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CHAPTER START---
On a cool summer night, Naoya ascends the steps to Taiyo's family shrine. He carefully holds what can be considered an ornate brown wooden shoebox in his arms, along with a pair of documents atop it.
Reaching the large wooden doors, he turns around, looking at the valley below, his driver waiting by the car, and Taiyo's family home beside the small lake. 'A few more buildings and servants to tend to them, and this place would be tolerable…'
He turns and pushes open the large wooden doors to see Taiyo meditating in front of a large deity statue carved into the far wall of this massive hall. While Naoya wears his usual traditional Zen'In robes, acting as heir to the clan, Taiyo is shirtless in a pair of shorts, meditating in the middle of the room.
"This place doesn't suit you," Naoya says as he kicks the doors closed behind him, walking over to Taiyo. "I much prefer your penthouse, and I'm sure you do too."
Taiyo doesn't open his eyes, but smiles. "You prefer anywhere that has women to serve you."
"That is the greatest joy in life, for both sides. I get to relax, and deep down, they all find joy in serving powerful men."
"Contest is the only true joy in life."
"Then let's agree to disagree," Naoya says jokingly while walking over to the wooden benches at the far side of the room, where a small cube wrapped in talismans is resting alone. "Why here?"
"I'm secluded here, training. Can't do that in the city, and Gojo is usually on campus. I don't want him seeing my new tricks."
"The pact of showing one's ha—"
"The boost it would provide is usually nothing compared to having a surprise in your arsenal." Taiyo opens his eyes and gets up, walking to his gear to drink some water. "Jujutsu is about trickery, as much as I dislike it. Keeping these tactics from someone like Gojo, someone who can figure out and copy, if not perfect them, at a glance…it's the only way forward."
"Care to tell me what this secret strategy is?"
Taiyo finishes drinking his water and pauses for a moment, then turns to Naoya. "No."
Naoya frowns as he walks to sit on the other end of the bench. "Special Grades, always so mysterious. Although you're the most flashy of the bunch. The higher-ups are worried you'll do something reckless and stir up trouble."
"They always worry."
"Are they wrong?"
"My only concern is beating Gojo, after that, I can become The Strongest."
"Is that not the same thing?"
"No. To be The Strongest means you can handle any and every situation, regardless of the disadvantage. I'm not even close to that yet."
"And how will this help?" Naoya gestures to the wooden box. "They required two of the three major clans to vote for you to get it, but they don't know what you plan to do with it."
"Exactly what I said, study it." Taiyo opens the boxes and pulls out a large, thick nail with a wide head. Black iron with various kanji carved into it, and remnants of Cursed Energy still oozing from the object. "This is the medium for a powerful Barrier Technique, one that the others were based on. The Barrier around this valley hides it from the world, but is entirely invisible, even to you and me. Creating something like that is the pinnacle of Jujutsu, and I believe it's the key to defeating Satoru Gojo."
Naoya raises a brow at this, but just rolls his eyes. "I don't get it, but whatever. I delivered, now make good on your part." He hands Taiyo one of the documents, allowing the younger man to read it.
Taiyo reads it and nods, carefully combing over every last word of the contract to find any tricks. "Alright. I, Taiyo Daburu, on my name, hereby agree that upon their 18th birthday, should Maki and/or Mai Zen'In accept, they shall become my partners to whatever extent they desire. Should we have any, our children shall take the Zen'In family name, and be raised by the Zen'In Clan. I shall not inherit the Zen'In Clan or its assets through this connection, nor will I be a present participant in official Zen'In Clan meets or discourse."
Taiyo stains the document with Cursed Energy, mixing his with that of Naobito Zen'In, Naoya Zen'In and Ogi Zen'In, trading his potential children to the Zen'In Clan for this one item.
Naoya smiles, feeling that the Binding Vow has been accepted. "Was it worth it? Trading your children and grandchildren and future generations, all for this tool that supposedly gives you a boost to beat Satoru Gojo? Is winning and becoming The Strongest this important to you?"
Taiyo shrugs and passes the papers back to him. "You assume those girls will agree to any sort of relationship with me. Personally, I'm not counting on it. Which means I've gotten this item at no costs."
"They are Zen'In women, they will do as told."
"True, you could order them to seduce me, but I'd simply ask them what they want, and I'd never force myself onto anyone. That is an important part of the Binding Vow we just made, remember?"
Naoya scoffs. "I'll go have a talk with their mother when I get home. She needs to redouble her efforts in training those things. When do you want them delivered?"
"Never," Taiyo says. "I have no interest in kids, they're what, 13? Besides, I'm hoping by the time they turn 18 they'll find someone they love and I'll just let them go do whatever the hell they want. Or you'll find someone else to sell them to."
"So you intend to avoid them, have one conversation when they turn 18, then never see them again?"
"That's the dream," Taiyo says while admiring the Empty Barrier Anchor. "That works for your purposes too, right?"
Naoya smiles. "I'm glad our goals aligned. If you really wanted to give their lives purpose by breeding them that would have put my inheritance in danger. My uncle being grandfather to the children of a Special Grade…so bothersome. Killing them would have been impossible with all the politics."
"Yeah, you definitely would have lost the Clan Head position. Now, about the next thing…"
Naoya hands him the other document. "This inventory sheet says a item called the Prison Realm is in the Zen'In Storehouse, I've already had it stamped and stained with my Cursed Energy. That should be proof enough, since father would never agree to this part of our deal. Are you sure this will work?"
"It only works if the item is really there," Taiyo hands him the baseball-sized cube object, still sealed in Talismans. "You put this there and the Binding Vow on these document become real. I pass this to Suguru Geto, he attacks your clan—"
"Kill my uncle who is responsible for guarding the storehouse—"
"Securing your inheritance, and putting so much pressure on Gojo that even he won't be able to protect Geto from all of Jujutsu Society wanting him dead. After all, someone attacking one of the major clans is a big no-no."
Naoya inspects the sealed cube, studying the absurd strength of the Talismans wrapping it, not recognizing the Cursed Energy of the person who applied them. "Who gave you this?"
"A friend. And no, I won't be telling you what it is or does. All you need to know is that this is worth Geto attacking your clan for, and killing Ogi, assuming he doesn't run."
"He won't run. Uncle is many things, but he is no coward. And now that his bloodline has a chance to inherit the Zen'In Clan, he will not throw aside the opportunity by destroying his reputation with cowardice."
"Good, so can I leave the rest to you?"
"Of course. But I must ask," Naoya turns to Taiyo. "This plan, all to incite Suguru Geto into doing something Gojo can't protect him from…is this where you first got involved, or have you been behind all of his attacks."
Taiyo smiles.
"That attack on the Inumaki Clan, and the Kamo Clan, Geto's associates murdering and stealing from influential people in our world, all you?"
"I made a Binding Vow with Gojo. I don't attack Geto unless he attacks me, and I don't go hunting him on the orders of anyone, in exchange the exhibition matches keep going."
"Ah, so all of this was to get around that," Naoya laughs hysterically. "Damn, you really are crazy! All of this because you love competition and want to fight a Special Grade! I always heard about how insane Special Grades are, but this really proves it."
"At least you benefit from it."
Naoya gets up, placing the Prison Realm in his robes. "Either my uncle dies and I have no competition. You breed those twins and I have to figure out how to kill him myself. Or he died against Geto and you breed them so I get Special Grade blood in my Zen'In Clan. Working with you is wonderful, I'll be sure to give you a special gift when I take over the clan."
"How about the Soul Split Katana?"
Naoya's joyful mood suddenly goes cold, frowning at Taiyo. "How do you know about that?"
"One thing at a time."
Naoya narrows his eyes at Taiyo for a moment, then relaxes. "Whatever, let's keep in touch. I see a wonderful future with us working together…"
END CHAPTER---
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