Greetings fellow readers, MasterW here!
New chapter for you guys, introducing something I had as an idea for a while.
Be sure to stone the story, it would make me happy and inspire me to write more.
Without any further to do, enjoy!
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(?'s POV)
Ashes...
Destruction...
Ruins...
The once proud and powerful Zen'in Clan compound, a fortress of tradition and arrogance that had stood for centuries, was now little more than a shattered graveyard of its former glory.
Splintered wooden beams and broken tiles littered the ground like the bones of a fallen giant. Entire wings of the main estate had collapsed, their elegant architecture reduced to mounds of rubble and dust. The beautiful gardens that had once been meticulously maintained were now scorched earth and scattered debris. Smoke still rose lazily from several spots where cursed energy had burned hot and bright. The air was thick with the smell of charred wood, blood, and settling ash.
What had once been a symbol of the Zen'in Clan's supremacy was now a testament to overwhelming power.
Zen'in Naoya, the supposed heir of the clan and son of the current Clan Head, crawled forward on his elbows. His legs were useless — broken in multiple places, twisted at unnatural angles. Every inch he dragged himself left a bloody trail behind him. His once immaculate clothes were torn and stained crimson. His golden eyes, usually filled with arrogance and superiority, now burned with nothing but humiliation and rage.
The single thought of crawling like an infant made his blood boil hotter than any injury.
He looked around and saw the remnants of his clan's forces. Members of the Hei Squad and Kukuru Unit lay scattered among the rubble — some leaning against broken walls, others half-buried under debris. The most jarring thing of all was that none of them were dead.
Somehow, the man responsible for this devastation had held back enough to spare every single life in the Zen'in Clan.
Something no ordinary sorcerer would ever do.
But then again… no ordinary sorcerer had done this.
Just as Naoya tried to push himself forward again, a shoe descended and stomped down hard on his outstretched hand.
"Gah—!"
He gritted his teeth against the fresh wave of pain and slowly lifted his head.
Standing over him was the cause of all this destruction.
Yoshioka Akira.
He held a long tachi-style sword in his right hand. The blade was elegant and deadly, with a four-lobed tsuba (hand guard) of pale gold, shaped like a rounded-out cross pattée. The saya (sheath) had a distinctly wooden appearance, simple yet refined. His white hair moved slightly in the wind, and his crimson eyes looked down at Naoya with cold indifference.
"As you know," Akira began, his voice carrying a rare tone of irritation, "I tend to be a calm and reasonable person. Compared to Satoru, I am thoughtful and considerate to the whims of others. Satoru would probably laugh in their faces and flip them off. Me? I would listen and try to reason."
He lifted his foot, allowing Naoya a moment to breathe.
"Yet that does not mean I am weak. On the contrary, because I am strong, I know that solving everything with power is meaningless. I know that if everything was solved with power, I would be right… every single time."
Akira dismissed his sword, which dissolved into particles, and sat down casually atop a mountain of debris. He stared directly at the crawling Naoya.
"So, it surprises me… that you, of all people, think you can demand from me." His voice grew colder. "Demand that I hand over one of my students."
He huffed, almost in disbelief.
"As always, human stupidity reaches new levels all the time"
Naoya could only wonder
What did he do wrong?
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(Some Time Before)
In the Zen'in clan compound, everything moved like it always has been
The Kukuru Unit trained in perfect unison in the large central courtyard, their wooden practice swords cutting through the air with disciplined precision.
Sweat glistened on their brows as they repeated forms under the watchful eyes of their instructors.
Servants hurried along the polished wooden corridors, carrying stacks of paperwork, fresh tea sets, and other necessities for the administrative offices.
The atmosphere was exactly as it had always been, steeped in centuries of tradition and arrogance.
Zen'in Naobito sat in the Clan Head's private office, lazily flipping through the latest documents that required his seal of approval. His eyes were half-lidded, clearly bored out of his mind. He kept glancing toward the ornate cabinet in the corner where a particularly fine bottle of sake waited for him.
'Why did I even become Clan Head again?' He thought with a sigh. 'Oh, right… to stick it to that bastard Ogi'
It still brought him a small, petty satisfaction.
His younger brother Ogi had always been the more "respectable" one in the eyes of the traditionalists, until he fathered twins. In the Zen'in Clan, twins were considered a cursed omen, a sign of impurity.
The birth of Zen'in Maki and Zen'in Mai had turned Ogi into a quiet laughingstock behind closed doors.
Naobito smirked to himself. At least he had produced a "proper" heir in Naoya. As spoiled as that boy might at, he was strong. As capable as he was with his Projection Sorcery
He remembers when Naoya showed up to his office showing his Cursed Technique, he at first had been disappointed that it wasn't the Ten Shadows Technique that was sought by every sorcerer in the clan.
Just by having that technique, one could issue a legitimate challenge for the position of Clan Head. Especially after the birth of Gojo Satoru.
The birth of a Limitless user with the Six Eyes was an event that hadn't happened in decades. It completely shifted the balance of power among the Big Three Clans. Now, the Gojo Clan stood at the very top, and the Zen'in Clan needed something, anything, to balance the scales. That was one of the main reasons they still hunted for a Ten Shadows user.
History recorded that the last Limitless and Six Eyes user had been killed by a Ten Shadows user.
Of course, the official story called it mutual destruction, but it left a powerful precedent. The Zen'in Clan could stand against the Gojo Clan.
But his own son had been born with the same technique he possessed. That had made the fight for Clan Head much more difficult. Unlike his brother Ogi, Naobito had a much more modern technique. Projection Sorcery used concepts that many of the traditionalist elders frowned upon.
Ogi, on the other hand, had a much more traditional technique, one from the old days when jujutsu sorcerers wielded elemental forces: lightning, wind, fire, even space itself.
In the eyes of the elders, Ogi had seemed like the better choice. Even if he was weaker than Naobito.
Naobito had managed to secure enough backing through raw strength and political maneuvering to win the position.
It didn't help Ogi that he was not particularly well-liked among the units of the clan.
Then, the final nail in the coffin had been the birth of Maki and Mai.
That cemented Ogi as an unworthy heir, making Naobito the obvious choice. His son might not have been born with Ten Shadows, but he had proven how powerful Projection Sorcery could be. And he had given birth to a male heir with a strong technique. Ogi had given birth to female twins.
That spoke for itself.
Even the traditionalists could not defend Ogi's case.
It wasn't surprising that Ogi blamed his wife and daughters for his failure to become Clan Head. As misplaced as that anger was.
Even if Ogi hadn't fathered the twins, there had never been a real chance he would become Clan Head, unless he had produced a Ten Shadows user.
It was one of the reasons Naobito felt a sliver of pity for Mai and Maki.
Especially Maki.
Mai at least had been born with a technique, as difficult to use as it was.
Maki had been born with almost no cursed energy, not even enough to see cursed spirits, and no technique whatsoever. Even with her astounding physical strength, in the eyes of the Zen'in Clan she was nothing but a "gorilla woman." It made her status lower than even the Kukuru Unit.
It was no surprise she wanted to leave the clan as soon as possible.
Getting back to his business, Naobito reached for his brush to sign another document when the door to his office slammed open.
Zen'in Naoya strolled in casually, still adjusting the collar of his traditional attire. His hair was slightly disheveled, and there was a satisfied, lazy smirk on his face. A faint scent of sweat and cheap perfume clung to him.
He probably had just come from one of the servant quarters.
It wasn't a rare occurrence.
Naoya frequently claimed whichever female servant caught his eye, especially the weak ones with no cursed technique whatsoever and low cursed energy, only able to work as servants in the clan.
He enjoyed the power it gave him, the way they couldn't resist, the way they had no choice but to submit. The job of woman like those was to spread their legs and bear the next generation of Zen'in.
It was one of his favorite ways to remind the lower ranks exactly where they stood.
He often fantasized about doing the same to Mai and Maki. As useless as those twins were in his eyes, he couldn't deny they were quite the lookers. The thought of their despair as he broke them… it never failed to put a smile on his face.
"Yo, Jii-san," Naoya greeted casually, flopping down onto a cushion across from his father without waiting for permission. "You look like you're about to die of boredom. Need me to handle some paperwork or something?"
Naobito raised an eyebrow at his son's disheveled state but said nothing about it. He was used to it by now.
"What brings you here, Naoya? Usually, you only show up when you want something."
Naoya grinned, leaning back lazily. "Heh, can't I just visit my old man? But yeah… I heard something interesting. There's a new school that opened up recently. Chiba Jujutsu High or whatever it's called. Founded by theguy who beat Gojo Satoru. I'm kinda curious about it"
Naobito's expression shifted to mild surprise. "You? Suddenly interested in a new school? That's unlike you."
Naoya shrugged. "A new school opened in all but name by the man who beat the so-called Strongest? Of course I'm interested. I want to see what kind of circus that guy is running"
Naobito hummed, then rummaged through a stack of documents on his desk. He didn't lose anything by showing Naoya the information they had gathered about them. Most Jujutsu Clans gathered information about students in the schools to see if there was talent they could invite to join their clans.
He pulled out a folder and tossed it toward his son.
"Here. Latest information on the students enrolled there. Take a look if you're so curious"
Naoya caught the folder with one hand and flipped it open as he stood up, already heading toward the door.
"Thanks, Jii-san. I'll check it out later. See ya."
Little did Naobito know, that was the worst mistake he has done as Head of the Zen'in Clan.
Naoya left the office without another word, casually flipping through the pages as he walked down the corridor.
Most of the names didn't interest him much, he noticed quite the lookers in it, but that was about it.
That was until he reached one particular profile.
A photo of a purple-haired young woman stared back at him. Even in the standard uniform, her killer figure was impossible to hide. Beautiful face, sharp eyes, and an aura that practically screamed danger.
Naoya stopped walking.
He read the description slowly.
[...Busujima SaekoGrade 4Special Note: Like Zen'in Toji, she possesses a Heavenly Restriction that grants her immense physical prowess in exchange for having no cursed energy whatsoever]
Naoya stood completely still, reading the line twice to make sure his eyes weren't deceiving him.
He looked at the photo again. The woman's face burned itself into his mind.
"...A female Toji-kun," he muttered, voice low and hungry.
Then, his face broke into a wide, manic grin.
"I want her."
He gripped the document tightly, the paper wrinkling under the pressure of his hand.
"She will be mine"
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The limousine glided smoothly through the gated entrance of the Takagi Estate. Akira sat in the back seat, wearing an elegant dark blue yukata with subtle silver patterns that seemed to be made of high-end cloth.
The traditional garment suited him perfectly, accentuating his tall, composed figure and giving him an almost regal presence.
The car came to a gentle stop. A butler in formal attire quickly moved forward and opened the door with a deep bow.
Yoshioka Akira stepped out in all his splendor, white hair glowing softly under the evening lights.
He stood calmly before the grand entrance of the Takagi Estate.
Waiting to welcome him were Takagi Souichiro, his wife Yuriko, and their daughter Saya, along with dozens of servants lined up in neat rows on both sides of the path. It was a welcoming of the highest calibre
"Welcome, Yoshioka Akira-dono," Souichiro said warmly, stepping forward with a respectful bow. "It is an honor to finally host you at our humble estate. Please, come inside"
Akira returned the bow with equal politeness. "The honor is mine, Takagi-dono. Thank you for the invitation."
Yuriko smiled gracefully. "We have prepared a traditional dinner in your honor. I hope it will be to your liking."
Saya stood a step behind her parents, watching Akira with a mix of curiosity and slight nervousness.
"Please, follow us" Souichiro said, gesturing toward the main building. "The dining room is ready"
They walked together through the beautifully maintained gardens.
Souichiro, a well-known ultra-nationalist politician, took great pride in preserving traditional Japanese culture. The estate reflected that, traditional architecture around the main building, that was an enormous mansion. Carefully tended bonsai trees, and the faint scent of incense in the air.
They entered the main building, many servants watching with expectant eyes as Akira entered.
They were informed they would receive a Very Very Important Person, so everything had to be arranged for him. The servants worked overtime, cleaning, preparing, trimming the bushes, every aspect of the house was managed to give the very best impression for their guest.
The group arrived dining room, where a long, low table had been prepared with dozens of traditional dishes: perfectly grilled fish, seasonal vegetables, miso soup, pickled vegetables, and various kaiseki-style courses.
Souichiro's love for tradition extended to everything in his being, to his manners, to his values, to even his personal hobbies, he was an accomplished kendo practitioner and a direct student of Busujima Takao. So, the house servants weren't unaccustomed to making traditional dishes.
But, in expectancy of their guest, they were order to prepare many plates, looking to satisfy whatever his preferences were.
As manners dictacte, Souichiro sat first in the head of the table, with Yuriko sitting by his right side and Saya on his left. A servant gesture Akira to sit on the chair beside Saya
The servants moved, placing dinner plates on front of the guest, ready for any necessity the dinning family and guest required.
They asked them what they would be having, and Akira asked for a plate of Oden alongside a side of Miso soup.
They each were servant their dishes to eat, as the group ate in silence.
Souichiro eventually set his chopsticks down and looked at Akira with serious eyes.
"Forgive me for bringing this up during dinner, but I must ask… about the Jujutsu world. I know of its existence, but I have never had the chance to speak with a sorcerer in person. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I need to know about the world that endangered my daughter." Souichiro then turned expectant "Besides, I would guess someone of your stature has many stories to tell about this world"
Saya looked at Akira expectantly. Ever since the Fujimi Academy Incident, she had been burning with curiosity. The lukewarm explanations from Saeko and the cleanup teams had never satisfied her. And now, the man sitting across from her was Saeko's teacher, and, according to her father, the actual Strongest Sorcerer in the world. It made her both nervous and fascinated.
Seeing him in person, he seemed surprisingly amicable and formal, even if far more handsome up close than she had imagined. The contrast with the fact that he could level an entire city was deeply jarring.
Akira nodded calmly. "I understand your concern. Ask what you wish" He already knew about the Jujutsu World, and was a high-ranking politician. More than that, his daughter had a close encounter with the Jujutsu World. Meaning he was more or less allowed to know about it.
"So, how is the world structured? I only know from certain talks with the Prime Minister, but the Jujutsu structure was something I was interested in"
"In a manner of speaking, the Jujutsu World follows a very traditional mindset"
"How so?" Souichiro was now more interested in it. So did Yuriko and Saya
"It has three main Ancient Families, the Zen'in Clan, the Gojo Clan, and The Kamo Clan. Those close are the highest and most powerful families in the Jujutsu World. After then follow more clans like the Inumaki clan and many more, though not as powerful and influencing as the first three"
"I see, and Yoshioka-dono, are you part of any of those clans?"
Remembering Satoru's supposed "Cousin" gag, Akira decided to continue it, because why not? It is actually funny having many people actually wonder if Akira is related to Gojo
Even the Gojo clan itself has started investigating about it.
Maybe he could... Thoughts for later
"I do have a connection with the Gojo Clan"
"I see. And to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer, is there any special qualification or test?"
"I am sorry to say, Takagi-dono, that to became a sorcerer you need to have the talent for it, it is something one is born with. And before you ask, I am sorry to say that none of the people in this house fulfill the first condition of having sufficient Cursed energy to be a sorcerer"
That instantly deflated Saya, who thought about how interesting the Jujutsu World sounded like.
Of course, just having an experience where she was protected by Saeko, who was by her own means, an anomaly, wasn't a true experience. And even so, she has memories of how traumatic some parts of that incident were.
If she were to discover how truly ruthless and unforgiving the Jujutsu World is, she would be completely disillusioned.
The conversation continued for some time, with Souichiro asking careful questions about the hidden world, with Yuriko adding the spare comment, and Saya listening attentively
Just then, a servant approached and whispered something into Souichiro's ear. The man's expression shifted slightly. He stood up with a polite bow.
"Forgive me, but something urgent has come up. I will return shortly."
He excused himself, leaving Yuriko and Saya at the table with Akira.
Yuriko smiled gently, trying to lighten the mood "So, Yoshioka-dono… do you have a love interest at the moment?"
Akira shook his head politely. "No, I do not."
Yuriko's smile widened. "Then allow me to say, our Saya is also single. She is very intelligent, the top of her class before the incident. Right now, she is considering transferring to Shuchi'in Academy."
Akira turned his gaze toward Saya. "Is that so? I was offered a teaching position there as well."
Saya's eyes widened. "Really?!" She quickly quieted down, blushing deeply.
Akira's expression showed a small hint of amusement as he continued "I rejected the offer. It was not in my interest to move out of Chiba. Besides, even though the salary would have been significantly higher, I have no particular need for money."
Saya looked visibly impressed, though still a little flustered.
Just then, the door opened again. Souichiro returned, accompanied by a middle-aged man… and Busujima Saeko.
Souichiro bowed slightly. "I apologize for the interruption. My sensei insisted on meeting you in person. Since Busujima Saeko is your student, I saw no fault in bringing them along."
The middle-aged man stepped forward, his presence commanding respect. He had gray hair slicked back with a few strands falling forward and a small scar on his cheek. As he saw Akira he bowed deeply
"I am Busujima Takao," he said, looking directly at Akira. "It is nice to meet you, Yoshioka Akira-dono."