Chapter 107: Satoru Also Wants to Invest in Yorozuya (BONUS)

After Satoshi made his remark with a smile, he stopped engaging with the Yagyū family and turned to leave.

This battle had already brought him significant rewards.

Not only had his Zanjutsu experience improved, but his overall combat awareness had also sharpened. Satoshi felt he was on the verge of a breakthrough.

Next, it was time to find Toji and verify his theories.

"Oh, Satoshi, wait for me! That was a draw just now, right? Don't walk so fast…"

Satoru called out, quickly following Satoshi. With that, only four people remained by the training grounds—Shunichi, Kumaen, Saemon, and Hidetsugu.

"Bankai…"

Saemon muttered, his expression not one of loss but deep thought.

Nejibana's potential was proving to be even greater than expected, reigniting Saemon's competitive spirit.

However, Shunichi had only used his Shikai's technique, he hadn't fully released his Bankai. This meant his Zanpakutō had not yet entered its true Bankai state.

He couldn't let Satoshi down.

---

"Hey, Satoshi, so was that a draw?"

Satoru asked.

"Hm? I guess so—there wasn't a clear winner, after all."

Satoshi responded casually.

Hearing this, Satoru suddenly grinned. "Then I won the bet, right?"

Satoshi froze for a moment, then turned his head, looking exasperated.

"Uncle Shunichi didn't lose. Why would that mean you won?"

Satoru's smile widened as if his plan had succeeded.

"The bet was that if Shunichi won, you won. And if he didn't, I won."

"Shunichi hasn't won yet, so technically, I'm the winner, right?"

Satoshi suddenly realized that Satoru had been playing a word game.

No wonder his expression had been a bit off earlier. If things were calculated this way, then as long as Shunichi wasn't declared the winner, even if it ended in a draw, his cunning brother would still come out on top.

Satoshi let out a helpless sigh. He really didn't understand what Satoru was trying to gain from this little scheme.

"Fine, fine, Satoru, I miscalculated. I didn't think you'd be this devious."

"Alright, tell me—what do you want?"

Crossing his arms, Satoshi looked at Satoru, who looked exactly like him, trying to figure out what he was after.

Seeing Satoshi concede so easily, Satoru who had been prepared for a long argument was momentarily stunned.

After hesitating for a few seconds, he rubbed his hands together and said seriously:

"You've been working with Toji lately to build some kind of secret base, right? Let me in on it too—I don't want to be left out."

Satoshi was speechless.

So that whole bet, that whole trickery just to make sure he could be involved?

Satoshi shook his head in disbelief.

"You can't?" Satoru's face fell the moment he saw Satoshi shake his head.

"No, that's not it," Satoshi sighed.

"Toji and I weren't trying to exclude you. It's just that I think he can handle this project well on his own."

"But if you want to be involved from the start, I welcome it. Just know that your role will be more… participatory."

"This kind of thing is easier for an adult like Toji to manage, and honestly, he has more money."

Satoshi explained, then went on to outline his plan for Yorozuya.

Satoru's eyes lit up in understanding.

"So you're short on funds to build Yorozuya? No problem, I have money!"

Satoru had quickly grasped Satoshi's current financial struggle and patted his chest confidently.

"You have money?"

Satoshi was baffled. They both only received so much New Year's money every year, and the clan head didn't treat them differently. If he barely had any funds, where did Satoru get his money?

When Satoru revealed that it was an annual gift from the Twin Curse Faction, Satoshi suddenly felt that life was incredibly unfair.

He only got a tiny amount of money each year, but Satoru had achieved financial independence at six?!

Satoshi's teeth clenched in frustration.

Satoru laughed.

"This year, they'll probably give you one too!"

Satoru had already noticed the shift in their family's attitude toward Satoshi. With his current standing, there was no way the clan would continue treating him like they did in past years.

He had also sensed that the relationship between Gojo Kumaen's faction and Satoshi was improving.

"Alright, alright, I don't really care, as long as the money's enough."

"Then I'll go ahead and use your funds too. This way, Toji can design it even more comfortably."

Satoshi spoke with a hint of resentment before dropping the subject. He turned and continued walking toward the forging house.

"Hey, Satoshi, what exactly is Yorozuya for?"

"It's nothing, just a little project of mine."

"Is it gonna be our new base?"

"No, it's my shop. You're just an employee."

"Wait, what? I invested money too, I should be a shareholder!"

"If you keep talking nonsense, I won't let you join at all."

"...Fine."

---

After seeing Yagyū Hidetsugu and Yagyū Saemon off, Gojo Kumaen reported the matter to the clan head.

As he spoke at length about the power of the Zanpakutō, a satisfied smile appeared on the old man's face.

He could clearly sense the shift in Kumaen's attitude, as well as how much importance he now placed on Satoshi.

This was exactly what he wanted to see.

After all, rather than forcing Satoshi to take power from Kumaen in the future, it would be much better for it to be a smooth transition.

"Kumaen, do you think it was a loss for Satoshi to forge that Zanpakutō for the Yagyū family?"

The clan head saw through Kumaen's thoughts instantly.

"Of course. Giving a powerful Zanpakutō to anyone could turn them into a formidable Jujutsu sorcerer."

"And yet, all we got in return was a single Tsuki no Sho… That hardly seems like a fair trade, does it?"

Kumaen was blunt.

Although the Gojo Clan oversaw Kyokushin-ryu, they didn't particularly prioritize Zanjutsu. Otherwise, Gojo Shunichi wouldn't be the top Kyokushin-ryu swordsman.

In the current Jujutsu world, Cursed Techniques were king. Kyokushin-ryu was just a minor branch of the Gojo Clan, primarily serving as a training ground for family members who couldn't awaken Cursed Energy.

So in Kumaen's view, no matter how valuable the Tsuki no Sho was, it was still just a resource for a niche group, ordinary people and the rare Jujutsu sorcerer who practiced swordsmanship.

No matter how he looked at it, this was a loss.

Hearing this, the old man chuckled.

Slowly, he rose from his recliner and walked to the window.

Looking out at the bleak scenery beyond, he let out another sigh.

(To be continued.)

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