NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Ghost
Alone in the quiet of the estate, Naoya leaned against a tree, his sharp eyes narrowing as he analyzed his own strength. "I might be at the peak of a Grade 2 sorcerer in terms of raw power, but my speed… my speed is on par with the peak of Grade 1. Compared to Naobito, who's faster than even the fastest Special Grade curses, I still have a long way to go." The thought gnawed at him, a mix of pride and frustration. He had come far, but it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough.
"Gojo Satoru…" The name alone was enough to make his chest tighten. "The chance of me winning against him now—or even in the future—is zero percent. Absolute zero." The realization was bitter, but Naoya wasn't one to delude himself. Gojo was in a league of his own, a force of nature that defied logic. And yet, the thought of being so utterly outclassed burned like a fire in his gut.
"I can't afford to stagnate. If I don't push myself further, I'll end up just like the original Naoya—strong, but not strong enough. Maybe a little stronger, but still trapped in the same tier of power. That's not enough. Not for me." His fists clenched at his sides, cursed energy flickering around him like a storm waiting to be unleashed.
"I need to learn Domain Expansion. And I need to land at least one Black Flash. Without those, I'll never bridge the gap between me and the monsters of this world." The path ahead was clear, but it was also fraught with danger. Domain Expansion was no simple technique—it required an unparalleled understanding of one's cursed technique and an immense reservoir of cursed energy. And Black Flash? It wasn't something that could be forced. It demanded precision, instinct, and a touch of madness. But Naoya wasn't afraid of the challenge. If anything, it fueled him. The thought of pushing his limits, of breaking through the barriers that held him back, ignited a fire in his chest. He would do whatever it took to rise above the rest.
......
The next day, Naoya was taking a leisurely stroll around the Zenin estate, his mind still buzzing with plans for his next training session. The morning sun cast long shadows across the courtyard, and the air was filled with the faint hum of activity as clan members went about their duties. Naoya's body ached from the rigorous training he'd put himself through, but the pain was a reminder of his progress. He was about to turn a corner when suddenly, a strange sensation rippled through him—a cold, almost primal awareness that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
His eyes snapped forward, and there, walking casually past him, was Toji Zenin.
Naoya's breath hitched, his sharp eyes widening in shock. Toji moved with an effortless grace, his towering frame exuding an aura of raw, untamed power. He didn't even glance at Naoya as he passed, as if the boy were nothing more than a shadow in his periphery. But Naoya couldn't tear his gaze away. In that moment, he understood—truly understood—why the original Naoya had been so awestruck by this man.
Toji Zenin was a force of nature. A living anomaly. A being who had defied the very laws of the jujutsu world by thriving without a shred of cursed energy. And now, with his knowledge of the future, Naoya knew something even more terrifying: At this moment, in this time, Toji Zenin was the strongest living creature.
The realization sent a shiver down Naoya's spine. His mind raced as he watched Toji disappear down the corridor, the man's presence lingering like a storm cloud even after he was gone. The sheer weight of Toji's existence was overwhelming—a living testament to what raw, unbridled strength could achieve. For a moment, Naoya felt a flicker of doubt. How could I ever hope to surpass someone like him?
But then, his lips curled into a faint smirk as a memory from his past life surfaced. "I need to relax," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. "No need to feel doubtful. Toji's just a homeless guy who didn't want to pay child support. Hell, he even killed himself to get out of it."
The absurdity of the thought made him chuckle, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. The memes and jokes from his previous life had a way of putting things into perspective, even in this world of curses and sorcery. Toji might be a monster in terms of strength, but in the grand scheme of things, he was also… kind of a mess. A ridiculously powerful mess, but a mess nonetheless.
Naoya's smirk widened as he straightened up, his confidence returning. "Yeah, Toji's strong, but he's not invincible. And he's definitely not the kind of person I should be comparing myself to. I've got my own path to walk."
With that, he turned and walked away, his mood lighter. The encounter had been a reminder of the heights he needed to reach, but it had also reinforced his resolve. Toji Zenin might be a menace to society, but Naoya was determined to become something even greater—on his own terms.