(Disclaimers: I don't Naruto or Jujutsu kaisen. Obviously, do i have to keep repeating this every chapter? Oh it helps increase the chapter's length. alright then. Much love to the actual creators of both these pieces of fiction)
[A/N: Yo this chapter is a bit shorter than the previous ones. Sorry, not sorry.]
[Chapter Start]
The rest of the genin exam passed without anything worth remembering. Even if something noteworthy had happened, I probably wouldn't have noticed. My head was too busy.
Now that I finally knew where in the timeline I'd been reborn, things were starting to line up—and that was honestly, it was more terrifying than comforting. Obito's so-called death. Rin's actual one. Those were the obvious ones, the tragedies everyone remembered.
But they weren't the only disasters waiting around the corner.
Sakumo Hatake.
In a few years, Kakashi's father would commit suicide. I couldn't remember Kakashi's exact age when it happened, just that it was early, way too early.
Young enough that it permanently broke something in him. Young enough that his view on life changed overnight.
Then there was the big one—the Third Great Ninja War.
If my memory wasn't completely screwing with me, it was still years away, but not that far. Seven or eight, maybe. Kakashi had been around twelve or thirteen during it, which meant I had roughly the same amount of time to get my shit together before the world decided to light itself on fire again.
Seven or eight years to prepare.
Not a lot, considering what I was dealing with.
I already decided to hold off on attempting to learn blue until I was older.
Even if I technically understood how it worked, my current control over Limitless wasn't anywhere near good enough to attempt it safely.
Best case scenario, nothing happened. Worst case, I erased part of the compound and gave Hiashi a heart attack.
Neither outcome sounded appealing, expect for the part where Hiashi gets a heart attack.
And don't get me started on the other techniques, I don't fancy a headache right now.
I was pulled out of my thoughts when I noticed a hand extended toward me.
Kakashi.
The genin exams were over, and judging by the firm hand resting on his shoulder, Sakumo had definitely nudged—or outright forced him to be polite.
"I'll see you around, Hakari," Kakashi said.
I turned fully toward him and shook his hand. "Yeah. You too, Kakashi."
A second later, Sakumo formed a single hand seal—a one-handed Ram and the two of them vanished in a blur.
Shunshin.
I stared at the empty space they'd occupied for a moment.
Yeah… I really need to learn that. it'll be useful until i learn teleportation via blue.
Jun's hand found mine, pulling my attention back to the present.
I took it without comment, and the three of us headed out of the academy training grounds together, the sounds of the village slowly swallowing the echoes of parents congratulating their children from behind us.
"Is there anywhere else you want to visit, Hakari?" Jun asked as we continued through the village.
I was about to answer when my stomach decided to jump in first, letting out a very loud and embarrassing growl that echoed just enough for both of my eternal guards to hear it clearly.
"…A restaurant," I said after a beat, choosing to pretend that hadn't just happened. "You guys know any good places?"
I tilted my head up toward them, and to my surprise, Hitensu's pale eyes lit up—just a little.
Barely noticeable, but enough that I caught it even through the blindfold.
Oh, So he is not a mindless drone, after all.
Jun noticed it too and smirked. "I'm not much of an eater," he said casually. "but Hitensu's basically been to every restaurant in the village. Right?"
I turned my blindfolded gaze toward Hitensu. He looked annoyed at being called out, but for the first time since I'd met him, there was an actual crack in that stone-cold expression.
"Well," he said after a moment, "there's a really good yaki soba place just around the corner."
Decision made.
"Alright then," I said. "Let's go there then"
Hitensu nodded, the irritation fading as he turned and led the way. Jun followed alongside me, noticeably more relaxed than he'd been earlier.
"You're gonna love yaki soba," Jun said cheerfully, before a sharp look from Hitensu reminded him that this technically wasn't a casual outing.
More like an escort mission involving a potentially village-altering asset.
We arrived a minute later. The restaurant stood out immediately.
The wood making up the exterior was darker than most of the surrounding buildings, giving it a more refined, almost upscale look.
The inside matched it. There was warm lighting, polished surfaces, and an atmosphere that felt comfortable without being flashy.
The smell hit me as soon as we stepped inside. Savory, sweet, and earthy all at once. My stomach responded enthusiastically.
The place was busy, mostly shinobi from the looks of it.
Jun spoke briefly with who I assumed was the owner while I caught the familiar feeling of being stared at again.
At this point, I was used to it. After four years, being the center of attention was practically routine.
We were seated quickly, and not long after, three bowls of yaki soba were placed in front of us.
For a while, we ate in silence. Not an awkward one—just quiet.
Jun tried to make light conversation once or twice, but Hitensu didn't add much, and honestly, I didn't mind.
For one day, we'd already made more progress than I'd expected. The invisible wall between us felt thinner, like it was slowly starting to crack.
When we finished, Hitensu paid without comment, and we stepped back out into the cold village air.
Back on the road again.
"Should we head back to the compound now?" Jun asked, holding out his hand.
I took it out of habit and nodded. The snow was starting to pick up, thick flakes drifting down in greater numbers, and we turned back toward the Hyuga compound.
Normally, the Six Eyes were… manageable. Annoying, sure, but manageable. Right now, though? They were actively trying to suffocate me.
Every single snowflake falling around us registered in my perception. Each tiny shift in air, every microscopic change in trajectory.
Even with the blindfold filtering most of it out, the sheer volume of information was overwhelming, like someone had decided my brain was the perfect place to dump the entire concept of winter.
I was internally cursing Master Roshi for granting me this power when something changed.
A presence.
Which was faint and sinister.
About twenty meters behind us.
My steps didn't falter, but my attention snapped to it instantly.
Both Jun and Hitensu were on guard as usual, but neither of them reacted.
That alone made my skin crawl. Whoever it was, they were either absurdly skilled—or deliberately letting me be the only one to notice.
I could feel it then. A gaze which was Heavy and Invasive. Like fingers pressing into the back of my skull.
Instinct took over.
My right hand yanked the blindfold down as I turned.
And there he was, half of his body behind a tree.
Long, straight black hair. Skin so pale it almost blended into the snow-covered street. Amber eyes with slit pupils, sharp and inhuman, staring straight into mine.
Orochimaru, One of the Legendary Sannin.
The Jeffrey Epstein of the Naruto world.
I should've known. I really should have.
He was still a Leaf shinobi at this point—this was before his defection, before the war twisted him into something openly monstrous. But the predator was already there, lurking just beneath the surface.
His eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across his face as our gazes locked.
Then he was gone.
No sound. No chakra trail. Nothing. Like he'd never been there at all.
I froze for half a second before I noticed Jun and Hitensu turning around, confusion written all over their faces.
"What is it, Hakari?" Jun asked, worry clear in his voice.
I pulled my blindfold back up, forcing my expression to settle. "Nothing," I said. "Must've been the wind."
They accepted it, even if neither of them fully believed it, and we continued walking.
My guard, however, stayed razor-sharp.
For the first time since being reborn, real fear settled in my chest.
At my current level, someone like Orochimaru wouldn't even have to try. If he wanted to do somthing, there'd be nothing I could do about it. Sure i could stall for a bit with limitless but i didn't have anything offensive in my arsenal.
As we passed through the gates of the Hyuga compound, annoyance crept in alongside the fear.
Damn it!... Hiashi was right.
I hated admitting that.
The uptight, tradition-obsessed clan head had been completely correct. I was still a kid, still vulnerable, and wandering freely around the village right now was just asking to get abducted, dissected, or worse.
I swallowed my pride as we entered the compound grounds.
No more trips into the village until the academy which was next year.
It was a bitter pill to swallow—but a necessary one. Because the alternative potentially involved swallowing a whole lot worse at the hands of a certain disturbingly pale Sannin.
And that was one experience I had absolutely no intention of adding to my second life.