Over the following days, the members of the Gojo clan threw themselves into training as if injected with doping, yet not a single person managed to awaken Shikai.
Even so, no one felt discouraged.
Having witnessed Kaito’s sheer power and Satoru’s lightning-fast release, the fire of ambition burned fiercely in the heart of every sorcerer.
They trained like maniacs, and whenever an opportunity arose, they immediately sought out Kaito for guidance.
Why not ask Satoru?
Simple: asking a genius who grasped it the instant he touched it was like asking a fish why it knew how to swim—how could he possibly understand or explain the arduous toil of ordinary people?
The three sorcerers entrusted with Soul Slayer Blades by the clan were all seasoned Grade 1 veterans, long-standing masters in handling cursed tools.
Yet even they could only evaluate them as exceptionally high-quality tools.
As for “sensing the soul” or reaching Shikai?
That remained a distant horizon.
Time flew by, and soon it was time for Kaito and Tobu to depart.
Over the phone, Kaito learned that Naobito had agreed to meet the First Elder in person to discuss business, while Toji had finalized securing locations for his own ventures.
Standing before the gates of the Gojo estate, the two said their goodbyes.
Satoru made a promise to spar with Kaito once he fully mastered Senbonzakura.
Tobu, meanwhile, carried an even more resolute look in her eyes.
Witnessing the rapid progress of those around her, her desire to awaken her Soul Slayer Blade grew stronger than ever.
To save time, Tobu summoned Nue, taking them both soaring through the skies.
Watching the two children fade into the distant clouds, Otome let out a soft sigh: “It seems each of them has chosen their own battlefield.
Especially little Tobu…
she has two battles to face.”
Standing beside her, Shouko nodded slightly with the knowing air of an elder sister who understood the ways of the world, completely on the same wavelength as Otome.
Satoru alone stood there looking dazed, his face utterly clueless as to what the two women were hinting at.
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Under the eaves of the First Elder’s estate, old Naobito strolled casually, his hand never leaving his familiar liquor gourd.
Spotting his nephew and niece flying back on Nue’s back, Naobito narrowed his eyes slightly, whispering to the First Elder beside him:
“It seems the promises we made back then weren’t just empty talk.”
“Haha, if they truly become a couple, wouldn’t that be a massive blessing for both families?”
Thump!
Tobu landed on the ground, knitting her brows as she looked at the two elders: “What are you two old men plotting now?”
“Haha, nothing, nothing at all.”
Kaito stepped forward, bowing respectfully: “Greetings, First Elder, Lord Naobito.
Thank you for making the long journey here to meet me.”
“That’s nothing compared to the earth-shattering news you brought.
To be frank, when Naoya told me, I thought he was hallucinating.”
Distributing Soul Slayer Blades to the Zenin clan was something he hadn’t dared dream of.
Just imagining Toji holding a blade capable of slaughtering half the clan made Naobito shudder at the prospect of the Zenin acquiring several more “monsters” like him.
The group moved into Kaito’s new forge.
The space was clean and airy, steam constantly rising from the cascading waterfall before dissipating in rhythm with his work.
Naobito watched without taking his eyes off the process.
Observing the exquisite craftsmanship and the operation of Spiritual Energy—that mysterious energy Tobu had mentioned—he realized that replicating this weapon was an absolute impossibility.
No wonder this kid was so confident when facing the major clans.
Five newly forged Soul Slayer Blades sat neatly on the rack.
Though identical in shape, the presence they emitted was entirely distinct, like five newborn living beings.
Naobito picked up each blade, his eyes filled with contemplation:
“If everything goes smoothly, will the Zenin clan possess five sorcerers with power on par with Toji?” Naobito narrowed his eyes, his tone a mix of doubt and excitement.
“Naturally, nothing is absolute, but the potential they offer is undeniable,” Kaito replied calmly.
He began explaining in detail the core essence of the Soul Slayer Blades he had compiled.
Unlike the Gojo clan, which focused heavily on financial matters, the old fox Naobito looked deeper into the political ramifications.
He mused:
“First, I will only purchase a small batch for verification and prioritize giving them to the clan’s elites.
However, this will inevitably fan the flames of resentment between those chosen and those left behind.”
Tobu nodded slightly beside him.
She knew all too well the rot and jealousy deeply rooted within her family.
Naobito continued, his expression turning grimmer:
“The second point is the true danger: if a Soul Slayer Blade is stolen, can the new owner use it?
From your words, releasing Shikai is extraordinarily difficult, and each blade bears its own distinct identity.
I fear it could become a catalyst for internal rebellion, where the weak grow malicious enough to slaughter their own comrades just to claim that power for themselves.”
Naobito held high expectations, but he was lucid enough to realize: if left uncontrolled, this weapon would be the spark that burned the clan’s order to the ground.
“Hmm, to ease your concerns, I think we should invite a trustworthy ‘witness’ out here,” Kaito smiled.
While everyone looked bewildered—who could be more authoritative than the swordsmith himself?—Kaito slowly drew Hyōrinmaru.
Instead of a colossal ice dragon as usual, a handsome young man with long, deep-blue hair manifested within the cold mist.
His face resembled Kaito’s by eighty to ninety percent, clad in dignified traditional attire.
Only his arms and legs covered in ice scales and an X-shaped scar on his face gave off a surreal air.
“Allow me to introduce you all: this is the physical manifestation of Hyōrinmaru.”
All three froze in shock.
The ability to directly summon the soul of a Soul Slayer Blade into a human form was entirely beyond their imagination.
“Maintaining this state consumes a great deal of stamina; it took me a long time of practice to achieve this.
Please ask your questions quickly,” Kaito exhaled, his face turning slightly pale.
Hyōrinmaru listened, then spoke in a deep, majestic voice like cracking ice: This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
“An Asauchi is initially nameless, like a newborn child; anyone can be its master.
But once a soul harmonizes to unlock Shikai, the blade becomes permanently bound to that wielder.
If the person holding the blade dies, we fade away as well.
We and our masters…
are an inseparable, unified whole.”
With those words, Hyōrinmaru’s figure dissolved into thin air.
Kaito stumbled, gasping for breath, but in return, Naobito and Tobu had gained priceless knowledge.
“So once Shikai is achieved, we can rest easy.
Even if an enemy kills the master, they gain nothing, so there’s no fear of it being stolen or leaked,” Naobito concluded.
“However, there will still be those scheming to seize an Asauchi before it takes shape.
Therefore, until I can ensure every clan member has their own blade, I will prioritize giving them to those capable of protecting themselves.”
The First Elder nodded in deep approval.
This weapon would bring a completely new wind to the jujutsu world, and Kaito—the child he had raised like his own son—stood right at the head of that storm.
“Haha!
Hearing that puts my mind at ease!”
Naobito decisively pulled out a black card, placing it directly into Kaito’s hand: “I’ll take these first five.
The price will be higher than your base rate.
This comes entirely from my personal pocket; investing in the clan’s future like this is worth every penny.
Kaito, my advice to you: charge exorbitant prices without mercy!
Only then will those idiots at my place learn to cherish them!”
Immense potential power, coupled with one-of-a-kind handcrafted origin from Kaito’s hands…
that price was entirely reasonable.
“A pleasure doing business with you.”
And so, Gojo Kaito, though only 12 years old, came to hold a vast fortune after finalizing transactions with two of the most powerful heads of the Three Great Families.
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Returning to the Zenin estate after escorting Naobito, Tobu immediately headed to her familiar training ground.
She threw herself into practicing with her Soul Slayer Blade, unwilling to waste even a single second.
Meanwhile, Naobito convened an emergency meeting with the elders.
After Toji’s destructive rampage, the ranks of corrupt rulers had thinned significantly, making way for younger faces.
Even so, the mindset of these people hadn’t improved much, still trapped in deeply ingrained arrogance and conservatism.
He placed the five Asauchi on the table, casually laying out all their characteristics.
However, Naobito made sure not to mention the colossal sum of money he had spent.
He knew full well that to these shallow, pragmatic minds, mentioning money would only invite unnecessary evil schemes.
The Zenin family, having tasted bitter defeat at the hands of Kaito and Toji, had carved the power of this weapon deep into their hearts.
Yet unlike the Gojo clan—which prioritized nurturing young elites—the elders here only schemed to snatch them for themselves.
Zenin Ougi, one of the few surviving conservatives, possessed the most sinister gaze.
He nursed the intention of seizing a blade to dissect it, research ways to copy the technology, or even find a weakness to counter it.
In his delusional fantasies, Ougi envisioned Kaito and Toji kneeling before him, trembling and begging for mercy.
Naobito saw through that filthy mess of thoughts from the corner of his eye.
His lips curled into a cold sneer: “Fine then.
I will keep two—one for myself, and one for my son, Naoya.
As for the rest, feel free to discuss amongst yourselves.
Whether you want to entrust them, dissect them for research, or use them yourselves…
I won’t interfere.”
That was the most viable resolution at the moment.
As long as someone unlocked Shikai, that power would still belong to the Zenin.
With that, he picked up two blades, leaving the rest of the group behind to begin tearing into one another.
Stepping out onto the training field, Naobito paused.
Tobu was swinging her sword with terrifying intensity while simultaneously maintaining the summons of three shikigami.
Beside her, Naoya was huffing through physical conditioning with a rare degree of seriousness.
The old man’s heart softened slightly.
If every Zenin member possessed the drive of these two children, why would the clan ever need to wary of any external force?
He called Naoya over, handing him a Soul Slayer Blade and reminding him that it was personally forged by Kaito.
The boy rejoiced like a child receiving the most precious toy in the world, immediately unsheathing the sword and swinging basic strikes with wild excitement.
Now, only one blade remained in his hands.
Suddenly, Naobito felt an unfamiliar sensation of life vibrating faintly, resonating with his cursed energy.
“Haha!”
He chuckled softly.
Having reached the twilight of his life, having achieved Grade 1 long ago, and having accepted his own limits, this weapon felt like a spark.
It ignited the combat instincts and competitive spirit he thought he had lost after years of standing at the apex of power.
“It seems this old man still has plenty of fuel left!”
Gripping the sword tightly, Naobito also began seeking a corner of the yard to start researching training methods to conquer the soul of the blade.
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At the higher-ups’ headquarters of the jujutsu world, the atmosphere was thick with the stench of incense smoke and antiquity.
Behind dense silk curtains, five aging figures sat motionless, their whispers carrying heavy calculation.
“So that kid carrying both the Six Eyes and Heavenly Restriction has truly mastered the forging technique of that mysterious weapon?”
“Indeed.
And he has begun distributing them across the jujutsu world.
A soft thud echoed as someone slammed the table in frustration: “We should have acted sooner!
Such power ought to be under our management and direction!”
“Wasn’t that due to your own cowardice?” a mocking voice replied.
“Now is not the time to point fingers!
We must act immediately before things spiral completely out of control.”
The room fell silent for a moment before another old man spoke in a cautious tone: “Targeting that kid right now is suicide.
His clients are currently the most prominent clans.
If we aren’t careful, we’ll turn ourselves into targets for both the Gojo and Zenin families.”
“Then the current problem is that we must ‘steal’ that technique at all costs.”
A sneer sounded from behind the curtain: “Rest assured, I’ve already dispatched someone to order a blade.
Once we have the product in hand, we will dissect and study its structure.
The price to pay is certainly not cheap, so failure is not an option this time.”
The old men began indulging in visions of the future: “Once we have a grasp on the technology, we will mass-produce and undercut the market to monopolize it.
When that time comes, the jujutsu world will truly be in the palm of our hands.
That Gojo kid…
no matter how talented, is ultimately just a naive child.”
Wheezing, triumphant laughter echoed through the dark room.
The higher-ups remained engrossed in their grand illusions, completely unaware that they were setting themselves against a power that defied every rule they had ever known.
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At the Kamo clan estate, the atmosphere was equally heavy.
Witnessing the other two families of the Three Great Families acquiring the new weapon, the Kamo clan could not sit idly by.
Though a bit late, fortunately, within the past year, the Kamo clan had welcomed a ray of hope: a child possessing the Blood Manipulation technique was born.
Even though his mother was merely a non-sorcerer from a branch family, the blood flowing through the child’s veins was an undeniable power.
That child was named Kamo Noritoshi.
However, the joy was short-lived as the emergence of the Soul Slayer Blades once again backed the Kamo clan head into a corner.
He gritted his teeth in frustration, constantly trailing breathlessly behind the other two families.
Yet he understood clearly that if they failed to keep pace, the tripod balance of the Three Great Families would collapse, and the one suffering the greatest loss would be Kamo.
Even so, the price for each Soul Slayer Blade was a steep figure.
According to intelligence, releasing the seal was exceptionally difficult, with only three blades successfully opened in the entire jujutsu world so far.
The old clan head remained torn between immediate gains and massive financial risk.
Seated below, a woman with a horizontal scar across her forehead let out a sinister smile.
Her belly was noticeably swollen, a sign of a life forming within.
“Heheh…
Clan Head, pray buy boldly.
As I see it, this is an investment with only gains and no losses.
Furthermore, if we can grasp the secret of that weapon, wouldn’t all future troubles be eliminated?”
Her eyes flashed with ambitious light.
She longed to get her hands on that weapon—not to fight, but to dissect and study the nature of the soul within it.
“You make it sound so easy, Kaori!” the Kamo Clan Head snapped.
“The Kamo clan is currently at a disadvantage.
A single wrong step could bring about our downfall.”
“Heheh…
If you want to catch a tiger cub, you must be willing to step into the tiger’s den.
I was merely offering a suggestion…
Oh dear!
It’s time for me to go home and cook dinner for my husband and child.
If you’ll excuse me, I shall take my leave.”
She stood up, walking away with the air of a gentle, dutiful wife, yet the cunning emanating from her every word left a chill down one’s spine.
Watching Kaori’s departing back, the Kamo Clan Head let out a sigh, continuing his calculations, carefully weighing every piece in his hand.
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Information regarding the Soul Slayer Blades quickly became the “hottest” topic, spreading to every corner of the jujutsu world.
Kaito made no secret of it, publicly disclosing the entire release process and how they functioned.
This transparency only fueled the thirst for power among ambitious individuals.
Yet, the price to own a blade was by no means cheap, and absolutely no one was crazy enough to hand over their “treasure.” When money couldn’t buy them, desperate individuals began contemplating theft.
A few arrogant curse users secretly infiltrated Kaito’s domain, brazenly trying to force him to hand over swords.
The result was swift.
The following morning, near a nearby waste site, people were horrified to discover several eerily lifelike “ice statues.” No one knew if those trapped inside were still breathing or had become part of the eternal ice, but it served as the sternest warning to anyone harboring illicit intentions.
Meanwhile, within the dark rooms of the Zenin estate and the higher-ups’ headquarters, another race was quietly unfolding in silence: the race to replicate the technology.
Zenin Ougi and his advisors spent days and nights using every conceivable method to dissect a Soul Slayer Blade.
Yet, whether using cursed energy or the most advanced analytical technology, the blade remained completely indifferent, a mystery defying all understanding.
The higher-ups fared even worse.
In their impatience to examine its internal structure, they foolishly snapped one in half right on the research table.
Those self-proclaimed “rulers of the jujutsu world” could only bitterly discard what had cost them so much to acquire.
After fruitless efforts to dissect and seize the weapons, a bitter yet undeniable truth settled over the entire jujutsu world: Replication was impossible, and theft was suicide.
If one wished to lay hands on a Soul Slayer Blade, the only path was to build a relationship and trade fairly with Kaito.
Gojo Kaito’s standing at this point no longer rested solely on the Gojo name or his Six Eyes.
He had built himself an unassailable fortress through his own sheer talent and uncompromising resolve.