Chapter 45: Satoru Caught Off Guard

"Hey, why are you looking at me like that?"

Feeling Satoshi's somewhat hungry gaze, even Toji, who possessed Heavenly Restriction and an incredibly strong body couldn't help but shudder subconsciously.

Isn't this kid acting a little too strange today?

Today alone, Satoshi had forged another Zanpakutō and achieved a breakthrough in Kendo.

If this had happened to an adult, Toji would have thought, This guy has some potential. He might make a name for himself in the future.

But this was a six-year-old.

Toji felt like the world was personally smacking him in the face.

People his age hadn't even had their time to shine yet, but these kids—Satoshi and Satoru—were already so far ahead it was ridiculous.

"No, I was just thinking about how strong your hand-to-hand combat is, Toji."

"We both have Heavenly Restriction, so we should prioritize physical combat development in the future. I'm planning to train my hand-to-hand combat too."

Satoshi's words instantly silenced everyone.

"???"

Shunichi, in particular, was stunned.

He had just lost to Satoshi in kendo.

But now, just minutes later, was Satoshi already moving on to something else?!

Was he really going to abandon kendo just like that?

Young Master Satoshi, you can't waste your talent! If you train properly, the Gojo family could have a young swordmaster in just a few years…

Shunichi wanted to stop him.

But before he could say anything, Satoru beat him to it.

"Satoshi, you're not going to continue learning kendo? Why are you suddenly focusing on hand-to-hand combat?"

Satoshi raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Why would I stop? I'm still improving my Kendo. But I'll be training my hand-to-hand combat as well…"

"Satoru, what's the issue?"

Satoru suddenly felt like he had lost control of the situation.

Satoshi had just made a breakthrough in kendo…

Yet mere seconds later, he was already bored of it?

Was it really necessary to move on this fast?!

Satoru had always had an eccentric personality—lazy, carefree, and completely unconcerned with self-improvement.

But now, seeing Satoshi's rapid progress, he felt something he had never felt before.

A sense of urgency.

"...It's nothing. As long as you're happy."

Satoru sighed in resignation.

In just a few minutes, Satoshi had forced him to rethink his approach to training—twice.

Shunichi, seeing Satoru already give in, had no choice but to accept the outcome.

If Satoshi wanted to train both Kendo and hand-to-hand combat…

Then so be it.

Besides, he wouldn't be staying at the Gojo residence for a while.

And, more importantly…

At this rate, it seemed like even if Satoshi did continue training kendo, there wouldn't be much left for him to teach.

---

"Uncle Shunichi, hurry up and become a Grade 1 Sorcerer already."

"Make sure to communicate with Suzumushi as much as possible and unlock its Shikai soon."

Satoshi and the others escorted Shunichi to the back entrance.

For the next period of time, Shunichi would be accompanying a Grade 1 sorcerer from the Yagyū clan on missions.

"Young Master Satoshi, rest assured. I'll return successful!"

Clutching Suzumushi, Shunichi nodded firmly.

Then, he turned to Satoru.

"Young Master Satoru, you need to start making real progress. If, in this next month, your Limitless doesn't improve at all… the clan head isn't going to be happy."

Shunichi's words made Satoru freeze.

Over the past month, he had barely interacted with the clan head.

Right now, due to Ieiri Inamichi's treatment, the clan head was still recovering, and no one had pressured him too much.

Because of that, Satoru had been coasting along—completely relaxed.

"...Fine, I got it."

Satoru nodded.

"For the next while, I'll focus on training. I won't let myself fall behind Satoshi."

Finally, Shunichi turned to Toji.

"Zenin, I'm counting on you to keep an eye on Young Master Satoru and Young Master Satoshi."

With that, he exchanged a glance with Toji and departed.

Even though Satoru and Satoshi were both mentally mature, at the end of the day, they were still just six-year-old boys.

If he wasn't around, he felt more at ease knowing that Toji and Takuya were there.

---

After Shunichi left, Satoru suggested going to see the clan head, then left the forge.

Toji also said goodbye to Satoshi, heading back to the Zenin clan to search for cursed tools that might suit him.

Meanwhile, Satoshi stayed behind in the forge, preparing to watch live battles through Suzumushi's ability.

After all, he was only six years old, and he had rarely left the Gojo estate.

Life was… pretty boring.

---

At the same time, rumors began spreading throughout the Gojo family.

Word had gotten out that Satoshi had forged a second Zanpakutō.

However, due to Kumaen's efforts to blur the truth, no one could tell if the rumors were real or not.

After all, Satoshi's achievements this past month were insane.

He had nearly emptied half of the Gojo clan's cursed tool storage, yet produced no results, leading the clan head to stop supplying him with cursed tools entirely.

So how could he have forged a second Zanpakutō with no materials?

As for Shunichi defeating Yagyū Saemon?

What did that have to do with some mystical Zanpakutō?

Wasn't the Gojo family just stronger than the Yagyū clan?

The rumors about this Zanpakutō came from the Kyokushin-ryu dojo.

But Satoshi himself had never confirmed anything.

It was probably just some overexcited disciples exaggerating things.

To many in the Gojo clan, Satoshi's silence meant only one thing.

The second Zanpakutō didn't exist.

Because if it did, wouldn't he be showing it off to the whole family?

No one really knew what Satoshi was thinking.

Even Kumaen, despite all his efforts to manipulate public opinion, was starting to doubt himself.

Had he been wrong?

Was Suzumushi really just an ordinary cursed tool not a true Zanpakutō?