🎉HRU: Chapter 108/111

Chapter 108: Surpass Your Limits

"Kumaen, sometimes we can't always focus on short-term gains and losses."

"The actions of the Yagyū family hold great significance for Satoshi. If you are familiar with history, you might know the story of the daimyo buying horse bones for a thousand gold pieces."

"The Yagyū family is the horse bones that Satoshi bought. Likewise, in the future, anyone with the same mentality will offer their most valuable possessions to try and trade with him."

"This is exactly what Satoshi wants."

"Furthermore, from the perspective of the clan, this transaction has secured a firm ally for the entire Gojo family."

The old man tugged at the corner of his mouth with effort, then turned to look at Gojo Kumaen.

"Do you really think Satoshi is just an innocent child with no caution regarding the Zanpakutō he gives away?"

"Satoshi's thoughts run deeper than yours or mine. He was born with knowledge and may be even more exceptional than Satoru."

"Kumaen, the future of the Gojo family is in your hands."

After speaking, the old man reclined in his chair and closed his eyes to rest.

Kumaen remained silent for a moment before finally preparing to leave.

"Wait. You and I will go to the forging house together. I want to see Satoshi again. The matter of the Fire Cursed Tool must be taken seriously…"

The old man's voice rang out once more. Gojo Kumaen gave a small nod and sat down, waiting for him to recover his energy.

—

Outside the forge, Toji and Satoshi, who had been called back temporarily, faced each other.

"Satoshi, are you sure you want me to go all out?"

Toji asked, skeptical. He had no idea what had gotten into Satoshi to make him suddenly insist on a direct confrontation.

Satoshi nodded, his gaze fixed on the experience gauge that was stuck at 99.9%. He realized that only by passing Toji's test could he successfully break through his limits.

This would be the culmination of all the combat experience he had accumulated so far.

"Alright. If you manage to land a hit anywhere other than my arm, you win."

Toji touched the corner of his mouth where a wound was healing, a fiery desire for battle igniting within him.

—

[The host is receiving hand-to-hand combat training. Hakuda experience +10.]

[The host is receiving hand-to-hand combat training. Hakuda experience +10.]

[The host is receiving hand-to-hand combat training. Hakuda experience +10.]

The sound of fists meeting flesh echoed in the forge, yet the last 0.1% of experience seemed unreachable.

Just like his previous Zanjutsu breakthrough, in the end, the system issued a cold notification:

[The host is receiving hand-to-hand combat training. Hakuda experience +0.]

Then, Satoshi entered that strange, elusive state once more.

Scenes of his past training replayed in his mind—his own failed attempts, Satoru's progress, Shunichi's discipline.

All these experiences merged into his consciousness.

As he continued to throw punches mechanically, the wasted experience that had piled up in Satoshi's system started to decline rapidly.

[Hakuda experience: 99.9%]

[Hakuda experience: 90.9%]

[Hakuda experience: 80.9%]

…

[Hakuda experience: 10.9%]

[Hakuda experience: 0%]

At that moment, as his experience hit zero, Satoshi's body trembled.

His stagnating Hakuda mastery finally integrated completely with his instincts.

Where he had only been able to barely defend himself before, he could now counterattack.

Feeling a blunt impact in his abdomen, Toji's eyes widened in shock.

How long had it been?

How long had it been since anyone had managed to land a hit on him?

Barehanded, he had always been absolutely confident in his superiority. But this time, his confidence had been shattered.

Satoshi, standing before him, had actually outpaced his reactions and landed a clean blow.

By Toji's estimation, Satoshi's physical skills shouldn't have caught up until he was at least thirteen or fourteen.

Now, for the first time, Toji felt a sense of danger.

Satoshi couldn't be measured by normal standards at all. Had he already begun manifesting the effects of Heavenly Restriction at six years old?

—

A heavy silence settled over the scene.

Shunichi, Satoru, and Takuya, who had been observing from the side, had witnessed every moment of the battle—the flurry of strikes, the seamless dodges, and Satoshi's unexpected counterattack.

Just as Toji had said, Satoshi had hit him somewhere other than his arm.

Satoshi had won the spar.

Coincidentally, at that very moment, Kumaen and the clan head arrived, catching the final exchange.

The old man's eyes widened in shock.

Satoshi can already fight evenly with Toji?

As the head of the Gojo family, he understood more about the Zenin clan's power than most.

Toji was, without a doubt, the strongest physical combatant of his generation. His sheer strength defied conventional measures.

He had initially assumed that Satoshi's power stemmed from his Heavenly Restriction. But like Toji, he had never expected that a six-year-old Satoshi could perform at such a level.

Kumaen, meanwhile, had become numb to it all.

He had always assumed that Satoshi's strength came from the Sode no Shirayuki in his hands.

If he were to lose his Zanpakutō, then surely Satoshi would just be an ordinary person.

But now, everything Kumaen had believed about Satoshi was overturned.

The boy before him had just fought Toji without using his Zanpakutō.

Even if Toji hadn't gone all out, the fact that Satoshi had still been able to land a hit was proof enough of his strength.

The Gojo Clan's two greatest prodigies—one mastering Limitless and the other wielding Heavenly Restriction. One the embodiment of limitless potential, the other the ultimate honed weapon. They complemented each other perfectly.

And Satoshi also had the unique ability to forge Zanpakutō…

Kumaen's previous doubts about Satoshi completely vanished.

—Doubt Shunichi.

—Understand Shunichi.

—Become Shunichi!

At last, Kumaen understood why Shunichi, who had always supported him, had suddenly chosen to back Satoshi so decisively, even to the point of going against orders.

Gojo Satoshi and Gojo Satoru, the most outstanding twins in Gojo Clan's history, were indeed worthy of every resource the clan could provide.

At that moment, Kumaen made up his mind.

No matter the cost, no matter the means, he would dedicate everything to securing the Gojo Clan's future.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 109: The Kamo Family Is Targeted by Kumaen

At the center of the battlefield, as Toji halted, Satoshi slowly steadied his breathing.

When Satoshi came back to his senses and noticed the stunned gazes around him.

Opening the system panel, he confirmed it. His proficiency in Hakuda had reached the maximum, and a new function had been unlocked.

[ Ding! Congratulations to the Host for achieving 100% proficiency in 'Hakuda' and successfully unlocking 'Hohō' (Shunpo) proficiency. ]

That mysterious state he had entered just now, was the sensation of breaking through the shackles of stagnation.

Had it happened a second later, he might not have been able to dodge Toji's attack and land that punch.

However, now that he had reached this level of physical mastery, many things had become instinctive.

The system's enhancements were always top-quality.

With Hakuda mastered, his next focus should be Hohō.

Shunpo represented speed and agility.

And in that regard, Satoshi was at a loss, who could he learn from?

Without a mentor or enough experience packs, his Shunpo proficiency might remain stuck for a long time.

Just then, the sound of applause broke the silence.

Only now did Satoshi and the other spectators realize that the clan head and Gojo Kumaen had been standing there, watching, for some time.

"Satoshi, the Gojo Clan will fully support you! That high-quality fire-type Cursed Tool, leave it to me."

The old man's first words brought a pleasant surprise to Satoshi.

—

Inside the forging house, the clan head ran his fingers over the remnants of a failed Ryūjin Jakka forging attempt, his wrinkled face full of astonishment.

Beside him, Kumaen held another fragment, his expression mirroring the same shock.

Even as failures, these broken Zanpakutō prototypes exuded an incredible presence.

If Satoshi truly succeeded in forging Ryūjin Jakka, just how terrifying would the final product be?

"So, Satoshi… will a Grade 1 fire-type Cursed Tool suffice?" the old man asked gravely.

Satoshi hesitated before nodding.

"A Grade 1 Cursed Tool meets the bare minimum, but if it were a Special Grade Cursed Tool, the success rate would be significantly higher."

"Ryūjin Jakka far surpasses ordinary Zanpakutō in strength. As a fire-type Zanpakutō, it requires intense reinforcement during its creation."

"If the Cursed Tool isn't strong enough, it'll likely end up destroyed, just like these two inferior Cursed Tools before it."

Satoshi sighed inwardly. He hadn't expected Ryūjin Jakka to have such extreme material requirements. This completely overturned his previous understanding of Cursed Tool crafting.

"A blade like fire..."

The clan head murmured the words, his eyes flickering with deep thought. Even though he hadn't seen Ryūjin Jakka firsthand, the name alone made him feel the scorching heat emanating from it.

Kumaen, standing to the side, silently noted Satoshi's request—a fire-type Cursed Tool, an exceedingly rare one at that.

Finding one would not be easy.

"I have a Grade 1 Cursed Tool in mind. But if it's a Special Grade you need…"

He hesitated, unable to give a definitive answer.

"I've seen a Special Grade Cursed Tool before. It's fire-type."

Kumaen's sudden statement instantly drew everyone's attention. Even Satoshi turned his gaze to him.

No one had expected him to possess such critical information.

So, are you offering to trade with me?

The thought crossed Satoshi's mind.

If he could exchange a Zanpakutō for this Special Grade Cursed Tool… well, that seemed like a fair deal.

After all, it was for Ryūjin Jakka.

Satoshi prepared to negotiate his terms, but what surprised him was that Kumaen had no intention of making a deal.

Once he realized how crucial this Cursed Tool was to Satoshi, Kumaen didn't hesitate at all.

"That Cursed Tool belongs to the Kamo Clan. It's their ancestral Cursed Tool and has been enshrined in their family for generations."

"Fire and red blood are the same color, which gives it great symbolic value in the Kamo Clan. As far as I know, this Cursed Tool is currently in the possession of Kamo Shin, the clan's Cursed Tool master."

After sharing this information, Kumaen fell silent again.

He had given them a crucial lead, but acquiring the Cursed Tool was another matter entirely.

It all depended on what the Gojo Clan and Satoshi were willing to offer in return.

In Kumaen's opinion, if this Special Grade fire-type Cursed Tool could help Satoshi forge Ryūjin Jakka, then this trade would be absolutely worth it.

After all, if Ryūjin Jakka was even half as powerful as Satoshi claimed, it would be an unimaginable asset.

However, the problem was… this was a Kamo Clan heirloom.

Negotiating for it would be extremely difficult.

Unless they could find some leverage over the Kamo Clan…

Unless they could dredge up something related to the scandal of the criminal Jujutsu sorcerer, Kamo Noritoshi, from 150 years ago…

Otherwise, obtaining this Cursed Tool would be nearly impossible.

As he thought about this, Kumaen suddenly recalled a certain matter regarding the Kamo Clan's involvement with Cursed Objects. The clan head had mentioned it to him before.

He subconsciously looked up.

The old man was looking back at him.

Clearly, they had both reached the same conclusion.

At this moment, the Kamo Clan had officially become the target of two scheming masterminds from the Gojo family.

—

"But President Kamo Shin doesn't seem to care about Satoshi. I applied for Satoshi to join the Jujutsu Blacksmith Association before, but he still hasn't approved it."

Takuya muttered, feeling that this information wasn't particularly useful.

Although Kamo Shin had merely delayed the approval, Takuya could sense his reluctance.

To him, trying to acquire the Kamo Clan's Special Grade Cursed Tool was no different than a pipe dream.

However, what he didn't expect was that both the clan head and Kumaen would immediately put down the remnants of Ryūjin Jakka and leave without hesitation.

"We will handle this Cursed Tool."

Kumaen's parting words left everyone stunned.

Toji, however, smirked at their determination.

"The Gojo Clan isn't that weak yet."

Toji rested his hand on the hilt of Katen Kyōkotsu, his lips curling in amusement.

At the very least, they were leagues ahead of the cesspool that was the Zenin Clan.

Satoru didn't entirely agree with Toji's statement, but he didn't argue.

In his view, even though Kumaen had always opposed Satoshi, he was undeniably skilled in political maneuvering.

If there were no outside interference, Kumaen would use every possible means to tip the scales in his favor.

Since Kumaen had already declared his intent, he would undoubtedly find a way to obtain that Cursed Tool.

Satoshi, who was at the center of all this, remained indifferent.

He had also noticed the shift in Kumaen's attitude, but he didn't concern himself with his motivations.

As long as Kumaen helped him, he didn't care about the man's personal agenda.

If the clan head and Kumaen told him to wait, then he would simply wait.

"In the meantime, I should check on Yorozuya's progress."

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to Vladimir Zakrevski for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉

🎉Chapter 110: Kagerō

Inside the main hall of the Gojo Clan.

"This Cursed Object originates from the Kamo Clan."

Gojo Shun, a close confidant of the clan head, pointed to the burning image flickering inside the vessel beside him. Then, flipping open the record book in his hand, he spoke in a low voice:

"Today, the Kamo Clan sent word that Kamo Shin wishes to visit the Gojo family to assess whether Young Master Satoshi is qualified to join the Blacksmith Association."

"According to our investigation, Kamo Shin has repeatedly voiced his disdain for Zanpakutō on multiple occasions and has also expressed strong dissatisfaction with Young Master Satoshi."

"Given the nature of past interactions between Young Master Satoshi and the Kamo Clan, the likelihood of an outside force sending an assassin to target him is almost nonexistent."

"Thus, the probability that this fire-attribute Cursed Object belongs to Kamo Shin is extremely high."

The clan head coughed lightly, raising his gaze toward Kumaen. The two exchanged a look, their thoughts aligning.

"If Kamo Shin is coming to visit the Gojo estate, it's unlikely to be just about Satoshi."

Kumaen's eyes gleamed with resolve.

"His real objective must be to retrieve this Cursed Object."

"He probably has a way to track it. We should take advantage of this."

The old man chuckled, continuing where Kumaen left off.

"Catching him red-handed within the Gojo estate will secure the evidence we need. The Kamo Clan cannot afford another scandal."

"They must pay the price both for the Special Grade Cursed Tool Satoshi requires and for the lives lost due to their scheming."

Kumaen nodded, a sharp glint in his eyes. Since Kamo Shin had dared to plot against the Gojo family, he had no intention of showing mercy.

—

The next day, Kamo Shin arrived at the Gojo estate.

Kumaen personally welcomed him, with Takuya, Satoshi, and Satoru also in attendance. The reception was of the highest standard.

During the banquet, Kamo Shin lavished praises upon the Gojo Clan.

For a time, both host and guest appeared to be enjoying themselves.

After the banquet, Satoshi excused himself, claiming exhaustion.

Kamo Shin, meanwhile, used the pretense of a stroll through the Gojo estate's garden to "clear his mind."

Not long after, he arrived at Gojo Kotetsu's quarters.

—

"Tch… So it didn't work? I didn't expect the Gojo Clan to be so well-prepared that there wasn't even a chance for the evidence to be destroyed."

"Fortunately, after the Shoso leaves the human body, it doesn't stand out much. I'll just reclaim it first."

The moment Kamo Shin reached out to touch the Shoso, his expression shifted.

Something was wrong.

The surface of the object was wet.

That shouldn't be possible.

If no one had discovered this Cursed Object before, it should have remained here for several days.

No matter how much time had passed, the surface should never be moist, it looked as if it had just been retrieved from water.

Kamo Shin's face darkened. Instantly sensing danger, he turned to leave.

But it was too late.

Three figures had already appeared around him.

"Ahem, Grandmaster Shin, it's unfortunate that we Gojo didn't give you the opportunity to erase the evidence."

Kumaen stepped forward, escorting the clan head into the room.

Kamo Shin knew immediately, he had been exposed.

Then, his gaze fell on Satoshi.

Kamo Shin's eyes flashed with murderous intent.

As long as he wasn't caught in the act, the Gojo family wouldn't have concrete evidence linking him to the Shoso.

Without hesitation, he activated his technique, ready to attack.

But in that instant, an overwhelming chill overtook him.

His eyes widened.

The katana that Satoshi had carried throughout the banquet, previously sheathed in its ordinary form had turned pure white.

"First Dance: Moon White."

A brilliant white light bloomed beneath Kamo Shin's feet.

A second later, he lost all control of his body, completely frozen solid.

So this… was the power of a Zanpakutō?

It was the first time Kamo Shin had experienced its effects firsthand. And only now did he truly comprehend the uniqueness and terrifying potential of a Zanpakutō.

He had been right to order Shoso to assassinate Gojo Satoshi.

If these weapons were allowed to spread, traditional Cursed Tools would become obsolete, reduced to mere relics of the past.

For blacksmiths like himself, whose livelihood depended on traditional Cursed Tools, the emergence of Zanpakutō was an existential threat.

Kamo Shin clenched his teeth.

It was a shame.

Not only had he failed to eliminate the threat, but he had also been caught red-handed…

—

Half an hour later.

"What?! You want Kamo's Special Grade Cursed Tool, Kagerō?"

Kamo Shin's expression twisted as Gojo Kumaen made his demand.

In that moment, everything clicked.

The Gojo Clan had been searching for a fire-type Cursed Tool.

He recalled a Grade 2 Cursed Tool that had passed through his hands before.

Now, it was clear, the Gojo family had no interest in debating the morality of what had transpired.

What they wanted was Kagerō.

"That's right. Hand over Kagerō to the Gojo Clan, and we will not pursue your crimes. The death of Gojo Kotetsu will be written off."

Kumaen's eyes held a fierce edge.

Kotetsu had been a prodigious talent. Kumaen could never forgive his murder.

But as the Gojo family's representative, he had to prioritize.

Right now, acquiring the fire-type Cursed Tool was the highest priority. Everything else could be set aside.

Kamo Shin sneered.

"I see. So the Zanpakutō your brat is trying to forge requires Kagerō?"

"A fire-type Cursed Tool… Hah! You arrogant little brat. Do you seriously think you can use one of the rarest fire-type Cursed Tools to forge a fire-type Zanpakutō?"

Kamo Shin's expression grew cold as he recalled the sheer power of Sode no Shirayuki.

An ice-type Zanpakutō was already this formidable.

If Gojo Satoshi successfully forged a peak-grade fire-type Zanpakutō…

The balance of power could be completely upended.

If he handed over Kagerō, he would be giving his greatest enemy an unparalleled weapon.

"You Gojo really underestimate Special Grade Cursed Tools. That brat of yours is delusional for even considering it, and you're even crazier for indulging him."

"As far as I know, the Cursed Tool he used before was only Grade 1 at best."

"A child who hasn't even successfully reforged a Special Grade Cursed Tool, do you seriously think he can turn Kagerō, a relic enshrined by the Kamo Clan for generations, into a Zanpakutō?"

—

Outside the chamber, Satoshi paused slightly before pushing the door open.

From Kamo Shin's words, it was clear, negotiations weren't going smoothly.

Not that it mattered.

This was just one approach.

Kamo Shin foolishly believed that as long as he perished in the Gojo estate, the Shoso incident would be buried with him.

But that was impossible.

With the Gojo family's current strength, if they took direct action, the Kamo Clan would never be able to resist.

Handing over Kagerō was inevitable.

Of course, Kumaen preferred not to take things that far.

The Kamo Clan, while losing influence, was still one of the Three Great Families.

Gojo had no desire to eliminate them entirely.

But if Kamo Shin remained stubborn…

Then Kumaen wouldn't hesitate to make everything public, exposing the Kamo Clan's secret dealings with forbidden Cursed Objects and their attempt to assassinate the Gojo Clan's Six Eyes heir.

A scandal of that magnitude…

Would plunge the Kamo Clan into the same disgrace they suffered 150 years ago.

And that… was an outcome the Kamo Clan could not afford.

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to Vladimir Zakrevski for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉

🎉Chapter 111: Satoshi The Restless Gambler?

Satoshi walked in with a smile and sat across from Kamo Shin.

Kamo Shin's expression darkened, his entire face contorted with malice.

He had underestimated Satoshi. If not for his presence, he might have successfully escaped by now.

Faced with such undisguised hostility, Satoshi's youthful face showed only mild curiosity.

"Grandmaster Kamo, we've never had a past grudge, nor have we recently clashed. So why did you try to kill me using Shoso?"

"If I recall correctly, today is our first meeting, isn't it?"

Kamo Shin remained silent. It was as if the man who had showered Satoshi with praises during the banquet was someone else entirely.

Satoshi smirked, a sharp edge to his expression.

"Then let me guess."

"Is it because I forged a Zanpakutō?"

"Is it because Zanpakutō threaten the traditional Cursed Tool industry?"

"Is it because you relics are afraid of me, the one who created the Zanpakutō?"

Satoshi fired off each question deliberately, one by one.

A flicker of shock crossed Kamo Shin's eyes. He knew Satoshi was intelligent, but hadn't expected him to see through everything so clearly.

The child before him wasn't just the Gojo Clan's Six Eyes prodigy, he was more like a demon with eyes that could peer into the depths of the human soul.

"Come now, Grandmaster Kamo."

"Let's play a game. Let's make a bet."

"Let's wager on something you excel at, do you believe I am incapable of reforging a Special Grade Cursed Tool and turning it into a brand-new Zanpakutō?"

Satoshi ran his fingers along the pristine white blade of Sode no Shirayuki, his tone brimming with confidence.

Kamo Shin scoffed, unwilling to back down in his area of expertise.

"You are doomed to fail! Special Grade Cursed Tools can be destroyed, but they cannot be reforged. Their abilities are set in stone the moment they are created."

His voice was resolute—he was, after all, a renowned authority on Cursed Tool forging.

"Is that so?"

Satoshi casually placed Sode no Shirayuki against Kamo Shin's neck.

The blade's freezing touch sent a shiver down Kamo's spine, his body instinctively stiffening as if the sword would slice his throat at any moment.

Kamo Shin trembled, his breath unsteady. Closing his eyes, he muttered,

"Kill me, Gojo brat. It doesn't change the fact that you cannot forge it."

"Oh? Then allow me to grant Grandmaster Kamo's wish."

Satoshi chuckled, the tip of Sode no Shirayuki pressing slightly against Kamo Shin's throat. A light stroke almost imperceptible and an eerie sensation spread across Kamo's neck.

In an instant, the skin froze over.

Kamo Shin's body convulsed, his eyes filled with despair.

He had resigned himself to dying in the Gojo estate, yet now, faced with the moment, he found he wasn't quite as accepting of death as he'd thought.

"Haha, Grandmaster Kamo, relax. It was just a joke."

Satoshi withdrew his Zanpakutō, the frigid air dissipating instantly. Warmth returned to the room.

Kamo Shin instinctively reached for his neck. No wound.

He had survived.

The realization left him feeling oddly relieved.

Just then, Satoshi's expression softened into a warm, almost playful smile. Pouring a cup of hot tea, he set it down in front of Kamo Shin.

"Since Grandmaster Kamo believes I can't reforge a Special Grade Cursed Tool, let's make a bet."

Kamo Shin stared at the boy, aside from his age, there was nothing childish about him.

He finally conceded.

"...What bet?"

Satoshi smirked, his lips curling into a playful grin.

"Let's bet on whether I can successfully reforge Kagerō into a Zanpakutō."

"If I fail, the Gojo Clan will act as if the Shoso incident never happened. You will remain President of the Blacksmith Association, the undisputed master of the craft, and the Kamo Clan's reputation will remain intact."

Kamo Shin's expression twitched. His heart wavered slightly.

"And if I lose?"

"Then you will return to the Kamo Clan and handle the matter yourself. Settle your debts before your death. The Gojo Clan will still pretend the Shoso incident never happened, and your family's reputation will remain untouched."

Satoshi lazily rubbed his earlobe, flashing an ugly grin.

"After all, you do have the blood of a Gojo on your hands."

"And now that the victim's kin has come to collect their due, you refuse to put anything on the table?"

Kamo Shin took a deep breath, shifting his gaze toward Gojo Kumaen.

He refused to believe Satoshi had the authority to make such a decision on behalf of the entire Gojo Clan.

Kumaen, sensing Kamo's doubts, turned toward Satoshi.

He had already grasped what Satoshi was aiming for.

Suppressing his astonishment, he nodded firmly.

"What Satoshi said stands. As the representative of the Gojo Clan, I approve of this bet."

Is this really the same Satoshi I've been neglecting? How could he possess such sharp, commanding authority?

Have I been blind all these years? How did I fail to notice this about Satoshi?

Is this what the clan head meant by 'the terror of one who is born knowing'?

With just a few words, Kamo Shin has been maneuvered into a corner.

---

Kamo Shin hesitated, but at that moment, the doors swung open.

The clan head entered, his pace slow but deliberate.

"On behalf of the Gojo Clan, I acknowledge the bet between you and Satoshi. The terms are set, Satoshi must forge a Zanpakutō from Kagerō."

The old man's presence crushed the last of Kamo Shin's resistance.

With the Gojo Clan's formal backing, there was no doubt left, Satoshi's bet was real.

"...Fine. I accept. But don't underestimate Special Grade Cursed Tools, Gojo brat. There is a fundamental difference between them and Grade 1 Cursed Tools."

"I'll be waiting to see you fail."

Having come to terms with his survival, Kamo Shin regained his composure and immediately tried to rattle Satoshi with taunts.

But Satoshi remained indifferent.

"Grandmaster Kamo, please arrange for someone to deliver Kagerō"

Everything else was secondary.

What mattered was forging Ryūjin Jakka.

"Wait."

Kamo Shin suddenly spoke up again.

Kumaen frowned. "Kamo Shin, don't push your luck. This bet is already generous toward the Kamo Clan."

Kamo Shin shook his head.

"I'm not asking to change the terms. I simply wish to witness the entire forging process."

His request wasn't without reason.

He firmly believed Satoshi would fail. But in the process, he could observe how Zanpakutō were forged, perhaps even uncover their secrets.

(To be continued.)