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

The one currently controlling Kotetsu's body is Kamo Shin's ultimate technique—Shoso (Scorched Phase).

Possessing unparalleled stealth, he also wields an invisible assassination ability.

If given the chance, he could incinerate Satoshi to ashes in an instant.

This time, however, Satoshi had merely accompanied an ordinary person out, and First-Grade Sorcerer Shunichi was not by his side.

It was the perfect opportunity.

Although Shoso was the weakest of the Nine Phases of the Cursed Womb, once he successfully completed his close-combat technique, everything would burn to nothingness…

—

As soon as he exited through the back door, Satoshi, clad in a blue kimono, saw Kotetsu suddenly appear.

His Six Eyes did not detect anything unusual, yet his instincts screamed that something was off about the man in front of him.

Satoshi silently watched Kotetsu approach, his right hand gripping Sode no Shirayuki, ready to unsheathe his blade at a moment's notice.

Shoso's eyes burned with fervor as he completely ignored the man standing beside Satoshi.

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity… he was confident that he could eliminate Satoshi.

As he inched closer, the cursed technique within Shoso's body had already begun to activate. If his calculations were correct, his technique would ignite just as he closed the final distance between them.

"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki."

Satoshi's voice was low, yet the blade in his grasp gleamed with an icy-white glow.

Although Kotetsu still appeared normal, Satoshi wasn't about to let him get any closer.

However, just as he was about to unleash Shirayuki's Sleeve, Shoso abruptly vanished before his eyes.

In the next instant, he reappeared behind Satoshi.

His speed far surpassed even Zenin Toji during their previous battle.

But Satoshi's Six Eyes were not so easily deceived.

He instantly pinpointed Shoso's position, and in the next moment, his Zanpakutō had already slashed toward him.

Seeing this, Shoso smirked. Everything was going according to plan.

Before coming here, he had already studied Sode no Shirayuki's abilities.

While ice naturally countered flames, his fire was no ordinary blaze.

It was the Bone Fire—capable of incinerating all things.

Sode no Shirayuki would serve as the perfect medium to ignite Gojo Satoshi.

Mission Accomplished!

Flames erupted from Shoso's body, preparing to surge through Sode no Shirayuki and consume Satoshi.

Yet, in that very moment.

His head was completely crushed.

The long-ignored Toji had simply thrown a punch. And with that, Shoso lost all signs of life.

"You dare ignore me, you bastard?"

Toji pulled a cigarette box from his pocket, slipped a cigarette between his lips, and searched for his lighter, only to realize he didn't have one.

Shrugging, he crouched down and lit it with the flames still flickering from Shoso's burning corpse.

As smoke curled around him, he exhaled lazily.

"This guy was from your Gojo Clan, wasn't he?"

Satoshi nodded, retracting his sleeves as he watched Toji smoke, looking completely at ease.

As expected of Toji, you took down a First-Grade Cursed Spirit with just one strike. I wonder when my own body and hand-to-hand combat will be as strong as yours.

Satoshi pinched Toji's arm muscles, a hint of envy flashing through his Six Eyes.

My body is still too small. I'm only six years old, it's so inconvenient.

The icy energy from Sode no Shirayuki spread toward Shoso's corpse.

Even though the cursed spirit had long since perished, the flames showed no signs of extinguishing.

Satoshi suspected that the fire was bound to Shoso's cursed technique.

Letting it burn unchecked wasn't an option.

So, he activated White Ripple drawing a circle beneath Kotetsu's remains, completely freezing his body.

—

The moment Sode no Shirayuki's power was released, both Shunichi and Satoru sensed the disturbance.

Despite their exhaustion from physical training, they rushed toward the outskirts of the mansion.

"Satoshi, are you alright?"

Satoru's expression was filled with concern.

Meanwhile, Shunichi immediately stepped toward Shoso's frozen remains, his face dark with shock.

"Young Master Satoshi… this person… is Kotetsu?"

Even with most of his head missing, the charred body was still recognizable to Shunichi.

Staring at his stunned expression, Satoshi glanced at the worried Satoru before nodding.

"It was Kotetsu, yes. But the one who attacked me wasn't truly him."

"He was already dead the moment he was possessed by the cursed spirit."

Satoshi understood Kotetsu's relationship with Shunichi, he had been his most cherished disciple.

Now, with Toji having crushed him in an instant, it was important to clarify the situation. Otherwise, it might cause resentment.

Shunichi fell silent.

Looking at Kotetsu's burned body, still wreathed in cursed flames, he understood, this was no ordinary possession.

It was both heartbreaking and infuriating.

Heartbreaking—because his beloved disciple had suffered such a tragic fate. He had died, his body stolen, and was forced to attack his own family.

Infuriating—because had Toji not been there, Satoshi might have been the one to perish.

Taking a deep breath, Shunichi clenched his fists.

"Young Master Satoshi, allow me to investigate this incident."

"I will uncover the identity of the cursed spirit that attacked you."

"For you, for Kotetsu…"

(To be continued.)