Hey, long time no see

"Is this Hiraizumi?"

Shinichi Zenin looked up at the towering city walls. He rubbed his eyes, checking again and again that the two characters written there really did say "Hiraizumi."

Over ten years ago, when Shinji Zenin became clan head, he and Ogi Zenin had taken the other clan members and left this place.

But no matter how he compared them, he could not connect this prosperous town with that remote, primeval forest.

Now, dressed in black monk's robes and wearing a bamboo hat to conceal his face, Shinichi Zenin returned to Hiraizumi in disguise to carry out a mission entrusted to him by a noble of the Fujiwara Clan.

"...Lord Shinichi, are you certain this is the place?"

Beside him stood U, likewise in disguise.

U wore nothing but coarse hemp clothing, with nothing suspicious about her appearance, just like an ordinary peasant woman from the countryside.

But while her clothes were plain, her looks were anything but.

Her long white hair was pinned behind her head, and her golden eyes betrayed no unnecessary emotion. An icy aura radiated from her, warning strangers to keep their distance.

If her rough clothing had not subdued that presence, ordinary people would have mistaken her for some noble family's young lady.

Shinichi Zenin took out the map and checked it repeatedly. After confirming that this was their destination, he sighed.

"We haven't come to the wrong place. This is Hiraizumi-now we just need to ask around about Sukuna, then teach him a lesson."

Much as Shinichi hated to admit it, Hiraizumi really did seem to have flourished under Shinji Zenin's rule.

"Once I've brought Sukuna under my command, I'll come back and take everything from you!"

Shinichi Zenin clenched his fist viciously, then walked through Hiraizumi's gates.

The instant he entered, Shinji learned of it in the Zenin Estate's reception room.

"A jujutsu sorcerer just came in. His total cursed energy is around Grade 2."

He took a sip of tea, then looked at the two men beside the sofa.

"Grade 2? Isn't that a bit much of a fuss?" Gojo Gen picked up a piece of lard candy and popped it into his mouth. "Haven't a few sorcerers at that level already come here?"

Kamo Michisada also put a piece of candy in his mouth. He had the same question as Gojo Gen.

Four days had passed since Jianxia left with Uraume and Megumi Zenin. Gojo Gen and Kamo Michisada had arrived in Hiraizumi with their clan members on the third day.

They had no idea what Jianxia had done to promote the place outside, but it had certainly worked.

Every day, plenty of new residents chose to settle in Hiraizumi, and Shinji was responsible for housing them and distributing farmland.

But since Jianxia, who was responsible for building their clan compounds, was away, the Gojo Clan and Kamo Clan had temporarily been housed in vacant residences along Hiraizumi's streets.

Although Jianxia and his two companions were absent, Hiraizumi had already become a large settlement, producing quite a few cursed spirits every day.

Before the two clans arrived, Zenin Wu Yan had been responsible for exorcising all of them.

Only after Gojo Gen and Kamo Michisada arrived with their clan members did the exploited laborer Wu Yan finally get help from other jujutsu sorcerers.

So a Grade 2 jujutsu sorcerer entering Hiraizumi hardly warranted special attention. After all, the city itself already had plenty of Grade 2 jujutsu sorcerers.

Shinji Zenin shook his head. Naturally, he understood their confusion, and explained:

"I'm very familiar with this Grade 2 jujutsu sorcerer's cursed energy... By blood, I should call him my elder brother."

Shinji Zenin then told the two men about the Zenin Clan's past, starting with his succession as clan head and ending with his meeting Jianxia.

Gojo Gen and Kamo Michisada were somewhat surprised. They had never expected the Zenin Clan to have such a history, nor had they imagined Jianxia had only been with the clan for such a short time.

"In short, I'm afraid my elder brother hasn't returned to Hiraizumi with good intentions. Please excuse me for a moment."

With that, Shinji Zenin rose from the sofa, and Gojo Gen and Kamo Michisada stood up as well.

"If the Zenin clan head plans to handle this personally, why not bring us along? We can't just stand by when an ally is in trouble."

Gojo Gen spoke, and Kamo Michisada voiced his agreement:

"The Gojo clan head is right. This Shinichi Zenin must have come prepared. If we go together, we can watch each other's backs."

"Then I'm sorry for the trouble." Unable to turn down their enthusiasm, Shinji Zenin accepted and headed into Hiraizumi with Gojo Gen and Kamo Michisada.

Meanwhile, just as might have been expected, Shinichi Zenin became distracted not long after entering Hiraizumi.

To ask about Ryomen Sukuna, he would have to talk to people on the streets.

Apart from passersby, the most plentiful people on the streets were the vendors lining either side.

Shinichi Zenin had intended to ask a vendor for information, but the aroma wafting straight into his nose changed the words on the tip of his tongue.

"Good sir, what is this?"

Even with drool nearly spilling from the corner of his mouth, Shinichi Zenin did not forget his disguise. He looked at the large, white, fluffy steamed buns as he questioned the stall owner.

The stall owner glanced up at Shinichi Zenin-the monk-then at U beside him, and his face immediately filled with smiles.

"Reverend, miss, this is a Hiraizumi specialty. Lord Jianxia brought it back from Tang China and improved it. It's called mantou-soft, sweet, and absolutely delicious."

As he spoke, the stall owner pressed a mantou in the steamer with the chopsticks beside him. The springy white bun immediately returned to its original shape.

"Mantou?"

"Jianxia?"

Shinichi Zenin and U had focused on entirely different things.

U frowned. According to the information Shinichi Zenin had provided, the Zenin Clan should originally have had only two combatants-Shinji Zenin and his daughter, Megumi Zenin.

Even counting Ryomen Sukuna, there should only have been three.

But judging by the current situation, with the once-impoverished Hiraizumi transformed into such a large town, its force of jujutsu sorcerers had probably grown considerably as well.

Still, U had no intention of abandoning the mission. The Sun, Moon, and Stars Squad did not accept failure in any form.

Either complete the mission or atone with death.

Besides, even if the Zenin Clan in Hiraizumi had gained more jujutsu sorcerers, they would pose virtually no threat in U's eyes.

Apart from the supposedly powerful King of Curses, who warranted caution, everyone else was mere small fry.

What was more, to ensure the mission's success, she had received permission to bring "that thing" with her.

Before "that thing," any jujutsu sorcerer would become utterly fragile.

"U, what are you thinking about?"

By the time she came back to her senses, Shinichi Zenin had already bought three large mantou. He held two against his chest and had stuffed the third into his mouth.

U's already furrowed brow tightened further. She said coldly, "Lord Shinichi, please remember that you are here on official business."

Shinichi Zenin had intended to give U a mantou to try, but hearing her open her mouth only to say something so unpleasant immediately killed his interest.

Then Shinichi Zenin asked the stall owner, "Good sir, I'd like to ask you something-do you know where our Lord Ryomen Sukuna of Hiraizumi usually is?"

But the stall owner looked utterly bewildered. He scratched his head, seemingly unable to understand Shinichi's words.

"What two pots of tree baskets? Reverend, what are you talking about?"

Shinichi Zenin froze for a moment. He had assumed that even if he could not learn Sukuna's exact whereabouts, he would at least hear a few rumors.

But the man's complete ignorance did not seem feigned, leaving him thoroughly confused.

Could Sukuna be the sort who kept a low profile?

As Shinichi Zenin racked his brains, a voice behind him interrupted his thoughts.

"Hey, big brother. Long time no see."

He knew that voice all too well. From childhood through his youth, its owner had addressed him that way countless times.

He turned to look. It was indeed Shinji Zenin, though his face had aged considerably compared with Shinichi Zenin's memories.

Two men stood on either side of him. The white-haired one was tall and flamboyant, exuding confidence.

Though the black-haired man's eyes were narrowed, a closer look still revealed his rebellious air, like a fierce tiger ready to strike at any moment.

Shinji Zenin looked at the dazed Shinichi Zenin, then glanced at the wary U beside him. After a moment's thought, he ventured:

"Nice to meet you... uh, niece?"