"When extreme fire meets extreme ice… is this the result?"
Satoru muttered to himself, his Six Eyes widened as he looked around, overwhelmed by indescribable shock.
As for the others, after experiencing both extremes of ice and fire, their hearts had been completely conquered by Satoshi's Zanpakutō.
Even those who understood the mechanics of Zanpakutō and the vast difference between Shikai and Bankai found themselves questioning everything.
Yuto said nothing.
Ryūjin Jakka's display proved that both Jogo and Toji were right.
Ryūjin Jakka truly was a special Zanpakutō. It made perfect sense why Lord Tengen and Satoshi treated it so seriously.
The strength Ryūjin Jakka exhibited in its Shikai state was not inferior to the Bankai of other Zanpakutō.
Hakka no Togame was powerful, but Ryūjin Jakka… seemed even stronger.
At this moment, Yuto's heart surged with anticipation.
If Ryūjin Jakka's Shikai was already this overwhelming, then what about its Bankai?
What kind of form would Ryūjin Jakka's Bankai take? What kind of power would it hold?
Could Sukuna's fingers force out Ryūjin Jakka's Bankai?
Even knowing that Satoshi had not yet mastered it, Yuto couldn't help but hope to witness it for himself.
Meanwhile, Jogo's face was filled with uncontainable excitement.
This was the same move Satoshi had once demonstrated at the Tombs of the Star. It was the intense fire of this very technique that had made Jogo completely surrender to Ryūjin Jakka.
"Sukuna's fingers won't be able to withstand Ryūjin Jakka's flames! Even the King of Curses will be reduced to ash under that fire."
Jogo's expression was almost devout. His admiration for Ryūjin Jakka bordered on fanaticism.
Toji nodded silently. His best friend had survived the past nine years.
In the eyes of others, perhaps those nine years had been wasted. But Toji knew that Satoshi must have gained something in that time.
Gojo Satoshi was able to destroy Ryomen Sukuna's fingers because of Ryūjin Jakka.
Toji's belief in Satoshi only grew stronger.
...
Compared to the emotional highs of the three members of Yorozuya, things were far more grim in Shikoku.
Kenjaku's face was dark.
He had known that Ryūjin Jakka would be powerful—he wouldn't have tried to seize it otherwise.
But he hadn't anticipated that even in Shikai, Ryūjin Jakka would be comparable to Hakka no Togame in Bankai.
It was Hakka no Togame's overwhelming power that had triggered his initial sense of danger.
Now, Ryūjin Jakka possessed that same level of threat. Perhaps even more.
If Ryūjin Jakka were to achieve Bankai under Satoshi's control... it would pose a fatal threat to him.
Kenjaku hadn't expected that what he longed for—the Ryūjin Jakka capable of destroying Sukuna—would also become the very blade that made him feel most vulnerable.
Itadori Kaori's body was no match for Gojo Satoshi. I need to reconsider my next move.
Kenjaku's brow furrowed, and the stitches across his forehead seemed as though they might split.
There was no doubt now—Gojo Satoshi was his enemy.
Ever since Satoshi had appeared, Kenjaku's plans had spiraled into disorder.
Sure, his reckless attempt to snatch the Zanpakutō had exposed his intentions.
But the preparations Satoshi had made while asleep felt far too deliberate. As though every step had been designed to counter him.
Collecting Sukuna's fingers. Destroying them.
It was too calculated. What had Gojo Satoshi seen, foreseen, that led him to prepare such a path?
Sukuna had existed for over a thousand years.
His Cursed Womb had been sealed in this world for a long time.
Why would Gojo Satoshi suddenly become interested? Why would he choose to reveal his strength on a global broadcast just to destroy Sukuna's fingers?
Kenjaku couldn't understand it, but one thing was clear—Satoshi was hostile to Ryomen Sukuna.
That much was certain.
I need to cooperate with Sukuna. He and I must find common ground.
Sukuna might still be prideful.
But right now, Sukuna existed only as fragmented spirit and will. He couldn't act on his own.
If Satoshi truly destroyed his fingers here, Sukuna's mental consciousness would be severely shaken.
That, in turn, could further solidify our alliance.
Kenjaku grinned.
In today's Japan, there was no one else besides him capable of helping Sukuna retrieve the remaining fingers.
He blinked, eyes once again locked on the projection.
That palace of burning ice and snow—it was bizarre and surreal.
And yet, Sukuna's fingers were still burning. Even under the combined force of Hakka no Togame and Ryūjin Jakka, they remained unbroken.
As expected of the King of Curses from a thousand years ago.
But regardless of whether they were in the audience or watching the broadcast remotely, everyone had the same thought.
It's going to be destroyed. Sukuna's fingers will be destroyed.
Even Kenjaku, on the same side as Sukuna, couldn't deny it.
Everyone could sense it—Sukuna's fingers were nearing their limit. Under this relentless assault, they wouldn't hold out much longer.
All that remained was for Satoshi to apply a bit more pressure to tip the scale.
And then it would all be over.
With that in mind, everyone subconsciously shifted their gaze away from the burning fingers to Gojo Satoshi himself.
Gojo Satoshi, the Godson of the Six Eyes, born of the Gojo clan, bearer of the Limitless Technique without cursed energy, and founder of the Zanpakutō.
As they looked at this silver-haired young man, a realization settled in everyone's hearts.
Gojo Satoshi was the future of the sorcery world.
But when Ryūjin Jakka's flames surged in his hand, illuminating his figure...
What they saw wasn't just a sorcerer.
They saw a god of death cloaked in fire, like a devil rising from the pits of hell.
(To be continued.)
***
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