Heavenly Restriction User of the Gojo Clan: I Refuse to Be Cut in Half

For now, Satoshi was only entrusting Toji with setting up the Yorozuya. He didn't want to waste the favor Toji had promised him earlier.

Hearing that he would have an independent base, Toji absentmindedly touched the scar on his lip and nodded slightly.

He understood the logic behind having multiple backup plans, a cunning rabbit always has three burrows.

It didn't surprise him that Satoshi was already thinking about securing his own future.

Choosing a location and setting up a small shop wasn't a difficult task for him.

"It's no problem. Just a small matter," Toji replied casually.

Then, after confirming that no one else was around, a glint flashed in his eyes as he asked curiously, "You already know Katen Kyōkotsu's ability, right?"

Satoshi looked up at Toji and nodded.

As the forger of Katen Kyōkotsu and a time traveler, how could he not know what his own Zanpakutō was capable of?

"That Kageoni (Shadow Demon) technique.. it was you, wasn't it?"

Toji hesitated, unsure of how to phrase his question.

Had Satoshi specifically designed that ability for him?

"Yeah, I did it on purpose," Satoshi admitted. "I chose this technique because I thought it suited you well. Doesn't the Zenin clan place a lot of value on shadow-based techniques? I wonder how they'll react when they see a non-sorcerer like you using the kind of ability they take so much pride in."

He smirked, clearly amused by the thought.

"Also, you should get familiar with Katen Kyōkotsu's other game techniques. That way, when you have kids in the future, you'll be able to play with them properly."

A hint of mischief appeared on Satoshi's face. He had his own twisted sense of humor.

Would Megumi be moved to tears when he found out how much effort Uncle Satoshi had put into training his father to be a responsible parent?

Toji fell silent for a moment before eventually nodding.

Katen Kyōkotsu's ability transformed children's games into reality. Once someone stepped into its range, they were forced to play by its rules—rules dictated entirely by Katen Kyōkotsu itself.

After Shikai, Katen Kyōkotsu granted four unique techniques, each based on a different game:

[Takaoni (Mountain Demon)]

Rule: Whoever reaches the highest point wins.

Attacks from a higher position deal significantly more damage to opponents below.

[Irooni (Colorful Demon)]

Rule: The person who cuts the declared color wins.

Either side can call out a color, and both sides are only allowed to cut areas covered by that color.

If someone cuts an area of a different color, the attack is nullified.

The larger the area of the called-out color on the opponent, the stronger the attack.

The smaller the area of the color on the opponent, the weaker the attack.

[Kageoni (Shadow Demon)]

Rule: If your shadow is stepped on, you lose.

The user can hide inside an opponent's shadow and launch surprise attacks.

Any damage inflicted on a person's shadow is transferred to their actual body.

The user can also hide themselves or others in shadows to evade attacks.

[Daruma-san ga Koronda (Bodhidarma Falls Down)]

Rule: Whoever's "it" shields their eyes and looks back as they say the verse "Bodhidarma Falls Down". Whoever's caught moving is captured.

The game has three requirements:

1. One, the captor (it) must be in a location where it can be seen by all participants.

2. Two participants lose if seen moving by the captor.

3. Third, the participants win if they can touch the captor and thereby see through the illusion before the captor sees them. (T/N: Basically "Red-Light Green-Light".)

These four game-based techniques were undeniably powerful.

But to Toji… they were also kind of ridiculous.

He had never played games like this as a kid. And now, as an adult, he was being forced to learn their rules?

And what was with that nonsense about playing with his future children? He didn't even know where his kids were, let alone how to play with them!

Ignoring Satoshi's nonsense, Toji focused on analyzing the true purpose of these techniques.

For years, he had relied solely on his physical abilities in combat. He had never used cursed energy or techniques.

But now, with Katen Kyōkotsu in his hands, he finally had something else in his arsenal.

Among the four techniques, the one that intrigued Toji the most was Kageoni.

That was why he had questioned Satoshi about it in the first place.

The Zenin clan took immense pride in their Ten Shadows Technique.

How would they react when they saw Katen Kyōkotsu—a Zanpakutō—using a shadow-based ability completely outside their domain?

After hearing Satoshi's explanation, Toji realized something.

Satoshi had the same kind of twisted sense of humor that he did.

With that thought in mind, Toji returned home. He needed to gather funds from his personal stash to use as the starting capital for Yorozuya.

…

Meanwhile, at Jujutsu High's Warehouse…

In front of the Cursed Womb: Nine Phases Diagram, the Gojo family messenger, Gojo Tsubaki's expression darkened.

"The ninth cursed womb has been replaced."

"When did this happen? There's no sign that the container has been tampered with."

Standing beside him, the current principal of Jujutsu High, Sekiguchi Seiji, looked visibly displeased.

He had already been annoyed when Gojo Tsubaki arrived with orders from the Gojo clan's head to inspect the Vault.

And now, there was actually a problem with one of the cursed objects?

"The ninth cursed womb's container is identical to the previous eight," Tsubaki noted. "There are no signs of physical interference. That can only mean one thing…"

He paused, then continued, "The switch must have happened at the time of its initial storage. Everyone's attention was likely focused on the Special Grade Cursed Objects—Numbers 1 through 3. No one cared about Numbers 4 through 9."

After all, this incident had occurred over 150 years ago.

No one alive knew exactly what had transpired back then.

Tsubaki hadn't come here to question Sekiguchi Seiji. His only goal was to confirm whether the cursed spirit that had attacked Young Master Satoshi was connected to the Nine Phases Diagram.

Now, the answer was clear.

The clan head's suspicions had been correct.

The cursed spirit that attacked Satoshi had been the ninth cursed womb from the Nine Phases Diagram.

And whoever had orchestrated the attack was someone deeply familiar with the Gojo clan, someone who had been fully confident in their plan.

If it weren't for Toji being by Satoshi's side, the mastermind might have succeeded.

Who was responsible for this?

Tsubaki turned his gaze toward the Nine Phases Diagram.

A name surfaced in his mind, one he suspected the Gojo clan head was also considering.

Because there was only one family that could have altered the Nine Phases Diagram before it was placed in the Vault.

The Kamo clan.

Perhaps this ninth cursed womb possessed abilities still unknown to the jujutsu world.

And if someone from the Kamo family had stolen it…

Then this cursed object must still be circulating within the Kamo clan.

(To be continued.)