Chapter 11: Binding

Outside, Gojo Satoru's expression changed the moment he heard the terms of the bet. He was about to rush in and put a stop to it.

However, before he could move, the old man beside him raised a hand, stopping him in his tracks.

"Satoru, wait a moment."

"Clan Head, I don't approve of this bet!"

Gojo Satoru's face was filled with confusion. He didn't understand why the old man was stopping him. If this bet were finalized, knowing Kensei's personality, he would definitely go through with it.

"Don't be so hasty! Satoru, there are times when your temperament is too impatient."

The old man narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on Kensei inside the forge.

"You and Kensei truly are twins—your personalities complement each other. Kensei is overly calm and composed, while you are impulsive and restless."

"This must be fate at work."

"Satoru, think about it—would someone like Kensei propose a bet he was destined to lose?"

"Sure, Takuya is important to Kensei. But you, as his brother, are just as important to him."

"Let's watch how things unfold. I'm curious to see what will happen."

A trace of anticipation appeared on the old man's face. He was eager to see what Kensei—whom he had ignored for so long, too focused on cursed tool forging—was truly capable of.

Could it really be as Takuya claimed? That at just six years old, Kensei had already mastered the forging of cursed tools?

If that were true, then Kensei possessed a rare and remarkable talent.

Unlike ordinary sorcerers, the Clan Head had a different perspective on people and their abilities.

Most jujutsu sorcerers viewed cursed tools as mere enhancements—useful, but not essential.

However, he did not think that way.

To him, a sorcerer wielding a cursed tool was a complete sorcerer. As an old saying went: "A true gentleman does not rely on innate talent alone, but excels through the mastery of tools."

A competent jujutsu sorcerer must learn to make full use of cursed tools.

This was why he had always valued Gojo Takuya so highly.

A clan as vast as the Gojo family would lose its foundation as a true jujutsu household without a master of cursed tools.

Now, witnessing Shunichi's blatant disrespect toward Takuya, the old man realized that many things had gone astray under his watch.

Perhaps it was time to bring change to the entire clan.

As for the future direction of the Gojo family?

That decision would be left to Gojo Satoru and Kensei. Two children bearing the Six Eyes had the potential to break and rebuild the clan from the ground up.

For now, he was merely a guardian, ensuring that this great ship called "Gojo" remained afloat long enough to reach a safe harbor.

Whether Satoru and Kensei would choose to repair the ship or destroy and rebuild it was no longer his concern…

Compared to the old man's complex thoughts, Gojo Satoru's emotions were far simpler.

— If Kensei is about to lose, I will personally step in and put an end to this bet!

His piercing blue eyes were locked onto the events unfolding inside the forge, refusing to let his guard down for even a moment.

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Inside the Forge

"Kensei-sama, tell me, how do you wish to conduct this contest?"

Gojo Shunichi looked at Kensei seriously. In his mind, he held the advantage in every aspect.

He was a Grade 2 sorcerer, whereas Kensei was just an ordinary person with no cursed energy.

His weapon was a Grade 2 cursed tool—one of Takuya's finest works—while Kensei's weapon didn't even look like a cursed tool.

Even if Kensei's blade turned out to be a cursed tool, how could a student's creation possibly surpass that of the master?

Moreover, Takuya had mentioned that this was Kensei's first time forging a cursed tool.

With all these factors stacked against Kensei, Shunichi simply couldn't see a way for himself to lose.

In fact, he felt the bet was unfair—to Kensei.

As long as Kensei's conditions for the contest were reasonable, Shunichi was fully prepared to accept them. Of course, they had to be reasonable.

While speaking, Shunichi casually tossed the katana Shirayuki back to Kensei.

"Since this is a battle of cursed tools, I won't use my own cursed energy. I will rely solely on the power and abilities of my cursed tool to fight you."

His proposal reeked of arrogance.

After all, he was up against a six-year-old child. Using his full strength would feel like bullying.

Kensei didn't object. This condition only worked in his favor.

Right now, he wasn't concerned with Shunichi at all.

His entire attention was on the blade in his hands.

Until now, Shirayuki had been wrapped in cloth, preventing him from seeing its true form.

Now that he held it, Kensei's face showed the same expression that Takuya had worn earlier—pure disbelief.

— This is Shirayuki?

— Why does it look so… ordinary?

— Isn't this supposed to be the most beautiful Zanpakutō in Soul Society?

Kensei's eyes widened in shock. This was not what he had expected. If this weapon wasn't Shirayuki, then he had made a huge miscalculation in this bet.

The blade before him was an ordinary katana.

Its rectangular guard had flame-like engravings along the longer sides and magatama patterns on the shorter ones. The blade itself had curved slits running along its edge, with intricate wave-like engravings on both sides.

The hilt was a deep reddish-brown.

It looked nothing like the Shirayuki from his memories. If this wasn't the real Shirayuki, then he had essentially walked into a losing battle.

Kensei focused entirely on the blade, hoping for answers.

Then, finally, the system's voice echoed in his mind.

[Binding detected: Zanpakutō—Shirayuki (Asauchi state) successfully bound. Host must explore the Zanpakutō's Shikai and Bankai through self-discovery.]

[Hint 1: The shape, nature, and abilities of a Zanpakutō are reflections of the wielder's soul. By learning its true name and forging a connection, a Shinigami gains power.]

[Hint 2: Every Zanpakutō has a name. In battle, a Shinigami can call its name to release its full potential.]

[Hint 3: Once the true name of a Zanpakutō is known, it can be awakened, revealing its real form and abilities.]

[Hint 4: Bankai is the second and final release of a Zanpakutō, following Shikai. Achieving Bankai requires materializing the Zanpakutō's spirit and forcing it into submission.]

Kensei's heart pounded.

This was no ordinary cursed tool.

It was a Zanpakutō.

And it was up to him to awaken its true power.

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