Two days later, at the Gojo Family.
"Six Eyes User, these are the documents you requested."
An Assistant Supervisor from the Gojo Family handed Satoru the compiled information on Zenin Eichi, which he had organized overnight after receiving the order.
Satoru, currently chewing on a piece of bread, was idly looking at the bamboo grove and rock garden in the courtyard.
"Just put it there."
The night before last, after Satoru returned home, his two bodyguards reported the previous events to the family head. Subsequently, the Gojo Family head immediately arranged for Eichi's information to be collected overnight.
Upon learning of this, Satoru also requested a copy.
Name: Zenin Eichi
Family Members:
Father: Sho (Deceased)
Mother: Yukimura Chiyoko (Deceased)
...Below was a detailed introduction to Eichi and his parents' circumstances.
Sho had no innate Technique and was loyal to the Kuguru Squad of the Zenin Clan. He died two years ago during an exorcism mission, covering the retreat of Zenin Clan Jujutsu Sorcerers after a failed exorcism.
Yukimura Chiyoko was an ordinary person who always fantasized about marrying into a wealthy family and living a noble life. Unfortunately, after marrying into the prestigious Zenin Clan, she realized that Sho was not the protagonist of her imagined TV drama, and her life was vastly different from what she had envisioned.
Yukimura Chiyoko, who wanted a divorce, was subjected to the Zenin Clan's disciplinary methods and, in fear, abandoned the idea of escaping.
One year after Sho's death, six-year-old Zenin Eichi still hadn't Awakened his innate Technique. Yukimura Chiyoko, having lost her last hope, hanged herself.
In this world, Jujutsu Sorcerers Awaken their innate Technique between the ages of four and six. Few people Awaken a Technique after this age, and most who do Awaken it unexpectedly during a life-or-death crisis.
However, not everyone is the protagonist of a shonen manga, able to escape danger by Awakening a Technique.
After all, gaining an unfamiliar ability during a life-or-death crisis can sometimes be a hindrance if not used properly.
Therefore, most people, even if they Awaken a Technique, cannot escape the fate of death, especially in this Jujutsu Kaisen world where even important characters are constantly being served their last meal.
Thus, after Zenin Eichi failed to Awaken his Technique at age six, Yukimura Chiyoko lost hope of rising in status through him and ultimately hanged herself.
After reading Eichi's file, Satoru placed it on the floor beside him, looked up at the sky, and began to ponder what entertainment Eichi could bring him.
At the same time, inside the Kamo Family's main residence, an Elder with a stitched forehead was also reviewing the same documents.
The Elder was Kenjaku, who had taken over the Kamo Family Elder's body, and was one of the powerful higher-ups in the Jujutsu World. Kenjaku had received news when the Gojo Family used the power of the higher-ups to find Cursed Spirits for Satoru to practice with.
With the intention of testing this generation's Six Eyes User, Kenjaku gave one of Sukuna's fingers to the Cursed Spirit Satoru intended to practice with, giving rise to the Special Grade imaginary Cursed Spirit, the Half-Body Cursed Spirit.
However, he didn't expect to uncover another big fish instead of figuring out the Six Eyes User's situation.
"Mahoraga, the strongest Shikigami that no one has been able to tame for a thousand years. How exactly did that brat manage it?"
Kenjaku was completely baffled.
"Forget it, I'll find the answer eventually."
In Kenjaku's view, Eichi had many uses. Whether it was subtly manipulating him to become a subordinate, turning him into a Culling Game player, or keeping him as a backup body, all were excellent options.
Such a useful tool should remain under his control. At the very least, he shouldn't be controlled by any other family.
"Another five hundred years."
The five-hundred-year deadline was approaching, and the Six Eyes User had been born on schedule. The time for Tengen's next assimilation was not far off.
"Will I be able to stop Tengen and the star plasma vessel's assimilation this time, or will I have to wait another five hundred years?"
Kenjaku's gaze fell upon a chess piece inscribed with "Star Religion."
Afterward, Kenjaku, by unspoken agreement, adopted the same approach as the Gojo Family: concealing any traces of Eichi's existence and removing him from the Zenin Clan's sight.
Kenjaku didn't want Eichi to return to the Zenin Clan because he wanted to use him himself.
The Gojo Family didn't want Eichi to return to the Zenin Clan because once he did, the Zenin Clan's strength would significantly increase, and they would possess a means to threaten the Six Eyes User.
They wanted to eliminate any existence that could threaten the Six Eyes User in advance, but they were wary of Mahoraga's power and dared not act rashly.
Finally, the Gojo Family head and several Elders decided to secretly win Eichi over to their family, keeping it from the Zenin Clan.
In their minds, winning over a child who had been bullied by the Zenin Clan and then helped by the Gojo Family would be incredibly easy.
Because Eichi didn't know how to clear Cursed Energy residue, his whereabouts were still known to the Gojo Family. All they had to do was orchestrate a few chance encounters, offer some favors, and wouldn't this seven-year-old child happily follow them home?
As for the Zenin Clan...
With both the Six Eyes User and the unprecedented Ten Shadows Technique Mahoraga, would the Zenin Clan dare to challenge them?
It just so happened that Gojo Eichi had been bullied by members of the Zenin Clan back then. They would settle that score properly.
Thinking of this, the Gojo Family head's aged face creased into a smile like a chrysanthemum. Satoru, who had just entered the room, turned and left upon seeing this.
"Ah, it's Satoru. Come over and chat with this old man."
Upon hearing this, Satoru ran even faster.
Satoru, born with the Six Eyes, possessed unparalleled observation skills, able to notice countless details that ordinary people would miss. Because of this, Satoru was far more mature than his peers.
The thoughts of those people simply couldn't be hidden from Satoru. Without even studying micro-expressions, Satoru could guess what they were thinking through subtle changes in adults' expressions.
And he knew that when the old family head showed that expression and used such an intimate tone, he was most likely going to drag him into doing something boring again.
For example, dragging him out to visit people, telling everyone that he only Awakened Limitless at four years old and could only exorcise Cursed Spirits at five years old, implying he couldn't compare to their children.
"Sigh, why is this child running away?"
Watching Satoru disappear around the corner of the corridor in an instant.
The aged Gojo Family head shook his head helplessly.
Can't catch him, simply can't catch him.
Meanwhile, Eichi, who was being thought of by Kenjaku and the Gojo Family head, was leisurely basking in the sun in a small country yard.
A recently abandoned country yard with a fence, a newly bought lounge chair, a small fan in hand, a tea table laden with snacks beside him, and two fluffy big dogs lying at his feet.
"This is the life," Eichi couldn't help but exclaim.
After resting all day yesterday, Eichi took advantage of the time before sunset and before the shops closed to withdraw some money from an ATM.
Afterward, Eichi went on a shopping spree in town.
He had entered Osaka. Both from the information about the Zenin Clan's sphere of influence he had subtly gathered while at the Zenin Clan, and from the intelligence he obtained during his casual chat with Satoru the day before, this area belonged to the Gojo Family, and Zenin Clan members rarely appeared here.
Therefore, Eichi no longer hid. Primarily, the Gojo Family's presence in the story was too sparse, and because of Satoru, Eichi didn't feel any aversion towards the Gojo Family.
Thanks to the ATM machine, which had been in use for many years; otherwise, a seven-year-old child like Eichi carrying a bank card with a huge deposit would likely be reported to the police by the bank, who would assume he stole money from home.
And thanks to the worker who went to the city to work a few years ago, leaving the small courtyard to Eichi, giving him a cozy little home.
Thus, seven-year-old Eichi began his retirement early, a life he hadn't even achieved in his previous life.