Heavenly Restriction User of the Gojo Clan: I Refuse to Be Cut in Half Chapter 44: Hakuda (BONUS)

What just happened? How did Young Master Satoshi's swordsmanship improve so drastically in an instant? This doesn't make any sense.

Shunichi, who had been dueling with Satoshi, was utterly shocked.

As a kendo master, he fully understood how advanced Satoshi's attack just now was.

If just a second ago, Satoshi's skill was on the level of a beginner who had only recently grasped the Gojo Kyokushin-ryu, then now, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he had already mastered the Gojo Kyokushin-ryu itself.

How could soone change so drastically in re monts?

Shunichi could no longer assess Satoshi using conventional experience.

Was this the talent of the Six Eyes?

Even without Cursed Energy, was Satoshi far beyond ordinary humans in other aspects?

Since he had no idea that Satoshi possessed a system, Shunichi could only attribute it to raw talent.

And yet, even that explanation seed unreasonable.

Describing Satoshi's growth as "gradual and the result of diligent practice" would be an insult to the concept of training itself.

After all, only a little over a month had passed since Satoshi began learning kendo.

If just one month of practice could produce results like this, then wouldn't all the renowned swordmasters in history be so ashad that they'd throw themselves into a well?

There was only one conclusion, Gojo Satoshi was a genius beyond reason.

---

Toji, standing on the sidelines, slightly raised an eyebrow as he observed Satoshi's swordplay.

Even though Toji relied on Heavenly Restriction and had no Cursed Energy, he still possessed extensive combat experience with weapons.

Because of this, he could fully appreciate the precise timing of Satoshi's attack.

A second earlier, and the strike would have missed.

A second later, and it would have been blocked.

Yet, Satoshi perfectly found the opening in Shunichi's stance, neither too soon nor too late and disard him in a single slash.

The kendo master had lost his weapon.

That ant the duel was over.

A six-year-old Gojo Satoshi, wielding Sode no Shirayuki, had defeated the kendo master Gojo Shunichi.

Though this outco was also influenced by Shunichi holding back, the fact remained, Satoshi had demonstrated his true level in kendo and won.

---

On the other side, Satoru's Six Eyes flickered with shock, and for the first ti in his life, a hint of unease crept into his heart.

He had always known that Satoshi was powerful, but in his mind, this was only because of his Zanpakutō.

In fact, deep down, Satoru didn't view Satoshi as strong, he believed that Sode no Shirayuki's ability was what made him formidable.

In his eyes, Satoshi was still soone who needed his protection.

That was why Satoru had always stayed by his side.

Part of it was curiosity about Zanpakutō forging, of course.

But the bigger reason was that he worried soone might try to harm Satoshi.

Satoru had always felt guilty toward Satoshi.

So rather than leaving him vulnerable, he chose to stay close and keep watch.

But now, after witnessing Satoshi's kendo mastery Satoru had a sudden realization.

Aside from his Six Eyes, his imnse Cursed Energy, and his mastery of Limitless, what other advantages did he truly have over Satoshi?

He didn't know how to forge weapons, so he could never create a ga-changing Zanpakutō like Satoshi.

He didn't know kendo, so he could never reach unfathomable sword mastery in just a single instant.

For the first ti, Satoru doubted himself.

Does Satoshi even need my protection?

I possess Limitless, but... do I really have the confidence to protect him?

In that mont, Satoru finally understood.

He had been too arrogant.

Satoshi had awakened sothing within him.

Not only is he more mature than , but his actions are far more composed as well.

Perhaps... only after I have truly mastered Limitless can I stand before Satoshi and say, "Satoshi, I will protect you."

For the first ti, the eccentric Gojo Satoru developed a ntality of actively pursuing strength.

Because deep down, he was afraid.

If he didn't keep growing stronger...

One day, he might fall behind Satoshi.

And then, he would beco the one who needed protecting.

If Satoshi knew what Satoru was thinking right now, he would only push harder.

To him, anything that forced Satoru to work harder was a good thing.

---

Satoshi snapped out of his thoughts and noticed the stunned expressions around him.

Only then did he realize he had just broken through a barrier in kendo.

Opening his system panel, he saw that his kendo proficiency had reached maximum capacity, unlocking new abilities.

[ Ding! Congratulations to the Host for reaching 100% proficiency in "Zanjutsu (swordsmanship)." "Hakuda (hand-to-hand combat)" have now been unlocked. ]

That mysterious state earlier... was that the feeling of breaking through the limits of kendo?

Even though Satoshi couldn't replicate that attack perfectly, reaching this level ant he had already mastered countless techniques.

The system is as broken as ever.

Of course, it also helped that, due to Heavenly Restriction, his physical body was exceptionally suited for kendo.

That's why "Zanjutsu" had improved so quickly.

Now that Zanjutsu was complete, it was ti to focus on the next discipline—Hakuda.

Satoshi's gaze landed on Toji, scrutinizing his muscular fra like he was a rare treasure.

It turns out that making friends with Toji was the right choice after all.

A physically invincible bodyguard with Heavenly Restriction, and a hand-to-hand combat master, all in one package.

Next, he just needed to figure out how to exploit Toji for free training.

Satoshi even considered whether he should forge Toji's Zanpakutō in advance, so that every ti Toji fought, Satoshi could just farm free experience.

...But after thinking it over, he discarded the idea.

First of all, the materials for forging a Zanpakutō were extrely rare.

Even though Satoshi had figured out the forging process, gathering enough materials would take a long ti.

If he had reincarnated into a small, weak clan, it was likely he wouldn't even have seen a single Zanpakutō by now.

Besides, he had already promised Satoru that his Zanpakutō would be the next priority.

Although, at the mont, his dear brother had nothing of value that Satoshi could take advantage of...

Still—he was family, after all.

***

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