Solitude

"Bang!"

The elbow strike had missed-no, it had been caught.

Kashimo's palm clamped around Kujū Jūrō's elbow, his fingers tightening until the bone gave a faint creak under the strain. Kujū Jūrō's expression changed. He tried to pull away, only to find he could not break free.

"Admirable courage."

Kashimo looked at him, his eyes devoid of emotion.

"But that's all you have."

As the words fell, a heavy punch smashed into Kujū Jūrō's face.

Blood sprayed. Kujū Jūrō pitched backward, but before he could fall, a hand seized his hair. He was yanked back by brute force, and a vicious knee drove into his stomach.

"Gah-"

He flew from Kashimo's hand like a kite with its string cut, slammed into a tree several meters away, then slowly slid down its rough bark, leaving a dark red streak in the mud.

"Still alive?"

Kashimo picked up his staff again, rested it on his shoulder, and leisurely crouched in front of Kujū Jūrō. Tilting his head, he studied that bloodied, mangled face.

"I want to ask you something."

Kujū Jūrō leaned against the trunk, his chest rising and falling very slowly. Blood streamed from his forehead, coating half his face, but his eyes remained open, fixed on the young man crouching before him.

"What do you strive for?"

"...The pinnacle."

Kujū Jūrō's voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible, but he pronounced those words with force.

"The pinnacle of martial arts." He paused, his lips twisting into a bleak smile. "I never imagined...that the martial arts I'd spent most of my life honing would lose to some young brat..."

Kashimo did not get angry.

There was no point taking a dying man's words to heart.

"My martial path..." Kujū Jūrō's eyes began to lose focus, his voice growing softer. "This is...as far as it goes..."

He raised his hand with difficulty and pointed in a direction.

"Boy...if you're interested, go to the dojo west of Kyoto...and take it over..."

His hand dropped, striking the mud.

"If not...go tell them...the Kujū Dojo is disbanded..."

"I...also have a daughter. If you're willing...please take her in for a while..."

Kashimo remained crouched, watching the old man before him slowly close his eyes.

After a while, he stood and hoisted the staff onto his shoulder.

Wind swept through the woods, stirring a few fallen leaves.

"The pinnacle, huh..."

Kashimo glanced down at Kujū Jūrō, who had stopped breathing, then turned and walked back.

Thoughts like these would probably have drawn the original Hajime Kashimo back into that tangle of loneliness, strength, and love: standing at the summit, with no one who could match him, and no one beside him. That loneliness was all too familiar to him, so familiar it had almost become an instinct.

Carrying his staff on his shoulder, Kashimo suddenly stopped.

He knew he was in that very state himself.

The solitude of being the strongest.

He knew perfectly well what monsters his future enemies would be: the Limitless wielded with the Six Eyes, Mahoraga of the Ten Shadows, and Sukuna, who would eventually slice everyone into mango chunks. He knew how to improve himself, how to pursue Barrier Technique, domains, and applications of electric charge.

Yet standing at the pinnacle of this era, looking down at those who could not so much as touch the hem of his clothes despite giving their all, he still felt a momentary sense of disorientation.

He looked down at the Thunder Ring on his right hand, then hefted the Ruyi Staff.

Then he raised his head and looked toward Kyoto.

He could only use his Cursed Technique once.

He absolutely could not waste it on this generation's Six Eyes and Ten Shadows users.

"Pfft-"

Zenin Sawa spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground. His body swayed, but he remained standing straight.

Before him lay Tiger Funeral, which he had beaten to pieces. Its enormous body was slowly dissolving, turning into cursed energy that flowed into his shadow. Round Deer stood nearby, a gentle light glowing before him as Reverse Cursed Technique repaired Sawa's battered body bit by bit.

"The taming succeeded." Zenin Sawa wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. His voice was hoarse, but he could not hide his excitement. "Now...only Mahoraga remains."

"Congratulations, Clan Head!"

Zenin Yuichi was the first to react, clapping vigorously.

Applause immediately surged like a tide, ringing throughout the Tamashiro.

"Congratulations, Clan Head-"

"Congratulations, Head of the Zenin Clan-"

It was not just members of the Zenin Clan. Several unfamiliar faces stood in a corner-representatives of factions that had recently aligned themselves with the Zenin Clan, who had also come specifically to watch this taming ritual. Now they clapped, their faces adorned with carefully measured smiles.

Zenin Sawa turned toward the man who spoke.

The head of the Kusakabe family stood at the front of the crowd, a suitably respectful smile on his face. He was something of a veteran in the present-day Jujutsu Society. Over the years, he had gradually steered the Kusakabe family toward the New Shadow Style, and word had it that he had already attained some proficiency.

"Truly young and accomplished, Head of the Zenin Clan."

Zenin Sawa accepted a handkerchief from someone beside him, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and managed a smile.

"You flatter me, Head of the Kusakabe family." He casually tossed the bloodstained handkerchief to a servant nearby. "I've only just begun. I'm still far from mastering the true Ten Shadows."

"Oh, come now-" The Kusakabe family head waved a hand. "Of the ten shikigami to tame, Tiger Funeral is already a major hurdle. Among all the Ten Shadows users in the Zenin Clan's history, those who managed to tame him at your age are few and far between."

Zenin Sawa's smile deepened.

He did not reply, merely inclining his head. His gaze passed over the Kusakabe family head and swept toward the faction representatives in the corner. As they met his eyes, they each bowed.

Zenin Sawa withdrew his gaze, a flicker of scrutiny passing through his eyes.

Had these people truly come to congratulate me, or were they here to probe my strength?