"I will immediately send someone to investigate the Kasumiōji Clan," Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto said solemnly. "Once the situation is clear, I will seek approval from the Central 46 Chambers to eliminate the traitor."
Hearing this, Masatsuki Aozaki frowned, clearly dissatisfied. "Old man, do we really need to go through all that trouble? Why not just go over there and cut him down?"
"Watch your tongue!" Yamamoto's face darkened as he reprimanded him sternly. "When it comes to the great noble clans, caution is never excessive!"
Masatsuki Aozaki shrugged helplessly. This old man put way too much stock in nobility.
Then again, Yamamoto had lived for nearly three thousand years—his beliefs were deeply ingrained. Changing his mindset in a short time was impossible. Besides, modern societal reforms in the World of the Living had only taken place in the last few centuries. Expecting a stubborn old man like Yamamoto to suddenly embrace new ideas was unrealistic.
This matter was now in the old man's hands. By the time they returned to Soul Society, everything should have settled.
With that in mind, Masatsuki Aozaki decided not to dwell on it any further.
A fight? A battle?
At most, the Kasumiōji Clan had a few captain-level fighters, but that wasn't enough to pique his interest. It had been a long time since he'd truly felt the thrill of a fierce battle.
Suddenly, Masatsuki Aozaki smacked his forehead, as if recalling something, and spoke into the communicator. "Oh, right—old man, keep an eye on those two newcomers you assigned to my squad."
Yamamoto frowned at that. "Is there a problem with them?"
He had personally arranged for those two to join the 11th Division. Had he misjudged them?
Masatsuki Aozaki explained, "Just the other day, Lieutenant Gin Ichimaru sent me a report."
"Not only have those two been stirring up trouble in the squad, but they also seem to have ties to the Kasumiōji Clan."
Yamamoto's narrowed eyes opened slightly, his tone turning grave. "Are you certain?"
Masatsuki Aozaki chuckled. "If you don't believe me, ask Gin. He's got plenty of evidence—photos, videos, you name it."
"He should have everything you need."
"…I understand, Masatsuki. I leave the Kasumiōji Clan's leader in your hands."
A hint of anger laced Yamamoto's voice before the communicator screen went black.
The old man was clearly furious.
Masatsuki Aozaki smirked slightly, then handed the communicator to Nemu Kurotsuchi.
"Aozaki-sama, are we really staying in the World of the Living for a few more days?"
Kenryū waited until the conversation ended before asking, his tone laced with concern.
"What's there to worry about?" Rurichiyo Kasumiōji suddenly leaped up and wrapped her arms around Masatsuki Aozaki's neck, swaying excitedly. "Masatsuki is the strongest! The best Shinigami! He's not afraid of those bad guys from Gyōkaku!"
Kenryū sighed in exasperation.
It wasn't that he doubted Masatsuki Aozaki's strength.
After all, the title of Kenpachi was only given to the strongest Shinigami. He might not surpass the Captain-Commander, but he was certainly far from weak.
Still, Rurichiyo was too important to them.
Even knowing how powerful Masatsuki Aozaki was, Kenryū couldn't help but worry.
Kenryū remained silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh.
"Aozaki-sama, since you're responsible for protecting the family head, what should we do?"
Masatsuki Aozaki glanced out the window. The sky had darkened completely, and night had settled over the city. Taking Nemu Kurotsuchi's hand, he spoke with a serious expression.
"It's late. Get some sleep."
"This…"
Kenryū was momentarily speechless. Meeting Masatsuki Aozaki's serious gaze, he wasn't sure what to say. After a brief pause, he spoke again.
"Then, Aozaki-sama, Lieutenant Nemu, and the family head should rest first. Enryū and I will set up the barrier."
Rurichiyo Kasumiōji's eyes lit up.
"I want to sleep with Masatsuki!"
With a shout, she ran toward Masatsuki Aozaki, her short legs moving as fast as they could.
"Not happening. I have something important to do tonight. No time to play with you."
Masatsuki Aozaki placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair.
"What?! You promised to play with me! Masatsuki, you liar!"
Rurichiyo pouted in protest.
Something important?
Kenryū and Enryū exchanged glances, their expressions brightening.
It seemed Aozaki-sama had already planned how to protect the young lady.
Just moments ago, they thought he was trying to slack off.
They had completely misjudged him…
...
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
Soul Society—Seireitei—the Kasumiōji Clan estate.
Shūsuke Amagai stood silently in front of Gyōkaku Kumoi's lifeless body, his face dark with fury.
His gaze swept over the group of Shinigami surrounding him, their long blades gleaming under the light. An indescribable anger burned in his chest.
The Shinigami had him completely encircled.
Not far away, Makoto Kibune's corpse lay in a pool of blood.
Their drawn swords shimmered with a cold light, ready to strike at any moment.
This was no friendly gathering—it was an execution.
"Lieutenant Amagai, you should surrender."
"Yeah, let's not turn this into a bloodbath. We've known each other for a while."
"Well, since we're indoors, wouldn't it be a blood-soaked ceiling instead?"
"How should I know? You know I'm not that well-educated!"
The casual chatter of the Shinigami grated on Amagai's nerves.
Their words cut into him like knives.
He had spent so much effort crafting an image, trying to gain their trust.
But now, it was clear—it had all been for nothing.
"Why would you follow that man?"
Amagai glared at them, his voice rising with fury.
"How does someone so irresponsible and self-serving deserve to be captain?!"
His anger and resentment poured out, as if releasing all the frustration in his heart.
The Shinigami of the 11th Division stared at him without a trace of emotion.
"What are you talking about, Lieutenant Amagai?"
"Power is what makes a king."
"Isn't that a line from a video game?"
"Damn it, I wanted to say that! You beat me to it!"
The squad members responded one after another, indifferent to his outburst.
"Power is what makes a king? What kind of nonsense is that?!"
Amagai's face twisted with rage, his teeth clenched.
"You should give up, Shūsuke Amagai."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya stood a few steps away, his long sword resting on his back. He glanced at the man who, just days ago, had been a fellow officer and scoffed.
"You don't actually think you have a chance of winning, do you?"
"If you surrender now, you'll avoid death. The worst that'll happen is being thrown into Muken."
Amagai's face darkened.
His grip tightened around his weapon, his eyes flashing with hatred.
"Spare me the talk. I haven't lost yet."
"You Shinigami don't understand what true power is."
As he spoke, he drew a tuning fork-shaped short sword from his waist and retrieved a yellow, eye-like orb.
That orb was the core of the Bakkōtō.
The Bakkōtō relied on its core to absorb the user's Reiatsu and amplify its strength.
The hilt of the short sword split open, revealing a gaping, fleshy maw at the end. Like a living creature, it swallowed the core whole.
This was why he had worked with Gyōkaku Kumoi. He needed these cores to grow stronger.
This blade had devoured multiple cores already. With it, he could defeat that so-called strongest Shinigami in a thousand years!
He was absolutely certain of it.
"As long as I have this sword—the Bakkōtō—Shinigami power is nothing to fear!"
"I'll show you just how ridiculous your so-called strength really is."
"The one who wins… will be me!"
Amagai raised the Bakkōtō high, his confidence unshaken.
With this sword, he would never lose to a Shinigami.