Two days later, at the Gojo Family.
"These are the documents you requested."
An assistant supervisor from the Gojo Family handed Satoru the compiled information on Zen'in Eichi, organized overnight after receiving the order.
Satoru, currently chewing on a piece of bread, idly looked at the bamboo grove and rock garden in the courtyard.
"Just put it there."
The night before last, after Satoru returned home, his two bodyguards reported the incident to the family head. The Gojo Family head immediately arranged for Eichi's information to be collected overnight.
Upon learning this, Satoru also requested a copy.
Name: Zen'in Eichi
Family Members:
Father: Zen'in Sho (Deceased)
Mother: Yukimura Chiyoko (Deceased)
...Below was a detailed introduction to Eichi and his parents.
Zen'in Sho had no Innate Technique and served loyally in the Zen'in Family's Kuguru Squad. He died two years ago during an exorcism mission, covering the retreat of Zen'in Family Jujutsu Sorcerers after a failed exorcism.
Yukimura Chiyoko was an ordinary person who always fantasized about marrying into a wealthy family and living a noble life. Unfortunately, after marrying into the prestigious Zen'in Family, she realized Sho was not the protagonist of her imagined TV drama, and life was far from what she envisioned.
Wanting a divorce, she was subjected to the Zen'in Family's disciplinary methods and, in fear, abandoned the idea of escaping.
One year after Sho's death, six-year-old Eichi still had not awakened an Innate Technique. Having lost her last hope, Yukimura Chiyoko hanged herself.
In this world, Jujutsu Sorcerers typically awaken their Innate Technique between ages four and six. Few awaken after that, and most who do only awaken unexpectedly in a life-or-death crisis.
However, not everyone is the protagonist of a shonen manga who escapes danger by awakening a Technique.
After all, gaining an unfamiliar ability in a life-or-death moment can be a hindrance if not used properly.
Therefore, most people, even if they awaken a Technique, cannot escape death, especially in Jujutsu Kaisen where even important characters are constantly served their last meal.
Thus, after Eichi failed to awaken at six, Yukimura Chiyoko lost hope of rising in status through him and ultimately hanged herself.
After reading the file, Satoru placed it on the floor beside him, looked up at the sky, and began to ponder what entertainment Eichi could bring him.
At the same time, inside the Kamo Family's main residence, an elder with a stitched forehead was reviewing the same documents.
The elder was Kenjaku, who had taken over the Kamo Family elder's body, and one of the powerful higher-ups in the Jujutsu world. Kenjaku received word when the Gojo Family used higher-up authority to find Cursed Spirits for Satoru to practice with.
Intending to test this generation's Six Eyes user, Kenjaku gave one of Sukuna's fingers to the Cursed Spirit Satoru planned to fight, giving rise to the Special Grade imaginary Cursed Spirit, the Half-bodied Vengeful Spirit.
He had not expected to uncover a bigger fish instead of mapping out the Six Eyes user's limits.
"Mahoraga, the strongest shikigami that no one has tamed for a thousand years. How did that brat manage it?"
Kenjaku was baffled.
"Forget it, I will find the answer eventually."
In his view, Eichi had many uses. Whether subtly manipulating him into a subordinate, pushing him into the Culling Game, or keeping him as a backup body, all were excellent options.
Such a useful tool should remain under his control. At the very least, he should not be controlled by any other family.
"Another five hundred years."
The five-hundred-year deadline was approaching, and the Six Eyes user had been born on schedule. The time for Tengen's next assimilation was not far off.
"Will I be able to stop Tengen and the Star Plasma Vessel's assimilation this time, or will I have to wait another five hundred years?"
Kenjaku's gaze fell upon a chess piece inscribed with "Time Vessel Association."
Afterward, by unspoken agreement, Kenjaku adopted the same approach as the Gojo Family, concealing any traces of Eichi and removing him from the Zen'in Family's sight.
Kenjaku did not want Eichi to return to the Zen'in Family because he wanted to use him himself.
The Gojo Family did not want Eichi to return because once he did, the Zen'in Family's strength would increase significantly, and they would possess a means to threaten the Six Eyes user.
They wanted to eliminate any existence that could threaten the Six Eyes user in advance, but wary of Mahoraga's power, they did not dare act rashly.
Finally, the Gojo Family head and several elders decided to secretly win Eichi over to their side, keeping it from the Zen'in Family.
In their minds, winning over a child who had been bullied by the Zen'in Family and then helped by the Gojo Family would be incredibly easy.
Because Eichi did not know how to clear Cursed Energy residue, his whereabouts were still known to the Gojo Family. All they had to do was orchestrate a few chance encounters, offer some favors, and a seven-year-old child would happily follow them home.
As for the Zen'in Family.
With both the Six Eyes user and the unprecedented Ten Shadows Technique Mahoraga, would the Zen'in Family dare challenge them?
It just so happened that Eichi had been bullied by members of the Zen'in Family back then. They would settle that score properly.
Thinking of this, the Gojo Family head's aged face creased into a chrysanthemum-like smile. Satoru, who had just entered the room, turned and left upon seeing it.
"Ah, it is Satoru. Come over and chat with this old man."
Hearing this, Satoru ran even faster.
Born with Six Eyes, Satoru possessed unparalleled observation, able to see countless details ordinary people missed. Because of this, he was far more mature than his peers.
Those people's thoughts could not be hidden from him. Without studying micro-expressions, he could infer what they were thinking through subtle changes in an adult's face.
And he knew when the old family head showed that expression and used such an intimate tone, he was most likely going to drag him into something boring again.
For example, dragging him out to visit people, telling everyone he only awakened Limitless at four and could only exorcise Cursed Spirits at five, implying he could not compare to their children.
"Sigh, why is this child running away?"
Watching Satoru disappear around the corridor corner in an instant.
The aged Gojo Family head shook his head helplessly.
Could not catch him, simply could not catch him.
Meanwhile, Eichi, who was on both Kenjaku's and the Gojo Family head's minds, was leisurely basking in the sun in a small country yard.
A recently abandoned country yard with a fence, a newly bought lounge chair, a small fan in hand, a tea table piled with snacks beside him, and two fluffy big dogs lying at his feet.
"This is the life," Eichi could not help but exclaim.
After resting all day yesterday, he took advantage of the time before sunset and before the shops closed to withdraw some money from an ATM.
After that, he went on a shopping spree in town.
He had entered Osaka. From Zen'in Family influence maps he had quietly pieced together before, and from information picked up while chatting casually with Satoru the day before, this area belonged to the Gojo Family, and Zen'in members rarely appeared here.
Therefore, Eichi no longer hid. Primarily, the Gojo Family's presence in the story was sparse, and because of Satoru, Eichi felt no aversion toward them.
Thanks to the ATM machines that had been in use for years. Otherwise, a seven-year-old child carrying a bank card with a huge deposit would likely be reported by the bank on suspicion of stealing from home.
And thanks to the worker who went to the city a few years ago, leaving the small courtyard to Eichi, giving him a cozy little home.
Thus, seven-year-old Eichi began his retirement early, a life he had not achieved even in his previous one.
(To be continued.)
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