Hi guys, author here!Please share your thoughts in the comments and reviews. And if you like it, don't forget to drop some stones — they're a great motivator!
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Well, let me apologize for the misunderstanding in the previous chapter. I mentioned that there was a Geto clan, only to later realize that Geto wasn't from a clan at all. So, moving forward, there will be no Geto clan in this fic.
Alright, with that out of the way — let's begin.
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"Name's Toji," said the man, his voice low and amused, eyes half-lidded yet sharp — like a predator that had just spotted something curious.
Naoya blinked, staring at the stranger who had the confidence to sit by the Zenin estate's koi pond as if it were his backyard.
"Toji…?" Naoya muttered, the name tugging at the edge of his mind. "Wait, aren't you—"
"Yeah," Toji cut in with a smirk. "The failure of the Zenin clan. No cursed energy, no blessings, no respect. You could say I'm the black sheep that got away."
"I was gonna say my cousin," Naoya said flatly.
Toji chuckled.
Naoya looked him over from head to toe — well-toned physique, visible muscles, a ruggedly handsome face.
"You don't look like a failure," Naoya said honestly.
"Hah," Toji let out a short laugh. "Guess your eyes still work fine. But don't say that too loud — the idiots in the clan won't like it."
"So what's a runt like you doing here, kneeling this late at night?" asked Toji.
"Got punished for making fun of one of my cousins during the clan meeting," replied Naoya, unbothered by the admission.
"Ah, right. The meeting was tonight." Toji tilted his head.
"You weren't there?" Naoya asked curiously.
"Meh. Those guys don't like me anyway. I was only invited out of formality. So, who are you?" Toji asked, his tone casual.
"I'm Naoya."
"And what does that tell me? Whose runt are you?" Toji asked bluntly.
"Naobito Zenin."
"Ah, that old man pretending to be clan head."
"Pretending?" Naoya asked, tilting his head.
"The clan head hasn't been officially decided yet. The old geezer's letting each candidate manage things for six months — a test, basically. Your old man's turn must be up right now."
"Hm… is that so?" Naoya nodded in understanding.
"Yeah. Anyway, how'd you notice me earlier?" Toji asked suddenly.
"What do you mean?"
"When I was standing there — how did you notice me?" Toji pointed at where he'd been earlier.
Naoya tilted his head in confusion, clearly not understanding.
Seeing his expression, Toji smirked. 'Sharp senses for a kid,' he thought. Even seasoned jujutsu sorcerers struggled to detect him thanks to his Heavenly Restriction. Yet this four-year-old had caught him sneaking around the compound.
"So, who'd you embarrass in front of everyone?" Toji asked, changing the topic.
"Jinichi nii-san."
"Huh, that trash brother of mine. What'd you say?" Toji's grin widened with interest.
Feeling slightly relieved that Toji didn't seem close with Jinichi, Naoya recounted what had happened at the meeting.
Toji burst into laughter. "Great going, kid! That bastard really does have an ugly face!"
"Don't laugh so loudly, Toji nii-san! If they find me, they'll increase my punishment!" Naoya hissed in panic.
Toji froze for a moment. It was the first time in his life a clan member had called him something other than trash or failure. Much less nii-san.
He looked up at the night sky, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"But wouldn't it be funny if I messed things up for you?" Toji said suddenly, glancing at the kid beside him.
Naoya's eyes went wide with panic. "Please don't! I'm already tired from the training!"
"Training, huh? So you've reached that age. How old are you?"
"Four."
"Damn. I really don't care about clan business… didn't even know you existed."
"What are you doing here, anyway?" Naoya asked.
"Went out to the city, hooked up with some chick. Just got back." Toji said proudly, flashing the marks on his neck.
Naoya blinked. "What are those marks? You got injured? Did the girl beat you?"
Toji's smirk vanished. He stared at the kid, questioning his life choices. Right. Four years old.
"Do you know about birds and bee—"
"What are you doing here?"
The cold voice cut him off.
Naoya froze. He recognized that tone immediately.
Toji, on the other hand, groaned in annoyance.
"Sup, old man," greeted Toji lazily.
"…" Naobito said nothing, his cold gaze fixed on him.
Toji met it without flinching. 'Yeah, typical Zenin behavior,' he thought.
He glanced at Naoya, who looked like he was silently praying to every deity that his punishment wouldn't get worse.
Then Toji grinned.
Naoya's gut dropped. He had a bad feeling about that smile.
"Your spawn told me he hates your training," Toji said casually, pointing at Naoya. "Looks like you haven't disciplined him enough."
Naoya's eyes went wide. "No! That's a lie! Toji nii-san is ly—"
He tried to stand, but his exhausted legs gave out. With a yelp, he fell forward — straight toward the koi pond.
Naobito moved instinctively to catch him but stopped when Toji grabbed Naoya by the collar and lifted him up.
"Don't go swimming so late at night," Toji said with a smirk before flinging him to the side.
"Uwaa!" Naoya screamed, eyes shut tight, bracing for impact—
Only to find himself safely in his father's arms.
"AHHHHHH!!!" he kept screaming anyway, until he realized he wasn't falling anymore.
Opening one eye, he looked up to see Naobito staring blankly at him.
"...Hello there," Naoya greeted weakly.
Naobito sighed and set him down, turning toward Toji — who was laughing so hard he could barely stand.
"Your kid's funny, old man. I'll give you that," Toji said, still chuckling, before his expression hardened.
Then he looked at Naoya.
"Change that. He won't survive this den of snakes with that attitude."
"I'll make sure of that," Naobito said coldly. "You don't need to meddle in affairs that don't concern you."
Toji shrugged. He was used to the Zenin arrogance by now.
He gave the kid one last look. Naoya waved timidly, and Toji's lips curved in a faint smile — gone as quickly as it came.
When Toji disappeared into the shadows, Naoya quietly tried to sneak away too.
But a firm hand landed on his shoulder.
"Go kneel. Your punishment isn't over yet," Naobito said.
Slumping in defeat, Naoya returned to the koi pond, kneeling again with his hands raised.
"I don't want those hands lowering for two hours," Naobito ordered sternly.
Naoya's shoulders twitched. He turned to protest— and froze when he saw his father's glare.
"...Child abuser," he muttered under his breath.
"HMM?"
Naoya flinched upright, hands raised higher.
Naobito stayed a while, then left, instructing a servant to keep watch.
"Why is my luck so bad? Why do I suffer so much?" Naoya groaned.
Ding~
Kneel for 1 hour — (1 point) [Collect]
Hearing the familiar chime, Naoya opened the screen and tapped Collect.
"This isn't enough compensation for my suffering," he grumbled, before slowly dozing off — still kneeling.