HRU: Chapter 186/187

Chapter 186: Minazuki — Spit It Out

"Suguru, you've fulfilled the agreement."

Satoshi smiled and nodded.

Geto Suguru let out a breath of relief and retracted the Rainbow Dragon.

Taming the Rainbow Dragon had consumed considerable effort. Releasing it was to prove something to Satoshi.

Suguru understood that everything Satoshi did was to bring out his full potential.

Still, deep down, there was a subtle resistance—perhaps even a trace of fear—toward Satoshi.

He always found it easy to get along with Satoru, but with Satoshi, it felt like being under immense pressure.

Even the Limitless, Ten Shadows, and Red Blood Manipulation—techniques that had shaped the entire history of the Jujutsu world, would likely end in futility before Satoshi's Zanpakutō and his Heavenly Restriction.

That thought had crossed Suguru's mind more than once.

Could it be that Satoshi doesn't possess a Cursed Technique?

Maybe, Satoshi's innate technique is Zanpakutō forging itself?

Only that would explain how he was able to create a Cursed Tool that had never existed in the Jujutsu world.

Suguru didn't dare think too deeply. Satoshi's origins were shrouded in mystery, tied to the secrets of the Big Three Sorcerer Clans.

Since neither the Zenin nor Kamo clans had said anything, what right did he—someone from a common sorcerer family—have to question it?

At the very least, Satoshi acknowledged him, and even forged a Zanpakutō for him.

That thought alone made Suguru genuinely look forward to what his Zanpakutō would be like.

…

After Geto Suguru tamed the Rainbow Dragon, Yaga Masamichi and the other two finally relaxed.

The Cursed Spirit subdued by Suguru had been successfully exorcised. Half the mission was now complete. What remained depended on the state of Yagyū Saemon.

All eyes turned toward Minazuki, who was still chewing.

At that moment, Shoko slowly opened her eyes.

Her cursed energy had been nearly depleted, leaving her face pale.

Satoshi moved to Shoko's side and helped her up. He had full confidence in Minazuki's healing abilities, but he hadn't expected it would consume so much of her Cursed Energy.

He supported her over to Minazuki.

Minazuki stared at Shoko with her single eye, a hint of confusion flashing within it.

"Murakami, my cursed energy can't support Minazuki to keep healing Uncle Yagyū Saemon."

Shoko's words immediately changed the expressions of Yaga, Sekiguchi Seiji, and Nishinagaki.

What was that supposed to mean? Was everything Satoshi said earlier false? Could Shoko not heal Saemon?

Gojo Satoshi gave her a light nod.

"You've done well, Shoko. This was your first time using Minazuki's healing technique, so it's normal for there to be unforeseen issues."

"What's Saemon's current condition?"

He didn't appear worried in the slightest.

Even if the others didn't know, how could he not?

Even though Shoko didn't have enough cursed energy to fully restore Saemon's body, Minazuki had been healing him for quite some time. There was no way Saemon was still in critical condition.

Shoko shook her head. Her bond with Minazuki wasn't strong enough to clearly sense Saemon's exact status. She could only confirm he was still alive within Minazuki, nothing more.

"Satoshi, have that cursed spirit spit out Saemon. We need to reassess his condition."

Sekiguchi Seiji's tone grew serious.

He was well aware that the Yagyū clan was currently trying to secure a vote from the association's upper leadership. If all went well, the Yagyū family—bolstered by two Grade 1 sorcerers—might claim a seat.

But if one of those hard-earned Grade 1s died because of this mission…

He couldn't imagine how the Yagyū family would react.

Yaga and Nishinagaki were just as grim. They understood how vital Saemon's safety was.

Satoshi glanced indifferently at the three of them, his expression calm.

This calmness only deepened the disappointment on their faces.

Everyone knew of the close bond between Yagyū Saemon and Satoshi.

Many believed Saemon had joined this mission to break through his own limits and achieve Bankai through Satoshi's guidance.

Now, faced with this situation, Satoshi remained cold and unmoved. One could only wonder what Saemon would think if he learned of this later.

But if Saemon truly didn't survive this, perhaps it wouldn't matter how Satoshi acted anymore.

Humans tend to see only what they want to see.

Sekiguchi and the others focused only on Satoshi's attitude, conveniently forgetting why he had even come here in the first place.

Wasn't rescuing Yagyū Saemon the very reason he showed up?

It was a contradiction.

If they thought it through more thoroughly, they might understand why Satoshi appeared so calm.

He simply wasn't concerned with their adult posturing and politics.

Still, he didn't dismiss Sekiguchi Seiji's request.

Instead, he nodded toward Ieiri Shoko.

She gave Minazuki a troubled pat on the head and passed along the command.

[Spit this one out? But he hasn't healed yet.]

Minazuki's large eye blinked in confusion. Both Shoko and Satoshi could sense the meaning behind her hesitation.

Satoshi smiled and stroked her gently.

"It's fine. You don't need to finish the healing. Shoko doesn't have the strength to support you anymore. Just spit out Yagyū Saemon. I'll handle the rest."

Minazuki seemed to understand. She knew the one standing before her was the one who had brought her into this world.

So, she obeyed.

Her chewing grew more intense. Then, with two massive crunches, she opened her mouth wide and spat out a human-shaped figure wrapped in a green light.

No one had expected Yagyū Saemon to reappear like this.

And aside from Satoshi, no one recognized what that mysterious green light surrounding him truly was.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 187: The Future Terror

A flicker of surprise passed through Gojo Satoshi's eyes, but it quickly faded into calmness.

There was nothing strange about Kaidō's power manifesting through Minazuki's body. After all, Minazuki's healing ability originally stemmed from Kaidō.

Thinking of this, Satoshi found himself looking forward even more to the fourth path of Zanpakutō mastery—Kidō.

In the world of Bleach, aside from Zanpakutō, Kidō techniques had always been the most stylish and powerful.

From what Satoshi understood, Kidō was divided into Hadō (Way of Destruction), Bakudō (Way of Binding), and Kaidō (Way of Healing).

In the original Bleach storyline, Hadō was used most often, followed by Bakudō, while Kaidō rarely appeared.

If I can break through Hohō and fully master Kidō, I should be able to wield all three—Destruction, Binding, and Healing.

When that happens, I'll finally see which is stronger: Kaidō or the Reverse Cursed Technique.

To be honest, Satoshi was really looking forward to mastering Kidō.

Even someone with a body as strong and cursed as his couldn't resist the joy of standing far away, chanting a few lines, and blasting an enemy out of existence.

Just as the world of Bleach revolves around Zanpakutō, the most terrifying villain in the early story—Aizen Sōsuke—relied on Kidō more than anything else.

Spells like Dankū and Kurohitsugi were elevated to terrifying levels by Aizen's mastery.

Satoshi wanted to let this world of Jujutsu sorcerers experience firsthand the fearsome might of the ghost path.

…

Looking at Yagyū Saemon wrapped in green light, not only Yaga Masamichi and the others, even Ieiri Shoko, someone proficient in the Reverse Cursed Technique looked completely lost.

No one understood what this green fluorescence meant.

This was a power that had never before appeared in the world of sorcery.

Just as uncertainty clouded everyone's mind, a light cough suddenly echoed out.

Everyone turned toward the sound and found that Yagyū Saemon, still wrapped in green light, had opened his eyes.

He was awake.

Is he already healed? Wasn't Saemon unconscious just now? How could he be awake already? Is this the power of this cursed spirit?

Sekiguchi Seiji's eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

So what did Shoko mean earlier when she said she didn't have enough cursed energy to maintain the healing? Wasn't the treatment effective? This is terrifying.

Yaga stared at Saemon lying on the ground, then looked at Ieiri Shoko beside him, and finally at the giant, pale green manta ray gazing innocently with its single eye. His heart was in turmoil.

What is happening in this world of sorcery? Why does it feel like the world has become completely unrecognizable in just a year?

Finally, Yaga's gaze settled on Gojo Satoshi.

He knew very well—the one who had changed this world stood right before him. The Six Eyes twin, the forger of Zanpakutō, someone who should never have existed here.

Is this the power to change the world?

From their earlier conversation, it was clear that this massive manta ray was born from the power of a Zanpakutō.

This newly forged Zanpakutō currently belonged to Ieiri Shoko.

Thinking of this, Yaga couldn't help but feel a little envious.

Among these six-year-old children, aside from Suguru, Satoshi, Satoru, and Shoko had all obtained their own Zanpakutō.

And each of them wielded incredible power.

Even though Suguru didn't have a Zanpakutō yet, this incident earned him Satoshi's promise that one would be forged for him.

Clearly, these four children were the future of the entire world of sorcery.

Yaga then turned his gaze to the older Zenin Toji and Kujuku Yuki.

If Satoshi and the others represented the distant future of Jujutsu sorcery...

Then Toji and Yuki were its present.

Zenin Toji possessed the strongest physical body, and paired with his Zanpakutō, Katen Kyōkotsu, not even the top two Grade 1s of the Zenin clan could match him.

Yuki was a Star Plasma Vessel with overwhelming talent. It was said her innate technique originated from her clan's ancestral jujutsu. She was destined to become a Grade 1 sorcerer.

Now she had obtained a Zanpakutō from Gojo Satoshi. More importantly, she was also rumored to be his girlfriend.

With that connection, it was impossible to imagine Yuki not siding with Satoshi.

This meant the group formed around Gojo Satoshi had already become an unstoppable force.

Zenin Toji, already in his prime, had secured his place as one of the strongest in the current Jujutsu world. There were hardly any sorcerers who could defeat him now.

And Yuki, still technically a junior high schooler, had inherited the strongest bloodline of the Tsukumo clan and continued to support this group.

Once Satoshi, Satoru, Suguru, and Shoko matured, this faction would undoubtedly dominate the entire world of sorcery.

Two wielding Heavenly Restriction, two possessing Six Eyes, each with a Zanpakutō, a Curse Spirit Manipulation Technique, a Reverse Cursed Technique, and a Star Plasma Vessel…

What kind of organization could possibly resist a force like this?

Even if all three major clans united, they likely wouldn't be able to shake Satoshi's rule.

This was Yaga Masamichi's clearest impression in that moment.

He suddenly thought of Satoshi's involvement with the Tombs of the Star, and how he had brought out a Special Grade cursed spirit from within.

Add that Special Grade to the Rainbow Dragon Suguru just tamed…

And now there were two Special Grade cursed spirits within this small group.

You really couldn't afford to think too much about it. The more Yaga thought, the more he realized how terrifying Satoshi truly was.

And at the center of it all was Gojo Satoshi. He was the heart and soul that kept this group together.

A sharp gleam shone behind Yaga Masamichi's sunglasses.

If I can get Gojo Satoshi to align with my ideals, maybe changing the world won't be such an impossible dream.

Standing beside him, Yōshu quietly recorded the details of Shoko's power and the abilities of the giant ray in his heart.

As a support-oriented supervisor, his combat ability was not high, but all his skills were focused on auxiliary support.

This kind of information was critical, and he had to bring it back to the association safely.

It would be vital for the association's future strategy and development.

(To be continued.)