"Haha, hahahaha! I lost. Oh man, I really lost!" Zen'in Naobito laughed loudly, casually taking out a flask from beside him and pouring the liquor into his mouth in one go.
He drank for a full two or three seconds before putting the flask down and letting out a boozy burp.
He sat under a cherry blossom tree, a pristine white cloth spread beneath him. Before him were two flat sake bowls and a flask. But he didn't even look at the two bowls, grabbing the flask directly. He was still half-dressed in a kimono, exposing half of his naked torso. His white hair was slicked back, and his British-style handlebar mustache twitched as he drank.
Suddenly, he asked, "Hey, how do you plan to walk the path ahead?"
"You're already dead, yet you're still considering such things." Mahito slowly limped out from behind the cherry blossom tree. "Aren't you tired, old man?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? As the head of the Zen'in Family, what's wrong with caring about these things!" Zen'in Naobito barked impatiently. "Stop nagging. If you have something to say, say it quickly!"
Now Mahito particularly understood why Zen'in Maki in the original work found this old man so annoying, even though he was the last shred of conscience in the Zen'in Family.
I'm annoyed by him too.
Mahito sat opposite Zen'in Naobito. Zen'in Naobito lifted the flask to pour for Mahito, filling one of the flat sake bowls. Mahito picked up the bowl, and a cherry blossom petal happened to fall into it, sending a ripple through the calm liquid.
Mahito couldn't help but say, "How elegant, old man. Seeing your slicked-back hair and trimmed mustache, I thought you were just a rebellious old guy. I didn't expect the final space you'd imagine after death would be a cherry tree, two sake bowls, and an enemy you could see one last time."
Zen'in Naobito said self-deprecatingly, "Who wasn't young once? Can you imagine it? In our Zen'in Family, there's a rule for women, regardless of talent: they must walk three steps behind a man. It's 2018 now, you know? The 21st century! What a joke! The Zen'in Family lives like it's the Heian period!"
"It seems you're quite dissatisfied?" Mahito asked. "But you're already the head of the Zen'in Family; you have the power to change all this."
"Of course I can change it." Zen'in Naobito's voice suddenly turned cold. "But even if I change this generation, the next will return to the old rules... Unfortunately, my son is exactly the type who strictly adheres to the Zen'in Family's rules. Once I die and he succeeds me, nothing will have changed, and nothing can be changed."
"That's a failure of your education," Mahito said.
"Unfortunately, education in the Zen'in Family is centralized. I have no right to interfere. In fact, it's a great stroke of luck that an outlier like me could even emerge in the Zen'in Family. Fortunately, my talent was strong enough to beat everyone who opposed me into the ICU; otherwise, I wouldn't even be able to hold onto this position as head."
Zen'in Naobito grit his teeth. "But even so, I couldn't go on a killing spree unless I completely cut myself off from the jujutsu world and became a Curse User. But if I were a Curse User, how could I be the head of the family?"
"When I was a kid, I always thought about what I'd do when I became the head. But once I actually became it, I felt as if I were bound by countless chains—shackling my hands and feet, my brain, my heart, my ideals, and my will."
Mahito said indifferently, "Now you don't have to worry. Everyone in your family who could call the shots is dead."
Zen'in Naobito was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing. "That's right, now I don't have to worry. The Zen'in Family can never dream of going back to the way it was!"
This made Mahito curious. He asked, "You don't seem to hate me much? Even though I nearly exterminated the Zen'in clan."
Zen'in Naobito laughed. "Let me guess. Although you act calm, you don't fully understand the state you and I are currently in?"
"I've heard that if Jujutsu Sorcerers are in a life-and-death battle, they occasionally enter a state where they can see into each other's hearts. However, this only happens in very few cases. Most of the time, dead is dead, and nothing happens," Mahito said.
Zen'in Naobito took a sip from the flask. "Then let me tell you a more elegant explanation."
"Legend has it that after people die, they enter the River of Souls to undergo reincarnation. We Jujutsu Sorcerers can resist the current of the River of Souls better than ordinary people. Before death, we can temporarily construct a space for a final 'death vision.' In this space, a Jujutsu Sorcerer can clearly judge themselves, cast aside all worldly matters, and step into the final reincarnation."
Mahito nodded thoughtfully, remembering that this indeed seemed to be a thing in the original work. After some important characters died, such death visions often appeared, and some were so real it was as if they hadn't died at all.
The most typical example was when Gojo Satoru died; he constructed a train station platform, sitting on a bench with people who had long since passed away appearing beside him.
In the original work, Mahito would also come here after he died, but he didn't respond to the River of Souls. Instead, he insisted on staying by the river and waiting, until the end of the original work when Ryomen Sukuna also died. Then, Mahito ran into Ryomen Sukuna, and they even had a conversation.
This should be true, though as a Jujutsu Sorcerer, there's no way to confirm its veracity. But since these extreme, special phenomena have indeed been discovered, it's called an "elegant" explanation out of uncertainty.
"And then, if this Jujutsu Sorcerer happens to be in a death match with another Jujutsu Sorcerer before dying, their hearts can understand each other through the blending of their Cursed Energy. Thus, in this death vision, they can see their opponent from the death match before heading to reincarnation."
Zen'in Naobito looked at Mahito with a smile. "Even though we've hardly spoken and never understood each other, it's quite incredible... I believe you. I believe you now more than anyone else."
"King of Curses, Mahito," Zen'in Naobito said solemnly. "If it's you—if it's the one who killed me who decides to change this jujutsu world—then I believe you can definitely do it. No one in this world can stop you. Not the Zen'in Family, not the other Big Three Families, not even Gojo Satoru!"
Mahito was stunned. "I don't even have that much confidence in myself."
"You just haven't noticed your own confidence," Zen'in Naobito said indifferently. "When you came to the Zen'in Family wearing a haori, a kimono, and a hakama, with a bamboo hat on your head, you had already made your choice."
"You can't imagine how much the people of the Zen'in Family feared you then, nor how much they admired you. You never even considered that the entire Zen'in Family was swallowed by the wind, rain, and lightning you brought with you."
"Haven't you noticed? Everyone who opposed you introduced themselves in unison, solemn and grave, like the last samurai in a chanbara film facing the person most worth fighting on a rainy night."
Mahito whispered, "I thought all righteous paths were like that?"
Zen'in Naobito laughed loudly. "Let me say it again, it's already 2018! Who still plays by that ancient set of rules with you? Even the Zen'in Family doesn't play that way anymore! For the sake of victory, our despicableness is something you simply cannot imagine!"
Mahito suddenly thought of the original work when Gojo Satoru and Ryomen Sukuna had their final battle. When Gojo Satoru fell into a disadvantage, everyone discussed how to help him.
The emotionally unstable ones were the first to stand up, wanting to help Gojo Satoru, but an ancient sorcerer who had been resurrected stopped them. Others also rationally advised the agitated person. In their analysis, the modern Jujutsu Sorcerers determined that letting Gojo Satoru and Ryomen Sukuna continue their duel alone was the optimal solution.
But the ancient sorcerer was dismissive of these analyses. He said indifferently, "Are modern Jujutsu Sorcerers all such weaklings? Listen up, this is a battle between Gojo Satoru and Ryomen Sukuna; no one else is allowed to interfere."
The ideas of the ancient and modern eras were far apart, and their pursuit of honor was completely different.
Mahito also began to laugh. "So that's how it is. I was thinking about it the wrong way."
Zen'in Naobito took another sip of wine. "But the moment you showed up at our door, you changed the Zen'in Family. All the clansmen yearned to fight you; they couldn't wait to introduce themselves to mask the excitement in their hearts."
"They thought they were conducting a righteous suppression of a Cursed Spirit, but they weren't. At that moment, they had all returned to the ancient times of pursuing benevolence, righteousness, and glory, as if they were those very warriors engaging in a final duel with their lifelong enemy, making even death worthwhile. Such being the case, how could I ever hate you?"
Mahito said mockingly, "But not everyone introduced themselves. Before I fought your son, I was besieged for quite a while."
"That's because they are all trash who will never be able to use Black Flash in their lives," Zen'in Naobito said coldly.
Only Zen'in Naobito could call the people within the elite jujutsu group of the Zen'in Family and even his own son—who were esteemed Grade 1 Sorcerers—trash without any hesitation.
But Mahito knew that Zen'in Naobito was right.
In the battle at the Zen'in Family, as long as someone introduced themselves, there was a clear gap in strength between them and the others. This gap wasn't merely in the amount of Cursed Energy, but a more pure one—a gap of the heart.
"When I fought Zen'in Ogi and Zen'in Jinichi, people still interfered," Mahito said.
Zen'in Naobito said impatiently, "So they are also trash. Especially Naoya; as a Jujutsu Sorcerer who deeply cultivated iaijutsu, he couldn't even achieve zanshin. He deserved to be sneak-attacked to death by you."
"By the way, if Ranta had been safe at that time and hadn't fought to the death, then Jinichi wouldn't have been able to use Black Flash until the day he died, because he simply couldn't achieve single-mindedness."
Mahito suddenly thought of the original work's protagonist, Itadori Yuji. The original work's narrator once said that a person with a sincere heart like Itadori Yuji is a Jujutsu Sorcerer beloved by Black Flash. Other Jujutsu Sorcerers, including Gojo Satoru and Ryomen Sukuna, can only use Black Flash when the fight reaches its most intense point or when their emotions are at their peak.
Only Itadori Yuji can definitely use Black Flash whenever he wants.
Single-mindedness, huh.
Mahito smiled. "I see. You've had a breakthrough."
Zen'in Naobito said proudly, "So you noticed."
Zen'in Naobito continued arrogantly, "That's right. During our final battle, I was completely immersed in the fight with you. Hatred, fear, and anger were entirely cast aside by me. I didn't forget them; rather, I achieved fusion with them."
"I organized these emotions into one, and my heart became as transparent as clear lake water. Thus, having surpassed everything, I entered the realm of Black Flash. I can strike with Black Flash whenever I want. I have surpassed all my previous realms and reached a brand-new self."
Zen'in Naobito sighed with regret. "If I could have survived, or even fought you for a bit longer, I am confident I could have constructed a Domain Expansion that very day. After that, I might have even tried to push for the rank of Special Grade Sorcerer."
This is a Jujutsu Sorcerer.
No matter what kind of sorcerer they are, only in a death match can they truly make their talent bloom.
This was also the question Mahito had "figured out."
Not running away, facing fear directly, and surpassing oneself within that fear—whether it is a Cursed Spirit or a sorcerer, this is the righteous path to increasing strength.
Biding one's time in the jujutsu world is nothing but an absolute evil path.
(T/N: Lol Kenny catching strays but it's true tho)
The current Mahito could finally be considered to be truly stepping onto the righteous path.
In fact, the Mahito in the original work grew exactly like this. His Domain Expansion was a breakthrough made in the fear of death, and his "Idle Transfiguration: Instant Spirit Body of Distorted Killing" was also realized during battle. It can be said that the reason the original Mahito could progress to such a level within half a year was largely due to actively seeking out battles.
In contrast, this Mahito never took the initiative to fight since his birth. He faced any opponent with caution, constantly planning before a battle. If he didn't have a thorough understanding of the enemy's intelligence, he wouldn't fight them at all.
It wasn't until the people of the Zen'in Family bullied him that he completely figured it out, coming to the Zen'in Family alone to start a clan extermination battle.
"Now then, back to the first topic," Zen'in Naobito asked seriously. "Have you thought about how you're going to proceed next?"
Mahito thought for a moment and said, "Next, I plan to go and test Gojo Satoru's strength."
Zen'in Naobito was shocked. "Are you serious? With your current self?"
"Hey, hey, which old man just said that even Gojo Satoru couldn't stop me?" Mahito sighed. "I'm saying, to change the jujutsu world, Gojo Satoru is a hurdle that must be overcome no matter what. Since he's a destined enemy, isn't it natural to test him while our side's intelligence hasn't been completely exposed?"
Zen'in Naobito was speechless. "Fine. You truly are the man who dared to come to the Zen'in Family with a single person and a single sword. You've got guts."
After a pause, he shouted, "Honestly, what you just said shocked me so much that it threw off my topic! This won't do, no, no. Mahito, what I want to ask isn't about your next plan; that kind of thing doesn't matter... What I want to ask is, how do you want to walk your path?"
Mahito frowned. "Walk?"
"Yes. Walk," Zen'in Naobito asked. "I said it just now, didn't I? I believe more than anyone that you can change the jujutsu world. This is what I want to ask... Where are you going to take the jujutsu world?"
If he were facing Jogo, Mahito would tell him categorically:
I want Cursed Spirits to walk the streets openly. I want to create a future shared by humans and Cursed Spirits. I will become a true god, a god for both humans and Cursed Spirits. While maintaining modern human civilization, I will place the existence of Cursed Spirits above humans. From then on, Cursed Spirits will become new humans, the true god's emissaries.
If he were facing Yoshino Junpei, Mahito would tell him earnestly:
I want to maintain fairness and justice in human society. I want Cursed Spirits to become messengers of justice. Everyone will be under the invisible monitoring of Cursed Spirits, but these Cursed Spirits will never interfere with the operation of human society. They will report what they encounter to me through the great barrier, and I will punish according to the law. I will correct the corrupt customs of human society, and no one will have privileges. From then on, humans will live within the framework I set, forever.
If he were facing Kenjaku, Mahito would tell him cheerfully:
I will explore the possibilities of humans and Cursed Spirits as much as possible. I will actively carry out certain specialized modifications. Perhaps I will make it possible for all humans to awaken their own unique Innate Techniques. Perhaps humans of the future will no longer need firearms; everyone will use their Innate Techniques to do things whenever they want. Cursed Spirits will also become my test subjects.
I will increase the intelligence and sociality of Cursed Spirits as much as possible. This might spark a new round of race wars? I don't know, but don't you want to see such a future?
If he were facing Kinji Hakari, Yuukichi, Mei Mei, or even Gojo Satoru, he would have a set of rhetoric for each of them, guaranteed to leave them spellbound and excited.
But facing this person who insisted on having a candid conversation with him after death, he couldn't refuse to disclose his true thoughts.
He said frankly, "I don't know."
The wine pot Zen'in Naobito was holding trembled slightly.
He asked back blankly, "You don't know?"
Mahito showed a smile. "How long do you think it's been since I was born? By human age, I'm not even half a year old. My original plan was to bide my time and strive to improve myself. As for the road ahead, I'll take it one step at a time."
"Only when I have learned enough knowledge and seen enough scenery can I reach a definitive conclusion and start truly changing the world. Isn't this sound logic? Or do you expect me, who was just born, to act recklessly based on less than a year of experience?"
Mahito wasn't lying. Although he was a transmigrator with memories of his previous life in his head, this world was different from his previous one. It was definitely not something where a conclusion could be easily reached by simply copying things over.
If nothing else, his previous life was a one hundred percent non-sorcerer world, but this world has actual supernatural abilities.
Can these two be discussed in the same breath?
To transform this world, one must localize the approach.
At this moment, he has lived in this world for less than a year.
What right does he have to make grand claims about being able to transform it?
Since it's the massive topic of "changing the world," one must achieve a clear conscience and peace under heaven.
If that can't be done,
then just use the knowledge from the previous life and the newly obtained power to play around recklessly.
Don't ruin this team that has already been assembled.
It's like a series of code; as long as it can run, don't touch it.
What's most feared is the kind of self-righteous idiot who touches some code and causes the entire system to collapse.
Furthermore, he still doesn't even have a clue how to survive until the grand finale of the original work.
How could he possibly think about things like changing the world?
Zen'in Naobito was stunned.
He hadn't expected Mahito to be so young.
When Mahito came to his door, he really thought this Cursed Spirit had lived for at least ten years because his articulation was natural, his logic was clear, and he had a distinct sense of good and evil—if a normal Cursed Spirit had come to exterminate them, it would never have spared the old and weak of the Zen'in Family.
But he did spare them.
This showed that he at least had a mature worldview, which is something a Cursed Spirit with narrow experience could not possess.
Although he didn't say it explicitly, Zen'in Naobito had to admit that it was precisely because Mahito spared the old and weak that he could trust him so wholeheartedly, believing in him until his death.
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