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The next morning came quickly, and Naoya, currently in his room, was having a strategy meeting with his shikigami.
"Maou, be on standby at all times. Deploy the army if I ever seem like I'm in trouble or need a second to recover."
Maou, the rabbit, nodded firmly.
"Cupcake, Frosting, if they bypass the Demon Army, it's up to you two. Howl as loudly as you can. Don't worry about hitting me, too."
The wolves looked reluctant but nodded anyway. They didn't like the idea of harming Naoya, even indirectly.
"Senzu, if you're healing me and feel like you're about to get attacked, jump back into my shadow."
The deer nuzzled Naoya affectionately in agreement.
"Sparkles, when called, assess the situation. Either grab me and fly away or zap everything around us. Use your judgment."
Nue nodded with determination.
"Twister, no pre-plans for you. Your main job will be to restrain and yank them away when called."
The toad gave a deep croak and nodded.
"Mr. Hiss… You're my heaviest hitter. Put your best effort in today."
The snake coiled around his neck and hissed in affirmation.
"Remember," said Naoya, looking over his small army, "our goal is to defeat as many of them as we can, but that doesn't mean any of you should sacrifice yourselves. I'd rather rank the lowest than lose even one of you. Got it?"
The shikigami nodded in unison.
Naoya smirked and got up.
"Let's get going then."
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Naoya walked towards the main training ground that was reserved for official events of the clan.
On his way, he spotted his father, Naobito, waiting with his arms crossed.
"Father?"
"Follow me," ordered Naobito and started leading the way.
Naoya jogged up to him to walk beside him and looked at him curiously.
"What are your plans for today's test?" asked Naobito.
"Beat as many as I can without injuring myself too much," replied Naoya.
"...You really have a weak mindset," said Naobito and frowned.
"I am only 10. Why push myself too much against people double my age or even older than that?" replied Naoya with a shrug.
"The Zenins won't care if you are young or old. They will strike you without mercy."
"I am not someone who will take a beating lying down. Just because I don't want to be injured doesn't mean that I won't fight back. I am a hypocrite," replied Naoya with a smile.
"…The first time you say something worthy of a Zenin, and it's to call yourself a hypocrite," Naobito said in a deadpan.
"The rest of my qualities are normal," replied Naoya.
"Should I tell you about the Cursed Techniques of the members of Hei Squad?" asked Naobito.
"You would do so? Please then," replied Naoya with a smirk. Any advantage, even unfair ones, were a welcome one.
Naobito glanced at his son. The shamelessness was strong in this one.
Maybe the Zenin family was starting to rub on his son, and for some reason, the thought of the current Naoya turning into a typical Zenin made him frown.
'Maybe I am getting attached to this version of him...' thought Naobito, but soon shook his head.
"You already know about me, but I will I will introduce all members of the Hei squad, along with their techniques, now."
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Rank 1) Naobito Zenin: Projection Sorcery
Rank 2) Ogi Zenin: Blazing Courage:
He can produce and shape high-temperature flames and control them to a certain extent. Mostly uses the flames to coat his katana and strike foes with it. A simple technique but very deadly in the hands of Ogi, who is a master swordsman and very physically strong.
Rank 3) Jinichi Zenin: Missile Fists:
He can fire massive, cursed energy fists that come flying at the enemies. He can add his own physical attacks to the mix to become a very dangerous fighter in both long-range and close-range.
Rank 4) Chojuro Zenin: Earth Manipulation:
He can use his cursed energy to manipulate the very ground around him and shift the terrain to his favour. He is the master of large-scale attacks among all members of Hei.
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"These are the Special Grade 1 sorcerers of the clan. The very pillar and the strongest force that established the Zenin family as the strongest clan in the Jujutsu world. At the moment, no other clan has four special grade 1 in their ranks," explained Naobito.
Naoya nodded, not caring much about the clan's position that much.
"The ones below them are Grade 1 sorcerers, and the ones you will be fighting today. You won't be asked to fight the special grade 1 sorcerers today," said Naobito.
Naoya sighed at that. The truly dangerous ones won't be fighting him today was great news to him.
Naobito smirked, seeing his son sigh and then continued his explanation.
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Rank 5) Haruto Zenin: Void Puppet
He can use his hair or the hair of his opponents and use his cursed technique to make puppets out of cursed energy. The puppets can mimic the abilities and techniques, including the cursed technique of the person the hair belongs to, although the puppets made out of other people's hair are toned-down versions of the original sorcerers. Hauto's own puppets are equal in strength and ability to his, but the puppets are not very durable and mostly vanish after a solid hit. Still, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the numbers.
Rank 6) Ranta Zenin: Paralysing Gaze
Any person who comes under his gaze gets paralysed and will have trouble moving. The effect vanishes once his gaze is off you, but until then, you are just a sitting duck. It's possible to overwhelm him if you are very strong and hard to bind, but that's a tall order.
Rank 7) Mako Zenin: Cursed Reversal Field
He can create a two-meter area around him where the properties of cursed energy are reversed. The negative cursed energy turns positive, reversed cursed energy and vice versa. Fighting him with a cursed technique is also difficult since the field around him disrupts the technique as well, since the cursed technique is not getting the appropriate cursed energy.
Rank 8: Taichi Zenin: Spectral Step
His technique leaves an afterimage on the spot he last stood at. The after-image takes the form of the last action that the person performed before its formation. The technique, combined with Taichi's speed, allows him to strike his foe from all four sides. He also hates us, projection sorcery users, since we are way faster than him, so we render him useless.
Rank 9: Kaito Zenin: Recoil Burst
Kaito can store kinetic force in his body from impacts and release it explosively in any direction. If he receives a physical attack, he can store that force, redirect it through his limbs, or amplify his next attack. As for his weaknesses, he also takes damage while receiving attacks, so if he is knocked out before he can release it, then victory is guaranteed. Using long-range attacks is also an effective measure.
Rank 10: Juro Zenin: Still World
Juro can designate a 5-meter radius "zone" around his body where everything slows down to 1/3rd its normal speed. The slowdown also affects him a bit, but not as much as his foes. However, he cannot use it for long since he will feel and get overwhelmed by the burden from his technique, since he is not slowing down time. He thickens the cursed energy around him, making the zone a very dense area of cursed energy the space around him sluggish itself.
However, for us, Projection Sorcery users, the 1/3 speed doesn't work since our technique is not speeding us up. It is a constant speed that will happen no matter how much the user tries to slow us down. That 24 frames per second will take place, and you are even faster. An easy opponent for us.
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"These are the current members of Hei. What do you think? How high could you rank?" asked Naobito in amusement.
Naoya turned serious and started thinking, going through the information in his head.
"...Rank 7, I guess. Beyond that, I can't guarantee yet. It might be possible, but I would need to see how strong they actually are..." muttered Naoya.
Naobito smirked.
'A 10-year-old and already believing he can take down the best amongst the clan,' thought Naobito in amusement, though he also knew it might be possible too.
The father-son duo soon reached the main training area, and the first thing Naoya noticed was the huge crowd that was gathered there. From servants to elders of the clan, everyone was here.
In the middle of them all stood an old man who was supporting himself with a stick, but was still oozing dignity.
"Who's the old man?" whispered Naoya.
That immediately earned him a smack from Naobito.
"He is my father and your grandfather. The current clan head, Kagenori Zenin. Mind your manners," said Naobito in a cold tone.
Naoya nodded and rubbed the spot where he was hit, and glanced at the old man who was talking to some other elders.
Naoya and Naobito soon approached the other members of the Hei squad who were near the elders and the clan head.
All of them looked towards the newcomers and gave a nod to Naobito.
"Clan head," called Naobito and gave a respectful bow to Kagenori.
Kagenori glanced at his son and then focused on the kid beside him.
"Introduce yourself," ordered Naobito.
Naoya nodded and bowed towards the old man.
"Good Morning, Grandpa. I am Naoya," introduced Naoya.
Immediately, the surrounding gazes turned cold and landed on him.
Naoya glanced up, feeling the stares, and once again received a smack.
"Call him the 'Clan Head'!! Be respectful!!" scolded Naobito.
"Ow! I will turn stupid if you keep hitting me," complained Naoya.
Some of them chuckled at his response, seeing the kid ruin his image in front of the entire clan was a funny scene for them.
Naobito frowned and was about to hit Naoya again, but stopped once he saw Kagenori raise his hand.
The old man walked closer and held Naoya's face between his wrinkled hands.
"His eyes are bright? Are you sure he is a Zenin?" asked Kagenori.
People like Naoya were a rarity in the Zenin clan, and witnessing one such rarity among themselves, Kagenori was a bit surprised.
"...Well, I should be unless I am adopted?" asked Naoya and glanced at his father.
Naobito's brows twitched in frustration.
"He is a Zenin Clan Head. He has inherited both my Projection Sorcery and the Ten Shadows technique. That should be enough proof," said Naobito.
Kagenori nodded but still held onto Naoya's face, moving it from side to side as if checking him out to see if he was a Zenin.
"It's starting to hurt a bit grandp- I mean Clan Head," said Naoya.
Kagenori let go of Naoya's head and stared straight into his eyes.
"Hm? Why are you being formal now? Call me Grandpa. Or is it embarrassing to call this frightening old man your grandpa?"
"Hm? You don't mind? Then sure, I will call you grandpa," replied Naoya with a smile.
The rest of the family looked at the scene with their eyes wide open.
'What the hell is happening?'
'Has the Clan Head already gone senile?'
'Are you sure that he is the real clan head?'
Such thoughts started going through the members of the clan.
"How old are you?" asked Kagenori.
"10"
"So late? Why are you going through the initiation so late?" asked Kagenori.
"I was busy training with the other squads," replied Naoya.
Kagenori looked at his son, Naobito, asking for an explanation.
"Ahem, I made him undergo combat training while fighting through the ranks of the other two squads. That took some time to finish. He wanted to measure himself against the other two squads first before going through the initiation," explained Naobito.
Both father and son lied through their teeth, neither willing to tell about the deal that they had made about letting Naoya go to school.
"Hm? A good attitude towards progress. Keep it up," said the old man in a dignified tone.
"Thank you, grandpa."
Kagenori nodded and then looked at Naobito.
"Start the initiation," ordered Kagenori.
"Of course. Naoya, Juro go on the stage," said Naobito.
Hearing his words, the crowd around them started moving and forming a circle around the field to watch the fight.
Naoya nodded and started walking towards the field, and noticed an older, bulky figure walking beside him.
"Good Morning, Uncle Juro," greeted Naoya.
"Good Morning?" replied Juro with uncertainty.
"Please take it easy on me," requested Naoya.
"What are you planning?" asked Juro with hesitation.
He was confused as to why a Zenin was acting like that. He had seen Naoya during clan meetings, and even there, he never understood what was wrong with Naoya, who acted so differently from the rest of the Zenins.
"Nothing. Just asking my Uncle to hit me too much. I don't like being hurt."
"It's the Hei squad initiation ceremony. If you don't like pain, then surrender. Someone like you is not suited for Hei anyway," replied Juro in a cold tone.
Naoya deflated. No one was willing to go easy against the adorable him.
The two took some distance from each other.
Juro took his stance while Naoya took out a wooden spear from his shadows and took a stance of his own.
"....Are you mocking me by using a cheap training weapon?" asked Juro coldly.
"No. Right now, this is the only spear that I have. If you are offended by it then I apologise, uncle," said Naoya.
Juro's look got even colder.
"Don't expect any mercy from me," said Juro.
"Start!" declared Naobito.
Naoya sighed at Juro's words.
"Well.....don't expect that from me as well then!!!!" yelled Naoya and immediately activated his projection sorcery and appeared beside Juro.
Shocked by the sudden appearance of the kid, Juro was about to smack him away with a cursed energy-reinforced fist.
"Too slow," replied Naoya with a smirk and activated his Projection Sorcery once again and stopping Juro in a frame.
Cursed energy gathered around the wooden spear, and then in an instant, 36 attacks landed on the suspended Juro simultaneously.
Juro broke out of frame and got sent flying.
"Agh!"
Juro winced in pain. The frame suspension caused damage to the person while ignoring the cursed energy reinforcement defence. All the 36 attacks that landed on him reached him while ignoring whatever defence boost he got from the cursed energy reinforcement.
However, his pain was far from over.
Naoya appeared above him before he could even blink and used his cursed technique once again to suspend the older man in the frame, and started his attack once again.
CRASH!!!!
Juro's body crashed onto the field as a small dust cloud rose from the impact.
Naoya did a smooth landing as well and gathered even more cursed energy around his spear.
Naoya smirked widely and swung his cursed energy spear with full force, creating a powerful blastwave of cursed energy.
The attack blew away everything in its path, including Juro, who was sent flying towards the audience, all of whom immediately sidestepped to dodge the bulky man.
Naoya twirled the spear around him and rested it on his shoulder.
"So did I win?" asked Naoya and glanced at Naobito.
Naobito smirked at his son's comment and glanced at Juro.
"Winner Naoya!!!" declared Naobito in enthusiasm.
Naoya smirked and stored the spear in his shadow.
"That was a good warm-up," said Naoya and stretched his body.
The audience who heard him looked at the kid in shock.
'THAT WAS JUST A WARM-UP?!?!?!'