Satoshi's fist stopped mere inches from Satoru. Though the distance was slight, it felt like an infinite gap had formed between them.
Satoru glanced at his brother and shook his head with a light smile.
"Satoshi, you're going to lose."
"You can't break through my Infinity."
Seeing Satoru flawlessly use the Limitless: Infinity, a flicker of surprise flashed in Satoshi's eyes.
Tengen, outside the room, remained calm. After all, she had anticipated this outcome.
But seeing Satoshi momentarily startled by the effect of Infinity, she found it mildly amusing.
Looks like Satoshi hasn't found the weakness of Infinity. He really might lose this one.
Kids these days really are terrifying. To think Satoru can wield Infinity this skillfully at his age. At this rate, he might already be the strongest sorcerer alive.
If he can comprehend the Reverse Cursed Technique and reduce the drain from Infinity, he could become the strongest sorcerer in history...
In truth, Satoshi was already incredibly powerful, forcing Satoru to rely on Infinity.
But when facing that technique...
Unless Satoshi pulled out the Inverted Spear of Heaven, a Cursed Tool that can nullify all techniques, no one could do anything to Satoru.
She knew Satoshi owned it, but it was currently sealed in the Gojo Clan's Treasury, not on his person.
Which meant he had no way to defeat Satoru here.
The two Gojo brothers really aren't easy to handle.
His fist couldn't even touch Satoru.
Even from just inches away, it was as if something invisible blocked the strike entirely.
Satoshi looked at the strange phenomenon in silence. Though he had known from the original timeline that Satoru would one day master this technique, experiencing it in real life felt surreal.
"Satoru, so this is your true strength?"
"Seems like you've really made progress."
He hadn't expected that, upon waking, Satoru would already have mastered Limitless: Infinity.
As expected of the Gojo Clan's genius.
Seeing his brother frozen in place, Satoru grinned. "So, Satoshi, want to admit defeat?"
"That way, I might be gentler with you."
The exact same words Satoshi had thrown at him earlier. Now Satoru returned them with a smirk.
Satoru was undoubtedly arrogant, but Satoshi wasn't exactly humble either.
The next moment, Satoshi's eyes flashed with a pale blue glow. He chuckled.
"Satoru, it's true. Your Infinity is powerful."
"But it's not invincible."
As his voice fell, Satoru noticed Satoshi's white robes and short hair suddenly flutter upward without wind.
A snow-white ripple of spiritual pressure spread from his body.
A completely white Zanpakutō materialized in Satoshi's hand, its form like crystallized frost—Sode no Shirayuki.
He quietly felt the icy blade in his grip.
So long since I've seen you. It feels unfamiliar, yet familiar.
Let's fight together again.
The blade rang out. Mist and frost followed. The temperature plummeted.
Amidst the snowfall, Satoshi slowly raised his Zanpakutō and pointed it at Satoru.
His fighting spirit was ignited by the opponent's pressure. He whispered, "Satoru, let's decide this."
Being aimed at by the blade, a chill ran down Satoru's spine.
He looked solemnly at the pure-white Zanpakutō in Satoshi's hand.
"Zanpakutō, Sode no Shirayuki... So, you're finally going to use your trump card."
A word that had once cast a shadow over all Jujutsu sorcerers nine years ago.
Satoru took a deep breath.
But he had his own pride now—his perfected Limitless technique.
And he wanted to fight.
"Satoshi, go ahead and try."
"Even if your Zanpakutō is powerful, it won't break through my Infinity."
With that, Satoru's Six Eyes worked at full capacity, overanalyzing Satoshi's movements frame by frame.
At the same time, he focused all his efforts on controlling his Cursed Energy.
This extreme strain made his head pound.
Even in this state, Satoru didn't believe he would lose.
Meanwhile, outside the house.
The moment Sode no Shirayuki appeared, Tengen's lips curled upward slightly.
"Even after nine years of sleep, that boy's instincts are still terrifying."
"But what's his move now?"
Interest flickered in her eyes.
When the frost atop Sode no Shirayuki reached its peak, Satoshi slowly rotated the blade and chanted:
"Bankai: Hakka no Togame."
As Satoshi's calm voice fell, terrifying waves of Reiryoku erupted, and a sharp sword intent crashed down from above.
It surged toward Satoru like a blizzard breaking through heaven.
Everything in the room.
Under the pressure of the blade's will, turned into icy dust.
Witnessing the overwhelming power, Lord Tengen's scalp tingled. She quickly acted, throwing up a barrier to shield the Tombs of the Star.
"Those two are going to destroy my house at this rate!"
She looked inside again.
Her expression turned complicated.
"I didn't expect Satoshi to unleash such terrifying power right after waking up. I've only heard stories about the strength of Bankai... This is my first time seeing it in person."
"Satoru, you were destined to lose."
"But still, using Bankai immediately after waking... Even if it only lasted a moment, it's a testament to his will."
Their little brotherly duel should be wrapping up about now.
She gave Satoshi a glance, then stepped forward to enter the room.
But before she could step in.
Satoru's disgruntled voice rang out.
"Satoshi, that doesn't count as winning!"
Satoshi didn't even bother responding. He looked at the now-frozen Satoru and chuckled.
"Satoru, you're an ice sculpture now. Just admit defeat already."
Satoru growled, frustrated.
"I won't admit it. You didn't break my Infinity!"
Satoshi had only frozen him in place, not shattered his Infinity.
But Satoru had to remain fully focused to maintain the barrier against the frost creeping just inches from his body.
Under the relentless chill of Sode no Shirayuki, his Cursed Energy was draining at an insane rate.