The meeting was held in a quiet, luxurious hotel in Tokyo. The room was large, clean, and expensive — a place meant for serious talks. Long curtains covered the windows, and a single projector lit up the centre wall.
The video was short and unclear.
But what it showed was enough.
Arata stood in the middle of a ruined island. His cursed energy spread like waves, shaking the ground. A giant curse appeared behind him, huge enough to cover the sky — and then it vanished under his power. The video ended with static.
No one spoke for a few seconds.
Only the hum of the projector filled the silence.
Finally, the youngest elder, a man in his early forties, leaned forward.
"So that boy… that's Arata, right?" he said. "He's strong. Too strong for his or anyone's age."
An older woman beside him nodded. Her hair was tied neatly, her voice calm.
"He's dangerous. But still young. We should bring him in before he grows further."
The young elder crossed his arms.
"I agree. If Gojo is protecting him, we can call the boy through him. Make him understand who's in charge."
The woman gave a small smile.
"Or," she said softly, "we can send someone more… persuasive. A woman he can't ignore. If he gets attached, he'll be easy to guide."
A few other elders looked at her in silence.
The young man nodded. "That's what I was thinking too. If fear doesn't work, maybe desire will."
The talk was interrupted by a quiet sound — the tap of a knuckle rapping against the table.
Naobito Zenin, the head of Zenin, looked up slowly. He had been silent all this time, watching everyone. His expression didn't change, but his eyes were sharp.
"You two," he said quietly, "talk too much nonsense."
The woman straightened in her seat, but said nothing. The younger man looked away.
Naobito's voice was calm but carried weight.
"Do you really think you can scare or charm that boy? You're underestimating him."
The room fell silent.
Naobito took a sip of water, then spoke again.
"In just a few months, Arata has reached a level that most sorcerers never do in their lifetime – a very powerful special grade. And his ties are already deep."
He glanced at the two who had spoken earlier.
"Remember what happened with the American special grade's wife?"
Their faces turned tense.
"You all failed to protect her," Naobito said plainly. "Now, our relations with the Americans are at their lowest. But Arata… he saved her. That means the strongest sorcerer in America owes him. Not us. Him."
No one replied.
The air in the room felt heavy.
Naobito leaned forward slightly.
"If we try to control him, we'll only make him an enemy. He has power. He has allies. And he has reason to dislike us if we make a mistake."
He looked at each of them in turn.
"The only smart thing we can do right now… is show respect. Offer him friendship. Give him what he deserves."
One of the other elders, an older man from the Kamo family, nodded.
"He's right. We've seen what happens when young sorcerers feel betrayed. We can't repeat that mistake."
The woman who had suggested the honey trap sighed softly.
"We were only testing the idea," she said. "But I see your point. It won't work. Gojo would see through it."
The young elder also nodded.
"Yes… I just wanted to hear if there was any safe option left. There isn't."
Naobito gave a small smile.
"Good. You're learning. That's why you've survived this long."
A few quiet laughs spread around the table, but no one felt truly at ease.
Naobito continued, "We'll send him a few gifts. Officially thank him for what he did. And when he returns from the island, we'll arrange a personal meeting. Let him see that we're on his side."
All the elders nodded in agreement.
Even those who had been doubtful before didn't argue.
For a while, no one spoke. The rain outside the window tapped softly against the glass. The meeting ended with quiet murmurs and the sound of chairs being pushed back.
One by one, the elders left the room — leaving only Naobito sitting by himself.
He picked up his cup again and looked out the window. The lights of the city reflected in his eyes.
He spoke in a low voice, almost to himself.
"Still, he'll have to go there soon. After all it's doing of his own."
He paused, thinking for a moment, then added quietly,
"And when that time comes… even Gojo won't stop it."
Naobito stood, leaving his half-finished drink on the table. The lights dimmed behind him as he left the room — calm and confident, like a man who had already seen what was coming.