Chapter 255: Is Zanpakutō the Trump Card?

The two of them exchanged a knowing glance, silently holding their sons as they sat on either side of Jogo, quietly watching the livestream.

In truth, they were just like Jogo. They too were looking forward to what changes Satoshi's Zanpakutō would reveal after nine years of slumber.

...

Old buddy, let's see how you perform this time.

Satoshi muttered to himself.

The earlier Bakudō and Hadō had already disrupted the cursed energy structure within Sukuna's fingers.

If those fingers were now attacked by Satoru, Suguru, or Shoko again, the resulting damage and effectiveness would be twice what it was before.

In other words, under the bombardment of Bakudō and Hadō-based Reiryoku, Sukuna's fingers were already under heavy DEBUFF.

Now, it was finally time for the main act to begin.

"Satoru, looks like you weren't convinced last time. Then allow me to show you the true power of a Zanpakutō."

Satoshi narrowed his eyes slightly. Even behind his special sunglasses, the sharp glint in his gaze seemed to pierce through them. The surrounding audience could clearly feel the pressure radiating from his eyes.

At that moment, they finally understood why Satoru had said what he did.

At that moment, they realized Satoshi was finally getting serious.

...

Satoshi slowly drew Sode no Shirayuki.

The blade was still as plain and understated as ever, no different from the Zanpakutōs held by Satoru, Suguru, Shoko, or Yuki.

But no one dared to underestimate this seemingly ordinary weapon.

Satoshi was the creator of the Zanpakutō. His own Zanpakutōs were on a completely different level.

Especially those veterans who had known him nine years ago. They were well aware that Satoshi had mastered the ultimate secret of the Zanpakutō—Bankai.

Still, their emotions were complicated.

The audience had many different reactions, but their sentiments generally split into two camps.

Supporters and skeptics.

Those watching the Cursed Corpse livestream, however, were mostly united in their hopes.

They sincerely wished for Satoshi to destroy Ryoumen Sukuna's finger.

They were mostly ordinary jujutsu sorcerers who had endured countless cursed attacks in this world of jujutsu. Too many of their comrades had died at the hands of curses.

If Satoshi could truly destroy Sukuna's fingers, it would mean a blow to the very root of cursed power.

Especially for Nanami Kento. He had never really felt a sense of belonging to the world of jujutsu. All he ever wanted was to live an ordinary life.

Who would willingly risk death fighting cursed spirits every single day?

As for the Yagyū and Ieiri clans, who had long pledged loyalty to the Gojo clan, their family heads hoped even more fervently to witness Satoshi's past brilliance return.

They all hoped that Satoshi's display would silence the endless criticism swirling in the jujutsu world and raise the Gojo clan's standing once more.

If the Gojo clan got to eat the meat, their allied clans would at least get the soup. That was how the game was played.

In the main broadcast.

The senior officials of the General Directorate, direct affiliates of the Zenin clan, and members of the Kamo family all had complicated expressions.

Their thoughts were far from simple.

Now that Satoshi had drawn his Zanpakutō, it was clear that he intended to use it next.

If that happened, the narrative they had worked so hard to spread—that Satoshi had been collecting Sukuna's fingers to repair his broken Zanpakutō—would be shattered on the spot.

The Gojo clan's suppressed reputation would immediately begin to recover.

And now, the most pressing question in their minds was whether Satoshi's Zanpakutō could really destroy Sukuna's fingers.

If this had been before the battle began, they would have scoffed at the idea. Even if Satoshi could still wield a Zanpakutō, they didn't believe it could break through Sukuna's hardened fingers.

But after watching the opening "appetizer" attacks from Satoru's trio, and the two Hadō feasts Satoshi had prepared…

Looking now at the charred remains of Sukuna's fingers...

The entire Directorate was left speechless.

(To be continued.)