"Begin. If it looks like you're about to bite it, I'll kill the thing for you. Though I'd prefer it if it didn't come to that."
"Yeah. It probably won't."
Currently, Toji and I were deep in the mountains outside the Zenin estate. Down at the base, the clan's attendants were strictly controlling all entry and exit.
"Then, here I go."
I wove the hand signs and summoned a shikigami that had yet to be tamed through a Subjugation Ritual.
"Max Elephant."
A massive elephant surged forth from the shadows.
"So that's Max Elephant? It's damn huge. Are they usually that size?"
"I wouldn't know. This is my first time summoning it too."
I summoned Nue and sent it flying toward the elephant. Nue accelerated rapidly for a body blow, but it only managed to push the beast back slightly; there was no significant damage.
"Hmm. As expected, its defense is solid. It'll be a massive asset once it's tamed. I've got a read on its durability now... so let's get serious."
"Divine Dogs."
The Divine Dog I summoned, pouring eighty percent of my Cursed Energy into it, was no mere pet. It was a wolf so large it rivaled the elephant, possessing a size reminiscent of Fenrir from Norse mythology.
"Oi. Is that really a dog? It's bigger than a house."
Ignoring Toji's fussing in the background, I sent the original-sized white Divine Dog toward Max Elephant.
"Sorry. Die for me."
Max Elephant unleashed a high-pressure blast of water at the charging white dog, obliterating it instantly.
"Wait, is it okay for that thing to die? Didn't you say they don't come back once they're destroyed?"
"Yeah. But when one is destroyed, its power is inherited by the other. The remaining dog becomes that much stronger."
'The so-called Divine Dog: Totality. By concentrating the Cursed Energy that was once split between two into a single vessel, it reaches a higher state of power.'
The remaining black Divine Dog writhed as its body began to reconstruct itself. Once the metamorphosis was complete, its presence felt exponentially more powerful. After lunging the dog at Max Elephant, I shrouded my own body in Nue's properties and sprinted forward.
The Divine Dog tore into the target with savage force, ripping away a chunk of the elephant's flesh.
'Wait. This is easy.'
As I leapt over the agonizing cries of the elephant with a giddy smile, intent on delivering a decisive blow to its head, it happened.
A flash of black sparks smiled upon me.
Black Flash. A phenomenon every sorcerer yearns for. A distortion in space that occurs when Cursed Energy is applied within 0.000001 seconds of a physical hit—a realm of the gods. In the original story, the sight was so rare that fewer than ten people had ever successfully achieved it. But more important than the feat itself was its effect...
'An awakening of Cursed Energy accompanied by an overwhelming sense of euphoria. Ah. I've been so ignorant. Only now can I see the glaring holes in the way I've been controlling my energy.'
"More... just a bit more. I want to experience this feeling again."
When I looked up to where Max Elephant had stood, it had already vanished into nothingness.
"Haha... hahahahaha! Toji! Let's keep going. It has to be today. I'm going to tame everything I can today!"
"Hah. What's with this brat? Is he chasing a high? The kid's half-crazed. Fine, do whatever you want."
------
As the sun began to set, I was being carried back to the estate on Toji's back, my Cursed Energy completely depleted.
"Yo, brat. I take it you're satisfied with today's results?"
"'Satisfied' doesn't even cover it, Toji. I landed Black Flash twice. I successfully subjugated Great Serpent, Max Elephant, and Toad. It couldn't have gone any better."
"I suppose. There probably isn't another kid your age who's pulled off a Black Flash. I was bored to tears since I didn't have to do a thing, though."
"Want me to summon Mahoraga then? You'd certainly get a fight to the death."
"What did I ever do to wrong you?"
"It was a joke. But Toji, you have a Heavenly Restriction. Does that mean you're counted as a participant in the ritual or not? If you aren't, I'd love to have your help for the harder ones."
"I'll pass. I'd like to survive long enough to see adulthood."
"Oh, come on. You wouldn't die. Probably?"
"Don't try to pawn it off on me when you can't even give a straight answer."
"Fine, fine. I get it. At this rate, maybe Satoru Gojo isn't such a big deal after all. I'm feeling pretty strong myself."
"Then how about a spar with me once we get back? I'd love to crush that nose you've got stuck so high in the air."
"Actually, now that I think about it, I'm definitely wrong. I'm incredibly weak."
"Tch. No fun at all."
As we continued our banter while he carried me, I asked him a question.
"Toji. What do you think? About this place. Is it worth living here?"
"Huh? Are you talking about the Zenin clan? You're delusional."
Toji scoffed and looked at me, though his expression was softer than the icy gaze he usually wore.
"Why? Mom and Dad treat you well. There's also cute little Naoya. Well, as for the others... I wouldn't know."
"Your sister? She's only cute to you. To me, she's just someone I want to smack. As for the Clan Head and Lady Saya... yeah, they treat me well. Because of you."
"Then stay. When I become the Clan Head, I'm going to tear this whole system down."
"Hmph. How many decades do you expect me to wait? My patience isn't that great. That's enough of this talk."
'Is it still too early? Even so, compared to the original timeline, this place must be heaven for Toji. I want him to stay. He's a vital existence for the jujutsu world. He's at his strongest when he's hunting sorcerers.'
"Whatever, I get it. Let's just go home. Naoya will be waiting."
"You really dote on that sister of yours. If you keep giving in to her, she'll end up with a rotten personality."
"Naoya is only four. She should be allowed to do as she likes. She's the baby of the house."
'Besides, the current Naoya is quite manageable. She hasn't been brainwashed by elders whispering that women should walk three steps behind men yet.'
"And you're only five. Ugh, forget it. Keep your mouth shut and just let me carry you."
Fearing he might actually hit me if I kept talking, I stayed quiet until we reached the house.
-----
After a quick wash, I stopped by my father's room.
"Father. I'm back."
"Ah, Touya. How did it go? The Subjugation Rituals."
'I can see how happy he's going to be before I even answer. This is what true filial piety looks like.'
"I tamed three: Max Elephant, Great Serpent, and Toad. And during the process, I managed to trigger Black Flash twice."
"What? Black Flash? You mean those black sparks? Hahahaha! Even your father has only experienced that once in his life. You triggered it twice at the age of five? It was truly the right choice to have you so late in my years. Even in death, I will be able to brag that you are my son. Your name will be etched into the history of jujutsu. And the Zenin shall become the strongest clan!"
My father, laughing with pure joy, eventually settled down and looked at me.
"Now, I am certain. You will defeat that Gojo brat."
"Haha... we can't be sure of that yet. That boy is surely going to be incredibly strong too."
"You brat. Humility is a poison. If you are strong, you must broadcast that strength to the world. That is why I accepted the request for the Exhibition Match. If you win, for ages to come, people will think, 'The Zenin are stronger than the Gojo.' You can do it, right? Touya."
"Yes. I'll win, Father. So please keep helping me with my training."
Satoru Gojo. This time, I'm the one who has to win.
------
Meanwhile, in another grand mansion not far away...
"Who the hell were those guys? Why were they staring at me? Argh! This is so annoying. Why am I so curious?"
A beautiful child in pajamas paced around the room while biting his nails, finally shouting for an attendant.
"Did you call, Lord Satoru?"
"Go find some people for me. You can do that, right? I'm the Head of the Clan in all but name, so I'm allowed to order this much. One of them was huge and looked really fierce. A bit scary, actually. And he had absolutely no Cursed Energy. Is that even possible?"
The boy continued, speaking to the attendant who was busy taking notes of the descriptions.
"The other was a boy around my age... he had blonde hair with an orange tint and downward-sloping eyes, a bit like a puppy."
The attendant smiled slightly while watching the young master describe the other boy's face with such fervor.
'Has he found a friend? He seems somewhat brighter than usual.'
"I will send out orders to find them. If I may ask, how did you come to meet them?"
At that, the boy's face flushed red, and he shouted in embarrassment.
"What...! I just saw them from a distance earlier while I was outside. It's not like we're acquaintances or anything. Don't go getting the wrong idea!"
"Come to think of it, this must be the first time you've ever laid eyes on a boy your own age."
"Yeah. Well, I guess so."
"Your expression has improved significantly. It must be dull being cooped up in the clan estate all the time."
"It's that... but also... people are always trying to kill me... it's exhausting."
As he spoke, the boy suddenly shook his head vigorously.
"I don't know why I'm even telling you this. Get out. Just make sure you find the people I described. And turn off the lights on your way out."
"Yes, Lord Satoru. May you have a peaceful night. I will see to it that the task is completed."
Once the attendant left and the room fell into darkness, the boy lay on his bed and closed his eyes. The face he had seen earlier continued to flicker in his mind.
'Urgh... I'm definitely going to find you. When I decide to do something, I always get it done. Just you wait.'
With those thoughts, the child eventually drifted off to sleep.