Three months at the Ninja Academy passed in a steady, almost routine rhythm. During this time, Kuro's life settled into a new pattern — lessons, training, and interactions with his classmates. Thanks to his daily morning sessions with Enzo, he had finally brought his Shadow Imitation Technique to what the old man called "an acceptable level."
At the Academy, the days flowed calmly. History lessons, chakra theory, battle strategy, even medical basics — all of it required focus and patience. Kuro absorbed the material quickly, though many subjects bored him. Physical training and practical exercises, however, brought genuine satisfaction. With each passing day he felt his body grow stronger, his movements more confident.
He also observed his classmates with interest.
Tsume, after their duel, treated him with wary respect. They occasionally exchanged sharp remarks and teasing insults, but strangely enough, it felt like the beginning of a twisted friendship. Minato, whose genius Kuro had expected to witness firsthand, still hadn't lived up to the legendary image he remembered. Perhaps he would grow into it later — for now, the blond boy was diligent rather than exceptional.
Nawaki, despite his lineage, didn't shine either. He tried desperately to prove his strength, only to fail again and again — which annoyed Kuro slightly yet also stirred a bit of sympathy. At least the Senju boy never gave up.
"Seems like I'm relying too much on memories of the future. These kids are still children — they need time to grow. I suppose many of them will change once the war begins…"
Not long ago, their class began shuriken practice. It was new to Kuro, but his results were unexpectedly good. Perhaps his proficiency in Dismantle helped. In taijutsu training he stood out not only due to his physical ability, but his confident, almost predatory demeanor. His progress caught the attention of many classmates — some envied him, others admired him. And all of it amused the young Nara.
Now Kuro stood in the middle of the forest, breath shaky, chakra swirling too chaotically, spilling from his body in unstable waves. The forest around him was calm — rustling leaves, distant insect chirping, sunlight filtering through the branches onto his tired face. Wiping sweat from his brow, Kuro opened his eyes and stared with anticipation at the message before him:
Unlocked: Sukuna's Power 5%
Available Technique: Ten Shadows (First Shadow: Divine Dogs)
"Finally. I was starting to think that cosmic entity forgot the Ten Shadows existed. That would've been tragic — Mahoraga's abilities are far too valuable to lose," Kuro thought with a nervous grin.
He glanced at his shadow and immediately noticed shapes moving beneath him — alive, shifting.
"If I remember correctly, the Divine Dogs don't require taming. They are the first shikigami available to the user and inherently loyal."
Without further hesitation, Kuro formed a dog-head seal and focused his chakra.
"Ten Shadows Technique: Divine Dogs!"
From the shadow at his feet, shapes began to emerge. Slowly at first, as if dragging themselves through thick mist, two massive wolves tore free. Each stood about a meter and a half at the shoulder, bodies powerful and muscular. One was brilliantly white, the other pitch black. Both had three bright red markings on their foreheads, giving them an ominous appearance. Even the peaceful forest seemed to fall silent at their arrival.
Kuro's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Finally, my first allies. Sukuna could summon them in an unstable form to keep them from dying. I wonder if I can do the same? And will they grow stronger as I unlock more of the King of Curses' power?"
But his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden shift.
The wolves bared their fangs, eyes flashing with hostility — and in the next instant, they lunged.
"What—?! That's not supposed to happen!"
Kuro barely rolled aside in time to avoid the white dog's jaws.
The black one leapt after him, aiming for his shoulder.
The boy ducked low, slipping beneath its claws.
Branches snapped under the wolves' weight, dirt and moss scattered with every jump. The wind roared with their movement, mixing with Kuro's heavy breathing and the beasts' snarls.
"Why are they attacking me?! Damn it — they're far faster than any Inuzuka."
Thoughts flashed rapidly.
"If I kill one, the other evolves… That would be annoying. I need to handle them at the same time."
He turned quickly — the white wolf charged again.
Kuro sidestepped and threw a full-force punch into its muzzle, sending it crashing into a tree with a yelp.
No time to rest — the black wolf struck from behind.
Kuro pushed off the ground, flipping backward and landing squarely on the wolf's back.
The beast thrashed wildly, but Kuro held on tight, gripping its thick fur, forcing it to sprint directly toward its white counterpart.
Right before the collision, he kicked off the wolf, sending it tumbling into its brother.
The two beasts smashed together and rolled violently across the ground.
Kuro raised his hands, fingers forming a slicing gesture.
"Dismantle!"
Numerous thin, thread-like cuts shot through the air, forming a net of invisible blades. The wolves had no chance to dodge — and within seconds, both dissolved into thick black smoke, leaving Kuro alone with his ragged breathing.
He stared at his trembling hands, clenching them into fists.
"Seems like these were the first creatures in this world that actually tried to kill me. Damn mutts…"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
He couldn't suppress the wild, almost unhinged laugh.
"But why did I enjoy it so much? Fighting for your life… really is exhilarating."
Eventually, he collected himself and formed the seal again. This time, when the Divine Dogs appeared, they were properly obedient — their gaze radiated unwavering loyalty.
"Good. Now we can actually work together," Kuro smirked, looking at the massive beasts. "Let's test your abilities. But first… I should give you names."
The wolves perked up immediately, wagging their tails.
Kuro squinted thoughtfully — though he wasn't very creative.
"All right. From today, you'll be Yuki," he said, looking at the white wolf. Then he turned to the other. "And you — Yami."
"With that settled, let's check your maximum speed. Sprint around the clearing at full power."
In an instant, the wolves shot off, their movements almost blurring. Kuro could track them, but barely — their speed far exceeded that of Academy students and even most genin. They could easily rival elite chunin.
The Divine Dogs weaved through trees, leapt across pits left from Kuro's training, and tore through thick bushes.
Next, he tested coordinated attacks and combination maneuvers — intense drills that helped him understand their limits and potential.
"Excellent. Now I need to develop a strategy to use you efficiently. Good work."
As if on cue, the two wolves tackled him affectionately, licking his face with enthusiasm.
"H-Hey, enough— ha! All right, good job," he laughed, signaling for them to stop.
They obeyed instantly, dissolving back into his shadow.
Kuro then decided to test another of Sukuna's abilities.
"Let's see if I can summon you in unstable form."
He formed the seal, focusing deeply.
The wolves began emerging again — but this time their forms flickered, unstable, like mirages. Kuro frowned, increasing the chakra flow. The outlines sharpened briefly before dissolving again.
"Damn. Looks like I need more strength… or more experience. I'll stop here for now."
He rose, brushing dirt from his clothes, and glanced at the darkening sky.
On the way home, he thought through his next steps:
"Unlocking 5% gave me the first shadow. I need to find out when the next one appears. For now, I definitely won't tell Enzo about this technique. I trust the old man, but… If this leaks, Danzo will never leave me alone. Once he decides he wants a new toy for his collection, I'll have only two options: run from the village, or…"
Kuro's eyes narrowed.
"No. In this life, I won't let anyone corner me. No matter what happens."