Chapter 12
And how are we going to find them? asked Megumi, with a serious but controlled tone.
Kuro nodded, fully understanding the concern of his brother.
True, we know practically nothing... but that does not mean that we are without options.
Megumi raised an eyebrow.
Okay. Show me what you have.
I spoke to Gojutei, Kuro said. He told me where the base of those curse users might be. Even if they are not there, their residual odour will surely remain. With your Divine Dogs, we will be able to follow the trail. Of course, we have limited time before the smell disappears.
Megumi nodded slowly. Although his face was still serious, there was a line of concern in his gaze.
Even so, we know there are three of them. You and I are two... and we are hardly apprentices. According to what Gojutei told us, facing them directly would be risky. I think we need a third member and much more training to level the balance.
Kuro clicked his tongue, thinking.
Give me a second...
Megumi sat down to wait, crossing his arms. He looked at the roof, lost in his thoughts, until he heard his brother say:
I already have it.
Megumi looked down, attentive.
Curse users outnumber us and experience, Kuro explained. Gojutei said that the weakest is grade 3; it will not be a problem. The second is semi-grade 2; with his technique, he could be annoying. But the strongest grade 1, technique unknown.
He paused.
And that makes it dangerous. So first, we can send a clone of Gojutei to balance the numbers. But still, we need more.
"I propose to ask the Zen'in clan for help. I know that I do not like that nest of vipers, but there is no denying that they have talent. With one of them, we covered the gap of power and number.
Megumi listened without interrupting.
On the lack of experience... we cannot perform miracles in a short time, but we do have a solution: your technique. The rituals of domestication.
The eyes of Megumi opened slightly.
Exactly, Kuro continued, we fight your undomesticated shikigamis. Real battles, to the death, with real danger. As long as the ritual is active, no one can intervene. That gives us unlimited battles... and real experience.
Kuro smiled.
What do you say?
Megumi remained silent for a few seconds. Then he spoke in a firm voice:
Just one thing... I will go with Gojutei to track the location now. You go to the Zen'in clan and get help. But listen: that clan does nothing for free. If they ask for something exaggerated, you reject it.
Megumi lowered his voice.
I don't like asking for help. But these guys got a finger from Sukuna... There are only twenty of them. I worry that they have another one in hiding... or worse, that they plan to sell it.
Kuro looked at him silently. Then he nodded.
Okay. Take care, Megumi.
I say the same thing, answered the chestnut tree.
The Kuro extended his shadow. Gojūtei emerged from it, imposing and sinister.
Take it, Kuro ordered.
The shikigami nodded speechlessly, placing himself next to Megumi as a guardian.
Megumi turned around.
See you soon.
Kuro watched as they both moved away, their shadow vibrating softly under his feet. Then he took a deep breath, adjusted his uniform and walked to the Zen'in clan.
Time to face those vultures... he whispered.
---
Zen'in Clan - Main Headquarters
The atmosphere was cold, rigid, full of tradition.
For the Zen'in clan, it all boiled down to one thing: jujutsu power.
If you had it, you were valuable.
If not, you were trash.
Even a talented woman was respected as a next clan pride. And possessing the Ten Shadows automatically meant succeeding the clan leadership.
Even Megumi, not accepting the surname Zen'in, was considered the natural candidate.
But what really shook the clan...
It was to learn that his brother, Kuro, possessed a very similar technique. Maybe with equal potential... or worse, superior.
The idea of having not one, but two users of shadow techniques, young, unpredictable and under the direct protection of Satoru Gojo...
It was enough for the clan conservatives to go crazy.
The memory of the ancient story echoed in the corridors:
> A user of the Ten Shadows once fought against a holder of the Six Eyes and the Unlimited.
They both died.
The shadow user had summoned Mahoraga.
Mahoraga:
The strongest shikigami of the Ten Shadows.
Indomitable.
Impossible to tame.
An infinite adaptation ritual.
The pride - and curse - of the clan.
But for Maki Zen'in, all of that was traditionalist crap.
How is anyone supposed to tame a monster that not even a Zen'in has been able to control...? he thought annoyedly as he walked down the aisle.
And then, his expression changed slightly.
Because at the back of the corridor...
Someone was entering the clan.
A dark-haired child.
Sharp eyes.
A confident smile.
Kuro Fushiguro.
Tsst... - murmured Maki, this will be interesting.
Kuro Zenin said he was one of the clan conservatives when he saw the boy who looked like that person. "You finally go back to where you belong, even though he did not like that man without energy," Damn it, but he was still strong enough to fight from one to the other with special grades. And what did not follow the orders of the clan?. In the end, the man ended up being a nuisance, at least he did something right "In his life, he brought two Great Sorcerers into the world with considerable potential for the Zen'in clan. It is a pity that Satoru Gojo has appropriated them.
Kuro, for his part, only showed him a confident smile with a tinge of arrogance. First of all, he greets each other with a "good morning.". Secondly, it is Fushiguro, not Zenin. And as for my affiliation, it is a personal matter that does not concern the Zen'in clan. If you ask why I am present, I have come to negotiate.
Damn brat, how dare you agree here reject, our last name with that face should, I, Masato Zenin should teach you a lesson to repeat to your elders,
Sorry, I just answered with the truth. I didn't expect it to hurt you so much. I am not sorry, besides beating Abbas if you are only grade 3. You would only serve me for the warm-up, stop playing for you and take me with the clan leader. I have no time to lose on the laments of an old man.
One trip, you say, especially when I was much stronger? What if we have a fight?
A woman from the Zen'in clan approached the man and boy who were making a fuss in the clan. Please deliver my message to Kuro-sama.
Woman, how dare you call this disrespectful child "sama"? Do you want me to hit you too?
All of this was seen by two girls who were very similar to each other.
Hey, Maki, do you think the boy can against Masato-sama?
Onestamen, I just want to get the course kicked. That old man, but what is up there is Kuro Fushiguro.
They say he has a technique very similar to Ten Shadows and is very talented, so it would not be strange if he won the fight.
I understand, it left her very curious about that child who seemed to be the same age, and yet she feels much stronger than her, quite possibly a grade 2.
If, unlike you and your sister, he is a true Jujutsu sorcerer; he is not at my level, but he is more competent than the two of you, junk, it is a fact.
They said, one with fear and one with annoyance. The two brothers looked at the position of their voice, seeing the man who looked at them with disdain, who was 22 years old.
A thousand apologies, Masoto-sama, but Naobito-sama requested the presence of Kuro-sama so that they can share a moment of coexistence according to the distinction of a candidate for leader of the Zen'in clan.
Upon hearing this, the surprise was widespread, even for Kuro.
Please follow me, Kuro-sama, and forgive my interruption. The woman bowed, showing that she was ashamed to interrupt.
Kuro nodded: "Don't worry, what is more, thank you very much. You saved me from continuing to spend time with this old man and there is no need to be so formal.
I understand, Kuro-sama, please, here.
Kuro, upon hearing the "sama," rolled his eyes and turned around to follow the woman. "This boss is more competent than I expected," he thought.
Maki, after recovering from the shocking news, quickly realized that this would be his chance to mock Naoya: "Looks like they are going to steal your position as head of the clan. It seems that not even your dad loves you like...".
Brother, say, my fearing what Naoya will do against her brother.
Upon hearing that, Naoya got so angry that he hit Maki's cheek, knocking him down and leaving the mark of the blow.
This is not over, here you hear me bitch.
Purse, Maki replied.
Mai quickly went to help her sister.
But first, most importantly, prevent your father from doing stupidity.