Chapter 42: The Zenin Clan? I Can Always Leave If I Want To (BONUS)

Shunichi was just as confused as the others when he heard Satoshi's response.

Young Master Satoshi was the one openly opposed by the Twin Curse Faction, so why was he so calm in the face of Kumaen's scheme?

Seeing the puzzled expressions of the three, Satoshi simply shook his head.

"I need Kumaen to help clean up the mess in the Gojo family for both me and Satoru."

"The head of the clan is ill, which means opportunists and parasites are bound to crawl out of hiding."

"Let Kumaen deal with them first. Satoru and I are still young; we don't have the time or patience to waste on political games. Since he's so eager to handle it, we might as well let him."

"The most important thing is that the very foundation of the so-called 'Twin Curse Faction' is built entirely on me. I hold absolute control."

"As long as I can prove that I'm not Satoru's 'curse,' the entire ideological basis of the faction collapses. Even if Kumaen remains the de facto head, he won't hold any real power."

A glint of cold indifference flashed in Satoshi's blue eyes.

In the world of jujutsu, strength dictated everything.

If he had never met Toji, he might have been more concerned about Kumaen's actions.

But now, not only did he know Toji, but Satoru had also mastered the Limitless technique, and he himself possessed a Zanpakutō.

Kumaen's so-called schemes were nothing more than stepping stones, paving the way for him and Satoru to take over the clan in the future.

They were both bearers of the Six Eyes.

With their overwhelming strength and lineage, all it would take was a single command from Satoru, and the entire Gojo family would fall in line.

At worst, Kumaen and his followers would make a final, desperate struggle.

But between the three of them—Satoru, Toji, and himself—they had no need to fear anyone.

And in the future, once he forged Zanpakutō for both Satoru and Toji, their power would surpass even their current heights.

What was Kumaen going to do? Find Ryomen Sukuna and ask him to assassinate them?

Too bad. Even if Sukuna showed up, they wouldn't be afraid.

"Satoshi, you're not a curse!"

Satoru's face darkened with dissatisfaction the moment his brother referred to himself that way.

He knew Satoshi's situation better than anyone. There was no way he would let his brother belittle himself like that.

"Alright, alright, I get it. It was just an example."

Under the glare of Satoru's Six Eyes, Satoshi could only raise his hands in surrender.

"So, Satoru, let Kumaen do the dirty work for us."

"I really enjoy freeloading."

Satoshi's carefree words made Satoru drop his earlier thoughts of confrontation.

Shunichi, on the other hand, was left completely stunned.

He never would have imagined that this six-year-old boy had already thought so far ahead far beyond what even Kumaen could comprehend.

Kumaen had once advised him to look at the bigger picture, to see beyond the immediate situation, and to focus on the essence rather than surface-level conflicts.

But now, it was clear that those words applied far more to Satoshi than anyone else.

Compared to Satoshi, it was Kumaen who was short-sighted.

Realizing this, Shunichi couldn't help but feel a deep sense of awe toward Satoshi.

What a terrifying child.

The Gojo family was truly fortunate to have someone like him among its heirs.

If, before this conversation, Shunichi had firmly believed that Satoru was the rightful successor, that belief was now shaken.

Satoru's strength was undeniable, but his personality was unpredictable and wild.

Satoshi, on the other hand, was calm, composed, and strategic. He thought ahead, planning every move carefully, traits far more suited for managing an entire clan.

At this moment, as he gazed into Satoshi's blue eyes, the young boy before him seemed to grow larger and larger in his mind.

And then, in an instant, Toji shattered that illusion.

"Oi, Satoshi, have you ever been to a brothel? Do you know the meaning of the phrase 'freeloading like a whore'?"

"I may be a simple man, but I share the same hobbies as Satoshi. I like getting things for free, too."

"So how about this? Let's cancel our earlier agreement. I'd rather just take what I want for free."

Toji's casual, teasing remark instantly broke the tension in the forge, filling the room with an absurd sense of amusement.

Satoshi's cold and calculating expression twisted into one of sheer exasperation.

"Toji, could you focus on the important part of the conversation for once?"

"I'm talking about serious matters here."

He sighed in defeat. No matter what, this guy always managed to zero in on the least important thing.

"Alright, alright," Toji waved dismissively, fanning his nose as if he could smell something foul.

"But honestly, I can't stand all the politics in these big families. It reeks of decay."

Satoru, Satoshi, and Shunichi all fell silent.

Of all people, Toji had no right to complain about the corruption of jujutsu families.

After all, if any clan embodied stubbornness and backward thinking, it was the Zenin family.

If the Zenin clan claimed second place in corruption, no other family would dare claim first.

A mere heir of the Zenin family had no business mocking the Gojo clan.

Even though Toji had exuded a terrifying presence earlier, Shunichi couldn't let this go.

Just as he opened his mouth to retort, Toji cut him off with a single sentence.

"What's so great about being a Zenin, anyway?"

"If I wanted to leave the Zenin family, I could do it anytime. Who the hell is going to stop me?"

Shunichi and Satoru froze, their eyes widening in disbelief.

Was Toji joking?

Only Satoshi remained unfazed, wearing the same wry smile.

He knew the truth of Toji's future.

This was the man who would one day abandon the Zenin name and take on another identity—Fushiguro Toji, the father of Fushiguro Megumi.

A man who would sever all ties with his prestigious clan and start anew in a family no one had ever heard of.

Because of that, Satoshi had even considered the possibility of recruiting Toji into the Gojo family.

As for Satoru and Shunichi, the mere thought of a Zenin heir defecting to their clan had never once crossed their minds.

After all, such a thing was unheard of.

The Zenin family would never allow it.

Even if Toji was just an "ordinary person" with no cursed energy, the idea of him abandoning the Zenin name was beyond their imagination.

***

Support me on patreon to read advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.