The incident with the curse users was just a minor interlude.
Even though Jiro Awasaka and Ogami were supposed to have roles in the Shibuya Incident later on, Souma wasn't worried about butterflies causing a hurricane.
They were just trash mobs. Their deaths wouldn't break the timeline.
The only thing worth noting was that Ogami had used her Seance technique to summon Toji Fushiguro's body information in the original story. That was a major event.
"Toji Fushiguro..."
Souma rubbed his temples.
Personally, he felt a bit of pity for the guy. But unfortunately, Toji was a necessary tribulation in Satoru's life.
If Satoru needed to get stabbed in the throat to learn Reverse Cursed Technique, then so be it.
That wasn't a tribulation. That was an opportunity.
I'll let him live, Souma decided. I'll just beat him up a little.
...
Back at the Gojo estate, the twins were informed of a new engagement: a banquet organized by the Three Great Families in three days.
"Can we not go?"
Satoru made a face. He had zero interest in old men drinking sake and talking about bloodlines.
The Gojo elders immediately panicked.
"Absolutely not! This is the Three Families Summit!"
What was the point of the summit?
It was a chance for the Gojo clan to flex their unprecedented twin Six Eyes in front of the Zenin and Kamo clans! (Cross that out.)
It was a chance for the young generation of the Three Families to exchange ideas and learn from each other!
Although the elders just wanted to gloat, Souma and Satoru were unmoved.
"You two are the main characters of this banquet," the Great Elder pleaded. "If you're absent, the Zenin and Kamo families will think the Gojo clan is arrogant. It will reflect poorly on us!"
Souma raised an eyebrow. "Arrogant? Isn't that exactly what the Gojo clan is?"
Satoru nodded in agreement. "Yeah. We are arrogant."
The Great Elder choked.
In the jujutsu world, the arrogance of the Three Great Families was legendary. In their eyes, any sorcerer outside the three clans was second-rate, and non-sorcerers were basically monkeys.
Yet, to the elders' surprise, the Six Eyes twins—who should have been the most arrogant of them all—seemed strangely... grounded. Or at least, they didn't care about the hierarchy.
Seeing that the elders were desperate, and adhering to the principle of respecting the elderly (sometimes), Souma decided to compromise.
"Is there anything interesting happening at this party?"
The Great Elder's eyes lit up. "Yes! Yes! The younger generation will have a friendly exchange. A sparring match, essentially."
"Tch."
Both twins rolled their eyes in perfect sync.
Playing house with weak kids? Boring.
Knowing their strength, the Great Elder quickly played his trump card.
"There will also be an auction! You can bid on anything you like. The main item is a Special Grade Cursed Tool!"
Souma's ears perked up. "Special Grade? What's it called?"
"Playful Cloud."
Oh ho! That three-section staff!
Souma grinned. "Sounds interesting. Alright, we'll go."
Seeing Souma agree, Satoru reluctantly nodded along.
...
Three days later.
Souma stared at the extended black limousine parked in front of the estate, and the servant in a tuxedo whose only job was to open the door.
For the first time, he really felt the absurd wealth of the Gojo clan.
Dying and waking up as a chaebol heir... not bad.
The twins climbed into the car.
The interior was ridiculously spacious, equipped with a TV, a mini-bar, and leather seats that probably cost more than a normal person's life.
Souma opened the mini-fridge and grabbed a soda.
Gulp. Gulp.
The cold, sweet liquid hit his stomach, and he let out a satisfied sigh.
Ah, the corrupt life of the aristocracy. I love it.
Satoru looked at him weirdly. "Cold drinks in the middle of winter?"
"My blood is boiling with the heat of youth."
"..."
While they chatted, the car glided through the streets of Tokyo and arrived at a five-star hotel in Ginza.
"Welcome!"
Two rows of maids in formal attire bowed in unison. The pomp and circumstance were suffocating.
"Is this really necessary?" Souma asked. "It's a bit much, isn't it?"
The Great Elder chuckled. "Rest assured, Young Master Souma. This hotel is owned by the Three Families. Today, it is closed to the public. Only sorcerers are allowed."
Souma's eyelid twitched.
Right. My bad. I forgot I was poor in my last life.
They took the elevator to the top floor.
When the doors opened, the banquet hall was already buzzing with activity. Crystal chandeliers, expensive suits, and the low hum of polite conversation.
Aside from the Three Families, there were members of affiliated clans. The Okkotsu family, distant relatives of the Gojo. The Ieiri family, famous for producing Shoko Ieiri, the rare user of Reverse Cursed Technique.
But when Souma and Satoru stepped into the hall, the noise died instantly.
Every head turned. Every eye fixed on them.
The Six Eyes Twins.
Their birth had shaken the foundations of the jujutsu world. The Six Eyes appeared once every few centuries. Twins with the Six Eyes? Unheard of.
Whether it was a curse or a blessing, one thing was certain: these two boys were the protagonists of the next era.
Facing the wall of stares, the twins frowned.
"Young Masters, you really are special," the Great Elder beamed, oblivious to their annoyance. "You're the center of attention wherever you go!"
Souma gave a tight, fake smile.
"Rather than the center of attention, I feel more like a monkey in a zoo being watched by tourists."
"Uh..."
The Great Elder's smile froze. Young Master Souma had a tongue like a razor blade.
At that moment, the crowd parted. Two imposing figures walked toward them.
Naobito Zenin, head of the Zenin Clan.
Noritoshi Kamo (the older), head of the Kamo Clan.
Although they were smiling, the air around them was frigid.
Six years ago, the Gojo clan had hit the jackpot. The Zenin and Kamo clans had been seething with jealousy ever since.
The Kamo clan had been trying desperately to produce an heir with Blood Manipulation, with mixed results.
The Zenin clan was even worse off. No Ten Shadows Technique user in decades. Instead, they got a child with a Heavenly Restriction—zero cursed energy. A stain on their "perfect" lineage.
Every time Naobito thought about it, he lost sleep.
Why the Gojo clan? Why them?
"So these are the famous Six Eyes twins?" Naobito Zenin boomed, his voice thick with sake and false cheer. "I'm Naobito Zenin. A pleasure to meet you."
The Kamo head nodded, hiding his envy behind a polite mask. "I am the Kamo clan head. Very pleased to meet you both."
Satoru was still thinking of a polite response when Souma spoke up, his smile bright and sharp.
"Oh, you're pleased to meet us?"
"I think you two are happy a little too early."
Naobito Zenin: "..."
Kamo Head: "..."