Chapter 7: Five Years Later
Time Skip — Five Years
The forest surrounding the Gojo Clan estate was quiet.
Tall trees stretched toward the sky, their leaves whispering softly in the wind. Hidden deep within those woods was a place few outsiders ever saw—the Gojo Clan's private training grounds.
Like the training fields of the Zenin Clan, the Gojo Clan maintained a controlled area where cursed spirits were captured and sealed. Sorcerers trained there by fighting real enemies instead of wooden dummies.
Inside that forest—
Sanjiro ran.
A massive boulder scraped along the rocky mountain path behind him, dragged by a thick rope tied around his waist. Each step carved shallow marks into the ground as the enormous weight resisted his movement.
Sweat rolled down his bare back.
His body had changed.
The boy who once struggled against a single curse was gone.
Now, at nearly fourteen years old, Sanjiro's physique had hardened through years of relentless training. His muscles were lean and defined, built through pain and repetition.
He wore nothing but a loose black hakama tied around his waist.
Every breath burned.
But he kept running.
Five years of training under Kozuki Gojo had taught him one rule above all else:
Pain meant progress.
The rope around his waist finally snapped loose as he reached the end of the mountain path.
Ahead of him—
A river roared violently through the rocks.
Without hesitation, Sanjiro untied the rope and shoved the boulder aside.
Then he jumped straight into the freezing water.
The current immediately tried to drag him downstream.
Sanjiro clenched his teeth.
"Argh…!"
The river fought him with every stroke.
Cold water battered his muscles as he forced his body forward against the rushing current.
Each movement felt heavier than the last.
His arms burned.
His lungs screamed.
But he didn't stop.
The river eventually narrowed into a steep waterfall crashing down the mountainside.
Sanjiro swam until he reached the edge—
Then he launched himself out of the water and landed against the wet stone beside the fall.
He looked up.
The waterfall towered above him like a wall of thunder.
Sanjiro raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
"Bone Stairs."
Immediately—
White bones erupted from the cliffside beside the waterfall.
They twisted together, forming a staircase that climbed straight up the mountain.
Sanjiro moved quickly.
Step.
Step.
Step.
He leapt up the bone staircase until he reached the top.
The moment his foot touched the ground—
WHOOSH
A wooden staff swung toward his head.
Sanjiro tilted his head slightly.
The staff sliced through empty air.
Standing before him was Kozuki Gojo.
The older sorcerer didn't stop attacking.
The staff reversed direction and whipped toward Sanjiro's ribs.
Sanjiro sidestepped.
Another strike.
He ducked.
A sweeping strike toward his legs—
Sanjiro jumped and flipped backward, landing several meters away.
Kozuki rested the staff across his shoulder.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
"You're getting better."
His sharp eyes studied Sanjiro carefully.
"Should I start taking this seriously?"
Sanjiro wiped water from his face.
"Of course."
He raised a hand.
A bone staff formed in his grip.
"Why not?"
Kozuki's smile widened.
Without warning—
He threw his staff like a spear.
Sanjiro tilted his head slightly.
The weapon flew past him harmlessly.
But the moment it passed—
Kozuki disappeared.
[Cursed Technique: Flash step.]
The next instant he was already in front of Sanjiro, his fist driving upward in a brutal uppercut.
Sanjiro vanished.
He reappeared behind Kozuki, his hand raised in a chopping strike aimed directly at the man's neck.
Kozuki sensed the attack instantly.
He ducked and drove a punch into Sanjiro's stomach.
But Sanjiro twisted his body sideways, letting the punch slide past him.
He flipped backward—
His heel smashing into Kozuki's chin mid-flip.
The impact launched the older sorcerer into the air.
Kozuki spun once before landing smoothly on his feet.
"…Wow."
He rubbed his chin.
"You really have gotten better."
Sanjiro smirked slightly.
"I learned from the best."
Kozuki chuckled.
"Flattery won't save you."
He raised his fists, cursed energy flowing through his arms.
"Let's see how good you are with that cursed technique of yours."
Sanjiro lowered his stance.
Bones began forming quietly behind him.
The forest fell silent.
Then—
They both moved.
Two figures blurred across the battlefield.
Their fists collided mid-charge.
BOOM
The shockwave shook the surrounding trees.
Both of them slid backward.
Sanjiro recovered first.
He slammed his foot against the ground.
Bone spikes erupted from the earth, racing toward Kozuki like a tidal wave of white spears.
Kozuki vanished.
Flash Step.
He appeared behind Sanjiro and swung a punch at the back of his head.
Sanjiro bent backward at an impossible angle.
The punch missed by centimeters.
He snapped back upright and spun his bone staff toward Kozuki's ribs.
Kozuki blocked the strike with his forearm, cursed energy hardening his body.
Then he vanished again.
Flash Step.
Flash Step.
Flash Step.
His movements turned into blinding bursts of speed.
Sanjiro's eyes tracked every movement.
A punch came from the left.
He dodged.
A kick from the right.
He twisted away.
Another strike aimed at his throat.
Sanjiro teleported.
FSSHH!
He reappeared in mid-air above Kozuki. His hand glowing a faint blue colour along with his left eye.
[Cursed Technique: Soul manipulation- blue]
FWOOSH!
Gravity suddenly dragged Kozuki downward.
His body slammed into the ground as invisible force crushed him.
But Kozuki grinned.
"Too slow."
Flash Step.
He escaped the gravitational pull instantly.
The next moment—
A massive skull-shaped cannon appeared behind Sanjiro.
"Fire."
SKRRR!
A beam of cursed energy exploded across the battlefield.
Kozuki vanished again.
But this time—
He appeared directly inside a cage of orange bones.
The moment he stopped moving—
The bones exploded inward.
The blast slammed Kozuki into the ground.
The impact carved a deep crater into the rocky terrain.
Dust slowly settled.
Sanjiro stood quietly near the edge of the crater.
Below him—
Kozuki lay unconscious at the center.
Sanjiro exhaled slowly.
Then he sat down on a nearby rock and waited.
Thirty minutes later—
A hand emerged from the crater.
Kozuki climbed out slowly, groaning as he rubbed his ribs.
"You really weren't holding back."
He laughed weakly.
"How does it feel beating up an old man like me?"
Sanjiro shrugged.
"…It was fun."
Kozuki burst into laughter—
Then immediately winced in pain.
He limped toward Sanjiro, leaning slightly as he walked.
"Well."
He sighed.
"Today's training is finished."
Sanjiro looked at him curiously.
Kozuki grinned.
"Get ready."
He pointed toward the distant mountains.
"Today you're leaving."
Sanjiro blinked.
"For where?"
Kozuki's answer was simple.
"Tokyo Jujutsu High."
Sanjiro stared for a moment.
Then he walked forward and lifted Kozuki onto his back.
The older man didn't protest.
The two of them slowly began walking down the mountain together.
A new chapter of Sanjiro's life—
Was about to begin.
...
(A/N): So, what years should i put him in? With hakari or with maki.
Any recommendations for love interests? Except maki anyone. (Needs to be a confirmed female.)