"Young Master Satoshi, since Kumaen's target is Suzumushi, I'll return it to you. I 't use Suzumushi's teique, but you ."
"If Kumaeions your strength, you use Suzumushi to prove yourself."
Ever sintering Sode no Shirayuki and Suzumushi, Shunichi had developed an almost blind trust in Satoshi.
He never doubted whether Satoshi could wield the Suzumushi teique.
Even though he felt some reluce, he was still determio return Suzumushi to Satoshi.
He had no desire to be involved in the schemes of the Twin Curse Fa.
However, to his surprise, Satoshi shook his head in refusal.
Instead of w about this kind of thing, it's better to foastering Suzumushi. pleting Shikai and achieving Bankai as soon as possible would be the best reward for me.
Suzumushi is of no use to me. Is it just to prove I fe a Zanpakutō? Haha… why should I care about what others think?
Besides, I haven't even seen what a Cursed Spirit truly looks like yet. Let me experiehe cruelty of this world through Suzumushi's vision.
"Keep using Suzumushi. Master Shikai as soon as possible and unlock its teique."
"Don't worry about anything else."
"Do you really think the assessment frade 1 sorcerer is that easy? Now that you've lost Cicada's Cry, are you pnning to find a neon that suits you better?"
"Satoru and Toji just told me about the ret kendo petition. You don't want to end up like Yagyū Saemon, do you?"
Satoshi's words struck deep into Shunichi's heart.
Especially the mention of Yagyū Saemon's fate, it sent chills down his spine.
Shunichi let out a long sigh and nodded.
If I didn't have my Zanpakutō, Suzumushi, would I still be capable of being a Grade 1 sorcerer?
Shunichi had fiden himself, but having Suzumushi as his support was also a form of security.
He could feel the in Satoshi's words, and his loyalty toward him increased slightly.
Although Satoshi had initially returned Suzumushi in exge for a reward, in the end, this arra still improved Shunichi's overall strength.
---
"But before you leave, let's have one final kendo spar!"
"This time, you use Suzumushi, and I'll use Sode no Shirayuki."
"I 't use Sode no Shirayuki's teiques either, but perhaps fighting with a Zanpakutō will help you ect with Suzumushi more easily."
Satoshi uhed Sode no Shirayuki, his calm expression hiding a hint of excitement.
Shunichi was about to leave the Gojo to uake his Grade 1 promotion assessment. Once he left, there would be no more opportuo train in kendo together.
After the kendo match between Shunichi and Yagyū Saemon, Satoshi's kendo proficy had reached 99.9%—just a tiny fra away from pletion.
inally, Satoshi had expected that after watg a duel between two kendo masters, he would finally unlock Hakuda (hand-to-hand bat).
However, due to the issue with Suzumushi, the match had ended in vain, leaving him oep short.
Regretting the missed opportunity to maximize his kendo proficy, Satoshi decided to take matters into his own hands.
On one hand, he wao help Shunichi develop a deeper e with Suzumushi. Oher, he o push his kendo mastery to its limit and unlock Hakuda as soon as possible.
Once Shunichi left, he could tinue sparring with Toji.
After all, when it came to unarmed bat, Toji was among the stro iire Jujutsu world.
Hearing Satoshi's request, Shunichi was moved.
Unaware of Satoshi's true iion—to max out his kendo proficy—Shunichi assumed he was simply trying to help him gain Suzumushi's full reition and unlock its Shikai as soon as possible.
Determined, he gripped Suzumushi in its sealed Asauchi state and prepared for the duel.
---
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!"
Wanting to prolong the exge, Satoshi immediately activated Sode no Shirayuki's Shikai.
On the sidelines, Satoru and Toji silently admired the elegance of Sode no Shirayuki, pletely ign Shunichi.
Though they had seen Sode no Shirayuki before, witnessing its transformation from a pin Asauchi to its pristine aiful Shikai form still left them in awe.
"Young Master Satoshi, I wonder… will Suzumushi be as beautiful as Sode no Shirayuki when it awakens?"
Shunichi voiced his thoughts unsciously.
As expected, even a hardened warrior like Shunichi couldn't resist the allure of something truly beautiful…
Of course, Satoshi wouldn't tell him the truth.
After all, Sode no Shirayuki was known as the most beautiful Zanpakutō. It was only natural for its appearao reflect that.
As for Suzumushi…
Its abilities were excellent, but its appearance was… well, ordinary.
g…
g…
g…
[The Host is receiving instru from a sword master. Kendo experience +10.]
[The Host is receiving instru from a sword master. Kendo experience +10.]
[The Host is receiving instru from a sword master. Kendo experience +10.]
The sound of Zanpakutō g echoed throughout the room.
Yet, despite his repeated exges, the final 0.1% of experience refused to budge.
Eventually, the system's prompt ged.
[The Host is receiving instru from a sword master. Kendo experience +0.]
Satoshi frowned.
If his kendo proficy could no longer increase, that meant he had already reached the limit.
But why was it still stuck at 99.9% instead of reag 100%?
While exging blows with Shunichi, Satoshi began recalling all the kendo teiques he had learned.
Fshes of past training surfaced in his mind.
As the duel became increasingly meical, Satoshi unknowingly entered a trance-like state.
And then, his accumuted kendo experiearted to fade away.
[Kendo Experience: 99.9%]
[Kendo Experience: 90.9%]
[Kendo Experience: 80.9%]
…
[Kendo Experience: 10.9%]
[Kendo Experience: 0%]
Unknowingly, his entire kendo proficy had reset to zero.
At that moment, Satoshi felt an unpreted sense of crity, as though an invisible barrier had shattered.
All the teiques he had once painstakingly learned suddenly merged together, f a seamless whole.
When he snapped back to reality, he saw that the Suzumushi in Shunichi's hand had been knocked away, and Sode no Shirayuki was now pressed against Shunichi's neck.
A biting chill filled the entire f room.
