Boom!
Yet another crash rattled the ground, with Izumi pushing Sukuna three steps back with strength alone.
'Okay... that Special Grade title sure is worth it on her, she's a heavy hitter, alright.'
Sukuna winced as pain shot through his limb, even after his best CE reinforcement, his hand was in bad shape. Multiple miniature cracks in the bones, bruised muscles, and an overall shaky arm which he kept steady by pure willpower to not look like he didn't have things under control.
Which he absolutely did, as long as he was ready to not just use Taijutsu. Turns out a good technique really does make a strong sorcerer. While he was only using his already bad CE reinforcement and Taijutsu alone, Izumi could use her technique, Star Rage, to add imaginary mass to her attacks, dealing massive damage against him.
He could tell that she wasn't doing her best, good since otherwise his bones wouldn't have stayed in one piece. But still, Kenjaku in the manga took her strongest attack at one point in close range by only CE reinforcement.
This just goes to show how bad his CE reinforcement was, especially when Ryomen Sukuna was arguably the most durable character in JJK. Gojo might only rank higher with his Infinity, but otherwise Ryomen Sukuna was 'the' tank.
Sukuna grumbled to himself, 'CE reinforcement training has to be added in my routine...' and then used reverse cursed energy to mend his shattered bones and wounded flesh.
"You really didn't use your technique." Izumi had a smile on her face until now. Maybe out of seeing Sukuna wasn't the kind of monster she expected him to be or just because she got a good punching bag today. Only she knows.
"Of course... can't have you dying on the very first week of teaching us now, can I, sensei." He shot back, still grinning, hands already fixed. Years of healing others had done wonders to his own RCT output.
Izumi snorted, but didn't say anything in return. She looked at Kiyomi and then back at him.
"It's enough for today... we'll pick up tomorrow from here on, you better use your technique if you don't wanna get smashed to the ground." She chuckled and then moved towards Kiyomi who still ignored her altogether.
"Sureeee, just make sure you eat something before coming. I didn't even feel those punches." Waving his eyes, Sukuna motioned to Karin to follow along and left, leaving Kiyomi and Izumi behind.
He fully intended to have her fight him every day from now on, it wasn't just his negligence that his CE reinforcement was shit. Good CE reinforcement is only built by tanking more damage and learning how to allocate the CE better.
He hardly had anyone who pushed him this much. Because he already had a high CE amount, he by default had a strong reinforcement; all he had to do was pour more and more CE on his body for defence.
But with brute force goes finesse. Yeah, he can tank a regular shinobi, even a Jonin which, believe it or not, are pretty rare. But Ryomen could have tanked Biju Bombs, he did tank Gojo's 200% Hollow Purple.
That was the level of defense this body was capable of. He was wasting it. Given that he wouldn't be tanking a Biju Dama anytime soon courtesy to Kamui, but still, when it comes to improving, this matters.
'Perhaps I should give up using Kamui until it's not absolutely necessary.' He pondered. He didn't see any other way to improve his reinforcement otherwise, outside getting the shit beaten out of him by Izumi or Tsunade, that is.
Sigh.
"So, what's the plan. Are you gonna train more. Oh, how about visiting the market with me. I heard there is a new movie in hall, about the Gale Princess… wanna watch together." Karin chirped.
"Ah, sorry Karin but I can't today. Got some errands I have to run." Sukuna gave a sorry smile to her.
"Oh... that's fine as well. Let's go together." Karin beamed.
"Ah no, what I mean is that I'll be running the errands." Sukuna reiterated, putting emphasis on him running the errands.
Karin blinked and finally understood what he meant. He was going outside the village.
"I wanna come too, take me along." She pouted.
"Sorry, but this time around I can't take you along. It could be a bit dangerous." He once again gave an apologetic smile.
"Bu… but you promised me you'll take me along." Karin pouted.
"Not this time." Sukuna shook his head, he couldn't take her along, not this time. This wasn't his traditional bounty hunting job. He was going to gather up some intel from the bounty market.
Yup, bounty markets were an awesome, excellent source of intel if one knows where to ask and is ready to pay for it. He couldn't take her along, he himself would be going completely undercover.
"Awhhhhh…" her pout inflated.
"Come on now. Don't be like that. Say what, I'll take you out somewhere nice afterwards. What you say."
"Really!"
"Yeah,"
"You promise!"
"Yeah yeah, promise." Sukuna just waved off his hand quickly at the clingy girl who finally, after getting a promise, left him be.
"Man, managing this undercover lifestyle is pretty dang hard."
—-<>—-
The news of Izumi being alive was a shock to most of the village, especially the Uchiha clan. Needless to say, there was a lot of gossiping around her recently.
Since she got out of the hospital, Izumi had to move back to the Uchiha compound, and recently both Kiyomi and Izumi were once again seen together. Like earlier, however, this time around they never seemed to talk or interact with each other much.
Izumi glanced over to Kiyomi from the side of her eyes, pursing her lips. The older girl wished to talk about something to the younger, but this invisible distance they had was nerve-wracking.
"Hey…" Izumi finally sighed and decided to be done with it.
Kiyomi did listen but completely ignored her.
"Kiyomi…"
"What do you want?" Kiyomi paused, giving her the coldest look she could muster.
Izumi just sighed. The girl really didn't wish to talk to her. However, this one thing was weighing heavy on her mind so she just wished to let it out.
"Listen… I know why you're angry…"
"Oh… do you now." Kiyomi crossed her arms and spoke like she didn't believe a bit of it.
Izumi took a long breath, it would help if she would too show anger at this situation. "About my situation… listen I didn't wish to be here. I have nothing to do with this." She pointed at herself, or rather original Izumi's body.
Kiyomi didn't reply, there wasn't much to say.
"However, I want to tell you, I got Izumi's memories. I know you two were close."
Kiyomi gritted her teeth, hands clenching up.
"Perhaps all I wish to say is that, I'm sorry. It's not my fault, but still I'm sorry for what happened." Izumi finally said it. Whether it was an impulse created by the memories she had inherited or perhaps her own guilt to use this woman's body for her own.
She wished to say sorry.
Kiyomi just stayed there, not replying. She was unsure what to say to be honest. However, ultimately she nodded.
"It's fine."
She too knew that ignoring her would accomplish nothing. She could either accept the fact or try to kill her and give Izumi's body a proper burial.
Former was hard to accept but most practical, while latter was what her impulse told her to do, but it wouldn't end well for her.
She even doubted she could even kill her. She was still uncertain who exactly took over Izumi's body, however, it was clear that she was strong.
With her own state of affairs, where she was still beginning to learn about her technique again and still uncertain how to turn it more efficient, she couldn't take this impostor down.
Even her Mangekyo, she hadn't used it enough to be certain that she could control that power one hundred percent.
There was no other option, she had to accept her.
"It's fine, however, you're not her. And don't try to be her with me either."
"Works for me." Izumi nodded. That was doable. She wasn't interested in acting like someone else anyways outside saving her own skin.
xXx
A/N : Oh man... naming chapters is so hard some times.
And sorry for the slow moving plot, however, I wish to develop this little chemistry and bonds between this new team before moving to the next arc.
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