HRU: Chapter 324/325

Chapter 324: Caress and Kill

Kamo Kenshin's clown show finally ended, and everyone's attention shifted back to Satoru and Satoshi, who had been standing off to the side.

The two had been facing each other for a long time, yet no battle had broken out, causing many to unconsciously divert their attention toward Kamo Kenshin's antics.

However, those who had been closely watching Satoru and Satoshi understood that during this quiet confrontation, a clash had taken place—not with blades, but with consciousness. A battle of minds invisible to outsiders.

At this moment, both Satoru and Satoshi appeared noticeably paler than before, yet their eyes shone even brighter.

Two pairs of striking blue eyes, like four gleaming sapphires, sparkled with mesmerizing light.

They stood suspended in the sky, mirror images of one another—both clad in Tokyo Jujutsu High uniforms, both exuding overwhelming presence.

Without the weapons in their hands, most people wouldn't be able to tell them apart.

The Ryūjin Jakka in Satoshi's hand blazed furiously, flames billowing skyward.

Senbonzakura Kegoyoshi, a cascade of cherry blossom blades swirling like a storm.

The two Zanpakutō stood in silent opposition, clashing in aura alone.

"Satoru, you and Senbonzakura Kageyoshi are surprisingly extremely compatible.."

"No wonder you achieved Bankai. Your current mental fortitude is near the pinnacle of this world. Very few can compare to you now."

Through that mental confrontation just moments ago, Satoshi understood the reason why Satoru was able to awaken his Zanpakutō.

It was because his spiritual strength was immense. Only then could he perceive and touch the true form of Senbonzakura.

The prerequisite for attaining Bankai is to make one's Zanpakutō submit. But in reality, most people's mental strength isn't enough to even perceive the spirit form of their Zanpakutō.

That means no matter how strong they are, they can't truly subjugate their Zanpakutō.

In terms of raw power, Tengen, Toji, Yuki, even Suguru, all likely had the capability to defeat their Zanpakutō spirit bodies.

But since they couldn't even see the spirits, they could only continue tempering their Zanjutsu and rely on Shikai alone...

If there were a way to allow Toji and the others to see the spirit form of their Zanpakutō, could it help them complete their Bankai?

A sudden idea flashed through Satoshi's mind, but he didn't have time to explore it now.

After the mental battle, it was time for the real clash.

Everything before this was just an appetizer. Now, the true Zanpakutō duel was about to begin.

...

"Satoru, I'll go first."

Satoshi gently swung the Ryūjin Jakka in his hand. As he breathed, blazing flames surged with the rhythm of his movements.

The person in front of him was the strongest sorcerer of this generation. Though not officially titled as Special Grade, his strength rivaled even that of Yuki.

Until Satoru reached the true realm of Infinity, he would essentially be undefeated across the world.

But in this worldline, there existed someone like Satoshi—wielding Ryūjin Jakka.

So it was fated that Satoru would never become an unmatched existence.

Now, Satoshi intended to use Satoru as a whetstone. To hone and polish his own Bankai.

He knew very well how powerful Senbonzakura Kegoyoshi was. And with how compatible Satoru was with his Zanpakutō, Satoshi had no doubt that Satoru might have already awakened other abilities after achieving Bankai.

The nine years Satoru went without a Bankai had all been years of silent accumulation.

That accumulation was bound to erupt.

With his talent, if he didn't rise quietly, he would burst forth like a tempest.

Expectation flickered in Satoshi's eyes. He believed Satoru would display overwhelming might.
...

In a blink, Satoshi appeared before Satoru and slashed downward with his Zanpakutō.

"Cut."

It was a strike combining Zanjutsu with the blazing might of Ryūjin Jakka. Even before Shikai, this blade could cleave the skies. Now, infused with Shikai's flames, its power had escalated to an unimaginable level.

It was a devastating swing.

But for Satoru, who possessed the Six Eyes, even a strike of such magnitude wasn't enough.

Satoshi's Zanjutsu was lightning-fast, but Satoru, the fastest sorcerer alive, was more agile.

The moment the strike came down, Satoru vanished.

Satoshi's sword missed and struck the ground directly.

"That was it? So simple? Is this really the battle between Gojo Satoru and Gojo Satoshi? I thought Zanpakutō techniques were supposed to be extraordinary. With all those flames on Ryūjin Jakka, I was expecting something massive…"

"Yeah, the flame blade looks cool and all, but it still seems less impressive than the endless cherry blossom blades from Senbonzakura Kegoyoshi. In terms of sheer momentum and scale, Satoshi doesn't seem to compare to Satoru!"

As Satoshi's strike landed in vain, many spectators began murmuring. Most were already partial to Satoru, and after this first exchange, their support grew louder.

However, unlike the general audience watching via live broadcast, those present—Shoko, Suguru, and the others—wore grave expressions.

Satoru, who had just dodged the blow, was now floating mid-air with a serious face.

While the rest of the viewers were puzzled by his expression, a loud rumble suddenly erupted across the screen of the Curse Corpse broadcast.

Then, the ground—flat just a moment ago—split open, revealing a crack three or four meters wide.

Flames erupted from within, raging intensely, with no visible bottom.

This was...

All those who had dismissed Satoshi's move as simple were now rendered speechless.

It was a seemingly plain sword slash, yet it unleashed such terrifying destruction.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 325: Sword Drawing

The previous incident where Ryūjin Jakka obliterated one of Ryomen Sukuna's fingers had certainly shocked many onlookers. However, since the target had merely been a severed finger, it didn't carry the same weight as what had just occurred—a single casual slash that split the sky and tore the earth apart.

"Satoshi, if I hadn't dodged that strike, I'd probably be split in two like the ground, huh? You really don't hold back," Satoru said with a helpless shrug, glancing at the massive crack left in the earth.

"Satoru, you could've chosen not to dodge. If you couldn't avoid it, then I'd just have to mourn my brother silently once the battle was over," Satoshi replied with a casual smile.

He knew full well that even if his sword had struck Satoru, it wouldn't have dealt serious damage. With the countless petals of Senbonzakura Kegoyoshi acting as defense, and the absolute nature of Infinity, the full force of his slash would have been nullified.

The overwhelming impact of that previous blow was only possible because Satoru dodged, allowing the sword to hit the ground directly.

Satoshi returned Ryūjin Jakka to its scabbard, a faint trace of mockery playing across his lips.

"Satoru, seems like you're not ready for a true Zanpakutō duel. Honestly, I think I can handle you with just Kidō."

The act of sheathing his Zanpakutō while saying such words came off as complete disdain toward Satoru, sparking an uproar among Suguru and the others present, as well as the viewers watching the broadcast.

Was Satoshi getting too arrogant?

This was Gojo Satoru he was talking to.

Yes, Satoshi's earlier Hadō had been powerful. But hadn't Satoru already completed Bankai with Senbonzakura Kegoyoshi? That power had directly destroyed Satoshi's Dankū!

Knowing Satoru's personality, how could he tolerate this kind of mockery?

Everyone expected Satoru to retaliate with Senbonzakura Kegoyoshi's overwhelming force and teach Satoshi a lesson.

However, what surprised everyone was that Satoru's expression didn't change at all. His gaze remained locked on Satoshi, specifically on his right hand resting on the hilt of Ryūjin Jakka.

"Satoshi, aren't you underestimating me a bit too much?"

"You think nine years have made me forget you're a kendo master? That stance you're holding—that's Iaidō. The sword-drawing technique. Perfect for counterattacks. So this is how you're provoking me?"

Satoru's sharp words immediately revealed Satoshi's intention.

When it came to the art of Iaidō, the ones with the most authority were Yagyū Saemon and Gojo Shunichi. As the heads of the Gojo Kyokushin-ryu and Yagyū Shinkage-ryu styles, they knew best the devastating potential behind a true sword-drawing strike.

However, the essence of Iaidō lies in taking the opponent by surprise.

Now that Satoru had seen through it, wouldn't the technique lose its edge?

"Satoru, your perception is sharp as always. But even if you know I'm about to use Iaidō, you're still not going to make the first move? Don't you want to see if you can block Ryūjin Jakka in a sword-drawing strike?"

Satoshi's words were blunt and direct.

If his earlier words were just subtle provocation, then what he said now struck right at the heart of Satoru's pride.

Satoru was not the kind of person who would quietly accept being looked down on. Especially not in front of Satoshi.

So now that he knew Satoshi was preparing an Iaidō technique, he only became more curious about the true power of Ryūjin Jakka.

"Satoshi, you seem quite confident in this move. Then let me see it for myself. But first, allow me to show you a new technique I gained after completing Bankai."

Now that he understood what Satoshi was planning, Satoru had no intention of evading.

If Satoshi wanted to use Iaidō against him, then he would respond with the full strength of Senbonzakura Kegoyoshi.

If Satoshi believed that the strike which shattered his Dankū earlier was the full extent of Senbonzakura's power, then he was sorely mistaken.

A faint smirk formed at the corners of Satoru's mouth. His Six Eyes shimmered with radiant light. Billions of cherry blossom petals floating in the sky began to move in perfect formation under his mental command.

"Gōkei. Senbonzakura Kegoyoshi."

As Satoru spoke, the swarm of cherry blossom petals began to spiral inward, converging toward Satoshi. Unlike the previous wave-like movements, this time the petals formed a controlled, spherical structure, intent on enclosing him entirely.

Hearing the word "Gōkei," Satoshi's expression turned serious.

This was one of Byakuya Kuchiki's signature techniques in the Bleach world. It wasn't something that could be broken as easily as Dankū.

Still, Satoshi's right hand remained firmly on the hilt of his blade. Watching the petals close in, he muttered calmly, "Satoru, did you think I couldn't move just because I'm using Iaidō? My feet aren't bound."

As a Shinigami proficient in Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Kidō, and Hohō, Satoshi's mobility was no weaker than Satoru's, the fastest sorcerer in existence.

With just a few Shunpo steps, Satoshi cleanly broke through the formation of Kōkei Senbonzakura Kegoyoshi.

Though the cherry blossom blades moved quickly, they were still slightly slower than Satoshi's Shunpo. This slight difference prevented the petals from completely encircling him.

He didn't even need to lift his hand from the hilt of Ryūjin Jakka.

The waterfall-like flow of blades pursued him relentlessly, but Satoshi continued evading with ease. The petals shimmered like liquid light, chasing after him in graceful arcs, while his movements remained smooth and composed.

Through the Curse Corpse's live feed, all the audience could see was Satoshi reappearing at different angles, seemingly playing a graceful game of hide-and-seek with the spiraling blade storm.

"Satoru, if this is all you've got, I'm going to be very disappointed."

Even while constantly dodging, Satoshi kept taunting Satoru, pushing him to reveal more of his power. He wouldn't rest until he found Satoru's limit.

Seeing Satoshi navigate the attack so effortlessly, Mei Mei and the others present had a newfound realization of the vast gap between them and Satoshi.

Now they truly understood—when Satoshi and Yuki had suggested that he could take all of them on alone, it wasn't arrogance.

They had taken that declaration seriously.

But in Satoshi's mind, he probably hadn't taken them seriously at all.

(To be continued.)