HRU: Chapter 57/59

Chapter 57: Restarting the Forge, A New Zanpakutō

"There are many Cursed Tools in the Zenin family's treasury. If you can really forge one that suits me, I might be able to help you find more in the future."

Toji's attention remained fixed on Satoshi.

He had no sense of belonging to the Zenin family and didn't care about what kind of Cursed Tools were stored in their secret vaults.

For most Jujutsu Kaisen fans, Toji's exclusive weapon should still be the Inverted Spear of Heaven, right?

After all, that was the Cursed Tool that nearly killed Satoru!

I wonder if fans of the original series would feel uneasy seeing Toji wielding a Zanpakutō instead of the Inverted Spear of Heaven?

Satoshi solemnly closed the doors of the forge. It was time to forge his next Zanpakutō.

This time, the blade being forged was one meant for Satoru. That meant Satoshi had to take this process even more seriously.


---

The rhythmic sound of hammering metal—ding ding dang dang—echoed through the forge.

The expressions of the hidden observers around the forge changed. Ever since Shunichi had revealed information about Suzumushi, every major faction, whether it was the clan heads, the elders, or the Curse-user faction had been keeping a close watch on Satoshi's actions.

Originally, they had assumed he wouldn't start forging a new Zanpakutō so soon.

However, no one expected that Toji's arrival would push Satoshi to begin a new forging session without warning.

None of them believed he was forging an ordinary Cursed Tool. After all, the only weapons that could warrant such attention in this forge were the mysterious Zanpakutō.


---

Within the Gojo Clan, Kumaen frowned as he read the report from his informants. His eyes were filled with doubt.

"How does Satoshi have this much energy? This shouldn't be possible."

"The first was Sode no Shirayuki, and the second was Suzumushi—with a month's gap between them."

"But this... Why is he forging another so soon? Something's off. Something isn't right."

Kumaen, who had already begun consolidating his control over the Gojo family, did not want anything interfering with his rise to power.

So he was hoping to hear that the forging had failed.

Within the Twin Curse Faction, most of its members simply did not believe that Satoshi could successfully forge a third Zanpakutō in such a short amount of time.


---

Inside the Main Estate

An old man from the Gojo Clan listened to the news and couldn't help but smile.

Ever since Satoru and Satoshi had visited the clan's armory yesterday, he had already guessed that Satoshi was preparing a Zanpakutō for Satoru.

Brothers should support and respect one another. That was the foundation for revitalizing the clan.

Having two Six Eyes users in the Gojo Clan—Satoru and Satoshi—was a true blessing.

"But to think the Gojo Clan's armory couldn't provide the Cursed Tool Satoshi needed..."

"As expected, we've neglected the development of Cursed Tools for far too long. It seems I need to allocate more resources to Takuya in the future."

"It would be disgraceful if the Zanpakutō used by Satoru came from the Zenin family rather than our own."

The old man shook his head. In his final years, he wanted to do everything in his power to set the Gojo Clan on the right path.


---

Jujutsu Blacksmith Association

"Gojo Satoshi has started forging again. It seems he's working on another Zanpakutō."

Kamo Shin listened to the report from his informants within the Gojo Clan. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

It was time to move forward with their plans.

We absolutely cannot allow Gojo Satoshi to spread his influence unchecked!

If he successfully forges another Zanpakutō, the entire Cursed Tool industry will be turned upside down!

As the only recognized Grandmaster Blacksmith, Kamo Shin refused to let his status be threatened.

He had publicly expressed skepticism about Gojo Satoshi's ability to forge yet another Zanpakutō.

But deep down, the sinister measures he was preparing revealed his true fears.

He could succeed.

That child, Gojo Satoshi, might actually forge a third Zanpakutō…

No matter how much Kamo Shin wanted to deny it, that was what he truly believed.


---

Inside the Gojo Clan's Forge

Satoshi himself hadn't expected that his forging would attract the attention of the entire Jujutsu world.

Every major faction, every informed individual, had focused their attention on this seemingly unremarkable forge.

Inside, Toji, Shunichi, and Satoru held their breath, watching as Satoshi swung his hammer again and again.

Sweat dripped from his forehead as the blade blank slowly took shape in his hands.

Every time he forged a Zanpakutō, he would call upon Nimaiya Ōetsu's spirit for guidance. This time, he was determined to craft a blade that would be the perfect match for Gojo Satoru.

It had to be absolutely cool.

It had to suit Satoru's kingly aura.

As Satoshi unwrapped the cloth covering the Cursed Tool, a pink Cursed Sword was revealed.

Is this the material Satoshi is using to forge his Zanpakutō? It's pink... it looks kind of feminine.

A flicker of doubt passed through Satoru's piercing azure eyes.

This material didn't match his expectations for a Zanpakutō.

However, he remained silent. The forging process had already begun, there was no turning back now. He could only wait for the final result.

Satoshi pressed the pink Cursed Tool against the blade blank. As he continued forging without pause for an entire hour, the rhythmic hammering sound finally ceased.

At that moment, the hidden observers lurking in the darkness tensed.

It was time for the truth to be revealed.

No one knew if Satoshi had succeeded in forging another Zanpakutō.

Previously, when Sode no Shirayuki and Suzumushi were completed, no one had paid attention to the unusual phenomena that accompanied their creation.

However, logically speaking, a Zanpakutō of this caliber should manifest some kind of special phenomenon upon completion, right?

Yet, to their surprise, as the hammering ceased, the forge fell into an eerie silence.

The atmosphere suggested only one thing, failure.

Within the Twin Curse Faction, many felt a sense of schadenfreude.

If Satoshi failed, he wouldn't be able to rally further support within the clan.

The family elders, on the other hand, felt deep regret.

They had hoped to use Satoshi's Zanpakutō as a counterbalance to Kumaen's faction, but if he had failed, then that plan was doomed.

---

Inside the Master's Chamber

The old man sighed when he heard the news of the failed forging. A trace of disappointment crossed his face before he finally shook his head.

So it seems... Satoshi's Zanpakutō forging technique is still not mature

Chapter 58: Satoru's Zanpakutō

Seeing the Asauchi in Satoshi's hands and sensing the sharp aura it emanated, Satoru, Toji, and Shunichi all realized—the forging had succeeded.

Having witnessed the transformations of Sode no Shirayuki and Suzumushi, Satoru looked at the Asauchi, eagerly anticipating the Zanpakutō's true form once it achieved Shikai.

"Satoshi, what's this Zanpakutō called?"

Satoru's Six Eyes gleamed with excitement.

Earlier, he had been worried that the pink Cursed Tool wouldn't suit his aesthetic preferences.

But now that the Zanpakutō had truly been born, every detail about it mattered to him.

Gojo Satoshi lifted his head slightly, holding up the Asauchi as he caught his breath, admiring his latest work.

[Beep! Congratulations to the Host for successfully forging the Zanpakutō—Senbonzakura.]

Senbonzakura! Just as I expected.

Satoshi nodded in satisfaction.

The Cursed Tool he had asked Toji to find had to possess characteristics related to cherry blossoms or fragmentation.

Using that Cursed Tool as a medium, Satoshi had successfully used the system to forge Senbonzakura, the Zanpakutō of Kuchiki Byakuya.

In his opinion, the way Senbonzakura's countless cherry blossom-like blades scattered aligned perfectly with Satoru's temperament.

Once it reached Shikai and Bankai, its form and abilities would suit Satoru's cool personality even more.

Now that Satoru has Senbonzakura, he'll probably be eager to master Shikai and Bankai. With his talent, he might even achieve Bankai in an unbelievably short time.

If that happens, he could be the first person to provide me with skills!

After a brief moment of thought, Satoshi snapped back to reality. Seeing Satoru staring at him with anticipation, he casually tossed the Asauchi over.

The moment Satoru caught Senbonzakura, Satoshi noticed that his system's Zanpakutō display had updated.

[Zanpakutō: Sode no Shirayuki (Owner: Gojo Satoshi) (Borrower: None)]

[Zanpakutō: Suzumushi (Owner: Gojo Satoshi) (Borrower: Gojo Shunichi)]

[Zanpakutō: Senbonzakura (Owner: Gojo Satoshi) (Borrower: Gojo Satoru)]

Satoshi had successfully loaned out Senbonzakura, binding it to Gojo Satoru.

"Satoru, this Zanpakutō is called Senbonzakura—your future partner."

As Satoshi spoke, Satoru, Shunichi, and Toji all instinctively repeated the name.

"Senbonzakura..."

Satoru didn't understand why his Zanpakutō was named that, but for some reason, he found it deeply satisfying.

A grin spread across his face as he raised the sword in his hand, his Six Eyes shining with anticipation.

"Alright, let's do this—Shikai! Senbonzakura!"

Satoru could hardly wait to see his Zanpakutō's true form.

The moment he grasped it, he felt a strong connection, Senbonzakura had acknowledged him.

He was confident he could release its Shikai.

However...

As soon as the words left Satoru's mouth, an awkward silence filled the forge.

Ten seconds passed.

The Asauchi in Satoru's hand remained unchanged. It didn't transform like Sode no Shirayuki or Suzumushi.

Satoru's expression stiffened.

His entire body seemed frozen as he hesitantly turned his gaze toward Satoshi, silently pleading for help.

Satoshi could barely contain his laughter.

How could you expect it to work instantly?

No matter how talented Satoru was, no matter how compatible he was with Senbonzakura, he couldn't just activate Shikai out of nowhere.

Satoshi tried his best to keep a straight face, but in the end, he couldn't hold it in.

"Hahahahaha"

A burst of laughter erupted from him.

Toji, who had been watching, also started laughing, thoroughly enjoying the sight of the Six Eyes Prodigy embarrassing himself.

This moment was worth remembering forever.

This was definitely going to be a dark chapter in the life of the man who would become the world's strongest sorcerer.

Only Shunichi felt a bit of sympathy for Satoru.

He knew how difficult it was to unlock Shikai, so he understood Satoru's frustration.

However, his own experience with Suzumushi had been entirely different, so he couldn't offer much advice.

As the awkward atmosphere lingered, Gojo Satoshi stepped up beside Satoru.

"Satoru, every Zanpakutō has its own Shikai command. You need to communicate with Senbonzakura."

"The more impatient you are, the less likely you are to succeed."

"A Zanpakutō is your companion. Senbonzakura has its own will. You need to hear its name from within."

Satoru took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

Satoshi was right. He had rushed into it without forming a proper connection with Senbonzakura.

He tightened his grip on the sword, holding it upright in front of him, his azure Six Eyes fixed on the blade.

To awaken Senbonzakura, he had to deepen his bond with it.

Are you ready to speak?

Satoru focused his consciousness into the blade.

In the next moment, his mind was pulled into an unfamiliar space.

Before him stood an enormous sacred cherry blossom tree, its petals scattering endlessly into the air.

This was Senbonzakura's inner world.

Senbonzakura, my future partner. Show me your true form.

A voice echoed in his mind.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.

Toji, who had been laughing at Satoru moments ago, abruptly froze.

A sharp, stinging sensation pricked at his skin.

Is this coming from Senbonzakura?

This sword intent... It's actually piercing through my defenses?

Toji knew exactly how tough his body was.

Yet, even before it had been released, Senbonzakura was making his skin tingle with an almost unbearable sharpness.

His heart pounded with excitement.

What kind of abilities did this Zanpakutō possess?

At the same time, Satoru slowly exhaled and murmured—

"Scatter..."


---

Meanwhile, outside the forge.

The flames inside had died down. There were no unusual phenomena, no visible disturbances.

The hidden observers all nodded to themselves.

Of course.

Gojo Satoshi must have failed this time.

A weapon as special as a Zanpakutō required not just precise forging methods but also a fair amount of luck.

Perhaps, Gojo Satoshi's luck had finally run out.

Maybe he would succeed next time.

But for now, the forging of this Zanpakutō had undoubtedly ended in failure.

Chapter 59: Scatter, Senbonzakura!

With this outcome, it wasn't just the Twin Curse Faction under Kumaen that felt relieved.

Even the other clans, who had been silently keeping an eye on Satoshi's Zanpakutō, likely felt the same.

As the informants lurking around the Gojo estate spread word that Satoshi's forging attempt had seemingly failed.

The sky suddenly changed color.

"Is it snowing?"

One of the hidden observers muttered absentmindedly.

But in the next instant, they realized that what was falling from the sky wasn't snow.

It was pink and white cherry blossom petals.

"What's going on? Cherry blossoms in the middle of winter?"

"Why are there so many petals floating in the air?"

Many onlookers felt that the scene was too surreal, something out of a dream rather than reality.

It was as if nature itself had created a miracle, cherry blossoms blooming in the heart of winter.

The more perceptive informants quickly changed their expressions.

By process of elimination, there was only one explanation for the phenomenon unfolding before them.

It had to be connected to Gojo Satoshi and his latest creation.

Up until now, everything he had done in the forge had been for the purpose of forging a new Zanpakutō.

Now that this strange phenomenon had appeared…

Did it mean that Gojo Satoshi had successfully created his third Zanpakutō?


---

Inside the forge, Satoru spoke the command that would awaken his blade.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura."


The moment he finished speaking, the Zanpakutō in his hand radiated a soft pink glow.

Then, the entire blade slowly began to dissolve.

The pink light that had enveloped the sword transformed into countless cherry blossom petals, filling the forge.

A second later, the wave of scattered petals burst through the roof, soaring into the sky like steam rising from a geyser.

A fountain of cherry blossom petals erupted outward, and within mere seconds, the entire Gojo estate was engulfed in a dazzling pink storm.

This is the true form of Senbonzakura! It's absolutely stunning—almost excessive, isn't it?

Shunichi gazed at the countless petals swirling around him, then glanced down at Suzumushi in his hand.

A wave of disappointment washed over him.

Just from appearances alone, Senbonzakura had already won.

Its manifestation was just as overwhelming as Sode no Shirayuki, the first Zanpakutō Satoshi had forged.


---

Each of these petals is a blade. So this is the true nature of Senbonzakura?

Tens of thousands of cherry blossom petals… is this the secret behind Senbonzakura's power?

Controlling that many blades at once… That's an absolutely insane combat style.

Toji wasn't the type to be impressed by aesthetics.

The moment Senbonzakura was unleashed, his focus zeroed in on its technique.

To him, what mattered most was power.

He didn't care if his own Zanpakutō looked flashy—only that it was strong.

There was no doubt in his mind.

A Zanpakutō capable of transforming into millions of cherry blossom blades had to be incredibly powerful.

Watching Senbonzakura in action, Toji found himself anticipating his own future blade.

He was confident that Gojo Satoshi wouldn't give him anything mediocre.

And he firmly believed.

His Zanpakutō would not be weaker than Satoru's.


---

Outside the forge, the sight of the cherry blossom "fountain" bursting through the roof left everyone utterly stunned.

At this point, if they still couldn't comprehend what was happening, they had no right to call themselves informants.

This was an ability unlike any that had been seen before.

It wasn't Sode no Shirayuki's ice-based techniques, nor was it Suzumushi's hypnotic abilities.

This was something entirely new.

A Zanpakutō that used cherry blossom petals as weapons, one with an enormous attack range.

A brand-new Zanpakutō had been born.

At that moment, the news spread like wildfire across the entire Jujutsu world.

Even those who hadn't been paying close attention to the Gojo forge were now captivated by the spectacle.

Sorcerers across the city looked up and saw the enormous pink cloud hovering over the Gojo estate.

In the dead of winter, the Gojo estate was now blooming with radiant cherry blossoms.

A sight like this.

It defied all logic, completely shattering nature's laws.


---

In the Yagyū household, Yagyū Hidetsugu stared at the Gojo estate from afar, now completely dyed pink, and sighed.

"Yusuke, you need to stop entertaining the thought of using the Gojo family to boost the Yagyū family's reputation."

"Gojo Shunichi's swordsmanship is already on par with Saemon's. And now, with the power of his Zanpakutō, Suzumushi, Saemon won't stand a chance until he gets a Zanpakutō of his own."

"More importantly… judging by this phenomenon, Gojo Satoshi has successfully forged his third Zanpakutō."

"This display alone proves that the new blade is anything but ordinary."

"I'd even wager that its power is greater than Shunichi's Suzumushi. With this sheer volume of cherry blossom petals… Senbonzakura might be on an entirely different level."

"If Shunichi had wielded this Zanpakutō during that battle, that Special-Grade Cursed Spirit never would have escaped."

Hidetsugu's words left Yagyū Yusuke and Yagyū Saemon silent.

As the direct descendants of Yagyū Jūbei, the Yagyū family took great pride in their swordsmanship.

They had never been willing to submit to any other family when it came to Zanjutsu.

But unfortunately, in the world of Jujutsu, swordsmanship alone was not enough.

At the end of the day, power came down to techniques and Cursed Energy.

Yagyū Hidetsugu and Yagyū Yusuke were undoubtedly the strongest swordsmen in the family.

Yet faced with Hidetsugu's words, the analysis of the family's sole Grade 1 sorcerer they had no choice but to acknowledge reality.

"Besides," Hidetsugu continued, "Shunichi saved my life. I have no intention of making an enemy out of him now that he's been promoted to Grade 1."

"I also want to use my connection with him to get closer to Gojo Satoshi."

"In the future, that man will not be someone people can ignore just because he lacks Cursed Energy. Mark my words—anyone who underestimates Gojo Satoshi now… will regret it later."

There was absolute conviction in Hidetsugu's voice.

Hearing this, Yagyū Yusuke slowly nodded.

In that moment, he made a decision that would reshape the Yagyū family's future.

They would no longer support Gojo Kumaen.

Instead, they would align themselves with Gojo Satoshi and the forces backing him.

Even if there was a massive gap in strength between the Yagyū and Gojo families, their stance as a respected Jujutsu clan would provide Satoshi with crucial support in the battles to come..