Inside the Zenin Family Head's room.
"Bang!"
Naobito Zenin slammed the wine jug onto the table and looked at the two brothers.
"Change Megumi Fushiguro's name. Whatever you want, as long as the Zenin Family can provide it, we'll give it all to you."
In Megumi Fushiguro, he saw the Zenin Family's hope—the one who could perish alongside the ancestor who had awakened Limitless and the Six Eyes in the Gojo Family.
As long as Megumi Fushiguro returned to the Zenin Family and grew up, the balance Satoru Gojo had shattered would be restored once more.
The Zenin Family would regain its former glory.
Shinsuke Zenin and Toji Zenin exchanged a glance, both revealing a trace of delighted amusement.
"Old man, so you have a humble side after all?"
"Did you get the other members of the Zenin Family's approval before doing this?"
Seeing how Naobito was determined to obtain Megumi Fushiguro at all costs, Shinsuke Zenin found it quite amusing.
"I'm the Family Head of the Zenin Family. Since when have I needed their approval?"
Naobito's face darkened with anger. "This concerns the Zenin Family's future. There's no need to consider their opinions."
Of course, he knew that the other members of the Zenin Family had objections to the two brothers—and even to Megumi Fushiguro—but so what?
That was the inherited Ten Shadows Technique, a Cursed Technique powerful enough to make the Zenin Family the strongest in the Jujutsu World.
"I sold Megumi to the Zenin Family back then because I had no way to care for him. It was a helpless decision. Now I've seen through many things, and I feel that I should shoulder my responsibility as a father.
"So our deal with the Zenin Family is canceled. But don't worry. Considering how much Megumi has learned from the Zenin Family, I won't make him hate you."
Toji made his position clear from the side.
Changing Megumi's name was impossible, but since they had made use of the Zenin Family's resources, he wouldn't deliberately make Megumi hostile toward the Zenin Family either.
That was the greatest concession he could make.
"I think that's fine too. If you want Megumi to have any particular attitude toward the Zenin Family, you'll have to work for it yourselves.
"If you leave a good enough impression on him, perhaps he'll remember your kindness even after he becomes successful in the future."
Shinsuke Zenin ruthlessly added,
"Back then, our Zenin Family treated you with indifference. Now, our Zenin Family can only look up to you. That's how it is."
Even Toji hadn't expected that one day the Zenin Family would bow to them in this manner.
Although it was only the Family Head's personal action, the fact that the Family Head had bowed to them already meant that the Zenin Family had lost—and lost completely.
"..."
Naobito Zenin said nothing. He merely picked up the wine jug and took a fierce swig. He knew the two brothers would never forgive the Zenin Family for its past actions.
More precisely, Toji would never forgive them.
After all, Shinsuke Zenin had never cared about the Zenin Family's opinion of him. To him, the Zenin Family was simply a place where he could take advantage of their resources.
"Shinsuke, do you want to become the Family Head?"
After a moment of silence, Naobito decided to make a choice that went against his ancestors' wishes.
"...??" Shinsuke Zenin.
"You've got quite a bit of nerve. Unfortunately, not many people in the Zenin Family think like you. Keep the position of Family Head for yourself. I'm not interested."
Shinsuke Zenin flatly refused.
He understood Naobito's intentions. Once he became the Family Head, Toji and Megumi would essentially be bound to the Zenin Family as well.
He couldn't agree simply because he wanted the Zenin Family's wealth and Cursed Tools.
"Is that so? Then... let nature take its course."
Naobito stopped dwelling on it. After all, the Zenin Family hadn't had a single person awaken the Ten Shadows Technique before, whereas now they had at least one.
The situation was always better than it had been.
"The Zenin Family can provide Megumi with every resource without asking for anything in return. I only ask one thing: if any of Megumi's descendants awaken the Ten Shadows Technique in the future, they must take the Zenin name."
At this rate, Megumi would most likely become the Zenin Family's Family Head in the future, and his descendants would most likely awaken the Ten Shadows Technique as well.
As long as the Ten Shadows Technique ultimately returned to the Zenin Family, he would be satisfied.
"That will depend on how deep your bond with Megumi becomes."
Shinsuke Zenin rose and replied.
Neither he nor Toji could make decisions for the Megumi of the future.
Besides, whether the future Zenin Family would even survive was another matter.
Toji also rose and followed him out.
When they opened the door, several figures stood outside.
Seeing the two of them come out, the figures pretended to look elsewhere, trying to cover up the fact that they had been eavesdropping.
Ignoring them, Shinsuke Zenin walked toward the courtyard not far away. Toji followed behind him, a baffled smile appearing on his face.
Seeing how much the Zenin Family valued his son yet could not obtain him was practically more satisfying than destroying the Zenin Family itself.
"Speaking of which, you were actually a little tempted just now, weren't you?"
Toji looked at Shinsuke Zenin walking ahead of him and asked.
"Tempted by what? I'm warning you, don't talk nonsense."
Shinsuke Zenin denied it outright.
It was only the position of Family Head of the Zenin Family. It merely came with a little more wealth and an additional Cursed Tool vault.
How much could one Cursed Tool vault even sell for? Probably only the price of a few Play Clouds. How could he possibly be tempted...
"By the way, if Megumi becomes the Zenin Family's Family Head in the future, remember to have him put the Cursed Tool vault under my management. I wouldn't feel at ease entrusting such an important place to anyone else."
At those words, the corner of Toji's mouth twitched slightly.
He said he wasn't tempted, yet he was already making plans for years in the future. Fortunately, all the good stuff in the Zenin Family's Cursed Tool vault was already on him.
When they returned to their residence, the courtyard was rather lively. Maki was practicing her staff techniques, Megumi was practicing his Cursed Technique, and Maki was chatting with Meimei, who had arrived at some point.
"Big brother's back!"
Maki shouted, and everyone's gaze shifted to the two of them.
"Meimei, when did you get here? Why didn't you say anything beforehand?"
When Shinsuke Zenin saw Play Cloud resting beside Meimei, his eyes immediately lit up.
Had it been repaired so quickly?
"Here, your Cursed Tool. See how it feels."
Meimei tossed Play Cloud to him.
Shinsuke Zenin caught Play Cloud and swung it casually a few times before nodding in satisfaction. "It's exactly the same as before. Thanks."
"You're welcome."
"You broke Play Cloud?" After a brief deduction, Toji guessed what had probably happened to Play Cloud.
"Why can't I? It was as brittle as paper. Isn't breaking it perfectly normal? By the way, don't you have a lot of Cursed Tools? Give me another one, will you?"
Shinsuke Zenin had set his sights on Toji's arsenal. One Play Cloud clearly wasn't enough.
"Not a chance! Megumi, we're going home."
Toji decisively led Megumi away. If they stayed any longer, his shameless older brother would probably steal something.
"Tch, stingy."
Shinsuke Zenin was somewhat displeased. Could their brotherly bond really be worth less than a Cursed Tool?
Seeing this, Meimei sighed. "You and your younger brother have such a good relationship."
With her intelligence network, she naturally recognized Toji's identity. Besides, with the two of them standing there, who could fail to tell that they were brothers?
"It's all right. Your relationship with your younger brother isn't bad either, is it?"
Shinsuke Zenin replied.
"Looks like you know quite a lot." Meimei smiled.
"It's almost mealtime. Why don't you stay for dinner before leaving?"
Shinsuke Zenin glanced at the sky and spoke.
"There's no need for dinner. Since I'm here, how about we have a bout? A little sparring?"
She had another purpose in coming this time: to see whether she could make further progress in hand-to-hand combat.
Her physical strength had already reached nearly its absolute limit, but she might still have room for improvement in technique.
"Is that so? All right."
Since she had repaired Play Cloud, he didn't mind giving her a few pointers.
At least she wanted to become stronger. She wasn't like that lunatic Satoru Gojo, who simply wanted to fight him.
Before you continue