In a small courtyard outside Sendai.
Naoya Zen'in was sparring with Eichi.
Neither of them used Cursed Energy.
If Eichi had used Cursed Energy, the gap in their strength would have been too great.
The sparring would have turned into a one-sided beating.
That would have been a bit too much bullying.
Unlike Toji Fushiguro's well-proportioned body that captivated all who saw it, Naoya Zen'in's muscles conveyed an explosive sense of power.
It was like the difference between a muscular gorilla and a bodybuilder.
Bang, bang, bang.
Eichi and Naoya Zen'in engaged in a head-on exchange of blows.
Neither side dodged.
They let their fists land on each other's bodies.
Naoya Zen'in threw a full-force right punch, and Eichi, without flinching, met it with a full-force punch of his own.
Bang.
The two fists collided.
A sharp pain shot through their fists.
Eichi ignored it, withdrawing his right hand only to punch out again.
Naoya Zen'in did the same.
Their fists sometimes collided, sometimes landed on each other's bodies.
Rip.
Naoya Zen'in tore his shirt, revealing muscles that radiated explosive power.
These muscles were several sizes larger than Eichi's well-proportioned physique.
It was like the difference between Suguru Geto and Toji Fushiguro.
However, Eichi still thought Suguru Geto's type of physique, where he looked slim in clothes but muscular without them, was better.
Eichi grinned, but didn't tear his shirt. Instead, after Naoya Zen'in stretched his shoulders a few times, he punched again.
Naoya Zen'in didn't dodge, also throwing a punch at Eichi's chest.
Thud.
The sound of flesh-on-flesh impact echoed.
Both were quickly forced back simultaneously by the immense power.
"Haha, you two are having a lot of fun, aren't you? Youth is truly wonderful."
A hearty laugh rang out.
Naobito Zen'in, with his hands tucked into his wide sleeves, arrived in the courtyard with Toji Fushiguro.
Upon hearing Naobito Zen'in's voice, both of them stopped.
"You're too slow, Old Man."
Eichi nodded at the servants in the courtyard.
Then he turned to look at Naobito Zen'in.
"Haha, I'm old, can't walk fast anymore."
"Why don't you say that after your muscles turn into flab?"
Eichi playfully slapped Naobito Zen'in.
Naobito Zen'in's muscles were enough to make many Young Men feel ashamed.
"Hey, you rascal, Young Men nowadays really don't have martial ethics, ambushing an old comrade like me."
Naobito Zen'in, who had walked past Eichi and almost had his sake gourd knocked off by Eichi's slap, glared at Eichi with a bristling beard.
"Drink less usually; there'll be plenty for you to drink once we go inside."
Eichi glared back without ceremony.
The four of them then walked into the house and sat cross-legged at the table.
The door to the small courtyard was open, and they could occasionally hear the crisp sound of the shishi-odoshi in the courtyard dropping after being filled with water.
Soon, someone began placing the prepared food on the table, one dish at a time.
"Gulp, gulp, ha~."
Naobito Zen'in picked up a sake cup and drank it all in one go.
"This sake is not bad."
"Could I possibly fool you with bad sake?"
Eichi rolled his eyes.
"Haha, you always manage to find good sake wherever you go, you rascal."
Naobito Zen'in responded with a laugh.
"Jin'ichi, what do you think of this kid?"
Naobito Zen'in asked Naoya Zen'in, seemingly casually, while pouring sake.
"Hmm, he's a hero."
Naoya Zen'in picked up his sake cup and clinked it with Naobito Zen'in's.
There's an old saying, 'You don't know a person until you fight them.'
Many times, the passionate clash in battle makes it easier to understand a person than daily interactions.
Eichi's willingness to give up Cursed Energy and Jujutsu advantages to engage him in a direct, unyielding confrontation was something Naoya Zen'in respected.
After all, from their physiques, Naoya Zen'in clearly had the advantage.
Moreover, fist-to-flesh impacts are very painful, and many people would instinctively dodge or resort to tricks due to the pain.
But Eichi never dodged once.
Therefore, the clash between them was not just a physical one, but also a clash of spirit and will.
Through repeated collisions, Naoya Zen'in understood Eichi's uprightness.
He was not the cunning scoundrel that Naoya Zen'in detested.
"Haha, I told you two would get along!"
Naobito Zen'in laughed and drained the sake in his cup.
This small gathering was proposed by Naobito Zen'in.
This courtyard was arranged by Isayama Naraku at Eichi's request.
Upon hearing Eichi wanted a quiet courtyard suitable for a small gathering of a few people.
Isayama Naraku immediately found an old Isayama Family residence and arranged for the best chef.
As for the purpose of the gathering.
It was actually to let Naoya Zen'in and Eichi get to know each other.
Because Naobito Zen'in noticed that when Eichi spoke of people from the Zen'in Family, there was often disgust in his tone.
Especially towards Ogi Zen'in.
Naobito Zen'in even suspected that if Ogi Zen'in appeared before Eichi, Eichi might just punch him.
Naoya Zen'in was one of the few Zen'in clansmen towards whom Eichi had a normal attitude.
So, when Naobito Zen'in came to participate in this battle, he brought Naoya Zen'in, not Ogi Zen'in.
The purpose was also to see if Eichi genuinely had a good impression of Naoya Zen'in, or if he simply didn't know him.
Incidentally, he could also try to win over Toji Fushiguro.
After all, Toji Fushiguro's original name was Toji Zen'in (II).
They were brothers by Bloodline.
Unfortunately, their parents were too devoted to the Zen'in Family's ideals.
This led to Naoya Zen'in's childhood being almost solely dedicated to Cultivating and becoming stronger.
Toji Fushiguro was even directly abandoned.
Therefore, although they were brothers, they weren't actually close.
"I heard you became a teacher at the High School."
Naoya Zen'in looked at Toji Fushiguro with the same lifeless, dead-fish eyes that Toji Fushiguro had.
"Mm."
Toji Fushiguro's reply was flat.
"How are things going at the High School?"
"Quite good."
The two brothers, neither of whom were good at small talk, chatted in a desultory manner.
"What do you want from us this time?"
Eichi asked casually.
The Japanese dishes were plated too small; Eichi could finish a plate in one or two bites.
"Isn't it because Jin'ichi and I are leaving soon? So, let's all get together."
Naobito Zen'in replied.
"Is that so? We certainly should get together."
Eichi couldn't help but look at Naoya Zen'in.
Naoya Zen'in was considered one of the few conscientious people in the Zen'in Family.
Perhaps because no one held an umbrella for him when he was young, as an adult, though not good at expressing himself, he would still occasionally hold an umbrella for others.
The Kuguru Squad held a very low position in the Zen'in Family, and Naoya Zen'in was one of the few high-ranking Zen'in who cared about them.
He would praise the members during their training, telling them they did well and their muscles were well-developed.
He would also buy watermelons for these people to eat.
It's worth noting that in Japan, watermelons are extremely expensive.
Many people wouldn't even splurge on a single slice all year.
Moreover, Naoya Zen'in bought watermelons for the Kuguru Squad without making any fuss; if someone hadn't coincidentally seen him, people wouldn't have known who bought the watermelons.
Many members of the Kuguru Squad had been helped by Naoya Zen'in.
Naturally, Eichi had a good impression of this rare individual in the Zen'in Family who wasn't a beast.
The few of them drank and chatted, and with Naobito Zen'in's lively presence, none of them felt bored.
They talked about many interesting things, and their relationship unknowingly grew much closer.
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