"Satoru, let's go find the cn head."

  Catching Satoru as he was lounging around, Satoshi immediately dragged his brother along.

  "Pass, Satoshi! I'm exhausted, let me rest!"

  Satoru's Six Eyes reflected his fatigue.

  Satoshi could avoid Toji's brutal training by focusing on forging and studying Zanpakutō.

  But Satoru couldn't.

  With Shunichi away on business, Satoru had become Toji's sole target.

  And without Shoko's healing, he had been suffering from constant bruises and sore muscles every day.

  Today was rare—Toji had left the Gojo estate after a discussion with Satoshi.

  So naturally… Satoru just wanted to rest.

  "You're only six years old, and you're already acting like an old man. What are you gonna do when you're actually old? Get up, I need the cn head's help to find some materials."

  Satoshi refused to let his brother ze around.

  "Materials?"

  Hearing this, Satoru's eyes lit up, though he still looked skeptical.

  "Satoshi, are you forging again? No way, it hasn't even been that long, has it?"

  Thinking back, the st Zanpakutō Satoshi had forged was Katen Kyōkotsu, and that had only been a short while ago.

  "Satoshi, don't tell me… it's the Zanpakutō you promised Shoko?"

  A smug grin appeared on Satoru's face.

  "I knew it! So you do have bad intentions! Shoko is—"

  Before he could finish his sentence, Satoshi punched him in the stomach, silencing him completely.

  "Get up."

  "This time, I'm forging a Zanpakutō for myself—not for anyone else. I'm going to create the most stunning Zanpakutō you've ever seen."

  Hearing this, Satoru suddenly became interested.

  "The most stunning? Don't be ridiculous. You've seen Senbonzakura with your own eyes, Katen Kyōkotsu isn't even as stylish as it. I doubt there's a Zanpakutō fshier than Senbonzakura."

  Satoshi fell into silence.

  If he was being honest, Ryūjin Jakka wasn't exactly a "beautiful" bde.

  But who cared about aesthetics when a single swing could turn the world into a sea of fire?

  Besides, in Satoshi's mind, Ryūjin Jakka's Bankai—Zanka no Tachi—was the most magnificent Zanpakutō of all.

  "Are you coming or not?"

  Coming out of his thoughts, Satoshi gred at his brother.

  "Alright, alright! I'm coming!"

  Satoru stood up reluctantly, but since this was about Satoshi's personal Zanpakutō, he wanted to see what kind of bde his brother would choose for himself.

  ---

  Gojo Cn Estate – Cn Head's Residence

  "Young Master Satoru, Young Master Satoshi, the cn head is speaking with Elder Kumaen inside. Please wait a moment."

  As soon as the servant finished speaking, the door swung open.

  Kumaen's expression was dark, and his mood was clearly sour.

  Seeing Satoru and Satoshi standing outside, he was momentarily surprised.

  If it was just Satoru, that would be normal.

  But Satoshi seeking out the cn head?

  That was unexpected.

  After all, in six years, Satoshi had never once actively sought help from the family.

  "The cn head is inside. Go in."

  Kumaen nodded at Satoru.

  His gaze lingered on Satoshi for a few seconds, a complex expression fshing in his eyes.

  But in the end, he didn't say anything to him.

  Instead, he turned around and left.

  ---

  Inside, an old, hoarse voice greeted them.

  "Our great Cursed Tool forger graces us with his presence. What a rare visitor."

  There was a teasing tone in the old man's voice.

  Satoshi froze for a moment—the atmosphere felt… off.

  It was clear that the conversation between Kumaen and the cn head had been about him.

  However, since he needed the cn's help to find materials for Ryūjin Jakka, he pretended nothing was wrong and followed Satoru inside.

  As for the old man's teasing remark, he chose to ignore it.

  Unfortunately, even if Satoshi didn't respond, the old man wasn't about to drop the subject.

  "The acting cn head just informed me of a rather troublesome rumor floating around the family. Some are saying you're siding with the enemy."

  "The fact that Toji defected from the Zenin cn has sparked quite the discussion within our family."

  "Originally, I wasn't too concerned… but now, Toji has been spending all his time with you, and there are even rumors that he's pnning to join the Gojo cn."

  The old man coughed lightly, then smiled faintly.

  "So, tell me—is there any truth to this?"

  Hearing this, Satoshi felt a chill.

  His retionship with Toji was undeniably close.

  "That's nonsense!"

  Satoshi crossed his arms in an X-shape, signaling absolute rejection.

  "Not only does Toji have zero intention of joining the Gojo family, but the Zenin cn isn't even trying to punish him."

  "Obviously, they realized his worth and won't let him go."

  "They just woke up a little too te."

  "But still, even if they hesitated, there's no way Toji would suddenly turn around and join the Gojo cn."

  "To be honest, the Gojo family isn't much better than the Zenin cn in terms of internal politics."

  "Someone like Toji won't be bound by any cn. He'll find the freedom he wants on his own."

  Hearing Satoshi shut down his expectations immediately, the old man shook his head helplessly.

  If only a warrior of Toji's caliber could join the Gojo family…

  Toji's betrayal of the Zenin cn had caused a major upheaval among Jujutsu sorcerers.

  But within the Gojo family, many were still unwilling to accept his strength.

  Most of them believed that Toji only won because of Katen Kyōkotsu, that without his Zanpakutō's ability to manipute shadows, he never would have beaten Zenin Naobito or Zenin Ogi.

  Many among the cn resented Satoshi for giving such a powerful weapon to an outsider.

  If it weren't for certain individuals stopping them, some would have already confronted him about it.

  After briefly expining the family's current stance, the old man smiled slyly.

  "So, tell me… was it Katen Kyōkotsu that made Toji so strong?"

  "Or was it his own power?"

  (To be continued.)

  ***

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