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CHAPTER START---
Pacing in his private training room, Naoya Zen'In pours over each detail of his plan.
All the information he could confirm, every assumption he's forced to accommodate, everything that could go wrong, and above all else, every threat to his life.
Sensing a familiar Cursed Energy Signature approaching, he stops and glares at the sliding paper door to the dojo.
Moments later, his mother, an older woman with a head of grey hair, opens the door after a gentle knock. "He is almost here. The scouts say a car is driving up the mountain as we speak."
Naoya fixes his black and white kimono while glaring at her, causing the woman to reflexively bow her head. He then begins walking past her, out the door.
"He's early," he says, stopping beside her in the doorway. "Tell the Hei to begin the performance now, then go find a broom and make yourself useful."
The woman doesn't respond, simply remaining in her position until his footsteps are out of earshot.
Moments later, he's in the massive stone courtyard of this seemingly ancient compound. It appeared more like a monastery than a secret clan headquarters.
Littered with buildings that would fit perfectly into Japan hundreds of years ago, connected by stone pathways and lush green garden patches, hosting perfectly trimmed bonsai trees.
Standing at the entrance with both hands behind his back, Naoya hears the car approaching and stopping just beyond the massive stone wall surrounding the compound, then glances up at the sky.
'The sun still has space to rise. He's early,' he thinks. 'Why would a Special Grade ever arrive early? They never operate on anyone else's schedule. Is he trying to send a message? Perhaps some hint at his goals or ambitions? He must be trying to throw us off. As expected of a Special Grade…'
Naoya doesn't have enough time to spiral into his thoughts before some servants open the large wooden gates, and Taiyo enters.
Wearing comfortable and rather casual long sports track pants, sneakers, and a t-shirt, all red and white to match his hair.
Along with a new designer jacket, sporting his name and Olympic patch on the shoulder in the same colors.
Naoya suppresses a twitch, but releases a deep exhale as Taiyo approaches him. 'He's wearing his damn sponsor's fashion line to a meeting with me?!'
"This is nice," Taiyo says, stopping in front of the man and looking around. "Didn't even sense it until I stepped through the Barrier. Actually, I couldn't even see the Barrier."
"Many years of layering Talismans and Barriers make that possible. Otherwise, satellites and hikers in these mountains would have stumbled upon us by now," Naoya extends his hand. "Naoya Zen'In, heir to the Zen'In Clan."
"Taiyo Daburu," he says, shaking his hand, but barely even glances at the man. Instead, Taiyo is busy looking around, observing all the different Cursed Energy Signatures and trying to understand the Barrier above them.
Naoya gestures for Taiyo to follow him and begins walking deeper into the compound. "The main meeting hall is this way, but it may take a moment to gather everyone. We didn't expect your arrival before noon."
Walking behind him, Taiyo shrugs. "I was at a modeling event, but my part is done, so I just walked off the runway and came here early."
"Very considerate of you. My clan is very hopeful about this meeting. Is there anything you'd like to request before we enter the main hall, or before we begin the meeting?"
"I'm not in the mood to spend all day here. So let's not do the 'serving a 10-course meal to prolong the political meeting' crap, because I'll just walk out whenever I feel like, regardless. Best not to waste food."
"I'll ensure only light refreshments are served, since you appear to want this to be a quick event."
Taiyo sighs, then mutters just loudly enough for Naoya to hear. "This could have been a text and courier delivery…"
"Are you so uninterested in my family?"
"It's nothing personal, just doesn't serve my goals."
"And may I be rude enough to ask, what are your goals?"
"To be The Strongest," Taiyo says, not surprising Naoya in the least. "And since you're being nosy, I guess it's only fair for me to ask. What do you want?"
"My inheritance, the Zen'In clan."
"Ugh, boring."
Naoya scowls and is about to respond, but a fluctuation of Cursed Energy draws their attention to the far side of the compound.
Taiyo doesn't hesitate to abandon their course and walk toward it, leaving the stone path and walking through the carefully maintained gardens and greenery.
Naoya smiles deviously, following behind him. 'So I was right. The Hei are the perfect bait for him. He may just be someone who cares only about Jujutsu after all. Now I just have to make the most of my time with him before Father and Uncle get involved. Heavens forbid they convince him to get one or both of those mangey things pregnant…'
Naoya grits his teeth almost hard enough to break them at that thought.
But Taiyo is far too distracted to care and marches toward a massive building, crowded with men training with swords all around it, sparring with each other under the sun while sporting cuts and bruises.
They notice him and are concerned for a moment, but looking past him at their captain, Naoya, who gives them the signal to stand aside.
They quickly clear the path, and Taiyo steps over a few Zen'In corpses before arriving at the building.
He ignores the servant women on either side of the large wooden doors and pushes them open, stepping into a wooden hall with the doors on the other side leading to a large stone courtyard.
A smile splits his face as he sees and senses Jujutsu in the courtyard, and before Naoya turns back to the building after ordering his men to stand ready in the hall and around the courtyard, Taiyo is already out the other side of the hall.
Taiyo looks down the dozen steps to the courtyard where two men are sparring. Using Cursed Energy to enhance themselves, they clashed before leaping away and activating their Innate Techniques.
One man is six and a half feet tall with wild black hair and scars on his face, his sculpted muscular build apparent as his shirt is off and a thin layer of sweat coats his body.
Across from him is another man, older. Short and thin but still having some clear muscle definition, wearing a black and white sleeveless kimono and sporting a short white mohawk.
"That's Jinichi Zen'In," Naoya says, pointing to the first man, who rears back both fists and activates his Innate Technique.
Four copies of his fists appear beside him, floating in the air, then Cursed Energy ignites within them and launches them like rockets.
"Missile Fists," Naoya says before following the attack's path with his pointer finger to the other man. "Chojuro Zen'In."
The second man drops into a crouch and rests his hand on the ground, which then erupts between the combatants to form a giant stone hand, smashing the projectiles and attempting to slap Jinichi against the ground, but the man dodges it.
"Stone Hand?" Taiyo asks as the fight continues.
"Earth Manipulation, but good guess."
"What about him?" Taiyo nods to the man at the edge of the training zone, observing the fight.
The man was older than Naoya and Taiyo, appearing to be in his early thirties, wearing a black and white kimono with a katana at his side.
"Nobuaki Zen'In," Naoya says. "A lower Hei member, because he has no Innate Technique. But he is as respected as one of their kind can be."
"And you?"
"I lead the Hei, which is our clan's most elite combat force. This is my training area, and these are my subordinates."
"This is interesting." Taiyo's gaze focuses on the Jujutsu in front of him, and at a glance, Naoya recognizes that sparkle in his eyes. "You're so lucky."
"Lucky? I've had to work myself nearly to death to get here. Do you think it's easy for the youngest child to become the heir of—"
"Not about that crap," Taiyo says. "Being able to observe so much Jujutsu. It's incredible. Even with the Pact of Revealing Ones Hand, Jujutsu Tech barely has any information on specific Innate Techniques…and I want to see them all."
"Do you admire Jujutsu that much?"
Taiyo doesn't look away from the battle, not even for a moment, but Naoya turns to face the boy, far more interested in this newcomer. "Don't you?"
"Hm. I am a Zen'In. Jujutsu is the world I've always known. But I suppose it's only been a few months since your Cursed Energy awakened, so it's all still so new to you," he turns back to the battle. "But it'll get old."
"Never."
Naoya smiles, feeling more secure in his understanding of Taiyo.
He claps his hands, and the battle immediately stops.
Taiyo shoots him an annoyed look while the Hei members bow in the courtyard, aside from Chojuro, who quickly repairs it.
"Taiyo Daburu, would you like to test them out yourself?" Naoya asks. "After all, what better way to experience Jujutsu, right?"
Taiyo smiles, and Naoya barely has time to register how perfectly his plan is progressing before the boy tosses his jacket to a female servant and leaps down to the courtyard, standing opposite the three men.
"You too, Ranta," Naoya commands, and a man leaves the squad of soldiers that had been gathering in the hall and leaps down into the courtyard.
"Rules?" Taiyo asks, raising his voice so Naoya could hear him. "You are the host. Your house, your rules."
Naoya shrugs. "Do whatever you want, but keep the destruction to the courtyard. They know the risk…"
END CHAPTER---
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