Reborn in Jujutsu Kaisen as a Zenin

Hours of searching had yielded nothing but frustration. The Inverted Spear's records seemed to simply... stop.

No gradual fade of information, no conflicting accounts – just a clean break in the documentation, as if someone had systematically removed all meaningful traces.

"This isn't natural," Toji observed, his hunter's instincts on edge. "Even lost cursed tools leave traces, rumors, conflicting real accounts. This is too clean."

"My Six Eyes can't find any hidden records either," Satoru added, floating near the ceiling. "Someone went through a lot of trouble to erase this spear's history."

Indra remained silent, his mind connecting dots he wished he didn't have to consider. This level of methodical information removal, this careful elimination of all meaningful leads... it bore the hallmarks of someone who'd had centuries to perfect such operations.

Kenjaku.

The implications were troubling. If that ancient sorcerer already had the spear, their search was not just futile – it was potentially playing into his hands.

"We're done here," Indra announced, his tone brooking no argument. Sometimes knowing where not to look was as valuable as knowing where to search.

"Thank you for your assistance," Kisara offered formally to Minako and Utahime as they prepared to leave. The girl still cast irritated glances at Satoru, who continued to float unnecessarily.

Once in their car, heading away from Kyoto, the real discussion began.

"The records were tampered with," Toji stated flatly. "Someone didn't just hide information – they erased it completely, methodically. Even my underground contacts' rumors seem... manufactured in retrospect."

"Boring," Satoru commented, though his tone suggested otherwise. "Someone went through centuries of records, removing just enough to leave a trail that leads nowhere. My Six Eyes couldn't even find residual cursed energy from the documents that should have been there."

Indra listened silently, his suspicions growing stronger. Only one being had the patience, the capability, and the centuries of time needed to execute such a thorough elimination of evidence.

The same being who'd orchestrated so many of history's turning points from the shadows.

A sorcerer who could switch bodies, maintaining his existence across centuries. Who could plan operations that took generations to bear fruit. Who would absolutely want a tool capable of nullifying cursed techniques.

"We're changing objectives," Indra announced. "The spear isn't just lost – it's in someone's possession. Someone who doesn't want anyone knowing they have it."

"Then we search for whoever has it," Toji concluded, already analyzing possibilities. "Someone this thorough must have left traces somewhere."

"For once I agree with the curseless wonder," Satoru added, unusually eager. "Someone capable of fooling my Six Eyes? That's actually interesting."

"No." Indra's voice cut through their planning like a blade. "We're abandoning this search entirely. We do nothing about this... individual."

"What? But-" Satoru's protest died in his throat as Indra turned to him with a glare of such genuine anger that even the Six Eyes user fell silent. The temperature in the car seemed to drop several degrees.

"Indra-sama," Kisara spoke quietly, observing her master with growing concern, "you seem... wary. Almost afraid."

Indra's entire frame stiffened at her words, a reaction so uncharacteristic that it confirmed her observation.

The Sovereign, who had faced down the Six Eyes user without hesitation, who commanded absolute authority over life and death... was genuinely unsettled by whoever possessed the spear.

The silence that followed was heavy.

The car ride back to the Zenin compound was marked by an uncomfortable silence.

Even Satoru had stopped floating, sitting properly for once as he studied Indra with his Six Eyes, trying to understand what could possibly unsettle someone who had matched him in power.

Toji's instincts screamed that any being capable of causing such a reaction in Indra was a threat beyond normal comprehension.

His hand never strayed far from his weapons, though he knew logically the being would not be around them as well as that they'd be useless against whatever they were deliberately not pursuing.

Kisara watched her master with growing concern. In three years of service, she'd never seen him show genuine wariness of anything or anyone.

His absolute confidence wasn't an act – it was his nature. Yet something about this unseen enemy made even the Sovereign exercise caution.

The dynamic between them had shifted subtly but significantly.

Indra's display of genuine emotion, however briefly, had reminded them that even Heaven's chosen could feel fear. Even Satoru's usual teasing about "little brother" felt inappropriate in the heavy atmosphere.

As they approached the compound, Indra finally spoke. "Some enemies," he stated quietly, "are best left undisturbed until one is absolutely prepared to face them. Remember that."

The Zenin compound's gates appeared ahead, but the tension in the car hadn't dissipated. If anything, Indra's warning had only heightened it.

"And when will we be prepared?" Satoru asked, his usual playfulness absent. For once, he sounded his age – an eight-year-old confronting the truth that is that some threats exceeded even his heavenly sight.

"When the time comes, we'll know," Indra replied. The unspoken message was clear: not now, not soon, and possibly not for years to come.

As they exited the car, each of them carried a new form of understanding. They'd set out to find a cursed tool and instead discovered something far more terrifying and significant – the existence of a threat that made even the Sovereign pause.

"What now?" Kisara asked quietly as they entered the compound.

"Now," Indra stated, his composure fully restored, "we prepare. But not for this enemy. Not yet."

The implications hung in the air: there were other battles to fight, other powers to master, before they could even consider confronting whatever shadow had so thoroughly erased itself from history.

"What will you do now, Satoru?" Indra asked, attempting to break the heavy atmosphere. "Return to the Gojo compound?"

But as he spoke, he noticed something that made him pause. Satoru, for the first time since they'd met, looked almost... scared. Not his usual theatrical reactions, but genuine unease. Even Kisara's composure showed cracks, her eyes carrying a shadow of fear he'd never seen before.

The realization hit him then. Unlike him, they hadn't lived another life. They weren't reincarnators, but simply children.

Powerful children, but children all the same.

To them, he had been a figure of absolute certainty – even to Satoru, though he'd never admit it. Seeing him genuinely unsettled by an unknown enemy had shaken their worldview completely.

Their young minds must be spinning with possibilities, each scenario growing darker than the last. What kind of being could make someone who matched the Six Eyes show such caution?

"All of you will stay here tonight," Indra decided, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Kisara, have your mother brought over as well. Toji, there's plenty of room."

The relief in their expressions, though subtle, confirmed his assessment. Tonight, none of them wanted to be alone with their thoughts.

As servants prepared rooms, Kisara's mother arrived – a gentle-looking woman whose illness had greatly improved under proper care.

Akane Zenin - a twenty-six year old women carried herself with quiet dignity, though her traditional upbringing had always made her hesitant around Indra despite their future in-law status.

Only talking to him once every few months, never herself approaching him, and always feeling unease and a sense of unworthiness, causing Indra to never seek her for he desired not to invoke that in the kind woman.

"Indra-sama," she bowed deeply, then paused, seeming to gather courage. "I... I wish to properly thank you. Not just for my treatment, but for giving my daughter purpose. For seeing her value when others wouldn't."

She turned to the others, her warm presence somehow easing the lingering tension. "I'm Akane.

Please, let me prepare tea for everyone. It's the least I can do for my daughter's... companions." The slight hesitation suggested she wasn't quite sure how to categorize this unusual group.

"You don't need to-" Indra began, but she surprised everyone by gently interrupting him.

"Please," she smiled softly. "Allow a mother to care for troubled children, even if those children carry Heaven's blessing."

Something in her gentle assertion, her maternal concern extending even to ones as powerful as Indra and Satoru, seemed to further dispel the heavy atmosphere.

Akane led them to a comfortable sitting room, her movements graceful despite her recovering condition.

Even Toji, who normally maintained careful distance from others, found himself drawn into the peaceful atmosphere she created.

"You must be Toji-san," she said warmly, serving him tea first – a subtle acknowledgment of his age despite his status as Indra's subordinate. "The clan speaks of you often, though rarely with understanding."

Her gentle acceptance of his curseless state, treating it as simply another aspect of who he was rather than a deficiency, seemed to catch him off guard.

"And Satoru-kun," she continued, serving the Six Eyes user who, for once, sat properly instead of floating. "I hear you enjoy teasing my future son-in-law." Her tone carried amused affection rather than reproach.

Her wisdom and kindness having finally broken through her fear, knowing it best to treat them like people rather than living deities - for no matter what, they are human.

"The clan always speaks so formally of you all," Akane continued, settling with her own cup.

"The Six Eyes user, Heaven's chosen... but sitting here, I see children who've had a difficult day." Her gaze included Satoru, Indra, and Kisara, while acknowledging Toji with the respect due his age.

"Though I suppose," she added thoughtfully, "even those blessed by Heaven need moments of peace.

And those who protect them," she nodded respectfully to Toji, "deserve rest as well. Kisara tells me you've been searching for something dangerous?" Her question carried no demand for answers, just gentle concern.

Satoru, who usually deflected emotional moments with jokes, found himself responding honestly. "We found something... unsettling instead."

"Sometimes," Akane replied softly, "it's good to be unsettled. It reminds us we're human, no matter what titles Heaven bestows." She glanced at Indra with newfound understanding.

"Even the strongest need nights like this – surrounded by those who see them as they are, not as what they represent."

The evening continued in this way, her maternal presence allowing the children to simply exist without the weight of their roles and titles, while offering Toji a different kind of comfort – the simple acceptance of an understanding adult.

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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter!

Do tell me how you found it?

Also, how did you find Akane. She had Kisara at quite a young ago, at around 18, which is in essence decently old for the Zenin, who marry of the women of their clans pretty early - at least I'd reckon with who they are.

Probably they marry of the girls at 14 and above.

By the way, I've been actually thinking about having Toji and her end up together - Toji is 21, so the age difference is negligible.

I think it would be pretty interesting if she became Megumi's mother, having Indra be Megumi's uncle this way because of him ending up with Kisara - his older sister.

Also, yes, Indra currently is terrified of Kenjaku. And that's freaking wise. He's a kid - even with his past life memories - compared to an actual 1000+ years old sorcerer.

Emphasis on actual, since Sukuna is not, because he's been asleep for those 1000 years.

The guy is a psycho, and always 10 steps ahead.

So until he gets stronger, that fear will be present.

So yeah, I hope that cleared that up and I hope to see you all later,

Bye!)