"Jogo, focus on recovering first. Once this is over, I'll help you forge a Zanpakutō."
"We'll definitely face Itadori and her camp again. Next time, we can't let them beat us down so easily."
Everyone else nodded in agreement.
Jogo was clearly moved. "Thanks, Boss."
Toji and Yuto already had Zanpakutōs. It would be a lie to say he wasn't envious.
He had joined the Yorozuya just to see the true form of Ryūjin Jakka with his own eyes.
If he had a Zanpakutō himself, he believed he wouldn't have lost to the blood blade formed by the Blood Manipulation Technique.
"If that's the case, next time I see him, I'll make sure I take revenge with my own hands!" Jogo clenched his fists, his tone filled with indignation.
If it had been anywhere else, he wouldn't have been so overwhelmed even in a one-on-one situation.
But getting blindsided in the black market left him utterly frustrated.
"Alright. If the opportunity comes again, I'll leave it to you," Satoshi said with a smile. "For now, rest up. I need to shift focus to the goodwill event."
"When you're almost healed, I'll forge your Zanpakutō myself."
"Speaking of the high school goodwill event… Satoshi, is it really okay for you to join the Kyoto Jujutsu High team?" Toji asked, clearly skeptical.
Satoshi shook his head and smiled. "It's hard to say, but I'm guessing the General Directorate still won't approve it. Even Gakuganji, Kyoto's principal, probably won't agree."
"But to be honest, choosing Kyoto wasn't actually my real plan…"
Everyone was stunned when they heard that.
"Then what was all that noise you made about joining them?" Yuto asked, scratching his head curiously.
Satoshi grinned. "You know what they say. If you want someone to open a window and they refuse, just tear off the roof. Then they'll come to you about opening the window."
"In any case, I'll let Yagyū Hidetsugu and Saemon handle the rest."
"I almost feel sorry for them now…" Toji sighed at the faint smile on Satoshi's face.
Every time Gojo Satoshi smiled like that, he was about to stir up some chaos...
"So what are you really planning to do?" Yuto asked, eyes full of curiosity.
"I want to face both the Kyoto and Tokyo teams as a third party at the goodwill event," Satoshi said calmly after a brief pause.
The three Yorozuya members were frozen in place.
"What?!" His words nearly gave them a heart attack.
...
The next day.
The Kyoto team list caused an uproar in the world of jujutsu!
The biggest wave came from within the Spell Directors' Meeting itself.
As the upper institution managing both Jujutsu High campuses, the sister school goodwill event had always been taken very seriously.
Now, thanks to Satoshi, an emergency meeting had to be called.
Many members rubbed their foreheads helplessly.
Is Gojo Satoshi a blessing or a curse?
They were certainly glad to see such a powerful new sorcerer emerge…
But ever since Satoshi appeared, nothing had gone smoothly.
Everyone sighed in unison.
...
Headquarters of the General Directorate of Jujutsu.
A car with Kyoto plates slowly climbed the winding mountain road and came to a stop beside a traditional wooden loft.
This was the General Directorate's main office.
An energetic elderly man stepped out of the car.
His gray brows and beard carried a calm expression, and without hesitation, he walked directly into the attic meeting hall.
Though old in age, his posture remained upright and imposing.
"Principal Gakuganji," someone greeted him.
The elder nodded politely and entered the conference room.
Soon after, all major parties had taken their seats.
...
"Now that everyone is present, I hereby declare the Gojo Satoshi Special Conference officially in session."
The director of the General Directorate was still absent due to illness, so Yagyū Hidetsugu presided from the end of the long table.
Most of the delegates sat with their hands clasped and elbows rested flat on the table.
But the representatives from the High Commission were noticeably more relaxed.
Especially Tokyo Jujutsu High's principal, Sekiguchi Seiji.
Even though the goodwill event directly concerned him, he looked utterly uninterested.
"The goodwill event is fast approaching. I'm sure you've all received Kyoto's proposed lineup."
"To the students, this is just a competition. But for the schools, and for us, it has greater implications."
"Today's meeting is primarily to address Gojo Satoshi's involvement in the event."
But just as Hidetsugu finished speaking—
"I object. Letting Gojo Satoshi participate in the goodwill event is completely unfair!" Zenin Ogi immediately raised his hand in protest.
Whether or not Satoshi joined had no direct effect on him, nor on the Zenin clan.
But whatever Gojo Satoshi tried to do, he would oppose it without hesitation.
To him, it wasn't wrong. It was simply exercising his rights.
It was Satoshi's fault for doing so many outrageous things and dragging the Zenin clan through the mud.
Seeing a Zenin clan representative take the lead, several smaller family representatives followed suit.
"That's right. Gojo Satoshi must not participate!"
"Let's not even talk about whether his presence would tip the balance. Representing Kyoto while being a student from Tokyo is ridiculous!" someone else added, raising their hand.
"This is just a goodwill event. The whole point is to showcase exciting battles. Besides, there's no rule in the Association's regulations that says Gojo Satoshi can't participate as a member of Kyoto's team!"
"Exactly. Since Kyoto's faculty has already coordinated with Tokyo Jujutsu High, what's the issue?" a councilor aligned with the Gojo family echoed.
In an instant, the chamber erupted into arguments.
The Zenin faction refused to back down, and both sides clashed loudly.
...
Until Yagyū Hidetsugu finally barked out, "Enough! Stop arguing! Since both principals are here, let's hear their opinions instead."
At that, the room gradually quieted, and everyone composed themselves.
"Principal Sekiguchi, what are your thoughts?" Hidetsugu asked, turning to look at Sekiguchi again.
(To be continued.)