The words of the Tsunayashiro family Patriarch finally brought an end to the standoff.
Kyoraku walked silently at the front, leading the Punishment Force, followed by the ceremonial guard of the Tsunayashiro house. The Patriarch, Tsunayashiro Patriarch, sat within that luxurious carriage, resting with his eyes closed.
Also inside the carriage was Tokinada Tsunayashiro. At this moment, he had his eyebrows lowered and eyes cast down, the very picture of an obedient, well-behaved child.
"Tokinada, do you harbor any dissatisfaction regarding my decision to bring you along?"
"I would not dare. This was already the best possible solution. At the time, I simply let a rush of blood go to my head and lost my reason, deliberately provoking Shunsui Kyoraku. In the end, I had to trouble the Lord Patriarch to settle the matter for me. Tokinada is guilty."
The man shifted from a kneeling sitting position into a dogeza, appearing to offer a sincere apology.
"Let us dispense with such words. You and Shunsui Kyoraku were classmates. A 'rush of blood to the head' is something that would never happen to either you or him."
Tsunayashiro Patriarch opened his eyes and looked at the man before him.
"Today, when Shunsui Kyoraku came to my Tsunayashiro family, although he appeared to be acting wildly on the surface, he maintained perfect propriety. He did not bring his own men from the 8th Division, but rather the Punishment Force borrowed from the 2nd Division—which is also the Punishment Force of the Shihoin family. And although he looked ready to strike at any moment, in reality, his Zanpakuto never left its sheath by even half an inch."
"
You were the same. Although on the surface you seemed fearless and eager to provoke Shunsui Kyoraku, in reality, you simply did not want to be used as a bargaining chip by the clan elders. That is why you left that courtyard the moment you heard the commotion, making a high-profile appearance before everyone. This was to prevent the Tsunayashiro family from secretly handing you over to quell the situation."
Tokinada Tsunayashiro lay prostrate there, motionless.
"However, do you know why—even though I knew Shunsui Kyoraku was posturing and that you were playing these petty tricks—I was still willing to step out and end this situation?"
The man raised his head. There was no awe or fear on his face, only calmness.
"Because with the appearance of your carriage, everyone will no longer think this was caused by Shunsui Kyoraku making a scene at the Tsunayashiro estate. Instead, they will see it as you wishing to negotiate the price of intervention with the Gotei 13. In other words, you are heading to the 1st Division barracks as the representative of all nobles, without having discussed it with any other noble families beforehand."
"
As long as you walk out of the 1st Division barracks today, and as long as the Gotei 13 chooses to take action in the future, then everyone will simply continue to tacitly accept your status, and tacitly accept the status of the Tsunayashiro family. In this way, while the prestige of Central 46 might suffer some decline, the prestige of the Tsunayashiro family will remain high above."
A hint of a smile appeared on the old man's face. He patted the cushion beside him, signaling Tokinada Tsunayashiro to sit closer.
"Now, you have added another reason for me, Tokinada Tsunayashiro—for your sake."
*
"It has been a long time since I offered my greetings, Lord Genryusai."
"Please, sit."
The two old men sat opposite each other. In Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto's eyes, there was mostly scrutiny, while Tsunayashiro Patriarch expressed concession just to the right degree.
For the nobles, having 'face' was enough; as for the 'substance' or inner lining, they would yield when necessary.
"The method of withdrawing all manpower from the entire Rukongai was very clever. However, some of the means used were too despicable."
"You know what kind of policies the Yellow Turbans are implementing. You should be able to understand our apprehension, for the same reason you hold goodwill toward the Yellow Turbans."
"Now, the Gotei 13 and the Yellow Turbans are indeed about to face off directly. The 3rd Division is currently expelling all Yellow Turban forces within District 40, and the Yellow Turban Army has also crossed the previously agreed boundary of District 70."
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto's tone remained even, but it was the evenness of quietly flowing magma.
"Just as you all planned."
"If it were not for our lack of strength, we truly would not have been willing to resort to such a poor plan. That man named Suzuki Makoto, and that young girl suspected to be from the Western Branch, undoubtedly possess Captain-level strength. Unless we could get at least two families among the Shihoin, Kuchiki, and Shiba to fully cooperate with us, only then might it be possible to defeat the Yellow Turbans. Even then, we would not have total certainty."
Tsunayashiro Patriarch behaved extremely humbly. Of course, this humility would absolutely not appear anywhere outside of this room.
"The significance of the Rukongai to the Seireitei... we nobles attach far more importance to it than the Gotei 13 does. We would never abandon the Rukongai, because they are the key priority that truly sustains the Seireitei, sustains the Eastern Branch, and even maintains the balance of the entire Three Worlds. And the long passage of time in the past has proven that we are capable of ruling that place stably. Now that someone wants to overthrow the original rules, I believe the impact extends far beyond just us nobles."
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto remained noncommittal regarding Tsunayashiro Patriarch's words, but his action of guarding the bottom line of District 40 was proof enough that he acknowledged these remarks.
An organization that can operate stably—as long as no major flaws appear, as long as it can continue to run—should not be lightly changed. At least in the eyes of Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, to fulfill the duty of protecting the Soul King, the most important thing was 'immutability'.
"Some methods were too despicable."
"Our intention was merely to display our power, hoping to gain the respect of the Yellow Turbans. we did not expect the people below to misinterpret our meaning. Coupled with lax supervision of subordinates and their habitual domineering conduct, this led to these events occurring. Starting today, it will not happen again."
"District 40 is my bottom line. It will not waver."
"District 40 is also our bottom line."
Regardless of what the bottom line was before, it was definitely District 40 now. And Tsunayashiro Patriarch naturally had his own motives for making such a concession.
"I will have Tokinada Tsunayashiro handle the remaining negotiations. Is that acceptable?"
If Shunsui Kyoraku were here, he would certainly voice his objection. However, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto's impression of this person was limited only to his name.
"Permitted."
This meant that the matter of Tokinada Tsunayashiro was glossed over; no further issue would be made of it.
"Then, regarding the Yellow Turbans, and regarding those two Captain-level combatants, how does the Captain-Commander intend to deal with them?"
"Follow the precedent of Kenpachi Zaraki."
The Patriarch's heart relaxed slightly. He knew Yamamoto would definitely cherish talent, though his face remained full of worry.
"It is just that they will surely be quite hostile toward the nobles. If they enter the Seireitei, I fear we will find it difficult to cope with their secret attacks..."
"I will, of course, restrain them."
You will restrain them, of course. But with Suzuki Makoto's temperament, after witnessing our deeds, will he really accept your restraint?
As long as he defies you time and time again, eventually making you feel that this fellow is an unstable element, then it will be the Tsunayashiro family's turn to reap the harvest!
____
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