After the Summer Festival, Naomitsu entered a long, tedious period of intensive training.
Day after day, he worked hard, putting everything into refining his control over cursed energy. His goal was to turn cursed energy from negative to positive, achieving negative × negative = positive. That would mean he had mastered Reverse Cursed Technique.
It proved far harder than he had expected.
"Over half a year has passed. I haven't mastered Reverse Cursed Technique, but my cursed energy has increased quite a bit. At least the training wasn't wasted."
Above his head, his cursed energy had reached [37285].
He probably wouldn't master Reverse Cursed Technique anytime soon. Still, Naomitsu hadn't focused exclusively on it during this time.
In his spare time, he had also been studying something else: the "Binding Vow," the very thing that had earned Sukuna the title of king of loans.
Naomitsu planned to take advantage of this peaceful period to establish an extremely powerful Binding Vow. With his ability to double his cursed energy, he would optimize the vow even further.
What followed was the exact wording of the Binding Vow Naomitsu had painstakingly crafted.
"Binding Vow: in exchange for committing ten percent of my cursed energy each year for ten years, and being limited to using only fifty percent of my cursed energy each year, my cursed energy will be sealed. Upon release, I will receive a five-hundred-percent boost to my cursed energy."
Once he formed that intention and spoke it aloud, the Binding Vow took effect.
Naomitsu looked up at his cursed energy again.
[33557]
"Has this year already been counted? If there are only nine years left... that doesn't seem all that long?"
There were only a few days until next year. When his cursed energy doubled then, it would reach [67114].
His cursed energy would be closing in on that of a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer.
Of course, he would have to deduct another ten percent of his cursed energy then, or he would be violating the Binding Vow.
"Ten years. Once those ten years pass, I'll gain tremendous power."
Naomitsu had put a great deal of thought into "sealing" his cursed energy. Sealing it would give him a major advantage in battles of information.
And once he released the seal, that short burst of power, combined with his cursed energy doubling every year, would be terrifying.
In other words, even if Naomitsu did absolutely nothing for the next ten years, it would still forcibly elevate him from a Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerer to a Special Grade Sorcerer.
"I only dare make a Binding Vow like this because my cursed energy can double. Any ordinary jujutsu sorcerer who dared make it probably wouldn't live to enjoy the benefits."
Every jujutsu sorcerer had a fixed amount of cursed energy. After ten years, they would have hardly any left. And with only fifty percent available to use each year, even the slightest danger could cost them their life.
Naomitsu, however, was only two years old and had plenty of time. All he needed to do was stay put, avoid going out, and lie low in the Zenin Clan for ten years to complete the Binding Vow.
Besides, he had enough cursed energy that the ten percent deduction was a mere drop in the ocean compared with its doubling.
And after ten years, the Binding Vow would be fulfilled and its restrictions would end. Rather than a loan, this was more like an investment in his future.
"Besides, I can focus on studying Reverse Cursed Technique and domains during these ten years. This Binding Vow is an absolutely incredible bargain."
The more Naomitsu thought about it, the happier he was with his Binding Vow.
"For the next while, I'll have to start studying hard."
Naomitsu knew the principle behind Reverse Cursed Technique. With that knowledge, he actually wasn't all that far from mastering it.
Most people couldn't use Reverse Cursed Technique because they simply didn't understand that principle.
As long as they understood it and spent time studying it, they would definitely be able to learn Reverse Cursed Technique.
After all, it wasn't like an innate cursed technique, nor was it like Black Flash, which depended on luck. It relied purely on insight and hard work.
"But domains... those won't be nearly as easy to figure out!"
Naomitsu shook his head, not wanting to dwell on something so far off. Biting off more than he could chew wouldn't help. He should learn Reverse Cursed Technique first.
With Reverse Cursed Technique and the Heavenly Tyrant's physique he would gain in the future, Naomitsu couldn't imagine how much punishment he would be able to take.
Imagine a high-burst assassin with a tank's healing and sustain, a mage's enormous mana pool, and summoned creatures to provide support. How was that not overpowered?
If Naomitsu himself had to face a monster like that, he would be scared to tears.
"Nao-chan! Time for lunch! Don't wear yourself out!"
Maki and Mai arrived together, smiles lighting up their faces when they saw Naomitsu. To them, spending time with him was a joy.
It was worth mentioning that ever since Naomitsu's birth, the sisters had rarely been scolded.
Ogi Zenin had turned more of his attention toward Naomitsu, giving up on the sisters and ignoring them altogether.
Whenever the sisters encountered him at home and called him Father, Ogi Zenin wouldn't even nod.
Over time, they stopped bothering to call out to him. In this household, Naomitsu was the only person they were truly close to.
"I really should balance work and rest. Let's see what we're having today."
There were two lunches, one prepared by Maki and one by Mai. Both lunch boxes were packed so full that he couldn't possibly finish them.
"This much again?"
Mai pouted, planting both hands on her hips. "Nao-chan! No being picky! Be good and finish every bite! Otherwise, your big sister will... smack you!"
Mai raised her little fist, but she wasn't intimidating in the slightest. If anything, her pout made her look adorable.
"Nao-chan! You have to finish mine too!"
Maki poked her head out from behind Mai. Unlike her sister, she really would hit anyone who dared make her angry.
However, Maki had never hit Naomitsu. On the contrary, she would fight anyone who dared lay a hand on him.
"Okay! I'll finish them both!"
Naomitsu took the two lunch boxes and settled down for a leisurely lunch. Early spring was still a little cold, but the lush green scenery certainly whetted his appetite.
Amid laughter and conversation, Naomitsu finished his lunch.
That afternoon, Naomitsu didn't practice Reverse Cursed Technique. Instead, he went to the bamboo grove, found Megumi Fushiguro, and sparred with him using the Ten Shadows Technique.
Naturally, Megumi Fushiguro's Ten Shadows Technique couldn't compare with Naomitsu's. At present, he could only use the two Divine Dogs.
His father, Toji, hadn't even helped him tame Toad.
"Naomitsu, you can use the Ten Shadows Technique too?"
Only now did Megumi Fushiguro finally understand what Naomitsu had meant when he said, "We're the same kind of person."
So he had the Ten Shadows Technique too.
"What? Did you think I was lying? I may only be about to turn three, but I got pretty close to your dad last year. See this sword? He gave it to me."
Naomitsu raised the Soul Liberation Blade. The sword was taller than he was, leaving Megumi Fushiguro staring in astonishment.
"Naomitsu! How many shikigami have you tamed?"
The mention of shikigami instantly gave them plenty to talk about. Megumi Fushiguro chattered away beside Naomitsu, finally starting to look like a little follower.
"Hmm... let me count. Divine Dogs, Toad, Rabbit Escape, and Nue. That makes four shikigami in total, I guess."
Megumi Fushiguro's mouth fell open, the envy in his eyes plain to see.
"Naomitsu, you're not even three yet, and you've already tamed four shikigami. Doesn't that mean you might be able to tame 'that guy' someday?"
Naomitsu gave a mysterious smile and said nothing.
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