"It seems the household has been quite busy lately. Has something happened?"
A man with dark green hair asked the guard at the door with a smile.
"Replying to Lord Tokinada, it is because a new power has appeared in the Rukongai outside. They seem to have the ambition to unify the entire Rukongai, so every family has dispatched manpower."
The guard answered respectfully and hurriedly.
Although the person before him was nominally a criminal under house arrest, that was merely to give an explanation to the whistleblower. The status and position the other party deserved had not changed one bit.
"Is that so? But why hasn't it ended after so many days? Could it be they still haven't managed to settle it even now?"
A trace of interest rose in Tokinada Tsunayashiro's heart. He had never heard of anyone attempting to unify the Rukongai before. And judging by the somewhat solemn atmosphere in his own home now, it seemed the opponent really had a few tricks up their sleeve?
"Uh, it seems so. Counting this batch, it should be the third wave of reinforcements sent to the front."
"The third wave?"
"Yes."
The man was somewhat surprised. Although he hadn't intervened in family affairs for a long time, he still understood the nobles' standard three-step playbook thoroughly—first was provocation with force as a supplement; the second wave meant they had to tear off the mask and fight; and the third stage proved that Captain-level combat power had to be deployed.
"In that case, that person wanting to unify the Rukongai is rather interesting... Has the Gotei 13 not mobilized?"
"Aside from the 3rd Division being responsible for security in the districts surrounding the Seireitei, the other divisions have not mobilized on a large scale."
Even the Shinigami of the 13 Divisions hadn't moved, yet the Tsunayashiro family had already used Captain-level power?
Tokinada Tsunayashiro keenly perceived the problem.
There was something fishy about this matter.
He didn't ask the guard anymore; the other party was just an ordinary guard standing idle here and couldn't know such inside family information.
However, there would definitely be someone who knew.
"Send an invitation to the Kyoraku family. Just say I miss my old classmate very much and hope to get together with him for some drinks."
"Eh? Yes!"
The guard was confused at heart—the one who reported you, my Lord, was your 'old classmate' Shunsui Kyoraku. Otherwise, why would the Tsunayashiro family need to put on a show of placing you under house arrest?
Wasn't it just killing a common woman from the Rukongai one married? What kind of problem is that for a disciple of the Tsunayashiro family?
But the superior's order was a command. Although he didn't understand, he could only comply.
So, when Shunsui Kyoraku returned from the 1st Division barracks to the 8th Division barracks, he saw his family's servant waiting for him outside.
"What is it?"
"Lord Shunsui, the Tsunayashiro family has sent an invitation. Lord Tokinada Tsunayashiro wants a small gathering with you. Do you think..."
The servant didn't finish his words, only lowering his head deeply.
Shunsui Kyoraku pinched the bridge of his nose, having a headache. Of course, he didn't want to see this old classmate of his, but this invitation was from the Tsunayashiro family, and it was sent directly to the Kyoraku family—this was not something he could decline.
"Understood. Go back and tell them I'll be there immediately."
"Yes, I will go report this right away."
The servant bowed and left. Shunsui Kyoraku sighed. He didn't want to have any contact with Tokinada Tsunayashiro ever again, just as a person wouldn't chat heart-to-heart with a pile of dog shit, because that would only make one feel nauseous and want to vomit.
Not long after, Shunsui Kyoraku, having changed his clothes, arrived at the Tsunayashiro family estate. He was led to see the branch member of the Tsunayashiro family who was under house arrest within the mansion because of his own report.
"Long time no see, Shunsui. Sit. This is the Hakutsuru Ginjo I specially prepared for you."
Tokinada Tsunayashiro greeted Shunsui Kyoraku with a beaming smile, just as if they were still studying together at the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy.
Shunsui Kyoraku, who usually never left his sake, seemed like a different person at this moment. He simply took his seat quietly, not touching a drop of wine nor a bite of food, just sitting there like an old monk in meditation.
"We are old classmates after all, won't you give me some face?"
"Tokinada Tsunayashiro, what did you call me here for?"
Shunsui Kyoraku knew even with his heel that this guy had absolutely no good intentions in inviting him, so he put up a hundred and twenty percent guard, wary of the venom spitting from this viper's mouth.
"I'm just a bit curious about recent events. You say that guy outside is so strong, why would he suddenly have the thought of unifying the Rukongai?"
"Rukongai? I wasn't the recruitment officer for the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy this year. I don't care much about what happens in the Rukongai."
Facing such an answer from Shunsui Kyoraku, Tokinada Tsunayashiro didn't get angry, merely pouring and drinking for himself.
"I really am very curious. After all, even Captain-level combat power has been dispatched. I wonder if it will stir up any big waves. But if they still can't defeat the opponent, will the Gotei 13 really have to act?"
Shunsui Kyoraku was startled inwardly. Did this guy Tokinada Tsunayashiro grasp some information? Do the nobles want to force Teacher to act through Central 46?
He finally raised his head, looking at the man before him.
"I don't think anything will cause such a big commotion that our entire Gotei 13 needs to mobilize."
Tokinada Tsunayashiro's lips hooked up.
"True, after all, what you need to protect is the Seireitei, not the Rukongai. But ultimately, there are precedents, right? For example, the Quincies."
"That was because the Quincies affected the balance of souls in the Three Worlds."
"Maybe this time will be the same, you know."
"Nonsense."
Shunsui Kyoraku scoffed at Tokinada Tsunayashiro's words.
"I said, 'maybe'. After all, besides the Quincies, who else possesses the power to completely decompose souls? I'm just a bit strange. The family sent out so many people, yet the Zanpakuto sent back are truly pitifully few."
Zanpakuto?
Shunsui Kyoraku certainly knew that noble families had a tradition of recovering Zanpakuto. Not just those with Bankai; as long as Shikai had been achieved, the nobles would recover them.
The most prominent was the Tsunayashiro family, because of that hereditary Zanpakuto of theirs. It was said that as long as it was held in hand, one could directly use the power of Bankai. Only the family heads of each generation could master it.
"Your family lost quite a few Zanpakuto?"
"No, not lost, but rather—turned into two pieces of scrap iron."
The man with dark green hair corrected with a smile.
"And it is scrap iron from which absolutely no aura can be detected, just as if even the traces of it ever being used have been severed."
_____
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