Chapter 151: The Thrill (BONUS)

"Satoru, Lord Tengen really doesn't have any hostility toward Satoshi! Please believe that."

Yuto understood the inside story, so he was unwilling to let relations between the Tombs of the Star and the Gojo clan fall apart.

Tengen meant well, but her method was simply too unorthodox.

How could a newly born Special Grade Cursed Spirit be prepared as a gift for a visiting guest?

...

At the same time, the Tombs of the Star had entered a full lockdown and vanished again.

All the major forces in the jujutsu world who had been tracking Satoshi's movements were stunned.

Although the Tombs of the Star had long remained out of sight, many sorcerer clans understood the significance of its recent state of isolation.

It could only mean one thing—the Tombs of the Star was either facing a powerful enemy or undergoing internal turmoil. Its shift into this special lockdown implied a threat too serious to be ignored.

Now that Satoshi had just entered the Tombs and such an event occurred, didn't that suggest the Tombs' attitude toward him?

Zenin clan residence.

Ogi's heart was filled with malicious glee. He hoped Satoshi would die at Tengen's hands. That way, the Zanpakutō—a threat to the jujutsu world—would disappear completely.

Because of Satoshi and his Zanpakutō, Ogi's position in the clan had become awkward, and his status was even at risk of being overtaken by his nephew, Toji.

And the one responsible for all of this was none other than Satoshi.

Hopefully, this time, Tengen would eliminate that threat once and for all.

Elsewhere in the Zenin residence, others received the news with solemn expressions.

They didn't believe Tengen was simply targeting Satoshi.

If that were the case, neither Toji nor the Gojo clan would sit still.

Though the Tombs of the Star was powerful, the Gojo clan's strength had also reached impressive heights. On top of that, there was Toji, whose strength had long surpassed measurement. It was hard to believe Lord Tengen would act so irrationally.

However, it was merely a Star Plasma Vessel, hardly enough reason for the Tombs to enter full lockdown. There had to be something more behind this.

...

Kamo family.

Kamo Shin had recently taken in a woman who gave him the gentleness his tiger of a wife never did.

He kept her as a mistress outside the family without telling his wife.

For some reason, he felt she would bear him a child—one who would surely benefit the family.

After hearing that Satoru and Satoshi had been trapped in the Tombs of the Star, he couldn't suppress his excitement.

If something truly happened to the Gojo twins inside the Tombs, then this generation's Six Eyes would no longer pose a threat to the Kamo clan.

And since the Zenin clan had no legacy techniques for shadow manipulation, the Kamo family's issue of lacking a successor to Blood Manipulation didn't seem as critical anymore.

...

Yagyū family.

Yagyū Saemon looked grave. He hadn't expected everyone's fears to come true. Lord Tengen had actually taken action.

"Hidetsugu, I'm heading to the Gojo clan."

Saemon's tone was serious.

Now that both of the Gojo clan's twin prodigies were trapped inside the Tombs of the Star, he knew the Gojo family wouldn't sit still.

He even suspected that Kumaen might mobilize the Gojo clan's elite sorcerers to launch a full-scale attack on the Tombs.

As someone who had received the favor of a Zanpakutō, and as a member of the Gojo clan's extended allies, it was his duty to act.

Hidetsugu nodded slightly and added, "You go first. But I think Kumaen should continue observing the situation. I don't believe this is so simple. Lord Tengen's response feels like an automatic defense, not an attack."

At that moment, the head of the Yagyū clan spoke as well.

"Lord Tengen's actions don't seem like a direct assault on Satoshi, but more like a built-in defense mechanism of the Tombs."

"Still, since the Yagyū clan has chosen to side with the Gojo clan, we'll stand with them through this."

"Hidetsugu, Saemon—go to the Gojo residence at once."

Yagyū Yusuke made a decisive call. He didn't care what secrets lay within the Tombs of the Star. What mattered now was strengthening the bond between the Yagyū and Gojo clans.

...

Gojo clan.

Kumaen's face was like still water, calm but dangerous. Across from him, the old man on the reclining chair rested with his eyes closed, unmoved.

"Satoru and Satoshi have gone dark inside the Tombs of the Star," Kumaen said.

The old man replied, "Lord Tengen wouldn't risk her own life."

Kumaen frowned. "She has the Immortality technique. Is this even a risk to her?"

The old man responded, "Satoshi brought Toji with him. That means Lord Tengen doesn't intend to harm them. Toji, who lacks Cursed Energy, is practically invincible inside the Tombs."

Kumaen nodded slowly. "Even so, they shouldn't be left to be rescued by the Zenin clan."

"You're too fixated, Kumaen," the old man said. "Still, since you're in charge now, do as you see fit."

Kumaen's expression didn't change, but a decision had clearly been made.

...

The sudden lockdown and disappearance of the Tombs of the Star sent shockwaves across the jujutsu world.

Rumors spread that Satoshi had angered Tengen.

...

Inside the Tombs of the Star, Yuki and Yuto, backed by the barrier's blessings, barely managed to fend off Toji and Satoru.

But the space around them had already been devastated.

Only the platform where Tengen stood remained untouched. Everything else lay in ruins.

Geto summoned cursed spirits to shield himself from the destruction. His eyes were filled with disbelief as he watched Satoru, someone the same age as him.

He had always believed he was unmatched among his peers.

But after witnessing the strange and limitless techniques Satoru used, Geto realized—there's always someone stronger.

He had seen too little of the world.

This kind of power, and at such a young age… it made Geto feel a deep inferiority.

He thought of how disgusting it was to devour cursed spirits, but now he wanted more.

Maybe then, he could reach that level. Maybe then, he could stand on equal footing.

Gojo Satoru, huh?

That name echoed in his mind. A determination was born within Geto Suguru.

He had to surpass this monster among peers.

And the only way forward… was more curses. Stronger curses. Better techniques.

For the first time, Geto had a clear goal and a rival to chase.

The gears of fate had started to turn once more.

(To be continued.)

***

Bonus.

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