Today was the banquet of the Three Great Families, hosted by the Gojo Clan.
On the surface, it was said to be a gathering meant to let the younger generation of the Three Families interact. In reality, it was nothing more than a show of force by the Gojo Clan toward the other two. It was a chance for the Gojo elders to flaunt their Six Eyes divine prodigy, and a personal stage for Satoru Gojo, the existence who had shattered the balance of the jujutsu world the moment he was born.
[Six Eyes] were eyes that could perceive Cursed Energy with extreme clarity. Not only were there no blind spots, but by gathering vast amounts of information, they could also see through the structure of other people's techniques. With this alone, Satoru Gojo was already a nightmare for curse users and cursed spirits alike.
As a result, even though he carried a bounty of one hundred million from birth, very few idiots were foolish enough to come courting death.
On the stone-paved path outside the Gojo Clan estate, a white-haired child wearing a blue haori patterned with dragonflies walked leisurely through the falling snow, holding his mother's hand.
The boy seemed to sense something. He suddenly turned his head, his pale blue eyes locking onto a tall silhouette.
Having been noticed, Toji Zenin's pupils shrank sharply.
Born without any Cursed Energy, he was extremely difficult for sorcerers to detect. This was the first time anyone had sensed his presence from behind.
Satoru Gojo lifted his gaze upward once more. On a tree branch above, there was a black-haired, spiky-haired boy about his own age, curled up tightly into a ball.
It looked like he was sleeping.
After taking a long, deep look at that figure, Satoru Gojo turned away and walked into the inner courtyard of the Gojo estate.
Toji Zenin kicked the tree beside him. The snow piled on the branches came crashing down with a loud rustle.
"Hey, kid. You've been spotted."
Startled awake, Akira Zenin rubbed his eyes and jumped down from the tree.
"Second Uncle? I thought you didn't want to come."
Toji Zenin glanced at the boy. Although Akira Zenin was a sorcerer, he hadn't yet been tainted by that rotten stench. Of course, that only meant he was slightly less annoying than the rest of the trash.
"Did you send Naoya Zenin to pester me?"
"No. I just told him you're really strong, Second Uncle."
Toji Zenin froze for a moment, the words he was about to say getting stuck in his throat.
"Enough. I don't have time to play house with you kids."
With that, Toji Zenin's figure vanished in an instant, leaving behind only the footprints where he had been standing.
Akira Zenin stretched lazily.
"Looks like Naoya Zenin has been properly educated. Until he catches up to Second Uncle, he probably won't come bother me anymore.
That's great."
"Man, that nap wasn't very comfortable. There's clearly sunlight, yet it's still so cold.
I, Akira Zenin, hereby formally accuse the sun of throwing the match."
"Grrr~"
Hearing his stomach protest, Akira Zenin hurriedly rubbed his belly.
Looks like I slept a bit too long this time. Time to find something to eat.
When Akira Zenin entered the banquet hall, the feast was already well underway. Everyone was gathered in layer after layer of circles centered on Satoru Gojo, raising cups, exchanging toasts, and chatting happily.
A young man was feeling frustrated that he couldn't squeeze into the center to get acquainted with the big names, when he suddenly noticed a child at a table on the edge of the hall, clutching a chicken leg and licking the plate clean.
'Which family's kid is this? Never taken an etiquette class?'
And that was indeed the case. Ever since awakening his technique, Akira Zenin had been focused entirely on learning how to use the [Ten Shadows Technique], with no time set aside for any other lessons.
Sensing the young man's gaze, Akira Zenin grabbed another plate and held it out to him.
"Are you hungry too? Here, have a chicken leg. This banquet is so boring."
The young man walked over, took the plate, and set it down on the table.
"Don't speak so loudly. Which family are you from? Can't find your elders? The evaluation showcase for the younger generation is about to begin. It's an important opportunity, so go get ready."
Akira Zenin gave the unfamiliar teenager a dead, fish-eyed glance. He hadn't expected that someone from the Three Great Families would still bother reminding others of things like this. He lowered his head and continued eating, replying perfunctorily,
"Oh, okay."
The teenager shook his head and continued squeezing toward the center of the venue.
After Akira Zenin had eaten and drunk his fill, the formal evaluation before the elders finally began.
The first to step forward were Naoya Zenin, who had arrived together with Naobito, and the teenager who had just forced his way into the center, Kazuhito Kamo.
Although Kazuhito Kamo was already twelve, his generation rank was relatively low, so he was still considered part of the younger generation.
The two stood within the specially designated sparring area.
Kazuhito Kamo spoke first.
"My technique is [Flowing Red Scale]. By altering the composition of my blood, I can greatly increase my speed and strength for a short period of time."
Naoya Zenin crossed his arms. For some reason, his left eye socket was badly swollen.
"Strengthening your technique by publicly revealing it?
Sounds like a castrated version of your [Blood Manipulation Techniques]."
Kazuhito Kamo's eyes flew wide open, two crimson markings surfacing on his face.
"Aren't you going to reveal your own technique? I can wait."
"Against small fry like you, I don't need to go that far."
Even someone as even-tempered as Kazuhito Kamo couldn't help but feel anger after being mocked again and again.
He reinforced his body and charged straight at Naoya Zenin. The two clashed head-on. With the advantage of age and the boost from his technique, Kazuhito Kamo forced Naoya Zenin back step by step.
Just as Naoya Zenin was about to be driven out of the ring, Kazuhito Kamo's movements suddenly stiffened. His entire body froze, turning into a "glass photograph."
Naoya Zenin shattered the glass-like image and, with the momentum, tossed the rigid Kazuhito Kamo out of bounds.
He brushed a few specks of dust from his clothes with his hand.
"My technique is [Projection Sorcery]. It divides one second into twenty-four segments, using my field of vision as the frame. I predesign a sequence of movements within that frame and then replicate them.
And when I touch you, your next second is also divided into twenty-four parts. If you don't follow the movements I've laid out, your whole body freezes."
Kazuhito Kamo stood up and let out a sigh.
"I lost."
The head of the Kamo Clan spoke to him sternly.
"The preferential treatment for you and your brother is revoked. Go back and train properly."
Kazuhito Kamo lowered his head in response.
"Yes."
Naoya Zenin stood there with his arms crossed, clearly intoxicated by his victory. He even turned his gaze toward the main seat, where Satoru Gojo sat.
"If you want to become stronger, you have to challenge the strong! Toji told me that myths and rules exist to be broken!"
Naobito Zenin immediately sensed what his eldest son was about to do. Cold sweat poured down his forehead as he hurriedly tried to stop him with his eyes.
[This banquet is meant to intimidate us with the Six Eyes prodigy. Don't go making yourself a stepping stone!]
But in Naoya Zenin's eyes, his father's look translated to something entirely different.
[Go for it, Naoya! You actually have the courage to challenge Satoru Gojo! I'm proud of you!]