With Sanzu Kawa's escape, the battle at the Tsuchimiya Family came to an end.
Meanwhile, chaos had just begun at the Isayama Family.
"Ah ah ah!"
A scream shattered the silence of the night.
Startled by the sound, people began gathering at the source.
"Hey, what's going on? Why are you screaming in the middle of the night… Head of the Isayama Family!"
A tall man stepped into the study.
He had intended to scold the servant for the outburst, but froze at the scene before him.
Lying in the middle of the study floor, Naraku was drenched in blood.
"What happened?!"
The man grabbed the servant by the collar, his expression filled with horror.
"I… I don't know either. I just came to remind the Head that it was getting late and he should rest, and then… then…"
The servant's voice trembled. He was clearly terrified.
"Enough. The priority now is to save him. Contact a doctor immediately."
"Y-yes. Contact a doctor, contact a doctor right away!"
"No need. It's too late."
An elderly Elder stepped forward and had already made a quick judgment on Naraku's condition.
"Seal off the entire estate. No one leaves. Investigate immediately who visited the Head's room today."
After giving the order, the Elder closely observed the expressions of everyone present.
That included Isayama Yu and Isayama Mei.
Mei covered her mouth with one hand, eyes wide in apparent shock.
Yu's expression was somewhat twisted.
Pain.
When the Elder declared Naraku's death, Yu's heart flashed with surprise, followed by grief.
Then came joy.
With Naraku gone, he finally had a chance to become the Head of the Isayama Family.
Without Naraku's support, that rule-following girl Yomi was no threat.
As for the Izuna Family, their support for Yomi hinged on her potential to become Head.
Once she lost that possibility, the Izuna Family would abandon her.
Soon after Yomi, who had been on a date with Noriyuki rushed back upon hearing the news.
She collapsed beside Naraku's body, crying bitterly.
Watching this from the shadows, Mei's face showed satisfaction.
'Just wait, Yomi. This is only the beginning…'
The next day, Eichi, having received the news, returned as fast as he could.
He was deeply concerned.
Both Naraku, who had formed a binding pact with him, and Utata, who owed him a favor and was a key future ally, were people Eichi had placed his focus on.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent Medea and Artoria to support them so quickly.
Once cooperation with them was secured, he would gain the backing of two Jujutsu Sorcerer Families.
That would minimize resistance when he pushed for reforms in the Tohoku Region's Jujutsu world.
But what he hadn't expected was that, within a single day of his departure, both Families had been attacked.
"How's the situation?"
Eichi looked at Medea, hoping for good news.
"Don't worry. With me here, they won't die."
Medea gave a confident smile.
The two walked to a room sealed under layers of barriers.
Click.
As the door opened, Eichi saw two patients lying in bed.
Isayama Naraku and Tsuchimiya Utata.
He let out a breath of relief.
They were alive. That was enough.
"How are you feeling?"
Eichi stepped forward with concern.
"I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, little friend Eichi."
Utata was the first to respond.
"I should be the one thanking you. Without your help, I might have died at the hands of my own Family."
Naraku shook his head helplessly.
He had expected assassination attempts, but only from Curse Users while working outside.
He had never imagined being attacked in his own home, by someone from his own Family.
"Did she defect to the Curse Users?"
Eichi looked toward Naraku.
"…I don't know."
Naraku didn't give a direct answer.
"The Sesshoseki carries intense negative emotions like hatred and resentment. Mei may have been influenced by it."
Utata explained calmly.
Having dealt with the Sesshoseki for years, he understood it better than Naraku did.
"Regardless, Mei has stepped into the Evil Path. The Family must be purged."
Naraku's voice was filled with fatigue.
Utata looked the same.
Just one battle, and the Sesshoseki's erosion on his body nearly equaled the amount accumulated over the past three years.
If another fight like that occurred, Utata would likely become the vessel of Inugami Byakuei.
If it truly came to that, Utata would pass Inugami Byakuei to his daughter Kagura, and the clan members assigned to posthumous matters would handle his remains.
Due to the curse of Inugami Byakuei, the Tsuchimiya Family Head rarely died peacefully.
This had led to the existence of Jujutsu Sorcerers whose job was to handle the Head's corpse.
"Interesting. Seems they can't wait any longer…"
Medea murmured softly, as if she had picked up on something.
"What is it?"
Eichi turned to her.
"News just came in. Isayama Yu announced Naraku's death and called for a clan meeting in the name of the interim Head of the Isayama Family."
Medea's lips curled into a mocking smile.
"Interim Head of the Isayama Family?"
Eichi quickly understood the situation.
Naraku had always intended to pass the Head position to Yomi. It was practically public knowledge.
Even the Family's sacred sword, Shishiou, had been entrusted to her.
Once she reached Grade 1 and had enough achievements, Naraku would have officially handed over the position.
But now, with Naraku still alive, Yu had declared himself interim Head and convened a clan meeting.
His intentions were obvious.
"Hmph, that coward."
Naraku knew exactly what Yu was planning.
He had fought his way to his position through blood and battles, and he had always looked down on Yu, who had never dared risk his life in a fight.
Naraku struggled to sit up, his body still weak.
Eichi stepped forward to support him.
A shadow condensed into a wheelchair.
"I'll go with you. If Isayama Mei made contact with the Sesshoseki, it must be linked to that Curse User."
Utata stood up and began pushing Naraku's wheelchair.
"Thank you."
Naraku understood Utata's concern.
With Utata accompanying him, those in the Family with ulterior motives would have to think twice.
Unlike Naraku, who had been sidelined due to injury, Utata was still the strongest active Jujutsu Sorcerer in the Tohoku Region.
"No need to thank me. Didn't you do the same for me three years ago?"
The two old friends exchanged a smile.
(To be continued.)