Sukuna, for the time being, put that little tube in the "What A Drag" category. He planned on seeing what that little thing inside the tube was to the very end.
He didn't mess with it, though. He had better things to burn his time on—starting with learning the Uzumaki seals and testing out how similar they were to JJK talismans.
And there were also the weapons he had gotten from Mangetsu. He wasn't someone who used weapons—his fighting style was rather straightforward: too close, then punch; further away, and he cut.
Even the most commonly used ninja tool, like a kunai, was pretty useless for him, let alone something like swords. However, after seeing how those special weapons could cover him in specific areas, like lightning style with the Kiba Blades, he decided to give them a go.
There was also the fact that he most likely wasn't going to use lethal slashes in a casual fight. And the moment his slashes were out of the picture—he hated to admit it—but he was rather ordinary.
His slashes and his Kamui made up 90% of his arsenal. And both were something he didn't wish to reveal, as they worked best when enemies didn't know about them.
He could let others know about his slashes later down the line, however, it still didn't solve the problem regarding his inability to use those lethal attacks in friendly matches or just when he wasn't outright trying to kill someone.
His experience with Mangetsu once—though the bastard was kind of immune due to his Hydrification, which Sukuna only learned of later—but still, the question stood.
Of course, the simplest answer to his problem was Taijutsu. Yuji cleared the main boss with just that, and Might Guy almost sent Six Paths Madara to high heaven with a kick.
Yes, he would have done the same.
However, now he just had better options. Not only did he have some of the best weapons in this world in his hands, but his particular technique was actually very suitable for blade-type weapons.
A cursed weapon or tool was an object with either cursed energy or a cursed technique infused into it. They were highly expensive and sought-after items in the Jujutsu world.
The more complex cursed tools were specially crafted by craftsmen in that world, but a simpler way to make almost anything into a cursed item was to infuse cursed energy into it.
The said item would eventually take the properties of the user's cursed energy.
For example, if Gojo were to infuse his cursed energy into an object, in the long run it might develop some space-related power—maybe even a blade that could cut through Gojo's own Infinity.
Though very unlikely, it was still a possibility.
Sukuna's cursed technique was all about cutting. Needless to say, his cursed energy also took that extreme edge due to his technique. This was extremely potent if he were to infuse this cursed energy into a blade.
And thus, he faced a vexing choice: either make a blade for himself using all the chakra metal he got from Root and have a strong chakra-metal weapon…
Or use one of the Seven Swords of the Mist he had in his hands—Kiba, most likely, since the other blades could hardly be called swords in the real sense.
The only reason he was even thinking about choosing something else besides the Kiba Blades, which allowed him to use lightning, was their shape. Kiba Blades were the most sword-like among the entire lineup of the Seven Legendary Swords of the Mist.
They had fang-like protrusions along their blades, which he disliked.
Others were just jokes. There were some powerful options, like Samehada—but even that wasn't really a sword. And Zabuza's Kubikiribōchō, which was more like a sword, was just way bigger.
But what was the point of talking about those last two? He didn't have either of them. The best he had among the four blades he claimed from Mangetsu were the Kiba Blades.
He took out the blades and gave them a good look.
'They're the size of short swords. Full size for me until I grow up a little, though,' he sighed.
After pondering for a while, he finally decided, "Kiba Blades it is."
But he had to make a few alterations. First, those fang-like protrusions had to go.
The Mist would flip out if they learned what he planned on doing with their beloved blades, but who made them lose them in the first place?
He took one of the blades in his hands, pressed his palm on the surface of the cold steel, and concentrated. Slowly forming an imaginary grid in his mind, running along the surface of the blade—targeting only the two fang-like curves which gave the blade its distinct wild nature and look.
And then he waited until his technique fully adapted to the hardness of the blade before he finally launched it.
"Cleave."
Tang!
A sharp metallic noise erupted from the blade, and with sparks flying from its surface, the two fang-like carvings came right off.
"Awesome." He grinned.
He checked the structural durability of the blade just in case, but nothing—it was just like any other blade, completely fine. He did find his cuts a little imprecise, but nothing a blacksmith couldn't iron out later on.
The biggest test, though, was about to come. He poured his CE into the blades and then observed intently.
And sure enough, lightning crackled around the blades just like before, finally making him relax, seeing that the blades retained their ability to channel lightning.
"Cool. Let's do it with the other one as well, and then perhaps I should visit a blacksmith around the village to fix them up. Maybe get a better grip for them while I'm at it."
…
The bell above the blacksmith's shop chimed as Sukuna pushed the door open. The smell of iron, oil, and smoke filled the air. He stepped in, two bundled swords wrapped tightly in cloth on his back. The old blacksmith looked up from the forge with a grunt.
Sukuna placed one of the swords on the counter. "I just need these sharpened and given new handles. Nothing fancy."
"Mm," the blacksmith grumbled, taking the blade to inspect.
But before Sukuna could breathe in relief at how smooth this was going, a cheerful voice rang out behind him.
"Ohhh! Is that a blade?!" A high-pitched voice came from behind him.
He almost had PTSD by now hearing anything that high-pitched—a side effect of having Haruno women at home.
Sukuna turned his head slowly and found himself staring at a girl with two buns on her head, eyes practically sparkling. She leaned forward, almost shoving her face into the weapon.
"Whoa, this is amazing! Look at the balance! The craftsmanship! The edge!" Her voice was so loud that Sukuna felt like his ears were ringing.
"…It's just a sword," he muttered.
'Heh, so there are those as well who see quality. Good. Now bow in front of superiority.' He had a feeling he could definitely say this and the girl would do it, judging by the shine in her eyes.
"Just a sword?!" Tenten gasped like he had just committed a crime. Sukuna figured out almost instantly who she was. Which other girl was this enthusiastic about weapons in Konoha?
"Do you even know what you're holding?! This metal, this curve, the way it's been reforged—this is a masterpiece!" Tenten sent a glare at him.
It was clear that child Tenten didn't yet have control over her obsession with weapons like teenage Tenten did.
Sigh. Even though she didn't know what sword this was, she could tell their quality just by looking.
Guess some people just had talent for a few things.
Sukuna gave her a flat look. "Do you want to sharpen it for me, then?"
"I'd love to! Actually, wait—how much for it? I'll buy it from you right now!"
Sukuna's eyebrow twitched. "Not for sale."
'Yeah right, I didn't bust my ass against Mangetsu Fucking Hozuki just to sell them…
No, wait a minute. I mean, that was the plan. Just not this particular sword. This one's mine.
My precious…'
"Aw, come on! Just one? You have two. I'll even trade you a bunch of kunai and shuriken! I have a collection!"
"Don't think about it, I need both of them. Hell, if I had one more, I'd use three," he shot back.
Tenten pouted at this. "Oh, and how could you do that? Clench the third in your butt?"
"Mouth, actually. But if I ever get a fourth one, then your idea doesn't sound bad." Sukuna's imagination started to go wild, while Tenten gave a big eye roll.
The blacksmith chuckled at the exchange, muttering, "Haven't seen her this excited in weeks…"
Tenten circled Sukuna like a hawk, still gushing. "Seriously though, where'd you even get this? No way this is from around here. You must've gotten it from some secret source!"
Sukuna tugged the sword back from her reach. "Bought them cheap from a merchant recently visiting," Sukuna made something up.
Tenten froze on the spot, like she'd missed her chance.
Then she pouted, crossing her arms, though her eyes still gleamed. "Fine, but when you're ready to sell it, you come to me first!"
"Sure, sure… now please, will you sharpen them up?"
…
Yo! Finally Tenten makes her debut. And what do you think about Sukuna using the Kiba Blades? He doesn't have to, but it's a good flair—especially in certain matches when he can't use his technique in front of others.