Toji picked up the unconscious Satoshi and turned to leave.
"Toji, where are you going?"
Kumaen called out, but Toji didn't stop or turn toward the Gojo clan.
"I'm taking him home."
Toji's voice was cold.
"You're heading the wrong way. Satoshi needs to return to the Gojo estate to recover."
Kumaen's tone was serious.
"I'm taking him to his real home. The Gojo clan is no longer strong enough to protect him."
Toji spoke a truth that Kumaen didn't want to admit, one that was devastating in its clarity.
With the current strength of the Gojo clan, if they were attacked again by that woman, they still wouldn't be able to stop her.
At present, no one in the Gojo clan could even activate a Domain.
Their only true top combat forces were Satoshi and Satoru and Satoshi was only six years old.
Kumaen had originally intended to stop Toji from taking Satoshi away, but after hearing those words, even he had to acknowledge the painful reality.
The Gojo clan appeared mighty on the surface, backed by the influence brought by Satoshi's Zanpakutō, with enough momentum to suppress even the Zenin and Kamo clans.
But without true top-tier strength, there was nothing he could say to refute Toji.
In the face of someone like Toji, who wielded a Zanpakutō, or a Domain user like the attacker just now, the Gojo family's proud corps of sorcerers would be little more than cannon fodder.
"Grandfather, are you really going to let Toji just take Young Master Satoshi away?"
Genichi leaned in and whispered.
"Right now, Toji is the only one truly qualified to protect Satoshi."
Kumaen shook his head. It was the only logical choice.
"Genichi, go inform the head of the Ieiri clan. Tell Inamichi to meet us at the Yorozuya and ask him to treat Satoshi. After activating Hakka no Togame, his body is under immense strain. Make sure Inamichi understands how critical this is."
Since Satoshi couldn't return to the Gojo estate, they could only make arrangements elsewhere.
"Understood, Grandfather."
Genichi nodded. The Gojo clan had known of the Yorozuya since its founding. Now, even Toji considered it the safest place, so there was no objection.
After all, Toji's residence was undeniably the safest location for now.
"I'm going with you to the Yorozuya."
Satoru's face was solemn. As Satoshi's older brother, he had to stay at his side now that he was unconscious.
Shunichi also stepped forward without a word, his resolve clear.
Toji glanced at the group, then silently gave his approval.
...
Ieiri Estate
When Genichi relayed the news of the attack on Satoshi, Inamichi was utterly shocked.
"What? The attacker was a Domain user?"
"A sorcerer who manipulates gravity?"
Inamichi had never heard of such a person. But the fact that they had attacked the Gojo clan made it clear, they were not affiliated with the Jujutsu Association.
The enemy was a curse user.
But what stunned Inamichi even more was Satoshi's response.
In this era, a Domain user was practically untouchable. Yet Satoshi had managed to survive an assault from such a person.
That alone was unimaginable.
When Genichi explained that Satoshi had resisted the Domain using the Bankai of Sode no Shirayuki, Inamichi's understanding of Zanpakutō was once again overturned.
"Bankai?"
So that's what Bankai is—a power capable of standing against a Domain.
He had always believed he valued his Zanpakutō enough. But now, he realized he'd been far too arrogant.
The Yagyū clan had truly struck gold.
Once this news spread, the smaller families that had yet to secure a sword-forging promise from the Gojo clan would be gnashing their teeth in envy.
A Zanpakutō capable of resisting a Domain. Even if Bankai was extremely difficult to achieve, it represented hope.
Some had criticized the Yagyū clan for handing over the Tsuki no Sho, the very foundation of their family, in exchange for a single Zanpakutō. Many thought it was a massive loss.
But now, with the true power of Zanpakutō revealed, no one would dare say that again.
At least we in the Ieiri clan already secured a promise, thanks to Shoko.
Inamichi breathed a sigh of relief.
Because of Shoko, the Ieiri clan didn't have to panic like the others.
Zanpakutō weren't mass-produced. The Gojo clan would never allow such powerful weapons to spread indiscriminately.
The other two great families didn't have Zanpakutō at all. Compared to them, the Ieiri clan was fortunate, Satoshi had even taken the initiative to promise one to Shoko.
Though they weren't as visionary as the Yagyū, the Ieiri clan wasn't completely left behind.
Besides, the Ieiri family had their Reverse Cursed Technique, which was highly valuable to the Gojo clan.
Thinking this over, Inamichi immediately fetched Shoko, who had just finished resting.
Since the goal was to heal Satoshi, Shoko had to come along.
Spending more time around Satoshi would increase the chances he would remember to forge a Zanpakutō for her.
"Come on, let's go..."
Where was it again?
Inamichi had already forgotten the place Genichi had mentioned. Apparently, they didn't need to head to the Gojo estate this time.
"Lord Inamichi, to the Yorozuya."
Genichi reminded him.
"Right, the Yorozuya."
Inamichi nodded. He didn't know exactly where that was, but it didn't matter. He'd follow Genichi.
...
Zenin Estate
When Naobito learned that Satoshi had been attacked, his expression turned grim.
Though he had his grievances with the boy, and even though the Zenin clan had clashed with him in the past, Satoshi's fate wasn't something he deeply cared about.
If he had died during the attack, Naobito wouldn't have felt much sorrow.
After all, the Zenin and Gojo families were rivals. Satoshi's birth had completely shattered the power balance. From a family perspective, Naobito naturally hoped to see the Gojo clan decline.
But what truly shocked him was that even a Domain user hadn't been able to kill Gojo Satoshi.
And the reason... was Sode no Shirayuki.
"Zanpakutō's Bankai?"
"So Gojo Satoshi wasn't lying. Sode no Shirayuki really has that many techniques. That kind of trump card..."
(To be continued.)
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