"Then let's wait there until he's sentenced and bring him out! Let him see my prowess."
Tokinada Tsunayashiro, grinning, led his two lackeys to the Central 46. The so-called confinement order was a joke to him.
Since he agreed to marry Kakyō, and after Kakyō threatened to report the Tsunayashiro Clan and was killed by him, the family elders secretly gave him many favors.
This so-called confinement only requires someone to transform into Tokinada Tsunayashiro and squat there, while the real Tokinada Tsunayashiro can move around freely... Soul Society isn't just about Soul Reaper; there's also the ninja school, making transformation a piece of cake. (It happened in the Bakōtō arc, where he transformed into a little girl Rurichiyo and stabbed Ichigo.)
In the Council Chamber Central 46 the Central 46, Zero stood with his hands bound by a wooden shackle with a sealing effect.
"11th Division Captain Nangong Ling, were you involved in the incident where Seigen Kyōshiba was invaded by a Hollow?"
"Or was this all orchestrated by you to slander the Fifth Division's Sixth Seat, Sakigaya?"
"Sinner Nangong Ling, answer quickly..."
The tone of Central 46 was unusually arrogant, and their two consecutive questions confused Zero: "You arrested someone without even investigating properly?"
In fact, Central 46 had already found evidence, but they deliberately staged this incident to convince Zero and the other Captain were paying attention to the case.
"I did not frame them; those so-called pieces of evidence were fabricated against me."
After a brief rebuttal, Zero chuckled easily, "With my strength, using a Captain-level as a test subject wouldn't be this complicated. I could easily make them disappear without a trace!"
"Does this arrogant fool think he can do whatever he wants just because he has power?"
"Don't you realize you're a prisoner yet? I advise you to be sensible, you sinner, Nangong Ling."
"Hmph, so you're saying you had this motive all along?"
"The evidence is irrefutable, yet you still dare to lie? Bring the other accomplice and the evidence here."
Voices came from all Central 46. A thin man was brought over by the Inner Court Squad. Unlike Zero's arrogant demeanor, he knelt down on the spot. When he looked up at Zero, his eyes were full of provocation.
Zero knew this man; he was one of his Vassal. It seemed he had been up to something all along... Seeing the provocation in his eyes, Zero smiled slightly.
One of the Inner Court Squad was holding a glowing cube; those were the barriers of the Kidō, and inside the Kidō were the 'Hand Chickens' that Zero often used to contact Ulquiorra.
"Your Vassal Gangji has confessed everything. The bomb was created at the behest of Ichinose Maki, and the Hollow Group Bait was created at your direct behest."
"The other piece of evidence is a small Hollow Worm. Isn't that what you used to communicate with Hueco Mundo? Your Vassal Gangji once saw you giving orders to it."
"Whether it's manufacturing prohibited items or colluding with Hueco Mundo, it's all to frame Seigen Kyōshiba. Under the guise of saving him, they're actually using him as an Experimental Subject for open and aboveboard experiments."
"Let me repeat the process once more, Nangong Ling's Vassal."
Central 46 gestured for Gangji to speak, and Gangji didn't mince words. "Lord Nangong ordered me to manufacture and sell all sorts of contraband. He only cares about profits, not whether the items are illegal. A big shot from the Tsunayashiro Clan has taken a liking to the goods and wants to buy them in bulk..."
One of the members of the Central 46 took over the conversation. "The Tsunayashiro Clan already discovered your large quantity of contraband, and under the guise of purchasing it, they caught your Vassal red-handed and reported you."
The judgment of the Central 46 has a certain logic, but they didn't consider what if that Vassal was deliberately framing Zero, just like Kōga was framed.
Although Zero is indeed guilty of colluding with Seigen Hueco Mundo, the fact that he framed Seigen infuriates Zero, who is racking his brains to save his friend.
He said in a cold voice, "It's utterly ridiculous to judge the matter based solely on his one-sided account. What if he and the whistleblower were plotting to harm me?"
The thirty-sixth sage, who held a high position, retorted, "The item appeared in your house, and you're trying to say you didn't know about it? Ridiculous."
"Heh, I see. If your wife appears in my home, then she is my wife too..." Zero chuckled sarcastically at the sage above.
"You bastard..."
The sage, mocked by Zero, was interrupted with an angry outburst, "No need for further words. Then tell me why you go to Hueco Mundo every holiday? Is it just to slay Hollows?"
"Vassal is the most loyal person. This Vassal of yours is righteous, has realized his mistake, and confessed to your collusion with the Hueco Mundo."
"At this point, there's no point in making excuses."
"No need to waste time; the charge of fabricating the forbidden item and colluding with Hueco Mundo to frame the Captain is already established."
"Then, let's begin the sentencing!"
Central 46 felt they had said enough to the Question the Captain-Commander and began reading the verdict, "The sinner, Nangong Ling, succeeded Kenpachi after killing Azashiro Sōya. During this time, he disregarded the law, acted arbitrarily in various ways, went to Hueco Mundo ostensibly to fight Hollows, but in reality, he colluded with Hollows to murder Seigen Kyōshiba, and framed Sakigaya to cover up the truth."
"After being stripped of his Reiryoku, he was imprisoned on the Third Layer the Underground Prison for Muken years. The victim, Seigen Kyōshiba, was treated as a phantom in the World of the Living. That's all!"
Zero remained unmoved upon hearing his judgment; he had never intended to serve his sentence.
But when Zero heard about Seigen's trial, his eyes turned dangerous. So he gave up? He didn't even care about the Captain-level? He's been living in the halls of power for so long that he doesn't know how difficult it is for a Captain-level to emerge from the common people.
Zero's lips curled into a sarcastic smile, "To be able to so easily abandon the Captain is truly a wise decision. But... you bunch of trash, you actually dare to be judged by me? This is something I never expected. Is this the power bestowed upon me by the Soul King?"
"Bold."
"How dare you mock Soul King!"
"Sentences increased to 2000 years..."
"No, two thousand five hundred years!"
After being ridiculed, the high and mighty Central 46 was immediately given an additional sentence.
In the Tenth Division's cell, after Zero was sentenced, a clump of white substance grew from the black core of Blood Drink's gauntlet.
The mass of matter first transformed into a hand gripping a sword hilt, and then continued to grow into arms, shoulders, a head, and eventually a complete human form, including clothing.
"Hehehe, the boss is finally starting the part I like..."
Zero chuckled coldly, then suddenly swung his sword, shattering the cage. He then used his Kidō to stun the three guards before quickly flying towards the Central 46.
Perhaps because Zero's Zanpakuto was taken away and his Reiatsu was sealed by shackles, there were no Captain-level among the Central 46 guards, except for about thirty Guards. The strongest was the Guards Corps captain, who was at most Vice-Captain.
Having all the combat skills of Zero, the Homogeneous Body silently broke through the Kidō protecting this place from a secluded part of the wall, then infiltrated it and sealed it again. Even though the Reiatsu inside was chaotic, no one outside could sense it.
... In the original timeline, the Central 46 died without anyone noticing, because the Kidō protecting this place could isolate Reiatsu...
At the main entrance of Central 46, Tokinada Tsunayashiro was leisurely waiting. He knew that Nangong Ling would definitely be brought out after his sentencing, and he was going to laugh loudly here.
Tokinada Tsunayashiro had been plotting this for a long time. Back then, he was shot by Ling and spun hundreds of meters away, lying in a hospital bed for several days. He was also recorded as a deserter, disgracing his family and being punished by the elders.
Since then, Tokinada Tsunayashiro has been hiding at home every day, thinking about how to get revenge on this arrogant bastard... Tokinada Tsunayashiro easily knew the weaknesses of nouveau riche.
Nouveau riche have unstable foundations and lack the kind of family that has sworn allegiance to them for generations, making them easy targets for internal attacks.
To deal with Zero, Tokinada Tsunayashiro also chose to send someone to apply for Guards, as fabricating a false identity was far too easy for the Great Noble Tsunayashiro Clan.
Gangji, the assassin sent by Tokinada Tsunayashiro to infiltrate, indeed gained the appreciation of Kuzō, the person in charge of the selection, and his character was impeccable.
So, after seeing Zero train at home several times, Gangji seized the opportunity to express his admiration for Zero's power and said he wanted to serve Zero forever. With a wave of Zero's hand, he became Vassal.
He eventually took charge of several small workshops to produce various things to make money for the Nangong Family. His superior was Kuzō rarely managed them in detail, only focusing on generating sufficient profits.
And so, for decades, Gangji, the undercover agent, relentlessly collected various documents and evidence, until Zero revealed his connection to Hueco Mundo...
Tokinada Tsunayashiro and his two lackeys waited for a while, and finally the door to Central 46 opened from the inside. A look of joy appeared on his face...
However, the smile on his face froze before it could even open... Alone? Was that Nangong Ling? He came out alone? Why? Was he being released without charge?
A series of questions arose in Tokinada Tsunayashiro's mind, but there were no answers. Zero, who was pacing over, had already seen him. Zero had just found out who the informant was and was planning to go to the Tsunayashiro Clan to find this guy, but he didn't expect him to be here...
"I was just about to go to the Tsunayashiro Clan to look for you! I didn't expect to find you here, Tsunayashiro Tokinada!"
Tokinada Tsunayashiro was lost in thought, Ling had already walked up to him, a bright smile on her face, but to Tokinada Tsunayashiro, that smile was a little scary.
Following the open door, Tokinada Tsunayashiro sensed that there was no Reiatsu reaction inside... He knew very well what this meant.
"Hehehe, impressive, impressive! As expected of Captain Nangong, you did what I wanted to do but couldn't."
Tokinada Tsunayashiro forced a smile, really wanting to see how Kenpachi, as the strongest Captain, would fight against the Gotei 13, but he also knew that Zero wouldn't let him live for more than a few minutes.
"Let me ask you something: are you the one who turned Seigen into this?"
When Zero forcibly interrogated Gangji and the group of old men in the Council Chamber, he only obtained information that Tokinada Tsunayashiro had framed him, but did not know whether he had actually used the Seigen Hollowfication.
"Hmm? Isn't this something Captain Nangong orchestrated behind the scenes?"
Zero's question left Tokinada Tsunayashiro stumped, but Tokinada Tsunayashiro's answer made Zero realize something: there was a hidden hand at work...
Tokinada Tsunayashiro instructed Gangji to frame Zero. Initially, he planned to deliberately fabricate and sell contraband to Hueco Mundo Zero. However, Tsuna accidentally discovered Zero's connection to Gangji. After tracking him for a long time, he finally realized that Zero had ulterior motives.
Tokinada Tsunayashiro believed that Zero was responsible for this incident, which is why he started this plan: to use the contraband incident to implicate Zero, then report Zero for having connections with Xu You, and thus caused this incident.
However, it was all a lie...
"I see, hahaha, I see. You've offended quite a few people, Nangong Ling."
Tokinada Tsunayashiro understood what was happening and burst into laughter. Then, his expression suddenly changed, and he began to retreat frantically, while his two subordinates rushed towards Zero.
"Hehe..."
Ling disdainfully passed by the two skilled lackeys, who turned into two sprays of blood in Tokinada Tsunayashiro's eyes.
"The Way of Hadō..."
Pfft!
Because of his previous mistake, Tokinada Tsunayashiro Zanpakuto was still confiscated, wanted to use Kidō. He raised his hand and aimed it at Zero, but the next moment he felt his body being hollowed out.
When he looked down, he saw that a piece of his chest was missing, right where his heart was...
"Damn it!"
After this Thousand-Year Blood War, the head of the Tsunayashiro Clan, the man who caused a new wave of turmoil, collapsed to the ground amidst powerless curses.
The Tokinada Tsunayashiro came to an end, and Ling left without looking back. In this crushing defeat, he didn't even draw his sword, yet he killed the three men on the spot... just like he killed the Central 46!
In the Ninth Division's prison, all of the Nangong Family's Vassal were gathered there, totaling about twenty-five or twenty-six, including Maki, with several of them being core members.
In the blink of an eye, he arrived here, appearing in front of Maki's cage, still holding his Zanpakuto, which had been placed in the Tenth Division.
"Big brother? Are you alright? Then...?"
Maki was overjoyed to see Zero appear there as usual, but he suddenly sensed something was wrong because there was still blood on Zero's left hand, and a strong smell of blood.
Zero waved his hand, destroying the cage, and tossed his Zanpakuto to Maki, saying, "I was originally sentenced to over a thousand years in prison and stripped of my Reiryoku. As my Vassal, even if I didn't defect, you certainly wouldn't have fared well. So I just happened to come by this time."
"Go and rescue Kuzō and the others, then let's find a way to leave the Seireitei together! Even if it's just to hide in the World of the Living for a while, that would be good."
Maki was stunned. So this was a betrayal? Did it mean they had to rebel too, or they'd die?
"We're going to the World of the Living, where are you going?"
Maki finally realized what was happening, and after Zanpakuto, he asked Zero.
"I'm taking Seigen to Hueco Mundo to figure out how to solve his Hollowfication problem. What? You want to come along?"
Zero did hope he could come along, but he was afraid they wouldn't be able to accept the fact that Zero had already been mingling with that group of Menos Grande.
"Of course, I'll go wherever my brother goes. If it weren't for him, I might already be..."
"Then stop talking nonsense, someone's here, let's go rescue them first!"
Zero didn't let Maki continue speaking, but instead placed a wisp of Reiryoku on him, instructing him to use it to take Kuzō and the others to Hueco Mundo, and not to force those who didn't want to go.
Bang! Bang! Tie!
"Emergency! Emergency! The culprit Nangong Ling has escaped, and all members of the Central 46 have been killed. Anyone below the Captain-level must not engage him in combat and must report this immediately..."
The sound of the clapper echoed throughout the Seireitei, bringing news that shocked the current pinnacle of Soul Society's fighting force: Nangong Kenpachi, who had displayed unparalleled combat prowess in the war to Quincy, had now become an enemy.