Satoshi's speed was incredibly fast, but Itadori Kaori still didn't take him seriously.
If he wanted to pierce her with his Zanpakutō, at his current level, he would need to train for several decades at least.
However, as Satoshi approached her, the combined effects of the technique's forward rotation and the anti-gravity system began to destabilize his body.
Just as he lost his balance, Kaori prepared to end it with a single strike.
But in the very next second, an inexplicable sense of danger surged within her.
Satoshi's body was clearly off-balance, and Sode no Shirayuki was far from him—so why did she suddenly feel threatened?
Kaori wanted to push forward with her attack, but her instincts told her to trust herself.
She quickly pulled back her fist and stepped backward.
At that moment, she finally saw what had triggered her instincts.
Third Dance: White Sword.
Sode no Shirayuki abruptly extended, its length doubling. At such close range, if she hadn't dodged in time, she definitely would've been impaled.
Seeing her evade, Satoshi's expression carried a trace of regret.
That last wave wasn't just White Sword—he had also dropped his body temperature to -18°C, activating Technique: Minus Eighteen Degrees.
As long as the blade connected, the freezing of her blood would have significantly slowed her movements.
Unfortunately, even though it was her first time seeing White Sword, she still managed to avoid it with ease.
Kaori frowned, facing both the sudden increase in Sode no Shirayuki's length and the biting chill radiating from Satoshi.
She hadn't expected that Sode no Shirayuki had other hidden techniques.
And what's more—it actually posed a threat to her.
She suddenly realized that the Zanpakutō forged by Gojo Satoshi might possess greater potential than she'd originally assumed.
Since there's another technique I didn't know about… could Sode no Shirayuki have even more? Four techniques are already absurd enough, but it feels like Satoshi still has a trump card left.
Kaori never imagined that Satoshi could remain this composed while facing her.
Yet here he was, launching an offensive—meaning he still had confidence left.
Kaori felt it was time to get serious. If she stayed too lax, this boy might actually defeat her.
Under the influence of the anti-gravity system, Satoshi barely kept himself upright.
As expected of "Kenjaku", this technique really was absurd. Right now, it was only the forward rotation of the system.
Satoshi recalled that she could reverse the anti-gravity flow.
It hadn't been used yet, probably because Kaori didn't see him as a real threat.
But Satoshi was fine with that.
If he could hold out for just two more minutes, Yagyū Saemon would arrive. Satoru would reach them in about three minutes, and Toji in five.
As long as he lasted five minutes, Kaori would have no choice but to retreat if she didn't want to expose herself.
Just as Satoshi was weighing his options for reinforcements, Itadori Kaori had already discarded any trace of underestimation.
"Cursed Technique Reversal: Gravity!"
The Reversal that Satoshi had just been thinking about was suddenly used by Kaori.
The gravity within the barrier instantly multiplied several times over. Satoshi felt his body grow exponentially heavier, and his movements slowed.
"Gojo Satoshi-kun, your Zanpakutō really surprised me. That alone proves you're worth my attention."
"So, as a sign of respect, I'll show you what a real technique reversal looks like."
There was a glint of amusement in Kaori's eyes. As the only person currently capable of using Cursed Technique Reversal, she had every right to be proud.
However, to her surprise, Satoshi remained remarkably calm.
"Forget it. You're still young. It's normal you don't understand the power of Cursed Technique Reversal. I won't blame you."
Kaori shrugged, thinking Satoshi was simply ignorant. She had no idea—he already understood it all.
The moment he sensed the gravity intensify, he activated Technique: Minus Fifty Degrees.
In an instant, all moisture on the ground froze solid, and he used the icy condensation to anchor his footing.
Kaori tried to approach again but suddenly, the ground trembled violently.
"An earthquake?"
She steadied herself. It wasn't surprising for Japan, but this one had been far too sudden.
Kaori didn't think much of it.
But as she continued to walk, the ground quaked again.
When she stopped moving, so did the shaking.
It was as if the earthquake followed her steps.
After a moment of observation, Kaori immediately realized this wasn't a natural occurrence. It was Satoshi's doing.
She narrowed her eyes and stomped the ground.
Under the weight of the increased gravity, the surface cracked instantly—and beneath it, fine ice threads were exposed to her eyes.
"I see now. The tremors were caused by these ice threads, weren't they?"
"I never expected a Zanpakutō to have such bizarre abilities. So this is… Sode no Shirayuki?"
A glint of madness appeared in her gaze.
"If you have any more techniques, use them, Gojo Satoshi-kun. I want to show you what true despair feels like."
Satoshi's face showed a trace of regret.
"Onee-san… Sode no Shirayuki has no more techniques to offer. I didn't think you'd be so strong that I'd be forced to use everything…"
"I'm really curious about your identity, Onee-san."
Maintaining his current persona was becoming uncomfortable. But for the sake of the final outcome, and to shift the balance of power, he had no choice but to lie—against his nature.
"Is that so, Gojo Satoshi-kun… you've already done very well."
"As long as you hand over Ryūjin Jakka, you will gain my friendship."
Hearing the hint of submission in Satoshi's tone, Kaori's eyes sparkled with satisfaction.
To her, Satoshi had exhausted every resource, tried every strategy, and in the end, accepted his fate.
(To be continued.)