Toji Zenin

Sawa's sudden remark directly silenced Naobito and Ryushin.

The Great Elder quickly covered Sawa's mouth and smiled apologetically at the two clan heads. "The younger generation doesn't know their place, please forgive them!"

"Hmph!"

Both clan heads snorted coldly and swept away with their sleeves.

Seeing this, the Great Elder breathed a sigh of relief. "Young Master Sawa, those two are the heads of the Three Great Families. Even you need to watch your wording!"

Sawa shrugged. "Too lazy to be polite."

It wasn't arrogance. With his current strength, he was no weaker than those two clan heads—in fact, he might even surpass them.

As for the hypocritical socializing among the Three Great Families, he had zero interest.

The exchange between them was just a minor episode.

Clearly, Naobito and Ryushin had also picked up on Sawa's attitude and didn't bother forcing a warm reception.

As for the younger generation of the Zenin and Kamo clans, their impression of Sawa and Gojo was like that of "other people's kids"—figures they could only look up to from afar.

This sense of distance made them hesitate to step forward and get acquainted.

Sawa and Gojo didn't mind, though. In fact, they rather enjoyed the undisturbed atmosphere.

Even as curious glances occasionally fell on them, the two treated it like air, wandering the banquet on their own to find pastries that suited their tastes.

"Bleh—so why is this dessert salty?"

Gojo Satoru set down a piece of Salt and Pepper Pastry, his face scrunching up.

"Oh, foolish little brother of mine!"

Gojo Sawa shook his head and reached for a slice of Cherry Pie.

Perhaps because they were twins, or maybe because their techniques consumed a lot of energy, Gojo Sawa, like Gojo Satoru, had become a sweet tooth.

Just as Sawa's hand was about to touch the Cherry Pie, a small, fair hand reached in from the side and bumped into his.

Sawa paused and turned his head to see a little girl with brown hair staring blankly back at him.

"Ieiri Shoko?"

Gojo Sawa blurted out.

"You know me?"

Ieiri Shoko tilted her head.

The name "Six Eyes Twins" was famous throughout the jujutsu world, so Shoko had naturally heard of them.

But she never expected that the elder brother of the illustrious "Six Eyes Twins" would know her name.

Sawa nodded. "I've heard a little. A natural Reverse Cursed Technique user."

Hearing this, Ieiri Shoko understood.

True—though the "Six Eyes Twins" were renowned, she herself bore an innate Reverse Cursed Technique, hailed as a "national treasure"-level non-combat sorcerer.

Even if her brilliance was overshadowed, she still had some small fame.

As she was thinking, she saw Gojo Sawa already holding the Cherry Pie in his hand.

"Uh..."

Ieiri Shoko's brow furrowed immediately.

Gojo Sawa glanced at her, then split the Cherry Pie in half.

Ieiri Shoko's big, adorable eyes lit up, and she reached out both hands toward Gojo Sawa.

"Gojo, this one's sweet."

Gojo Sawa handed half the Cherry Pie to Gojo Satoru beside him.

"Huh?"

Ieiri Shoko's outstretched hands froze in midair, her big, cute eyes shrinking into two little dots.

"You... huh?"

Just as Shoko was about to speak, Gojo Sawa held out the remaining half of the Cherry Pie to her.

Shoko carefully took the dessert. "Th... thank you! What about you?"

"Me? I'll just grab whatever!"

Sawa reached back and picked up an even bigger slice of Cherry Pie from the table.

"Huh???"

The gratitude that had just risen in Shoko's heart instantly dissipated.

In just ten seconds, this guy had shocked her three times!

"What a... unpredictable guy!"

Ieiri Shoko grumbled inwardly, then took a big bite of the pastry.

He chewed a few times, his expression bitter.

"As expected, desserts are just too cloying!"

And so, at the largest social gathering of the jujutsu world organized by the Three Great Families, three small figures roamed around unabashedly in search of food.

The current head of the Ieiri Clan, Ieiri Inako, was somewhat surprised to see his daughter mingling with the Six Eyes Twins.

"Could it be that geniuses are simply drawn to each other?!"

Soon, the banquet entered its second phase—the time for each major family to showcase their new generation.

To this end, the Three Great Families had even arranged a spacious training hall on the top floor of the hotel.

However, Sawa and Gojo had no interest in such childish sparring matches.

But as the center of attention, the two were still forced onto the stage to exchange blows with the younger generation of the Zenin and Kamo Clans.

These clan elders were just like parents who insist their children perform in front of relatives during the New Year.

Of course, the outcome was beyond doubt. Sawa and Gojo displayed extraordinary skill, not even needing to use the Limitless or Cursed Technique Reversal: Red.

Relying solely on physical techniques and the insight of the Six Eyes, they trounced their opponents—and even made them cry.

After all, they were just little brats of six or seven years old.

Amid Naobito and Ryushin's grim expressions and the smug, triumphant smiles of the Gojo Clan elders, the banquet finally arrived at the part Gojo Satoru was most looking forward to—the auction.

Skipping past all those flashy but useless trinkets, they finally reached the auction of the special-grade cursed tool, Playful Cloud.

Playful Cloud was a vermilion three-section staff, each section adorned with black patterns at both ends.

As a special-grade cursed tool, it had no special technique enhancement; its only effect was pure physical output.

Simply put: tough, durable, and critical hits!

"Five hundred million!"

Just as Sawa was zoning out, someone in the venue started bidding, instantly overpowering the other bidders.

Gojo Satoru looked toward that person, his pupils suddenly contracting.

"Fushiguro... no, he should be called Zenin Toji now!"

"What's wrong, big brother?"

Gojo followed Sawa's gaze to a sturdy, broad back.

A body utterly devoid of cursed energy fluctuations, yet it brought Gojo immense pressure and a sense of crisis.

A chill ran through Gojo's heart. "This guy... is strong!"

Sawa smiled. "I've told you before, there are countless heroes under heaven. Don't always think you're invincible."

"Tch!"

Gojo curled his lip.

Even though this man was strong, he didn't think he would lose.

Sawa said nothing more. The tangled fate between Toji and Gojo could wait for later. For now, the most important thing was...

"Six hundred million!"

Sawa spoke, instantly causing an uproar.

Toji frowned and turned to look at Gojo Satoru, muttering under his breath, "Troublesome brat!"

"Seven hundred million!"

"Eight hundred million!"

"Nine hundred million!"

"One billion!"

"..."

Toji's composure was starting to crack.

He glanced at Playful Cloud on the stage, then thought about the meager savings he had painstakingly scraped together.

Forget it, forget it. When it came to wealth, how could he, a "wild monkey" disliked by the Zenin Clan, possibly outbid the favored Six Eyes son of the Gojo Clan?

In the end, Sawa bought this special-grade cursed tool for the astronomical price of one billion.

As the auction concluded, the banquet drew to a close.

"Sawa, Gojo, until we meet again!"

Ieiri Shoko bid farewell to her two newly made friends.

Sawa and Gojo waved back, then got into a black sedan.

Not far away, Zenin Toji watched the departing Gojo Satoru and Gojo Satoru, an inexplicable tremor stirring in his heart.

Driven by curiosity, he followed them.

The sedan stopped at the outskirts of the Gojo Clan estate, followed by a stone-paved path through the woods.

Sawa and Satoru's mother, dressed in a kimono, came to greet them, then took their hands and led them home at a leisurely pace.

Amid the drifting snowflakes, the three figures in kimonos looked somewhat picturesque.

Zenin Toji's figure appeared abruptly several dozen meters away, arms crossed as he tilted his head to watch Sawa and Satoru's retreating backs.

And in that instant, Sawa and Satoru both turned their heads at the same time, their azure-blue pupils meeting Toji's slightly surprised eyes.

"This is the first time someone has sensed my presence from behind!"

"And... two of them!"

Zenin Toji stared at the fading figures, suddenly feeling that this winter was exceptionally cold.