Acting entirely on a whim to "ensure every child experiences a perfect, character-building childhood," Mirai had personally intervened in the combat exchange phase of the Three Great Families' banquet.
Using only one hand, zero cursed energy, and pure physical martial arts, he systematically beat every single arrogant, conceited prodigy into a bruised, swollen pig-head. He even specifically ordered the medical staff to withhold Reverse Cursed Technique so the brats would have to sit with their swollen faces for the rest of the night.
Even Gojo Satoru wasn't spared. In fact, Mirai beat his younger twin with extra enthusiasm—all under the encouraging, 'tough love' supervision of their mother, Mafuyu. She had practically cheered him on.
Mirai beat Satoru with such profound, brotherly love that he was absolutely certain Satoru would never, ever forget it.
From that day forward, the "Bully of the Zenin Clan" became a universal bogeyman among the Three Great Families. Parents began using him to stop their children from crying: "If you don't behave, Zenin Mirai will come and punch you in the face!" It was rapidly developing into the jujutsu world's version of a modern horror story.
Ultimately, this year's Exchange Banquet concluded with a massive shift in the balance of power. The Zenin clan emerged as the absolute, undisputed leader.
With the subjugation of the "Ten Shadows: Mahoraga" confirmed by countless witnesses, the youngest Special Grade sorcerer in history had officially been born!
Driven by the deliberate leaks of certain ambitious elders, this news spread through the entire jujutsu world like wildfire.
One stone had caused a thousand waves!
The scope of its influence, the sheer magnitude of the panic, and the geopolitical ramifications were infinitely greater than the birth of the Six Eyes!
After all, the Six Eyes merely represented the potential for invincibility. Mahoraga was the direct, realized symbol of invincibility!
The hierarchy was instantly apparent.
In the darkest corners of the underground jujutsu black market, the bounty list was violently updated. The name "Zenin Mirai" claimed the undisputed number one spot.
And the bounty attached to his head was an astronomical, reality-breaking figure: Two Billion USD!
Yet, despite the impossible wealth dangling before them, no Curse User dared to claim it. Most deliberately scrolled past the listing, terrified that just staring at it for too long would cause Mahoraga to spontaneously manifest and explode them.
After a long, suffocating silence in a crowded black market hub, an old, wizened woman leaning heavily on a cane stepped forward. Under the horrified, wide-eyed gazes of the surrounding Curse Users, she reached up and tore the bounty poster off the board.
"So what if he has the 'Strongest Shikigami'? So what if he's the 'Youngest Special Grade'?" Ogami spat, her voice scraping like sandpaper. "Did anyone bother asking me, Granny Ogami?"
She slammed her cane against the floor. "I, an old woman, have eaten more salt than that little brat has eaten rice! It just so happens that I've recently acquired the absolute, invincible material for my Séance Technique! I'll use that arrogant little Zenin brat to test the waters!"
She turned to the shadows behind her.
"My good grandsons... let's go teach that ignorant six-year-old a lesson!"
"Yes, Grandma!" four voices chanted in unison.
Standing in the shadows of the black market entrance were four nervous young men of varying heights and builds. Despite their physical differences, all four wore the exact same, deeply unsettling 'healthy smile.'
Two and a half days later. Akihabara, Tokyo.
"Why?! Why do we have to drag this guy around this ridiculously boring electronics district?! Not only is he imitating my face, but he's also imitating my cheeks!"
"Why?! Just... why on earth is this happening?!"
A white-haired, blue-eyed boy found reality incredibly difficult to accept. He dropped to his knees in the middle of the sidewalk, clutching his head and screaming at the sky.
Beside him, another boy with identical white hair and blue eyes gently patted his shoulder.
"There is only one answer," Mirai said solemnly, his tone dripping with theatrical pity. "My foolish little otouto... this is all Auntie Mieko's choice. Because we unexpectedly look quite similar when we dress alike."
Mirai smirked, pushing his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose. "So, you should feel honored! From today onward, you get to act as the half-brother to the 'Youngest Special Grade in History,' Zenin Mirai-sama!"
"In front of me, you will always be a little brother! You will never know the truth of the world! Mwahahahaha!"
Finally getting the chance to say his favorite anime villain lines directly to his twin brother's face, Mirai felt a thrill that only a six-year-old could truly appreciate. His maniacal, unbridled laughter echoed down the street.
Hearing this, Satoru became even more devastated. He slammed his palms against the concrete, tilted his head back, and let out a wail of absolute despair.
"NOOOOOO!!!"
Seeing Satoru's utter defeat, the corners of Mirai's mouth curled even higher. Struck by a sudden burst of inspiration, he reached into his shadow and pulled out a brand-new Bluetooth speaker he had just purchased from an electronics store.
"Jedora, power up!" he whispered.
[Music, start!]
A tragic, melancholic ballad began to blast from the speaker at maximum volume.
Snowflakes are falling~ The north wind is howling~ The world is vast and cold~
Unbridled, villainous laughter. Tragic background music. The unwilling, despairing cry of a defeated hero.
The two small boys painted a picture of absolute, harmonious brotherly friendship.
Watching from a few paces away, the two mature, beautiful women accompanying them couldn't hold back their laughter.
"Honestly, Mirai-sama, please stop teasing Satoru-sama," Mieko chuckled, covering her mouth with her sleeve as her shoulders shook with amusement. "He is only a six-year-old child."
Mafuyu smiled, her pink lips parting slightly as she echoed the sentiment. "Yes, Mirai, don't bully Satoru too much. As the older brother, you need to set a good example for him."
"Of course!" Mirai nodded solemnly, his voice radiating enthusiastic, cheerful energy. "As his older brother, I will definitely train him into an upstanding, proper man!"
But inside his mind, Mirai was wearing a demonic, ear-to-ear grin.
Don't worry, Satoru, Mirai thought, looking down at his kneeling brother. Even if you're an arrogant, overpowered idiot, your Onii-chan will definitely help you avoid your disastrous, half-sliced fate. But if you don't live up to my expectations... don't blame me for slicing you in half myself! Hahahaha!
A bone-chilling draft suddenly ran down Satoru's spine.
Satoru shuddered violently, his Six Eyes flaring as he whipped his head around to look at his brother.
But all he saw was Mirai innocently looking up at the sky, his hands clasped behind his head as he whistled a cheerful, off-key tune.
Meanwhile, on the rooftop of a high-rise building 2.5 kilometers away from Mirai's current location.
"Us... we used to be free~"
An old man with a thick beard and completely round, unblinking eyes hummed an idol pop song as he looked through a pair of binoculars.
"So? Are you going to participate in this hunt or not?" Granny Ogami demanded, her tone laced with impatience. "If the younger generation of Curse Users weren't a bunch of cowardly wimps, I wouldn't have had to hire a perverted old man like you who obsesses over teenage idols all day!"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Jiro Awasaka retorted, lowering his binoculars. "You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want! I am a dedicated, die-hard fan of pure maiden love! I am not a perverted old man!"
"Yes, yes, whatever," Ogami rolled her eyes. "So, what's your answer?"
"Of course I'm in," Awasaka grinned, rubbing his hands together. "I just blew most of my savings buying merchandise to support my idol, so it's time to make some big bucks. Five hundred million yen plus two billion USD? A payday like this can't be missed. Hehehe."
"Good. You're exactly the kind of man I like to work with. Tougher than those young cowards," Ogami praised with a sinister smirk.
"But," Awasaka raised a finger, his tone dropping into something far more dangerous, "let's make the terms clear. I am only responsible for handling the Six Eyes brat. Once I succeed, whether I stay to help you with the Zenin kid or run for the hills is entirely up to me."
"That's fine." Ogami waved a dismissive hand. "As for those two women with them... the intelligence brokers didn't mention them. But given how fat their chests are and how wide their hips are, I'm sure they're just playthings kept by the bigwigs of the Three Great Families. There's no need to worry about them."
There was a thick layer of bitter sarcasm and barely concealed envy in Ogami's raspy voice.
Hearing this, Awasaka just sighed and didn't comment. Who would dare offend a woman complaining about another woman's beauty? Only an idiot.
With the tasks assigned, Awasaka leaped off the rooftop, heading toward the route Mirai's group was guaranteed to take.
Because Ogami's Séance Technique required extensive preparation and left her physical body incredibly vulnerable, she remained on the rooftop. From her high vantage point, she would monitor the group's movements and adjust the tactical plan in real time.
The youngest Special Grade in history versus the most experienced veteran Curse Users in the underworld.
The final outcome of this clash between the old era and the new era would directly dictate the future of the curse underworld!
A/N: Apologies for the late upload guys. Got a little too drunk yesterday then woke up with a killer hangover. For this week, every 100 Powerstones will get ya'll an extra chapter! Thank you!