T/N: Five chapters now, another 10 tommorow.
On a high ground south of the Gotei 13 barracks in Seireitei stood a massive white tower — its walls were built entirely from Killing Spirit Stone. A staircase spiraled up to the prison cells above, and on the far side a rope bridge led to the execution platform known as the Sōkyoku Hill.
This structure was called the Hall of Penitence. Inside, the rooms were built with small windows that directly faced the distant Sōkyoku Hill — hence its name.
Right now, Asano Kiyoshi's wrists and ankles were bound in heavy chains that rattled loudly with every step he took. He glanced at the looming Sōkyoku and let out a faint sigh.
Ever since he'd been arrested and thrown in here, two days had already passed.
Around him were the familiar sounds — cries of injustice, curses, weeping... No matter how hard it was to bear, Kiyoshi had no choice but to grow used to it.
All these voices came from the prisoners locked up in the cells here. Kiyoshi had no way to know if they were truly innocent — but judging from what had happened to Rukia in the original story, if the Central 46 deemed you guilty, then no matter how small your crime was, you could still be executed.
In the cell next to his, an elderly man with scraggly hair and skin stretched tight over bone bared yellowed teeth at Kiyoshi. He sneered:"Doesn't matter how long you stare out there — it's useless. The moment you're locked in here, it means you probably pissed off some noble. Whether you really committed a crime doesn't matter anymore. If the nobles don't want you out, then you'll never get out! I've been locked up here for over fifty years!"
Kiyoshi turned his head slightly, looking at the man through the bars, and asked calmly:"Did you commit a crime?"
The old man pushed back his greasy hair and cackled, showing a mouth full of stained teeth."I didn't commit a crime! I just wrote down all the filthy things those nobles did! If that's a crime, then my only crime was pissing off the wrong people!"
Lowering his head, the old man suddenly let out two barking laughs:"Heheheh~ But so what? I don't regret it! I didn't do wrong — I only committed the crime of telling the truth!"
Kiyoshi looked over, then cracked a faint smile."In that case… just wait. Once I get out of here — once I have enough strength — I'll clear every false charge in this place."
His voice wasn't loud, but every word fell like a hammer on stone, stirring a tremor in this centuries-old Hall of Penitence.
The old man didn't respond, but the other prisoners who heard him instantly erupted like a pot boiling over. Voices rained down from every direction:
"You?! Hah! Talk big after you actually get out!""After a few decades in here, you'll give up on that naïve dream soon enough!""Lots of people thought they were the hero — they all broke eventually. How long do you think you'll last?"
There was ridicule, pleading, sarcasm, bitterness, quiet despair — voices cursing, mocking, warning him not to hope.
Kiyoshi listened without saying anything more. The iron door of the Hall of Penitence opened, and four white-robed guards walked in. Their expressions were blank as they stopped in front of his cell and spoke in flat, cold voices:"Asano Kiyoshi. You will now be escorted to the Central 46, where your crimes will be judged."
Kiyoshi's tone stayed calm as he corrected them:"Mind your words. It's not judgment — and I have committed no crime."
The guards said nothing. They bound him more tightly with special Kido restraints and tools, but Kiyoshi didn't resist — he let them lead him out naturally.
Just then, the old man who'd spoken up earlier suddenly called after him:"My name is Nakaken Ko — an editor."
Kiyoshi paused mid-step, then turned his head slightly and smiled:"Asano Kiyoshi — a Shinigami."
One of the guards frowned in annoyance and roughly shoved him forward, hastening their pace.
As the heavy gates of the Hall of Penitence rose open, sunlight spilled in — glaring after the dim, stifling air of the cells, forcing Kiyoshi to squint. He stood there, feeling that breeze so different from the stagnant air of the prison, his face neutral, without joy or grief.
Inside the Central 46 Chamber, the atmosphere was heavy.
On one side, the Tsunayashiro family and the nobles they led wore expressions of somber grief. On the other, the nobles gathered around Byakuya's faction looked openly disgusted and furious.
Among them sat nearly all the captains — people who wouldn't normally gather outside of a formal captain's meeting — here now, standing silently behind the Head Captain.
Everyone in that room knew it: this would be the first open clash between the Gotei 13 and the nobles. Whoever won would shape the balance of power — the winds of Seireitei's future.
No one spoke. All waited for a single man — one not yet powerful, but who now held the eyes of the entire Soul Society.
In that choking silence, the clink of iron chains grew louder, breaking it apart like an axe through ice.
The boy's figure was slender but upright. Backlit by the sun, he seemed wrapped in a faint glow that spilled into the dim, sunless Central 46 Chamber — like a light piercing the gloom.
He looked around at the familiar faces — all showing worry, encouragement, solidarity. Kiyoshi exhaled deeply, chains rattling at his wrists and ankles. He lifted his head to stare straight at the Central 46 councilors on the high dais.
As he arrived, the councilors all slowly stood. A voice rang out loudly, echoing across the hall:"We now begin the trial — for the malicious murder of a noble!"
The words fell. Immediately, the councilor to the speaker's left stepped forward, holding a thick stack of documents. His eyes were sharp as a hawk's as he glared down at Kiyoshi:"According to this evidence, Asano Kiyoshi — after defeating Kojirō, you later asked for his whereabouts and sought him out again. Asano Kiyoshi, do you admit to this?"
Hearing the question, Ukitake's expression darkened slightly. This kind of wording seemed normal at first glance, but it was heavily leading — it assumed Kiyoshi had killed Kojirō from the start.
Both questions were loaded: they implied that Kiyoshi's act of asking about Kojirō's location and visiting him privately were suspicious. If Kiyoshi couldn't offer a clear, convincing answer right away, then no matter how he argued later, this single seed of doubt would be planted in every listener's mind — and that seed would only grow stronger with time.
T/N: For up to 30 chapters ahead on my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle