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I'm Searching For A Girlfriend In Jujutsu Kaisen: 18 Tales Of The Ninja World 5
🕑 Added 2025-06-16 22:53:10 +0000 UTCđ FIRE COUNTRY BORDERLINE â DUSK
"...Will...will that be all?"
"Pretty much."
"Um...are you sure?"
Looking at the pretty girl standing before himâblushing face, bowed head, fingers fidgeting constantlyâRyota resisted the urge to rub his temples.
Here we go again.
"Trust me, I'm fine." He turned toward the door, suppressing both a sigh and an eye roll.
"How long do you plan to keep watching?"
"Huh?"
The girl spun around, startled, to find Jiraiya standing in the doorway with a sly grin plastered across his face.
Probably seconds away from literally steaming, Ryota thought as the girl's face turned an almost unnatural shade of red.
"Hehe. Don't be shyâjust pretend I'm not here."
"Master Jiraiya, I'll...um...I have..." She barely finished her stammered words before fleeing the room.
Her footsteps quickened as Jiraiya's boisterous laughter echoed through the halls. Once she was gone, Jiraiya stopped laughing and fixed Ryota with that same sly grin.
"So? What'd you think of her?"
"Don't start."
Ryota turned back toward the window.
"Hmm, I can't figure you out, kid. Are you into men or something?"
"Do you want me to laser your nuts off?"
"Hey! I'm just sayingâshe's about your age. Blonde. Classic eight out of ten."
"That comment makes you a pedophile."
Jiraiya chuckled but didn't pursue the topic further. "You'll be alone forever at this rate. Whateverâyour choice. Don't go anywhere, okay? There's something important I still want to discuss. I'll be right back after getting this looked at."
"No promises."
Departing footsteps followed, then silence.
The noise of the day instantly disappeared, leaving him alone for the first time since arriving.
"How long again?" He pulled out his phoneâa few minutes past six. Tokyo time from his world.
He wasn't sure if time matched here. The sun was setting, but it might differ by minutes or hours. Maybe the ninja world operated differently.
"Why am I even here?"
Ryota leaned against the old wooden railing of the mountain inn, watching the setting sun spill across distant tiles like dying flames. The question lingered in the air.
Two hours since arriving in the ninja world. He and Jiraiya had crossed from the Land of Rain into the Land of Fire, finding this secluded traveler's inn run by one of Jiraiya's contacts. The man had suggested staying the night. Ryota hadn't objectedâhe had too much on his mind.
Somewhere in the distance, crickets sang. Somewhere even farther, people were probably dying.
He blinked slowly. Not at the thoughtâit didn't shake himâbut because a bug flew too close to his eye.
Doesn't get any more real than this, does it?
Does it, though?
By now, he'd lost count of how many times he'd tried answering that question. He was fairly certain he never would.
Seven years of being reborn in a fictional world with overwhelming power and no worries had given Ryota plenty of time to ponder. One question anyone in his situation with self-awareness would ask kept returning:
"I couldn't possibly be the protagonist of some edgy self-insert story, could I?"
The thought had plagued him since day one, proving nearly impossible to shake.
Not in the "everything-is-a-simulation" way. Not like characters in edgy shonen anime realizing they're in an illusion and screaming like philosophers with katanas.
No.
He was definitely in a fictional worldâliving in Jujutsu Kaisen made that obvious. But the additional details made everything suspiciously convenient.
He remembered dying, then waking up in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe seven years ago. No idea how the plot unfolded. Never read the manga. Never watched a full episode. He knew the title, some names, and that it was dangerous.
He also knew Gojo was supposed to be "him"âthe strongest in the verse.
"I could crush that guy's skull with a microwave and bad attitude," Ryota murmured, expression blank.
Power was funny. He hadn't trained for it, hadn't wished for it. He just...got it. One day, he understood Multiversal Retrieval. The next, he pulled a gun from Equilibrium. Then a pizza box, a suitcase full of cash, other items, a syringe of special liquid.
Maybe he was overthinking, but the whole situation screamed "novel protagonist."
Transmigrator. Half-orphaned. Fictional worlds.
Even his cursed technique felt foreign compared to others he'd heard about. Limitless, the Gojo clan's strongest technique, only manipulated space. Then he was born and could travel between multiverses entirely. The usual routine he'd read aboutâreborn at five, strongest by sixâhad practically played out in reality.
If that wasn't convenient, what was?
Strangely, the thought amused him. Reborn in a fictional world, he'd expected dangers and plot scenarios to push him toward unknown adventures. Seven years later, he was still waiting.
Eventually, it all blurred together.
He didn't feel excited. Didn't feel joy.
He'd faked it sometimes to worry his mother less. Even tried the "hero" thing for three monthsâsaved a bus full of kids, gave free medicine to hospitals, cooked for orphans once.
Nothing stuck.
Everything faded back to grayscale when the expected disasters never materialized.
For a while, Ryota doubted whether Jujutsu Kaisen had even been an anime in his previous life.
Then recently, Jiraiya called.
That idiot. That amusing, stupid, perverted idiot.
Jiraiya was differentâsomeone Ryota had met before remembering his past life. Someone he'd actually grown to like as a kid. Someone who looked at him like he wasn't just a glitch in a cartoon.
So when Jiraiya called in that favor using the ridiculous multiversal phone Ryota had made, he didn't hesitate. Just shrugged, popped over to the Naruto world, and said, "Yo."
Now here he wasâa being with godlike power, playing bored teenager.
He looked down at his hands, reminiscing about seven years of...nothing.
My life really did get boring, didn't it?
The answer was crystal clear.
Years at home doing nothing but watching anime after anime, waiting for somethingâanythingâto happen. A few cursed spirits here and there, but his lazy personality had become second nature. Jiraiya's call was more blessing than inconvenience. Unlike home, he didn't need to force connections or wait for major events.
He knew the plot here. Knew the characters. He could find Obito and punch him into oblivion if he wanted.
Interesting things could happen here.
Back home? He felt...nothing. No thrill, no fear, no drive. Just passing time, waiting.
Maybe he was brokenânot in the "dark backstory" way. He wasn't abused or traumatized. He just had no stake in any of this. No plot, no purpose, no endgame.
Because he knew the world had a story he didn't know, he was paralyzed by a specific kind of boredom. Not safe, not scared. Just stuck.
Cold air misted from his mouth as he exhaled.
It's probably messed with my mentality too, hasn't it?
His mind drifted to the dinner scene. Jogo setting those people on fire. Could he have saved them? Yes. Could he have stopped Jogo beforehand? Absolutely. Did he? No.
Why?
Interesting. I genuinely don't know, do I?
He tapped his fingers thoughtfully.
"It feels...normal, now that I think about it. I don't really feel much about random people dying. They're just extras after..."
He paused, eyes widening slightly in surprise, then returning to normal.
"Oh! So that's how it is."
He spoke calmly, realizing he had a big problem.
Perhaps it was time to leave.
His phone buzzedâa message from his contacts. Not Gojo or his mother this time.
*MISS MARIKO*
Hmm? Surprising. Karin's mother. He'd saved her while she was still alive, placing them in a safe village he'd established in the Land of Demons. He'd struck a deal with the ruler for protection and acceptance, given them money and a home. They were happyâor at least not dead.
Had something happened? Reading the message, his expression turned strange before he chuckled.
That...explains a few things.
After considering the message, he typed back: "Coming soon. Tell Karin to pack her stuff." He paused before adding, "You too."
After hitting send, he let what he'd just done sink in. I might need to call Gojo about this...
His thoughts were interrupted by something strange in his senses. Turning, he removed the limiters on his eyes and ears, peering into the distance. The first thing he sensed wasâ
*BOOM!*
An explosion far in the mountainous area, probably two to three kilometers away. A large section of a hill had collapsed inward, revealing a giant pit. But that wasn't the important part.
"Wood Style!" Large roots and wooden branches emerged from the ground.
The First Hokage? Ryota was stunned for a second, then returned to normal. My bad. Just Yamato.
The scene playing before his eyes was a surprising battle matchupâHidan, the immortal ninja from the Immortal Duo, engaged against Yamato.
He's alive?
Seeing Hidan fighting meant Kakuzu had survivedâthe only condition for Hidan to still be active. Another butterfly effect.
His assumption proved correct when he spotted one of the masked monsters resembling Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear, spewing lightning from its mouth.
Definitely still alive. Good. He had things he needed to...
The situation suddenly changed. The masked creature attacking Yamato and other shinobi abruptly turned and rushed in another direction.
"Huh? Hold on, where are you going?" EveryoneâHidan, Yamato, the other shinobi, and Ryota himselfâwas surprised by the sudden change.
Hold on. What just...
Another explosion rang out, farther away and much larger than Hidan's battle.
Multiple chakra sources flared in Ryota's senses. One was all too familiarâKakuzu's.
However, just before Ryota could investigate, Kakuzu's chakra signature began fizzling out. From a glaring aura, it quieted quickly before becoming almost non-existent.
"Hold on. What's happening?"
Ryota, familiar with Kakuzu's signature, was stunned. A chakra signature dimming that fast usually meant one thingâthe owner's life force was disappearing.
Didn't that mean...Kakuzu was...dead?
---
## Two Minutes Earlier
The battlefield was ruined.
Trees lay toppled, trunks snapped like twigs. Craters scarred the landscape from raw chakra and rawer fists. Smoke drifted in thick, choking waves. At the center stood Kakuzuâdarkened skin encased in hardened Earth Grudge Fear, black threads twitching like serpents. One of his five hearts was already destroyed.
His fists clenched, jaw tight.
"I can't believe this."
A blur movedâfast.
Kakuzu's eyes widened as he leaped back, barely avoiding a green streak. Two black-masked creatures burst from his back, flying into defensive positions.
Their mouths opened simultaneouslyâFire Style and Wind Styleâcombining with brutal precision.
A massive inferno surged forward, wind-fueled, turning the sky red as it roared toward its target.
But the green blur was gone.
A green afterimage flickered away as the explosion consumed the forest in scorching heat.
"Why do I keep meeting these damn 'unusuals'? First, the kid with shadow techniques...then the Nine-Tails jinchƫriki with that Wind Style jutsu..."
His thoughts were interrupted by a figure appearing beside him.
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
Kakuzu braced just in time, crossing his arms. The kick smashed into him like a battering ram, sending him careening through several trees before crashing into the ground. His hardened body carved a massive gully into the earth as dust erupted in his wake.
He staggered to his feet through the ruined treeline, arms trembling.
"And now thisâa taijutsu ninja of all things..."
Across from him, the green blur landed with a shockwave, creating a crater beneath Guy's feet.
Kakuzu gritted his teeth.
"My hardening can barely defend against his physical attacks. If this continues, I'm finished."
Already, in less than five minutes, he'd lost two heartsâworse than his fight against the Copy Ninja.
A small box slid from his sleeve into his hand.
Will I have to use...
The thought never finished.
"Hiyahh!"
Guy's roar echoed through the broken forest. Vibrant green aura surged around him, thenâ
He punched the air.
A fire burst followed, created from sheer friction. Another punch, another blast. In under a second, dozens of flaming shockwaves shot toward Kakuzu.
"Damn itâ"
*BOOM!*
Explosions lit the forest.
"Let my youth ROAR!"
Guy didn't stop, launching into a barrage of friction-generated fireballs that tore through trees, rock, and sky. The air shook as fire rained like comets.
Kakuzu weaved, ducked, jumpedâbut the area of effect was overwhelming.
"He's fast, but he can't maintain this forever. If I can just outlast himâ"
"Seventh Gate of Wonder: OPEN!"
*WHOOOOOM!!!*
Huh?
A titanic shockwave exploded from Guy's body. The nearby lake split down the middle, steam rising as water evaporated instantly. Dust clouds were blown apart, revealing Guyâskin red, eyes glowing, chakra roaring like a storm.
Kakuzu's eyes widened at the pressure.
Guy was already in front of him.
---
"Hirudora!"
A colossal tiger made of compressed air pressure formed instantly and roared forward. Kakuzu barely launched a counterâWind and Lightning fusion chakra surged to meet it.
It didn't matter.
The attacks collided, and the tiger devoured everything.
*BOOOOOOOM!!*
White light. Earth ripped open. Trees vaporized. A shockwave flattened terrain for miles.
Steam poured from Guy's back as he panted, hunched forward. His aura flickered wildly.
Smoke cleared.
Kakuzu stoodâbarely. His cloak was shredded, three masks destroyed, the ground a smoldering crater around him. Another heart gone.
Incredible, he thought, falling to one knee and spitting blood. This is actually possible for a taijutsu ninja? I've never seen anyone so...
His thoughts halted as the green flash emerged again, standing directly opposite.
"That last attack would have killed normal shinobi." Guy's eyes were serious, lacking his usual idiotic banter.
The Blue Beast of Konoha was dead serious.
"Shikamaru was right. You are as hard to kill as a cockroach."
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed.
"You..."
"In that case, I'll just keep hitting you until you fall!"
Pressure built instantly. Kakuzu retrieved the box containing the precious Senzu Beans. The pain he would feel would surpass anything Might Guy could inflict. But now he had no choice.
If he didn't use them, he would die.
