Invite

Jujutsu Sorcerers.

Beings that have transcended the commonality of man. Beings that stand above the average human norm like a giant mountain. Beings that are so unadulteratedly powerful, that it makes one question the concept of what a human being is in the first place. Are humans even meant to have such power; to hold and command so much authority over all things lesser and insignificant in front of them?

Perhaps. Cursed energy and Curses, well, they are indeed fickle. They change with the tides of the times; and by extension, so do sorcerers.

Jujutsu sorcerers are beings that chase the pinnacle of magical might. To stand atop the power pyramid and suppress all those below it. They invite the degradation caused by the power of cursed energy to elevate themselves to unseen heights; probing the unknown fog that is the boundless energies of the universe.

Jujutsu sorcerers are... beings that practice jujutsu, utilizing techniques and various other factors to change the world as they see fit. They transcend mere morals and ethics, as such things cannot be defined for a being of higher power.

Jujutsu sorcerers are... beings of mystery and grandeur. They fight curses, protecting the mundane world from horrors that they themselves birth unknowingly. They take on a mantle of mystery, working like the cogs in a machine that is the world.

Jujutsu sorcerers....

What is a Jujutsu Sorcerer in the first place?

That was the question Shuichi was tackling at the moment of figuring out the information related to the brain. Eye of the Small Man had been so frighteningly efficient and powerful, that not only had it found out the main difference between a sorcerer and non-sorcerer; but it had also figured out all the key points that make and perform the function of 'cursed energy'.

The key lies in the Pineal gland. Such a small endocrine gland, a hormone that science knows to merely control the circadian rhythm and behavioral changes according to the time actually holds so much more.

In normal humans, the Pineal gland makes a hormone called melatonin. However, in a typical sorcerer brain hardwired to observe curses and cursed energy, it expands to a variety of other functions too.

The Pineal gland stimulates the sensory, motor and association areas of the brain through neural impulses, making up a complex network of information in the form of cursed energy.

Where does the energy come from?

Cursed energy originates due to the limbic system.

A part of the brain that comprises the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, and cingulate gyrus; responsible for the expressions of emotions, sexual behavior, motivation and learning.

When the brain experiences negative emotions like fear, anger, hate, despair, sadness and the like, it triggers some sort of a... process to happen in the limbic system. Sort of like, running electricity through a circuit to produce work. Only in this case, electricity is the emotional stimulus and the work is the emotional response coupled with the production of cursed energy.

These two in tandem, allow for the dialing of senses and other bodily functions to beyond what they would normally be capable of. Hence, the ability to see curses and cursed energy.

The ability to control and utilize cursed energy for various purposes also stem from a similar difference in physiology. The brain functioning alter the way muscles and connective tissues function, making one able to use energy itself which is not possible for a human.

That is also the reason every jujutsu sorcerer is invariably athletic and fit. Controlling cursed energy is like exercising the entire body from head to toe; because the entire body is under function when one controls cursed energy. By extension, the muscles are nourished by the same energy they control, leading to an almost perfect muscular growth, varied as per person.

The question is, how to trigger the changes in the brain autonomously and efficiently. Shuichi thought as he looked at the various diagrams on the table.

He scratched his head, unsure of how exactly he should be proceeding with the project.

Just then, the mobile nestled in his pocket trembled.

Taking it out, he answered the call. It was the window that was assigned to him by the jujutsu council, the one that gave him the various cursed tools requests and information related to the current happenings of the jujutsu community.

"Hello~" Shuichi spoke in a sing song voice.

"Mr. Shuichi, good evening." A male voice rang out from the device. "Good evening." Shuichi replied.

"I have a new request from the jujutsu council." The voice spoke. "Along with that, there's an invitation for you."

Ignoring the second part that mentioned an invitation, he inquired, "A new request so soon? Wasn't the request for the first grade tool completed just the day before?"

"Uhmm.. That's right but... there's been a new request for a cursed tool. Uh, it's directly from the higher ups."

Higher ups? What are they thinking? Shuichi became lost in thought for a moment.

"I'm listening.." Shuichi probed.

"The higher ups have commissioned for a special grade cursed tool, one that harbors even the most mundane technique you can offer." The voice through the phone staggered for a moment, doubt filling it's tone.

They've finally decided to 'judge my worth' huh? Shuichi smirked.

"That will take some time. Give me a week for preparation and an additional 5 days for finalizing." He said.

"That would not be an issue."

"I hoped so. What was that about the invitation?"

"Umm... I'm not sure how I should say this."

"You should speak freely. I'm a busy man as you might know."

"Ahem* very well." The window continued, "One of the three great families, and your very own clan, the Zenin family as invited you to the compound for a bout of negotiation. The invitation comes directly from Naobito Zenin, the current head of the clan." As the window stopped speaking, silence reigned in for a moment. Shuichi expression turned into one of slight surprise.

He had half expected the Zenin clan to reach out to him, but not so quickly.

It's because of my fight with Gojo. At this point, they are unable to simply ignore me... He thought, scratching his chin in the process.

"What's the topic for negotiation?"

"Unfortunately, I have not been made aware of such matters. The only task I was given was to inform you of the invite."

"So they invited me into the compound for 'negotiations' without conveying the underlying subject to be discussed? The modus operandi seems a bit faulty don't you think?"

"..So... what's your response? Will you go?" He asked.

"No."

The window quieted down on the other side of the phone. His current thought process was unknown.

"Hello? Anyone there?"

"...Yes! I'm here!"

"Good, then can you inform Naobito Zenin that I will not in fact be going to the compound, until and unless they give me something to work with."

"...Sorry?"

Shuichi sighed and explained. "I mean, that I shall not go to the Zenin compound until I get informed of the subject of negotiations and am given confidence about some benefits that I may potentially get. If not, they can politely 'kiss my ass'." Shuichi said with a straight face.

On the other side of the phone, he heard the sound of hitched breathing. Possibly from sheer shock.

As expected, for a window, such behavior against the actual head of one of the great families is not something that can be imagined.

Shuichi did not think much of his supposed 'disrespect' towards the Zenin clan head. He had nothing that he owed them.

They had kicked him out of the clan by themselves.

He held no more respect for them that he did for an annoying child throwing a tantrum.

Expecting him to come to the complex for no apparent reason? Fuck off!

Shuichi had become sufficiently strong enough to be an equal in any negotiation. If the Zenin clan wanted to act like they had the high ground, they would be the one in the loss. Not him.

After all, he was the one that could pop out cursed tools like candy; not them.

"Umm" the voice spoke with a shaky tone. "I-I will convey the message..." The window said, cutting off the call.

Keeping the phone back into his pocket.

Shuichi mused for a moment.

"Well, isn't that something."

The higher ups are asking me to make a special grade tool sooner than I expected them to. While the Zenin clan moved faster and tried to reach out to me. Logically speaking, even if I was able to counter Gojo Satoru and punch through infinity, the reaction should have been slower... Shuichi thought with a serious expression. Is there something that I'm missing? An event or person that I haven't been made aware of?

Thinking for a moment, Shuichi shook his head and decided to stop thinking about it.

"Forget it. I'll let tomorrow's me deal with it."

With that, he once again focused onto the research he was conducting.

~~~

The next day came by in a flash. Shuichi didn't leave his workshop, fully embracing the workaholic side of his.

Needless to say, he had been deeply ensnared by the sheer number of possibilities that Hundred Armament Refining gave him.

Even the air itself inside the workshop was a cursed tool, made specifically to suppress all curses and aid in the making of more efficient, more powerful, and more numerous cursed tools.

Along with that, the entire workshop was self cleaning, self regulating, self repairing and completely autonomous. Inside was absolutely comfortable with optimal temperatures, gaseous density, humidness, fragrance and ambience.

It provided large amounts of peace to anyone that sat inside it, allowing for even a normal man to operate for far longer periods of time.

Much less Shuichi who had become a superhuman.

At this moment, at the gateway to his mansion, a particular figure, dressed in light green robes and a pair of sandalwood footwear arrived.

The figure was a somewhat old man with a powerful stature and a sharp moustache along with sharp goatee. His eyes were slightly slanted, giving off a piercing gaze.

He walked with deliberate slow steps.

Stopping just before the gates, he quietly rang the door bell.

Ding~ Dong~

A crisp sound rang out within the mansion as Shuichi was broken out of his stupor.

Feeling the presence of a large cursed energy pool, he activated Records of Tenjin and peered outside the workshop.

Seeing the one at the door, Shuichi's eyes widened in surprise.

It was Zenin Naobito.

~~~

A/N: It was a short chapter.

Anyway, I wanted to take some time off for myself and enjoy a bit before once again going back to the gigantic trap that is life.

Hence, the delay.

There might be more delays in the future, but the novel shall not be dropped.

Cheers~