Satoshi shook his head slowly.
He walked to Riko and said in a gentle but firm tone, "No, you've misunderstood."
Riko does not have that kind of strength yet.
Sakanade exists to protect her final line of defense.
The power of this Zanpakutō is passive to some extent."
"Passive?" Suguru frowned. "What do you mean?"
"It's simple," Satoshi said. "I hope she never needs to use Sakanade's power. Because if she has to use it, it means that even you, Satoru, cannot protect her. This Zanpakutō is more of a last resort than a weapon."
These words cast a heavy silence over the forge. Everyone understood Satoshi's intention. Sakanade was not an offensive weapon, but a final safeguard for Riko in her most dangerous moment.
"That's right," Satoru said, no longer joking. "But this level of insurance is indeed reassuring."
Shoko looked at Riko with gentle eyes. "So, from now on, we should focus more on practicing Zanjutsu. Not for fighting, but to better understand and control this power."
"Alright," Satoshi looked around. "For the time being, let Shoko continue to teach Riko swordsmanship. At the same time, Satoru, you and Suguru must master Bakudō #81 Dankū as soon as possible. Although we hope to never use this power..."
He cast his gaze toward the gradually darkening sky outside the window. But who knows. In these increasingly chaotic times, perhaps no preparation is too much.
Riko stood there, looking at the Zanpakutō in her hand, a hint of determination on her young face. Even if it is the final line of defense, I must master this power. It is not about fighting, but about living up to everyone's expectations.
As night slowly fell, the fire in the forge room remained bright, illuminating their determined faces. They all knew this was just the beginning of a long journey of cultivation.
...
As the night deepened, Shinsuke and Naoya left the Gojo residence. Moonlight poured down like water, stretching their shadows far. There was still a hint of chill in the air, a reminder of the battle in Lime.
After a simple restoration, the Zenin mansion had been brought back to most of its original state.
However, the frost that had not melted in the courtyard still clung stubbornly to branches and stone walls, glowing blue in the moonlight, silently telling of the battle's ferocity.
Is this the power of a Curse User who possesses an Innate Domain? Naoya looked up at the frost and felt a chill in his heart.
Even after a full day, the frost showed no signs of melting.
Shinsuke walked in front, his steps a bit heavy. As expected, only the Gojo clan can truly protect the Star Plasma Vessel. We at the Zenin are still far behind in this regard.
After crossing the courtyard, the two entered the main house. Naobito sat in the center of the room with a cup of steaming tea before him. Even at home, he maintained his usual dignity.
"You're back?" Naobito looked up, his eyes burning. "How is the situation?"
Shinsuke and Naoya knelt before Naobito and reported everything that had happened at the Gojo clan. When they mentioned Satoshi forging a Zanpakutō for Riko, Naobito's eyebrows rose noticeably.
"You said Satoshi forged a Zanpakutō named Sakanade for the Star Plasma Vessel?" Naobito's voice carried an unmistakable hint of shock. "And it perfectly integrates the Star Plasma Vessel's power?"
"Yes, father," Naoya nodded. "That Zanpakutō's ability is very special. It can completely control an opponent's perception, reversing up and down, left and right, front and back. Even Satoru's Six Eyes are not completely immune."
A complicated look flashed through Naobito's eyes. I thought Satoshi had lost the ability to forge Zanpakutō after nine years of sleep, but unexpectedly, he not only recovered, he seems to have progressed even further.
"This attack," Naobito said slowly, "has indeed taught us a lesson. Our Zenin family does not have an Innate Domain, nor do we have a Zanpakutō. When facing a Curse User with an Innate Domain, our strength is still too weak."
Moonlight spilled through the window, shining on Naobito's slightly tired face. As the head of the Zenin family, the events of the past few days had forced him to reexamine the clan's situation.
He set down his teacup and stared at the floating tea leaves.
The aroma rose, forming a faint mist in the moonlight. His thoughts drifted like the smoke.
"Tell me about the specific performance of that Zanpakutō," Naobito asked suddenly, a hint of barely perceptible tension in his voice. "Did you witness its power with your own eyes?"
Naoya straightened his posture. "Yes, father. In the Gojo forge, we witnessed Sakanade's first release with our own eyes. That power..." He paused, searching for the right words. "It completely exceeded our imagination."
"Tell me more specifically." Naobito's voice grew more serious.
Shinsuke took over. "Even Satoru's Six Eyes could not fully see through Sakanade's ability.
Under its influence, everyone's perception was completely reversed.
Up and down, left and right, front and back, all interchanged.
Even the perception of an injury's location was reversed."
A gust of night wind stirred the chimes outside the window. The clear sound broke the brief silence. Naobito stood and walked to the wall where the family portraits hung.
"How ironic," he said softly, eyes lingering on the portraits of past clan heads. "The shadow techniques our Zenin family prides itself on seem so pale and powerless when facing a Special Grade cursed spirit.
And Satoshi, with just a Zanpakutō, can grant an ordinary high school girl such power."
Is this the gap between us and the Gojo clan? No, perhaps the gap is even greater than that.
He turned and looked at his two sons, eyes burning. "That girl, Riko, how much control did she show?"
"Honestly, much better than expected," Shinsuke replied. "Although it was her first time using a Zanpakutō, she seemed to have an innate grasp of its power. Shoko also said she showed amazing talent in kendo."
(To be continued.)
***
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