Big Brother

The Cursed Energy around Divine Dog: Black grew denser, mingling with the air to form tiny wind blades that pulsed gently with his breathing, their tips gleaming coldly. Divine Dog: White tensed like a drawn bow, his circulating Cursed Energy stirring the air into a spinning wind shield outside his membrane of light. With one attacking and the other defending, their stances were even sharper than before.

Zhiyan still gazed down at the book on his lap, his fingertips tapping the stone table absently. The rhythm remained steady, yet conveyed his commands with precision.

He did not look up. His dark lashes concealed his emotions as he uttered a single, quiet command: "Attack."

Before the word had faded, Divine Dog: Black shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. His Cursed Energy abruptly condensed into several curved blades of wind aimed straight at Naobito's chest.

The wind swept up the pine needles beneath the veranda, weaving a deadly net of attacks through the air.

Naobito kept his hands behind his back. With a light tap of his toes against the flagstones, he drifted diagonally away like a breeze, neatly evading the wind blades. They swept past the hem of his robe, lifting it slightly without causing the slightest injury.

He did not use Projection Sorcery, dodging solely by anticipating both the Cursed Energy and the airflow. He even deliberately slowed a fraction, allowing a wind blade to graze the front of his robe and leave a shallow slash.

"So they can control wind, too. Not bad. You've combined it with Cursed Energy quite well, but your control still needs precision," Naobito commented with a smile, unable to hide the pride in his voice. "Back when your dad fought a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit that used wind Jujutsu, it was far more dangerous than this."

As soon as he finished speaking, Divine Dog: White had circled behind him. The wind shield surrounding his body abruptly spun faster, becoming a whirlwind barrier that pressed toward Naobito's back. Carrying gravel and pine needles, it possessed both the resilience of a defense and the twin force of cutting and impact.

Naobito pivoted sideways and clenched his right fist. With a trace of pure but gentle Cursed Energy, he punched through the air, striking precisely at the wind shield's axis.

With a soft pop, the wind shield's rotation instantly fell into disarray. The whirlwind abruptly dispersed, and Divine Dog: White gave a low whine, staggering back two steps as both his light membrane and wind shield faded considerably.

Naobito did not pursue him. Instead, he stopped and brushed the dust from his robe. "The weakness of wind attacks lies in the continuity of the airflow. You interrupted the supply of Cursed Energy to White for half a breath just now, and that left an opening in his shield."

The tapping of Zhiyan's fingertips paused briefly before resuming its steady rhythm. At last, he looked up at Divine Dog: White, an almost imperceptible gravity flashing in his eyes. Then he turned to Naobito and said coldly, "Continue."

This time, the two Divine Dogs no longer fought separately. Divine Dog: White advanced first, spreading his spinning wind shield into a defensive wall and steadily narrowing Naobito's room to dodge. Under its cover, Divine Dog: Black condensed Cursed Energy around his tail to form a wind whip, quietly circled behind Naobito, and abruptly pulled it tight. The wind blades at its tip sliced with razor-sharp force!

Surprise flickered in Naobito's eyes before turning into a broad smile. "You know how to coordinate them. Interesting."

He still did not use Projection Sorcery's core ability. He merely raised his left arm slightly, condensing Cursed Energy into a thin barrier before him that neatly held back Divine Dog: White's wind shield.

At the same time, he tapped the ground with his right toes and sprang half a foot into the air. As he avoided the coiling wind whip, his left foot lightly stepped on a junction in its airflow.

The wind whip instantly collapsed into countless tiny wind blades and motes of black mist. Divine Dog: Black barked low, but did not retreat. Instead, he gathered Cursed Energy again, stirring the air and sending several wind blades hurtling side by side toward Naobito.

Only then did Naobito's smile fade slightly. A trace of sharp Cursed Energy belonging to Projection Sorcery finally rose at his fingertips. But he did not divide time into frames, merely condensing his energy into an extremely fine stream of air and directing it at the tip of each wind blade from a distance.

As his fingertips swept past, the balance of airflow within the wind blades broke. They veered off course one after another, skimming past Naobito and striking the veranda pillars, leaving shallow grooves. Though the gesture appeared swift and fierce, he had held back considerably, neither injuring Divine Dog: Black nor failing to pinpoint the weakness in his wind attacks.

"The essence of the Ten Shadows Technique lies in 'deployment' and 'technique integration.'" Naobito withdrew his Cursed Energy and paced a couple of steps with his hands behind his back. The authority of a clan head quietly emerged, only to soften as he looked at Zhiyan. "Getting the two Shikigami's wind abilities to work together in offense and defense already exceeded my expectations, but your timing still isn't precise enough. When White pressed me with his shield just now, Black's wind whip came half a breath late. Otherwise, you might have had a chance to trap me."

Zhiyan finally closed his book and looked up at Naobito. His eyes remained cool, but held a little more seriousness. "You weren't giving it your all."

"Of course not." Naobito made no attempt to hide it, his smile only growing more pleased. "My son's Shikigami haven't fully developed, and their wind abilities are only just beginning. If I got serious, wouldn't that be bullying a child?"

As he spoke, he could not resist leaning closer and lowering his voice, the boastfulness returning to his tone. "Seriously, though, your talent is several times greater than mine was at your age. Give you ten years of training, and never mind a Special Grade Cursed Spirit-even that boy from the Gojo Clan might be someone you could take on."

Zhiyan shifted back, once again avoiding the smell of alcohol on him, but this time he did not call it boring.

He waved a hand lightly. The Cursed Energy and airflow around the black and white dogs gradually subsided, their wind blades and shields dispersing as they lay obediently beneath the veranda again. Yet their gazes still held a measure of wariness and awe toward Naobito.

"I won't need ten years," Zhiyan said quietly. His voice was calm, but carried unquestionable certainty. "Five."

Naobito froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. It shook the palace lanterns beneath the eaves and startled several birds from the treetops outside the courtyard. "Good! That's ambition! Just what I'd expect from my son!"

He patted Zhiyan's shoulder with carefully measured strength, encouraging him without making his young son uncomfortable. "Then I'll wait a few years. When the time comes, father and son will have a proper match. I won't go easy on you then. I'll show you how truly mastered Projection Sorcery breaks through your Ten Shadows Technique!"

Zhiyan did not answer. He merely opened his book again, resting his fingertips on the page without turning it. The old black pine beside the veranda swayed gently, and the faint incense from the bronze burner mingled with the crispness of the breeze. Lamplight enveloped father and son in the old-fashioned courtyard, one exuberant and spirited, the other quiet and reserved. The fusion of the Ten Shadows Technique with wind abilities, the Zenin Clan's legacy and hope, quietly grew through this seemingly distant exchange that concealed its warmth.

As his laughter faded, Naobito paced halfway around the stone table with his hands behind his back. His gaze settled on the black and white dogs lying obediently beneath the veranda, and his tone suddenly grew playful. "Come to think of it, that boy from the Gojo Clan is the same age as you."

Zhiyan's fingers paused over the page. His dark lashes lifted slightly as he gave Naobito an indifferent glance. He said nothing, but was clearly listening.

"Satoru Gojo. The Gojo Clan reveres him as their 'Child of the Gods.'" Naobito rubbed his chin, his tone carrying a mixture of a Jujutsu Sorcerer's respect for exceptional talent and the scrutiny born of the natural balance between great clans. "Born with the Six Eyes, he's certain to master the Gojo Clan's Limitless technique. Everyone in Jujutsu Society has to think twice when his name comes up."

As he spoke, he deliberately watched Zhiyan, hoping to see some reaction on his son's face. But that little face remained as cool as ever. Only the tapping of his fingertips against the stone table quickened by half a beat.

"The Six Eyes can see through the flow of Cursed Energy and anticipate every attack. Limitless can even distort space, preventing any attack from reaching him." Naobito simply sat down on a stone stool and propped his elbows on the table, lowering his voice as though sharing a secret. "Apparently, when that boy was only four, he dared tell the old Gojo patriarch to his face that 'the Three Great Families are all old fossils.' Arrogant beyond belief."

Zhiyan finally spoke, his voice calm and even. "Is he strong?"

"He really is." Naobito readily admitted it, then changed tack, a spark of defiance and pride flashing in his eyes. "But that doesn't mean he'll surpass my son. His Limitless relies on his innate constitution, while your Ten Shadows Technique is a treasure our Zenin Clan has passed down for a thousand years. Its potential is hardly inferior to his."

He lightly tapped the stone table, his eyes resting on Zhiyan. "That boy's Six Eyes can see through Cursed Energy flow and a sorcerer's Cursed Technique, but they may not see through the deployment of the Ten Shadows Technique's Shikigami. His Limitless can block physical attacks, but he may not be able to keep it active every moment. Master the Ten Shadows Technique to its fullest, and you could still get the better of him someday."

Zhiyan lowered his eyes to the book and remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "I'm not interested in surpassing him."

"Oh?" Naobito raised an eyebrow. "Then what interests you?"

"Getting stronger." Zhiyan's voice remained quiet, but held unquestionable resolve. "Not to outdo anyone. To gain complete control over my own Cursed Technique and let my Shikigami use the strength they're meant to have."

The amusement gradually faded from Naobito's eyes, replaced by solemnity. He leaned forward slightly, bracing both hands on the stone table, and fixed Zhiyan with a sharp yet gentle gaze. "Since you have both that ambition and that ability, it's time the entire Zenin Clan-and all of Jujutsu Society-knew."

Zhiyan stopped turning the page and looked up at him, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"You kept your awakening of the Ten Shadows Technique at five from me all this time. Now that I know, I can't pretend I haven't seen it."

Naobito's voice deepened with the decisiveness of a clan head. "You can now control your Shikigami reliably, and your control of Cursed Energy far exceeds that of Jujutsu Sorcerers your age, or even older ones. Keeping you hidden any longer would only waste that talent. I intend to convene a clan council soon and announce your awakening of the Ten Shadows Technique to every branch."

He paused, then addressed the heart of the matter, though his tone became more consultative. "Beyond that, the position of Zenin Clan head should rightfully pass to the strongest. You possess our clan's treasured Ten Shadows Technique, and you have both the talent and the temperament. I'd like to take this opportunity to formally name you my heir. In the future, the Zenin Clan will be yours to lead."

Those words carried immense weight, enough to reshape the entire Zenin Clan.

After speaking, Naobito quietly watched Zhiyan, showing no intention of forcing him. He simply waited for his son's answer. Though he was the clan head, he did not want to use his position to pressure him. He preferred to respect the choice that belonged to the inheritor of the Ten Shadows Technique.

As though sensing the change in atmosphere, the black and white dogs beneath the veranda quietly raised their heads. Their gazes moved between father and son, their Cursed Energy fluctuating faintly.

The bronze burner's faint incense drifted across the stone table, and warm sunlight illuminated Zhiyan's calm profile. He remained silent for a long while, then rested his fingertips on the page again, gently tracing the paper's texture before slowly saying, "Whatever."

His tone remained flat, betraying little emotion, but he had tacitly accepted his father's arrangements.

A flash of delight instantly crossed Naobito's eyes. He suppressed it, recovering some of his authority as clan head. "What do you mean, 'whatever'? This concerns your entire life."

Despite his words, he could not hide the satisfaction in his voice. "Then the clan council will be held in three days. All you need to do is attend with your Divine Dogs and let those old men from the branch families see just what their future clan head can do." After a moment's thought, Naobito added, "As for any Curse Users out there who want to take my son's life, we'll see whether they have what it takes."

Just as he finished, a soft call came from outside the courtyard gate, carrying the sweetness unique to a child's voice. "Big brother-"

Before the voice faded, a tiny figure peeked out from behind the half-open wooden gate.

Wana Zenin wore a little pale blue-green kimono, her hair tied in two small buns. Her chubby hands gripped the doorframe as her dark eyes timidly surveyed the courtyard. The moment she saw Zhiyan, they lit up, and she ran inside with light little steps.

A year younger than Zhiyan, she looked even more childlike. Her kimono's hem swayed as she ran, and when she passed the veranda, she remembered to reach out and pat both dogs on the head. Divine Dog: Black gently nuzzled her palm, while Divine Dog: White lowered his ears and let her tiny fingers comb through his fur. All their earlier fierceness was gone.

"Big brother, I came to play with you." Wana ran to Zhiyan and gently tugged his sleeve, her voice sweet as honey. Her eyes darted curiously toward Naobito before she quickly lowered her head and whispered, "Father."

Seeing his younger daughter, Naobito's stern expression instantly melted into a rare gentleness. He beckoned to her. "Wana, come here. Let me have a look at you."

Wana hesitated and glanced at Zhiyan beside her. Only when she saw that her brother had no objection did she run to Naobito with little steps, and he scooped her onto his lap.

Naobito ruffled her soft hair and asked with a smile, "What made you come looking for your brother? Do you want to learn Jujutsu from him?"

"Yes!" Wana nodded hard, her little face filled with longing. "I want to summon Shikigami like big brother, and I want to play with the Divine Dogs!" As she spoke, her small hands mimicked the shape of wind blades, her movements clumsy but earnest. "I heard the Divine Dogs barking outside the courtyard, so I knew big brother was practicing his Cursed Technique."

Zhiyan turned to look at his little sister, his dark lashes lowering slightly. An almost imperceptible gentleness flashed in his usually cool eyes. He raised a hand and softly stroked the top of Wana's head. "When you're a little older, I'll teach you."

"Really?" Wana's eyes shone. She immediately leaned closer to Zhiyan and clutched his sleeve tightly. "You can't lie, big brother!"

"I won't." Zhiyan's voice remained quiet, but held a little more warmth.

Naobito looked at the daughter on his lap and the son beside him, his eyes full of contentment.

He wrapped an arm around Wana and smiled. "Good. Your brother can teach you someday. Together, the two of you can carry the Zenin Clan's Jujutsu to greater heights."

He paused, turning an expectant gaze toward Zhiyan. "Once the council ends in three days, I'll find the best teachers for you both, so Zhiyan can refine his Ten Shadows Technique and Wana can build a solid foundation in Jujutsu."

At this, Wana cheered and wriggled in Naobito's arms. "Wonderful! Thank you, Father! Thank you, big brother!"

As though infected by the cheerful atmosphere, the black and white dogs beneath the veranda gently wagged their tails, and their Cursed Energy grew mild.

Warm light fell across the father and his two children, while the bronze burner's faint incense mingled with childish laughter throughout the old-fashioned courtyard.

Zhiyan opened his book again, but his fingers moved more slowly over the pages. Occasionally, he looked up at his sister's excited face, and the faintest curve seemed to touch his lips, vanishing almost too quickly to catch.

A solemn discussion of succession and the awakening of a Cursed Technique had, with his little sister's soft call, become a moment of warmth rarely found in a great clan. And in the hope that brother and sister would stand together, the Zenin Clan's future grew ever clearer.