HRU: Chapter 75/77

Chapter 75: Your Other Name Isn’t Uchiha, Right?

Naobito's expression was as dark as storm clouds. He was already preparing to use Shinsuke's challenge as an opportunity to initiate a wagered battle against Satoshi.

The stakes: a cursed tool from the Treasury.

If Satoshi's Sode no Shirayuki lost to Shinsuke, it would achieve two things, satisfying both Ogi and Shinsuke while also justifying the decision to stop supplying Satoshi with cursed materials.

After all, if Sode no Shirayuki was defeated, it would prove that the power of a Zanpakutō was not as formidable as he had originally imagined.

If Satoshi won and demonstrated the true strength of a Zanpakutō, then the Zenin Clan would simply hand over a cursed tool as originally planned, and things would continue as before.

His strategy would remain intact.

Moreover, from what he had observed, Satoshi and Toji had grown quite close. Even if they gave him a cursed tool, Satoshi would likely use it for Toji's benefit anyway.

In other words, no matter the outcome, the Zenin Clan would profit.

That was his plan. The only issue was whether Satoshi would accept it.

As an outsider from the Gojo Clan, rejecting such an unreasonable proposal was the logical choice.

Everything hinged on how desperate Satoshi was for cursed tools.

Naobito shook his head, stood up, and motioned for Ogi and Shinsuke to follow him as he made his way toward the VIP room.

…

In the VIP room, Satoshi had already guessed that this trip to the Zenin Clan would not go smoothly the moment Naobito left the room earlier.

His Six Eyes had already picked up on Shinsuke's arrival.

And there was no way that someone as arrogant as Shinsuke had come here to show his support.

A young prodigy like Zenin Shinsuke would never let go of his past defeat so easily.

"Toji, looks like the birth of your Zanpakutō is going to be another long, complicated process," Satoshi said, amusement flickering in his Six Eyes.

He was genuinely curious to see what kind of nonsense the Zenin Clan would try this time.

Did they really think they could control him just because the cursed materials were in their hands?

It was true that certain materials were rare.

However, he had already confirmed that Zanpakutō weren't strictly bound to specific cursed materials.

As long as a material possessed the necessary properties, it had the potential to be forged into a Zanpakutō.

That being said, the quality of the cursed tool directly influenced the success rate and developmental stage of the Zanpakutō.

Take Senbonzakura, for example.

The reason Gojo Satoru had been able to unlock Shikai immediately upon obtaining Senbonzakura was due to three key factors.

First, Senbonzakura was highly compatible with Satoru.

Second, Satoru himself possessed exceptional talent.

Third, and most importantly, the cursed tool used in Senbonzakura's forging was of extremely high quality, allowing it to manifest in an advanced developmental state from the very beginning.

Without all three conditions being met, even someone as talented as Satoru wouldn't have awakened Shikai so quickly.

If the Zenin Clan truly wanted to cut off his supply, he would simply spend more time finding a substitute material for Toji.

Even if the Zanpakutō's development was slower, Toji's talent would allow him to gradually strengthen his connection with it over time.

Toji wasn't in desperate need of power right this second anyway. A little extra time to refine his abilities wouldn't hurt.

Countless thoughts flashed through Satoshi's mind in an instant.

That was the side effect of the Six Eyes, an overwhelming flow of information processing.

With just Shinsuke's arrival and the expressions of Ogi and Naobito, he had already pieced together multiple possible scenarios.

Beside him, Toji was already growing impatient.

He disliked formalities to begin with, and now the Zenin Clan had left them waiting for no reason.

It was irritating.

Even though his older brother, Zenin Jinichi, was there, Toji had never thought much of him.

"I don't really care," Toji said with a shrug, exhaling a puff of smoke as he glanced at Gojo Satoshi.

"Anyway Satoshi, you promised me. All I have to do is wait for my Zanpakutō."

Toji touched the corner of his mouth, a strange sense of anticipation building within him.

Ever since childhood, he had experienced nothing but cold indifference from the Zenin Clan.

Now, he was curious.

How would Satoshi respond to their arrogant demands?

Would he remain indifferent, just like Toji himself had been his whole life?

At this moment, Toji almost hoped that the Zenin elders would act even more foolishly, enough to completely enrage Satoshi.

If that happened, perhaps the Zenin Clan's future would be far more miserable than they ever anticipated.

When Satoshi truly rose to power, Toji wanted to see the regret on the faces of the Zenin higher-ups.

A playful smirk appeared on Toji's face, causing both Jinichi and Satoshi to momentarily pause.

What the hell?

Why did it feel like Toji had changed in just a single month?

His smile was downright creepy.

As Toji's older brother, Jinichi knew him well.

But he had never seen that expression on Toji's face before.

Satoshi, on the other hand, noticed something else.

Toji was expecting something, something that involved him.

He didn't know what Toji was looking forward to, but he could tell that he was the cause of it.

The Zenin Clan is full of freaks.

Satoshi shook his head.

If he had to compare them to another anime world, the Zenin Clan felt just like the Uchiha Clan from Naruto.

Their entire household was filled with twisted personalities.

Zenin Ogi was so twisted that he blamed his own twin daughters for his failure to become clan head—and was even willing to kill them for it.

There was Zenin Naoya. He ended up idolizing Toji, obsessing over him, and after death, was even dragged into the cycle of resentment and became a cursed spirit.

Zenin Mai was full of contradictions. She wasn't inherently bad, yet in the end, she sacrificed herself to fulfill her sister's wish.

Zenin Maki witnessed her sister's death… and went on to slaughter the entire Zenin Clan.

As Satoshi reflected on the insane characters within the Zenin Clan, a strange excitement began to bubble up inside him.

He was actually looking forward to seeing what kind of ridiculous nonsense the Zenin elders would throw at him next.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 76: Are You Worthy of It?

The door to the VIP room swung open as three members of the Zenin clan stepped inside.

The moment Satoshi locked eyes with Shinsuke, he knew things were about to get interesting.

And when his gaze shifted to Toji, he noticed the same expression mirrored on his face.

This was about to get even more entertaining.

"Satoshi-kun, lately, the entire Jujutsu world has been talking about your Zanpakutō."

"If I'm not mistaken, the one beside you is still Sode no Shirayuki from before, right? Mind letting me take a look? I've never had the chance to closely examine a Special Grade Cursed Tool like a Zanpakutō."

As a swordsman himself, Zenin Ogi had a deep appreciation for fine weapons.

Although he didn't believe a Zanpakutō could truly change the balance of power in Jujutsu sorcery, he still wanted to experience Sode no Shirayuki firsthand.

In his mind, his request wasn't excessive.

After all, Satoshi was seeking a partnership with the Zenin Clan. Without the cursed tool materials provided by them, it would be impossible for him to continue forging Zanpakutō, right?

So, under these circumstances, wasn't it only reasonable for him to inspect Sode no Shirayuki?

It was natural for business partners to evaluate the quality of their collaborative products.

Naobito, standing beside him, said nothing, silently granting his approval of Ogi's request.

He also hoped that after witnessing Sode no Shirayuki up close, Ogi might reconsider his previous stance and choose to support him once more.

Meanwhile, Shinsuke remained indifferent. However, beneath that impassive exterior, resentment flickered in his eyes, mingled with a trace of greed.

That blade—Sode no Shirayuki—had danced before him once.

And in his mind, it should belong to him.

He believed Satoshi, who had no Cursed Energy, was unworthy of wielding such a beautiful Zanpakutō.

If it were in my hands, Sode no Shirayuki would unleash power far beyond what Satoshi could ever bring out.

No one knew where Zenin Shinsuke's unfounded confidence came from.

But if Satoshi heard his thoughts, he would've burst into laughter.

Confidence is good. But when it crosses into delusion, it just makes you look like a clown.


---

All eyes turned to Satoshi, eager to witness the brilliance of Sode no Shirayuki once more.

After all, the last time it had been drawn, even for a mere moment, it had defeated Shinsuke in an instant.

That scene had left an indelible mark in the minds of those who had witnessed it.

But what shocked everyone now was the indifference that flashed through Satoshi's Six Eyes.

"You want to see my Sode no Shirayuki?" His voice was calm, yet laced with an unmistakable arrogance. "Are you worthy of it?"

The room fell silent.

Satoshi had never considered Zanpakutō a shared product in his supposed partnership with the Zenin Clan.

At most, they were suppliers of materials, nothing more.

To think they were entitled to wield a Zanpakutō?

They were sorely mistaken.

Moreover, Satoshi held nothing but contempt for Zenin Ogi.

In his eyes, the man standing before him was the most disgraceful figure in the entire Zenin Clan.

Having lost to Naobito in the competition for the head of the family, Ogi had blamed his failure not on his own shortcomings, but on his daughters—Maki and Mai.

A man who resented his own children for his own weakness…

How could Satoshi possibly let such filth lay a hand on the pure Sode no Shirayuki?

Even at this very moment, just the way Ogi was looking at her made Satoshi feel as though the blade was being tainted.


---

"Are you worthy of it?"

Satoshi's words echoed throughout the VIP room.

No one had expected such a response.

Among those present, only Toji took a slow drag of his cigarette, a grin spreading across his lips.

Well, now. That was unexpected. I knew you wouldn't be happy about it, but I didn't think you'd outright refuse to show any respect to the Zenin Clan's elders. I like it.

Toji's gaze lingered on Satoshi with growing admiration.

Their experiences were similar, yet their choices had been different.

For a brief moment, Toji felt as if he was looking at an alternate version of himself, one who hadn't severed ties with his family and had instead chosen to confront them head-on.

What would it have been like if I had spoken my mind as freely as Satoshi? If I had cared even less about what the Zenin Clan thought of me?

The idea was… refreshing.

Even now, a part of him still had lingering attachments to the Zenin Clan, a desire to be acknowledged by them.

But in the original timeline, even when he left, the clan barely seemed to care.

Now, thanks to Gojo Satoshi, everything had changed.

For the first time, Toji realized that the Zenin Clan's recognition didn't mean anything to him anymore.

He had long since found his own path.

And hearing Satoshi say "Are you worthy of it?"

It felt incredibly satisfying.


---

But unlike Toji, Shinsuke and Jinichi wore expressions of utter disbelief.

Did they hear that correctly?

This was the Zenin Clan's estate.

How could Satoshi speak with such blatant disrespect?

Ogi was a well-known powerhouse in the Jujutsu Society, one of the high-ranking members of the Zenin Clan, one of the three great families.

Yet, Satoshi had treated him as if he were nothing.

In a world built on hierarchy and respect, this level of defiance was unheard of.

No matter how special Satoshi's position was within the Gojo Clan, such behavior was nothing short of audacious.

Ogi's smile froze on his face.

Satoshi's response was entirely outside his expectations.

When he made his request, he had anticipated some resistance.

He had already prepared a way to pressure Satoshi into agreeing, using the Zenin Clan's influence and its monopoly over cursed tool materials as leverage.

Of course, in the end, he never intended to give Satoshi access to the Zenin Clan's treasury. But by dangling it as a bargaining chip, he had hoped to force a compromise and gain the chance to observe a Zanpakutō up close.

But with just five words—Are you worthy of it?—Satoshi had shattered his entire plan.

He had never considered this possibility.

I am a figure that the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association seeks to place at the top of the Jujutsu world.

And yet, in Gojo Satoshi's eyes…

I am nothing?

Ogi's heart burned with fury. The cold glint in his eyes could no longer be concealed.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 77: I Need Extra Compensation—Make It Two

In Ogi's mind, things should have played out differently.

The Zenin Clan should have been the one rejecting Gojo Satoshi.

After all, Satoshi had come to them seeking cooperation. He had no right to refuse their demands.

On the other side, Naobito watched as the situation spiraled out of his control.

Now that Satoshi had outright rejected them, he had no chance to steer the conversation in his favor.

He was also surprised by how Satoshi had shown zero regard for the Zenin Clan's prestige. Even among the three major families, there were still unspoken rules about saving face for each other.

But Satoshi…

Does he not care about those unspoken rules at all?

"Gojo Satoshi, do you really think that a mere Zanpakutō can change the fact that you have no Cursed Energy and that you'll never be accepted in the world of Jujutsu?"

Ogi's hooked nose twitched slightly as he forced himself to remain calm.

If Satoshi wanted to be arrogant, then he wouldn't hold back either.

"A Zanpakutō? No one has ever confirmed its legitimacy. It's nothing more than an overhyped gimmick being treated as some kind of miracle Cursed Tool."

"People are only interested in it because it's new. They're just curious."

"The fact that you won't even let me examine it proves that your so-called Zanpakutō is nothing but an ornamental blade that can't withstand real scrutiny."

"This whole 'revolutionary Cursed Tool forger' nonsense—what a joke."

"You want to use the Zenin Clan's Cursed Tool materials to maintain the illusion that you're actually forging Zanpakutō? Sorry, the Zenin Clan has no interest in playing along with your charade."

Ogi's expression was indifferent, but his words carried a decisive weight.

Technically, he was overstepping his authority, but given how Satoshi had just insulted him, he felt justified in making this decision on behalf of the Zenin Clan.

And just as he expected, Naobito did not refute him.

After all, in matters concerning outsiders, the Zenin Clan's leadership would always present a united front.

Satoshi chuckled as he scanned the room.

So, Toji was right. The Zenin Clan truly reeks of decay.

A bunch of clueless fools acting high and mighty, thinking they have the right to make demands of me.

If the Gojo Clan ever became like this, it would be utterly disgusting.

"Whether Sode no Shirayuki is real or fake, whether Suzumushi is real or fake… none of that matters."

"If you want to know the true power of a Zanpakutō, ask Yagyū Hidetsugu of the Yagyū clan… or better yet, ask Zenin Shinsuke of your own family.

"As expected, the Zenin Clan really does lack intelligence. Just like Zenin Shinsuke."

Satoshi stood up, gripping Sode no Shirayuki.

In that instant, a wave of cold air spread through the room not from Satoshi, but from Sode no Shirayuki herself.

Each Zanpakutō possesses its own will.

And right now, Satoshi could see the figure of a beautiful woman in a white kimono standing before him.

She wasn't blocking his path, she was standing in front of him, expressing her displeasure at being belittled.

Meanwhile, Shinsuke, who had just been called out, immediately jumped to his feet.

"You only won last time because you used some unknown trick!" he snapped.

"You think you can pull that off twice? You relied on underhanded tactics! And that Zanpakutō of yours, it's just another ordinary Cursed Tool with a ridiculous name!"

"Gojo Satoshi, if you have the guts, fight me again! I'll show you the true power of the Zenin Clan. Your so-called Zanpakutō is nothing worth mentioning."

Shinsuke issued his challenge.

But Satoshi found it meaningless.

Sode no Shirayuki had already defeated him once, there was no need to prove anything again.

However, what surprised Satoshi was that the woman in the white kimono still stood in front of him.

Her usually gentle expression now carried a hint of dissatisfaction.

She was displeased with Zenin Shinsuke's words.

Satoshi glanced around. No one else seemed to notice her presence.

That meant she wasn't actually manifesting in the real world, she had appeared only for him to see.

It wasn't his own pride that was being challenged.

It was hers.

Sode no Shirayuki didn't want to be looked down upon.

Do you want to fight? Satoshi asked internally.

Sode no Shirayuki nodded.

Satoshi exhaled, feeling slightly conflicted.

He never expected Sode no Shirayuki—who always carried herself with the grace of a Yamato Nadeshiko—to have such a strong fighting spirit.

If that's what she wants… then let's indulge her.

Just as Satoshi was about to accept the challenge, Naobito suddenly spoke up.

"Shinsuke, Satoshi-kun, this match between you two will be a good opportunity for me to observe the strength of Sode no Shirayuki firsthand."

"As the head of the Zenin Clan, I'll add a little wager to make things more interesting."

Naobito pretended to ponder for a few seconds before continuing.

"How about this, Satoshi-kun—if you win, I'll allow you to choose any Cursed Tool from the Zenin Clan's treasury and take it with you."

Satoshi's eyes narrowed.

Naobito's move was calculated.

He had sensed Satoshi's hesitation and used the opportunity to push his own agenda.

At first, Naobito hadn't expected to have a chance to propose this.

But now, he saw the perfect opening.

The question now was whether Satoshi would play along.

Satoshi frowned, swallowing the words he was about to say to Zenin Shinsuke.

Naobito's actions confirmed something, there was division among the Zenin Clan's leadership.

It was obvious now that Naobito supported working with him.

After all, it was thanks to Naobito's authorization that Toji had been able to bring back the Cursed Tool materials for forging Senbonzakura.

The real opposition came from Zenin Ogi and Zenin Shinsuke.

This bet was highly favorable to Satoshi.

Sode no Shirayuki had already decided to fight Shinsuke anyway.

Now, he could gain an extra Cursed Tool from the Zenin Clan in the process.

That was a win-win.

But rather than accepting outright, Satoshi calmly asked:

"And if I lose?"

To Ogi and Shinsuke, that question sounded like hesitation, like Satoshi lacked confidence in his own Zanpakutō.

If he was truly sure of its power, why would he even consider the possibility of losing?

"Ahem. If you lose…" Naobito's tone remained composed.

"I'll need you to take back what you said earlier and apologize to Ogi."

His request was relatively minor.

After all, as the head of the Zenin Clan, he couldn't make things too difficult for the Six-Eyes of the Gojo Clan.

Upon hearing this, Satoshi's brows furrowed slightly.

Seeing his reaction, Ogi smirked inwardly.

A coincidence should never be mistaken for true ability.

Those who confuse luck with strength will eventually suffer a crushing defeat.

Ogi believed Shinsuke would win.

He had already accounted for Shinsuke's trump card.

After a brief pause, Satoshi finally spoke.

"That's not enough."

"If I win, I want two Cursed Tools."

(To be continued.)