Chapitre 19: Subtle Manipulations
Dressed in a standard unbuttoned Jujutsu uniform with an inner black shirt, a blue haired youth sat on a small bench in front of a small stream with a serene expression, before he gently closed his eyes and relaxed, feeling the cool air breeze towards him.
"It's nice to get a break from training sometimes.." Letting out a smile, he enjoyed the peace and quiet, relishing in the cacophonous rhythmic chirping of birds and the flapping of leaves.
After a few minutes of relaxing, he opened his eyes and frowned.
'That assassin from that day...there's been no trace of him anywhere..'
He couldn't help but rub his hair in frustration. The very thought of such a man with such skill and abilities running around, was haunting to be honest.
Even with awakening the Animal Path of the Rinnegan, he doubted he would win in a battle against him.
It was just like the man had told him during the battle. He was strong alright, but physical strength wasn't the only determining factor in a fight. He needed other abilities other than pure strength and speed.
"Oi Silver? Come out you lazy wolf..." Closing his eyes, he spoke with a subtle smile, as a silver wolf materialized in his lap with a snarl.
"What?" Seeing the snarl and unpleasant look on the pups face, he was pretty sure he had just woken it up from a nap.
"I just wanted to ask you something.." Kenshin smiled and began to pet it, rubbing its head slowly with his palm as it calmed itself lowered its head.
"Is it possible for me to use your ability?" Speaking slowly, Kenshin looked right and it but was startled at its response. The sneer and ridicule on its face was enough for Kenshin to know that it was probably deeming him unworthy to use its abilities.
"Come on, I'm serious.." Kenshin looked at it and asked with a serious expression.
*AWWOOOO!*
Letting out a loud howl, its body vanished, as Kenshin relaxed on the bench, allowing the information to seep in slowly.
It seemed like he was right after all, and that it would be possible to use the abilities of his shikigami by himself without even needing to summon it, however, that would depend on how much trust and synchronization existed between him and the shikigami.
Sighing, he placed this at the back of his thoughts, seeing as how he wasn't going to be able to manipulate wind energies soon.
"Ive been searching for you everywhere, how are you my boy..."
Just then a calm and deep voice reverberated as Kenshin turned around only to see a middle aged man in a black kimono standing beside him with a sincere smile.
The menacing scar on his forehead gave Kenshin chills down his spine as he gathered his cursed energy almost instinctively.
"Who're you?!"
"You can calm down Kenshin, my name is Kenzo. I'm an administrator here at Jujutsu High..."
Kenshin's fist was tightly clenched. If it wasn't for the fact that he wasn't sensing any negative intentions from the scarred man, he would've attacked long ago. Besides, although he looked terrifying on the outside, Kenshin felt a strange sensation in his mind, as if he could trust him somewhat, which made him uncomfortable.
"I was a friend of your father, Hiruma, no in fact, you could say I was his closest friend at that time.." Kenzo let out a small pure smile, as Kenshin furrowed his brows.
"Here." Reaching out into his kimono, he slowly pulled up a set of pictures and handed them over to the youth.
"This is me, your father and Mikoto..."Pointing out to himself and Hiruma and another young woman with long blonde hair in multiple photos, Kenzo slowly shifted towards Kenshin, seeing as he had lowered his guard.
"Your father, Mikoto and I were the only students in our batch we were extremely close as a result.."
Letting out a proud smile, Kenzo lifted his gaze into the sky, as if reminiscing old times.
"It was only a few days ago that I was transferred here and learned of your transfer to this place. I've been searching for you, ever since.."
Kenzo let out a joyous smile and looked at Kenshin.
"Kenshin, my boy, listen to me, stay away from that old man, else you might suffer like your father did.."
Suddenly, the man's facial expression changed into a sad one, as he gently patted Kenshin's shoulder.
"What?! Stay away from who?!" Kenshin asked with furrowed his brows. Kenzo sounded like he knew a lot. This might be the chance to get to know what really happened.
"...Ayumu...that old man..everything that happened to your father was due to him." Kenzo let out a sad sigh, and shook his head, while Kenshin frowned instantly.
"During our time as Jujutsu High students, Ayumu was not the Principal, rather, he was a loving and kind teacher, who taught us everything we needed to know as sorcerers. He was like a father to all of us, and we loved him dearly.
But, he wanted to rule, to become a God, and to be worshipped. He invited us to join him in his dream, however your father was the first to refuse, and coupled with his already unfettered and uncaring lifestyle that Jujutsu Principles frowned upon, he was an eyesore to the higher ups.
Deciding to end us if we wouldn't be part of his plan, he sent us on a mission, assigned by himself. On the mission, we encountered multiple Special Grades cursed spirits and lost badly. I was left unconscious by an overpowering attack from one of the Special Grades and when I woke up a week later, I learnt of what had transpired."
Speaking up to this point, the mans voice seemed to break, as he held back his tears.
"The love of my life, Mikoto, was dead, your father was branded a killer and curse user by the higher ups with a bounty for his head and I was left scarred and deformed permanently for life.."
Touching the scar on his forehead, the man slowly sobbed, as even Kenshin felt speechless for a moment.
"I don't believe this..." Kenshin uttered in sheer disbelief.
"I'm sorry Kenshin. The statement was made and endorsed by Ayumu himself, exiling your father and branding him a curse user.."
Taking out a piece of paper from his Kimono, he handed it over to Kenshin who read in disbelief.
Was it really true that Ayumu was behind it all? The same way as Kenzi had described it, Ayumu himself was the one to personally assign them the mission. But why did he warn him, if he wanted him out of the way?
"I'm sorry Kenshin. Just stay out of that old mans way. I don't want to believe that your family's death was his doing, but knowing him, it might be possible after all.
I didn't tell you all of this to go demand answers from him, just don't get in his way, or you might end up like your father.."
Leaving the following words behind, Kenzo stood up and walked away with a sorrowful expression, leaving Kenshin completely stumped in his seat.
"
Meanwhile, as Kenzo walked along the windy path in between the grasses, his expression suddenly changed to one of disgust and annoyance.
"To think even telepathy wasn't able to work on him completely. What a terrifying kid.." Frowning for a moment, he sighed on remembering how difficult it was trying to peer into Kenshin's mind with his telepathy.
"However, the seed of doubt has been planted. All I need to do is to water it a bit and provide the necessary conditions and time for it sprout and soon..."
Laughing to himself, he closed his eyes, as if he could see the end results of his plan. As if he could see the Jujutsu empire getting brought down and destroyed by Kenshin's own hands, leaving nothing but dust and rubble.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone