Outside the fe, two figures, oall, one small, stood silently at the far end of the corridor. her moved, their expressions were plicated.

  " head, is Satoshi right? Are the Six Eyes truly invincible?"

  Hearing the boy's question, the old man sighed. He reached out, gently ruffling Satoru's pure white hair before shaking his head.

  "I never expected Satoshi to have such a deep uanding of the world of sorcery."

  A hint ret flickered in his eyes.

  "It's a pity Satoshi cks talent in jujutsu. With his insight, he could've guided the Gojo to eveer heights…"

  Satoru looked up at the old man beside him, his bright blue eyes filled with curiosity.

  " head, even if Satoshi doesn't have Cursed Energy, he'll still bee someoraordinary in the world of sorcery!"

  His voice was firm, unwavering.

  "If Satoshi is willing to take over the Gojo , I'll help him ma. No matter what, I won't let him bear that burden alone!"

  Satoru felt his brother's love and care for him. At the same time, guilt g him, guilt over Satoshi's situation. It was this guilt that made him willing to give his brother everything he had.

  The old man stared at Satoru in stunned silehen sighed, a trace of warmth fshing across his face.

  "Satoru, being the head isn't easy. If you truly care about Satoshi, then you should bear that pressure yourself. Perhaps, once you stand in that position, you'll find a way to ge his fate."

  Regret filled his voice as he spoke of Satoshi.

  He had brought Satoru to the fe today for two reasons.

  One was to visit Satoshi, it had been a long time sihe two brothers had seen each other.

  The other was to test Satoru's patibility with a Grade 1 Cursed Tool. If possible, he inteo equip Satoru with the katana Yoru.

  However, what he hadn't expected… was for Shunichi to show up and express such hostility toward Satoshi.

  "I won't allow Shunichi to remain your bodyguard any longer," the old man decred.

  "Uood, head."

  Satoru's expression turned as cold as his brother's.

  If the head didn't punish Shunichi, then he himself would.

  Because in what world, in what universe, could his brother be called a waste?

  ---

  Ihe fe, Shunichi's face twisted in a Satoshi's scathing words.

  He waue back, but he had no ground to stand on. So instead, he redirected his frustration tojo Takuya.

  "Young master Satoru will carve his own future!" Shunichi scoffed. "But tell me, was I wrong?"

  "Does Gojo Takuya really have the talent to train an apprentice?"

  "He cimed this on was a cursed tool that you fed!" Shunichi surning his mog gaze back to Satoshi.

  "You expect me to believe that? You 't evehe differeween a cursed tool and an ordinary bde! Face it, Gojo Takuya, yetting old. Your eyesight must be failing you."

  Shunichi's taunts only made Satoshi's expression grow colder.

  "Who told you this isn't a cursed tool?" Satoshi asked, his voice ced with amusement.

  Shunichi let out a derisive ugh. "I figured it out myself! This o tain even a shred of Cursed Energy. How could it possibly be a cursed tool?"

  "I 't sense a sirace of cursed energy or jujutsu from this thing. It's just a regur sword."

  He spoke with full fidence.

  But to his shock, Satoshi didn't even flinch.

  Instead, he sneered.

  Then, shaking his head, Satoshi looked at Shunichi like he was a clueless child.

  You seriously think you're qualified to judge cursed tools?

  You should try seeing Zenin Toji's special-grade ons first," he said coolly. "Then e bad tell me what you think you know.

  Without another word, Satoshi stretched out his right hand.

  "Give it to me."

  Shunichi frowned.

  "Let's have a duel," Satoshi said, his tone unwavering. "Your cursed tool is a katana tht?"

  "Let's see whose on is truly superior."

  For the first time, a flicker of unease fshed through Gojo Shunichi's eyes.

  Somethi off.

  Why was Satoshi so fident?

  Could this sword actually be a cursed tool?

  But even if it was, so what?

  Satoshi didn't even have Cursed Energy.

  What could he possibly do, even with a cursed on in his hands?

  Shunichi wao take up Satoshi's challenge. He wao put this i brat in his pce.

  But deep down… he hesitated.

  Striking a direct desdant of the Gojo came with sequences.

  As if sensing his reluce, Satoshi smirked.

  "It's fine, Uncle Shunichi. Let's make a bet."

  Gojo Takuya's brows furrowed at those words.

  "Master Takuya be the witness," Satoshi tinued.

  "If the sword I fed is strohan yours, you'll step down from your position and apologize to Master Takuya. Every time you see him iure, you will keep your distance."

  "But if I lose…"

  Satoshi paused, his smirk widening.

  "I'll never approach Satain. Not even once."

  Shunichi's eyes widened slightly.

  "How about it?" Satoshi tilted his head. "Haven't you always worried about the 'Twin Curse'?"

  "If I stop iing with Satoru, that should put your mind at ease, right?"

  His voice was lighthearted. Almost pyful.

  But that mog smile on his face, that was the final straw.

  "Satoshi, you—!"

  Takuya's expression ged.

  He had always told Satoshi not to pare himself to Satoru.

  But that didn't mean he wahe brothers to bee estranged.

  And the stakes of this bet…

  They were far too unbanced.

  Takuya opened his mouth to stop him, but Satoshi cut him off with a sharp look.

  "Master Takuya, you're just here to be the witness," Satoshi said firmly.

  "Now then, Uncle Shunichi…" He met Shunichi's eyes, full of fidence.

  "Are you scared?"

  Shunichi ched his fists.

  A direct desdant of the Gojo … looking down on him like this?

  Unfivable.

  For the Gojo … for Master Satoru's future.

  Even if I must offend a member of the main family, I accept the sequences.

  "Fine," Shunichi spat through gritted teeth.

  "I accept your bet, Young master Satoshi."

  His fingers curled around the hilt of his own katana, his trusted Cursed Tool, Cicada Cry.

  Victory was already his.

  Because no matter what Satoshi thought he had.

  A man with no Cursed Energy could never defeat him.