"The Research and Development Institute has confirmed the Captain-Commander's Reiatsu," Shunsui Kyōraku explained. "The problem now is... how we assign our personnel."
"Captains Zaraki, Komamura, and Hitsugaya are all seriously injured," Jūshirō Ukitake said with concern. "None of them will be able to fight again anytime soon."
Nemu Kurotsuchi added, "Mayuri-sama is currently helping the other three subdue their Zanpakutō again, so he is also unable to participate."
"Shinji, Kensei, and Rose are still out searching. They should've received the news by now." Yoruichi Shihōin patted Suì-Fēng beside her. "Suì-Fēng and I will go ahead and check the situation."
The two of them were the fastest. Even if they encountered an enemy they couldn't defeat, they were more than capable of retreating safely.
"I..." Muten Natsu felt Rukia Kuchiki's gaze and ruffled her hair. "Rukia and I will go too. We're stronger when we fight together."
"Idiot!" Rukia Kuchiki irritably slapped his hand away. "Read the room."
Yet the corners of her lips unknowingly curved into a lovely smile.
"No, no, don't mind us." Shunsui Kyōraku waved with a broad smile. "Ah, youth is wonderful."
"There's no need to worry about the 4th Division's safety." Retsu Unohana glanced at Muten Natsu, her fingers moving slightly. "Hyōrinmaru is here, and so are the other Lieutenants."
"Shunsui and I will go as well," Jūshirō Ukitake said gravely. "Our Zanpakutō are rather unusual. It would be best if we dealt with them ourselves."
"I suppose that's our only option." Shunsui Kyōraku pressed down on his straw hat. "Let's just hope nothing else goes wrong..."
...
"Just as I expected." Aura Michibane narrowed her beautiful eyes, the crumbling barrier around Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto reflected within them. "Your powers really can help me."
[Then why didn't you ask for my help sooner]
[If you had]
[we would already have the power of Ryūjin Jakka]
"Because I couldn't completely trust you," Muramasa replied coldly. "And you've proven my suspicions justified."
[That suspicion is exactly what hindered our communication]
[If you had told me the truth from the beginning]
[I wouldn't have needed to resort to such aggressive methods]
[It's all your fault]
"My, my~" Aura Michibane chuckled. "You're his Zanpakutō, but your personalities are completely different. Doesn't Muten usually blame everything on himself? Why are you blaming other people?"
[That's exactly why I left]
[People should reflect on mistakes that fall within their own capabilities]
[Taking responsibility for the mistakes of idiots whose actions are beyond your control]
[only deprives those idiots of the right to recognize their own stupidity]
Muramasa's gaze darkened. "What did you say?"
[Some truths that make idiots ask for clarification]
Muramasa: "..."
[They also have the benefit of making idiots fall silent]
Muramasa raised a hand. "You little..."
"You really are entertaining~" Aura Michibane giggled. "If I'd known you were this much fun, I would've brought you over sooner."
[You seem very familiar with us]
"If the 'us' you mean includes Muten Natsu..." Aura Michibane winked playfully. "I've always been very curious about him."
[When it comes to curiosity]
[I feel the same way]
[A being capable of materializing Zanpakutō appeared out of nowhere]
[and forced the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 to seal himself away in response]
[Then there's another being with extraordinary control over Reishi]
[capable of strengthening materialized Zanpakutō]
[and even dismantling a barrier of unimaginable strength]
Muramasa snorted. "Are you trying to pry information out of us?"
[I've always considered you an idiot]
[You don't need to speak to prove me right]
Bokukō's eyes flickered. He withdrew his Spirit Ink, yawned, and flopped down onto the ground.
"My, my~" Aura Michibane teased. "See? The moment you started doubting him, he went on strike."
[Bokukō is simply tired]
[Don't make it sound like I'm ordering him around]
Muramasa stared hard at the light screen, blood seeping from the corner of his eye.
[Crying still wastes time]
"I'll explain, then." Aura Michibane drew even more spiritual energy out of the barrier. "Muramasa is..."
Muramasa's expression turned cold. "Aura Michibane!"
"What does it matter? Once the barrier is broken, all of this will come to light sooner or later." Aura Michibane spoke casually. "If anything, having it become known makes things more meaningful, doesn't it?"
Muramasa's expression shifted several times.
"...Do whatever you want."
Aura Michibane smiled at Myōki. "Then how about we work and talk at the same time?"
[That depends on Bokukō]
[I can't control him]
The characters on the light screen refreshed. Bokukō lazily got to his feet, stretched, then resumed releasing Spirit Ink to corrode the barrier.
Muramasa: "..."
Myōki could clearly control Bokukō!
"Where should I begin..." Seeing that Muramasa no longer intended to stop her, Aura Michibane took on a reminiscent look. "Do you know Ginrei Kuchiki?"
[Former Captain of the 6th Division]
[Grandfather of the current 6th Division Captain, Byakuya Kuchiki]
"Exactly. His son, Sōjun Kuchiki, Byakuya Kuchiki's father, was frail and sickly and wasn't suited to battle. But Sōjun Kuchiki believed that, as the next head of the family, if he possessed the talent, then he had a responsibility to shoulder his duties." Aura Michibane continued calmly. "Although Ginrei Kuchiki worried about his health, he still made Sōjun the Lieutenant of the 6th Division. In the end, Sōjun died in battle."
[What does that have to do with Muramasa]
"Don't be impatient. We're getting there." Aura Michibane continued at an unhurried pace. "Ginrei Kuchiki was growing old, his son was dead, and his grandson was still young. So when a genius Shinigami appeared within the family, Ginrei naturally placed great importance on him. That Shinigami was named Kōga Kuchiki, Ginrei Kuchiki's son-in-law. After distinguishing himself repeatedly in battles against rebellious Shinigami, he rose to become the 3rd Seat of the 6th Division."
Anticipation appeared in Aura Michibane's eyes.
"Can you guess what happened next?"
[He worked hard to prove his strength]
[and eventually became the target of envy]
[He was ostracized and framed]
Aura Michibane's beautiful eyes widened slightly. "You really guessed it?"
[You made the hints obvious enough]
"His Zanpakutō could make an enemy's Zanpakutō run out of control, even forcing its wielder's arm to kill themselves or their comrades." Aura Michibane tilted her head. "I'm not wrong, am I, Muramasa?"
Muramasa said nothing.
[I see]
[Then his fate was already decided]
Muramasa's gaze turned icy. "Why?"
[You've already been given this much information]
[and you still manage to ask such a stupid question]
[It seems my judgment of you was correct]
[A Zanpakutō is a mirror of a Shinigami's Soul]
[Its abilities reflect the Shinigami's state of mind to some extent]
[Your ability to influence the Zanpakutō of others]
[reflects Kōga Kuchiki's desire to influence other people]
[as well as his frustration at being unable to influence them through his own actions]
[Combined with his circumstances]
[the conclusion is obvious]
Kōga Kuchiki believed he had earned his position through his own talent, while everyone else believed he had received preferential treatment because he was the Kuchiki Clan's son-in-law.
Naturally, Kōga Kuchiki worked hard to display his strength so he could prove himself and change how others saw him.
Unfortunately...
If he had been born into the Kuchiki bloodline, others could at least have convinced themselves that his strength came from superior noble blood.
But he was merely the Kuchiki Clan's son-in-law. Many people saw him as an ordinary man who had only become so powerful because he had access to the Kuchiki Clan's resources.
Unable to gain recognition through ordinary means, Kōga Kuchiki gave rise to Muramasa, a Zanpakutō capable of forcibly twisting the wills of other Zanpakutō.
And that very ability only pushed him deeper into the abyss.
[Your ability only works against Shinigami who possess Zanpakutō]
[It isn't particularly useful against the enemies of the Shinigami]
[Excellent at internal conflict]
[useless against outside enemies]
[From Seireitei's perspective]
[Kōga Kuchiki is exactly the kind of dangerous individual who would be locked in the Nest of Maggots]
Muramasa sneered. "Muten Natsu was locked in there too. And you agree with that way of thinking?"
[I am describing the objective reality of Seireitei]
[That does not mean I agree with it]
[Can you really not tell the difference]
"Then what would you do if you were in his place?" Aura Michibane asked.
[Since you can't hide your Zanpakutō]
[use its power as little as possible]
[or disguise the nature of the ability to some degree]
[Ideally transfer into a Special Forces Unit]
[and conceal yourself as much as possible]
"That was precisely... what Ginrei and I thought."
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto suddenly spoke from within the barrier.
"Ginrei repeatedly advised Kōga not to rely too heavily on Muramasa's power. I also transferred him into a Special Forces Unit within the 1st Division. Unfortunately..."
"Bullshit!" Muramasa coughed up blood and wiped it away carelessly. "You're just like the others! All of you are exactly the same!"
[What happened afterward]
[I can more or less guess]
[Someone framed him]
[Kōga Kuchiki was arrested and imprisoned]
[While Ginrei Kuchiki investigated the case]
[Kōga Kuchiki broke out of prison and killed someone]
[That made his crimes undeniable]
[Muramasa is still here]
[which means Kōga Kuchiki didn't die]
[He was sealed away]
"Wow~ You got all of it right." Amusement filled Aura Michibane's eyes. "Speaking from experience?"
Kōga Kuchiki's experiences were indeed quite similar to Muten Natsu's.
Given the order in which the events occurred, it would be more accurate to say Muten Natsu's experience resembled Kōga Kuchiki's.
Muten Natsu had also once been framed for the murders of Takuma Tsunayashiro and Kaien Shiba, then arrested and imprisoned.
While Rukia Kuchiki investigated the truth, she found herself in danger. Muten Natsu discovered what was happening through the Hell's Eye and had no choice but to break out of prison to save her.
[There is a fundamental difference]
[Ginrei Kuchiki's life was never in danger]
[But if Muten Natsu hadn't broken out of prison]
[Rukia Kuchiki really would have died]
[However there is one thing we can be certain of]
[The framing of Kōga Kuchiki]
[must have been authorized by Central 46]
[Because Muramasa's power threatened the Shinigami]
[Once the Shinigami rebellion had been suppressed]
[Kōga Kuchiki would naturally be dealt with as well]
[Every incident occurring within Seireitei]
[would have been recorded by the Surveillance Hall]
[If Ginrei Kuchiki still needed time to investigate]
[then the people who framed Kōga must have been of comparable status]
[Aura Michibane]
[The Tsunayashiro Clan had a major hand in this didn't they]
"Hm~?" Aura Michibane drawled. "Why are you asking me?"
[You belong to the Tsunayashiro Clan]
[The one who strengthened the Reigai before]
[was probably you as well]
[And the ones who released Muramasa this time]
[were also members of the Tsunayashiro Clan]
Aura Michibane shrugged. "If that's what you want to think, there's nothing I can do about it."
"You people..." Muramasa stared at Aura Michibane. "What exactly are you trying to accomplish?!"
"Seriously?" Aura Michibane sounded exasperated. "You're actually falling for such an obvious attempt to turn us against each other?"
[The Tsunayashiro Clan's objective is simple]
[Sabotage the investigation]
As one of the Four Noble Families, the Tsunayashiro Clan wielded tremendous influence. Many noble families still in existence had received their support in the past.
Naturally, investigating the Tsunayashiro Clan encountered enormous resistance. Without assistance from the Shihōin Clan and the Kuchiki Clan, the investigation might never have begun at all.
However, the Shihōin Clan carried the "stain" of Yoruichi Shihōin's defection from Soul Society, limiting their influence.
The investigation primarily depended on the Kuchiki Clan, the model that Shinigami were expected to follow.
Unlike the Tsunayashiro Clan, which deliberately kept itself out of sight, the Kuchiki Clan had always fought on the front lines. Byakuya Kuchiki, as the head of the family, personally led by example.
Byakuya Kuchiki might have been somewhat cold and aloof, but in the eyes of most Shinigami, he was still far more respected than the distant Tsunayashiro Clan.
With no blemishes on its reputation, the Kuchiki Clan enjoyed the goodwill of most Shinigami. It was only through that widespread support that the investigation had been able to proceed smoothly.
But the Tsunayashiro Clan naturally had no intention of waiting quietly for its downfall.
On one hand, they cooperated with the investigation, handing over large amounts of incriminating information about other noble families to slow its progress.
On the other hand, they found and released a stain on the Kuchiki Clan's reputation.
As Kōga Kuchiki's Zanpakutō, the greater the chaos Muramasa caused and the more casualties he inflicted, the lower the ordinary Shinigami's opinion of the Kuchiki Clan would fall.
Once the Kuchiki Clan lost the support of the Shinigami, the investigation into the Tsunayashiro Clan would naturally fizzle out.
Of course...
There was still a way to resolve the situation completely.
If the Kuchiki Clan put righteousness above family and dealt with its own disgrace, then the stain would disappear with it.
"So that's what this is all about~" Aura Michibane sounded as though she had only just learned the truth. "How did you figure it out?"
[Basic logical analysis]
[So Muramasa]
[What will you choose]
[Will you continue acting as the Tsunayashiro Clan's accomplice]
[or will you abandon your plans from here on]
"These... are only your guesses..." Muramasa clenched his fists. "Until... until I see Kōga for myself, I will never stop!"
"Looks like your advice didn't work." Aura Michibane chuckled. "He's still decided to follow the original plan."
[Kōga Kuchiki refused to listen to advice back then]
[Naturally Muramasa won't listen to mine now]
[That's why I never intended to persuade him in the first place]
The characters on the light screen refreshed.
[Now do you understand what you need to do next]
[Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13]
[whose duty is to protect Seireitei]
***
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