Gojo Kumaen looked at Satoshi's calm expression and asked curiously, "Satoshi, can you tell me what you're really thinking?"
Satoshi tilted his head. "Hmm? Didn't you all hear the news about destroying Sukuna's fingers?"
Kumaen was momentarily stunned.
He hadn't expected that the reason Satoshi had asked him to collect Sukuna's fingers was actually to destroy them.
"Satoshi, are you really planning to destroy them? And even signed an agreement for it? Isn't this a thankless task?" Kumaen glanced at him, speaking helplessly.
After all, no one had ever destroyed a Sukuna finger in history.
He had initially assumed that Satoshi needed them to restore his Zanpakutō.
Satoshi looked directly at Kumaen and replied seriously, "It's fine. Leave it to me. I'll destroy them. I've been preparing for this since nine years ago. Just trust me."
Seeing Satoshi speak with such conviction, Kumaen said nothing more.
Just like they believed he could one day become the acting head of the Gojo family, now that Satoshi was confident, they would naturally choose to believe in him—and in their decision.
Satoshi and Kumaen left the tea room, continuing their conversation as they walked. Ieiri Shoko tactfully stayed behind.
The two strolled down the long corridor of the Gojo estate.
Satoshi glanced around at the garden scenery and sighed softly, "Seems like a lot has changed around here."
Kumaen looked at him and joked, "Of course, it's been nine years. Look at me—I've got a head full of white hair now. That's why you should hurry up and take the position of acting head, so I can finally lie in a chair and enjoy the sun."
Satoshi smiled. "The Gojo family looks like it's doing fine. But I noticed the Kamo and Zenin clans sent quite the entourage through the General Administration?"
Kumaen nodded. "The situation really isn't as stable as it was nine years ago. The Kamo and Zenin families have been far more aggressive recently."
Satoshi frowned. "Why?"
Kumaen was silent for a moment, then answered solemnly, "Rumor has it that a child was born into the Kamo family with mastery over the Blood Manipulation Technique."
Satoshi's frown deepened.
No wonder they were making bold moves.
Satoshi stroked his chin thoughtfully. "What about Satoru? With him active over these nine years, surely the Kamo and Zenin clans wouldn't have dared to go too far."
Even while Satoshi had been in stasis, Satoru—the strongest Six Eyes user in history—was still around.
Logically, even with the Red Bloodline awakening, they shouldn't have had the audacity to overstep.
At the mention of Satoru, Kumaen rubbed his temples. "Satoru has made a lot of progress over the years. He's mostly been focused on exorcising cursed spirits and tracking down Sukuna's fingers… but when it comes to family affairs, he doesn't care in the slightest."
Satoshi nodded. "Yeah, that sounds like him."
Kumaen gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. "That's why you have to pay more attention. Come back and take over when you can."
Satoshi laughed. "Let me finish what I came here to do first. After that, I'll think about it."
"Alright." Kumaen chuckled.
Soon after, Shunichi returned with a sealed container in his hands.
Inside were the Sukuna fingers that the Gojo family had collected over the past nine years.
Satoshi took the container and examined its contents.
There were no issues.
"Looks good. I'd better get back now. I'm worried something unexpected might happen at the college while I'm away."
Kumaen understood the urgency of the situation and didn't try to keep him any longer.
After saying their farewells, Satoshi and Ieiri Shoko left the estate.
Shunichi and Kumaen walked them all the way to the gate.
Watching Minazuki disappear into the sky, Kumaen smiled faintly and turned away.
Shunichi asked with concern, "Deputy, should I go along to protect Young Master Satoshi?"
Kumaen glanced at him. "Don't worry, Shunichi. You've known Satoshi for years. Now that I know his Zanpakutō is intact, I'm not worried about him."
"I just hope he wraps things up soon and comes back to take over. Then I can finally lie on that rattan chair and enjoy the sunlight."
"Maybe even hold a grandchild or two. That girl from the Ieiri family isn't bad. She's a good match for Satoshi."
Shunichi looked helpless. "Deputy, you're getting ahead of yourself. That still depends on Young Master Satoshi's feelings…"
"Ahem, yes, that's true. Satoshi's only just started technical high school. He's still a while away from marrying. Let's at least wait for him to graduate first…"
...
On the return to Jujutsu High.
Satoshi didn't speak. He simply looked down, watching the Gojo estate grow smaller in the distance until it finally vanished from view.
Shoko suddenly asked, "Satoshi, why did you refuse to become the acting head of the Gojo family?"
In the world of jujutsu, that position was one of the most coveted.
Satoshi turned to her and replied calmly, "The Gojo family's legacy is too important to be decided so lightly. If I were to accept it now, it would make the whole situation far more complicated."
Ieiri Shoko thought aloud, "You mean the Kamo and Zenin families might try something behind the scenes?"
The power struggle among the Big Three Sorcerer Families had only grown more intense. Sorcerer clans were being forced to choose sides.
Her own Ieiri family, for instance, had long been close with the Gojo family.
Satoshi nodded. "The Zenin clan isn't a major threat right now. Their younger generation has been on the decline."
"But the Kamo clan has regained control of the Blood Manipulation Technique. That makes them unstable."
Shoko fell silent, then said, "Satoshi, I can help you."
Satoshi looked at her in surprise, then smiled. "There's no need. We don't go looking for trouble—but we're not afraid of it either."
"Back then, I could suppress them from the shadows. And nine years later, I still can."
Shoko smiled at him.
(To be continued.)