Outside the house, Satoru's expression darkehe moment he heard the terms of the bet. Without hesitation, he moved to rush inside and stop it.

  However, before he could take a siep, the old man beside him reached out and held him back.

  "Satoru, wait."

  " head, I don't approve of this bet!"

  Satoru's face was filled with frustration. He didn't uand why the old man was stopping him. If this bet went through, knowing Satoshi's personality, his brother would absolutely honor it.

  "Calm yourself," the old man said, narrowing his eyes as he looked into the fe. His gaze was locked onto Satoshi.

  "Satoru, you're still too impatient at times."

  "You and Satoshi may be twins, but your personalities plement each other. Satoshi is too calm ahodical, while you're too impulsive aless."

  "Perhaps… fate arra this way."

  The old ma out a slow breath before tinuing, his voice steady.

  "Think carefully, do you truly believe that someone like Satoshi would make a bet he couldn't win?"

  "Yes, Takuya is important to him. But as his brother, you are just as important."

  "Let's wait and see how this pys out. I'm yself."

  A glint of anticipation fshed in the old man's eyes.

  It had been far too long since he st paid real attention to Gojo Satoshi, who had spent his days f cursed tools instead of engaging in bat.

  Could it really be as Takuya cimed?

  Had Satoshi truly mao create a cursed tool at the age of six?

  If this was true, then Satoshi possessed a different kind of genius, ohat could rival or even surpass the talents of jujutsu sorcerers.

  Unlike ordinary sorcerers, the old man, as the head of the Gojo had a different perspective on things.

  Most sorcerers viewed cursed tools as mere supp ons, sedary to their own strength.

  But he didn't see it that way.

  To him, a sorcerer wielding a powerful cursed tool was a plete sorcerer.

  There was an old saying: "A true gentleman is not superior by birth but by his ability to utilize tools."

  A capable sorcerer must learn to make use of cursed tools.

  This recisely why the old man had always valued Takuya so highly.

  If the Gojo cked a master cursed tool fer, it would eventually lose its foundation as a dominant jujutsu family.

  A… despite Takuya's importance, Shunichi had disrespected him so openly.

  The old man's eyes narrowed.

  Things have gone off track while I wasn't paying attention.

  Perhaps it's time to make some ges within the family.

  As for the 's future dire?

  That was something only Gojo Satoru and Gojo Satoshi could decide.

  The two Six Eyes bearers would either rebuild the Gojo from within, or burn it down and create somethiirely new.

  As for himself?

  He was merely the guard dog, the one who had to ehat this massive ship, the Gojo , didn't sink before it reached its destination.

  Whether Satoru and Satoshi chose to restore or destroy the ship…

  That was no longer his .

  pared to the old man's deep ption, Satoru's emotions were much simpler.

  "If Satoshi is truly at a disadvahen I'll intervene ahis bet immediately!"

  His bright blue eyes remained glued to the se ihe fe, unwilling to miss a siail.

  ---

  "Young master Satoshi, tell me—how do you want to duct this petition?"

  Shunichi's tone was serious as he looked at Satoshi.

  In his mind, he had already won.

  He was a Grade 2 sorcerer, while Satoshi had no Cursed Energy at all, just a mere ordinary human.

  The on in his own hands was a Grade 2 Cursed Tool, personally crafted by Takuya, a master fer.

  A… Satoshi's on didn't even seem like a cursed tool at all.

  Even if it was one, how could a tool fed by an apprentice surpass one fed by the master himself?

  Adding it all up, Shunichi couldn't see any possible way for Satoshi to win.

  Holy?

  He almost felt bad for the kid.

  This bet was so unfair that he was willing to accept any ditions Satoshi set.

  Of course…

  As long as they were reasonable.

  With that, Shunichi casually tossed Sode no Shirayuki back to Satoshi.

  "Sihis is a battle of cursed tools, I won't use my own Cursed Energy against you."

  "I'll only use the Cursed Energy stored within my on. That should make things fair."

  His words dripped with arrogance.

  After all, he against a six-year-old child. It felt beh him to go all out.

  But Satoshi?

  He didn't respond to Shunichi at all.

  His entire focus was on the Zanpakutō in his hands.

  Until now, Sode no Shirayuki had remained ed in cloth.

  Now that he could finally see its true form.

  Satoshi's eyes widened.

  This is… Sode no Shirayuki?

  Why does it look so ordinary?

  Isn't it supposed to be the most beautiful Zanpakutō in all of Soul Society?

  His heart sank.

  The bde before him wasn't anything like the Sode no Shirayuki from his memories.

  Instead of a pristine white katana, what he held was a seemingly pin on.

  The octagonal tsuba had a nearly regur shape, with fme-like patterns on the long sides and magatama designs on the short sides.

  The bde itself had curved slits, along with a series of engraved reliefs on both sides.

  The handle was ed in deep brown-red cloth.

  At first g looked nothing like the legendary Sode no Shirayuki.

  A sharp unease crept into Satoshi's chest.

  In this battle of cursed tools… my only advantage is my Zanpakutō.

  But if Sode no Shirayuki doesn't respond to me.

  Then I lose. Instantly.

  Just then—

  The system's voice echoed in his mind.

  ---

  [ Binding plete: Host has successfully bonded with Zanpakutō – Sode no Shirayuki (Asauchi State). ]

  [ Follow the system's guidao unlock Shikai and Bankai at your own pace. ]

  [ Hint 1: A Zanpakutō's appearaate, and abilities are shaped by the Shinigami's own soul. ]

  [ Hint 2: To wield its power, the Shinigami must learn their Zanpakutō's name and engage in a mental dialogue with it. ]

  [ Hint 3: Every sword has a name. By calling upon it, a Shinigami awaken their bde's true power. ]

  [ Hint 4: Bankai is the final release stage of a Zanpakutō. To achieve it, the wielder must materialize and subdue their bde's spirit. ]