The Matter Temporarily Settles

"Stop!"

Seeing Ross dare to disregard him so completely, even striding brazenly past the defensive line toward the residence, Shihoin Sōichirō was furious and roared in rebuke.

Such arrogance!

Not even the Captain-General of old had ever treated the Shihoin Clan with such contempt!

Yet Ross seemed not to hear him. His steps did not pause in the slightest as he continued forward at an unhurried pace.

"Bastard!"

Sōichirō could endure no longer. Killing intent surged in his eyes as he drew his blade and prepared to slash at Ross's back.

But just as his blade left its sheath, a cold, low voice rang out like a judgment:

"Bankai—Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"

In an instant, the ground seemed to turn into an abyss. Countless enormous blades shot skyward, then shattered into cherry blossoms that filled the sky.

The sea of pink blossoms instantly swallowed Shihoin Sōichirō's figure, surrounding him from all sides and completely cutting off every path toward Ross.

Within that prison of cherry blossoms capable of grinding steel to pieces, Sōichirō could only watch helplessly as Ross's indifferent back receded farther and farther away.

He watched the man cross the threshold without obstruction and enter the home he had sworn to defend with his life, trampling on the last shred of the Shihoin Clan's dignity.

"Shihoin Sōichirō, it is time for you to wake up."

Byakuya Kuchiki's cold, merciless voice drifted down with the falling petals, bringing this farce to an end:

"I, Byakuya Kuchiki, in my capacity as head of the Kuchiki Clan, hereby declare that from this day onward, the Shihoin Clan shall be struck from the rolls!"

The next second, billions of cherry blossoms abruptly contracted under Byakuya's control, completely engulfing the grief-stricken old man.

This was also the most splendid and dignified funeral he could offer