Looking at the four people standing below the stage, everyone in the audience wore expressions of mixed emotion.
This year, a true monster had emerged from Jujutsu High. Two Special Grade and two Grade 1 sorcerers had been recognized the moment they entered the school.
Everyone's eyes naturally turned to the young man below with a calm smile on his face.
Gojo Satoshi had no Cursed Technique, yet with only Heavenly Restriction and a Zanpakutō, he had reached such an absurd level. People had once assumed that nine years of sleep would dull his edge, but contrary to expectations, he had only grown stronger.
Everyone was shocked.
Even now, they hadn't known that Heavenly Restriction could be applied in such a way.
Seeing this, Naobito and Kamo Shinji exchanged glances and fell into a brief silence.
Kamo Shinji's gaze toward Satoshi held a trace of fear. He once believed that the heirs of Blood Manipulation could rival the Gojo clan.
But now he realized... there was still a huge gap between him and Gojo Satoshi.
It seems we'll have to raise Gojo Satoshi's danger level within the clan.
…
At Jujutsu High's central plaza, everyone watched as Satoshi received his honors for passing the entrance examination, their feelings complicated.
No one had expected that after nine years, Gojo Satoshi would return even more unfathomable than before.
They still couldn't sense any Cursed Energy from his body, yet just by standing there, he exuded a pressure that chilled the soul.
Heavenly Restriction.
His body had grown stronger again after nine years.
And his strange spell-like power gave them all headaches.
Not far away, near the plaza where the Yorozuya members were gathered.
Toji looked down at Satoshi and spoke seriously. "Yuto, while we've always acknowledged Satoshi's Zanpakutō as powerful, I genuinely feel that over the past nine years, his physical strength alone has reached another level. Even without his Zanpakutō or that mysterious technique he just used, he could've likely defeated the Cursed Spirit with pure physical strength alone. That's the confidence I have as someone born under Heavenly Restriction."
"Toji, don't be so arrogant."
Yuto glanced at him. "I don't deny the power of your Heavenly Restriction, but as for Satoshi's body... I'm more curious about whether Ryūjin Jakka and Sode no Shirayuki really lost their effects during his slumber. After all, those rumors have circulated for years, and Satoshi didn't use his Zanpakutō just now. So in the end, we still don't have a definitive answer."
Toji chuckled. "Who knows?"
Yuto asked, "Should we go talk to him?"
"No rush. He'll definitely come to us once he's finished his business. That's the trust of a close friend."
"Alright, then should we head back?"
"Wait. I want to watch the replay again..."
Yuto nodded. He didn't mind. He knew Toji, being the battle junkie he was, was clearly interested in the technique Satoshi used to kill Sukuna.
…
On a nearby elevated platform sat the Gojo family.
Gojo Shunichi's eyes stayed fixed on Satoshi. "There's no need to worry about Young Master Satoshi. Even without his Zanpakutō, he's still capable of protecting himself. That looked like his innate technique, didn't it? It seems quite effective. Though it doesn't align with Heavenly Restriction, it's undeniably powerful. Heavenly Restriction users aren't born with techniques, but in Satoshi's case, things never really follow the rules."
After all, someone capable of forging Zanpakutō... now displaying abilities akin to granting life without relying on Cursed Energy. It was no longer something one could simply explain as a fluke.
Kumaen took a sip of tea and exhaled slowly. "No need to overthink it. Still, since he recovered two more fingers this time, he should at least return home and report in."
As he spoke, his tone turned a little bitter.
Clearly, he still hadn't gotten over how Satoshi chose to return to school first after waking up, instead of visiting the clan.
Such diligence was excessive.
We should've seized the opportunity and made him the Gojo Clan's acting head right away.
After nine years, I truly understand what the old patriarch once said. If one wishes to be a leader that others rely on, they must first possess absolute strength.
But while the elders had their own frustrations, the ones most fixated on Satoshi right now were undoubtedly Satoru and Suguru, standing right next to him.
That unknown power Satoshi used still lingered in their minds. He had called it a spell, but it clearly wasn't a conventional Jujutsu Technique.
Because even now, they still couldn't sense any Cursed Energy from Satoshi.
A technique that doesn't rely on Cursed Energy? What kind of power was that?
Finally, Satoru couldn't take it anymore. He asked, "Satoshi, what exactly is that power you used? It doesn't seem any weaker than the Gojo family's techniques!"
Shoko and Suguru both looked over curiously. They were clearly interested in what Satoshi had just used.
"Kidō," Satoshi said casually with a smile.
Suguru's expression didn't change, but inwardly, he wasn't calm at all. He pretended to nod in interest. "It's called Kidō? It seems to have a lot of potential."
But deep down, he was shaken.
It's more than potential!
This power must not be underestimated. I have a feeling this isn't even Satoshi's full strength. There must be other techniques or forms of Kidō with entirely different powers waiting to be revealed.
Hearing Satoshi's offhand response, Satoru grimaced and scratched his head. "Damn it, now even my signature technique feels inferior. Looks like I really won't be able to surpass you until I master the Reverse Cursed Technique!"
But he quickly perked up and turned to Shoko. "Shoko! Teach me the Reverse Cursed Technique!"
He had a feeling that once he mastered it, all the ghost arts Satoshi had used would be neutralized. Moreover, with it, he might finally stand a chance at beating him.
Once I master the Reverse Cursed Technique, I'll make up for my previous humiliation.
Satoru was determined. He had to learn it no matter what.
Only by fully mastering Limitless could he have a real showdown with his brother.
Others might not know the current state of Satoshi's Zanpakutō, but Satoru did.
He knew there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.
After all, not long ago, in the Tombs of the Star, Satoshi had used Bankai to battle him...
(To be continued.)