It has been almost two weeks in which Yūji has not behaved so spontaneously, being there in that group has helped him clear his mind and understand different points of view.
And most importantly; their stories, even though he still felt uncomfortable around Chouko, he at least tolerated her since Mr. Daigo tried to make sure that everyone could get along well.
Yūji, together with them, has clearly understood that he is no longer the only one who suffers from tragedy; in this world so many things have happened that when he listened to everyone's childhood, they never had a normal childhood, nor did they have anything to rely on, being merely weapons for their own villages.
They were not seen as human, they were not seen as people, which made Yūji re-evaluate his identity crisis; he analyzed in silence and offered no opinion.
The only one who knows nothing about his past is Mr. Daigo; Yūji was tormented by the desire to know about the first man who approached him in jail. At that moment, again, during the break they were given outside in the enclosed courtyard, Yūji was sitting, lightly moving his legs, glancing sideways at the dark-skinned man by his side.
That day they had also been given food earlier, a rather pleasant silence prevailed, because that man had a rather unique aura, something that made one want to stay close; it was possible that it was because of his personality.
Unintentionally, he remembered his clumsy master, that master who gave him his soul fragment.
His behavior would be the same if only Daigo were not someone so serene most of the time, not acting childishly; he imposed himself, it could be said he only had the good qualities of his old sensei.
Yūji was playing with the remnants of the food they gave him, wanting to ask something but not daring to.
Daigo, without looking at him, knew that the boy had doubts. Finishing the little he had in his mouth, still without turning toward him, he waited
" you have doubts about something? I have told you that it is not necessary for you to keep it to yourself "
" ah, well... yes, it is not doubt, it is curiosity " he murmured barely audible to himself. The boy looked at the ground, his red hair covering his face, " I learned about Hisa's past, Chouko's... of the twins, but... you have not spoken about all your experience " he murmured now, not wanting to be overheard.
Daigo paused mid-bite; his greenish eyes finally looked at the boy, meeting only that tousled hair, something characteristic of the little one. He sighed with a very slight smile " if all of us had something tragic, do you think that I have? "
The boy remained silent, nodding very slowly, a gesture that made the ash-blond man appreciate the sky; the weather was good today, as far as it appeared.
" since I began to think for myself, I learned what pain is? " when he began to recount something about himself, Yūji diverted his gaze toward the man, as if he wanted to pay attention " my father was an arrogant, overbearing, proud, and very greedy man... I have an older brother, but he inherited more from our father than from our mother; I was the only one who came out like our mother " he closed his eyes while thinking of his only remaining family, his older brother.
" at the age of five, my father began to train me to the point of making me faint, having to master class C jutsus at the young age I mentioned; if I did not succeed, I had to train my body, a very rigorous training that caused me stress from a very young age... my life from the very beginning was chained, but I accepted it because it was for our own good, at least at that time I thought so; my older brother trained with me under our father's guidance, and we created jutsus that only we could perform " recalling the little warmth made him sigh with an almost invisible smile.
" but when we turned seven, our father took us to steal our first life; at that age, he locked us up with multiple Genin ninjas and a few Chunin. He was so cruel that until we killed those enemy ninjas, he would never let us out. At that moment I understood that it was either to kill or be killed " he recalled his first time piercing the bodies of multiple ninjas with his fists, all carried out alongside his brother.
" unlike my brother, who was proud of the achievement... I did not like having blood on my hands, especially knowing that those ninjas fought only to escape, they tried to kill us because they knew that only then would our father let them out " Yūji listened attentively, his face showing a surprised expression. Despite that intimidating air, he never imagined that this man, who, with just one squeeze that could break his entire arm was someone sensitive on the inside.
" and from then on, I don't know how many times I killed solely as part of our father's training. Yes, it made me strong, but it made me strong by increasing my levels of killing every time... When I became a ninja, although there was a moment when my feelings went numb, I could no longer bear it... When I refused to continue with the training, my father was disappointed in me; I argued with him, fought with him, but the only thing he ended up doing was disinheriting me from everything and erasing my true name "
There Yūji blinked with curiosity, so the man was not named Daigo?
" what is your true name ? "
Daigo looked at him calmly, bringing his hand to his chin and caressing that goat-like ponytail that stood out " uhm... I don't know? "
A drop of sweat passed over the boy, causing the man to laugh amusedly.
Then, with a smile, he continued telling part of himself, " when I separated from him, I still could not save myself by becoming a ninja for my village; I was inevitably bound to the village by something my father did. I worked so long that, well, despite getting used to blood and to others' suffering, it is not something I accept very well. That is why I am locked up here, in part because of my negligence of my own team, and also because I prefer to hide from death every second outside of here. Unless something catches my attention, I will never leave here, and for me it is okay "
When the redhead heard him, he tilted his head softly " you still did not tell much about yourself; there are some things I know "
Daigo raised his arrogant shoulders " is it good to act special, you know? I have seen that at least your mood improved in these weeks; that gloomy aura you carried is disappearing, and that is good " the man smiled calmly, ruffling the huge hair the boy had.
Yūji let out a few laughs, although his serene face barely directed its gaze at him, as he returned to his thoughts " I have had several dilemmas in my mind... but I think that since Chouko told me everything directly, I began to reflect very deeply on what I have gone through; I believe that... at least I am improving "
Daigo simply patted the little boy's back as he listened to him let out a groan in surprise " I imagined it; you may be imprisoned, but this is one of the calmest places you will find, ideal for thinking and reflecting on your sins or on everything you fear " the man with dreadlocks was sincere; after all, it is very rare to find fights there, since with their chakras sealed, they are as if civilians inside an enormous and intimidating tower.
Yūji simply looked at his legs, nodding and moving his little head, for Daigo was right.
It is a perfect place to think; during all those days he remained busy trying to reflect on everything he had done wrong, he only needs to move forward.
" although, I greatly appreciate that you illuminated me with your words; you are very good at supporting people who need it, Mr. Daigo " Yūji spoke sincerely, causing the dark-skinned man to close his eyes in a smile.
" come on, why do you behave like an adult? You are still a little one, Yūji, do not just think; act as yourself. Here you do not need to pretend to be strong. You can set aside maturity and behave freely. Here is not like the outside; you are free to be who you want to be. " Listening to the man's words, Yūji blinked skeptically.
" yes... I'm just a kid "
It is as if once again some random words had illuminated him even more.
" that's right, that is why I behave just as I do with you; after all, you can salvage the little you have from your childhood, well, maybe not a normal one, but it could be better than that of all of us who have suffered something " he laughed at what he thought; of everyone he knows there is no one who has had anything normal, at their time of birth they were always stained with blood.
For some reason, they valued being there, without knowing what happens in the outside world; it was the least they could have for their mental peace. Unless something catches their attention, they will continue with the routine.
Yūji looked at Daigo, then smiled slowly, deeper in his memory. Although he did not say everything he wanted to hear about him, he knows that now not everyone is happy; everyone suffers, and one should not be selfish, it is no longer as important as before when he was the reincarnation body that Sukuna would use.
Sukuna... is no longer, in itself, as serious a danger as what he has seen, starting with Mui.
Daigo kept his eyes closed with a short smile; hearing a sudden noise made him barely turn to glance sideways " uhm? What happens, kid? "
" I'm going to get out of here! " Yūji raised his voice, and some prisoners turned to look; from what they had known of the boy, he always had a haze of sadness and disinterest around him, it was new for him to appear so imperative.
The child's eyes were firm above all; Daigo raised an eyebrow at the pleasant confidence of the child in shouting at him, " have you listened? You are a civilian like us here; no one has ever escaped from Hōzuki Castle. Are you sure you want to do it? " the man's face was a bit tense, looking at the child as if for the first time he had seen him.
But the dark-skinned man looked surprised; he saw something strange in that child.
He no longer looked away; he clenched his hand tightly, his lips pressed and his eyebrows set in a determined gesture. Very different from how he had known him.
" yes, if I stay here, then I will be nobody, I will continue to be a coward! I was never a coward, although I feel fine being locked in this place; if I feel at ease... I will waste the second chance that life has given me " he murmured to himself, although internally he was resentful that his sensei had cast him into darkness believing that he would end up in a better place than where he is from.
Well, at least he thinks so, because after that he feels that he is missing something to remember... but he does not know what it is.
Daigo crossed his arms, amused by the child's determination " oh, I thought you would accompany me when you were old here "
Yūji looked at the smiling man, still showing that air that had been disappearing earlier " I am, Mr. Daigo; then I will fail you there "
" So, the brat came out of his false depression!? Then, if you think you can escape from here "
Something was heard thundering; Yūji turned behind and saw Hisa, that colossal woman walking with him, holding his shoulder as she moved him, with a thundering sound in the area, her smile very wide because she felt that at last she would be able to fight with that brat who never wanted to have a 'friendly' spar with her.
The red-haired boy blinked, but he no longer allowed himself to be intimidated; in those two weeks or a little more he had come to know, based on the woman's personality, that she was simply someone very explosive, excessively proud, and a lover of fights.
" my best phrase is that learning always comes with the best blows; if you feel ready to escape from here, you will have to surpass me yourself " she struck her palm with her fist, standing arrogantly in front of Yūji, who slowly began to get into position.
" only with blows, nothing more, nothing less; if you try to use chakra, I would notice when you start to asphyxiate yourself because of your idiocy, heh " a clear reference to the tattoo on the child's chest. Yūji clearly saw that gesture as she pointed it out. Very mocking, even amusing.
In the end, he too gave a half-smile, raising his fists very calmly.
" also, I have always felt that using fists is my best way of speaking; so I will hit you so that you understand that what I want to do is serious " Yūji once again clenched his fists, feeling as in the old days, a friendly fight, as if it were a casual morning training session with his companions.
All he needed was a bout with that woman, because among the blows he was sure that a deeper understanding could be achieved than ever before, if this time he felt that the old spark he fervently pursued was ringing within him.
With this fight, he was sure that that spark, which had prevented it from returning to his chest, would come back again, his ideal, his purpose.
He will take it.