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CHAPTER START---
"So many people," Taiyo mutters as he enters a grand meeting hall.
Large mats and cushions lay out on the hardwood floor of a traditional feudal hosting room, complete with a high ceiling and open braziers to provide light.
Unlike the previous hall where Taiyo fought the Hei, this one had hard wooden walls, layered with Talismans to provide privacy, and was already hosting two dozen people.
One step behind Naoya, they walk through the room, two rows of men on each side, already seated and wearing traditional Zen'In robes.
Their expressions are stiff, only giving Taiyo a curious glance as he walks past them and stops in front of a small raised platform.
"Taiyo Daburu," Naoya says as he steps aside and begins gesturing to the men.
He begins with the man in the middle, at a slightly higher spot on the elevated platform. The man wore the only unique Kimono in the room, grey and black. His grey shoulder-length hair neatly combed, and his matching mustache, well-kempt.
"My father, leader of the Zen'In Clan. Naobito Zen'In," Naoya says before gesturing to the man one seat lower and to his father's left.
A slightly younger man with black hair, wearing the same traditional kimono as all the other Zen'In men.
"Ogi Zen'In, my uncle, leader of the Kukuru Unit," Naoya turns and gestures vaguely to the men sitting in rows to their left and right. "Today, you will speak to the heads of each Zen'In Clan faction, a privilege not given to anyone since Satoru Gojo's last visit."
"I am honored to receive such a privilege," Taiyo says, eyes not wavering from Naobito's gaze.
Naobito scoffs, and the room immediately becomes tense.
Naoya smiles and moves to sit at his father's right, mirroring Ogi Zen'In, while the leaders of other branches and units hold their breath, not surprised at the casual disrespect their leader usually exudes.
But expecting him to be smarter than doing such a thing to a Special Grade, especially since his last meeting with Satoru Gojo.
Naobito frowns and leans forward, resting his elbow on his crossed leg and placing his chin in his palm. "Enough with your false pleasantries."
All but Taiyo and Naoya tense up, muscles coiled and ready to attack if needed. But those two knew better, having a proper understanding of what was going on.
Of what motivated Taiyo Daburu, and while Naoya orchestrated a performance with the Hei to gleam this information, Naobito learned it at a glance.
"You don't care about this drama and politics," Naobito says as he snaps his fingers. "Only power…"
Taiyo smiles. "And here I was, worried about having to endure a meeting with some old man who loves nothing more than the sound of his own voice."
Naobito laughs. "In my old age, the only things I love are rice wine and toned young women!"
"Then we've already found common ground," Taiyo chuckles, and everyone relaxes.
Ogi shoots his brother an annoyed glance, maintaining his regal posture as some men relax.
"In the spirit of letting us all go back to doing what and who we love, may I speed this up?"
Naobito raises a brow at Taiyo, then nods.
Taiyo raises a hand, making the mudra for Curtain, then points it at the floor in front of him.
"Simple Domain: Truth."
A surge of warm Cursed Energy fills the room as Taiyo's new Simple Domain encompasses the entire hall and some of the connecting hallways beyond the walls.
In the instant it formed, everyone gleaned a sense of his total Cursed Energy capacity, and it paralyzes them.
So vast was it that their instincts to attack instantly anyone who would use such a technique in the presence of the Clan Head were interrupted, and their truest self knew that every breath they took in the presence of Taiyo Daburu, was a gift from him.
Luckily, a moment before anyone could work up the courage to attack, Naobito raises a hand, gesturing for everyone to stand down.
"Sorry if I startled anyone."
"There are better ways to see our Innate Techniques, perhaps we can work that into the negotiations. Since you seem so curious about it."
"Heh, I figured this would be faster, but you Zen'In men keep your composure well."
"Fighting anyone who flaunts Cursed Energy is not how you survive a thousand years," Ogi says.
Naobito nods while Naoya rolls his eyes.
"My Simple Domain is a medium of a Binding Vow," Taiyo says. "All within it must agree to speak only the truth until it closes. Any lies will be revealed to those who have made the Binding Vow, but you don't have to speak if you don't want to."
"A bold move. You're tactless," Naobito says.
"But it is efficient," Naoya adds. "You want everyone to agree, or the meeting doesn't happen, right?"
Taiyo shakes his head. "I want everyone we don't need to get out, then the people who remain have to accept the Binding Vow."
"And I want to learn that Simple Domain," Naoya says.
"I'll trade you for something of equal value."
"I have a few ideas."
Ogi grits his teeth as, in the presence of all the clan leaders, Naoya shows a deeper relationship with the new Special Grade, while he's yet to have a proper interaction with the boy.
"Then let's not waste time. Naoya, Ogi, remain. Everyone else, dismissed."
At Naobito's command, all the branch and unit leaders, aside from his brother and son, vacate the room, leaving only four people in the room.
Taiyo moves to sit on the mat and cushion in front of the raised platform, unprompted, annoying Ogi but amusing the others.
However the three men accept the Binding Vow.
"Are there any chairs in this compound?"
"There is strength in tradition," Ogi says.
"Our clan stays true to the ways of the ancestors to preserve our Jujutsu," Naobito says. "Jujutsu changes with each era, just like technology. And modern technology has began merging with Jujutsu. We can't afford for that to happen to certain attributes we hold dearly."
"We still have cell phones," Naoya shrugs. "And the compound has Wi-Fi, but only in the shrine area outside the Curtain."
"That explains why this meeting didn't take months to arrange. People walking from here to Tokyo with letters would have been annoying."
"Meeting like this has many benefits, usually for me, as my guests customarily bring gifts. But this time, I am the one providing a gift. The specific item you requested, in perfect condition after it was repaired years ago.
We will present it to you during the meeting. But first, we should get down to business."
Taiyo waits a few seconds and doesn't get alerted to any lies in Naobito's words.
"Alright, what do you want?"
"Damn, you really do want to leave quickly." Naobito leans back and crosses his arms. "Naoya, you explain. You'll be the one dealing with this after I'm in the ground anyway."
"Taiyo Daburu, you're new to the world of Jujutsu, so I'll keep things short and simple—"
"—And I'll appreciate that."
"Right. As a Special Grade operating independently, you are classified as Clan Daburu regarding politics. That's how much weight your rank carried. The Zen'In clan would like to either settle terms or at least open the negotiations for Clan Daburu to join Clan Zen'In.
Either in this generation or somewhere down the line. A bloodline Binding Vow isn't out of the picture, but will take more time to set up."
"I assumed as much. That's what I've been offered by everyone else since my fight with Gojo."
"Have you made any agreements?" Ogi asks.
"They didn't have anything I wanted. That's why I'm here, to collect that thing. This meeting is just the payment I agreed to in exchange for it. I don't have any interest in joining any Jujutsu Clan. But if I did, it would have to be one of the big three clans. But again, no reason to."
"Have you any intention of joining Satoru Gojo and the Gojo Clan?" Naobito asks, his expression serious for a moment.
"If I use their resources to train, then Gojo may know what to expect for our upcoming battles. And after I defeat him, that clan likely won't be useful, so no."
"You don't intend to use the pact of showing your hand?"
"It gives a slight boost, but surprise is far more battle-tested."
The Zen'In men are relieved at that, and Naoya sees his opening.
"The Zen'In Clan has more information than the Gojo and Kamo Clans combined," he says, and they see Taiyo's eyes widen for a second.
"Kusakabe mentioned as much. You've assimilated or conquered hundreds of smaller Jujutsu Clans over the past thousand years, taking their treasures."
"And in Jujutsu, knowledge is treasure," Naoya says. "As a high-ranking member of the Zen'In Clan, you'd have full access. We'd even consider you the Daburu Unit, and allow you to govern your clan within our, independently, so long as our interests don't clash."
The hall falls silent as Taiyo taps his chin, considering this offer.
'Kusakabe mentioned that this is an offer all the big clans would make. And he said the Zen'In Clan has the most Jujutsu knowledge…so if there isn't a conflict of interest, no problem.
But this is too early, and I'm giving up too much. This is a bloodline contract, and not one I can break if I want, unless I kill the entire Zen'In Clan.
Make the contract, gain the knowledge, do whatever I want, and if they step on my toes, just kill everyone?
Possible, easy, but…it would disrupt the Jujutsu Society enough that people would start bothering me every day. And if I piss off Gojo, he'll want to kill me instead of just having good fights. Not to mention they'd likely just get Gojo and Yuki to attack me together, anyway.
Ah…can't make that deal. The contract won't be a problem, but the fallout from killing the Zen'In Clan will be. Maybe I can negotiate them down to something lower…'
"That won't do," Taiyo says. "I'd like to be held apart from your clan. But, I have no problem with the Daburu Clan being allies with the Zen'In Clan."
"Well, that's certainly no surprise," Naoya says. "Powerful people don't like to serve anyone, certainly not those weaker than them."
"You expected this?"
Naoya shrugs. "As an ally of the Zen'In, we would ask that you join us in any conflicts against the other clans."
"Meaning, me against Satoru Gojo?"
Naoya playfully raises his hands in surrender. "With a Special Grade on our side, such a conflict will probably never happen. We wish to avoid any battles we don't think we can win."
"I won't be fighting for any cause that doesn't serve me, and that includes all the ancient clan politics."
"Can we rest assured that your desire will be reflected in neutrality?" Ogi asks.
"At the moment, yes."
Naobito and Ogi frown, understanding the message, and detest the thought that someone would eventually make Taiyo an offer worth joining their clan for.
But Naoya's face remains jovial, fighting the urge to reveal a face-splitting smile as his opportunity arises.
"Then we should get the last option out of the way."
Naoya nods to his father, and the man looks to Ogi. "Bring them here."
Ogi Zen'In does as he's told, silently walking to the main doors and opening them, carefully stepping to the edge of the Simple Domain, but never leaving it.
He then signals for three people to enter.
Taiyo glances back over his shoulder to see two green-haired girls, identical twins, thirteen years old.
Each with their hair in the same neat style, a thin layer of makeup to accentuate their features in a way that made Taiyo uncomfortable, and matching white Kimonos.
Behind them walks an older woman, wearing a similar Kimono, but carrying an ornate wooden box in her hands.
Taiyo frowns, already hating where this way is going, but ignores the girls as Ogi presents the wooden box to him.
He opens the box and inspects its contents while the girls and their mother stand to the right like statues, and Ogi returns to his seat.
"Condition?" Taiyo asks while inspecting his prize.
"Perfect," Naobito says.
"And the dolls that brought it in?" Taiyo closes the box and glances at the girls and their mother, frowning at them. "If they're included, I'd like to return them now. I have no interest in children or old women."
One girl almost smiles after hearing this, but carefully masks her expression.
But everyone notices this, while the other doesn't react to anything.
"These are my daughters, Maki," Ogi gestures to the girl who almost smiled. "And Mai."
They both bow in carefully practiced unison. "Master Daburu, we are honored to meet you."
Taiyo doesn't feel any lies, which surprises him.
He narrows his eyes as Mai, sensing that she didn't lie, even after making the Binding Vow.
'She's been trained in their ways already? Disgusting.'
He then looks to Maki, and to his amazement, senses no Cursed Energy from her.
Not the little drop most civilians have.
None at all, she was a complete void of it.
"What the hell," he gets up, setting the closed wooden box aside and walking over to them, carefully inspecting the girls. Mai accepted him looking them up and down because she was trained for this.
But Maki glares up at him, only to be ignored as he's looking through her.
To her soul, to their souls.
'Just like Mimiko and Nanako. Twins are treated as one being by Jujutsu, but these are different. Mimiko and Nanako have their Innate Techniques but limited Cursed Energy because they both use the same pool. But these girls, Maki and Mai…'
Taiyo reaches out and rests a hand on each of their heads, flowing Cursed Energy through them.
Nobody reacts, only observing carefully, hopeful that this was his way of showing ownership.
'Mai is like Mimiko and Nanako. But Maki is different. She's probably like that Toji guy Gojo told me about. Abandoned by Jujutsu but given a Heavenly Restriction to compensate.
But the connection of their souls means Mai's Cursed Energy is always touching her, so she'll never fully awaken.
And Mai will never achieve anything in Jujutsu without breaking the connection either, since the Heavenly Restriction is holding her back, as if her Cursed Energy is constantly restraining it.
Two idiots constantly tripping each other…'
Taiyo removes his hand from Maki, then reaches out with his soul to resonate with Mai as he's holding her head.
"Ahh!" Maki screams and drops to the floor, clutching her chest as tears form in her eyes.
Her parents shoot hateful glares at her, but withhold their reactions as Taiyo smiles.
"Now this is interesting," he kneels beside her and gently taps her forehead, performing the same action.
"Ahhhh!" Mai screams and drops to her knees, tears flowing freely as she hugs herself, body wracked with pain.
"What an interesting opportunity you two present," Taiyo says as he rises back to his full height and walks back to his seat. "But I have no interest in being handed children, so it's a non-starter."
"But you do have an interest in the Zen'In archives," Naoya says.
"Not enough to get my hands this dirty. If there were someone you wanted me to kill, negotiations would be a lot easier."
"There isn't anyone that valuable," Naoya says.
"There is one," Naobitio says. "Would that work?"
Taiyo picks up his prize and turns to the man. "Killing Satoru Gojo would put me in the middle of all that clan politics, assuming I could even do it, so no. But consider me at the negotiation table."
Taiyo glances at the girls, who are still recovering.
"It's a table for adults only."
"I understand," Ogi says, inwardly cursing as his bid failed.
"If you come up with a better offer, feel free to contact me. Now if that is all."
"It is," Naobito says, ending the meeting.
END CHAPTER---
Discord: discord .gg /eHuxNeZfyS [Come chat with me]
pat.reon: Keanu_Eugene [Read ahead & support me]
You.tube: @KeanuEugene [Giving away all my writing knowledge]