The Zenin estate was quiet as Kaede, in Naoya's body, made his way towards his father Naobito's office. He knew he would need to play his cards right to ensure his attendance at the upcoming exchange event between the Tokyo and Kyoto Jujutsu schools.
"Father," Kaede began in a confident voice as he entered the room, bowing slightly in a show of respect. "I wish to attend the exchange event between the Jujutsu schools."
Naobito, who was reviewing some scrolls, looked up, slightly surprised. "And why should you go? You have no direct involvement in that matter."
Kaede flashed a light, calculated smile. "Two members of our clan are participating—Maki and Mai. I believe it would be appropriate for someone to represent the clan there. Besides, it could be a good opportunity to observe young talent and evaluate the potential of our allies and enemies."
Naobito considered his words for a few moments. Though not entirely convinced by his son's motivation, he saw no reason to refuse him. "Very well," he finally said. "But behave yourself, Naoya. I don't want you causing any trouble."
Kaede smiled with apparent innocence. "Of course, father."
After his conversation with Naobito, Kaede calmly made his way to Mai's room, his steps steady and deliberate. He knew the young girl was preparing for the event, and while his objective was simply to inform her of his attendance, he was also curious to observe how she would react.
When he arrived at her door, Kaede didn't bother knocking. He opened the door and walked in unannounced. What he didn't expect was to find Mai in the middle of changing. She, with a shirt in hand and her back bare, turned abruptly towards him, her eyes wide with surprise and anger.
"What are you doing here? Get out!" Mai shouted, her voice trembling with both shock and indignation.
Kaede, with his usual nonchalant attitude, merely shrugged, showing no sign of remorse or embarrassment. "I just came to tell you that I'll be watching you at the event. I want to make sure you represent the clan well, so I thought it would be appropriate to attend."
As he spoke, Mai, still furious, wasn't listening and forcefully shoved him toward the door with all her strength, pushing him out of the room. "Get out!" she yelled, slamming the door shut behind him.
From the other side of the door, Kaede could hear the sounds of Mai finishing getting dressed, accompanied by her unmistakable growl of frustration. As he waited, Kaede smiled to himself, enjoying the small moment of chaos he had caused.
Not long after, the door opened again, and Mai, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment, glared at him, arms crossed. "Well? What do you want to tell me?" she asked, her tone filled with suspicion.
Kaede looked at her with a mischievous grin and, before giving a serious response, decided to tease her. "Actually, I just wanted to see you naked."
For a moment, Mai froze completely, her expression shifting from disbelief to barely contained fury. Without saying a word, she reached for her revolver and pointed it straight at Kaede's head, her eyes burning with rage.
Kaede, still smiling, let out a light laugh and easily disarmed her, as if it were just a game. "Relax, Mai-chan, I was only joking."
Mai, her face still flushed, looked at him with a mixture of frustration and embarrassment. Finally, she sighed exasperatedly and lowered her guard. "You're an idiot."
Kaede shrugged and handed her the revolver back with a smile. "I know, I know. But seriously, I came to tell you that I'll be attending the exchange event. I want to make sure you represent the clan well."
Mai looked at him, surprised. Although she had started training with him almost daily, she had never imagined that Naoya would have any real interest in her skills or in supporting her. She had almost started to develop a grudging respect for him—something she never thought she'd feel toward her cousin.
"You're going to watch me? Me?" she asked, her tone reflecting a mix of disbelief and something deeper, a small spark of gratitude.
Kaede nodded, observing the subtle confusion on her face. "Yes, Mai. I want to see how much you've improved. And I want to make sure all the time I've invested in you hasn't been for nothing."
Mai stared at him in silence for a moment, struggling to process his words. Though she was used to criticism and condescension, this apparent genuine interest disarmed her.
Finally, she nodded, letting out a small sigh. "Alright. I won't disappoint you."
Kaede offered a small smile, satisfied with her response. "I hope not. I'll see you at the event."
With that, Kaede turned and left the room, leaving Mai alone with her thoughts. As she continued her preparations for the event, she couldn't help but feel a little more motivated, knowing that someone—even if it was Naoya—would be watching and expecting her to win.
------
On the day of the event, Kaede arrived at the exchange venue with confidence radiating from every step. In the role of Naoya Zenin, each movement was calculated, mimicking that signature arrogance everyone expected from the Zenin heir. The teachers and directors present barely paid him any attention, assuming his presence was nothing more than that of a pretentious clan member. For Kaede, this was perfect. Slipping into the shadows, observing without anyone suspecting, was exactly what he needed.
The atmosphere remained calm, with casual conversations between sorcerers, until a palpable shift swept through the room. Satoru Gojo had arrived. His mere presence altered the air, as though it had become denser. Kaede immediately noticed the turning heads, the glances of respect or nervousness directed at the strongest sorcerer. Even from a distance, Gojo radiated undeniable authority. And when his eyes landed on Naoya, they narrowed immediately, a mixture of disdain and suspicion clouding his usual confident gaze.
Kaede mentally prepared himself. He knew Gojo didn't like Naoya at all. As he saw him approaching, Kaede maintained the facade of indifference, a mocking smile curling on his lips.
"What are you doing here, Naoya?" Gojo asked, his voice cold, barely concealing the disdain.
The tension between them was palpable, the air around them ready to erupt at any moment.
Kaede responded with a sly smile, lacing his voice with sarcasm. "My dear cousins are participating, Satoru. I have every right to be here, don't I?"
Gojo clenched his jaw, clearly irritated by the arrogant attitude Kaede, in Naoya's guise, projected. His eyes flashed a warning. "Stay away from them, especially Maki."
Kaede, knowing exactly how to push Gojo's buttons, leaned in slightly, his smile widening. "Oh, don't worry so much. Soon enough, we'll be family, won't we?" The comment was laced with venom, a direct provocation aimed at Gojo.
The anger simmering beneath Gojo's skin finally flared. He stepped forward, clearly on the verge of acting, and the tension in the room became suffocating. Almost everyone held their breath, knowing that if Gojo decided to attack, the situation would become very, very ugly. But just before things could spiral out of control, a firm voice broke the silence.
"Satoru, stop." Utahime stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Gojo's chest to calm him. Her gaze was stern but also filled with concern, as if she understood the weight of the consequences that confrontation would bring. "This isn't the time or place."
Gojo took a deep breath, his eyes still filled with fury as he looked at Utahime. For a moment, the silence lingered, but finally, and with visible reluctance, he stepped back. He nodded slowly, though his hands remained clenched into fists.
Kaede, watching the scene in Naoya's guise, let out a soft, barely perceptible chuckle, full of satisfaction. "Whatever you say, Utahime," Gojo finally replied, his voice laced with contained frustration. His eyes still pierced Kaede, but Kaede savored every second of his small victory.
Without wasting any more time, Kaede took a seat, crossing one leg over the other, his nonchalant attitude contrasting sharply with the tension that still lingered in the air. His gaze drifted across the room, where the sorcerers continued their interactions as though nothing had happened. The event had barely started, but for Kaede, the real fun had already begun.
------
The battlefield was covered by the shadows of trees as Maki advanced swiftly, her naginata gleaming under the filtered light. Each step was firm and calculated, her body tense, ready for any surprise attack from her sister. In the distance, Mai kept her revolver raised, her gaze fixed on Maki, evaluating every movement. The air was thick with tension.
Mai fired the first shot, a bullet charged with cursed energy flying straight toward Maki. With a swift spin of her naginata, Maki deflected it toward the ground. The impact kicked up dust, but Maki didn't stop. Using her overwhelming physical strength, she quickened her pace, trying to close the gap quickly, knowing that Mai had always relied on keeping her opponents at bay with her revolver.
Mai took a step back, maintaining her distance as she loaded another bullet into her revolver. With training-honed precision, she fired a second time, aiming directly at Maki's chest. This time, the bullet was diverted by a burst of compressed cursed energy. The bullet changed trajectory, grazing Maki's shoulder, but she barely faltered, moving as if the pain was irrelevant.
Maki was now only a few meters away. With a fierce cry, she swung a lateral slash with her naginata, aiming to disarm Mai. But Mai had anticipated the attack. With a quick pirouette, she dodged the strike, firing as she moved. The bullet struck Maki's hand, forcing her to drop the naginata. The blade hit the ground with a clang, but Maki didn't hesitate. Her body lunged forward, driven purely by combat instinct.
Sweat dripped down Mai's brow as she barely had time to retreat. She fired a burst of compressed cursed energy from her fingers, aiming at Maki's legs in an attempt to slow her down. Maki, as agile as ever, dodged to the side, avoiding most of the attack, though a few shards of cursed energy grazed her arm. The impact was enough to make her stumble, but not stop her.
Instead of retreating, Maki used the momentum of her fall to roll across the ground and grab her naginata again. In one fluid motion, she rose and spun the blade, sweeping it directly toward Mai's legs. Mai, who had been preparing another shot, barely jumped in time, but Maki's blade caught her ankle, throwing her off balance.
Mai's scream of pain echoed in the air, but before she could fully hit the ground, she fired one more bullet, this time imbued with the last of her cursed energy. Maki, mid-turn, saw the bullet coming but was in a vulnerable position. The bullet struck her thigh directly, forcing her to kneel momentarily.
Both sisters were now wounded, panting, but neither willing to yield. With a fierce glare, Maki used her naginata as a support to stand once more. She knew Mai had no more bullets, and this was her chance. With a battle cry, she charged forward, seeking the final blow.
Mai, injured and out of ammunition, knew she couldn't afford another mistake. She gritted her teeth and, with what little cursed energy she had left, unleashed one final burst—not to attack but to create a distraction. The burst kicked up a cloud of dust and rocks, momentarily blinding Maki. Using the distraction, Mai tried to back away and formulate a new plan.
With each step Maki took, Mai felt her options slipping away. Finally, with the last of her cursed energy, she activated her Construction technique, creating one more bullet. She knew this would be her last shot, but it had to be decisive. She aimed with precision and fired.
Maki, with her sharp perception, saw the bullet coming and, in a desperate attempt to avoid a direct hit, caught it with her hand. However, the cursed energy condensed within the bullet was too much to handle without consequence. Though Maki managed to stop the bullet, the pain surged through her body, leaving a deep mark and severely injuring her. The bullet partially exploded in her hand, burning it and weakening her stance.
Mai, with her revolver empty and her body exhausted, dropped the weapon as she staggered back. Maki's gaze met hers, but before she could say anything, Mai broke the silence with a question laced with resentment.
"Why, Maki?" Mai's voice was a whisper, full of pain. "Why did you abandon me?" Tears began to stream down her cheeks as her legs trembled with fatigue. "You were always strong... but you left me alone in all of this. I never wanted to be a sorcerer. You pushed me into this."
Maki, still wounded and panting from the effort, couldn't hold her sister's gaze. She knew Mai was right, but the weight of her decision was something she had already accepted. "You were the one who chose to stay in this," Maki said quietly, not turning fully toward Mai. The words were harsh, but there was truth in them.
Mai, sobbing, wiped her tears with the back of her hand, looking down at the ground. "I thought I was alone... but now I see I'm not anymore." She paused, looking off into the distance, referring to Naoya. "At least someone is willing to help me, even if it's for his own interests."
Maki felt a pang in her chest but said nothing. With the bullet still lodged in her leg, she slowly turned and began to walk away, leaving Mai in tears. There was no room for regret on her path. Maki knew she had made hard choices, and even if the cost was her relationship with her sister, she couldn't stop now.
Before she could leave completely, Mai murmured through her sobs, as if hoping Maki would hear: "Liar." The word hung in the air, filled with pain and frustration.
Maki didn't stop or respond. Mai's tears and their broken relationship weighed more heavily on her than she was willing to admit. However, in that moment, her pride and conviction pushed her forward, leaving Mai in her own despair.
After watching the two sisters fight, Kaede, in Naoya's body, remained completely silent in the observation room, surrounded by several members of the Zenin clan and other sorcerers. Mei Mei's technique projected every detail of the battle onto a floating screen, allowing everyone to follow the action from a safe distance. However, while the others watched with interest or nervousness, Kaede was focused on something else.
His gaze followed every move of Mai and Maki. Though both of their abilities were impressive, he knew they were missing something. Mai, with her surgical precision and revolver, had improved under his instruction, but her cursed energy remained limited. Maki, on the other hand, with her unmatched physical strength, was a combat prodigy, but her lack of cursed energy would always be her Achilles' heel.
"Mai has improved... but she's not ready yet," Kaede thought, his eyes tracking Maki's final move, her naginata slicing through the air with brutal force. "She could have been more efficient at several points. And Maki... she's not invincible, not without cursed energy. Both are at their limits, and they still don't understand what it truly means to be strong in this world."
A small smile formed on his lips. The battle had been intense, but to him, it was nothing more than a superficial display. From his position of power, he knew he could push both of them to higher levels... or decide to discard them if they didn't meet his expectations.
Just as Mai stumbled back, on the verge of exhaustion, and Maki advanced to deliver the final blow, Kaede shifted his attention. Slowly, he turned his head to a second, smaller screen that had been showing another scene in parallel. There, in a more distant location, was one of the main reasons he had chosen to return: Fushiguro Megumi, who was battling what appeared to be a member of the Kamo clan.
Kaede let out a nearly imperceptible sigh as his eyes narrowed. "So... the Ten Shadows Technique," he thought, the smile on his lips widening with each passing second as he watched the young Fushiguro deploy his technique. The shadows of the shikigami materialized and vanished around him with a precision that betrayed Megumi's natural talent. But for Kaede, it wasn't just an inherited technique; it was something far more personal.
When Kaede was only ten years old, he had written the scroll that contained the fundamentals of the Ten Shadows, a technique that, in his mind, was nothing more than an experiment. He had never thought it would one day become a curse bound to a bloodline. His intention hadn't been to turn it into an innate technique, but time and circumstances had shaped it into exactly that.
"I never imagined that scroll would go from a simple exercise to this... a technique so powerful and complex, a latent curse."
Now, as Megumi executed each summon with precision, Kaede only wanted to confirm if everything he had written in that scroll so many years ago was being applied to its fullest. His gaze analyzed every movement, every detail in the way Megumi's shadows manifested. Was Fushiguro fully harnessing what he had designed? Had he reached the true potential of the Ten Shadows, or was he overlooking something?
A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Kaede's lips. "Perhaps, if I decide to face him one day... then I'll see just how far my creation has come."