Chapter 260: Ryūjin Jakka Hasn't Appeared

No one expected that Ryomen Sukuna's fingers could remain intact under the power of a Bankai.

After all, this Bankai was overwhelmingly powerful. Perhaps, if Sukuna were still alive, he might have stood a chance. But against this? Everyone thought it was impossible.

As the blue crystalline snow gradually dissipated, both the on-site audience and viewers online focused their attention on the place where Sukuna's fingers had been sealed.

The two restraints that had originally bound Sukuna's fingers—the rope and the breaking wheel—had been completely destroyed under the might of Hakka no Togame.

Yet without those bindings, Sukuna's six fingers did not scatter. Instead, they remained stuck together, as if fused.

However, no one present paid attention to the reason for this adhesion.

They were far more shocked by something else—despite enduring the full force of Hakka no Togame, Sukuna's fingers hadn't changed much at all, other than their hue shifting to a deeper icy blue.

This result was... underwhelming.

Could it be that even Shōko's earlier attack had inflicted more damage?

Everyone felt a deep sense of unease.

Especially those who had felt the power of Hakka no Togame firsthand. That kind of soul-freezing chill should not have left the target so untouched.

Could Sukuna's fingers possess some kind of innate resistance to frost-based techniques?

Itadori Kaori furrowed her brows, uncertain about what was happening.

In her opinion, Hakka no Togame should be Gojo Satoshi's strongest technique. If even this couldn't destroy Sukuna's fingers, then what else could?

Could it be that Satoshi hadn't spent the last nine years resting, but instead was researching a new ability?

Still, that seemed unlikely.

Kaori couldn't shake the feeling that something else was going to happen.

...

At the Tombs of the Star, Tengen stared calmly at Sukuna's fingers.

She said nothing. Instead, she once again picked up Urozakuro.

...

"Did Gojo Satoshi... fail?"

Sekiguchi Seiji, the principal of Jujutsu High, looked toward Yaga Masamichi with visible frustration. In his eyes, this was Satoshi's trump card.

If even this couldn't destroy Sukuna's fingers, then things were looking grim.

Yaga narrowed his eyes, furrowed his brow, and shook his head slightly. He didn't believe Satoshi would act without absolute confidence.

But reality, as Sekiguchi had pointed out, seemed to tell a different story. It looked as though Satoshi had failed.

Seeing this, Kamo Kaname and Zenin Ogi—seated across from them—breathed sighs of relief.

Although they had been repeatedly embarrassed by Satoshi throughout this incident, they now believed this might finally be their moment.

After all, the result was right in front of them. Despite such a powerful Bankai, Sukuna's fingers were still intact.

Yet this time, Ogi didn't rush to speak.

He turned his gaze toward Satoru.

Compared to everyone's assumptions, the opinion of Satoru—Satoshi's twin and the bearer of the Six Eyes—carried far more weight.

The Six Eyes could see deeper than any of them.

Ogi had learned his lesson. Before jumping to conclusions, he decided to remain silent.

After witnessing the overwhelming power of Hakka no Togame, he understood how terrifying a Zanpakutō Bankai could be.

Mocking it too soon would only bring disgrace to the Zenin Clan—and to himself.

He stared at Satoru intently and noticed a look of shock on his face.

"The cursed energy structure within Sukuna's fingers... it's stabilizing. The prior signs of collapse have stopped... what's going on?"

The pupils of Satoru's Six Eyes contracted rapidly.

Why had Hakka no Togame not only failed to destroy Sukuna's fingers, but even allowed the cursed energy structure within them to stabilize?

Why?

He frowned deeply, clearly confused and disturbed. If Bankai couldn't destroy Sukuna's fingers, wouldn't Satoshi be humiliated in front of everyone?

He looked at Satoshi, who was slowly returning to normal after using Hakka no Togame, his heart filled with unease.

...

However, neither Shoko nor Yuki showed the slightest doubt.

Both women wore calm, unwavering expressions of trust.

They believed in Gojo Satoshi completely.

This wasn't blind faith. What Satoshi had achieved nine years ago had proven that he was not someone who gave up halfway.

...

Inside the Yorozuya.

Toji, Yuto, and Jogo also stared intently at the projected screen.

"Satoshi seems to be in a tough spot, huh?" Yuto drooped his brows and sighed, though his tone lacked any real concern.

Hearing this, Toji curled his lips and replied casually, "Trust Satoshi. He must have a plan. We're not there, so we don't know the whole picture."

"Even that brat Satoru with his Six Eyes doesn't see everything. If Satoshi gave up this easily, he wouldn't be Gojo Satoshi."

Toji's trust in Satoshi ran deeper than even Tsukumo or Shoko's.

"Oh, no doubt about that. He's not the kind to fall short so easily."

"But still... we're talking about the fingers of the Cursed King here."

Yuto tried to give a little credit to Sukuna's legacy. Even if Satoshi failed to destroy it, wasn't that still understandable?

After all, that cursed object had survived for a thousand years.

If Satoshi's Hakka no Togame couldn't destroy it, it wouldn't be unreasonable.

Satoshi was only sixteen years old. Wasn't it too much to expect a sixteen-year-old to carry the fate of the Jujutsu world on his back?

"So what if it's the Curse King's fingers?" Toji scoffed. "Hehehe. That was just Sode no Shirayuki's Bankai. Satoshi hasn't even used Ryūjin Jakka yet!"

(To be continued.)