The Curse User incident had been little more than a minor interlude. Even though Sawasaka Jiro and Obami Granny were rumored to resurface during the Shibuya Incident with considerable screen time, Gojo Satoru was not worried. Two insignificant trash figures losing their lives would not affect the grand timeline.
The only real concern was Obami Granny using her Séance Technique to bring back Toji Fushiguro's body, which was an unexpected ripple in the flow of fate.
"That guy, Fushiguro Toji," Satoru muttered, rubbing his temple in mild discomfort.
Personally, he felt a strange sort of sympathy for the man, but fate had decreed that Satoru himself would have to face Trial By Toji someday. If Toji's involvement ended up being what helped Satoru learn the Reverse Cursed Technique, then it would not be a trial at all but a stroke of bizarre luck.
With that thought, Satoru decided he might spare Toji's life, though thoroughly beat him up first.
Back at the Gojo Family estate, Shion and Satoru were informed they would be attending a grand banquet hosted by the Big Three Families in three days.
"Do we really have to go?"
Satoru's voice carried a complete lack of interest.
The Gojo Family elders immediately stirred in concern.
A banquet hosted by the Big Three wasn't just any social gathering. It was a rare chance for the Gojo Family to display the extraordinary twins before the other two powerful clans, the Zenin and the Kamo.
"It's a major opportunity," one elder lectured, "If you two are absent, the Zenin and Kamo Families might think we're arrogant, and that would reflect poorly on the Gojo Family."
Shion rolled his eyes beside Satoru. "Arrogant? Isn't the Gojo Family always arrogant?"
Satoru casually nodded in agreement, which made the elder nearly choke.
In the jujutsu world, the Big Three Families were infamous for their pride and superiority complex. Apart from those three, every other sorcerer clan was considered lesser, and non-sorcerers were treated like wild animals.
But surprisingly, the Six Eyes twins themselves were surprisingly "approachable," even "down to earth," defying the old fogies' expectations.
Seeing the elders' earnest insistence, Shion finally relented out of respect for his elders.
"Are there any decent activities at this banquet?" he asked.
"Oh yes," the elder brightened, "The juniors of the Big Three Families will interact in activities such as friendly martial arts sparring."
Shion and Satoru both clicked their tongues in mild irritation. They were powerful well beyond ordinary juniors — house sparring was beneath them.
The elder continued, "There will also be an auction where you two young masters can bid on items you like. And for the grand finale, a special grade cursed tool will be up for bid."
Suddenly alert, Shion perked up. "A special grade cursed tool? What is it?"
"It's called a yūun," the elder explained.
Ah, the infamous three-section staff! Satoru's interest was piqued. "Sounds good, let's see it then."
With Shion deciding to attend, Satoru reluctantly agreed as well.
Three days passed in a blur.
Shion stood before a stretched black sedan and an immaculately dressed chauffeur, realizing for the first time just how wealthy the Gojo Family truly was.
The interior was luxurious beyond words, complete with a built-in TV and a refrigerator. Shion pulled out a chilled drink from the fridge and gulped it down in relief.
Ah, this was the life. Pure luxury, and Shion reveled in it.
Satoru stood beside him, expression bemused by Shion drinking cold drinks despite winter weather.
"This is the hot blood of youth," Shion declared proudly.
By the time they finished chatting, the sedan had already delivered them to a five-star hotel in Ginza.
Two lines of impeccably uniformed attendants greeted them at the door, bowing in perfect unison.
Shion raised an eyebrow. "Isn't this too much? Won't this look pretentious?"
The elder laughed softly. "Young Master Shion, this hotel is owned by the Big Three Families. Tonight it hosts only jujutsu sorcerers, and no outsiders are permitted."
Shion's eyelid twitched.
Once inside the banquet hall on the top floor, dozens of sorcerers from various factions were already mingling, glasses clinking in animated conversation.
Among the guests were members of clans allied with the Big Three, such as the Okkotsu Family and the Ieiri Family, famous for Shoko Ieiri, a proficient user of the Reverse Cursed Technique.
But when Shion and Satoru entered the hall, the room abruptly fell silent.
Every sorcerer present turned to scrutinize the two boys.
The Six Eyes twins.
Their birth had caused a sensation throughout the entire jujutsu world. In Gojo Family history, the appearance of Six Eyes was said to be rare, occurring only once every several centuries, but now there were twins with that gift.
Whether curse or blessing, Shion and Satoru were destined to become the undeniable center of the future jujutsu world.
The sudden spotlight made both boys frown with discomfort.
The elderly Gojo Family elder chuckled beside them.
"You two really do draw attention wherever you go."
Shion forced a polite smile. "Rather than being admired, it feels like being stared at in a zoo."
The elder barely blinked at that remark; Shion's charm was unrivaled, even when complaining.
Just then, two figures gracefully approached through the parting crowd.
The head of the Zenin Family, Zenin Naobito — a Special Grade 1 sorcerer and leader of the clan — stepped forward with a courteous but cold smile.
Beside him stood the head of the Kamo Family, Kamo Takanobu, greeting them with equal etiquette.
Despite their outward smiles, the aura around them was icy.
Both men were inwardly displeased.
Six years prior, the Gojo Family had been fortunate enough to bear a successor to Limitless and Six Eyes — something the other families had failed to achieve. Since then, jealousy and resentment had grown in both the Zenin and Kamo Houses.
Naobito cleared his throat with thin courtesy.
"You must be the famed Six Eyes twins. I am Zenin Naobito, head of the Zenin Family. A pleasure to meet you."
Kamo Takanobu offered his own greeting. "I am Kamo Takanobu, head of the Kamo Family. We are pleased to make your acquaintance, young masters."
Before Satoru could respond, Shion answered with a gifted grin.
"The pleasure would be mine if you were happy far too early."
Naobito and Takanobu were left speechless.
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