After the Yagyū family members left, the dojo finally returo its usual calm. However, this calm was soon disrupted by a wave of excited chatter.
"Master, what's the name of that on?"
"Master, this sword is incredible! Where did you get it?"
"Master, you 't fet about me when you get your hands on good stuff! I'm your most beloved disciple, the one who'll carry on yacy!"
"..."
Shunichi felt a bit awkward uhe flood of questions. He didn't know how to respond.
His victory today had been purely thanks to Satoshi's Zanpakutō. But in the end, this Zanpakutō beloo Satoshi, it wasn't something he could cim as his own.
Just as he was struggling for an answer, a heavy cough suddenly interrupted the noise.
"Have you all finished your training for today? Why are you standing around?"
At the sound of Kumaen's voice, the surrounding Kyokushin-ryu disciples immediately scattered like startled birds. Not daring to protest, they silently moved into position, gripping their wooden swords.
Within moments, only Shunichi and Kumaen remained in the ter of the dojo, staring at each other.
After a long pause, Kumaen finally spoke.
"gratutions on your victory yū Saemon. At the very least, your position as one of the Freat Masters of Kendo is secure for another year."
His tone was cold. Though his words sounded like praise, there wasn't the slightest hint of warmth behind them.
"This was only possible because of the Zanpakutō fed by Young Master Satoshi."
Shunichi lifted Suzumushi slightly, hoping to make Kumaen aowledge Satoshi's talent. He wanted him to realize that isoting Satoshi had been a mistake.
Satoshi had now successfully fed a sed Zanpakutō, proving that he could support Satoru—trary to the Twin Curse Fa's cims that he was a burden.
The moment the word "Zanpakutō" oken, the movements of every Kyokushin-ryu disciple froze for half a sed.
So it was true.
This on really was the legendary Zanpakutō.
The same thought ran through the minds of every Kyokushin-ryu disciple. If only they could wield such a powerful on themselves…
"Elder Kumaen! Satoshi should not be treated this way."
Shunichi wao push the Twin Curse Fa to aowledge Satoshi properly.
With Yagyū Yusuke gone, and Satoru and Toji havi earlier, he had o hold back his words.
"You've seen the power of Suzumushi firsthand. 't such a cursed tool help Master Satoru?"
"Young Master Satoshi and Satoru both possess the Six Eyes. If they work together, the sum of their abilities will be far greater than their individual strength alone."
The so-called "False Six Eyes" theory had been something the Twin Curse Fa used to undermioshi. Now, Shunichi was determio dismahat narrative.
The Six Eyes were the Six Eyes. Just because Satoshi had no cursed energy didn't mean his Six Eyes were "fake."
His words shook some of the surrounding disciples, who instinctively turo Kumaen.
As the leader of the Twin Curse Fa, how would he respond?
"Shunichi, you said this is a Zanpakutō? A cursed tool simir to Sode no Shirayuki?"
Kumaen didn't answer directly. Instead, he tered with a question, probing for more details about Suzumushi.
Shunichi hesitated briefly but then nodded.
"Yes, Elder Kumaen! Suzumushi is a Zanpakutō, a cursed tool that Master Satoshi just fed today."
His voice carried a trace of pride.
But he failed to realize the true i behind Gojo Kumaen's question.
"Oh? So you cim your sword is a Zanpakutō, and its name is Suzumushi?"
"Then tell me— you use Suzumushi's teiques in the same way Satoshi uses Sode no Shirayuki? If it's a true Zanpakutō, it should have corresponding abilities, shouldn't it?"
Kumaen's words made Shunichi freeze.
"I… I haven't learned how to use Suzumushi's abilities yet. But you've seen its strength! It's far beyond any ordinary cursed tool."
Shunichi argued, but Kumaen simply shook his head.
"If it 't use a teique, then it isn't a Zanpakutō. At most, it's just a strong cursed tool."
With that, Kumaen effectively dismissed Suzumushi's cssification as a Zanpakutō.
He had immediately seen the current fw of the on—or rather, the fw in Shunichi as its wielder.
He khat Shunichi, having only just obtained his Zanpakutō, would be uo wield its abilities as skillfully as Satoshi.
Of course, he didn't actually doubt that Suzumushi was a true Zanpakutō.
But right now, he absolutely couldn't admit it.
If Suzumushi ublicly reized as a Zanpakutō, then the reason the Kyokushin-ryu had defeated Yagyū Shinkage-ryu would be credited to Satoshi.
However, as long as Shunichi couldn't demonstrate its abilities, the nature of Suzumushi remained ambiguous.
As long as that uaied, it was the best possible oute fojo Kumaen.
It gave him time, time to tighten his fa's grip over the before Satoshi could prove Suzumushi's true nature.
The Twin Curse Fa o solidify its influence before Satoshi's position became unshakable.
And before that could happen, Shunichi who now wielded Suzumushi had to be sent away.
"Shunichi, you've been lingering in the for too long."
"I've already arranged for the 's Grade 1 sorcerers to reend you for promotion to Grade 1. The Jujutsu Society has received the request."
"You already have the strength of a Grade 1 sorcerer. You shouldn't remain at Grade 2 any longer."
Kumaen delivered the news casually, as if it were a mere formality.
For the foreseeable future, Shunichi would be occupied with missions under a Grade 1 sorcerer's supervision.
And most importantly, he would no longer be in the , interfering with the Twin Curse Fa's pns.
"What? When did this happen? Why am I only finding out about this now?"
Shunichi was stunned. He had been a Grade 2 sorcerer for a long time, but he had never pushed for promotion.
Advang to Grade 1 was a hassle. It required multiple reendations from existing Grade 1 sorcerers, not to mention passing a series of difficult missions.
It wasn't something that could just happen ht.
Yet, Kumaen had arranged for it without even inf him.
A sharp glint fshed in Shunichi's eyes.
Kumaen… what exactly are you plotting?
***
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