Kaede was stunned when several birds emerged from her shadow.
One of them landed on the Divine Dog's head and began pecking it like a woodpecker. The Divine Dog: Totality couldn't bear the pain and quickly ran to hide behind Kaede for protection.
Kaede stretched out her hand, and the crow perched on it.
"Megumi… is that you?"
The crow gave a small nod, then turned its head toward the direction of the ongoing battle. It let out a sharp cry and took to the skies, with the other crows following close behind.
When they arrived, the fight was already one-sided. The Konoha shinobi had not lost a single life, though some of the younger ones had suffered minor injuries.
The crows returned to Kaede, who was busy pulling out a scroll containing medicine. She began treating her wounds. Moments later, a jōnin appeared, drawn by the sound of a recent explosion.
When he arrived, he was shocked to find Kaede still alive, standing over the corpse of a rogue ninja. His eyes scanned the battlefield, and about ten meters away he spotted Kikiro's lifeless body. He wanted to ask questions, but this was the shinobi world—a place where comrades could fall within minutes.
"How was the battle on your end?" Kaede broke the silence, wanting a report.
The jōnin straightened himself and replied, "The young ones gained valuable experience. Only minor injuries—nothing severe."
Kaede nodded. "Good. Let's move before the sun goes down," she said, pushing herself up despite her wounds.
The crows perched silently on the trees, while the Divine Dog: Totality crouched among the branches, still shaken.
Kaede allowed herself a faint smile. She turned back to rejoin the group, determined to complete the mission and return home. Behind her, the lead crow tilted its head, signaling the others and the great wolf. One by one, they slipped back into her shadow, vanishing into the darkness.
---
"Whew… that was close. Thank God I left those birds inside her shadow," Megumi muttered.
Sitting inside a ramen shop, he had just finished his meal and rested his head on the table, making others think he was asleep. In truth, he had been seeing through the eyes of the crows inside Kaede's shadow. He had watched Kikiro try to kill his mother.
The memory made his blood boil. He wanted to tear Kikiro apart.
"I need to develop a new technique. What do you think, System?" he asked inwardly.
[...]
"Thank you for the meal." Megumi lifted his head and left the shop.
"Hey, System, say something," Megumi frowned. It was unusual—the System had been silent all morning, not mocking him as it usually did.
[What do you want, Host?]
"I need an idea to develop a new technique," Megumi said—an admission he immediately regretted. He had vowed to tell his mother about his innate cursed technique, and now he was breaking that promise.
[Why do you need a new technique?]
[You already possess Sukuna's cursed energy reserves, an infinite well that will grow as you mature.]
[All ten shikigami have been tamed for you without effort.]
[You make monsters like Sukuna and Kenjaku look lazy compared to your refined mastery of cursed energy—without ever setting foot in Jujutsu High.]
[The only reason you're still alive is that nobody considers you worth the trouble yet.]
[Or did you truly believe you could face the entire world with your cursed energy reserves and shikigami?]
[You claim to want a quiet life, yet every step you take makes you look more like a criminal.]
[Other children your age are enjoying their childhood. You…?]
[Your combat skills are pitiful. You can't win a one-on-one fight without relying on Black Flash. You never trained in swordsmanship—I was the one keeping your body sharp while you slept.]
[Listen well: you cannot develop a new technique.]
[If Megumi Fushiguro had half your arsenal, he'd have surpassed his potential long ago.]
[You act like a spoiled child, wanting everything without sacrifice.]
[No more new cursed techniques.]
Each word struck Megumi like a blade. He couldn't even defend himself.
"Maybe I haven't been true to myself," he thought. "Maybe I really am greedy… I should focus on swordsmanship, close combat, maybe boxing."
He wandered into the nearby forest, wearing a mask he had bought to hide his face. Activating his Hollow Eye, he allowed instinct to guide his movements.
Ahead, two rabbits were fighting for unknown reasons. Drawing a knife from his Shadow Box, he prepared to strike.
He lunged. One rabbit tried to flee, but he caught it by the neck.
Crack.
Both rabbits lay dead. The first of many kills to come.
"Which one should I roast, and which one should I turn into a soup?" he wondered aloud—until a voice interrupted.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" The tone was cold and cocky.
Megumi turned to find three men in uniform. Uchiha police officers.
"Uchiha? Why here? Is this forest a crime scene?" he thought, tension rising.
The mask hid his face, but that also made him look suspicious.
"Of all people… why the Uchiha?" He knew they didn't show mercy.
"I'm talking to you, punk!" one officer barked, irritated at the boy's calmness.
"Sorry, I don't talk to strangers. Who are you again?" Megumi said, trying to buy time while still clutching his rabbits.
"We're from the Uchiha Police Force. You're under arrest for trespassing on private property and theft," the second officer declared.
Megumi exhaled in relief—it wasn't murder. Still, if caught, the Nara elders would use it against his mother. Escape was the only option. He couldn't win a three-on-one fight.
"So this is what the System meant…" Megumi finally understood.
The Uchiha activated their Sharingan.
Megumi tensed, eyes narrowing. "System… can genjutsu work on me?"
[You are immune to genjutsu. But your fighting style can be copied.]
"Great. Then I just need to run and hide inside my Shadow Box," Megumi muttered, calming himself.
He activated Hollow Eye, erasing fear from his mind.
One officer lunged, trying to grab him, but was shocked at Megumi's speed.
"Stop! You're violating the law!" another shouted, frustrated. Even with chakra-enhanced speed, they couldn't catch him.
A talisman bomb, tied to a kunai, was hurled at him with deadly precision.
Megumi glanced back, dodged, and let a tree take the hit.
Boom!
Smoke filled the area. The Uchiha surrounded the spot, waiting.
"Come out now and stop hiding!" one sneered.
But when the smoke cleared, their target had vanished.