Chapter 178: Reverse Cursed Technique, Maybe Not the Strongest Treatment

In the Kamo household.

Kaname continued to push himself relentlessly, doing everything he could to become the rightful successor of the Kamo family's Red Blood Manipulation Technique.

As long as the Kamo family could produce an heir capable of wielding Red Blood Manipulation, their decline could be avoided.

He could accept the decline of the Kamo family. What he could not accept was that, under his leadership, the Kamo family would fall so far behind the Gojo and Zenin families.

Kaname also understood that Zanpakutō represented another possible path.

However, the Zenin family had already provided a precedent.

The Gojo family, who held exclusive control over Zanpakutō forging, would never easily allow their blades to fall into the hands of others.

Even though Toji remained a member of the Zenin family, his ties with the Gojo family were far closer.

Even if he possessed a Zanpakutō, it would not serve the Zenin family.

Moreover, Kaname suspected that there was some conflict between his own family and the Gojo family that he had yet to uncover.

Uncle Kamo was truly dead, and the leadership of the Forging Association had fallen into the hands of others. All of this hinted at the growing rift between the Kamo and Gojo families.

In this situation, the Kamo family's chances of acquiring a Zanpakutō were practically nonexistent.

What Kaname didn't know at this moment was that Satoshi had once again demonstrated the power of his Zanpakutō.

If he had witnessed Ryūjin Jakka in action, his anxiety would have only worsened.

…

"Hidetsugu, how is Saemon?"

Yagyū Hidetsugu had just received word from the association that Yagyū Saemon was in critical danger.

After hurriedly reporting the news to Yagyū Yusuke, he had been ready to rush to the mission site.

However, after witnessing the massive pillar of fire erupting from the outskirts, Hidetsugu's anxiety immediately eased.

Hidetsugu recognized the technique as belonging to Ryūjin Jakka. Although he didn't know why Satoshi had appeared at the mission site, with Satoshi there, the crisis was surely resolved.

At this point, even if he hurried over, there would be nothing more he could do.

"The situation should be under control," Hidetsugu replied softly to the head of the family, his expression much calmer now.

"What happened?" Yagyū Yusuke asked, surprised. The report from the association had made the situation sound dire, yet Hidetsugu was suddenly so composed.

Hidetsugu pointed toward the sky.

"Lord Yusuke, perhaps you didn't notice. Just now, at the location where Saemon's mission was taking place, Gojo Satoshi's Zanpakutō unleashed a technique."

"It was the power of that fire-type Zanpakutō."

Upon hearing Hidetsugu's explanation, Yusuke let out a deep breath of relief.

"I see. So it was Satoshi who saved Saemon."

Hidetsugu nodded. "From what we know so far, that seems to be the case."

Yusuke's expression grew serious.

"Satoshi's intervention this time is effectively a great favor to the Yagyū family. If something had happened to Saemon, it would have been a devastating blow to us."

"Going forward, we must deepen our cooperation with the Gojo family."

"You need to speak up more in the association. You cannot remain passive and indifferent like before."

"Remember, including the incident with Gojo Shunichi, both you and Saemon owe your lives to the Gojo family."

Hidetsugu recalled his previous conversation with Kumaen and the ambitions of the Gojo family.

Thinking of these things, his expression became solemn.

This situation was also an opportunity for the Yagyū family.

If the Gojo family succeeded in their plans, even if the Yagyū family could not join the ranks of the Big Three Sorcerer Families, they would still rise into the upper tier among the jujutsu clans.

Once the Big Three no longer existed, all families would be on equal footing. Power would determine rank.

"I understand. I will fight for more influence within the association," Hidetsugu replied firmly, his eyes sharp with resolve.

Having decided to align with the Gojo family, the Yagyū family had to become their most dedicated supporters.

After all, the Yagyū family also had a silent rival.

The Ieiri family possessed the rare and valuable Reverse Cursed Technique, and Ieiri Inamichi had even tried to arrange a match between his daughter Shōko and Satoshi.

Compared to Saemon, Hidetsugu felt they held no advantage.

One was refined and graceful, the other strong and imposing.

After Satoshi forged a Zanpakutō for Shōko, the Yagyū family's advantage had grown even smaller.

Because of this, they had to maintain a strong sense of urgency.

What Hidetsugu didn't know was that the Ieiri family, whom they quietly regarded as rivals, already possessed their own Zanpakutō.

…

At the Ieiri household.

Ieiri Inamichi stood calmly beneath the sky, sensing the waves of heat in the air. His mood was relaxed.

After all, he had already been in high spirits all day.

Shōko had obtained her Zanpakutō, and the abilities of this blade perfectly complemented the Ieiri family's Reverse Cursed Technique.

It also seemed that the relationship between Satoshi and Shōko was progressing smoothly.

Inamichi felt hopeful for the Ieiri family's future.

When the Gojo family eventually seized full control, the Ieiri family could follow Shōko's lead and secure their place at the top.

Most importantly, the Reverse Cursed Technique itself remained a rare and valuable resource.

The title of "strongest healer" was not just empty praise.

The Reverse Cursed Technique was still an extremely rare ability in the world of jujutsu.

Originally, Inamichi had worried that Satoshi might forge a Zanpakutō capable of competing with the Reverse Cursed Technique.

But now, the only Zanpakutō with healing abilities was in Shōko's hands. This meant the Ieiri family faced almost no competition.

Unfortunately, what Inamichi failed to realize was that while he focused on the uniqueness of Zanpakutō, he remained unaware that Satoshi possessed far more than just these abilities.

Once Satoshi completed his Shunpo training and fully mastered the Way of Kidō, the entire jujutsu world would witness what it truly meant to be a Shinigami.

The Reverse Cursed Technique, which the Ieiri family so proudly relied on, was not as irreplaceable in Satoshi's eyes as they believed.

After all, within Kidō, there existed the Kaidō—the art of healing.

Hadō focused on offense. Bakudō specialized in control. Kaidō handled healing.

When Satoshi fully mastered Kidō, he would become the most well-rounded Shinigami this world had ever seen.

When the strongest Kidō combined with the strongest Zanpakutō…

Neither Kenjaku nor Ryomen Sukuna would be able to stand against him.

As for the idea of beheading Satoru, it had been an impossibility from the moment Satoshi was born into this world.

Because Satoshi was destined to be the strongest Shinigami here.

A being who possessed a body bound by Heavenly Restriction, eyes that could see through all things, the killing power of a Shinigami, and the strongest Zanpakutō, Ryūjin Jakka…

Such an existence was destined to ascend the throne at the peak of the jujutsu world.

(To be continued.)

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