HRU: Chapter 151/152

Chapter 151: The Thrill

"Satoru, Lord Tengen really doesn't have any hostility toward Satoshi! Please believe that."

Yuto understood the inside story, so he was unwilling to let relations between the Tombs of the Star and the Gojo clan fall apart.

Tengen meant well, but her method was simply too unorthodox.

How could a newly born Special Grade Cursed Spirit be prepared as a gift for a visiting guest?

...

At the same time, the Tombs of the Star had entered a full lockdown and vanished again.

All the major forces in the jujutsu world who had been tracking Satoshi's movements were stunned.

Although the Tombs of the Star had long remained out of sight, many sorcerer clans understood the significance of its recent state of isolation.

It could only mean one thing—the Tombs of the Star was either facing a powerful enemy or undergoing internal turmoil. Its shift into this special lockdown implied a threat too serious to be ignored.

Now that Satoshi had just entered the Tombs and such an event occurred, didn't that suggest the Tombs' attitude toward him?

Zenin clan residence.

Ogi's heart was filled with malicious glee. He hoped Satoshi would die at Tengen's hands. That way, the Zanpakutō—a threat to the jujutsu world—would disappear completely.

Because of Satoshi and his Zanpakutō, Ogi's position in the clan had become awkward, and his status was even at risk of being overtaken by his nephew, Toji.

And the one responsible for all of this was none other than Satoshi.

Hopefully, this time, Tengen would eliminate that threat once and for all.

Elsewhere in the Zenin residence, others received the news with solemn expressions.

They didn't believe Tengen was simply targeting Satoshi.

If that were the case, neither Toji nor the Gojo clan would sit still.

Though the Tombs of the Star was powerful, the Gojo clan's strength had also reached impressive heights. On top of that, there was Toji, whose strength had long surpassed measurement. It was hard to believe Lord Tengen would act so irrationally.

However, it was merely a Star Plasma Vessel, hardly enough reason for the Tombs to enter full lockdown. There had to be something more behind this.

...

Kamo family.

Kamo Shin had recently taken in a woman who gave him the gentleness his tiger of a wife never did.

He kept her as a mistress outside the family without telling his wife.

For some reason, he felt she would bear him a child—one who would surely benefit the family.

After hearing that Satoru and Satoshi had been trapped in the Tombs of the Star, he couldn't suppress his excitement.

If something truly happened to the Gojo twins inside the Tombs, then this generation's Six Eyes would no longer pose a threat to the Kamo clan.

And since the Zenin clan had no legacy techniques for shadow manipulation, the Kamo family's issue of lacking a successor to Blood Manipulation didn't seem as critical anymore.

...

Yagyū family.

Yagyū Saemon looked grave. He hadn't expected everyone's fears to come true. Lord Tengen had actually taken action.

"Hidetsugu, I'm heading to the Gojo clan."

Saemon's tone was serious.

Now that both of the Gojo clan's twin prodigies were trapped inside the Tombs of the Star, he knew the Gojo family wouldn't sit still.

He even suspected that Kumaen might mobilize the Gojo clan's elite sorcerers to launch a full-scale attack on the Tombs.

As someone who had received the favor of a Zanpakutō, and as a member of the Gojo clan's extended allies, it was his duty to act.

Hidetsugu nodded slightly and added, "You go first. But I think Kumaen should continue observing the situation. I don't believe this is so simple. Lord Tengen's response feels like an automatic defense, not an attack."

At that moment, the head of the Yagyū clan spoke as well.

"Lord Tengen's actions don't seem like a direct assault on Satoshi, but more like a built-in defense mechanism of the Tombs."

"Still, since the Yagyū clan has chosen to side with the Gojo clan, we'll stand with them through this."

"Hidetsugu, Saemon—go to the Gojo residence at once."

Yagyū Yusuke made a decisive call. He didn't care what secrets lay within the Tombs of the Star. What mattered now was strengthening the bond between the Yagyū and Gojo clans.

...

Gojo clan.

Kumaen's face was like still water, calm but dangerous. Across from him, the old man on the reclining chair rested with his eyes closed, unmoved.

"Satoru and Satoshi have gone dark inside the Tombs of the Star," Kumaen said.

The old man replied, "Lord Tengen wouldn't risk her own life."

Kumaen frowned. "She has the Immortality technique. Is this even a risk to her?"

The old man responded, "Satoshi brought Toji with him. That means Lord Tengen doesn't intend to harm them. Toji, who lacks Cursed Energy, is practically invincible inside the Tombs."

Kumaen nodded slowly. "Even so, they shouldn't be left to be rescued by the Zenin clan."

"You're too fixated, Kumaen," the old man said. "Still, since you're in charge now, do as you see fit."

Kumaen's expression didn't change, but a decision had clearly been made.

...

The sudden lockdown and disappearance of the Tombs of the Star sent shockwaves across the jujutsu world.

Rumors spread that Satoshi had angered Tengen.

...

Inside the Tombs of the Star, Yuki and Yuto, backed by the barrier's blessings, barely managed to fend off Toji and Satoru.

But the space around them had already been devastated.

Only the platform where Tengen stood remained untouched. Everything else lay in ruins.

Geto summoned cursed spirits to shield himself from the destruction. His eyes were filled with disbelief as he watched Satoru, someone the same age as him.

He had always believed he was unmatched among his peers.

But after witnessing the strange and limitless techniques Satoru used, Geto realized—there's always someone stronger.

He had seen too little of the world.

This kind of power, and at such a young age… it made Geto feel a deep inferiority.

He thought of how disgusting it was to devour cursed spirits, but now he wanted more.

Maybe then, he could reach that level. Maybe then, he could stand on equal footing.

Gojo Satoru, huh?

That name echoed in his mind. A determination was born within Geto Suguru.

He had to surpass this monster among peers.

And the only way forward… was more curses. Stronger curses. Better techniques.

For the first time, Geto had a clear goal and a rival to chase.

The gears of fate had started to turn once more.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 152: Tengen's Plan

With Tengen's technique activated, the entire Tombs of the Star became her territory. The movements of Satoru and Toji were instantly suppressed.

Satoru's Six Eyes scanned the area, searching for weaknesses in the barrier and waiting for the right moment to act, but Tengen's voice abruptly shifted everyone's attention.

"You can see for yourselves. Satoshi is about to begin his battle."

As Tengen expanded the barrier, a projection appeared before them.

The image was nearly as vivid as an IMAX screen from the future.

As Satoshi appeared, everyone focused their gaze on the projection.

That person looks exactly like the boy in front of me. Are they twins?

Is this the one Lord Tengen has been preparing for all this time?

Geto Suguru was stunned once again.

To him, Satoru was already incredibly powerful, yet Tengen had shown no concern about him.

So then, what kind of existence was the young man in this image?

...

Satoshi held his Zanpakutō, his expression serious.

As soon as the Cursed Womb began to hatch, he had already recited the Shikai chant for Sode no Shirayuki, even preparing to activate Bankai.

But to his surprise, Sode no Shirayuki didn't respond at all.

At the same time, a rule clearly formed in his mind.

[In this space, ice and snow are prohibited.]

Satoshi frowned. Ice and snow techniques were sealed? That meant his strongest combat power—Sode no Shirayuki—was completely blocked.

Was this a specially crafted prohibition?

So this is Tengen's doing?

What was she planning by doing this?

At that moment, the cursed spirit born from the Cursed Womb emerged.

It had a bald, round head, pale blue skin, and a large single eye in the center of its face.

"A one-eyed monk?"

Satoshi muttered instinctively, recalling a certain yokai. But a strange familiarity crept in as he stared at the cursed spirit, like he had seen it somewhere before.

An odd feeling.

Still, the spirit's power was undeniable. Despite just being born, it already radiated Special Grade strength.

And not just a normal Special Grade, but one that stood among the top of them.

Sensing Satoshi's presence, the blue-skinned cursed spirit locked on.

Though its awareness was minimal, it knew instantly—Satoshi wasn't its kind.

So, without hesitation, it charged and threw a powerful punch directly at him.

The blow was immense, but Satoshi wasn't fazed. After all, he had refined his Shunpo considerably.

That brute-force attack wouldn't work on him.

Even without Sode no Shirayuki, he still had Hakuda, Hohō, and Zanjutsu training. He might not be able to kill it yet, but he could easily hold out until Toji and Satoru arrived.

He dodged the attack and prepared to counter.

But just as he was about to strike, he felt a sudden heat rise from beneath his feet.

Something's wrong.

Satoshi used Shunpo to evade.

The next second, a crater burst open where he stood, thick magma surging out.

His brows furrowed as the cursed spirit's figure began to overlap with a memory—one he hadn't thought about for a long time.

This crater, the power of fire...

So Jogo was born at this moment?

But why here in the Tombs of the Star?

It was too perfect, too staged—like someone had orchestrated this entire encounter.

And in this domain, the only person capable of that… was Tengen.

Satoshi narrowed his eyes. With her mysterious identity and domain control, had she somehow discovered he was a reincarnator?

If so, what should he do?

He stopped overthinking. In the end, there were only two sides—enemy or ally.

If Tengen was friendly, then he'd forge her a suitable Zanpakutō and treat it like a trial run.

But if she was hostile, he wouldn't hesitate to bring Toji and tear the Tombs of the Star apart.

...

Tengen and the others observing from outside had no idea what was running through Satoshi's mind. They were focused entirely on the projection.

"Why isn't he using Sode no Shirayuki? Based on its properties, that cursed spirit should be vulnerable to it, right?" Satoru asked first, noticing something off.

So far, Satoshi hadn't used any Zanpakutō abilities. Not even Shikai.

Toji frowned too. He knew Satoshi wasn't holding back, so the most likely explanation was that the Tombs of the Star had hidden restrictions.

Yuto hadn't seen Satoshi in a while, but he knew how strong Sode no Shirayuki was and nodded in agreement with Satoru.

Geto, however, didn't understand what they were talking about.

As for Yuki, her gaze stayed fixed on Tengen. In her mind, a previous conversation replayed.

---

Tengen: Yuki, this cursed spirit was born from Mount Fuji. You told me before that Satoshi has a flame-type Zanpakutō, but he's always struggled to release its power.

Tengen: This Special Grade cursed spirit is his opportunity. If he can use that flame-type Zanpakutō to defeat it, everything will become easier.

Yuki: But Lord Tengen, how can you be sure he'll use the fire-type one?

Yuki: With his current strength, he doesn't need it. Sode no Shirayuki's Bankai is more than enough.

Tengen: I'll seal his ability to use ice and snow. That way, he'll have no choice but to use the other Zanpakutō.

---

It was all part of Tengen's plan.

But none of them had expected that Satoshi could actually hold off a Special Grade cursed spirit without relying on any Cursed Technique or Zanpakutō ability.

(To be continued.)