Jujutsu Dragon Emperor Chapter 9 — The Higher-ups (Patreon)

A few days after the exhibition match there was a small meeting taking place. This was no ordinary meeting as it was the meeting of the Jujutsu Higher ups. The decision makers when it came to all things sorcery and the true power in this world. 

The oak doors of the council chamber creaked open one by one as the six highest authorities in the jujutsu world filed inside. The room itself sat deep beneath an unassuming government building in central Tokyo, shielded by multiple layers of barriers. Tall windows of frosted glass allowed only diffused gray light to filter through, casting shadows across the circular table of dark mahogany where six high-backed chairs waited.

Zenin Soichi entered first, leaning slightly on his blood-red cane. He lowered himself into his seat with slowly, folding his hands over the carved dragon head of the cane and fixing the others with those unblinking black eyes as he gave a single, curt nod of acknowledgment. 

Kamo Daigo followed close behind, his burgundy robes immaculate and his silver-streaked hair catching the light as he pulled out his chair and sat offering a thin smile that never reached his gaze. 

Gakuganji Yoshinobu stomped in next, his wooden staff thudding heavily with every step before he dropped into his seat and let out a gruff sigh. Fujiwara Rei followed, her voluptuous figure swaying gently beneath her high-collared kimono as she took her place and crossed her legs, the fabric stretching taut across her heavy breasts while she offered a warm smile to the room. 

Tanaka Hiroshi slipped in quietly after her, adjusting his wire-rimmed glasses and smoothing the front of his expensive suit before settling down and opening a small leather notebook. 

Finally Yamamoto Kenji entered last, his massive frame filling the doorway as he rolled his scarred shoulders and took his seat with a heavy thud that made the table vibrate slightly.

For a long moment no one spoke. They simply sat in silence. Soichi tapped one finger against the head of his cane. Finally he broke the silence at last as he leaned forward slightly. "I'm sure you all wish to address the first years right away, but before we address the exhibition match and these new first-year students, let us speak of current events."

"Agreed." They all voiced. 

"Reports from the northern prefectures have grown concerning over the past month. Entire villages have gone silent. Tourists vanish without trace. Local sorcerers who investigated spoke of strange lights in the sky at night, before they go missing as well. One survivor described figures that appeared before the entire settlement burned. We cannot ignore this. It smells of organized curse user activity, perhaps a cult."

Daigo nodded slowly. "I have read the same reports. My agents in Hokkaido confirmed similar sightings two weeks ago. Bloodless bodies left arranged in circles, symbols carved into the ground that I've not been able to identify, regardless this iconography is twisted with cursed energy. Whoever leads this group understands how to hide their tracks. We cannot allow it to spread south. It would disrupt the delicate balance we maintain."

Gakuganji let out a growl and thumped his staff once against the floor. "Northern Japan has always been a headache. Too remote, too many old shrines and bitter people. If this is a new cult of curse users, we crush it now before it grows teeth. I say we send someone capable of infiltration and decisive action. Mei Mei has proven herself useful in the past for these kinds of quiet operations even for a 3rd year. She follows coin more than orders, but she gets results. Pair her with Kurogane Takeru. He is one of our more reliable field agents, loyal to the council above all else."

Rei smiled softly, leaning back in her chair while her heavy breasts rose and fell with a slow breath that drew several eyes despite the gravity of the discussion. "Mei Mei and Kurogane. An efficient choice. She will gather intelligence without drawing attention, and he will ensure that whatever they find does not survive to become a larger problem. I support this. We cannot afford distractions while the new generation steps into the spotlight."

Tanaka scribbled a quick note in his book. "The financial cost will be minimal. Mei Mei's fee is large but predictable, and Kurogane is already on payroll. I see no issue with allocation."

Yamamoto grunted in agreement. "Send them immediately. If this cult is real, we burn it out before it spreads."

Soichi gave a nod. "Then it is decided. Mei Mei and Kurogane Takeru will investigate the northern disturbances. Now, let us turn to the matter that truly brings us here today. The exhibition match at Jujutsu High. Four new first-years, and one of them has already shattered every expectation we held for the coming generation."

Soichi continued. "We should begin with Ieiri Shoko. The girl possesses almost no combat ability whatsoever. She surrendered her match in under a minute without even attempting a proper fight. However, her mastery of reverse cursed technique is nothing short of genius. At her age she already performs it with the precision of a veteran healer. Our current head doctor at Tokyo is growing older and slower every year. We cannot afford to waste Shoko on the battlefield where she will only become a liability. I propose we limit her exposure to dangerous missions and focus her training entirely toward medical support. She will serve the society far better as a healer than as cannon fodder."

Daigo inclined his head in agreement. "A wise suggestion. Combat would only risk losing a valuable asset. Let the girl study under the senior healers and develop her reverse cursed technique further. We can assign her to the infirmary full time once her training progresses. The council benefits more from a prodigy doctor than from another mediocre fighter."

Gakuganji gave a grudging grunt and thumped his staff. "Fine. Keep her out of the field. She's useless in a real fight anyway. Better she spends her days patching up the ones who can actually contribute."

Rei traced another circle on the table. "I agree completely. Shoko Ieiri will become our next generation of medical support. We will inform the school administration of this decision immediately."

Tanaka made another quick note. "Budget for additional training materials can be approved without issue. The investment will pay for itself many times over in reduced casualties."

Yamamoto shrugged his massive shoulders. "As long as she stays useful, I don't care where you put her. Next."

Soichi allowed himself a thin smile before continuing. "Next we have Geto Suguru. He is not part of any major clan, which has made surveillance far simpler. Our agents have compiled extensive files on him. His technique revolves around cursed spirit manipulation. He must devour the spirits he wishes to control, absorbing their power and bending them to his will." 

"The potential is enormous. With proper guidance he could become a special grade sorcerer within a few years. We should assign one of our more trusted agents among the faculty to offer him additional private training. The goal is clear. We shape him into an agent who listens to the council above all else. A special grade under our direct influence would be a powerful tool."

Daigo leaned forward slightly and nodded. "Geto's technique is rare and versatile. If we can bind his loyalty early, he will prove far more reliable than many of our current assets. The agent should begin immediately. We cannot allow another independent special grade to slip through our fingers."

Gakuganji nodded. "Agreed. The boy has power. Better he uses it for us. Start the grooming process now while he is still impressionable."

Rei's smile deepened. "I will personally select the teacher. Geto will come to see the council as his true benefactors before the year is out."

The others murmured their assent, before they then moved on. "Then there is Gojo Satoru. The Gojo clan has done an excellent job of shielding him from our eyes over the years. We possess far less information than I would like. What we do know, and what we witnessed during the exhibition, confirms he is every bit as strong as the Six Eyes and Limitless would suggest."

"The boy is arrogant, powerful, and dangerously independent. Should he prove difficult to control, we must have contingencies ready. Isolation from his clan, binding vows if necessary, or even more permanent solutions. We cannot allow the strongest sorcerer in centuries to operate outside our influence indefinitely," Soichi Zenin commented as he slammed his hand down. 

Daigo's voice grew colder. "The Gojo clan believes themselves to be better than everyone because of their heir. We will remind them that no one stands above the council. Plans should be drawn up quietly, if he steps out of line, we act swiftly and without mercy."

Gakuganji slammed his staff down. "The boy needs to learn respect. If he becomes a problem, I will handle it personally."

Tanaka and Yamamoto both nodded. 

Soichi let the tension linger for a long breath before he finally turned to the last name on everyone's mind. "Finally, we come to Zenin Naoto. As the senior Zenin on this council. The rest of you were not pleased when my clan reported that his abilities were limited to simple doubling of his physical parameters..."

"That report was... incomplete. I must remind you I had no knowledge of his abilities, Naoto has always kept to himself. He spends his time almost exclusively with those two abomination twins his uncle sired and with that foreign servant woman who has raised him since birth. Even his own father does not know the full extent of what he can do. During the exhibition he defeated Gojo Satoru, using a technique we had never seen before. His power is far greater than we anticipated, and far more unpredictable."

"That is most concerning..." Daigo commented. 

Soichi continued, choosing his words with care. "You are right to be concerned. A sorcerer who can pierce infinity and command strengthened shikigami at such a young age is a threat to the established order. However, direct confrontation at this stage would be unwise. I propose we task Tsukumo with observing him. She is already operating in Tokyo, she might be able to assess whether Naoto can be brought to heel or if he must be dealt with more permanently."

Gakuganji snorted loudly. "Tsukumo? The woman barely reports in anymore. She does whatever she pleases and ignores our summons half the time despite the fact she is in her fourth year and graduating soon. Sending her is asking for trouble."

Rei traced her nail across the table again, slower this time. "I share the concern. Yuki has grown disobedient. She questions our authority more openly with every passing month. If we rely on her now, she may simply use the assignment as another excuse to disappear for half a year."

Tanaka adjusted his glasses. "The cost of her independence is becoming unacceptable. We have tolerated it because her missions yield results, but this is different. Naoto is too important to leave in uncertain hands."

"Then we bring her back into line. Remind her who holds the purse strings and who can revoke her privileges. A few well-placed restrictions on her freedom of movement should suffice. Or we assign a handler to shadow her. Either way, she complies or she faces consequences." Yamammoto said. 

Daigo nodded. "Agreed. We will draft measures to reel Tsukumo back under control. In the meantime, we place Naoto under discreet observation. Should he step out of line, those twins he protects so fiercely will serve as the perfect leverage. He values them above all else. We use that if necessary."

Soichi allowed himself the faintest nod of satisfaction. "Then we are in agreement. The council will monitor all four first-years closely. Mei Mei and Kurogane depart for the north at dawn. This meeting is concluded."

_____________________________________

Gojo Satoru sprawled across the tatami mat in his private wing of the Gojo compound, one long leg kicked up over the wooden table while his other foot tapped restlessly against the floor. He had a half-eaten mochi in one hand and his phone in the other, tapping through the same three messages from clan elders for the tenth time that day. 

The compound around him felt quieter than usual, or maybe that was just because he had started ignoring everyone who tried to talk to him. Three whole weeks had passed since the exhibition match, and every single day had turned into the same exhausting loop of family members cornering him with their opinions.

He popped the rest of the mochi into his mouth and chewed slowly, letting the sweet red bean paste sit on his tongue while he read the latest text from his uncle Tetsuo. "You were clearly distracted by the crowd. Next time keep Infinity at full strength from the opening bell and no one will touch you." Gojo snorted and tossed the phone onto the table with a clatter. 

Distracted. 

Right. 

As if a few hundred spectators could throw off someone who saw the entire world in perfect detail every second of every day.

The last few weeks had been nonstop. His father Ren had started every morning listing all the ways Satoru could have countered that staff strike. "You should have used Blue at maximum output to create a suction field the moment he extended the weapon," Ren had said yesterday. "Limitless is not just defense, Satoru. It is control." Satoru had just nodded along, smiling that lazy smile he always used when he wanted people to shut up without actually saying it. 

His mother Aiko had been worse. She kept pulling him aside. "Darling, perhaps it is time we arranged more private training sessions. The Zenin boy clearly caught you off guard. We cannot allow that to happen again." 

Even his aunt Yumi had chimed in during dinner two nights ago. "You were holding back because you thought it was just a show match. Next time treat every fight like it is life or death. That is how the strong stay on top."

Gojo let his head fall back against the cushion and stared up at the ceiling beams. Idiots. Every last one of them. They talked like they actually understood what it felt like to have the Six Eyes and Limitless. They had no clue how the world looked to him, how every speck of cursed energy, every tiny movement, every shift in the air hit him all at once like an endless flood of information. They gave advice the way people who had never flown gave tips on piloting a jet. 

Weaklings. 

All of them. 

He could beat every single member of the clan with one hand tied behind his back and bother legs cut off. Yet theh thought they had the right to lecture him about losing. 

He had spent a lot of the past three weeks thinking about the match anyway, lying here in this same room or wandering the gardens at night. He concluded that If they had both gone all out right from the start, he honestly was not sure who would have won. 

He had not pushed Blue to its maximum output during the fight. He had mostly used it to amp his speed, to close distances and keep things interesting. He had wanted to see what the Zenin kid could do. And Naoto... well, he had probably been holding back too. 

That Penetrate technique had come out of nowhere, and the way he had stacked those boosts was incredible. Being purely objective about it, Gojo could not say for certain that he would have come out on top in a real no-limits fight. That thought should have pissed him off. Instead it sent a  thrill running down his spine.

He grinned up at the ceiling and felt the excitement settle in his chest like something alive. It had been years since anything had actually excited him like this. Not since he was a kid and first realized how far ahead he was from everyone else. This was different. Naoto was different. Strong. Unpredictable. The kind of opponent who might actually make him work for it. 

And it was not just Naoto either. Geto had been impressive too. The way he controlled those cursed spirits, , the way he blended them with his own martial arts... what was the limit on that technique? How many could he handle at once? How strong could he make them? Gojo sat up slowly, the grin widening across his face while he stretched his arms overhead and rolled his shoulders until they popped.

Enough sitting around. He pushed himself up from the tatami mat, the woven fibers creaking softly under his weight as he stood and brushed a few crumbs from his outfit. He crossed the room, sliding the shoji door open with one smooth motion and stepping out into the corridor.

A young servant girl was hurrying past with a tray of fresh tea when she saw him. She stopped short, eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Gojo-sama? Do you need anything?"

Gojo flashed her that easy, confident grin and jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward the back of the compound. "Yeah. Go tell the groundskeepers to get the old exercise yard ready. Full setup, barriers up, the works. I'm heading out there in ten minutes."

The girl blinked, clearly confused. She shifted the tray in her hands and tilted her head. "The exercise yard, Satoru-sama? The one behind the training hall? We have not prepared it in... well, years. Not since you were much younger. Are you certain you want that one?"

Gojo laughed under his breath while he leaned one shoulder against the doorframe and watched her reaction. "Yeah, that one. I know it's been sitting there collecting dust, but I need the space. Tell them to clear it, set up the training dummies, and reinforce the barriers. I'm not messing around today."

The servant hesitated for another second, then bowed quickly, her cheeks flushing. "Of course, Satoru-sama. Right away. I will have them prepare everything."

She hurried off down the corridor, tray balanced carefully while her footsteps echoed off the walls. Gojo watched her go for a moment, then pushed off the doorframe and started walking in the opposite direction, hands shoved into his pockets as he moved through the long hallways of the compound. He could already feel the anticipation building in his chest. 

 "Gonna have to work hard if I want to get that title back," he muttered under his breath. 

He would train until his body screamed and his Eyes burned from the effort. Because somewhere out there Naoto Zenin was doing the same thing, and the next time they met, Gojo had no intention of losing again.

_____________________________________

Naoto Zenin sat at a wooden desk in the main room of his private house on the edge of the Zenin compound, papers and ledgers spread out in front of him. He had one hand resting on a thick stack of documents detailing monthly profits from three different businesses he had invested in over the past year, and the other hand held a pen that scratched across a fresh page as he updated the numbers.

As he worked he was distracted by the sounds of thumping and screaming. Maki and Mai were in full chaos mode today. They had started with a simple game of tag but it had quickly devolved into them wrestling over a wooden toy sword Naoto had carved for them last month. Maki currently had Mai in a loose headlock while both of them giggled and shouted at each other, their small feet thumping across the tatami as they rolled closer to Naoto's desk.

"Give it back! It's my turn to be the chosen one!" Maki yelled, trying to yank the toy sword out of Mai's grip.

"No way! You were the chosen one last time!" Mai shot back, kicking her legs and almost knocking over a low shelf in the process.

Naoto didn't even look up from his papers at first. He simply reached out with one hand while still writing with the other and caught Maki by the back of her shirt, lifting her gently but firmly off her sister. "Hey. Tone it down a little. You're both going to break something if you keep rolling around like that."

Maki pouted but stopped struggling immediately, dangling in his grip for a second before he set her back down. "But oni-chan, she started it..."

"I don't care who started it," Naoto replied calmly, his eyes still scanning the profit margins on the page in front of him. 

The twins grumbled but obeyed, scampering a few feet away and resuming their game at a slightly lower volume. Naoto shook his head slightly and went back to his calculations while the girls continued their playful fight in the background.

A few minutes later the shoji door slid open and Mirajane stepped inside carrying a tray with fresh tea and small snacks. After entering she crossed the room and set the tray down on the corner of Naoto's desk. "Here you go," she said softly, pouring a cup and sliding it toward him. "You've been at this for hours. Thought you might want something warm."

Naoto looked up and offered her a small smile, reaching for the cup with one hand while his other kept hold of the pen. "Thanks, Mira. Perfect timing actually. These numbers were starting to blur together."

Mirajane smiled back at him, but her eyes flicked toward the twins who were now attempting to climb onto a cabinet while still arguing over the toy sword. She clapped her hands, the sound loud enough to make both girls freeze. "Alright you two, that's enough. You're distracting your brother and he has important work to finish. Go play outside in the garden for a while. Fresh air will do you good."

Maki and Mai groaned in unison but knew better than to argue with Mirajane when she used that tone. They set the toy sword down and scampered toward the open door, their small feet pattering across the tatami before they disappeared outside into the sunlight.

Mirajane watched them through the open screen for a long moment, her expression softening as she saw them start chasing each other around the small garden path,. Only when she was sure they were occupied did she turn back to Naoto, who had already gone back to his papers, taking occasional sips from the tea she had brought.

"You know you should rest sometimes," she said gently, moving around the room and beginning to straighten a few scattered scrolls on a nearby shelf. "You push yourself harder than anyone I've ever seen. Even the elders don't work this much."

"That's not saying much..." Naoto said with a chuckle. "Besides I can't afford to slow down right now. I'll be leaving for Jujutsu Tech in just a few more weeks and I won't have nearly as much time to keep an eye on these businesses. I need everything running smoothly before I leave so I don't have to worry about them falling apart while I'm gone."

Mirajane sighed and shook her head, the motion causing her large breasts to shift noticeably beneath her kimono as she reached up to dust a higher shelf. "It still seems ridiculous to me that you work this hard to make money when you're from one of the richest clans in Japan. The Zenin fortune could support everything you need without you lifting a finger."

Naoto set his pen down for the first time and leaned back slightly, looking at her with a small, tired smile. "That money comes with terms that I refuse to accept, I won't be their pawn."

Mirajane sighed again, softer this time, and started moving around the room picking up scattered toys and straightening the table while she spoke. "I understand... But Naobito and the rest of the elders still want to speak with you about your performance at the exhibition match. They want to know why you've been hiding your true power all this time. They've been asking me about it almost every day."

Naoto rolled his eyes and picked the pen back up, tapping it against the paper. "I don't wish to be a tool used by the clan. I've lived my life perfectly happy without their scheming getting in the way." Inwardly he thought about how badly the Zenin clan had ruined Maki and Mai's lives in the original timeline, and Toji's too. He wouldn't let that happen this time. Well, even if it was a little late for Toji, he had at least tried to give the man a better path. He refused to become another pawn in their game.

Mirajane watched him for a long moment. "I know you feel that way and I understand why. But you can't avoid them forever, Naoto. They're the clan head and the elders. Sooner or later they'll force the conversation."

"I'm not planning to avoid them forever," Naoto replied. "Just until I leave for Jujutsu Tech. Once I'm there they won't have as easy a time cornering me."

Mirajane sighed one more time, but she didn't push further. Instead she went back to cleaning, moving gracefully around the room while picking up scattered toys and straightening cushions. Naoto went back to his work, the scratch of his pen the only sound for several long minutes.

He was stopped cold when he heard Maki and Mai's voices suddenly shift outside, talking excitedly to someone new. "Who are you, mister?" Maki asked loudly. "You look really strong!"

Naoto's eyes widened. No one should have been able to get through the barriers he had set around the house. Not even his family. In the next instant he was gone from his seat, the chair tipping backward as he smashed through the shoji door with a loud crack of splintering wood and launched himself forward in a blur. His leg snapped out in a powerful kick aimed directly at the stranger's chest.

The stranger caught the kick with one hand, the force still strong enough to push him back several steps and dig deep grooves into the dirt path beneath his feet. 

Naoto landed lightly and dropped into a ready stance, cursed energy already flaring around his body, before his eyes widened in recognition.

Toji stood there, scratching the back of his head with while wearing that same lazy, slightly annoyed expression he always had. "Jeez kid," Toji said. "I didn't expect a warm welcome but I was expecting more than that. You trying to take my head off or something?"

Naoto's eyes widened further and he dropped from the kick, landing on both feet while a genuine smile broke across his face. "Toji? Holy shit what are you doing here. It's been years." He stepped forward and pulled the older man into a quick hug, clapping him on the back hard enough to make Toji grunt. Toji returned it with one arm, the other still scratching his head like he wasn't quite sure what to do with the affection.

"Yeah, yeah, been a while," Toji muttered. "Heard you were heading to Jujutsu Tech soon. And that you beat the shit out of the Gojo brat. Figured I'd swing by and offer my congratulations in person."

Naoto pulled back and looked at him with a raised eyebrow, the smile turning into something more skeptical. "Come on. Be serious. Why are you really here?"

Toji hit him lightly on the shoulder, the smack loud enough to echo. "Don't be rude, brat. I can't just come visit?"

Naoto laughed and rubbed the spot. "You never just visit. What's going on?"

Toji scratched his head again and looked around the garden like he was suddenly uncomfortable. "Fine I had some business in the area and I heard all about the exhibition match, thought I'd check in." His eyes flicked toward Maki and Mai who were watching the exchange with wide, curious eyes. "So... who the hell are these two?"

Naoto gestured toward the girls with a small smile. "This is Maki and Mai. They're my cousins and your nieces. I took responsibility for them the moment they were born. Maki's actually a lot like you... she has a heavenly restriction."

Toji's eyes widened for a brief second, something unreadable flashing across his face before he quickly composed himself, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Huh. That so?"

"Don't worry," Naoto said quickly, reading the shift in Toji's posture. "Nothing's happened to them. I took them from Ogi the second they were born. They've been with me ever since. They're safe here."

Toji stared at the girls for another long moment, then gave a single nod. "That's good." His voice came out quieter than usual. The whole exchange seemed to shake him more than he wanted to show. He shifted his weight and jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "Anyway been good seeing you kid but I gotta get going. Can't stick around too long."

Naoto frowned. "Already? Why don't you at least stay for something to eat you just got here?"

Toji shook his head. "Sorry kid I'm pretty busy nowadays."

"Where have you been staying? You still a bum or what?" Naoto asked.

"Pfft watch it kid, or I'll give you another smack down like I did before," he said though it was clear he was joking. 

Naoto chuckled. "At least give me an address, you gotta stop being anti social at some point."

Toji hesitated, scratching the back of his neck before finally handing him a piece of paper with an address in one of the districts on the edge of Tokyo. "There. Happy now?" Before Naoto could say anything else, Toji crouched and launched himself upward in a powerful jump, disappearing over the garden wall in a blur. 

Naoto watched him go, arms crossed over his chest while the wind rustled through the trees.

Mirajane stepped up beside him, her expression thoughtful as she watched the spot where Toji had vanished. "That was strange even for him."

"Yeah," Naoto muttered, still staring at the wall. "Been gone for years and suddenly shows up, there's definitely something more to it."

The twins came running back over then, tugging at Naoto's sleeves. "Oni-chan! I'm hungryyyy," Mai complained. "Maki ate all the snacks!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

Naoto flicked both of their foreheads before they could continue getting a yelp out of them. Mirajane smiled softly and took their hands. "Come on, you two. I'll get started on dinner. Let your brother finish his work in peace."

Naoto watched them head inside, then let out a long sigh and ran a hand through his hair. Toji was always strange, but that surprise visit felt off even for him. He wondered if it had something to do with his wife or the kid. Megumi should be born by now. He didn't know if the wife was still alive or how that whole situation had played out differently this time. 

He made a mental note to look into it quietly once he had a free moment. But first he had Jujutsu Tech to worry about. He would be leaving for the school very soon, and he could only hope it would give him a relatively peaceful time to focus on getting stronger without the constant eyes of the clan watching his every move.

...

A few more weeks passed in a blur of training, paperwork, and last-minute preparations.

Now Naoto stood on the stone steps leading up to Tokyo Jujutsu High. He adjusted the collar slightly and started walking up the steps as he took in the familiar yet still new sight of the school grounds spreading out before him.

Geto and Shoko were already waiting near the top of the stairs. Geto raised a hand in greeting, his long hair tied back neatly while he offered a smile. "Morning, Naoto. Ready for the first day?"

Shoko waved lazily, a cigarette already between her fingers as she exhaled a thin stream of smoke. "Hey."

Naoto grinned and jogged the last few steps to meet them. "Yeah, I'm ready. Should be interesting at least. How about you two? Any idea what the schedule looks like for the first week?"

They started chatting easily about the upcoming classes and the layout of the school, the conversation flowing naturally while they walked together toward the main building.Then they heard rapid footsteps behind them.

Gojo came running up the steps, one hand holding his glasses in place while he yelled. "Wait up! Don't start the fun without me!"

The three of them turned, and Naoto couldn't help but laugh as Gojo skidded to a stop beside them, breathing hard but still grinning like an idiot.

"Looks like someone's almost late on day one," Naoto said, raising an eyebrow.

Gojo waved him off, still catching his breath. "Technical difficulties. The clan elders wouldn't stop talking this morning. But hey, we're all here now. Let's go see what kind of trouble we can get into."

(AN: So the prologue is over and the first arc has started. First year won't be too long I hope it's going to be an OC arc before we head into the Hidden inventory and then a time skip. But yeah stuff is going to change and the main enemy of this arc is going to be ridiculous. Anyway hope you enjoyed.)