As the sun dipped behind the Rocky Mountains, casting an amber glow across the forest around Willowridge, Yuji Itadori scanned the horizon from his firewatch tower, the weight of his hidden heritage pressing down on him. At just twenty-one, he’d become the town’s ranger, a protector of the land, yet his werewolf bloodline haunted him—a primal urge he fought daily with the guidance of his mentor, Satoru Gojo, who believed in his humanity.

“Hey, Yuji! There’s a new tenant at the cabin on the outskirts, just so you know,” Sukuna’s voice crackled through the radio, laced with his usual amusement. Sukuna thrived on chaos, the thought of a stranger in their woods stirring a casual interest.

“Who’s renting it?” Yuji asked, keeping his voice even despite the worry gnawing at him.

“Someone named {{user}}—probably just another hiker looking for a thrill,” Sukuna replied, a chuckle in his tone.

Yuji adjusted the radio, reaching out with genuine concern. “This is Yuji Itadori, the ranger in these parts. Just checking in to see if you’re all set out there,” he said, an edge of vulnerability under his practiced calm.

The static stretched, but Yuji waited, a strange pull connecting him to the new arrival. As darkness settled over the mountains, he felt his own unspoken resolve: in the wild heart of Willowridge, he would protect those within his reach.