Watching Asano Kiyoshi's lips move ever so slightly, Yamamoto's narrowed eyes opened just a fraction wider.In that brief moment of eye contact, he saw the unwavering resolve in Kiyoshi's eyes — and deep beneath it, a hidden surge of hatred and reckless impulse.
What Kiyoshi said to the old man was:
"Sensei, don't speak of that blade."
After weighing it for a few moments, Yamamoto lowered his eyelids slightly. He chose to respect Kiyoshi's decision. The foot he'd already stepped forward, he drew back again — standing silently in place.Unohana noticed the Captain-Commander's movement and, though she didn't fully understand, chose to trust his judgment, remaining wordless at her post.
Meanwhile, Tsunayashiro Sōsuke locked his eyes onto Kiyoshi. Every word he spoke was another push to send Kiyoshi to his death.If they could force Kiyoshi to agree to an expedition into Hueco Mundo, they'd have the perfect excuse to deal with him!
Inside Seireitei, old man Yamamoto stood like a mountain — one that suffocated the nobles, yet also shielded them from storms that could blow their houses down.But this mountain was tall enough; it mustn't be allowed to grow taller. Otherwise, when the flood rains came, a giant serpent of mud might slither down from it and bury them alive, never to rise again.
So long as Kiyoshi left this mountain's protection — once inside Hueco Mundo — the Tsunayashiro family's surveillance capabilities in the Grand Spirit Book Corridor made it entirely possible to locate him, isolate him, and cut him off.Killing him outright would bring down Yamamoto's wrath — a price the Tsunayashiro clan couldn't bear. But at least they could chip away at this mountain's foundation.
Divide and conquer — the oldest trick to topple a peak.
Still, Sōsuke didn't have high hopes. Kiyoshi would have to be a fool to agree to such a reckless mission.Hueco Mundo was a place where death lurked at every turn — and leaving now would only weaken his position inside Yamamoto's faction.No one in their right mind would abandon the chance to consolidate power here, just to go on a suicide run for "merit."Build your base first — then hunt glory later. That was the proper way. Who would do it backwards?
Seeing the Captain-Commander remain silent, Kuchiki Byakuya knew it was time for him to weigh in. His cold, aristocratic voice cut through the air:
"Tsunayashiro Sōsuke — in 2041, in North Rukongai District 7, six shops under the Kuchiki estate were forcibly taxed by your clan. Your men even used violence to threaten the shopkeepers into silence about paying double rent. This situation continued until now. Is that true?"
Byakuya's question seemed totally unrelated — but anyone with sense could see he was pressuring the Tsunayashiro clan, forcing them to back off from sending Kiyoshi into Hueco Mundo.
Thanks to Byakuya's special status, no one dared to drag him out for "changing the subject."As the head of one of the Five Great Noble Houses, his position and authority far outweighed any councillor present.
Hearing Byakuya's words, Tsunayashiro Sōsuke's fake smile barely held together. He forced out a laugh:
"Head of Kuchiki, you must be joking. The Tsunayashiro clan would never stoop to such disgraceful acts. And if something like that did happen, it must have been the work of the lowly hirelings. If you have no proof for these accusations, I shall treat them as an insult to our clan!"
Byakuya's icy expression carried a trace of amusement — the fish had taken the bait. Someone was flustered.So he continued smoothly:
"Very well. Let's file an official case here and now with the Central 46. Let a third party investigate openly and handle it."
Hearing this, Sōsuke's face darkened. That damned Kuchiki clan — were they really doing this for real?Though the Four Great Noble Houses often clashed, they generally aligned to protect noble interests. They were fundamentally different from the Central 46 and the Gotei 13.But here was Kuchiki, stabbing him in the back — letting the Central 46 of all people certify it! This was a threat to all the nobility!
Meeting Byakuya's cold gaze, Sōsuke's eyes nearly sparked with fury. But for Byakuya, the Tsunayashiro clan had become a tumor festering on the body of the nobility — and a tumor could not be removed without blood.
Before Sōsuke could retort, Yamamoto's ancient voice rang out from the Gotei 13's side:
"Clan Head Tsunayashiro — the 2044 Zanpakutō Disappearance Case has made progress recently. It seems it's connected to your clan. I wish to have the Central 46 and the Gotei 13 conduct a public investigation — to comfort the souls of the fallen. What do you say?"
Sōsuke's fake smile was now on the verge of cracking apart. And that was just the beginning:
"Clan Head Tsunayashiro — the 2047 Rukongai Explosion Case…""Tsunayashiro! The 2048 squadron death brawl! You bastard…""Old bastard! The 2043 commercial collapse — was that you, you dog—?!"(Kenpachi roared this last one especially loud — it was a line Yamamoto had asked him to memorize, but he'd added some flavor.)
One voice after another rose from behind Byakuya and the captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads — all echoing in the vast chamber of the Central 46 like thunder. Each accusation was a slap that smashed into Sōsuke's face, leaving him no room to breathe.
A few councillors turned to the presiding head councillor, asking if they should intervene. But that elder just smiled:
"What an amusing scene. When a whale dies, its bones and blood scatter far and wide. The clever fish wait patiently, knowing it's their moment for rebirth."
Sōsuke's face was now ashen, his fake composure all but gone. And then — Kiyoshi's voice came, the final straw to break the camel's back:
"Clan Head Tsunayashiro, I accept your proposal! I'll go to Hueco Mundo to prove my innocence! But at the same time — I expect you to live up to your own words. You'll confront these accusations against your clan in a full public investigation — only then can your selfless dedication to Soul Society shine through, and wash away the shame your clan faces today!"
Sōsuke's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. This brat — this was his plan all along?!Wasn't the point of all this pressure to protect Kiyoshi?So why was this kid blowing himself up?!
A fake madman had met a real one.
T/N: For up to 30 chapters ahead on my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle