The group moved quietly through the Heian pathways.
Ancient trees swayed overhead.
Villages sat scattered along the landscape.
For once—
everyone was actually being quiet.
Then Takeru suddenly froze.
His eyes widened.
Slowly—
very slowly—
he pointed.
"…There."
Everyone crouched down immediately.
Even the people who had no reason to crouch.
Yuji whispered:
"…What? What is it?"
Takeru pointed harder.
"…Min-Kuna."
Everyone looked.
Down the path—
a younger Sukuna was walking toward a small Japanese hut.
Not the overwhelming monster everyone knew.
Not the King of Curses.
Not that Sukuna.
Just...
a kid carrying two heavy water buckets.
Yuji blinked.
"…Wait."
Megumi blinked.
"…WAIT."
Hakari blinked.
"…WAIT."
Sukuna stared.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The younger version walked calmly, carrying the buckets without trouble.
Then he pushed the door open and headed toward a small hut.
Near it sat an older man.
Not ancient.
Not weak-looking either.
Just older.
Sitting outside quietly.
Takeru looked at Sukuna.
Then pointed.
"…You can use your regular form, Uncle."
Silence.
Sukuna slowly turned.
Very.
Very slowly.
"…Uncle."
Takeru nodded.
Completely serious.
"Yup."
Yuji immediately turned away because he was already losing it.
Hakari was shaking.
Megumi put a hand over his face.
"…Please don't say that to him."
Sukuna stared at Takeru.
Then stared at the hut.
Then stared at tiny Sukuna.
Then back at Takeru.
Long pause.
"…I hate this timeline."
Fred slowly appeared from behind a tree with a sign:
"Min-Kuna acquired."
Inside the hut—
young Sukuna suddenly paused.
Because it felt like someone was watching him.
He slowly turned his head.
Directly toward the bushes.
And everyone froze.