No matter what world you live in, everyone goes through a stage like this:
When you're a child, time feels slow—sometimes it even feels like each day lasts a year.
But once you grow up, time feels fast, as if you blink and an entire day is gone.
Gojo Yoru, whose soul was that of an adult from another world, had always belonged to the latter.
The baby years—aware from birth. The toddler years—refining chakra at three. The student years—awakening his cheat at six.
All of it felt like yesterday.
As a new calendar was hung on the wall, a new year arrived quietly.
Without noticing, Yoru's age returned to two digits again.
Konoha Year 34, January 7.
Today was the first day of the Ninja Academy's third term.
Yoru had dressed early and neatly and was now standing in front of a full-length mirror, examining the boy in the reflection.
Under ten, no matter how tall you are, you're still just a child.
Ten is when you become a young adolescent.
Only Yoru's "young adolescent" phase was… abnormal.
In canon, Jiraiya was 1.91 meters tall—an outright giant in the Naruto world.
But when that giant graduated at twelve, his height wasn't much different from his peers.
As for Yoru, he still had a few months before he officially turned ten.
Yet his height had already reached 1.62 meters. Over this vacation alone, he'd grown another two centimeters—those loose clothes he bought last year were about to stop fitting again.
At ten, that height wouldn't be a big deal in many places in Yoru's previous life.
And even in some countries in this world, it wasn't that rare.
But in Konoha—where kids his age averaged 1.3 to 1.4 meters—Yoru's height was downright ridiculous.
No wonder his "school boss" persona intimidated the entire academy. His height alone was bullying.
Just standing in front of same-age kids a full head shorter, they immediately felt a wave of pressure bearing down on them.
It was overwhelming strength—pure domination.
Even Yoru himself was certain that in this life, he'd end up at least 1.8 meters tall… maybe even a 1.9-meter "mini giant."
"Looks like it's not just the surname and the face—my height is probably going to be close too. Am I really going to turn into 'Gojo Yoru 2.5' later?" he joked at his own reflection.
He was joking, but he didn't actually care.
Sure, his "model" looked like Gojo Satoru—but Yoru's abilities were closer to Sukuna.
With space–time powers, there would only ever be people he bisected at the waist—never someone who bisected him.
Yep.
After straightening his collar one last time, Yoru leapt down from the balcony with his hands in his pockets.
Outside, someone had already been waiting.
Seeing him come down like that, Kushina couldn't help complaining, "You're always trying to look cool. If you ever fall one day, I'll laugh at you for the rest of my life."
Even as she said it, a flicker of admiration flashed in her eyes.
Both Yoru and Minato were handsome blue-eyed guys, but their vibes were polar opposites—so their styles were completely different too.
Minato was "warm and gentle," the class's little sun, dressed like a cozy nice boy.
Yoru, on the other hand, was "cold and ruthless," the so-called demon king—and his style was dark, cool, and aloof.
He wore a white open-front coat over a black shirt, with black pants and black shoes.
On most people, a mostly-black palette would look a bit strange.
But on Yoru—white hair, white brows and lashes—it matched perfectly.
Especially when he didn't smile: those icy pale-blue eyes, that hands-in-pockets habit, and the height that crushed everyone his age gave him a lofty, contemptuous, untouchable aura.
Girls who liked that aesthetic would get their hearts racing from just one glance—full-on "M mode" activated.
The truly unhinged ones would even become ultimate simps—so obsessed that even if the guy never once treated them well from childhood to adulthood, they'd still ruin friendships for their one-sided crush; if he defected from the village, they'd abandon their parents and follow him, even if it meant being hunted for life and bringing shame so heavy their parents might even… end it. They'd be cursed, nearly killed, and still forgive him afterward. Even if he chose someone else, they'd bless him silently and never marry.
Sadly for Yoru, he wasn't born in the era that produced that kind of ridiculous simp.
Kushina, who'd been around Yoru for months, knew the truth: he wasn't some iceberg man at all. He was actually gentler than that "sissy," just awkward, and addicted to mocking her—an "act-cool guy."
Because the very next second, he opened fire with insults as usual:
"If you're not awake yet, go nap in the classroom. Honestly, I'm starting to wonder whether your brain is still on your pillow at home. Come talk to me like that again when your Body Flicker can at least catch my shadow, Tomato-na."
"Stinky-mouth Yoru, what did you say?! Say it again if you dare!"
"If your hearing's bad, go to the hospital's ENT department. I only specialize in treating brains—want me to punch you? Guaranteed instant results."
"I'll punch you first!"
Kushina performed her classic routine: weak but loves to play, then gets mad when she can't win—charging at Yoru with bared teeth.
The two of them bickered and tussled the whole way toward the academy.
From how naturally they fought and argued, it was clearly their daily routine.
Ever since Yoru taught Kushina the Rasengan, she'd gotten even clingier.
Kushina's personality was basically female Naruto:
Optimistic, upbeat, loud, fiery, competitive, proud, passionate—love and hate with her whole heart.
Even though she wasn't the Nine-Tails jinchūriki yet, "walkthrough" her was honestly as easy as "walkthrough" Naruto:
Acknowledge her. Care about her. Show her you're on her side—and you instantly earn her goodwill.
That's exactly what Yoru did.
When the whole class laughed at Kushina, he stepped in before Minato, showing kindness first, and immediately won her favor.
Then in taijutsu sparring, he held nothing back—afterward using medical ninjutsu to create a "bridge" effect that made that goodwill start to change in flavor.
The Rasengan was the finishing blow that lit the girl's passion on fire.
From that day on, Kushina came to Yoru's house every day—either training Rasengan under his guidance, or dragging him out to train or go for a walk.
This term, she even started coming to his house on purpose so they could go to school together.
In a world where kids understand romance at five or six, Kushina's feelings toward Yoru were already painfully obvious.
And at some point, that blond "loser dog" who used to watch from the shadows… had chosen to give up.
The "bull warrior" had claimed yet another glorious victory.
~~~
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