I gave up on thinking for a moment. Naoya should have been a boy. Had my presence changed something? Stunned by the confusing reality before me, I stood frozen until Father, holding me in his arms, brought me closer to Naoya. My bewilderment was brief; I leaned in to observe her more closely. With her wrinkled skin, fine yellowish hair that mirrored Father's, and a mouth hanging open mid-wail, she wasn't exactly what one would call 'cute' or 'pretty.' Yet, the mere fact that she was my sister—my family—made her seem precious in an instant.
"Touya. Look closely. This is your younger sister. Isn't she lovely? You are an older brother now, so you must always put Naoya first."
"Yes..."
I reached out, my small hand pressing against Naoya's cheek. Enchanted by the warm, soft sensation, I couldn't stop touching her until Mother spoke up.
"Touya, dear. Naoya has only just been born, so you shouldn't touch her like that. We can play with her once she's a little older. Be a good boy, alright?"
Reluctantly, I pulled my hand away. Father looked down at me from where I was perched in his arms.
"Touya. Your mother is exhausted and needs to rest. Let's head to your room and get you some food."
"Yes, Father."
As I was carried toward my room, my mind remained a chaotic mess. To think Naoya was a girl. At this rate, Satoru Gojo might show up as a girl too. Lost in these absurd thoughts, I returned to my quarters and began eating the baby food a servant was spoon-feeding me.
'Wait, thinking about it... isn't this actually better? Since she's a girl, maybe she won't be subjected to the clan's typical misogyny. As for that meritocratic obsession with strength, I can just stick by her side and fix that myself.'
The realization eased my mind. I hadn't exactly been thrilled about doting on a bratty younger brother anyway. Since she was cute, this worked out just fine.
'Grow up quickly... I'll make sure you're educated properly. Heh.'
Time passed swiftly. Four years had gone by since my birth, placing me at an age where I would normally be attending preschool. I could now walk with ease and speak fluently, though a slight lisp remained an unavoidable hurdle.
"Naoya. Eat your food. You need to eat plenty to grow big quickly."
I gently poked Naoya's soft cheek while coaxing a spoonful of baby food into her mouth. This girl was definitely the Naoya I remembered. Despite her cute appearance, her stubbornness was unparalleled; she refused to eat unless I was the one feeding her. Perhaps because I had handled her so much since birth, she harbored an extreme loathing for being touched by anyone other than me or our parents, breaking into fits of wailing at the slightest contact. She was a high-maintenance infant through and through.
"Brother. Feed me."
'Acting like a little princess, aren't we? If you weren't my sister—and if you weren't so cute—I'd have let you starve.'
As I sat there dazed, watching Naoya quietly accept the food, the door slid open and Toji stepped inside.
"Yo, brat. Still playing nanny today? The Clan Head is really something, making a four-year-old handle childcare."
"Toji, you know how she is. She won't eat if I don't give it to her."
"Tch. Demanding little thing, isn't she?"
He spoke with his usual cynicism, but I didn't mind being glued to Naoya like this. I had been bored anyway, and watching over her felt strangely therapeutic. Besides, she rarely cried and smiled often when I was around. I only hoped she would remain this adorable and keep listening to me when she grew up. I turned back to Naoya as I fed her.
"Naoya. You mustn't look down on others just because they're weak. Do you understand?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Toji scoffed. "You think that brat can understand a word of that? Besides, there's no such thing as 'weak' in the Zenin clan—only trash. Eventually, you'll end up just like the rest of them."
"I won't. I'm going to be different."
'If I don't, we're all going to die, after all.'
Toji still didn't fully trust me, fearing that I would change as I grew older. I knew that wouldn't happen, but for someone like Toji, who had never known the luxury of trusting another soul, his skepticism was only natural. I figured if I continued to show him this side of me as I matured, he might eventually come around.
"Ha. Then make sure you educate that brat well. I don't give passes for being a woman. If she starts crawling all over me, she's getting hit."
With those words, Toji turned and left the room. I watched his back for a moment before turning my attention back to Naoya's meal.
Some time later, Naobito was receiving a report from an attendant.
"Clan Head. Word has arrived that the child born with the Six Eyes in the Gojo Clan has manifested his Cursed Technique."
"Is it that time already? Well? Is it the inherited one? I hope for their sake it isn't."
"It is the Limitless technique, sir. It appears he is destined to be the strongest of this era. To be born with both the Six Eyes and Limitless... such talent has only appeared a handful of times in history."
Naobito's brow twitched violently.
"Watch your tongue. The strongest of this generation will be a Zenin."
Meeting Naobito's fury-filled gaze, the attendant turned pale and slammed his forehead against the floor in a desperate kowtow.
"M-my apologies, Clan Head! It was a slip of the tongue. Please, forgive me!"
"Tch. Get out."
Clicking his tongue as the attendant scurried away, Naobito rose and stared out the window, lost in thought.
'Six Eyes and Limitless... The Gojo clan will certainly be walking tall for a while. But there is no cause for concern. The Zenin are, and always shall be, the pinnacle. Touya possesses the greatest talent in our clan's long history. If only his Cursed Technique manifests properly... I will bury those arrogant Gojos so deep into the earth they'll never see the sun again. When that day comes, the term 'Big Three Families' will vanish. There will only be the Zenin.'
It wouldn't be long now—the day Touya's technique would be revealed to the world. Naobito found himself wishing for that moment to arrive sooner.
One day, while walking down the corridor to see Naoya, I overheard the muffled voices of the Elders in discussion.
"Have you heard the news? The Gojo brat's technique has manifested as Limitless."
"I have. This is a dire matter. They say it's been four hundred years since someone was born with both the Six Eyes and Limitless simultaneously."
I paused mid-step. So, Satoru Gojo had manifested his technique already? That meant my own awakening was close. What would it be? If it's a Zenin inherited technique, it would likely be the Ten Shadows or Projection Sorcery. I was buzzing with anticipation. Having been reborn into the world of Jujutsu Kaisen with such high-spec talent, I couldn't deny my desire to reach the summit of strength. With that thought, I continued toward Naoya's room.
"Naoya. Your brother is here."
"Brother, you're late."
Now that she was a bit older, Naoya was much clearer in her self-expression. She knew exactly what she liked and hated, and she had zero reservations about voicing those feelings. It was a strength in some ways, but more often than not, it felt like a growing headache.
"I actually came earlier than usual today, Naoya."
"I wanted to see you, so you didn't come fast enough. That makes you late."
"Fine, fine. I'm sorry. I should have come sooner. What shall we do today? Want to go see Father together?"
"Yeah. I want to see Papa."
"Then let's go. Hold my hand."
Holding Naoya's hand, we walked side-by-side toward Father's office. Just as I was about to knock, a voice echoed from inside.
"If your children fail to inherit a technique, brother, then the position of the next Clan Head is still very much undecided, is it not?"
"Hahahaha! So? Is that all you have to say? I was wondering why you hadn't shown your face lately, only for you to burst in and spit curses at your own nephew and niece? You're a pathetic one, aren't you?"
Naobito's laughter vanished, replaced by a freezing coldness.
"Do you wish to die, younger brother? Have you still not realized why you failed to become the Clan Head? It has nothing to do with being the elder or younger sibling. It is simply because you are too weak to represent the Zenin name."
"Urgh... Just you wait. My children will be the ones to take the seat of Clan Head."
Ogi was furious at the fact that he had momentarily felt terror toward his brother—who was nearly twenty years his senior—but he couldn't dare show it. Forcing back the tremors in his hands, he clicked his tongue and stormed out of the room. He nearly collided with the two children standing outside: the two heirs of his brother, rumored to have inherited supreme talent.
"Tch. Talk about bad luck. Move. Get out of the way."
Without even waiting for them to step aside, Ogi shoved past the children and fled the scene. I watched his retreating figure for a moment.
The man who had just stormed out was undoubtedly Ogi Zenin—my father's younger brother. Currently in his mid-twenties, his face looked different from what I remembered in the manga, but that wasn't the point. Seeing him already consumed by an inferiority complex, picking fights with a five and four-year-old, made me realize that changing the future wasn't going to be easy.
"Naoya, you okay? You didn't fall, did you?"
"No. Who was that?"
Hearing the commotion, Father emerged from his room. His expression softened with surprise when he saw us.
"Touya? Naoya? What are you doing here? Did you fall? Did that bastard do something?"
"Naoya wanted to see you, Father. She's fine."
Father muttered under his breath, his voice laced with venom.
"That damn piece of trash... how dare he touch my children..."
Trying to shift the atmosphere, I nudged Naoya toward Father. She naturally latched onto his leg, hugging him tightly.
"Papa. Carry me."
Father scooped Naoya up into his arms, his face lighting up.
"Yes, yes. My little girl is as cute as ever today. Did you hold your brother's hand all the way here?"
"Brother was late. He promised to come to my room early, but he didn't."
"I said I was sorry, Naoya... I won't do it again."
"Hahahaha! Well, it seems your brother was in the wrong. Still, you must listen to him well, Naoya. He is the one you will have to rely on most when your mother and I are gone."
"Okay, Papa. I understand."
Father smiled at us, but I could still feel the embers of rage burning beneath the surface. I didn't like that man either. I felt a growing certainty that one day, I would have to deal with Ogi myself.
'Still, he's the father of Maki and Mai... I'll let him be until those girls are born. After that... well, who knows. I just hope he stays quiet and doesn't do anything stupid until then.'
With those thoughts in mind, the three of us shared a meal in Father's room, the sounds of light conversation filling the air.