Chapter 254: Jogo’s Deep Resentment

Unfortunately, Satoshi had not yet mastered any high-level Hadō beyond the fifties.

So, this time, he would once again have to rely on the power of his Zanpakutō...

...

As the flames of Shakkahō and Sōkatsui slowly faded, Sukuna's charred fingers reappeared before everyone's eyes.

This was by far the most battered state Sukuna's fingers had ever shown.

But even so, aside from the outer epidermis being slightly more scorched than after Ieiri Shoko's Reverse Cursed Technique, there was no real structural change.

Zenin Ogi silently exhaled a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, Sukuna's fingers were strong enough. Otherwise, if they had really been destroyed by Satoshi, he would have been utterly humiliated.

Just now, when Shakkahō and Sōkatsui erupted, Ogi had truly believed that the six fingers might be obliterated by these strange and overwhelming attacks.

Fortunately, Ryoumen Sukuna lived up to his title as the King of Curses.

But even as he praised Sukuna's resilience, Ogi couldn't help but ask himself inwardly: If he were the one facing Satoshi's explosive Hadō barrage… would he survive?

His expression grew conflicted. He didn't want to admit it, but he couldn't lie to himself.

Even without a Zanpakutō, just relying on those Hadō, Satoshi could very well kill him.

He had never imagined that someone like Satoshi, who had been dormant for nine years, would still possess such terrifying strength upon awakening.

Fortunately, Satoshi's Zanpakutō was supposedly unusable.

And now, in front of the entire world watching via livestream, he had failed to destroy Ryoumen Sukuna's fingers.

It was over. It had all ended in failure.

That was what most people believed. They thought Satoshi had already used his final trump card.

But just then, Satoru crossed his arms and said teasingly, "Alright, Satoshi, time to stop playing around. My Senbonzakura is waiting to see what you'll really do."

His words left the entire audience and livestream viewers stunned.

What did that mean?

Was Satoru trying to save face for his younger brother? What did he mean by "stop playing around"?

Hadn't Satoshi just released an intense barrage of Hadō techniques, each more dazzling than the last?

If that wasn't being serious, what was?

Had Satoru forgotten that even he, with both the Limitless Technique and Senbonzakura, had failed to make any dent in Sukuna's fingers?

Viewers aligned against the Gojo clan immediately began mocking Satoru. They were disgusted by his blatant favoritism and the smug way he spoke.

Inside the Yorozuya, Zenin Toji and Yuto each held a child while watching the livestream with faint grins at the corners of their lips.

Neither of them doubted that Satoshi could destroy the six fingers of Ryoumen Sukuna.

Nine years ago, Satoshi had proven many times that he would never take on a battle without complete confidence.

If Satoshi had chosen to act now, then the only outcome for those six fingers was annihilation.

"Toji, the boss's Bakudō and Hadō don't use Cursed Energy at all," Yuto said as he gently rocked the baby Yuto in his arms, his expression filled with affection. "He has Heavenly Restriction, just like you. When he comes back to the shop, you should learn those spells too. Wouldn't that be convenient?"

Toji, playing with Fushiguro Megumi, responded with a smirk.

"You're the one who wants to learn them, aren't you?"

"I mean, yeah. Why wouldn't I want to be stronger?" Yuto didn't even try to deny it. "We've been working for him for nine years, and I haven't picked up a single spell. Don't I deserve some new knowledge?"

He was totally shameless.

But that carefree comment immediately triggered Jogo, who was quietly watching the livestream with them.

"Yuto, can you not be so noisy? You're ruining the mood."

"At least the boss gave you a Zanpakutō, Nosho, before he fell asleep. But what about me? I worked my ass off for nine years at the Yorozuya and got nothing!"

"And whenever we go on missions together, you always slack off. You call that contributing? Feels more like you're using me."

The more Jogo complained, the wider the eye on his forehead became, brimming with frustration and grievance. He didn't even know who to vent to anymore.

The core reason he had joined the Yorozuya was to witness the ultimate firepower of the Zanpakutō Ryūjin Jakka.

But not long after he joined, Satoshi had fallen into that deep sleep that lasted nine whole years.

Nine years!

Did Satoshi even realize how Jogo had survived those years?

If it weren't for his obsession with witnessing Ryūjin Jakka's power firsthand, he would've left long ago.

Now, finally, the time had come. He would get to see it again.

But at this moment, these two guys were going back and forth about learning some ghost spell?

They were ruining the experience!

Satoshi was definitely about to use his Zanpakutō next. Whether it was Sode no Shirayuki or Ryūjin Jakka, either way, it would prove his Zanpakutō wasn't broken.

Then, everything Jogo endured over the past nine years wouldn't have been in vain.

Ryūjin Jakka...

He murmured the name like one might whisper a lover's name, and the image of those roaring city flames from the Tombs of the Star burned vividly in his mind.

Jōkaku Enjō.

Ennetsu Jigoku.

Now, he hoped Satoshi would use Ennetsu Jigoku to obliterate Ryoumen Sukuna's fingers. Let that so-called King of Curses experience what true fire really meant.

And anyone who dared block that goal would be his enemy. Even Toji, the acting shop manager, and Yuto, his longtime partner.

Hearing Jogo's indignant rant, Toji and Yuto looked at each other, smiled, and gave small nods.

After working together in the Yorozuya for so long, they no longer saw the cursed spirit in front of them as a monster.

Over these past nine years, Toji, Jogo, and Yuto had become a family of sorts at the Yorozuya.

They all knew what Jogo had been chasing.

Just let him have this moment.

(To be continued.)