Chapter 9: Chapter 8
The Gojo compound was filled with the sounds of repair—workers were busy restoring the training grounds Seijuro had inadvertently destroyed the night before. They had relocated their training to another open area within the compound. The new space was a wide, grassy field surrounded by tall trees, the perfect place for Satoru to practice without worrying about more collateral damage.
Seijuro stood a few feet away, watching Satoru concentrate, his small hands outstretched as he tried to summon Blue. Satoru's brow was furrowed, a slight glimmer of sweat forming on his forehead.
Despite possessing the Six Eyes, he was struggling, which surprised Seijuro. Satoru was a natural, blessed with unparalleled talents in the sorcery world, yet even he was finding it difficult to conjure Blue with consistency.
Seijuro frowned thoughtfully. Watching Satoru wrestle with something that came so naturally to him was strange. He wanted to help, though he knew his knowledge was limited to what he'd learned from the manga. All he had were theories and descriptions he remembered—ironic, given that the adult Satoru had explained Blue in such depth.
Still, he could try.
"Satoru," he called out, stepping closer.
Satoru glanced back at him, his blue eyes filled with frustration and determination.
"Yes, Father?" Satoru asked, clearly eager for any advice.
Seijuro took a deep breath, replaying the adult Satoru's words in his mind.
"Alright, here's the thing about Blue—it's not just about summoning cursed energy. It's about thinking beyond it." He paused, trying to find the right words. "You're using your cursed energy to distort space, create a powerful attraction force. Imagine that every ounce of your focus, every bit of cursed energy, is bending reality toward a single point... where everything is meant to collapse."
Satoru nodded, absorbing his father's words.
"And, well..." Seijuro continued, a slight grin spreading across his face as he recalled his attempt the previous night. "Just destroy everything. Pour everything into that point without holding back."
Satoru blinked, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he took in the advice. He nodded, his eyes flashing with renewed determination.
Seijuro took a step back, giving his son the space he needed. Satoru extended his arms again, his focus sharpening as he concentrated on the point before him. Seijuro watched as Satoru's gaze intensified, his blue eyes narrowing with a clarity and resolve that only came with the Six Eyes. He gathered his cursed energy, channeling it precisely, just as his father instructed.
And then, he felt it.
A deep pulse of energy radiated from Satoru's hands. An orb of pure blue energy spiraled into existence in a flash, pulling everything toward it.
Seijuro's eyes widened, his heart swelling with pride and excitement. "He did it!" he muttered, unable to contain his grin.
Satoru looked back at his father, his face lighting up with a triumphant smile. He'd done it—he'd summoned Blue, and it felt perfect. He looked at the orb for a moment longer, basking himself in control and power.
"Alright, Satoru," Seijuro said, still grinning. "Let's see what it can do. Aim it at the wall over there."
Satoru nodded eagerly and turned toward the wall on the far side of the field, his focus locked on the target. With a single, decisive motion, he unleashed the energy.
—BOOM!
The blast echoed across the compound as the Blue orb collided with the wall, shattering it instantly. The energy tore through the stone, leaving a massive hole in its wake. Dust and debris flew through the air, settling around the area as the destruction became clear.
Seijuro let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. "Well... looks like you've got it down," he said, his voice filled with pride.
Satoru looked at the devastation he'd caused, his mouth curving into a wide smile. "Thank you, Father," he said, his tone warm with gratitude and excitement.
Seijuro chuckled, ruffling Satoru's hair as he surveyed the destruction.
'It seems...we made a mess...' Seijuro thought.
The damage he'd done last night was already too expensive from what he gathered from the finance department in the Gojo clan.
Yes, you read that right. There's a finance department in the Gojo clan, comprised of Gojo servants who specialize in managing the clan's finances.
The construction department also calculated the cost of materials and manpower to reconstruct the area. They relayed this information to the finance department, who calculated the cost.
Seijuro found this clan system quite effective, but he needed to be careful, as it was also flawed. Spy hunters from other clans could look for weaknesses and relay them to their clan members.
Also, being the head of the clan, he must approve the documents. The problem is the fact that he cannot read Kanji, which sucks, though he can understand the numbers and the yen symbol, which was 100 million yen.
Seijuro was surprised that he had done much destruction. In the end, he used ChatGPT to translate the papers into English.
The servants were confused, but Seijuro told them it was a 'fun little experiment to test the AI'; this was a lie covering up the embarrassing fact that he couldn't read Kanji.
'I should be careful and remind myself not to be destructive,' Seijuro reminded himself.
"Seijuro-sama, what's going on?! Are there intruders?"
A swarm of workers hurried toward them, their faces marked with worry and confusion. As they arrived and took in the new scene of destruction, disbelief spread across their faces. They exchanged glances, some even smirking slightly—was this a new father-and-son bonding ritual?
Seijuro quickly waved his hands, laughing nervously. "Oh... uhh... it seems you all arrived just in time! Hahaha..."
He scratched the back of his head, grinning awkwardly. "It seems... we have a new hole to patch up."
Still staring at the damage, the servants struggled to hide their reactions.
Meanwhile, Satoru watched his father, finding the scene strange and oddly comforting. This wasn't the father he was used to. In the past, even when Seijuro made mistakes, he still carried an air of authority that made everyone hesitate before questioning him.
But this version of his father—relaxed, quick to laugh—was different. And Satoru liked it. This father seemed more open and more approachable. He hoped this side of Seijuro would stay.
"Anyway!" Seijuro clapped his hands, breaking the silence. "Let's discuss this reconstruction later!"
Turning to Satoru, he smiled warmly. "Satoru, as a reward for your progress, let's go out and get mochi again!"
Satoru's eyes widened, a bit taken aback.
Mochi? Again? He loved mochi, but they'd already gone twice this week. He hesitated, his gaze drifting away from his father's expectant smile. There was something he wanted to try, but he wasn't sure how his father would react.
"Uhm... Father," Satoru began, his voice softer, almost shy. "Can we... try something else? Maybe... a shortcake this time?"
Seijuro blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the suggestion. He hadn't expected Satoru to want to change things up. But he smiled, feeling a surge of warmth at seeing Satoru open up about something as simple as a dessert.
"Oh..." he said, trying to cover his surprise. "Shortcake, huh?"
Inwardly, another small problem arose. He had just memorized the way to the mochi shop, and now Satoru wanted to try something completely different, which meant he'd need to find an entirely new place. He quickly considered his options. They could search together, but he didn't want to seem lost. Should he let Satoru lead the way again?
He glanced at his son, who was looking at him with a mixture of hope and uncertainty, clearly wondering if his father would approve of this small request.
"You know what, Satoru?" Seijuro said with a grin. "Shortcake it is! You deserve a treat, and I'd be happy to try something new with you."
Satoru's face lit up, the hesitance melting away. "Really, Father?" he asked, his voice bright with excitement.
Seijuro nodded. "Of course! And maybe you can help me find a good place. You know your way around a little better than I do."
Satoru blinked in surprise at the unexpected compliment but nodded eagerly.
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Seijuro and Satoru walked side by side along the bustling Tokyo streets, blending into the modern crowd in their casual clothing. Seijuro wore a plain white T-shirt and dark jeans, while Satoru sported a blue hoodie and black shorts. His silver-white hair made him stand out despite the casual attire.
As they strolled, Satoru took the lead, his hand held firmly by Seijuro, who was trying his best to appear natural, occasionally glancing around to memorize their path. He knew that Satoru had to be suspicious of his recent behavior change, so he needed not to appear lost or unfamiliar with Tokyo. This new, warmer version of his father was probably already raising questions in Satoru's mind, and Seijuro wanted to keep the boy at ease.
"Meow!"
A soft, high-pitched mew broke through the hum of city noise. They both stopped, turning toward the sound. It was faint but unmistakable—a baby cat's meow coming from a shadowy alleyway nearby.
"A cat?" Satoru muttered, peering down the dark hallway.
They could make out a small cardboard box tucked against the wall in the dim light. Inside, a tiny, scruffy kitten with wide, frightened eyes stared up at them, its fur matted and body shivering.
Seijuro watched Satoru's face as he took in the sight. This could be a good opportunity, he realized—a chance to help Satoru develop a sense of compassion and responsibility. In the sorcery world, children were often raised with little regard for these values, especially within the cold dynamics of sorcery clans. The harsh expectations left little room for lessons in sympathy.
"Let's go check it out, Satoru," Seijuro said softly, gently squeezing his son's hand.
Satoru looked up at him, a hint of uncertainty in his eyes, but he nodded and led the way toward the box.
Seijuro and Satoru gazed down at the kitten nestled inside as they approached the box. It was a beautiful, fluffy cat with soft white fur and large sky-blue eyes that looked up at them with an innocence that tugged at their hearts.
"Why would they abandon you..." Satoru murmured, his voice filled with quiet disbelief.
"Meow..." the kitten responded, its tiny meow sweet and hopeful, as if relieved to finally have someone's attention.
Seijuro glanced at Satoru and smiled gently. This moment, he realized, could be a lesson about caring for others and understanding the world in all its complexities. He bent down beside his son, his expression thoughtful.
"In this world, Satoru, it's not just bad curses," he said softly, his voice serious. "Some humans can be bad, too."
Satoru's eyes widened at his father's words, clearly taken aback. "Why, Father?"
Seijuro shrugged, a small sigh escaping his lips. "Humans are... well, humans. Sometimes they're kind, but sometimes they're selfish. They have their flaws, their weaknesses. But no matter what others do, Satoru, remember to be fair and kind in what you do."
As he spoke, Seijuro's mind drifted back to that night in his previous life—the night the robbers had broken into his home. He remembered the fear and violence of that encounter, a reminder of humanity's darker side. But he pushed the thought away, returning his focus to the present.
Satoru listened carefully, nodding slowly as he turned his gaze back to the kitten in the box. A new understanding began to take shape in his young mind.
"Meow!" the kitten meowed again, its tiny voice full of trust. It looked at Satoru with wide, pleading eyes.
With gentle movements, Satoru reached down, his small hands trembling slightly. He carefully picked up the kitten and cradled it with both hands. The kitten nestled into his palms, releasing a soft purr as it snuggled into his warmth.
Seijuro watched his son, pride filling his chest as he saw Satoru's gentle care. This small gesture of kindness, he knew, would shape Satoru's heart just as much as his sorcery training shaped his strength.
!
Suddenly, Seijuro's instincts flared, and without a second thought, he leaned forward, grabbing Satoru and pulling him to the side.
—Swick!
A dagger whizzed through the air, striking the wall behind them. It lodged into the concrete with such force that cracks spiderwebbed across the surface, the sheer impact shaking the air around them.
Seijuro's eyes widened as he recognized the weapon. The Inverted Spear of Heaven! It was a cursed tool that nullified cursed techniques on contact. If this weapon was here, it could only mean one thing...
"Oh, you dodged that! Impressive." A deep, rough voice echoed above them.
Seijuro looked up, and his gaze landed on a tall man perched casually on the rooftop.
He was built like a predator, his muscular frame draped in a loose, dark shirt that clung to his broad shoulders. His mid-length black hair fell around his face, framing piercing green eyes that shone with a dangerous glint. A scar on the top right corner of his lip added to his menacing appearance, and his posture was relaxed, almost cocky, as if he knew exactly how powerful he was.
This was Toji Fushiguro—the infamous sorcerer killer known for his strength, agility, and complete lack of cursed energy, making him undetectable to most sorcerers.
Seijuro's breath hitched. 'Why now?' he thought.