the people. After all, it had been years and years of suffering caused by Sukuna.

Upon reaching the depths, he saw the characteristic area where Sukuna always resided, a pile of human skulls slowly forming a mountain. He saw the infamous throne of the King of Curses, and behind that enormous hill of skulls stood the Torii gates, marking the sacred temple of Sukuna. He noticed how the being now appeared ecstatic, cynicism gleaming in his eyes alongside his four characteristic arms. He no longer resembled Yūji.

He was now truly in his complete form.

"Finally, your subconscious has awakened! At last! Now, with this, all my power returns to me! Haha!" The man, now noticeably more muscular and towering, laughed loudly. Yūji remained unmoved by his cynical and thunderous laughter.

"I don't care if you regain all your power because, just as you reclaim it, so do I... Haven't you realized something, Sukuna?" He spoke with a chilling calm that made the King of Curses leap to the blood-soaked ground, which reflected their very bodies.

"I'm sure you are still the perfect vessel for my return, brat," the curse spoke confidently, his towering figure casting a shadow over the now red-haired boy. Sukuna looked at him with disdain. "You may have reincarnated in Japan again, but my soul still resides within you, giving me the possibility to return to life and flood the world with death and the beautiful, harrowing cries of people." With each word Sukuna uttered, his four eyes opened, accompanied by that chilling smile etched onto his face.

But Yūji's firm expression remained unchanged.

"You're wrong, Sukuna. Your soul is now also part of mine. You will never possess my body again… because we are no longer in Japan, nor in the world you once knew."

What Yūji said made the pink-haired being growl as he placed his hand around the boy's neck.

Lifting Yūji, in a position that clearly showed Sukuna's rage, he tightened his grip on that prominent part of his throat.

"You're lying, brat. But it doesn't matter, you've put yourself in the perfect position for me to kill your soul and take over your body. Be a good vessel and die as miserably as before," Yūji feared that Sukuna would once again fight him.

And he was right. Sukuna displayed a bloody grin, already planning to use his favorite cursed technique; Dismantle.

Yūji felt tense, preparing for battle, but before making a move, he realized that in his spiritual space, he could also mobilize his chakra. Though he lacked much knowledge about this energy, it was far purer than what he knew as Cursed Energy.

Sukuna was surprised. Before making his characteristic motion, four thick chains emerged from behind Yūji, emitting a vibrant golden glow, along with radiant lights that starkly contrasted with the gloomy surroundings.

"What the hell is this? An innate technique?" Sukuna spoke, feeling himself restrained by the chains, preventing him from using his power. But what was even more surprising made him realize something shocking.

"T-This... damned thing is absorbing my cursed energy!" the King of Curses roared in fury, his face contorted with rage toward Yūji.

"This is not an innate technique, not in the way you think..." Yūji was also surprised that he could manifest these chains at will. He recalled bringing them forth once in a moment of rage, but now, using them seemed to consume a great deal of what he understood as Chakra.

Yūji saw that, no matter how much Sukuna wanted to break free, the chains tightened more and more, leaving him with no means of escape.

"You can't do anything anymore, Sukuna. Your soul, your power, everything that is you now belongs to me." His voice was serious, his expression devoid of emotion as he faced what was once the most powerful curse known.

"You..." The accumulated rage was evident in Sukuna's growl as he struggled in vain.

"If you don't believe me, I can still show you some mercy. I'll let you remain by my side, as you always did. After all, I am you, and you are me. From now on, with every soul of mine that reincarnates and transmigrates from body to body, so too shall you." Yūji spoke firmly, watching as Sukuna ceased his movements.

The curse stood still, listening carefully to every word, though his furious expression remained.

He had to accept the reality that the brat had truly trapped him.

But he wouldn't give up. In a moment of weakness, in an instant of no return, he knew that Yūji would always turn to him.

And he, in turn, would reclaim his body once more.

Sukuna looked at Yūji mockingly. "Brat, I'll accept your terms, but if I ever find a way to escape, I'll take it, and I'll make you witness suffering firsthand. You'll see your acquaintances, your friends, everyone you love… suffer at my hands once again. And I will laugh at your misery. I will be the nightmare that never stops watching for the opportunity to see you in agony."

With that, Sukuna accepted Yūji's words, making his stance clear.

Yūji knew that what he said was true.

That's why he had to become stronger, no matter what.

Because it would never happen a second time.