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Kenjaku shrugged, the gesture detached.
"Not necessarily at the same level. But there are always signs before a major player shows up. Curses sense things before anyone else. They swarm around big forces like flies."
Uraume shifted slightly, as if she wanted to sit up straighter in her chair. She was attentive now, arms crossed, but more tense.
"So that's your point? A new kind of major force is on the rise, and that's why there are so many curses trying to restore balance."
Kenjaku stretched a nearly satisfied smile, tilting his head slightly to the side.
"Exactly. It's not just a coincidence. Something is happening… or rather, someone."
Uraume, a bit frustrated, cut him off sharply.
"Stop with the riddles, Kenjaku. Be clear. Who do you think it is? What do you want to do?"
This time, he burst out laughing.
He eventually stopped, but his smile lingered. He slouched a little in his chair.
"I haven't been able to identify them yet," he finally said, lacing his fingers over his knees. "But it won't be long. One thing is certain: whoever's causing this isn't an adult. Probably a teenager, at most."
Uraume raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Why not an infant then? If the change only started a few months ago, that's just as plausible, isn't it?"
Kenjaku shook his head with a faint laugh. "If it were an infant, the outpour of cursed energy would be colossal and impossible to hide. It would've been easy to track. But here, nothing. No detectable trace, no uncontrolled surges. Which means they're already mature enough to conceal their energy. A teenager, then. A kid who awakened to Jujutsu and was quickly taken in by protectors."
Uraume stayed silent for a moment, eyes studying him. "You talk as if this is all part of some grand setup. Your instinct always makes you search for hidden meaning where there may be only chaos. What if it's just an adult? An experienced, discreet user?"
Kenjaku lifted his shoulders slightly, his gaze thoughtful. "It's possible. But adult Jujutsu awakenings are extremely rare."
A flicker of amusement crossed Kenjaku's eyes. "There was a case in July involving an abandoned hospital. I went there recently. The place was intact, not a single curse around, and yet… the area was saturated with cursed energy. Absurd levels. Only a careless user could leave such a signature without even causing physical incidents. Someone had clearly been there. But it wasn't a pro. A veteran would never leave behind such a field of energy without signs of battle or results."
Uraume rested her chin on her hand, thinking. "So your hypothesis is that an untrained teenager caused all this before being quickly picked up by one of the great Jujutsu families."
Kenjaku nodded, the smile still plastered on his face. "Exactly. And you know what makes it even juicier? My current body is working as a mercenary for the noble families. And the best part? They have no clue what's happening either. Total silence. They're as lost as we are."
Uraume narrowed her eyes. "If that's true, it means this 'someone' is either a completely new force or a well-kept secret, even within the Jujutsu families." She straightened slightly in her chair, her gaze sharper. "So what, we just wait for this prodigy to make a grand entrance?"
Kenjaku's smile widened, almost delighted. "No. We don't just wait. We watch… and we prepare to act. Because when this player really steps onto the field, Uraume, it's going to be spectacular."
Uraume frowned.
"You're starting to annoy me, Kenjaku. Either you know something concrete, or you stay silent."
Kenjaku regarded her with a certain nonchalance.
"Why this sudden nervousness, Uraume?" he asked, leaning back further into his chair, a calm smile on his lips.
"I'm not nervous," she shot back coldly. "If there's an obstacle standing in the way of my master's reincarnation, I'd like to know it clearly."
"Very well. Then here's a lead for you," Kenjaku said, clasping his hands together in front of him. "If this kid really is as special as I think, he'll end up drawing the spotlight. No need to force things too much. We have the luxury of waiting, but also of observing. Every event, every unusual occurrence… all of it will lead us straight to him."
Uraume glared at Kenjaku, her expression edged with cold weariness.
"You've had so much trouble with Satoru Gojo. How do you plan on handling another threat of that caliber?"
Kenjaku looked up, clearly amused by the jab.
"That's a fair observation, Uraume. And I won't lie, the thought of another Jujutsu sorcerer at that level doesn't excite me. It's definitely a complication we'd rather avoid." He leaned forward slightly, his tone turning more confident. "But… it all depends on how you look at it. Who's to say they'll necessarily be against us?"
Uraume arched an eyebrow.
"You really want to bet on that?" she retorted sharply. "We find them, make sure they serve our cause… or we get rid of them before they become an obstacle. It's that simple."
Kenjaku rested a casual hand on the armrest of his chair and shook his head in amusement.
"Ah, Uraume, always so impulsive." His eyes gleamed with a mocking light as he continued in an almost paternal tone. "What you don't see is that rushing things could do more harm than good. If we show our cards too early, we'll lose the element of surprise. It's basic strategy, come on."
Uraume stifled an irritated sigh.
"So, we wait? That's your big plan? Just watch and hope things turn out the way you want?"