"This time, I've come to the Zenin family on Lord Tengen's orders to retrieve a Cursed Tool."
Yuki stated his purpose clearly.
The moment the words "Cursed Tool" were spoken, many of the Zenin clan's upper members immediately understood what it meant.
This Cursed Tool must be something Gojo Satoshi needed.
No one truly believed that Tengen needed the item herself. They simply assumed that Satoshi had gained Tengen's favor and was now using her name to pressure the Zenin family into obedience.
"A Cursed Tool?"
Zenin Ogi frowned slightly.
"Which one?"
Was this Cursed Tool so important that the Tombs of the Star would send the Star Plasma Vessel as an envoy with such fanfare?
It was clear this item would be used for forging a Zanpakutō.
Was Gojo Satoshi short on materials again?
Before Yuki could answer, Zenin Ogi stepped forward to reject the request. He wasn't refusing Lord Tengen, but rather, refusing Satoshi.
In his view, since it was impossible to cooperate with Gojo Satoshi, it was better to sever all demands. Whatever Satoshi needed, the Zenin family would never provide it.
Zenin Shinsuke and Zenin Jinichi, standing nearby, looked at Ogi in confusion. They couldn't understand why he was being so stubborn. Why did he insist on directly opposing Gojo Satoshi?
Ogi still clung to the idea that the Zenin clan could stand toe-to-toe with the Gojo family. He was someone blind to the broader tide.
Or perhaps, he simply refused to acknowledge it.
But Shinsuke and Jinichi were much more clear-headed.
Shinsuke had been thoroughly defeated by Satoshi. Among this generation's Big Three Sorcerer Families, Gojo Satoshi and Satoru, the two Six Eyes prodigies, were undisputedly at the top.
Though Shinsuke had always been hailed as the rare talent of the Zenin clan, and while his technique and talent were certainly strong, he was still a step below the Gojo heirs.
Jinichi was even more pragmatic. As his brother was the strongest in the Zenin clan, he had already aligned himself with Satoshi. Objecting now would sabotage his own foundation.
After all, his standing in the Zenin family still relied heavily on Toji...
As a result, among all the Zenin higher-ups, only Ogi openly voiced opposition, while the rest remained silent.
"Envoy, the Zenin clan's treasury suffered some recent damage during an accident, so we currently don't have…"
Ogi tried to make up an excuse, but Naobito raised his hand to stop him before he could finish.
"Envoy, may I ask which Cursed Tool you seek? It's true our treasury suffered some losses recently, but the Zenin clan will do its utmost to meet the request from the Tombs of the Star."
Naobito did not bother exposing Ogi's excuse, but deep down, he was eager to understand the current relationship between the Tombs of the Star and Gojo Satoshi.
Sending Satoshi's girlfriend as an envoy was already extreme, but Naobito hoped to uncover even more.
For example, if the Tombs of the Star and Satoshi had formed a partnership, just how far had they progressed?
Yuki looked deeply at Ogi, then glanced at Naobito as if he had already seen through his thoughts.
"The Cursed Tool is called Mimicry."
Mimicry?
Upon hearing the name, Ogi and the others looked confused. They were familiar with every item in the Treasury, but it was the first time they'd heard of this one.
Was this really part of the Zenin family's collection? Had the Tombs of the Star misremembered? Or had Gojo Satoshi's source of information been wrong?
A flicker of pride appeared on Ogi's face. If no one had heard of it, then he wouldn't need to refuse. Satoshi's objective would fail on its own.
However, Naobito's expression changed slightly upon hearing the name.
The others might not understand its significance, but as the head of the Zenin clan, he did.
The Cursed Tool known as "Mimicry" had once been used by Tengen herself. To show their respect, the Zenin clan had not placed it in the Treasury but enshrined it in the clan's ancestral hall.
Aside from the clan's successive heads and deputies, no one else knew of it.
Now that Tengen had asked to retrieve it, Naobito realized something was off.
This Cursed Tool wasn't something Satoshi wanted. It was something Tengen herself desired. Satoshi was merely facilitating its retrieval.
The fact that both Toji and Satoru had come along confirmed it—Satoshi had gained Tengen's personal attention.
What made Naobito even more uneasy was the implication that Tengen's interest stemmed from the forging of a Zanpakutō.
Though the exact forging process remained a mystery, it was no secret that Zanpakutō were linked to Cursed Tools.
Whether it was Senbonzakura or Katen Kyōkotsu, both were forged using Cursed Tools originally sourced from the Zenin clan's Treasury. A large portion of the released Zanpakutō so far had originated from Zenin materials.
Yet despite the Zenin clan supplying so many tools, not a single Zanpakutō had been given to them.
Naobito felt incredibly bitter.
But there was nothing he could do. He had too many foolish subordinates dragging him down.
Now that Tengen was allowing Satoshi to forge her a Zanpakutō, it meant the power hidden within those blades had finally caught even her interest.
Naobito couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of loss.
....
"Envoy, please give us a moment to retrieve the Cursed Tool."
Naobito's tone was serious. There was no way he could disobey Tengen's will.
"Naobito! You—"
Ogi tried to interject but was silenced by a glare from Naobito.
Though Ogi often clashed with Naobito, when the clan head made his position clear, even Ogi knew when to fall in line.
In the end, the entire process of acquiring the Cursed Tool went smoothly.
Aside from Ogi's minor protest, neither Satoru nor Toji even needed to say a word.
As expected of Tengen. Even after being absent from public life for so long, her authority alone was enough to make one of the Big Three Sorcerer Families obedient.
But thinking about it more deeply, what kind of mysterious existence was Gojo Satoshi, to make even Tengen act with such urgency?
(To be continued.)
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