Leaving

Today was a special day. Something Ze Zenin had dreaded had finally come to pass.

"Huh?" Ze Zenin's eyes widened as he asked in confusion:

"What did you say, Teacher? Could you say that again?"

Toji stared coldly at the brat. "I said I'm leaving. Did you hear me this time?"

"Wait, what? Why?"

Ze Zenin couldn't understand. If Toji had left the Zenin Clan in the original story because he thought it was beyond saving...

Then why would he still feel that way now that Ze was here?

"I found someone important to me."

At those words, even Toji's cold face softened into a smile. "Someone I'd give everything for."

Was it Megumi Fushiguro's mother?

Ze Zenin had actually considered that from the start. He had even thought about bringing Megumi's mother into the Zenin Clan. Perhaps that would prevent her death...

But Toji, stubbornly unwilling to admit his feelings, had refused. In the Zenin Clan, men stood above women, and cursed energy stood above everything...

Toji himself had already suffered unfair treatment. He couldn't imagine the discrimination his beloved would face if he brought her here.

Ze Zenin watched Toji in silence. Honestly, he really didn't want to part with his teacher.

In the entire Zenin Clan, aside from the old clan head and his mother, Toji was the person he had spent the most time with.

"Ah..."

"Do you really have to go?"

"Yeah."

Toji narrowed his eyes and spoke with a hint of disgust. "I've completely lost faith in this clan's capacity to accept others..."

Hearing that, Ze Zenin knew he couldn't persuade Toji to stay. He merely said:

"Teacher, if you can, take your wife to the hospital for regular checkups..."

"And make sure you give your son a good name..."

"Are you trying to boss me around, brat?"

Toji roughly ruffled Ze Zenin's hair. "We might not see each other for a long time after this."

"But even though I'm not good at remembering men's faces, when we meet again someday..."

"As your teacher, I might still recognize you, you annoying little brat."

"Really?"

Ze Zenin suddenly asked, "What if something happens, and we have to fight to the death?"

"That's fine..."

Toji smiled. "I'll beat my ungrateful student into the dirt, then laugh my ass off at him."

"Is that so?"

Ze Zenin smiled faintly at those words. "Teacher, then make sure you don't go to the Tombs of the Star Corridor before I show up..."

"What's with all the cryptic talk, brat...?"

Toji scratched his head helplessly, then pulled a large blade from somewhere behind him.

Even Toji seemed a little awkward now as he said sheepishly:

"Here, take this. Consider it a graduation gift from me."

Ze Zenin watched Toji with interest. He hadn't expected the Heavenly Tyrant to have this side to him.

"Then I'll gladly accept!"

Ze Zenin accepted Toji's large blade without hesitation. He examined it and found that it was Toji's signature weapon-

The Special Grade Cursed Tool-the Soul Liberation Blade!

It was a cleaver-like cursed tool with fluffy white fur around its hilt. Despite its rather cute appearance...

This cursed tool could ignore an object's physical toughness and strike the soul directly. Even Mahito would have called it the work of an expert.

"Teacher, you're actually willing to give this to me?"

Ze Zenin looked at Toji in mild surprise. "I really didn't expect that!"

"You little brat! Do you want it or not?"

Toji laughed and scolded him, then reached to take the Soul Liberation Blade back from Ze Zenin.

"Hey-I never said I didn't want it!"

Teacher and student bickered for a while before falling silent.

Toji spoke first. "I'm off."

"Mm..." Ze Zenin answered softly.

That was how men were. They might have nothing to say when parting because they saved everything they wanted to say for the day they met again.

After Toji had walked some distance away, Ze Zenin suddenly called out:

"Teacher! I know you probably won't listen, but I still want to say this: whatever you do, don't try to take Satoru Gojo's techniques head-on!"

Gojo?

Toji smiled faintly. "Idiot. Why would I ever end up fighting that guy? See you!"

Toji waved and slowly disappeared from Ze Zenin's sight.

Then, Teacher, let's meet again in ten years...

Inside the Zenin Clan estate.

Ogi Zenin sat upright on a meditation cushion. As though sensing something, he suddenly burst into unrestrained laughter. "He's finally gone..."

"Toji Zenin!"

The mountain weighing on his heart had finally left the Zenin Clan. From now on, he no longer needed to worry about that man threatening his position.

As for the threats from Toji and Ze Zenin? Ogi Zenin had never taken them to heart. Their relationship had only ever been one of using and being used.

He, Ogi Zenin... was the man who would become head of the Zenin Clan.

Ogi Zenin rose and walked into the courtyard. Looking at a black-haired boy, he spoke calmly.

"Naoya, how is your Projection Sorcery training coming along?"

The boy called Naoya answered unhurriedly, "I'm not as good as Father, but I think I'm doing pretty well..."

"Very good..."

Ogi Zenin was rather pleased. As clan head, Naobito Zenin had to manage all the clan's affairs and couldn't spare the attention to guide his son Naoya Zenin's training.

So Ogi Zenin and Jinichi Zenin were responsible for most of Naoya Zenin's training.

Naoya Zenin and Ze Zenin were both political assets he could use to seize the position of clan head...

Unfortunately, Naoya Zenin had ideas of his own, while Ze Zenin had no affection whatsoever for him as a father. Ogi Zenin simply didn't know that.

"Uncle..."

Naoya Zenin spoke calmly to Ogi Zenin. "My cousin... is he with Toji?"

Naoya had seen Toji before. His strength was different from the strength that came from powerful cursed energy. From that moment on, Toji had become his idol.

Ze Zenin, meanwhile, had been hailed as the Ten Shadows Divine Child from birth. Although Naoya had never met him, he had always dismissed him.

But then rumors had spread beyond the clan that Ze Zenin had defeated the Six Eyes...

"Yes, they're both on the mountain behind the estate."

Hearing Toji's name sent another surge of anger through Ogi Zenin. "Though that Toji fellow has probably left by now."

Naoya didn't stay to listen to the rest. Instead, he headed straight for the mountain.

Today, he would see just what this so-called Ten Shadows Divine Child was really like!

A short while later.

On the mountain behind the Zenin Clan estate, a boy with spiky black hair looked at Naoya Zenin's aggressive approach and chuckled. "What's wrong, Cousin Naoya... did you need something from me?"

An immense wave of cursed energy surged from Ze Zenin. Its overwhelming power seemed ready to swallow Naoya whole.

What frightened him even more were Ze Zenin's eyes-they had suddenly turned from black to red. Three tomoe spun within them, and Naoya felt as though someone had seized him by the throat.

Abruptly, Ze Zenin released the illusion. He stepped forward with a smile to help Naoya up, speaking softly. "Cousin?"

"Hah... hah... hah..."

Naoya knelt on one knee, gulping down air. Just now, he had felt as though he was going to be killed!

Looking at Ze Zenin's face, Naoya suddenly understood why he would be the next clan head...

This was a strength different from Toji's! An overwhelming strength that left Naoya without even the slightest ability to resist!