"Alright. I'll have Yuki take care of it. Have her go to the Zenin estate and retrieve that Cursed Tool."
"Gojo Satoshi, one last question. What is the name of the Zanpakutō you're going to forge?"
This was a test from Tengen.
If Satoshi could name the sword, it meant its power already existed in some form.
But if he only had a conceptual image in mind and didn't know its name, then it meant Satoshi had simply acquired the forging method from somewhere else.
Satoshi smiled, a faint trace of amusement flickering in his eyes.
Tengen understood immediately. He had seen through her test.
She thought her plan had failed, but to her surprise, Satoshi spoke directly, revealing the name of the Zanpakutō he intended to craft for her.
"Urozakuro."
"The Zanpakutō I will forge for you is called Urozakuro. If you can fully master it, then the task of assimilation with the Star Plasma Vessel can be left entirely to the blade."
Satoshi stretched, then turned to leave.
"Lord Tengen, I'll leave the rest to you. I need a proper rest. I'm still a bit tired today."
"Is there a place to stay within the Tombs of the Star?"
...
Elsewhere, in one of the larger tea rooms.
When Satoru saw Satoshi arrive and mention that he would be staying at the Tombs of the Star for a while, he was somewhat surprised.
At that moment, a voice echoed in Yuki's ear.
"Go to the Zenin estate and retrieve the Cursed Tool"
"Understood, Lord Tengen."
Yuki's eyes flickered with understanding as he glanced at Satoshi. He immediately realized that Satoshi and Tengen had reached some sort of agreement in the other tea room.
Moreover, it seemed that Satoshi hadn't lost anything in the negotiation. On the contrary, Tengen appeared to be relying on him.
Under the gaze of everyone, Satoshi nodded with slight helplessness.
"This Cursed Tool is exactly what I need. I'll be forging a Zanpakutō for Lord Tengen, and this item is essential."
"I get the feeling things might not go smoothly if Yuki goes to the Zenin estate alone. Toji, could you help retrieve the Cursed Tool?"
Satoshi looked at Toji. He didn't want to complicate things, and helping Tengen forge Urozakuro as soon as possible was the top priority.
Toji nodded. If Satoshi requested it, that meant the Tombs of the Star were currently secure.
Satoru also offered to go. He understood that the Cursed Tool required for Lord Tengen's Zanpakutō must be extremely important.
Satoru believed that his presence might help smooth things over.
After all, the tension between Satoshi and the Zenin family was no secret in the jujutsu world.
"I don't think it's necessary, but you have nothing else to do here, so go ahead and accompany Yuki and Toji."
Satoshi nodded. In the coming days, he would focus on carefully planning the forging of Urozakuro and also consider what kind of Zanpakutō would be suitable for Yuki.
Once he completed the Zanpakutō for Yuki and Tengen, he could finally leave.
...
Zenin estate.
The moment they heard that the Tombs of the Star had sent an envoy, the Zenin family immediately suspected it had something to do with Satoshi.
But they weren't sure how to respond.
When Yuki, Toji, and Satoru arrived together, the entire Zenin household was stunned by the lineup.
The Six Eyes heir of the Gojo clan.
Tengen's Star Plasma Vessel.
And the Zenin clan's strongest current member, Toji, bearer of the Heavenly Restriction.
If these three stood together, not even the entire Zenin family could oppose them. Just what kind of mission would require all three of them to appear at once?
"Toji, when did you return?"
Zenin Naobito came out with Ogi, Shinsuke, and Jinichi to receive the envoy from the Tombs of the Star.
But the first person he looked at was his nephew, Toji.
Even though the envoy from the Tombs of the Star was of high status, to the Zenin clan, Toji held far more weight.
Upon hearing Naobito's words, Toji frowned slightly.
"I'm not coming back. There's nothing here worth returning to."
"A dump is just a dump. I have no intention of living among trash."
Toji's blunt response darkened Naobito's expression.
Ogi's face twitched with suppressed anger, but he held it back. After all, Toji's identity now was not what it used to be.
He was here as Tengen's envoy. More importantly, Ogi was no match for him.
Zenin Shinsuke's expression remained cold. Ever since realizing he would never surpass Satoshi, his progress had stagnated completely.
Unless he broke through the mental barrier within, Shinsuke would remain at his current level forever.
As for Jinichi, Toji's older brother, though he wasn't pleased with his brother's words about the family being a dump, he didn't dare rebuke him.
His position within the Zenin clan was entirely due to Toji.
"Toji, this is still your home. You've lived here for so many years. The clan may have made mistakes in the past, but I hope you'll remember what the Zenin family gave you."
Naobito sighed, saying no more.
Convincing Toji to return to the Zenin family would be a long and difficult path. But he wouldn't give up.
If Toji were to return and take charge of the family, the Zenin clan could avoid decline for at least another fifty years.
Satoru watched the tense interaction between Toji and the rest of the Zenin family with a thoughtful expression.
He had never visited the Zenin estate before and hadn't realized how distant Toji was from his clan.
The thought struck him with a bit of fear.
If the Gojo family allowed Gojo Kumaen's faction to continue using emotional abuse to isolate Satoshi, would he one day become like Toji?
If that were to happen, the Gojo clan could end up in the same state as the Zenin clan.
Fortunately, that didn't happen.
Even though the Gojo family valued Cursed Energy, they weren't as rigid as the Zenin family.
Under those circumstances, not only had the Gojo clan retained Satoshi, but they had also gained the friendship of Toji.
(To be continued.)
***
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