The sun had climbed high over the training grounds, beating down on Tetsuya's small frame like a spectator to his suffering.
Hours blurred into an endless loop of failure.
Clenched fists, gritted teeth, reaching inward for something that refused to surface. His stomach growled, a hollow ache that twisted sharper with every passing minute.
No one had come to fetch him for meals. No breakfast, certainly. But no lunch, and likely no dinner either, if things went as they had.
Just the distant clack of wooden swords from ever changing groups, the occasional grunt of exertion, and the growing shadows as the day dragged on.
'Punishment. That's gotta be what this is.' Tetsuya thought bitterly.
'For getting sick, that is. As if a four year old could choose to get ill. Asshole.'
Jinichi hadn't returned. Not a glance, not a word. The other Zenin kept their distance, eyes sliding past the lone child like he was a cursed object best ignored.
Tetsuya tried again. And again.
Trial and error, his adult mind dissecting every explanation he'd ever read or heard.
Cursed energy as a river of negativity, emotions as the dam breaking.
He focused on the frustration boiling in his chest. The bruises faintly throbbing from the earlier smacks, the hunger gnawing like a curse itself, the spiralling dread that this would be his new reality. That he was stuck here, small and powerless.
Nothing.
Until something changed. a sudden, fleeting spike. A prickle along through his skin, like static electricity humming to life.
His cursed energy. Just for a split second, it flared out weak as a candle flicker in the wind, but real. He gasped, eyes snapping open, heart racing.
'Got it. Finally. Fucking sneaky thing.'
The spark faded as quickly as his attention snapped, leaving him tired and shaky. But he'd felt it. That was progress.
The only problem was how exactly he'd manage to show it to Jinichi.
'If the bastard even shows up, that is. Fuck me.'
Some time later, followed by some fruitless attempts, the sky had deepened near darkness, the training grounds emptying as lanterns flickered to life along the estate paths.
Tetsuya collapsed onto the cool paved stone floor of the circle, legs folded beneath him, sweat damp attire clinging like a curse.
He'd been here from morning till now. Late evening, stars peeking through the haze.
'Can't a kid catch a break? Fuck me.' Tetsuya thought,
Footsteps approached, heavy and deliberate, snapping him out of his thoughts.
'Geez. Call that fashionably late, you bastard.' Of course, nothing came out of Tetsuya's mouth.
Jinichi loomed over him, expression as unreadable as ever.
"Took you long enough, brat." he said, voice flat. "If you hadn't managed even that pathetic flare, I'd have left you out here for the night. Build some resilience."
Tetsuya's stomach dropped.
'Observed. Of course.' Someone had been watching him. Probably a servant in the distance or just one of the instructors told to pay attention to him.
The moment that weak burst of cursed energy escaped him, word must have reached Jinichi.
'At least that's one problem out of the way.' Tetsuya thought, not letting that damn sigh of relief come out, lest he get smacked again.
And the night threat? He hoped it was a joke, a gruff way to motivate. But with this man, who could tell? The Zenin didn't bluff for the most part.
Before Tetsuya could muster a response, Jinichi reached down, grabbed the back of his heavy collar like he was lifting a sack of rice, and hoisted him up.
The boy dangled awkwardly, feet kicking air for a second, small hands flailing uselessly in the air in momentary panic.
Jinichi didn't even look at him. Just turned and dumped him unceremoniously into the arms of a waiting servant a few steps ahead, an older woman with a bowed head and callused hands, who caught him with a soft murmur of deference.
"Feed him." Jinichi grunted, already walking away. "He's wasted enough of my time today."
The servant nodded vigorously, cradling Tetsuya like fragile porcelain as she hurried off toward the estate's kitchens. Jinichi didn't spare a backward glance at his son.
'Asshole. Not even a nod. Can't a kid get some praise for his accomplishments?'
Tetsuya thought again, the uncaring attitude of his new father twisting in his mind with all his other thoughts like a flyhead, as the servant set him down at a low table in a quiet side room.
She bustled about, producing a steaming bowl of plain rice porridge, a few pickled vegetables, and a cup of tea. Simple, nourishing. Nothing fancy for a young kid who'd just unlocked his first taste of power.
He ate mechanically, the food hitting his empty stomach like a stone, but his thoughts churned dark. The servant hovered nearby, refilling his tea without a word.
Finally, curiosity and a need to anchor himself in this new reality bubbled up. "Um. You. What... what year is it?" he asked, voice small, squeaky and hesitant, like any confused child might sound.
The woman answered promptly, trained to simply answer when asked. "The year is two thousand, Zenin sama. Spring has just turned."
2000.
Tetsuya's spoon paused mid air in contemplation.
'It fit. I'm four. born around '96 or '97, give or take. Probably young enough to have missed Toji's time in the clan.' Tetsuya thought, as he resumed eating, his hand automatically shovelling food in and out, as his mind raced.
The man had probably bolted years ago, in early twenties or something, fed up with the abuse. But clearly, Tetsuya was early enough that Maki and Mai weren't even born yet.
2002, if canon held. Ogi's twins, the ones who'd shake everything eventually.
His thoughts darkened further as he chewed.
'But does canon even hold? The story. The manga and the anime. Will this world follow suit?'
The canon had zero mention of a Tetsuya Zenin. No forgotten heir, no side character in the clan flashbacks. What if his presence butterflied everything away? What if the timeline splintered, and Maki never rebelled, or Gojo never sealed, or maybe Yuji not even eating that damn finger in the first place!
He shoved the porridge down, appetite souring.
'I'm not just some unmentioned Zenin bum. Did this body even exist? Was it born for when I'd eventually wake up? Fuck me. Fuck me bloody. So many fucking questions.'
And then, as abrupt as any other of his thought, a new thought hit him.
'Hang on. Jinichi didn't give birth to me. Who even is my mother?'