Hideaki Tsunayashiro and the Elder Council, five people in all, wore expressions they thought were kindly, a complete contrast to their earlier fury.
"If I married into your family and became Captain of the Ninth Division, would there be any conditions?"
Rei thought it over carefully. If he really married into the family, what made them think they could bind him? The wife who married him?
That was right, Rei would be the one marrying into her family, so she would be marrying him...
For true ambitious schemers, that was a bit of a stretch. He believed these old bastards would realize that too, so they had to have some other way to bind him.
"The conditions..." Hideaki Tsunayashiro paused, seeming reluctant, but said it anyway. "You only need to swear an oath of loyalty to the Tsunayashiro Clan with Kotodama!"
This was a vicious move. "Kotodama" could arrange one's own Reishi to release Kidō, and it was said to have originally been formed from the Soul King's power.
Once such an oath was made, it would truly follow a person for life. If it was broken, the consequences would definitely come to pass.
Of course, if it was only an inconsequential oath, it did not matter whether one kept it. But if it was a particularly nasty one... such as having diarrhea for life, dying a horrible death, or never being able to get hard again, then one had to think carefully about whether to keep it.
"A Kotodama oath? That's a shame. I refuse..."
Rei had studied Kidō, so he naturally knew the importance of "Kotodama." Of course he did not dare swear an oath lightly, so he was blunt and refused outright.
The moment he said "I refuse," the atmosphere in the room dropped to freezing again. About half a minute later, Hideaki Tsunayashiro finally spoke. "Vice-Captain Nangong Ling, have you really thought this through? This means it may be very difficult for our two families to reconcile. The Tsunayashiro Clan is a Great Noble Clan!"
"And for thousands of years, those who have made enemies of the Great Nobles... seem to have all met bad ends!"
The reason Hideaki Tsunayashiro had not yet openly fallen out with him was that he had sensed Rei's base Reiatsu was stronger than his own. Until it became absolutely necessary, he would remain cautious.
It was on the occasion when Rei had used his Reiatsu to intimidate his subordinates. Kuruyashiki had not been the only one present; Hideaki had been there too. Several other captains had been there in secret as well, including the captains of the Third and Fifth Divisions.
Besides, a vice-captain was qualified to speak with the Great Nobles. As could be seen in the original timeline, after Renji Abarai became a vice-captain, he was qualified to ask for Rukia Kuchiki's hand in marriage.
He was simply too lacking in confidence and wanted to become stronger before telling her he loved her.
Rei was fully qualified to marry into a Great Noble Clan or speak with one. His thoughts raced as he considered what was essential to maintaining his status: strength.
Could Hideaki Tsunayashiro be afraid of my power? Ha, how interesting... After a moment's thought, Rei smiled contemptuously again. "I've already said all that, and you're still clinging to your fantasies? Could it be... you're afraid of me?"
Each side understood and was wary of the other, which was perfectly understandable. But once it was said aloud, things were different, as they were now...
"What did you say? Brat, I only showed you a little consideration because you have some talent. Don't think you can challenge me, a captain, already!"
Boom! Creak, creak, creak!
In the hall, Hideaki Tsunayashiro flew into a rage. The Reiatsu he released ran wild, and the low table made strange noises, as though the immense pressure would crush it.
That was how things stood. In fact, even if Hideaki Tsunayashiro was the one who should have been afraid, he would never admit it after his thoughts had been exposed. Instead, he would bare his fangs.
If he admitted he was afraid of Rei, then it would not be just Rei afterward. Anyone with a little ability would think the Tsunayashiro Clan was easy to bully, and they would come looking for trouble in an endless stream.
"Ha ha, I was only saying it. Don't get so worked up!"
"Only saying it? There's nothing more to discuss. Nangong Ling, draw your sword!"
Rei had been grinning the whole time, but Hideaki Tsunayashiro was clearly serious.
Hideaki Tsunayashiro understood now. This fellow's defiance had reached its peak; it was no less than that of the Kuchiki Clan, the foremost of the Five Great Noble Clans, who held honor above all else.
"Are you so embarrassed and angry that you want to fight to the death? Heh heh heh, you asked for this yourself, so I'll oblige!"
With a clang, Rei's oversized Zanpakuto came out of its sheath. Anyone at Captain-level could control the size of their Zanpakuto, and Rei had long ago made his as large as the sword it became after Shikai.
Seeing Rei draw his blade, Hideaki Tsunayashiro's face twisted into a wicked smile. "Hmph, fight to the death? No, no, no. You're trying to assassinate us. Guards! Nangong Ling intends to assassinate us. Seize him!"
The dozen or so Guards who had appeared earlier showed themselves again, surrounding Rei on all sides. A large group of ordinary guards also gathered outside the hall to surround it.
The air was now thick with killing intent. The so-called Elder Council had all left using Shunpo. They did not want to take part in a direct fight; they were old, after all.
"Framing me? Head of the Tsunayashiro Clan, don't you find such tactics boring?"
Rei glanced around. Although the Guards were not very strong, he could not strike first. If he actually attacked and killed them, the assassination charge against him would be substantiated.
"Boring? I'll make things interesting for you soon enough. Once you're in the Ninth Division The Jail, you'll see just how interesting it can be! Seize him..."
"Honestly! This really is a troublesome job! Young man, I shouldn't have been tempted by your sake!"
As soon as Hideaki Tsunayashiro finished speaking, a figure suddenly appeared in the hall, his powerful Reiatsu instantly overwhelming everyone present.
Seeing the newcomer slowly emerge from Rei's shadow, Hideaki Tsunayashiro's eyes widened. Shunsui Kyōraku, why is he here too? Did he hide in Nangong Ling's shadow using his Shikai? Damn it...
The reason Hideaki had not sensed Kyōraku's Reiatsu earlier was that Rei's Reiatsu had covered it from the start, deliberately helping him hide. This had been planned in advance.
This was an ability of Kyōraku's Zanpakuto. When Rei had been about to send a calling card the previous evening, he had never intended to come alone. He had turned back to the Seireitei and asked Shunsui Kyōraku, a man with both strength and status, to accompany him.
Rei did not need Kyōraku to do anything except serve as a witness and stop the other side from using petty tricks to smear him.
A visit like this took place on someone else's turf, where they had the final say in everything. It was just like when Rei had first settled in North District 10: a group of thugs had come to his home to discuss dividing up the profits, and when he killed them, their deaths had been for nothing. That had been his home.
"Captain Tsunayashiro, if you have a conflict, you should settle it openly and honorably. Isn't what you're doing now a little improper?"
Kyōraku looked a little lazy, but his strength was unquestionably terrifying. Just this time, he had used his Shikai's ability to hide in Rei's shadow, and no one had been able to detect him.
If he were to assassinate someone, that person would probably only be able to sense a trace of Kyōraku's Reiatsu before dying an untimely death.
"Stand down. Captain Kyōraku, sneaking into the Tsunayashiro Clan's private residence like this could be considered interference in a noble family's private affairs. Isn't that a little improper?"
Hideaki Tsunayashiro's face darkened completely. He ordered his subordinates back again, still without making a move.
"Private affairs? I'm a noble too, but I don't recall Vice-Captain Nangong Ling being a Tsunayashiro subordinate. Since he isn't a member of the Tsunayashiro Clan, how can you call this a private affair?"
Kyōraku remained calm and composed. He even released his Shikai and sheathed his sword. Beside him, Rei wore a mocking smile, showing no fear of Hideaki Tsunayashiro.
Hideaki must have been muddled to bring up the rule that "the Gotei 13 must not interfere in the private affairs of nobles," because this was not a private affair at all.
For a moment, Hideaki was at a loss. Kyōraku was more than a captain; he was also a high-ranking noble and the Captain-Commander's prized disciple. Nangong Ling, who came from humble origins, could not compare with his status.
If Nangong Ling alone were coerced by force or framed and killed, no one would avenge him, given how shallow his roots were. At most, they would offend Kuruyashiki Kenpachi.
But Kyōraku was different. They could not smear him...
"Since Vice-Captain Nangong Ling had no intention of assassinating anyone, I must ask you both to leave!"
Hideaki Tsunayashiro's expression suddenly returned to normal. As though nothing had happened, he bluntly sent them away.
Such was the head of the Tsunayashiro Clan. Without a thick skin, one could not do the job. Unlike the restraint possessed by the other Great Noble Clans, the Tsunayashiro had only arrogance and tyranny.
"Of course we'll leave. But haven't you forgotten something? I came here to take my subordinates away. Where are they?"
Now it was Rei's turn to press him. If the other side released his subordinates, perhaps things would not turn out so ugly...
"Heh heh, subordinates? What subordinates? My family does keep a few dogs. If Vice-Captain Nangong Ling likes them, I'll give them to you."
Hideaki Tsunayashiro sneered. He had already made up his mind not to release them. Since negotiations had fallen through, there was no need to leave any room for compromise. He did not believe a mere vice-captain could prevail against one of the Five Great Noble Clans.
"In that case, sorry for the intrusion. I'll visit the Ninth Division barracks tomorrow. I hope the head of the Tsunayashiro Clan will be there."
Rei's words were almost a declaration of war. Kyōraku narrowed his eyes, deeply troubled. There was no way this conflict could be resolved peacefully now.
Across from them, Hideaki Tsunayashiro also picked up on something, and his pupils contracted. Before he could say anything else, Rei had already departed using Shunpo. Kyōraku gave Hideaki a slight nod and followed.
"Is this really necessary? You can't use Bankai. It'll be very difficult to beat him."
"I don't need Bankai. Against someone at his level, Shikai is enough to kill him! I'm no good at schemes and tricks. All I know is how to fight violence with violence!"
Seeing that Rei had made up his mind to challenge him tomorrow, Kyōraku could hardly say anything more. Duels still existed in the Seireitei, mostly for Soul Reapers whose conflicts could not be resolved.
Duels between captains were rare, but they were not unheard of in history. They all began with minor conflicts that continued to build until Yama-jii could no longer keep them under control. Only then would he agree to a duel between two captains, and once they fought, they would not stop until one of them was dead.
In Rei's case, it appeared to be a conflict between a vice-captain and a captain, but behind it lay the Tsunayashiro Clan's tyranny. Without a duel, it would probably be difficult to control in the end.
In the First Division office, Yama-jii slowly opened his eyes. Kyōraku stood behind him.
"A challenge? Does he want to resolve the conflict, or does he want to become Captain of the Ninth Division?"
Yama-jii asked Kyōraku in a low voice.
"I'm afraid he simply wants to kill Captain Tsunayashiro. Ever since he entered the Tsunayashiro Clan's residence, his Reiatsu has been in an excited state. He's just been doing his utmost to suppress his impulses."
Kyōraku had seen completely through Rei's thoughts. Perhaps saving his subordinates was only something he did along the way, but he really had repeatedly provoked his opponent, wanting him to strike.
"He can suppress his impulses now. His rate of growth is astonishing... It really would be difficult for us to intervene in this matter. But Great Nobles occupy four divisions of the Gotei 13, and many geniuses from the Rukongai struggle to rise."
Kyōraku understood Yama-jii's words immediately. He was hinting that it was time for Kyōraku to do something...