Sawa's sudden quip left Naobito and Takayoshi speechless.
The Grand Elder hurriedly covered Sawa's mouth, smiling apologetically at the two clan heads. "Youngsters, you know—please forgive his impudence!"
"Hmph!"
Both clan heads snorted coldly, flicking their sleeves as they walked away.
The Grand Elder sighed in relief. "Young Master Sawa, those are the heads of the three great families. Even you should mind your words!"
Sawa shrugged. "Too much effort to play nice."
It wasn't arrogance—his current strength rivaled, if not surpassed, the two clan heads.
As for the hypocritical pleasantries between the three great families, he had zero interest.
The exchange was a mere blip.
Clearly, Naobito and Takayoshi sensed Sawa's attitude and didn't bother with further pleasantries.
To the younger generation of the Zen'in and Kamo Clans, Sawa and Satoru were like "the neighbor's kids"—unattainable figures to look up to.
This distance made them hesitate to approach.
Sawa and Satoru didn't mind, even relishing the undisturbed vibe.
Despite occasional curious glances, they ignored them, scouring the banquet for tasty desserts.
"Ugh, why's this dessert salty?"
Satoru set down a salt-and-pepper pastry, his face scrunching up.
"My foolish little otouto!"
Sawa shook his head, reaching for a cherry pie.
Perhaps due to being twins, or maybe because their techniques burned so much energy, Sawa, like Satoru, had become a sweets enthusiast.
Just as Sawa's hand neared the cherry pie, a small, pale hand brushed against his.
Sawa paused, turning to see a brown-haired girl staring at him.
"Shoko Ieiri?"
Sawa blurted out.
"You know me?"
Shoko tilted her head.
The "Six Eyes Twins" were a household name in the jujutsu world, so of course she'd heard of them.
But she hadn't expected the famed elder twin to know her name.
Sawa nodded. "Heard a bit about you—a natural Reverse Cursed Technique user."
Shoko understood then.
True, the "Six Eyes Twins" were legendary, but her innate Reverse Cursed Technique, dubbed a "national treasure" among non-combat sorcerers, gave her some fame too, even if overshadowed.
As she pondered, Sawa grabbed the cherry pie.
"Uh…"
Shoko frowned.
Sawa glanced at her, then split the pie in half.
Shoko's big, adorable eyes lit up, and she reached out eagerly.
"Satoru, this one's sweet."
Sawa handed half the pie to Satoru beside him.
"Huh?"
Shoko's outstretched hands froze, her sparkling eyes turning to tiny beads.
"You… huh?"
Before she could speak, Sawa offered her the other half.
Shoko cautiously took the dessert. "Th-Thanks… What about you?"
"Me? I'm good!"
Sawa casually grabbed a bigger cherry pie from the table.
"Huh?!?"
Shoko's fleeting gratitude vanished.
In ten seconds, this guy had shocked her three times!
"What a… totally unpredictable guy!"
Shoko grumbled inwardly, taking a fierce bite of the pie.
After a few chews, her face soured.
"Ugh, desserts are still too sweet!"
Thus, at the jujutsu world's grandest social event hosted by the three great families, three small figures roamed, oblivious to all, hunting for snacks.
The current Ieiri Clan head, Inomitsu Ieiri, was surprised to see his daughter mingling with the Six Eyes Twins.
"Is it true that geniuses attract each other?"
Soon, the banquet moved to its second phase: showcasing the new generation.
The three great families had even set up a spacious dojo on the hotel's top floor.
Sawa and Satoru had no interest in these childish spars, but as the event's stars, they were forced to face off against the Zen'in and Kamo Clans' youths.
The elders were like parents making kids perform at family gatherings.
The outcome was no surprise—Sawa and Satoru displayed extraordinary skill, not even using Limitless or Blue.
With just physical techniques and the Six Eyes' insight, they trounced their opponents, some of whom were left in tears.
After all, they were just six- or seven-year-old kids.
Amid Naobito and Takayoshi's grim expressions and the Gojo elders' smug grins, the banquet reached Sawa's most anticipated part: the auction.
Skipping the flashy but useless trinkets, the Special Grade cursed tool, Playful Cloud, finally came up.
Playful Cloud—a vermilion three-section staff with black patterns at each section's ends.
As a Special Grade cursed tool, it lacked technique enhancements, offering pure physical output.
In short: tough, durable, critical hit!
"Five hundred million!"
As Sawa zoned out, someone bid, outshining all other bidders.
Sawa's gaze snapped to the bidder, his pupils narrowing.
"Fushiguro… no, it should be Toji Zen'in now!"
"What's up, big brother?"
Satoru followed Sawa's gaze to a burly, broad figure.
A body with no cursed energy fluctuations yet exuded immense pressure and danger.
Satoru's heart chilled. "This guy… he's strong!"
Sawa smirked. "Told you, heroes are as numerous as fish in a river. Stop thinking you're invincible."
"Tch!"
Satoru pouted.
Though the man was strong, Satoru didn't think he'd lose.
Sawa said no more—Toji and Satoru's fated clash could wait. For now…
"Six hundred million!"
Sawa's bid sparked a wave of gasps.
Toji frowned, turning to Sawa and muttering, "Annoying brat!"
"Seven hundred million!"
"Eight hundred million!"
"Nine hundred million!"
"One billion!"
"…"
Toji's composure cracked.
Glancing at Playful Cloud, then thinking of his hard-earned savings, he gave up.
In terms of wealth, how could a Zen'in Clan outcast "monkey" compete with a pampered Six Eyes of the Gojo Clan?
In the end, Sawa snagged the Special Grade cursed tool for a staggering one billion yen.
As the auction concluded, the banquet neared its end.
"Sawa, Satoru, see you later!"
Shoko waved goodbye to her new friends.
Sawa and Satoru waved back, then climbed into the black limo.
Nearby, Toji Zen'in watched the departing twins, a strange stirring in his heart.
Curiosity piqued, he followed.
The limo stopped at the Gojo estate's outskirts, followed by a stone path through a grove.
Sawa and Satoru's mother, in a kimono, greeted them, gently leading them home by the hand.
In the drifting snow, their three kimono-clad silhouettes looked almost ethereal.
Toji Zen'in appeared abruptly dozens of meters away, arms crossed, gazing sideways at the twins' backs.
In that instant, Sawa and Satoru turned simultaneously, their cerulean eyes meeting Toji's slightly startled gaze.
"This is the first time someone's sensed me from behind!"
"And… two of them!"
Watching their receding figures, Toji suddenly felt this winter was unusually cold.