Chapter 99: Read as Kaori, Written as...? (BONUS)

"You're starting the forge again so soon?"

Upon learning that Satoshi was about to forge another Zanpakutō, Toji immediately put down his work at the Yorozuya and came over.

"Can your body handle it?"

Toji remembered that after forging Senbonzakura and Katen Kyōkotsu, Satoshi had taken a few days of rest in between.

Yet now, Satoshi was planning to forge another Zanpakutō without a break. This was something Toji hadn't expected.

Looking at Toji's usual indifferent expression and hearing his concerned words, Satoshi found the contrast rather amusing. However, it also showed how much Toji valued him.

That said, the matter of Ryūjin Jakka needed to be put on the agenda as well.

"This Zanpakutō will be extremely difficult to forge. I'm just giving it a try. The chances of failure are quite high."

Weighing the materials in his hands, Satoshi felt uncertain.

After speaking with the clan head earlier, the necessary Cursed Tools had arrived in the afternoon.

Though fire-element Cursed Tools were rare, the Gojo family was still one of the Big Three Sorcerer Families and had its own resources.

But for some reason, when Satoshi looked at the Cursed Tools in front of him, he couldn't shake an uneasy feeling.

As for what the result would be when he opened the forge this time—he had no idea.

"Then why not take a break first?"

Gojo Shunichi, standing off to the side, also spoke up with concern.

"I can't rest."

Satoshi shook his head. Right now, while his energy was still high, there was a slim chance of success. But if he waited, attempting to forge Ryūjin Jakka with these materials would become nearly impossible.

"Alright, alright, let's get started!"

Satoru made no effort to dissuade him. He knew that Satoshi had his own reasons. All he needed to do was trust in him.

As the rhythmic clanging of the forge filled the air, anticipation spread throughout the entire Gojo family.

And beyond the family estate, the ripples of this event extended throughout the Jujutsu world as well.

---

Zenin Clan Residence

Naobito and Ogi exchanged looks and shook their heads in silence.

If Satoshi was really this productive, then was there even a point in trying to compete with the Gojo family anymore?

---

Ieiri Clan

"I can't believe you missed it again, Shoko! Next time, you must be there in person to witness Gojo Satoshi forging a Zanpakutō!"

Ieiri Inamichi scolded his daughter as she lazily munched on snacks, resembling a little hamster.

But then, as he thought about it, part of the blame lay with him. If he hadn't relented earlier and had instead sent Shoko directly, maybe Satoshi would have been more inclined to keep his promise of forging a Zanpakutō for her.

"What's so interesting about forging? It's just hammering metal—it's boring."

Shoko casually tossed a potato chip into her mouth as she chatted with her father about Satoshi's latest forging session.

She never understood why people like Satoru, Toji, and Shunichi could sit and watch Satoshi hammer metal for hours on end.

Could someone explain it to her?

Did men really find watching weapons being forged that entertaining?

Inamichi sighed.

"You don't understand, little girl... this is a kind of happiness between men."

"Now hurry up and make sure Satoshi remembers his promise to forge you a Zanpakutō!"

---

Kamo Clan Residence

"That brat Gojo Satoshi is forging again? So soon? How is that even possible?"

Kamo Shin's expression darkened.

He had been planning to visit the Gojo clan to investigate the matter of Shoso. But before he could even take action, Satoshi had already fired up the forge again.

If this pattern continued, where each time the forge opened, another legendary Zanpakutō was created, how was he supposed to maintain his standing in the Jujutsu Blacksmith Association?

"This time, it has to fail!"

Kamo Shin muttered to himself.

But the very next second, he realized he didn't even believe his own words.

After all, Satoshi's track record—having successfully forged Suzumushi, Senbonzakura, and Katen Kyōkotsu was far too overwhelming.

At this point, most people had already accepted that Satoshi's skill in forging Zanpakutō had reached perfection.

Even if he said there was a chance of failure, people still trusted his authority when it came to forging Zanpakutō…

---

Elsewhere in the Jujutsu World

A strikingly beautiful woman sat at a conference table, her expression contemplative.

"Kaori, we cannot allow these Zanpakutō to continue strengthening the Jujutsu Sorcerers."

A middle-aged man, dressed in monk's robes, spoke with clear displeasure.

"Ever since the birth of Gojo Satoru, the level of Cursed Energy in the world has risen dramatically. According to prophecy, we Curse Users chose to lay low and bide our time."

"But if this continues… where will there be a place for Curse Users like us to survive?"

The monk's name was Akazawa Shusaku, a high-ranking member of the Curse User Alliance.

This was a small but significant Curse User gathering.

Though their numbers were far fewer than Jujutsu Sorcerers, they were effectively the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association's counterpart within the Curse User world.

At Akazawa's words, the other members of the roundtable turned their gazes toward the woman named Kaori.

She remained calm, her expression unreadable. A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Zanpakutō? I've been hearing about them a lot lately. A type of Cursed Tool that can use techniques, right?"

"It only emerged this year, correct?"

Kaori nodded slightly, glancing around before continuing.

"I'll look into it."

"For now, all of you should continue lying low and gathering strength. The Gojo family is not an enemy you can face directly."

"Besides—" Kaori's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Isn't that the real reason you called this meeting? To have me investigate the truth behind the Zanpakutō?"

The atmosphere at the table grew awkward.

Though none of them admitted it out loud, that was exactly what they wanted.

It wasn't that they were cowards—rather, they acknowledged that the Gojo family, one of the Big Three Sorcerer Families, was simply too strong.

And only the woman before them had the ability to accomplish this task.

After all, when Kaori had first crashed their meeting, she had single-handedly defeated every single Curse User present.

At this moment, within the Curse User Alliance, the strongest among them was undoubtedly Kaori.

Seeing their silence, Kaori sighed in boredom.

She stood up, took a final glance around the room, then turned to leave.

As she turned, a few strands of her bangs shifted, revealing the faint outline of a suture mark beneath her hair.

Her name was pronounced Kaori…

But the way it was written...

(To be continued.)

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