HRU: Chapter 268/269

Chapter 268: Really Burned to Ashes

Tokyo Jujutsu High.

The flames summoned by the Ennetsu Jigoku consumed Sukuna's six fingers without mercy. The fingers were steadily reduced, burning and melting under the intense heat until finally, nothing remained but ash.

When there was nothing left for the flames to consume, Satoshi retracted Ryūjin Jakka and slowly sheathed it once more.

All the flames, as though sentient, followed the flow of the blade and surged back into the scabbard like a tide.

In just a blink, the treasury, which had looked like a blazing hell moments ago, returned to its original state. If not for the lingering burn marks scorched into the stone walls, anyone watching might have thought everything that happened was just an illusion.

After all, there was nothing left atop the stone platform.

...

Did Sukuna's fingers really get destroyed just like that?

Even though he had braced himself for this outcome, Zenin Ogi's expression was still filled with disbelief.

This was the King of Curses...

He didn't want to believe that Gojo Satoshi, someone of this age, already possessed the power to completely annihilate Sukuna's fingers.

But reality left no room for doubt.

Even if his surname was Zenin, even if he stood in opposition to the Gojo clan, he couldn't deny what Gojo Satoshi had just accomplished—something no sorcerer in history had ever done.

Gojo Satoshi?

Why wasn't he born into the Zenin clan?

This heretical thought surfaced in Ogi's mind. But Satoshi's astonishing strength made him long for such a talent to have emerged from the Zenin lineage. Someone who could finally bring their family to the top of the sorcerer world.

What he failed to recall was that someone once had—Zenin Toji, bearer of the Heavenly Restriction. A man who walked away from the Zenin clan without a second thought.

Back then, Toji had already been the strongest in the Jujutsu world.

The Zenin clan produced a genius like Toji, but failed to keep him. They gave him no sense of belonging.

In the end, the entire Zenin family became little more than a trash heap to him.

In this light, even if Gojo Satoshi bore the Zenin surname, what would change? He would simply become another Toji.

...

Yuki could barely contain her joy. Everyone had doubted whether Satoshi could really pull it off.

Well, now they had their answer.

Her boyfriend had done it. He had accomplished the impossible in the most decisive way.

Seeing Yuki smiling so broadly that her eyes curved shut, Mei Mei and Iori Utahime standing beside her couldn't help but elbow her gently.

"Yuki-sensei, please control yourself. Your expression is way too obvious. A lady should know restraint," Utahime whispered while adjusting her miko robes.

Before coming here, Yuki had begged them to help her keep her composure in front of Satoshi.

So Mei Mei and Utahime didn't hold back.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. I'll control myself."

Though Yuki said that, her expression didn't change in the slightest. She kept grinning, which only made Ogi's dark expression look even gloomier in contrast.

After reminding Yuki, Mei Mei showed a hint of regret. These were six of Sukuna's fingers. Extremely rare Cursed Objects in the entire jujutsu world, and now... just gone.

Such a waste.

If she could have sold those six fingers to the Curse Users first, she could've made a fortune. Then maybe Satoshi could've taken them back. They could've split the profit—fifty-fifty, or even sixty-forty, seventy-thirty. Anything worked. It was still good business.

These big clans really don't care about money, huh? What a pity.

Everyone watching the livestream had their own thoughts. Meanwhile, far away in Kyoto, Principal Gakuganji sat in stunned silence.

He had expected Satoshi might damage Sukuna's fingers.

But he never imagined the boy would outright destroy them.

Gakuganji sat stiffly in his chair, eyes glazed.

His stance differed completely from Tokyo Principal Sekiguchi Seiji.

He represented the old guard.

Though always tactful, anyone in the jujutsu world knew he was at odds with the Gojo clan and the new forces like Yagyū Hidetsugu.

But now, with Satoshi's overwhelming display, even Gakuganji began to wonder if his allegiance had been misplaced.

In this moment, the aging principal looked even older.

Thanks to Gojo Satoshi's appearance, the dominance of Kyoto Jujutsu High might soon be eclipsed by Tokyo.

And he knew... it might be time to reconsider his standing within the Jujutsu Association.

...

At the Yorozuya.

Jogo leapt up in excitement.

"As expected! I told you, Ryūjin Jakka is on another level. Sukuna's fingers didn't stand a chance!"

"Yuto, look! Sukuna's fingers were reduced to ash by Ryūjin Jakka's flames!"

Jogo beamed with pride. The performance of Ryūjin Jakka validated everything he had said about it.

Ryūjin Jakka's strength truly surpassed that of Sode no Shirayuki.

"Alright, alright, I get it. Ryūjin Jakka's the strongest. All the other Zanpakutō are trash, okay?"

Yuto waved dismissively. Why should a sorcerer like him, who didn't even have a Zanpakutō, care about which one was strongest?

Wait. That wasn't right. Jogo didn't care about all Zanpakutō, just Ryūjin Jakka being the strongest.

However, at that very moment, Yuto's offhand remark seemed to spark a reaction from Katen Kyōkotsu. The Zanpakutō in Toji's hand trembled slightly, almost like it was protesting.

Of course, Toji immediately understood it wasn't a protest about Ryūjin Jakka being stronger. It was a protest against Yuto calling the other Zanpakutō "trash."

"Jogo, no one's denying that Ryūjin Jakka is powerful. But you have to admit, Sode no Shirayuki played a role too, right?"

"If not for the power of her Bankai, Ryūjin Jakka wouldn't have been able to unleash Ennetsu Jigoku to such effect and fully destroy the finger."

As someone bound by Heavenly Restriction, Toji's insight was sharper than most. He immediately recognized the real reason behind Satoshi's dual-wielded Zanpakutō strategy.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 269: The Attention of All

Jogo paused and nodded at Toji.

He didn't refute the power of the other Zanpakutō. What had just been said came from Yuto, and had nothing to do with him.

Seeing that Rokugo was no longer arguing about Ryūjin Jakka's strength, Toji turned to look at Yuto.

"Yuto, I know you've always been unable to let go of your resentment toward Nozarashi, but you need to reflect on yourself."

"If you really can't resolve the issue with Nozarashi, consider letting Yuta inherit your Zanpakutō. Satoshi and I discussed Nozarashi before. He told me that Nozarashi's power is definitely not inferior to Katen Kyōkotsu..."

Toji's words made Yuto tremble.

Not inferior to Katen Kyōkotsu? Could that really be true?

In truth, he'd always held a scale in his heart. Before Ryūjin Jakka destroyed Sukuna's finger, he had regarded Ryūjin Jakka, Katen Kyōkotsu, and Senbonzakura as being on the same level.

But now, Ryūjin Jakka had ascended to the peak, earning the title of the strongest.

Below that, Katen Kyōkotsu and Senbonzakura stood as equals.

And now Toji was telling him Nozarashi was on par with Katen Kyōkotsu? What did that mean? If Toji wasn't lying, then he had truly failed to unleash Nozarashi's power.

So what was Satoshi thinking when he entrusted Nozarashi to him back then?

What kind of expectations did Gojo Satoshi, the true head of Yorozuya, place on me?

Yuto fell silent. Nine years had passed, and he still hadn't completed Nozarashi's Shikai. Satoshi must be disappointed, right?

...

The Gojo Clan

"Haha! As expected! Satoshi actually destroyed Ryoumen Sukuna's fingers!"

"Now, I really want to see the looks on Zenin Naobito and Kamo Kaname's faces!"

Gojo Kumaen laughed wildly, knocking over the teacups on the table in front of him with his exaggerated movements.

Beside him, Gojo Shunichi wore a helpless expression, but joy still danced in his eyes.

Young Master Satoshi really did it. He accomplished what none of the past generations could. He truly destroyed Ryoumen Sukuna's fingers.

Gojo Shunichi recalled the conflict he had with Satoshi nine years ago.

Back then, he was still a staunch supporter of the Twin Curse Faction. He had no respect for the Gojo clan's only Curse Tool forger, Gojo Takuya, believing that forgers were of no real use to the clan.

If it weren't for that assassination attempt, if Satoshi hadn't seized the Cursed Tool known as Yoru, he likely wouldn't have clashed with him at all.

At this moment, Gojo Shunichi felt everything had been perfectly orchestrated by fate.

Because of that incident, he was able to witness the Zanpakutō, Sode no Shirayuki, forged by Master Satoshi.

It was through that very conflict that he obtained his own Zanpakutō, Suzumushi.

At the time, he had been stunned by the Zanpakutō and had only thought of it as a special and powerful Cursed Tool. But now, he fully understood how rare Zanpakutō truly were...

Had those events not happened, even as a First Grade sorcerer of the Gojo clan, he might never have qualified to receive a Zanpakutō from Satoshi.

After all, while he was strong, there were many in the clan even more powerful.

Satoshi is the hope of the Gojo clan!

Gojo Shunichi silently clenched his fists, forcibly suppressing the excitement in his heart.

For Satoshi to destroy Ryoumen Sukuna's cursed remains... that means he truly deserves to be called the strongest sorcerer in the jujutsu world!

After witnessing the power of Ryūjin Jakka and Hakka no Togame firsthand, no one could doubt Satoshi's status as the strongest.

Even a Special Grade sorcerer like Yuki would be defeated against Master Satoshi's twin Zanpakutō...

The Gojo twins are not a curse!

The two Six Eyes heirs are the pillars of the Gojo clan. Even after nine years of slumber, Satoshi remains a looming presence over the entire world of jujutsu.

...

Zenin Residence

Zenin Naobito let out a long sigh, looking at the dazed Zenin Shinsuke beside him, and silently shook his head.

"Gojo Satoshi really did it? How is that possible!"

Zenin Shinsuke's eyes widened. He had poured his heart into training, only to feel like all his efforts were now meaningless.

After truly witnessing Ryūjin Jakka's power, he even felt like his silent pursuit had become a joke.

Compared to Shinsuke, who was starting to lose control, Zenin Naobito appeared far calmer—almost indifferent.

When he learned that Gojo Satoshi had awakened, he had already anticipated this outcome.

As the head of the Zenin family and the highest-ranking member of the anti-Gojo alliance, Zenin Naobito may have been the only one who truly believed Satoshi could achieve this feat.

The impression Satoshi left on him nine years ago was too deep. From the moment news of his return spread, Naobito felt the tide was turning.

For nine years, the Zenin and Kamo families had joined forces to suppress the Gojo clan. Yet even after all that, the Gojo clan remained a dominant force in the world of jujutsu. That alone was proof of their overwhelming strength.

The foundation that Satoshi left behind was simply too strong.

And with another Six Eyes child supporting them, the Zenin and Kamo clans had no hope of contending with the Gojo clan unless they produced successors with the clan's ancestral techniques.

The Kamo family was now rumored to have a descendant who had inherited the Blood Manipulation technique. But what about the Zenin family?

As the supposed successor of the Ten Shadows Technique, he hadn't even begun to show results.

Even if successors emerged for both families' techniques, they still had to be nurtured over time.

In this race against the Gojo clan, both families had lost their advantage. With Satoshi's return, they had essentially lost their opportunity.

Unless...

They resorted to extraordinary means.

(To be continued.)