"You were the one who suggested coming to an izakaya, yet you're not drinking. What a buzzkill."
Naobito had a look that said, "You're no fun."
"Are you sure you want a kid who hasn't even started High School to drink?"
Eichi looked at him as if he were scum.
"Haha, you're right. Wait until you're older to understand the joys of drinking."
After speaking, Naobito raised his cup and drained its contents.
Although the drinking vessels in the island nation look like small dishes, they are still called cups.
A cold smile played on Eichi's lips.
While the statement seemed normal, it could also be interpreted as: You're still young; the adult world is too early for you.
Subtly, he used age to assert dominance over Eichi.
"It's not your era anymore, Old Man."
Eichi looked up at Naobito.
"Today's Young Man doesn't really like alcohol."
"Oh?"
Naobito narrowed his eyes.
He detected the dissatisfaction in Eichi's words.
"That's a pity, but alcohol is a treasure passed down by our Old Ancestor. One day, they will come to like it."
This is actually a very normal thing.
People who want to gain something usually lose something else.
Just as Young Man from the lower class must abandon many things to enter the upper class.
The upper class has its own rules; to join, one must integrate into their group and understand the 'joys of alcohol.'
"Indeed, but that's for ordinary people. There are always some Genius who can forge their own Dao, aren't there?"
Eichi met Naobito's gaze without flinching, a confident smile on his face.
"Hahahahaha, you're quite something, kid."
A moment later, Naobito suddenly burst into laughter.
Knock, knock, swish.
A waiter slid open the door and placed several brightly colored drinks on the table.
Afterward, the waiter bowed and exited the room.
"What is this, juice?"
Naobito stroked his chin, looking intrigued.
"It's a new popular drink. Care to try?"
"Why not?"
Hearing it was a new drink, Naobito unhesitatingly picked up a glass and drank it.
"Ha~"
Naobito burped and set the glass back on the table.
"It's certainly a taste I've never had before, with a strong impact. But ultimately, it only attracts attention with its novelty. Once the novelty wears off, it can't compare to traditional alcohol."
Naobito poured a glass of traditional sake into the empty cup.
"Indeed, many new drinks don't last long, but there are many types of new drinks, you know."
Eichi gestured to the colorful drinks in front of them.
"As long as one survives, it will have an impact on traditional alcohol. When enough new drinks survive, traditional alcohol will naturally be forced to change."
Eichi poured a blue drink into Naobito's sake.
"Interesting, but the people from those old breweries won't agree."
The 'old breweries' naturally referred to the Zenin Clan.
"It doesn't matter. Even in the breweries that produce traditional alcohol, there will be people who like new drinks. Just poach them and bring them together. If the people from the old breweries dare to stop us..."
Eichi stared directly at Naobito, the meaning in his eyes self-evident.
"Hahahaha, interesting, truly interesting. That's not something a Young Man would say."
Naobito laughed and drank the sake mixed with the blue drink in front of him.
Seeing Naobito drink his beverage, Eichi's smile softened.
"Then I'll talk to you in the way a Young Man would."
Eichi relaxed and leaned back, his once inscrutable expression instantly becoming like that of an approachable Young Man.
"The times are changing. The Jujutsu World once said that Gojo Satoru's birth shifted the world's balance, but this era isn't just about Gojo Satoru."
"I am stronger than Gojo Satoru."
Eichi's face showed a confident smile.
The current Gojo Satoru is different from the Gojo Satoru at the beginning of the story; the strength gap between the two Gojo Satoru is very large.
If Eichi went all out now, he was confident he could defeat Gojo Satoru.
Even if Gojo Satoru grew to be as powerful as he was in the story, it wouldn't matter.
Eichi wasn't afraid of Gojo Satoru getting stronger, because he believed his own growth rate would never fall behind Gojo Satoru's.
"You're a truly arrogant brat, but you certainly have the right to say that."
Naobito looked at Eichi with satisfaction. Putting everything else aside, Eichi had already surpassed Gojo Satoru in terms of personality.
Plus Mahoraga.
In the past duel between the Zenin Clan head and the Gojo Family head, the Zenin Clan head was unable to control Mahoraga.
But even so, Mahoraga still fought to the death against the Gojo Family's Six Eyes.
If someone were controlling it... with Eichi, this generation of the Zenin Clan could continue its glory and not be ridden over by the Gojo Family.
"What do you plan to do with the old brewery?"
"How about Naoya?"
Eichi's words made Naobito look incredulous.
However, Naobito quickly composed himself.
"Oh? Are you sure? He's far inferior to you."
"I'm not interested in that rotten place. I'll take some Young Man who are willing to brew new drinks and form a new brewery."
"As for that decaying old brewery, while Naoya can't compare to a few of us, there's one thing: he's suitable to be a... blade, an obedient and useful blade."
Initially, Eichi wanted to say 'dog,' but the Old Man's cooperation made him think of the adage, 'one does not strike a smiling face.'
Naobito laughed after hearing this.
Eichi's words were undoubtedly what Naobito most wanted to hear.
The most ruthless are the imperial families. Although the Zenin Clan is not an imperial family, in essence, it's not much different.
Naoya is his son after all, and if not for circumstances, who would want their son to fare poorly?
As for being a blade?
In the Zenin Clan, not everyone is qualified to be a blade.
Some people are not afraid of being a blade, but of not having the opportunity to be one.
"What about Toji?"
The first time they met, Eichi was with Toji.
"Toji will join me. And by the way, Toji's son, Megumi Fushiguro, also has the Ten Shadows Technique."
"Hmm?"
Naobito paused his drinking.
Two Ten Shadows Technique users?
One Ten Shadows Technique user can threaten a Six Eyes, two Ten Shadows Technique users... "Haha, that's really good, gulp gulp."
Naobito downed another cup.
The days ahead would be much better.
Although Eichi did not intend to return to the Zenin Clan, he had already made his stance clear.
And this approach was actually much better than the answer Naobito had hoped for.
Eichi wanted a new generation of Jujutsu Sorcerer, while the older generation of Jujutsu Sorcerer would remain in the hands of people like him.
His son could also become the family head as desired, although the place he was in might become a branch family of the Zenin Clan in the future.
But the head of a branch family is still a family head.
This way, the transition of power would not be too intense, and the Zenin Clan's strength could be preserved and utilized to the maximum.
The new generation has not yet grown up, so they cannot be counted as part of the Zenin Clan's strength for now. And even if they grow up under Eichi, what then? Isn't that still the Zenin Clan's strength?
Before they grow up, Eichi and Toji are enough to protect these new sprouts.
Thinking of this, Naobito felt incredibly refreshed.
Ever since the birth of the Gojo Family's Six Eyes, the Zenin Clan had felt pressure.
After Gojo Satoru displayed his terrifying Genius, Naobito's life became even more difficult.
But now there were no problems. The Gojo Family had the strongest Six Eyes, and the Zenin Clan also had Eichi, who could tame the strongest shikigami.
And in the future, there might even be a second Jujutsu Sorcerer capable of taming Mahoraga.
Next, it would be the Kamo Family's turn to suffer.
Naobito revealed a hearty smile.
"Oh, right, help me with two things."
"What?"
The delighted Naobito indicated that two things were no problem, let alone twenty.
"My friend and I need to register for Jujutsu Sorcerer ranking. Help me find four Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer to be our recommenders."
"Hmm? Does the Gojo Family's kid need it too?"
Before coming, Naobito had already investigated Eichi's connections and knew that the three of them needed to be evaluated for Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer.
"Not Gojo Satoru, it's someone else. I'll give you the details later. You can go look for them first."
Eichi didn't elaborate.
"Is that so? That will take some time."
Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer aren't common. Four is manageable; he, Ogi Zenin, and Naoya Zen'in make three. But finding six at once would take some time, even for the Zenin Clan.
"It's fine, Tokyo Jujutsu High doesn't start for several more months."
"The second thing is this."
Eichi pulled several fate posters from his shadow.
"Use the Zenin Clan's power to help me promote them."
Naobito took the posters and immediately opened them.
"No problem."
It's just promoting something. The Zenin Clan just needs to say the word, and people will help. At most, he'll just give them some extra benefits.