Another long chapter. The longest chapter I written so far. I hope everyone enjoy this :)
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Satsuki and Hinata unconsciously take a gulp after feeling the atmosphere around Hitomi become incredibly serious.
"Before I tell you about the Cursed Spirits, there's something you must learn first," Hitomi slowly said.
This confuses the two girls, but they don't voice out their confusion and patiently wait for Hitomi to speak. While they might not know the thing they had to learn first, if it deepened their understanding of cursed spirits, they would gladly learn it.
"There's another energy circulating everyone's body aside from Chakra."
This widened both Satsuki's and Hinata's eyes since this was the first time they learned about it. Throughout the time they spent at the Ninja Academy, they haven't heard the fact that there's another energy within humans aside from Chakra.
While they didn't know the reason why Hitomi decided to reveal it, they remained patient for the time being.
"This energy is called Cursed Energy, and it was completely different from the Chakra you know very well. Cursed Energy was formed with humans' negative emotions such as fear, grief, anger, hatred, envy, etc.
Some might think that it was similar to spiritual energy, which is one of the energies needed to form Chakra, but it is different, but I cannot dive into that deeply since even my understanding about cursed energy is limited."
Satsuki and Hinata nodded but were still surprised to find out there's another energy one can use aside from chakra.
Satsuki is already taking mental notes about how to utilize the cursed energy, which is definitely going to be helpful to make her stronger and quickly able to meet Itachi once and for all.
"Unlike Chakra, where anyone can learn to use it, the Cursed Energy, on the other hand, only a select few are able to use."
Satsuki frowned deeply after hearing it. She already begins to imagine being able to master wielding the Cursed Energy, but Hitomi gives her a reality check.
"The reason why I first informed you about the existence of the Cursed Energy is because it was the foundation to learn about the Cursed Spirits."
Hinata and Satsuki immediately focused and stared at Hitomi intently. They can finally learn about the Cursed Spirits.
"The Cursed Spirits are supernatural beings born from the concentrated negative human emotions given form through the Cursed Energy."
"What do you mean by that, Mom?" Hinata asks in a confused tone.
"Didn't I mention before that every human has cursed energy, but only a few select are able to use it? You see, the ordinary humans leak out this cursed energy, and this cursed energy will be accumulated in the area, especially in a place where everyone easily feels negative emotion, such as schools, hospitals, etc."
Hinata's and Satsuki's eyes widen, and their bodies unconsciously tremble in fear. They are unable to believe that all this time they have been so close with cursed spirits without knowing.
"So you mean that there's a Cursed Spirit everywhere?!" Satsuki asks out loud.
"Yes," Hitomi nods.
"T-Then why haven't we seen it before?" Hinata asks.
"It's because you can't see them usually. Only a few select people are able to naturally see the existence of cursed spirits, but of course there are rare instances that someone who hasn't seen the cursed spirit is able to see them later in their lives, but the requirement is the fact that these people experience something close to death."
"I see..." Hinata whispers and thinks about the fight she and Satsuki had against Haku.
"Then why hasn't the news about the Cursed Spirits become public knowledge? Surely if everyone knows the existence of the Cursed Spirit, it would definitely lessen its birth and maybe even prevent it," Satsuki said, staring at Hitomi's eyes.
Hitomi slowly shakes her head. "The reason why only a few people know the existence of the Cursed Spirits is to prevent their rapid births. If anyone knows the existence of the Cursed Spirits, everyone without a doubt feels negative emotion about it, which makes the rapid birth of the Cursed Spirits."
"Surely with various ninja they can easily deal with the cursed spirits," Satsuki said in full confidence.
"No," Hitomi shakes her head once again. "Only those who are able to use cursed spirits are able to kill them. There's already someone trying to use Chakra to kill cursed spirits, but it has no effect at all."
"Mom, who are the ones who kill these cursed spirits then if ninja can't do it?" Hinata softly asks.
"There are people who are called Jujutsu Sorcerers who are tasked with killing any Cursed Spirits that are spotted. The Jujutsu Sorcerer must eliminate the Cursed Spirit no matter the cost while preventing non-sorcerers from knowing their existence."
"Mom, are you a Jujutsu Sorcerer?" Hinata asks.
"How did you arrive at such a conclusion?" Hitomi softly asks.
"It's because you had such intense knowledge about it."
"I see," Hitomi whispers. "Indeed, I am a Jujutsu Sorcerer, but I've already been retired."
"Why? Isn't it taught in the school to help everyone in the villages? Surely killing cursed spirits can be considered helping everyone," Satsuki asks.
Hitomi had a painful expression on her face but quickly returned back to normal, but these changes didn't go unnoticed by the two girls.
"Being a Jujutsu Sorcerer wasn't as glamorous as you think," Hitomi said in a low voice.
"While one might think we kill the Cursed Spirits to save everyone else from suffering at the hands of the Cursed Spirits, it wasn't that easy. It never will be easy."
"In order to kill a cursed spirit, one must ignore anyone, even the civilian themselves, in order to successfully kill the cursed spirits. It wasn't even unheard of to not save their comrades if it means killing cursed spirits, especially the strong ones."
Satsuki's and Hinata's eyes widen after hearing Hitomi, especially after seeing the sadness hidden in her eyes. It was clear for those two that Hitomi saw and even did what she described.
Hinata felt her heart clench after seeing the expression of her mother and finally understood the reason why she didn't like to interact with anyone in the clan and always preferred to be alone.
It wasn't because she looks down on everyone or hates anyone, for that matter, but because she can't look at them without feeling guilty of the decision she makes.
Hinata reaches out for one of Hitomi's hands and holds it tightly, which brings Hitomi a small smile.
"Is Naruto also a Jujutsu Sorcerer?" Satsuki said softly.
"Yes," Hitomi nods.
"How strong is he?" Satsuki asks once again.
This was the question that was bugging her and others, especially after they personally witnessed his strength. Yet they are unable to know the limits of his strength, which is something that becomes the biggest mystery.
As someone who wanted to become strong, strong enough to face Itachi alone, Satsuki wanted to know the limits of Naruto's strength and used it as a measuring length against Itachi.
"The strongest" Hitomi flatly respond.
This quickly confused Hinata and Satsuki at the same time. They glance at each other and stare at Hitomi once again.
"Mom, can you be serious?" Hinata complains.
"But I am serious," Hitomi calmly responds.
"What do you mean by that?" Satsuki asks in a low voice.
Hitomi looked at Satsuki for a moment. Hitomi knows the reason why Satsuki is eager to become stronger and wants to know Naruto's strength level.
In fact, most of the people know about the obsession of Satsuki and Sasuke, but everyone remains quiet about it since they are justified after what they experienced that night.
"You both know that ninjas are divided by strength, right? From Genin all the way to Kage."
Hinata and Satsuki nodded. Everyone who wants to become a ninja knows this division of strength. This was informed to them as students not only to ignite their desire but also to warn them about people who reach the Kage level like Itachi Uchiha.
"It is the same for Jujutsu Sorcerers," Hitomi continues calmly. "They are ranked by grades."
"Grades?" Hinata asks softly.
"Yes. The lowest are 4th grade. They are the weakest, and their strength is about the same as academy students who are at their last year in the academy."
"I almost forgot the rank of the Jujutsu Sorcerers is also applied to Cursed Spirits, so keep that one in mind."
Hinata and Satsuki nod in understanding. It was clear to them that after being able to see cursed energy, they are now tasked with informing the Jujutsu Sorcerers about the spotted cursed spirits.
While it was clear that the job isn't a pretty one and is pretty much extremely dangerous after seeing the sadness Hitomi felt, which clearly belonged to the lost comrades she had, they still embarked on this path to help other people.
"The next is 3rd Grade. They are equal to Genin who have been in the position for some time. After that is the 2nd Grade, which is equal to Chunin."
"The 1st Grade are equal to Jonin?" Hinata said with her eyes widening a little bit.
Hinata previously underestimated the powers of Jujutsu Sorcerers and Cursed Spirits after witnessing Naruto easily deal with the weird butterfly and dark cocoon.
"That's right," Hitomi nods. "1st Grade Sorcerers are very powerful. They can handle most of the Cursed Spirits on their own."
"What's above that?" Satsuki asked.
"Above the 1st Grade rank is called Special Grade," Hitomi said in a serious tone. "Only a few people are given this rank. Special Grade Sorcerers are equal to Kage level."
The room became quiet, yet Hitomi wasn't finished yet.
"However," she added, "not all 1st Grade Sorcerers are only equal to Jonin. Some of them are already as strong as Kage."
"Then why aren't they given the rank of Special Grade?" Satsuki quickly asks.
"Because strength alone isn't enough," Hitomi responds. "To become a Special Grade, one must meet certain criteria, and only a few people achieve such requirements."
"Then... what about Naruto?" Hinata asks softly.
"He is a Special Grade," Hitomi responds.
Satsuki's heart skipped a beat. She is unable to fully believe that Naruto already had the same strength as Itachi despite being the same age, yet her shock hasn't just begun.
"And not just any Special Grade," Hitomi said quietly. "Among the Special Grades, he stands at the very top."
The air in the room felt heavy.
"He was the strongest. Even if all the 5 Kage of the 5 Great Ninja Villages teamed up, they would be unable to defeat Naruto. In fact, they wouldn't even have a chance of landing a small injury on Naruto," Hitomi added.