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A month had passed in the blink of an eye since Naoya joined school — and unsurprisingly, he was really enjoying it.
The time away from the cold, rigid atmosphere of the Zenin clan was worth every bit of the extra training he had to do afterward.
Right now, in the clan compound, Naoya stood dressed in his training clothes alongside the members of the Akashi Squad — Zenin clan sorcerers who possessed cursed techniques but weren't qualified enough to join the elite Hei Squad.
"Naoya," called Naobito in his usual strict tone.
Naoya stepped forward, standing in front of his father.
As per their deal, today was the day Naoya would take his first test. He already had some plans for the situation — and if they worked, he knew his father would be very annoyed.
"Today, you will fight against one of the members of the Akashi Squad," said Naobito.
The Akashi members exchanged uneasy glances. Was Naobito seriously sending a six-year-old to fight one of them?
"It will proceed like your usual training," continued Naobito. "Just with Naoya added to the mix. No need to hold back just because he's a kid."
That made them nod, though uncertainty lingered. Still, if Naobito himself said not to hold back, who were they to argue?
"I'm six, you know?" Naoya reminded, raising a brow.
"Old enough to take a beating," replied Naobito without even glancing at Naoya who was giving him a stink eye.
"All units of the Zenin clan have ranks within their divisions," Naobito continued. "Today, you'll fight the one at the bottom of that ranking." said Naobito making the man who was at that rank flinch and look down.
Naoya gave him a sympathetic glance but didn't say anything. If others were stronger, that was that. The Jujutsu world was cruel — either you were strong enough to push back death for a while, or weak enough to greet it early.
Naobito then ordered the rest of the Akashi Squad to continue their regular training while the chosen man stayed behind.
"Get in position," ordered Naobito.
Naoya and the man moved to the center of the training field.
"Ready?"
The man drew a wooden sword and took his stance.
Naoya twirled his wooden spear and mirrored him. Toji had trained him in several weapons, but the spear felt most natural in his hands — though he could use nearly any weapon decently.
"Start!" declared Naobito.
The man immediately covered his body with cursed energy. He might be the lowest-ranked in Akashi Squad, but he wasn't about to lose to a child.
Sadly for him, Naoya was a child who got beaten by Toji on a daily basis.
Without wasting time gathering cursed energy, Naoya instead hurled his spear with full force.
The weapon shot forward like a bullet, striking the man square in the gut and forcing the air out of him. He stumbled back, gasping — but before the spear could fall, Naoya was already there, catching it mid-air and swinging it like a bat.
"AGH!"
The man winced, reeling from the blow.
What the hell is this kid?! he thought angrily — but his vision blurred when Naoya suddenly appeared in front of him again.
Naoya jumped up and kicked him hard in the stomach, sending him sprawling. The blunt end of the spear pointed at the man's chest before he could react.
The Akashi member blinked in disbelief.
'Did I just lose to a kid that easily? And the brat hadn't even used cursed energy!' thought the man.
Naobito smirked. The man was a Grade 3 sorcerer, while Naoya, though unofficially ranked, already had low Grade 2 potential.
He had an overall better ability, but to beat a man who was twice his size without using cursed energy at all, it was undeniable — Naoya was far stronger than even Naobito had initially thought.
"Winner, Nao—" began Naobito.
"I surrender," interrupted Naoya, dropping his spear and raising his hands in mock defeat.
Naobito froze mid-sentence, staring at his son in disbelief. The Akashi member looked equally confused.
"Naoya! What are you doing?" Naobito demanded, voice cold.
"Hm? You said I can't challenge someone I've already beaten, right? And I won't be failed until I lose twice consecutively. So, I'm surrendering now."
Naoya flashed a smug grin. "See you next month, nii-san~."
Naobito's brow twitched. Was this brat serious?!
"You—!!!" Naobito barked, stepping forward making Naoya jump away.
"What! I followed the rules you set up! Don't tell me you're going to break your own rules now?" said Naoya innocently.
"You undisciplined little—! Come here, I'll train you myself today!!!" roared Naobito, grabbing Naoya by the collar and dragging him off.
Still, he didn't refute the logic. Naoya had technically followed the rules — and the Zenin family was built on rules.
Meanwhile, the defeated Akashi member sat there, utterly lost.
Did I… win? he thought, blinking
I didn't even get to use my technique…
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Later, in the courtyard where Naoya usually trained:
"You sure know how to rile me up!" yelled Naobito, lunging forward with his Projection Sorcery active.
Naoya countered instantly with his own, dodging the attack and sprinting away.
To the onlookers the exchange was so fast that they didn't know what was going on. The title of being the fastest sorcerer was nothing to scoff at, and now there was one more sorcerer who attained that level of speed.
"You set up the rules," Naoya taunted as he ducked a kick. "Rules are meant to be cheesed. I did just that."
Naoya jumped forward to attack Naobito, who simply caught his leg mid-air and threw him across the yard.
"Where is your Zenin pride?! How can you willingly lower yourself before those beneath you?!" barked Naobito.
"If giving up useless pride lets me delay fighting tougher opponents and get stronger first, then to hell with pride!" Naoya shot back, landing smoothly and activating his technique again.
"I won't do this against someone stronger. But against weaker opponents? I'll use every loophole I can find!" added Naoya and dashed forward.
Naobito snorted. "You're using your brains to be lazy! Pathetic."
Such blatant display of lacking discipline.
Cursed energy flared around his limbs — his patience had run out.
Seeing that, Naoya's eyes widened and he jumped back.
"Father, that's too much against your cute son!" said Naoya.
"Come here, my cute son. Feel my slap of love," said Naobito darkly.
Naoya didn't move.
Naobito smirked and dashed toward him.
Naoya quickly covered his limbs in cursed energy too, ready to block.
The instant they clashed, both activated their Projection Sorcery.
Naobito expected that and the two immediately felt time to slow down and chose what path would be most effective for them to take.
Naobito smirked. Even if his son could predict one or two hits, predicting all 24 hits was not possible for Naoya.
Naoya knew this as well but still decided to do his best, but while his technique was active, he felt that something was different.
As their movements blurred, Naobito's cursed energy intensified, but before he could strike, his figure suddenly froze mid-frame.
Naoya's cursed energy-coated fist moved fluidly and cracked through the frozen frame, sending Naobito flying backward.
Both of them paused, shocked.
"…Did you just move faster than 24 frames per second?" Naobito asked, eyes wide.
"...Seems like I did. 25 frames per second, to be precise," Naoya said, equally stunned.
'Wasn't the limit of Projection Sorcery at 24 frames per second?!' thought both father and son.
But then Naoya remembered something.
'+10% potential increase' thought Naoya.
His cursed technique's limit was probably broken because of that. If 24 was normal, then a 10% boost meant he could theoretically reach 26.4 frames per second. At least 26, minimum.
"…So," Naoya said with a teasing grin, "am I now the fastest sorcerer?"
Naobito's brow twitched violently. He wanted to deny it — but his son had, in fact, just moved faster.
"Hmph! Show it to me once again and then we will decide that!" said Naobito and got ready to strike once again.
He was a Zenin and as a Zenin he would not allow any claim of someone taking his title even if that someone is his own son.
They clashed again — and once more, Naobito froze inside the frame.
The two stared at each other and soon a smirk appeared on Naoya's face.
"Sup Mr. Second Fastest." said Naoya.
Naobito glared at that comment and called his son to come closer to him.
'...Crossed a line there.' thought Naoya already accepting his fate.
And just as he expected, Naobito smacked his head once he got closer to him making the unofficial fastest sorcerer wince in pain.
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The next day at school:
It was lunchtime, and Naoya was peacefully eating his huge meal with a satisfied smile on his face.
"You eat this much every day? Is this why you're so big and strong?" asked Misaki Ayuzawa, the same girl who had played dodgeball against his class on his first day.
Since then, she'd come to challenge him from time to time—and slowly, she'd become friends with Naoya.
"Probably. If you eat a lot and work out a lot, you get stronger, right? But Misaki-chan, if you eat too much, you could get fat too," replied Naoya.
"Hmph! I know you're just trying to stop me from becoming stronger than you!" said Misaki, pointing her chopsticks at him.
"Ask Izumi if you don't believe me," said Naoya, gesturing toward Miyamura, who looked a lot less gloomy than he had on the first day they'd met.
"…What would this skinny guy even know?" said Misaki.
"I'm not that skinny…" muttered Miyamura.
"Izumi, you need to eat more. You look very weak. One unfortunate fall and I fear your bones might break," said Naoya.
"Don't say such scary things, Naoya-kun!" replied Miyamura.
"I'll trip you sometime to see if that's true," said Misaki with a smirk.
"Save me from this demon, Naoya-kun!!!" Miyamura cried, scooting closer to him.
"Hehe, he can't save you!" teased Misaki.
The three continued to fool around for a while until Misaki suddenly realized something.
"Oh! Next week are the exams! Did you guys prepare for them?" asked Misaki.
Naoya simply shook his head.
Miyamura looked as if the world was ending.
"Hmph! I'll come first in our year!" declared Misaki.
"Are you sure? I need to come first too, or my father will beat me with a stick," said Naoya casually.
"Hmph, then get ready to be beaten by the stick! I'll come first!" said Misaki with a victorious smirk on her face.
"And when I win, you'll treat me to ice cream!" she added, pointing at Naoya.
"Hm? And what if I come first?" asked Naoya.
"I'll treat you," replied Misaki confidently. She didn't doubt for a second that she would lose to Naoya.
"…How can life be so unfair to pair me with these two…" muttered Miyamura, seeing no hope for the future.
"Best of luck, Izumi. Don't die," said Naoya.
"Walk carefully—who knows from where I'll come to trip you," said Misaki with a smirk.
"Stay away from me, you demon!!" yelled Miyamura in a panicked tone.