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The next day after the initiation ceremony, Naoya was back to his normal routine, getting ready for school.
His position in the clan had grown tremendously. Previously, he was just the prodigious son of Naobito; now, he was Rank 5 in the Hei squad. The clansmen were far more respectful toward him, though Naoya felt awkward about the sudden change. Being treated with reverence by adults twice or thrice his age was… uncomfortable.
Still, he kept those thoughts to the back of his mind and exited the room.
While on his way, the people who spotted him started murmuring.
Naoya glanced briefly at the whispering clansmen, but seeing that no one was causing trouble, he ignored them.
"Naoya."
He turned to see his grandfather, Kagenori, walking toward him.
"Grandpa? Good Morning."
"I was coming to see you. Where are you going? It's training time," said Kagenori, scanning him from head to toe. His frown deepened when he noticed Naoya's uniform, clearly not fit for training.
"I am going to school," replied Naoya nonchalantly.
"School? What school? The clan teaches you everything you need, doesn't it?" asked Kagenori, genuinely puzzled.
"Academically, yes, but beyond that, the clan's teachings won't help much," replied Naoya.
"What else is there?"
"Social interaction, common sense, and most importantly—understanding why we jujutsu sorcerers fight. We protect the normal world from curses, but if we don't even know the world we protect, what's the point? I get to meet different kinds of people that way, so it broadens my perspective."
Though truthfully, school was more of a way to avoid boredom, the rest was true enough.
Kagenori blinked in surprise. Was his grandson really just 10?
"Hmph… that's quite different from clan tradition," muttered Kagenori, his wrinkled face creasing further.
Naoya looked worried. Were his school-going days over?
"…But not a bad mindset," said Kagenori after a pause, smirking at Naoya's relief. "It's important to know why we fight."
"So you were leaving right now?"
"Yes."
"Okay, let's walk," ordered Kagenori and started walking.
Naoya blinked in surprise, then jogged to catch up to Kagenori.
"What is the name of your school?" asked Kagenori, making some small talk.
"Setagaya North Elementary School."
Soon, they reached the clan entrance and immediately spotted the servants lined up to see him off.
However, the moment the servants spotted Kagenori, they bowed deeply, not daring to look up at all.
Naoya looked at the servants and then at his grandfather.
Naoya watched them curiously, then glanced at his grandfather. He's either very respected… or very feared. Considering the Zenin reputation, the answer was obvious.
"Your lunch, Naoya-sama," said the servant and handed him his lunch box.
Kagenori looked at the giant bento, then at his grandson.
"You eat this much?" asked Kagenori.
"Yes," Naoya replied immediately.
"Isn't this too much?"
"I could eat more, but the lunch break is not that long," replied Naoya in disappointment.
"..."
Maybe his grandson was a bit weird.
"Let's go," said Kagenori and walked out of the clan's gate.
"Will you go with me?" asked Naoya, a bit surprised. Even Naobito has never gone to his school, even on class visitation days.
"What? Don't want a wrinkly old man to walk with you to school?" asked Kagenori.
"Not at all! Let's go, Grandpa," replied Naoya, immediately shaking his head and rushing out of the clan gates as well.
As they walked, Naoya noticed a few clansmen shadowing them from afar, likely Kagenori's guards.
"What's your sorcerer grade, Grandpa?" Naoya asked curiously.
"Me? Special Grade 1," Kagenori replied.
"You're strong then."
"Heh. If I weren't, the brats in the clan would've already buried me six feet under to steal my seat as clan head," said Kagenori with a snort.
"Then you're stronger than my father and the other Special Grade 1s in the clan?"
"Of course. I'm the strongest in the Zenin clan. I might be old, but I can still kick their butts with ease," he said with a grin.
"…How old are you?" asked Naoya, slightly hesitant. The man looked ancient, yet still carried himself like a warrior.
"One hundred and six," said Kagenori, smirking.
Naoya blinked in disbelief, scanning the old man from head to toe. He'd expected him to be old, but not that old.
Kagenori laughed at Naoya's stunned face. He hadn't expected to enjoy a Zenin's reactions this much in his lifetime, but this odd grandson of his was surprisingly entertaining. Still, the boy was likeable.
"Work hard, study well, eat and sleep plenty, and you too will live a long life," said Kagenori.
"I highly doubt I will live as long as you," replied Naoya.
"Don't worry, I hope you live even longer than I," replied Kagenori.
Naoya nodded and thanked him for his blessing, and the two slowly walked towards his school.
"Naoya," said Kagenori, his tone shifting. "What do you think is the role of jujutsu sorcerers?"
Naoya thought for a moment. "To keep curses under control and protect the normal world?"
"If that's true, then why do you think the clans were formed?"
"If a powerful sorcerer gathers other strong people, it forms a force that can fight curses and stop those who misuse jujutsu," replied Naoya.
"Then tell me, if our duty is to protect the normal world, why do some people exploit jujutsu? Why do the big clans fight among themselves?"
"…People like to feel superior. If they think they're special, that feeling only grows stronger," said Naoya after a pause.
Kagenori smiled faintly. "Then do you think you are someone special? Do you believe you deserve respect or power over others?"
"Special? Yes. I'd say I am. I'm a Zenin sorcerer with two techniques. It's pretty rare. But being respected for that? No. I haven't achieved enough to deserve respect. Being born into the Zenin clan isn't an achievement. Earning respect feels better."
He paused, then added, "As for power… It's necessary. In the jujutsu world, both personal and political power matter. Death can come at any moment, from curses or from people."
"Haha. The Zenin clan isn't exactly safe for Zenins, huh?" Kagenori chuckled.
Naoya said nothing. He wouldn't badmouth the clan, especially not to its head.
"Do you think clan superiority matters?" Kagenori continued. "We're constantly competing with the Gojo and Kamo. Is it important?"
"Yes," Naoya replied. "Just like I said, political power is vital. If our clan is strong, we can fulfil our duties without fear of other clans and other sorcerers. Curses outnumber us by a huge margin. Many sorcerers would've given up long ago if not for their pride in their clans and the jujutsu society. That pride keeps us united."
"…Such a deep answer. Are you sure you're ten?" asked Kagenori curiously.
"I'm smart," Naoya said with a smug shrug.
Kagenori chuckled at the egoistic answer.
"Do you ever think that there will come a day when there will be no curses and there will be no need for jujutsu sorcerers?" asked Kagenori solemnly.
"...It might be possible, but for that we need to remove all negativity from the world and remove all negative emotions from humans all around the world....so I don't think it will be easy. No negative emotions means no greed for growing, no envy from others that drives us to better ourselves. Life would get dull and the world won't progress much..." replied Naoya after thinking for a while.
He looked up at Kagenori. "A world without curses would be a utopia… but a utopia is just another kind of dystopia. So no, I don't think it's possible. Still, we can hope. Fighting curses is a hassle, after all."
Kagenori blinked in surprise.
What kind of 10-year-old thinks so deeply and uses such difficult words?
After reaching his school, Naoya looked at Kagenori.
The old man was looking around the school. The teachers, students, and their parents all looked at the old man who was oozing authority.
"This school... it has relatively less negativity compared to other crowded places like this," said Kagenori.
"I clean up curses from time to time. Maybe that's why," replied Naoya with a shrug.
"Hmm...that's good then....What weapon do you usually use?" asked Kagenori out of nowhere.
"Huh? That came out of nowhere. I can use most common weapons, but I'm best with a spear," said Naoya.
"Spear huh?.... Be ready in the evening. We will go somewhere today. Also here..." said Kagenori and brought out his wallet from his kimono.
He took out a 10000 yen note from his wallet and handed it to Naoya like he was giving him some spare change.
Naoya looked at the money in his hands with amazement.
"Consider it a prize for showing me those fights yesterday," said Kagenori, then turned and walked away.
Naoya looked at the retreating figure of his grandfather.
"...Maybe Grandpa likes me..." thought Naoya as he pocketed the money and walked inside.