In a small courtyard outside Sendai.
Jinichi Zenin was sparring with Eiji.
The two were not using Cursed Energy.
If Eiji had used Cursed Energy, the difference in their strength would have been too great.
The spar would have turned into a one-sided beating.
That would have been a bit too much bullying.
Unlike Toji Fushiguro's well-proportioned physique that made it impossible to look away, Jinichi Zenin's muscles gave off an explosive sense of power.
It was like the difference between a muscular gorilla and a bodybuilder.
Bang, bang, bang.
Eiji and Jinichi Zenin engaged in a head-on exchange of blows.
Neither side dodged.
They let their fists land on each other's bodies.
Jinichi Zenin threw a full-power right punch, and Eiji didn't flinch, meeting it with a full-power punch of his own.
Bang.
The two fists collided.
Intense pain shot up from Eiji's fist.
Eiji ignored it, retracted his right hand, and threw another punch.
Jinichi Zenin did the same.
Their fists sometimes clashed, and sometimes landed on each other's bodies.
Riiip.
Jinichi Zenin tore off his shirt, revealing muscles filled with explosive power.
His physique was several sizes larger than Eiji's well-proportioned frame.
It was like the difference between Suguru Geto and Toji Fushiguro.
However, Eiji still felt that Suguru Geto's build, where he looked thin in clothes but muscular out of them, was better.
Eiji grinned. He didn't tear off his shirt, but after Jinichi Zenin stretched his shoulders a few times, he threw another punch.
Jinichi Zenin didn't dodge and also threw a punch towards Eiji's chest.
Thump.
The sound of fists meeting flesh echoed.
The two were quickly pushed back by the immense force.
"Haha, you guys are having fun. It's good to be young."
A hearty laugh echoed.
Naobito Zenin, with his hands tucked into his wide sleeves, arrived in the courtyard with Toji Fushiguro.
Hearing Naobito Zenin's voice, both of them stopped fighting.
"You're too slow, old man."
Eiji nodded at the servant in the courtyard.
Then he turned to face Naobito Zenin.
"Haha, I'm old. I can't walk fast anymore."
"Do you want to say that after your muscles turn to flab?"
Eiji slapped Naobito Zenin.
Naobito Zenin's physique made even many young people feel ashamed.
"Hey, you brat. Young people these days have no honor, attacking an old comrade like me."
Naobito Zenin, who almost had his sake gourd knocked away by Eiji as he walked past, glared at Eiji with his mustache bristling.
"Drink less normally. There will be plenty for you to drink once we go inside."
Eiji glared back just as rudely.
The four of them entered the house and sat cross-legged at the table.
There was no door to the courtyard, and the group could occasionally hear the crisp sound of the shishi-odoshi in the yard filling with water and then falling.
Soon, someone brought the prepared food and placed it on the table one by one.
"Gulp, gulp, ah~."
Naobito Zenin picked up his sake cup and drank it down in one go.
"This sake is pretty good."
"Do you think I'd try to fool you with bad alcohol?"
Eiji rolled his eyes.
"Haha, you really can find good sake anywhere, kid."
Naobito Zenin responded with a laugh.
"Jinichi, what do you think of this kid?"
Naobito Zenin asked Jinichi Zenin casually as he poured more sake.
"Hmm, he's a hero."
Jinichi Zenin raised his glass and clinked it against Naobito Zenin's.
There's an old saying: you don't know someone until you fight them.
Often, the passion of a clash in battle allows you to understand a person far better than everyday interactions.
Jinichi Zenin respected Eiji for being willing to give up his Cursed Energy and Jujutsu advantages to face him head-on without dodging.
After all, Jinichi Zenin clearly had the advantage in terms of physique.
And punches that land squarely hurt, causing many people to instinctively dodge or resort to tricks.
But Eiji didn't dodge even once.
Therefore, the clash between the two was not just a collision of bodies, but also a collision of spirit and will.
Through their repeated exchanges, Jinichi Zenin came to understand Eiji's integrity.
He wasn't the cunning type that Jinichi Zenin disliked.
"Haha, I knew you two would get along."
Naobito Zenin laughed and drained his cup.
This small gathering was Naobito Zenin's idea.
Eiji had arranged for Isayama Naraku to find this place.
When Eiji mentioned wanting a quiet courtyard for a few people to get together, Isayama Naraku immediately found an old family residence of the Isayama clan and arranged for the best chefs.
As for the purpose of the gathering.
It was actually to have Jinichi Zenin and Eiji interact.
Naobito Zenin had noticed that Eiji's tone was often filled with disgust when he spoke of people from the Zenin Family.
Especially Ogi Zenin.
Naobito Zenin even suspected that Eiji might punch Ogi Zenin on sight.
And Jinichi Zenin was one of the few Zenin clan members Eiji treated normally.
So, Naobito Zenin had brought Jinichi Zenin with him to participate in the battle this time, instead of Ogi Zenin.
The goal was also to see if Eiji genuinely liked Jinichi Zenin or if he simply didn't know him.
And while they were at it, they could try to win over Toji Fushiguro.
After all, Toji Fushiguro's original name was Jinichi Zenin (the second).
They were brothers by blood.
Unfortunately, their parents were too devoted to the Zenin Family's ideology.
This resulted in Jinichi Zenin spending his childhood almost exclusively on training and getting stronger.
Toji Fushiguro was even abandoned outright.
Therefore, despite being brothers, they weren't actually close.
"I heard you became a teacher at Jujutsu High."
Jinichi Zenin looked at Toji Fushiguro with the same dead fish eyes that showed no anger, just like Toji Fushiguro.
"Yeah."
Toji Fushiguro's reply was flat.
"How's it going at Jujutsu High?"
"It's good."
The two brothers, neither of whom were good at conversation, chatted aimlessly.
"What did you want to see us about this time?"
Eiji asked casually.
The portions of the Island Nation's cuisine were so small that Eiji could finish a plate in one or two bites.
"Well, Jinichi and I are leaving soon, so I thought we could all get together."
Naobito Zenin replied.
"Is that so? We really should get together."
Eiji couldn't help but glance at Jinichi Zenin.
Jinichi Zenin was considered one of the few conscientious people in the Zenin Family.
Perhaps it was because no one held an umbrella for him when he was young, so now that he'd grown up, he still occasionally held an umbrella for others, despite his poor expressiveness.
The Kukuru Squad held a very low position within the Zenin Family, and Jinichi Zenin was one of the few high-ranking members who cared about them.
He would praise the team members when they were training, telling them they were doing well and that their muscles looked good.
He would also buy them watermelons.
Keep in mind that in the Island Nation, watermelons were very expensive.
Many people couldn't afford to eat even one slice a year.
Moreover, Jinichi Zenin bought watermelons for the Kukuru Squad without making a fuss. If someone hadn't happened to see it, no one would have known who bought the watermelons.
Many members of the Kukuru Squad had been helped by Jinichi Zenin.
Eiji naturally felt some goodwill towards this rare individual in the Zenin Family who wasn't a complete scumbag.
The group drank and chatted, and thanks to Naobito Zenin's lively presence, no one felt bored.
They talked about many things they were interested in, and their relationships naturally grew closer.
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Translation by: randomtranslator.com
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