Heavenly Restriction User of the Gojo Clan: I Refuse to Be Cut in Half-Chapter 170: Speculations About Minazuki

The Yagyū family.

With Yagyū Saemon currently out on a mission assigned by the association's upper echelon, only Yagyū Hidetsugu and Yagyū Yusuke remained at home, discussing the scene they had just witnessed.

"As expected of Young Master Satoshi. To receive the favor of Lord Tengen... truly extraordinary."

Yagyū Yusuke was stirred by emotion, his heart churning.

Hidetsugu nodded. When he had convinced Yusuke to offer up Tsuki no Sho, he hadn't been entirely confident.

In truth, it had been a gamble. But the one shouldering the greater pressure had been Yusuke, who made that choice.

It was difficult for Hidetsugu to imagine—if the Yagyū clan hadn't committed to offering Tsuki no Sho, would they have gained this current momentum?

Thinking about it now, probably not.

"This creature that resembles a cursed spirit... it must be one of Young Master Satoshi's creations."

Hidetsugu exhaled slowly.

"This time, he even brought a cursed spirit out from the Tombs of the Star. From what I hear, it's extremely powerful, likely Special Grade."

What shocked Hidetsugu wasn't that Satoshi had subdued a cursed spirit—but rather the overwhelming strength gathered around him.

Right now, Satoshi's small group had already become the strongest collective force in the entire world of jujutsu.

They could sweep away the Big Three Sorcerer Families with ease.

Once upon a time, Hidetsugu had simply hoped to establish a good relationship with the Gojo clan through Satoshi. But now, he understood.

It wasn't Satoshi who needed the Gojo clan.

It was the Gojo clan that desperately needed Satoshi.

Even if he left the Gojo clan, Satoshi would still have his own circle of allies.

Without him, the Gojo clan would be hollow, and may end up declining like the Kamo family.

Hidetsugu even suspected that one day, Satoshi might create an army of Zanpakutō.

Though Zanpakutō were technically weapons, through Saemon, he had come to understand that each one possessed its own consciousness.

If a Zanpakutō could transform into a giant ray like Minazuki, could it also take on other forms?

Could a Zanpakutō, like a cursed spirit, manifest its own body?

Hidetsugu's speculation was bold, and he soon laughed at himself for the absurdity of the idea...

What he didn't know was that Satoshi truly did have a method for transforming Zanpakutō. He simply hadn't found the right materials yet.

...

Tombs of the Star.

Tengen furrowed her brows as she held Urozakuro in her hands. She could feel its soul clearly now.

Yet Urozakuro still refused to speak its first words of enlightenment, making it impossible for her to initiate Shikai.

Through the outer barrier, Tengen observed the large, light-green manta ray floating in the sky. Her expression grew slightly envious.

Her own Zanpakutō remained silent, while another's had already soared so freely.

A Zanpakutō transforming into a living creature had far exceeded her expectations. Tengen realized that this weapon had already transcended the boundaries of a typical Cursed Tool.

In truth, perhaps a Zanpakutō was something closer to a living being than a weapon.

"I'm still not sure if placing my bet on him was the right decision. But so far, neither Satoshi nor his Zanpakutō has posed any threat to the world."

"If this power can bring greater stability, maybe it's the better path."

"The gears of fate have warped, but they've begun to turn again."

Tengen looked at Minazuki as it descended above the Ieiri estate, the corners of her lips curling upward.

Yuki, it looks like you've met your match.

Tengen suppressed a smile, sat back down cross-legged, and immersed herself once more in Urozakuro, resuming her attempt to achieve Shikai.

...

Ieiri Inamichi stared at the massive manta ray in the sky. He was stunned, even a little panicked.

But the moment he saw Satoshi and Shoko dismount, his heart calmed.

No matter how bizarre something was, if it was related to Satoshi, it somehow made sense.

"Shoko, what is that?"

Inamichi didn't know how to approach Satoshi directly, so he chose to ask his daughter instead.

The fact that Shoko had traveled alone with Satoshi surprised him—but also filled him with hope.

Finally, his daughter was showing some initiative!

If this kept up, someone else might steal Satoshi away before Shoko even had a chance.

"Father, this is Minazuki."

Shoko said the name of her Zanpakutō, then paused before continuing.

"This is... my Zanpakutō."

As she spoke, Minazuki dissolved into green light and returned to the scabbard at Shoko's waist.

The entire Ieiri clan was shaken by the transformation.

They had initially assumed the manta ray was a cursed spirit under the Gojo family's control. They never imagined it was actually a Zanpakutō—a living weapon.

Zanpakutō...

So this is the power of a Zanpakutō. How incredible.

While the rest of the clan was simply astonished, Inamichi's heart was filled with exhilaration.

Having seen several Zanpakutō up close before, he could tell at a glance how special Minazuki was.

The ability to transform into a manta ray and fly alone gave it immense strategic value.

Even if that were its only function, it was already more valuable than most Cursed Tools.

Still, Inamichi hoped for more. He believed Shoko's Zanpakutō had to have other abilities.

"Besides transforming, does your Zanpakutō have any other techniques?"

Like Sode no Shirayuki, he thought. There had to be more.

Shoko nodded.

That manta ray was Minazuki's Shikai. Other abilities were activated through it.

Minazuki's secondary technique was simple—swallowing people whole.

As long as the person wasn't completely dead, once they were regurgitated, they would be in a healed state.

Of course, there was a condition for this as well.

Shoko's own cursed energy had to be sufficient to support Minazuki's healing process...

(To be continued.)

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