Chapter 35: Secrets and Struggles

The Zenin clan's meeting room was filled with tension, a heavy air that foretold an imminent conflict. Naobito Zenin, the clan leader and father of Naoya, sat at the head of the table, his expression hardened by contained anger. Around him, the clan elders murmured softly, exchanging disapproving glances. They had heard the news: Satoru Gojo, the most powerful sorcerer in the world, had visited the Zenin residence without an invitation, all because of an alleged approach by Naoya towards his teenage cousin, Aiko Gojo. The scandal was unacceptable.

Kaede, inhabiting Naoya's body, entered the room with a calm, almost carefree expression. Seeing his father's furious gaze and that of the elders, he knew the meeting would not be easy.

"Naoya," Naobito began, his voice laden with contained fury. "What on earth were you thinking by putting the clan at risk in this way? Approaching Gojo's cousin, knowing how dangerous it is!"

The others in the room murmured among themselves, demanding an explanation. Kaede, maintaining his composure, simply smiled with a mocking smirk.

"It's simple," Kaede said, his smile not matching the supposed sincerity of his words. "I'm in love with her." His tone was nonchalant, almost sarcastic, as if he were enjoying the chaos he had created. But something in his eyes, a spark of malice, revealed that his words did not align with his true feelings.

The ensuing silence was deafening. Naobito, unable to contain himself any longer, stood up from his seat and crossed the distance between them in an instant. Without hesitation, he delivered a strong slap to Kaede's face, sending him to the ground. Kaede could have dodged it but chose to take it.

Slowly getting up, Kaede rubbed his jaw and looked at his father with a chilling calmness. "A bit of violence, father... I expected nothing less from you. I can't deny that there's some interest in her... but it's not just for that."

Naobito frowned, even more irritated by his son's attitude. "What do you mean by that?"

Kaede straightened up, keeping his gaze fixed on his father's. "Aiko isn't just any girl. She's almost like Satoru Gojo's right hand. Being close to her means having access to valuable information about the Gojo clan's movements and Satoru himself. If I handle her well, we could gain an advantage that no other clan will have."

The atmosphere in the room changed; the murmurs of anger turned into an expectant silence. The elders, including Naobito, began to reconsider their reactions, weighing Kaede's words.

"Information?" Naobito repeated, his tone still skeptical but less aggressive. "What kind of information?"

Kaede leaned slightly forward, his expression now more serious, yet still carrying that touch of arrogance he couldn't hide. "Gojo Satoru isn't invincible, no matter how it seems. I've discovered that even he has weaknesses, and being close to Aiko has allowed me to observe some of his most private movements. She is his confidante, and over time, she could be the key to foreseeing his actions. If we play our cards right, we could have an advantage over him and, consequently, over the other clans."

Naobito's eyes narrowed, considering the implications of what Kaede had just revealed. While he was still furious about his son's recklessness, he couldn't deny that the information mentioned could be extremely valuable.

Finally, Naobito sank back into his chair, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "You better hope this isn't one of your typical excuses, Naoya. If you're right, there might be some value in this. But if not... there will be consequences."

Kaede nodded, maintaining his composure. He smiled once more, though this time his smile was more calculated than mocking. "And father," he added as he prepared to leave, "I recommend you refrain from resorting to violence again. I'm not the Naoya you knew... that's all."

As he left the room, Kaede let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair, pushing his bangs away from his forehead. As he did so, the mark on his cheek began to fade slowly. "Satoru... weakness, huh. Of course, if it were that easy, I wouldn't be hiding like this," he thought with a mix of frustration. "Tch, but I didn't lie. He's not invincible."

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After that meeting, Kaede decided to relax for a while, and what better way than with his cousin. He had arrived at the training field where he first met her, climbed a tree, and sat on a branch while watching Mai practice her technique, his mind wandering to the complexities of the Celestial Restriction. The identical twins, like Maki and Mai, were considered a single person in the world of Jujutsu, condemning them to drag each other down. Since their birth, Maki's existence had restricted Mai's Cursed Technique, and vice versa, Mai's presence had limited Maki's cursed energy.

It was an endless cycle of restrictions that had led them to their current situation. Kaede couldn't help but think about the injustice of it all, and how this dynamic limited both of their true potentials.

As he reflected, Kaede wondered if Mai could ever break that cycle. "Perhaps," he thought, "if I could find a way to challenge the laws that govern Jujutsu, maybe I could free her from the chains that bind her to her sister." But for that, Mai would have to overcome a bigger obstacle than any adversary: her own destiny. The irony of the situation was not lost on Kaede, who knew that his advice could help her, even if only temporarily.

In the end, what really worried him wasn't whether Mai would master her technique, but how all of this would affect Maki. Each one's existence limited the other, and Kaede, aware of the tragedy that this Celestial Restriction meant, wondered if they would ever find a way to break the cycle. Besides, the inevitable death of one of them.

"I will witness it," he told himself. "Maybe Mai is the key... or maybe not. But at least I can guide them, even if just a little."

As Kaede continued lost in his thoughts, the sound of Mai's footsteps on the training field brought him back to reality. From his position in the tree, he could see how the young woman struggled to concentrate, her technique wavering between success and failure. It was evident that she was frustrated, striking the air with cursed energy, but without the precision she needed.

Kaede smiled with a mix of curiosity and slight mockery. He knew Mai had potential, but her progress was always limited by the ties to her sister. Yet, there was something in that frustration that intrigued him.

Determined to test something, Kaede leaped gracefully from the tree, landing softly on the ground behind Mai. The sound of his landing made Mai turn sharply, her expression shifting from surprise to fear in seconds. Her eyes widened as she saw her cousin standing before her, and unable to prevent it, she let out a startled scream.

"Naoya!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly. "What... what are you doing here?"

Kaede looked at her with that mocking smile he had so well adopted. "Scared, Mai?" he asked in a tone that showed no trace of genuine concern. "I want to check something. Face me."

Mai hesitated, her hands trembling slightly as she held her weapon. The image of Naoya mercilessly hitting her was too fresh in her memory. But there was something different in his tone, something that didn't quite match the sadistic and abusive Naoya she remembered. Still, the idea of challenging him terrified her.

Kaede took another step forward, his eyes locked onto Mai's. "Come on, you don't have to fear me. I'm not the Naoya you used to know..." His words, laden with hidden meaning, were true in more ways than one. "But I want you to confront me as if your life depended on it. Show me what you're capable of."

Mai swallowed hard, still hesitating. She knew she had no choice but to obey, but the fear she felt paralyzed her. Kaede, aware of her terror, decided not to press her any further than necessary. He just wanted to see how far her potential could reach and how she would react to a direct confrontation.

"Or are you now a girl who will hide behind her sister?" Kaede taunted, his tone mocking but not cruel. He wanted to push her, to force her to face her own fears.

Mai clenched her teeth, her fear beginning to transform into a mix of frustration and anger. She knew she had to overcome that fear, not just for herself, but also for Maki. However, the presence of 'Naoya' kept her in a state of internal conflict, a struggle between the desire to surpass herself and the fear of being hurt once again.

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