Naobito walked back to his seat. His movements seemed calm, but when he sat, his teacup swayed slightly, revealing his inner restlessness.
"Father," Naoya said cautiously, "the Gojo family arranged for Satoru and the other two to form a protection team. With their strength..."
"I know," Naobito interrupted. "Satoru has mastered the Bankai of Senbonzakura. Although he has not yet reached the realm of life, that level of power is indeed sufficient." He paused. "Especially with the cooperation of Suguru and Shoko."
As the night deepened, moonlight filtered through the lattice windows, casting mottled shadows on the ground. Naobito stared at the shifting light and shadow and fell into deep thought.
Perhaps this is fate. Nine years ago, when Satoshi chose to sleep, everyone thought the Gojo family would decline. Now it seems that sleep made him stronger.
"Father," Shinsuke suddenly asked, "what do you think the future of our Zenin family will be?"
Naobito was silent for a long time, then finally sighed. "For a long time to come, I am afraid we will not be able to catch up with the Gojo family.
But that does not mean we have to give up."
His eyes grew firm. "Perhaps we need to change not only our form of power, but also the way we think."
Yes, just as Satoshi chose to use his Zanpakutō to open up new possibilities. It is time for us to find our own path.
"That frost," Naobito pointed at the unmelted ice outside the window, "is a warning left by that mysterious Curse User.
Although our shadow techniques are powerful, they are still too simple.
When will our Zenin family produce a descendant who truly masters the Ten Shadows Technique?"
The room fell silent again. The chirping of night birds came from afar and intertwined with the sound of wind chimes, forming a meaningful nocturne.
"Tell me the Gojo family's specific defense plan," Naobito said after a moment. "I need to know every detail."
Naoya described it in detail. "Satoru is responsible for the main defense.
His Limitless Technique combined with Senbonzakura is enough to deal with most threats.
Suguru's Cursed Spirit Manipulation can cover loopholes in special situations.
As for Shoko..."
"Medical support," Naobito nodded. "It is indeed a perfect arrangement. Satoshi thought it through very carefully."
As expected of Satoshi, he thought, every step arranged so meticulously. Even Riko's Zanpakutō was prepared specifically for the worst-case scenario.
"That is enough for tonight," Naobito finally said. "You need to rest as well. Starting tomorrow, we will replan the direction of our family's training. This incident has taught me a lot."
Shinsuke and Naoya stood and took their leave. The moment the door slid shut, Naobito finally let go of the dignity he had been maintaining. He walked to the window again and looked at the frost in the courtyard flickering in the moonlight.
Gojo family, Zanpakutō, Star Plasma. He silently listed the keywords in his mind.
Perhaps this is the turning point of the times. We of the Zenin family must find our place at this turning point.
The wind chimes outside the window rang again, and this time the sound seemed to carry a kind of foreshadowing. Naobito knew that starting tonight, the Zenin family would face a real change. It would not be a forced change, but an active one.
One day, he looked at the moonlit courtyard.
We of the Zenin family will also find our own answer. Just like the path Satoshi took to find his Zanpakutō.
The night grew darker, but Naobito's eyes grew brighter. In this era of change, every family must make its own choice. And the Zenin family's choice might begin tonight.
The unmelted ice and frost still flickered in the moonlight, like a silent witness to the new chapter the Zenin family was about to begin.
...
The late-autumn night was growing colder.
The Time Vessel Association's stronghold was located in an abandoned mountain temple.
A corner of the main hall's roof had collapsed from years of disrepair, exposing the dark night sky.
Broken glazed tiles glowed dimly in the moonlight.
A few night owls perched on the shattered eaves, letting out sharp cries from time to time.
The temple interior was even more eerie. Ancient Buddha statues leaned to one side, some missing half their bodies.
The contents of the mottled murals on the walls were long unrecognizable, leaving only fuzzy blocks of color that looked particularly unsettling under sporadic candlelight.
Scriptures piled in a corner exuded a musty smell, which mingled with the heavy stench of curses to form a suffocating atmosphere.
Uraume walked out of the shadows, still bearing traces of battle with Toji. Their usually meticulous attire was slightly disheveled, and their right arm was covered with dense ice crystals, the backlash from their own ice manipulation.
Damn Zenin. Uraume glanced at the injuries and felt annoyed.
"Oh my," Choso leaned against a broken Buddha statue with a playful smile, "isn't this our elegant Lady Uraume? How did you end up like this? Could it be you ran into Satoshi?"
Uraume shot Choso a cold look and ignored the sarcasm. They walked slowly to a collapsed stone pillar, sat down, and began treating the wound on their arm. Moonlight poured through the broken roof, making their pale face look even colder.
"Don't be so cold," Choso continued, though his eyes turned serious. "From the looks of you, it seems you encountered a tough opponent?"
This man.
Uraume pondered.
Always so annoying. However, this time the information does need to be shared.
"Toji," Uraume finally spoke, a hint of reluctance in their voice. "That guy who has always kept a low profile actually mastered such a powerful Zanpakutō."
Choso's expression hardened. "Who, Zenin Toji? The guy who does not even have a Cursed Technique?"
"Katen Kyōkotsu." When Uraume said the name, even the air seemed to grow solemn. "It is a Zanpakutō based on the rules of games. Each time it is released, it randomly manifests in three different forms, Takaoni, Kageoni, and Irooni."
(To be continued.)
***
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