Clang.
Clang.
The steady sound of Kaito’s hammer echoed throughout the forge.
The flames continued to burn brightly, casting orange-red sparks into the air.
With every strike, he could clearly feel it…
Spiritual Power being born from the very ingot before him.
Without hesitation, Kaito plunged his bare hand directly into the red-hot blade blank.
Steam erupted violently.
The waterfall beside the forge nearly evaporated completely.
Its flow stopped for a brief moment before gradually recovering more than half a minute later.
“Wow… now that’s a masterpiece.”
A woman’s voice came from behind him.
“No matter how many times I see it, this is still a beautiful sight.”
Yuki Tsukumo sat behind him with her legs crossed, applauding as she watched without blinking.
She had followed Kaito all the way here…
And had stayed for several days.
Long enough to witness firsthand how a “legend” was created.
“You started working the moment you came back.
This is… the thirty-sixth sword already.”
Yuki tilted her head, her eyes moving from the sword to Kaito.
“And forging them like this must take quite a toll on your stamina, right?”
Kaito didn’t answer.
He simply finished the final step in silence.
Yuki rested her chin on her hand and smiled.
“You know, my type is hardworking, honest men like you.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“So, you—”
“Yuki, could you get me the sword sheath over there?”
“…Hmph.”
She puffed out her cheeks, but still stood up and skillfully tossed the sheath over to him.
“You really don’t know how to enjoy yourself.”
“Phew…”
Kaito exhaled and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“Done.
That’s the last one for this month’s order.”
His tank top was soaked with sweat, revealing a well-trained, sturdy physique.
Yuki stared for a moment, her gaze becoming slightly deeper.
“That body of yours… wasn’t built in just a day or two.”
“Yeah.
Muscle strength is pretty much all I have.”
Kaito answered naturally.
“If I don’t train, I can’t fight.”
He glanced at the clock.
“It’s time to eat.
Want to stay for dinner?
I’ll cook.”
Yuki blinked.
“You can cook too?”
“Yeah.
Cooking for myself lets me control my nutrition better.
It helps optimize my training.”
Yuki fell silent for several seconds.
Then…
She suddenly stood up.
Without warning, she walked over, lifted Kaito off the ground, and held him firmly against herself.
“Smart, hardworking, disciplined, and talented at so many things…”
Her voice carried a playful tone.
“Kaito… if you weren’t a little short—”
“Hey, put me down first.
I’m covered in sweat.”
“That’s fine.”
Yuki held him a little tighter.
“Right now… I actually think you smell pretty good.”
“Hey—”
Click.
The forge door opened.
A black-haired girl stepped inside.
“Kaito.
The Grand Elder said you were here, so I bought you some sweets—”
She stopped.
The scene before her was…
Extremely clear.
The atmosphere suddenly became cold.
Tobu’s voice lowered.
“Hello, Tobu.
Yuki, could you let me go?
Someone else saw us.”
Kaito spoke completely obliviously.
“So what if they did?”
Yuki tilted her head with a half-smile.
“It’s not like Kaito and I are hiding our relationship.”
Every word she said was vague enough to be easily misunderstood.
Killing intent immediately rose around Tobu.
“I see.”
She took another step forward.
“You said you were busy…”
“So this is what you were busy with.”
“Yeah, I just finished forging a large batch—”
Kaito answered naturally.
…
Completely missing the point.
“…”
Tobu remained silent for exactly one beat.
Then she spoke coldly.
“Daichō.”
She didn’t need to raise her voice.
Nue immediately appeared behind her.
Cursed energy erupted, causing the air itself to grow heavy.
Kaito still hadn’t understood what was happening—
“Wait—Tobu, listen to me—”
“Take him away.”
“…Huh?”
“One lap.”
Nue grabbed Kaito.
And—
WHOOSH!
“AAAAAA—?!”
His voice disappeared into the sky.
Yuki blinked.
“…That was fast.”
Tobu turned around.
Her eyes settled on Yuki.
“And you.”
A brief pause.
“…Why don’t you stay and have a little chat with me?”
Yuki watched Kaito disappear into the distance, then slowly turned toward Tobu, who was approaching with an icy gaze.
“…Hmm.”
She smiled.
“Definitely the kind of woman I expected to be after my target.”
A hint of excitement flashed in Yuki’s eyes.
“Looks like…”
“I’ve got a rival.”
At this time, the group of four—Satoru, Shouko, Suguru, and Yaga—had arrived at the Gojo Clan Grand Elder’s residence.
“Phew… That took longer than I expected.”
Yaga let out a small sigh.
“Can’t be helped,” Shouko replied.
“We had to take a detour to avoid being seen by ordinary people.”
They landed in front of the main entrance.
Right there, an old man was casually sitting and drinking tea, as though he had been waiting for them.
“Oh… Shouko, Satoru.”
He smiled warmly.
“It’s been a while since you two came to visit.”
“Hello, Grandfather.”
Shouko bowed slightly.
“We’ve been rather busy lately.”
“That’s all right.”
He waved his hand.
“I’m happy enough that you came.”
His gaze shifted toward the other two.
“Looks like we have some new guests today.”
Suguru immediately bowed.
“Greetings, sir.”
Yaga also became noticeably more formal.
“Greetings, Grand Elder Gojo.
It’s an honor to meet you.
I’m glad to see that you’re still in good health.”
“No need to be so formal.”
The old man smiled gently.
“Yaga Masamichi, right?
How’s your teaching going these days?”
He took another sip of tea before adding casually:
“Give me a puppet sometime.
Having something else to amuse myself with would be nice.”
Yaga was momentarily stunned, then nodded with a slightly moved expression.
“Yes… If that is what you wish, I’ll get started immediately.”
There was no trace of superiority in the old man’s manner.
The Grand Elder’s way of speaking was more like that of a friendly elderly man than an all-powerful figure standing above everyone else.
“Oh, by the way, where’s Kaito, Grandfather?” Satoru interrupted.
“He’s at the forge,” the old man replied.
“Tobu is there too.”
“Then we’ll head over there.”
Yaga stayed behind to drink tea.
The other three followed the small path leading toward the back.
For Suguru, this was his first time visiting this place.
Everything made him curious.
Then, when the forge finally came into view…
He couldn’t help but stop in surprise.
It stood beneath a massive waterfall, surrounded by a veil of mist.
The scene…
Was practically something out of a story he had once read about a reclusive master living in isolation.
So this is where the genius who created the Zanpakutō works…
Suguru’s expectations continued to rise.
Satoru, however, was as impatient as ever.
Bang!
He kicked the door open.
“My beloved little brother—your big brother is here to visit!”
In Satoru’s imagination, Kaito was probably about to become emotional upon seeing his beloved older brother.
But reality—
Was completely different.
All three of them froze.
In the middle of the room…
Gojo Kaito was lying flat on the floor, his face pale as a sheet.
Beside him were two tall, beautiful women arguing fiercely.
“…What the hell is going on?”
Satoru frowned.
“Hey!
You!
Why is my little brother in this state?”
He pointed directly at Tobu.
“And who are you?!”
“Hello, Satoru…”
Kaito weakly raised a hand.
“I’m just a little… dizzy…”
“Ugh…”
“You stupid White-Hair, you arrived at exactly the right time.”
Tobu said coldly.
“Help me throw this fox out.”
“Hey, watch your mouth.”
Yuki crossed her arms and smirked.
“Kaito invited me here properly.”
Suguru…
Was speechless.
The scene before him completely destroyed every expectation he had.
This… is the genius behind the Zanpakutō?
He glanced at Kaito lying helplessly on the floor.
Same hair color as Satoru…
So he really was his younger brother.
But…
Why was he so short?
They aren’t twins, are they?
And another question—
Why were there two women…
Arguing over him?!
A series of questions spun endlessly through Suguru’s mind.
And none of them had a reasonable answer.
In complete contrast—
Shouko stood nearby with her arms crossed.
The corners of her lips curled upward.
Her eyes sparkled.
Clearly…
She was enjoying the situation like she was watching a full-blown drama.
“Open up, Kaito.”
“Ah…”
At the dining table, Kaito was trapped between the two women.
On one side was Tobu.
On the other was Yuki.
The two took turns picking up food and feeding him.
“Thanks… but you two should eat too.”
Kaito looked slightly embarrassed.
“I noticed neither of you has eaten much.”
Thanks to Reverse Cursed Technique, his “Nue-sickness” had completely disappeared.
Afterward, Kaito explained the situation clearly, and the confrontation from earlier finally settled down.
Although he was somewhat surprised by the number of guests today, fortunately, he had prepared enough ingredients.
The dining table was filled with Satoru, Shouko, Tobu, the Grand Elder, Yuki, Suguru, and Yaga.
Everything…
Had been prepared by Kaito.
“Mmm, this is really good.”
Satoru nodded happily as he ate.
“It’s been ages since I last got to eat your cooking.”
“That’s my little brother.”
The Grand Elder smiled warmly.
“Eat plenty, all of you.”
“Haha…”
Yaga laughed.
“Having a talented grandson like this take care of you really is a blessing.”
He glanced toward Kaito.
It was his first time meeting him.
The man who had created the legendary Zanpakutō.
His face resembled Satoru’s by eighty or ninety percent…
Yet his aura was completely different.
Calmer.
More composed.
…
And also considerably shorter.
Suguru sat across from him, quietly observing.
He had to admit—
When he first entered the forge, Kaito’s appearance had shattered the image he had built in his mind.
But after only a few minutes at the same table…
Everything gradually fell into place.
This is the real person.
“Very delicious.”
Suguru nodded.
Kaito smiled faintly.
“Geto Suguru, right?
You must be tired after fighting a cursed spirit.
Take your time eating.”
Suguru froze.
“…How do you know?”
Kaito pointed lightly toward the sword at Suguru’s waist.
“I can sense the Zanpakutō I’ve forged.”
His voice remained calm.
“I can’t see everything directly…”
“But I can more or less perceive them.”
Kaito paused before adding:
“Even when you picked it up by the riverbank.”
“What…?”
Suguru froze.
Everything…
Had been seen through.
There was no doubt anymore.
The person standing before him—
Was the one who had created that sword.
“If that’s the case… can you also—”
Suguru hesitated.
Kaito shook his head.
“Don’t worry.”
“It belongs to you now.”
“Even I can’t take it back.”
His gaze became firmer.
“The moment you released it…”
“It chose you.”
Suguru remained silent for several seconds.
Then he quietly nodded.
“…Thank you.”
“No need to be so formal.”
“By the way…”
Satoru rested his chin on his hand and smirked.
“The higher-ups really are idiots.”
“They actually threw something like this away.”
“Agreed.”
Tobu calmly added.
“Idiots.”
Yaga and the Grand Elder exchanged glances.
They could only smile…
Though there was a hint of bitterness in those smiles.
Even the younger generation could see it.
If even they understood the problem…
Then the current system clearly had issues.
“After we finish eating…”
Suguru spoke again, his tone more serious.
“I want to hear a more detailed explanation about Zanpakutō.”
“Of course.”
Beside them—
Tobu continued eating quietly.
But her eyes…
Were no longer focused on the food.
“So…”
“It was your Hyōrinmaru that started everything?”
“Yes.”
After the meal, everyone gathered in the living room.
Kaito slowly told them everything—
From the fact that he possessed Heavenly Restriction, to the first time he awakened Hyōrinmaru…
And everything that followed afterward.
A chain of events…
Powerful enough to create an entirely new “world.”
“That’s incredible.”
Gojo Satoru crossed his arms, looking immensely proud.
“If my little brother wrote a book, it would definitely become a bestseller.”
“Unlike his big brother.”
Shouko casually interrupted.
Everyone in the room nodded…
Without hesitation.
Yuki Tsukumo, Yaga Masamichi, and Geto Suguru.
Three people.
Three different perspectives.
But they arrived at the same conclusion:
Kaito was not an ordinary person.
Suguru, however, remained silent for longer.
His belief had always been clear:
Jujutsu sorcerers exist to protect non-sorcerers.
But now—
Standing before him was a “non-sorcerer”…
Who did not need protection.
In fact—
He was someone who protected others.
Including Suguru himself.
…
A tiny crack had begun to appear in his beliefs.
“Everything I have…”
Kaito spoke calmly.
“Is mostly thanks to luck…”
“And the help of the people around me.”
He looked toward the Grand Elder, then at everyone else.
“If it weren’t for you…”
“My parents…”
“My brother…”
His gaze paused for a moment.
“…or even Tobu.”
“I wouldn’t be here.”
A simple statement.
Yet it was sincere enough…
To silence the entire room.
“My little brother!”
Satoru suddenly lunged forward and hugged Kaito tightly like he was holding a cat.
“All right, all right.
Let me go…”
Kaito sighed helplessly.
Seeing the scene…
Quite a few people in the room began wondering:
Were these two brothers switched at birth?
After finally managing to pry Satoru off him, Kaito suddenly remembered something.
He took two Zanpakutō out of a storage cursed spirit he had borrowed from Toji.
“Yaga-sensei.”
“Yuki.”
“These…”
“Are for you.”
“…Huh?”
Everyone in the room froze simultaneously.
Yaga frowned.
“Kaito… this is far too valuable.”
“I can’t simply accept it for free.”
Yuki gave a half-smile.
“That’s right.
You don’t have to give me a present for me to already be—”
“That’s enough.”
Tobu frowned slightly.
Kaito remained calm.
“Yaga-sensei.”
His expression became serious.
“The fact that you were willing to sacrifice yourself to protect your students…”
“That day in the cave…”
“I respect you for it.”
“I hope this sword…”
“Will help you continue down that path.”
Yaga fell silent.
“And Yuki.”
Kaito turned toward her.
“Even though your personality is a little…”
“Strange.”
“You’ve helped me quite a bit these past few days.”
“And then there’s your ideal.”
He placed the sword in her hand.
“Use it…”
“As a starting point.”
“But—”
Both of them still hesitated.
Kaito gently raised a finger to his lips.
Signaling them to stop.
“If you still feel indebted to me…”
“Then use it…”
“To protect people.”
“Protect lives.”
His gaze lowered.
“For me…”
“That is the proper way to repay me.”
No one said anything else.
A silence…
Long enough for everyone to understand.
“…I understand.”
Yaga nodded.
“Thank you.”
Yuki also smiled softly, her expression completely different from before.
“I’ll remember your words.”
The two accepted their Zanpakutō.
Carefully examining…
Their new companions.
“Grand Elder…”
“Won’t you take one too?”
Kaito asked.
The old man simply smiled and shook his head.
“I’m old.”
“Power…”
“Should belong to the younger generation.”
“You are the ones who will carry the future.”
“…Yes.”
“So what are you planning to do next?”
“Hmm…”
Kaito thought for a moment.
“The orders are finished, and everything has been delivered properly.”
He turned toward Yuki Tsukumo.
“Perhaps…”
“I’ll go with you.”
“To meet Tengen.”
“Tengen?”
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Even Suguru, who still knew relatively little about the jujutsu world, understood the significance of that name.
“To be personally invited by Tengen…”
The Grand Elder spoke slowly.
“It seems you’ve become someone who can no longer be taken lightly.”
Kaito gently shook his head.
“I don’t think it’s anything special.”
“But Tengen is an extremely influential existence.”
“So…”
“I should still prepare carefully.”
He turned toward Yuki.
“Can I bring some friends along?”
Yuki shrugged.
“I don’t think there’ll be a problem.”
“If that old woman hasn’t said anything…”
“It probably means she already anticipated this.”
“Then that’s good.”
Kaito nodded.
“Everything…”
“Seems to be going quite smoothly.”
The Following Morning—
Yaga Masamichi and Geto Suguru departed early.
Yaga still needed to return to headquarters to report the mission and complete Suguru’s Grade 1 certification paperwork.
Before leaving, he stopped in front of Kaito.
“Thank you…”
“For the Zanpakutō.”
He spoke briefly, but his eyes made his sincerity obvious.
“And…”
“If you’re interested, I’d like to invite you…”
“Along with everyone here…”
“To enroll at Tokyo Jujutsu High.”
Suguru also prepared to leave.
“I’m going back home for a while.”
“I want to visit my parents.”
He turned toward Gojo Satoru.
Even though they had only known each other for a short time…
There was already a strange understanding between them.
“After that…”
“I’ll enroll at Tokyo Jujutsu High.”
Satoru smirked.
“Then…”
“See you there.”
A simple promise.
But enough to confirm—
Their relationship would continue.
As for Yuki Tsukumo—
Today, she would be taking Kaito to meet Tengen.
Shouko had a mission and could not come.
So the group heading out consisted of Kaito, Satoru, Tobu…
And Yuki.
Yaga accompanied them for part of the journey.
When they arrived—
Kaito, Satoru, and Tobu could not hide their surprise.
Before them stood—
Tokyo Jujutsu High.
A vast campus hidden deep within the mountains.
Traditional Japanese buildings were surrounded by dense forests.
From the outside, the place looked almost like an ancient temple.
Torii gates.
Statues.
Shrines.
Everything bore a strong Buddhist influence.
Solemn…
Yet completely isolated from the outside world.
“This is where I leave you.”
Yaga stopped.
“I hope…”
“That someday, I’ll have the opportunity to teach you.”
“Yes.
Thank you, Sensei.”
He nodded, then turned and walked away.
“The Tombs of the Star Corridor are directly beneath us.”
Yuki spoke.
“Let’s go.”
They proceeded inside.
The atmosphere gradually changed.
Quieter.
Heavier.
The Tombs of the Star Corridor.
The residence of Tengen.
A space covered by a barrier so complex that…
It was almost impossible to enter without permission.
There was only one entrance.
But—
More than a thousand doors inside continuously changed positions.
Choose the wrong one…
And you would fall into a bottomless abyss, where enormous ancient trees rose from the darkness, completely bare of leaves.
A forest existing somewhere between reality and illusion.
This was also the forbidden vault of Jujutsu High—
A place where countless dangerous cursed tools were stored.
“Follow me.”
Yuki walked ahead.
“If Tengen doesn’t allow you in…”
“You could search for the rest of your life and still never find your way inside.”
However—
The moment they passed through the door—
The space instantly changed.
There was no maze.
No wrong path.
They had…
Arrived directly at their destination.
An elevator descended deep underground.
Then came a long corridor, wrapped in absolute silence.
Finally—
A vast hall opened before them.
At its center—
Stood an enormous ancient tree.
Its roots spread outward like a vast network.
Its trunk rose toward the ceiling, bearing the marks of hundreds…
Perhaps even thousands…
Of years.
Simply standing there was enough to feel an overwhelming sense of antiquity.
And beneath the tree—
A woman was sitting.
White hair.
A youthful appearance.
A cup of tea in her hand, which she sipped slowly.
As though—
She had been waiting for them for a very long time.
“This time was quick, Tengen.”
“Wasn’t it the first time we met that you made me wander around for thirty minutes?”
“Because you were carrying killing intent toward me back then.”
“Of course.”
Yuki shrugged.
The white-haired woman gently placed her teacup down.
Her gaze shifted toward the other three.
“An honor.”
“The heir of Limitless…”
“The Ten Shadows…”
Her eyes stopped on Kaito.
“And especially…”
“The person I wanted to meet the most.”
“The one who forged the Zanpakutō.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
Kaito stepped forward and calmly shook her hand.
Behind him, Satoru leaned close to Tobu and whispered:
“Hey… hasn’t Tengen lived for over a thousand years?”
“Why does she look so young?”
“And…”
“So she’s a woman?”
“I just found that out too.”
Tobu whispered back.
“She assimilates with compatible women, right?”
Kaito spoke up.
The question itself immediately answered the doubts of the two people behind him.
Tengen raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?”
“You’ve heard about that?”
“No.”
Kaito shook his head.
“I can sense that there are many different souls within your body.”
“All of them are female.”
“And I have some experience…”
“Studying energy originating from souls.”
“…Interesting.”
“Energy from souls?”
She gestured lightly.
“Standing is rather inconvenient.”
“Please, sit.”
A tea table was brought out.
Steam gently rose from the cups.
Kaito took a sip.
“…Delicious.”
“You have good taste.”
“I grew up with an old man.”
“He’d probably make a good tea companion for you.”
Tengen smiled faintly.
“It’s nice to have someone with the same interests.”
“I’ve been alone here…”
“For far too long.”
A brief silence followed.
Then Tengen spoke.
“So…”
“Can you explain more about this ‘soul energy’?”
“I call it Spiritual Power.”
“It exists within the souls of every living creature…”
“Even within the fundamental particles of space.”
“Unlike Cursed Energy, Spiritual Power is more stable.”
“And…”
“Safer…”
Tengen repeated.
“So…”
“That is what created the Zanpakutō?”
“Yes.”
Kaito nodded.
“And in the future…”
“I want to convert all Cursed Energy…”
“Into Spiritual Power.”
“…!”
Satoru and Tobu both froze simultaneously.
Yuki remained silent, as though she had already anticipated it.
Tengen smiled.
“Your way of thinking…”
“Is very different.”
“You aren’t trying to eliminate Cursed Energy.”
“You’re trying to make it safe.”
She looked at Kaito, her gaze becoming deeper.
“The last time I met someone capable of analyzing things to this extent…”
“Was nearly a thousand years ago.”
Tengen tilted her head.
“If you can sense the souls within me…”
“What are they saying?”
Kaito was silent for a moment.
“Perhaps…”
“You wouldn’t want to hear it.”
“Why?”
“The good news is that…”
“They don’t resent you.”
“Because they’re busy dealing with something else.”
“…Dealing with something?”
Tengen repeated quietly.
Kaito looked directly at her.
“With…”
“Your own thousand years of existence.”
Silence.
Then Tengen gave a quiet laugh.
“Looks like…”
“I really am a monster.”
“There’s one more thing.”
“I can sense her Spiritual Power…”
“It’s very similar to those other women.”
Yuki said nothing.
But she didn’t deny it either.
“So…”
“She was also once a compatible vessel.”
Tengen didn’t waver.
Instead, she smiled.
“You’re exactly right.”
“Would you care to explain your reasoning?”
“Very simple.”
Kaito answered.
“If Yuki were still a compatible vessel…”
“You would never let her leave your control.”
“Much less allow her to come looking for me.”
“The risk would be far too great.”
“Furthermore…”
“Yuki has awakened her own innate technique.”
“While you…”
“Also possess an innate technique related to immortality.”
“A body cannot simultaneously contain two innate techniques.”
“Therefore…”
“When Yuki awakened her technique…”
“She was no longer compatible.”
Suddenly—
Tengen reached out and gently rubbed Kaito’s head.
“Very perceptive.”
Her voice carried a hint of amusement.
“Quite different from your…”
“Adorable appearance.”
“Hey, get your hand off me.”
Yuki immediately rushed over and pulled Kaito toward herself.
“Kaito is mine.”
For a moment—
The atmosphere…
Once again became strangely familiar.
“So you called me here today…”
“To ask me to help find a new vessel?”
“No.”
“I’ve already found one.”
“And this time…”
“There will definitely be no innate technique.”
Bang!
Tobu slammed her hand onto the table.
“So you’re going to take another girl’s life?”
Her gaze turned cold.
“That so-called ‘assimilation’…”
“Is no different from murder.”
“It is fate.”
Tengen took another sip of tea.
“Just like…”
“Your own life, Ten Shadows.”
“What?”
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
“Let me explain.”
Tengen placed her teacup down.
“My last assimilation…”
“Was four hundred years ago.”
She looked around.
“Do you notice anything familiar?”
Everyone fell silent and thought.
“…The last time the Six Eyes and Limitless appeared together.”
Satoru spoke.
“And the Ten Shadows.”
Tobu continued, her eyes narrowing.
“Exactly.”
Tengen nodded.
“The women compatible with me…”
“Are known as Star Plasma Vessels.”
“For the past thousand years—”
“Me…”
“The Six Eyes of the Gojo Clan…”
“And the Star Plasma Vessel…”
“Have always been bound together by fate.”
She looked directly at Satoru.
“The duty of the Six Eyes…”
“Is to protect the Star Plasma Vessel of that era.”
“So that I can…”
“Complete the assimilation.”
“…What?”
Satoru frowned.
“And the Ten Shadows…”
Tengen glanced toward Tobu.
“Your fate…”
“Is to oppose the Six Eyes.”
“Hmph.”
Tobu crossed her arms.
“I already hate him.”
“That’s because you’re annoying.”
Satoru immediately shot back.
“Even so…”
Tengen continued slowly.
“This time…”
“A variable has appeared.”
Her gaze stopped on Kaito.
“Something…”
“I cannot predict.”
“It’s you.”
“The man who created the Zanpakutō.”
Kaito didn’t deny it.
He simply nodded.
“The Six Eyes…”
“Yet also Heavenly Restriction.”
“And you created an entirely new power system…”
“One capable of changing the nature of the world.”
“I also know…”
“That another person with Heavenly Restriction exists.”
“My brother Toji.”
Kaito answered.
“He…”
“Exists outside the Cursed Energy system.”
“He can break it.”
Tengen paused.
“But you…”
“You don’t merely break it.”
“You could…”
“Replace the entire system.”
Silence.
“That future…”
“Will it be prosperity…”
“Or destruction…”
“That remains unknown.”
“Prosperity.”
Yuki answered immediately.
“Definitely.”
Satoru and Tobu spoke at the same time.
Without hesitation.
Tengen smiled faintly.
A rare smile.
“I called you here…”
“Only to see where this ‘new wind’ would blow.”
Her eyes darkened.
“But…”
“I still cannot see anything.”
“You’re afraid I’ll interfere with your assimilation ritual.”
Kaito said bluntly.
A direct strike.
Tengen paused for a moment.
Then laughed softly.
“…You really are too intelligent.”
“Yes.”
“I am afraid.”
“In the past…”
“The Six Eyes or the Star Plasma Vessel…”
“Could still die before the predetermined time.”
“But immediately afterward…”
“Another successor would always appear.”
“So…”
Tobu nudged Satoru lightly.
“If this guy dies…”
“Another one takes his place.”
“Correct.”
Tengen nodded.
“That cycle…”
“Has never been broken.”
“But you are different.”
She looked at Kaito.
“You are not bound by that system.”
“If you interfere…”
“The cycle…”
“Could be severed.”
“…So I’m basically being treated like a bomb?”
Kaito smirked slightly.
“Don’t worry.”
“There’s no way Satoru is going to die at the hands of me or Toji.”
“Hehe.
Of course.”
Satoru grinned.
“And the Star Plasma Vessel…”
He shrugged.
“I don’t even know who she is.”
A simple answer.
But a clear one.
Tengen looked at him for several seconds.
Then nodded gently.
“…Hearing you say that…”
“I feel more at ease.”
“By the way, Tengen…”
Kaito tilted his head.
“Why do you have to keep assimilating?”
Tengen placed her teacup down and answered calmly.
“Because I am immortal…”
“But not ageless.”
“At a certain stage…”
“I will evolve.”
“And if I surpass that limit…”
“I…”
“May become an enemy of humanity.”
“That evolved form…”
Kaito narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Would be closer to a cursed spirit, right?”
Tengen froze slightly.
“…How did you know?”
“Just a guess.”
“Yesterday, we met someone who possessed Cursed Spirit Manipulation.”
Everyone thought of Geto Suguru.
“A tremendously rare ability.”
“And we’ve already talked about so many rare things.”
“When too many ‘rare things’ appear at the same time…”
“That stops being a coincidence.”
The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.
Even Gojo Satoru and Tobu instinctively fell silent.
“Suppose…”
Kaito continued evenly.
“The Star Plasma Vessel or the Six Eyes encounter a problem.”
“You would be forced to evolve.”
“Become an existence closer to a cursed spirit.”
“And then…”
“The person who possesses Cursed Spirit Manipulation…”
“Could see you as the perfect target.”
“…Everything is too coincidental.”
Kaito concluded.
“To the point that…”
“I can’t treat it as coincidence.”
For the first time in a very long while—
Tengen’s expression wavered slightly.
“…Perhaps it is fate.”
“Then…”
Kaito raised his head.
His gaze was resolute.
“I’ll change it.”
“I don’t know what the future will look like.”
“But that so-called ‘fate’…”
“Certainly isn’t anything good.”
“I won’t let it happen.”
Kaito clenched his hand slightly.
“Because…”
“I’m more selfish than anyone.”
“I want…”
“To keep everything.”
Then—
Kaito opened the storage cursed spirit.
He took out a Zanpakutō.
And held it toward Tengen.
“This…”
“Is for you.”
“Always carry it with you.”
Tengen looked at the sword, slightly furrowing her brows.
“Why?”
“I don’t think a weapon…”
“Is appropriate for something like this.”
“I used to think the same.”
Kaito answered.
“But then…”
“I changed my mind.”
“Minazuki, belonging to my friend…”
“A being capable of healing.”
“After being released…”
“It showed me something.”
“Zanpakutō…”
“Are not merely tools for combat.”
“This isn’t a deduction.”
“It’s faith.”
“You were the one who said…”
“That I have the ability to change fate.”
“So…”
He placed the sword into her hands.
“Take it.”
“I believe…”
“When you are in the greatest danger…”
“And need help the most…”
“It…”
“Will speak.”
Tengen remained silent.
She looked down at the sword in her hands.
For a long time.
“…All right.”
She spoke softly.
“I’ll accept it.”
“Thank you…”
“Kaito.”