Five hundred years ago, in the era of the Four Great Families.
Miwa Tenba, head of the Miwa family and wielder of the "demon eyes," gazed idly at a white bird flying away beyond the window.
His fingers curled, tapping intermittently against the wooden tabletop. Only when the wooden door slid open with a grating sound did he stop.
His personal attendant knelt trembling before him and began to choke back sobs.
"Family head, a sixth person has gone missing."
The fading sunset made Miwa Tenba's crimson eyes look as though they were burning. Then he lowered his gaze.
"Kenjaku, you really do know no bounds."
"Convene a meeting of the Four Great Families!"
It was a catastrophe that shook the era. Kenjaku had gathered numerous groups of curse users, intending to overthrow the Jujutsu Society ruled by the Four Great Families.
They willingly piled up the corpses of curse users just to abduct the Four Great Families' jujutsu sorcerers. Their disregard for the cost was appalling.
In the main room of the Miwa Main Family residence, the fragrance of tea carried a bitter edge.
Dressed in a black men's kimono, Miwa Tenba sat cross-legged on the cushion at the head of the room. After a long silence, he spoke.
"Each family, report the number of missing members."
Two from the Kamo Clan, three from the Zenin Clan, and from the Gojo Clan... seven.
At that, Miwa Tenba turned his gaze toward the Gojo Clan head, a man past fifty.
No, his gaze settled on the young man of about twenty standing behind the clan head.
Gojo Tatsu, hailed as the finest jujutsu sorcerer in the Gojo Clan's history.
Seeming to sense Miwa Tenba's gaze, the young man lifted his eyes slightly. Those clear azure irises held not a speck