"Uncle, have you heard about the idiotic things that brat Naoya has been doing at Jujutsu High lately?"
In one of the Zenin Clan's side rooms, Jinichi Zenin stroked his beard as he questioned Ogi Zenin, who sat before him.
"Heard about them? The [Higher-Ups] were already pressuring the Zenin Clan over it a few days ago."
Ogi Zenin's voice was low and heavy.
"Not only did he promote modern jujutsu right in front of those Kyoto nobles, he also viciously criticized ancient jujutsu. I hear the upper ranks of the jujutsu world were extrely displeased when they found out, and they've all been demanding an explanation from us."
"That makes sense. The Zenin Clan has always been the backbone of the conservative faction. Even if the Clan Head's [Projection Sorcery] is a modern technique, he still ultimately leans toward ancient jujutsu..."
Jinichi Zenin spoke calmly.
"I truly never expected that Naoya Zenin, who refused even to enroll at Jujutsu High and was raised from the start with the Zenin Clan's elite education, would actually be a supporter of modern jujutsu at heart..."
"That little bastard Naoya. I could already tell when he was a child. Deep down, he had always admired a monster of the jujutsu world like Toji. Do you rember? When Satoru Gojo held his genpuku ceremony, Naoya was the only mber of the Zenin Clan who went to attend."
"That happened?"
Jinichi Zenin's brow twitched.
In ancient tis, a genpuku ceremony was equivalent to a coming-of-age ceremony.
Especially for soone like Satoru Gojo, a heaven-blessed prodigy. When he held his genpuku ceremony, the event was grand beyond compare. More or less every major figure in the jujutsu world showed up to pay their respects.
But the Zenin Clan and the Gojo Clan had been sworn enemies for generations. Relations between the two sides had long since broken off, so there was no way anyone could attend under the Zenin Clan's na.
Which ant...
Naoya Zenin had gone entirely as a private individual, just to show up and lend his support as a spectator.
"That brat has been overbearing since childhood, and doing outrageous, unconventional things was normal for him. It's just that this one was so absurd I rembered it for the rest of my life."
Ogi Zenin let out a sinister chuckle.
"But this is fine too. The jujutsu higher-ups have already started taking a dislike to that brat. If Naoya can't win more trust from the [Higher-Ups], then even if my elder brother insists on making him the next Clan Head, the jujutsu world won't agree. Those old fossils will never want to see another uncontrollable existence like Satoru Gojo sitting in the seat of one of the Three Great Clans."
"So that ans..."
A note of delight crept into Jinichi Zenin's voice.
"The position of next Clan Head?"
"Mm. If that brat Naoya keeps making a fool of himself at Jujutsu High, then the position of next Clan Head is very likely to change hands."
At those words, Jinichi Zenin's breathing quickened a little.
The Zenin Clan's Clan Head.
That position represented the pinnacle of power, half the dominion of the Three Great Clans. Countless mbers of the Zenin Clan dread of it, so badly that they even saw themselves seated on that throne in their sleep.
Even Jinichi Zenin, who had always remained obscure, could not help feeling his blood heat up.
"But... won't the Clan Head oppose it?"
"Relax. You don't need to worry about my elder brother. He's basically a hands-off manager. Most of the Zenin Clan's affairs are decided by ."
Ogi Zenin gave a smug little laugh.
"When the [Higher-Ups] apply pressure, even if my elder brother has already made up his mind about the Clan Head position, he'll still be forced by the situation to compromise."
"Uncle really is worthy of being the Zenin Clan's second-in-command. When you handle things, I can rest easy."
After pondering for a long while, Jinichi Zenin suddenly asked out of nowhere,
"Uncle, do you support becoming Clan Head?"
"Heh, Jinichi. Your prestige in the [Hei] organization is even higher than mine. So many people support you already. You don't need your uncle for that."
Jinichi Zenin paid no attention whatsoever to the barbs hidden in Ogi Zenin's words. He simply pressed on.
"If that brat Naoya can't beco Clan Head, then I'll definitely run for it. After all, among the younger generation, I'm the most senior, and my fists are the strongest. When that ti cos, Uncle, you'll still be the Zenin Clan's second-in-command. That won't change."
"But that youngster Ranta is building a lot of montum too. The Kukuru Unit listens to his commands. If he really decides to fight for the position, he'll be a serious threat to you as well."
"Ranta respects a great deal. And he cos from the main family. Whether it's background or strength, he's no match for . So you can stop trying to sow discord, Uncle."
"Jinichi, listen to your uncle. The Clan Head position isn't so easy to handle. It's not sothing you can manage."
"That's fine. We'll see whose abilities are greater when the ti cos."
Jinichi Zenin had no intention of wasting any more words on Ogi Zenin. He stood and left the side room just like that.
The Zenin Clan's second-in-command watched his nephew's departing back. Only after Jinichi had completely walked away did the cheerfulness on his face vanish, replaced in an instant by sothing cold and grim.
"Compete with ?"
Ogi Zenin clenched his fist.
"I've had my eye on this position for decades! Even if Jujutsu Headquarters didn't apply pressure, there's no way I'd ever let that brat Naoya take it! Jinichi Zenin, and you think you're fit to compete with your uncle? You even said we'd see whose abilities are greater when the ti cos?!"
The violently erupting negative emotions caused Ogi Zenin's [Innate Technique] to activate out of control, and his Cursed Energy turned into surging flas that burned in his palm.
"If my child had been Naoya back then, instead of those two worthless pieces of trash Maki and Mai, the Clan Head position would've been mine long ago! And you think you're worthy of laying claim to it?!"
His years of longing and jealousy over the Clan Head seat now turned into the most tangible of curses, making Ogi Zenin hate his two daughters all the more.
"Why aren't those two pieces of trash dead yet?! It would've been better if they'd died sooner! Better if they'd never been born in the first place! Then I wouldn't have... I wouldn't have lost that Clan Head position! I wouldn't have ended up this pathetic and worthless!!!"
Ogi Zenin would never give up the Clan Head position.
Because it had been his dream since boyhood, a destiny carved into his blood from the mont he was born.
The only one fit to ascend to the seat of Zenin Clan Head was the most talented Ogi Zenin, the one who had inherited the Zenin Clan's most exalted thousand-year technique, [Blazing Courage]!
No one could stop him from becoming Clan Head.
Not even his own older brother...
"Naoya, go on and keep sinking at Tokyo Jujutsu High. I knew it. There's no way you'd ever give up on my worthless daughter."
A wicked smile spread across Ogi Zenin's face.
"Because she's been the toy you subconsciously marked as yours ever since childhood. Even if my older brother forcibly split them apart, there's no way you'd just stand by and do nothing."
"Whether you want to make them even more despairing, or you're looking for so kind of emotional comfort from them, just keep getting dragged deeper into that bottomless mire..."
"My two daughters are not only soft-hearted, they sympathize with others too. Since childhood, they've been taught to give everything for the Zenin Clan. They're the most worthless children in the world."
"Once you get tangled up with that kind of worthless thing, all it takes is listening a little too closely to their coy little whining, all it takes is deciding to keep them as their master, and suddenly your life has a weakness. Then you're finished. Then you've truly lost."
"Naoya, if you don't have that kind of resolve, then stop trying to fight for the Clan Head position..."
Ogi Zenin's figure slowly disappeared into the darkness.
"For the sake of this Clan Head position, I'll make use of any power at all, even if that power ends up destroying the entire Zenin Clan."
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