Your Excellency Is Strong, but My Art Style Is Above Yours!

In fact, the outside world did not know Iori existed. The publisher received manuscripts directly from the Kyōraku family, so Iori's pen name, "Miyamoto Kitahara," had always been assumed to be Kyōraku Shunsui's alias... Thanks to that, Iori was able to receive the highest share of the royalties.

The two had quite a good relationship. However, Iori also knew that while Kyōraku Shunsui appeared frivolous, he was actually the type who drifted through life without being corrupted by it—a man who loved women without being lecherous, with moral boundaries and steadfast convictions.

Turtle Hermit, youth edition.jpg

With someone like that, perhaps shared interests could bring them closer and make him willing to lend a hand or offer some convenience. Whenever he encountered something intolerable, he would intervene even if it meant offending Old Man Yama. He had quite the traditional chivalrous spirit.

But if it involved a fundamental matter of principle, he absolutely could not be won over or swayed, much less corrupted or threatened.

In short, do not mistake his usual lack of seriousness for weakness!

Within the Seireitei, Kyōraku Shunsui was the person Iori thought most highly of, far above the other captains.

Of course, Iori no longer needed to fear anyone. As an exemplary Candidate Shinigami, he had always treated Shunsui sincerely. Their friendship contained no falsehoods or exchanges of interest; they genuinely admired one another.

Furthermore, whenever he met Shunsui, he brought along a few unique sweets. It was not to curry favor with him, but because there was a troublesome little girl at Shunsui's side whose sharp tongue needed to be sealed with desserts~

The snacks were quickly bought, but Iori could not immediately return. The Seireitei's four gates were not always open. To prevent miscellaneous people from Soul Society from entering, the massive gates remained shut.

Anyone wishing to enter or leave had to wait for the guards to use brute force to raise the gates, which happened roughly once every two hours. Their identities also had to be verified in advance.

Iori had timed it well. After buying his things and wandering around for a while, he arrived at the gate about ten minutes early.

However, something was strange today. The guard's expression was unnatural. He had been fine while the people ahead passed through, but when he saw Iori in his academy uniform, he seemed to hesitate.

Iori's heart stirred. Pretending to search for something on the ground, he lagged behind. Only after everyone else had left did he stand and continue forward. As he passed the guard, he quietly asked, "Did something happen today?"

"You..."

The guard remembered Iori. It was not because Iori was particularly famous now, but because he had once passed through Byakudōmon alongside Captain of the 8th Division Kyōraku Shunsui. In the guard's eyes, Iori should have some status.

Then this matter probably would not affect him, right?

"Earlier today, another academy student passed through. But he ran into some people here, got into a conflict... and was arrested."

The guard did not want to be too specific. He was a strongman from Soul Society tasked with guarding the Seireitei gates, but he was not actually a Bleach and did not possess his own Zanpakuto. Though he was called a "hero," he was ultimately just a gatekeeper. Some matters were not for him to interfere in.

So even though he felt that the student had been framed, he could not help.

...Honestly, he felt somewhat uneasy. Perhaps that was why he had mentioned it to Iori.

"An academy student was arrested?" Iori frowned. "That's not common... Did the student have any distinguishing features?"

"He was very dark-skinned."

The guard answered without hesitation, since the other party's characteristics had indeed been obvious.

"He was blind."

"Oh~ He should be my friend. Thanks."

There was probably no one else with those characteristics in the entire Seireitei. There was no need to make any effort to identify the target.

"By the way, what exactly did they fight over?"

"I'm not too sure, but I heard them talking about something like a grave... Maybe it had something to do with fighting over an inheritance?"

"...I see. I think I can roughly guess what happened."

After sorting through the matter, Iori looked at the guard again. As if he could see through his thoughts, he said comfortingly, "Don't worry. It's only a small matter. There won't be a problem."

"A small matter?" The guard let out a long sigh of relief. "That's good."

"Mm. He only offended the Five Noble Clans, that's all."

"Ah?!"

The guard nearly let go and dropped the gate to the ground!

Admiration Was the Feeling Farthest From Understanding

In a prison somewhere within the Seireitei, Tousen Kaname sat imprisoned with his eyes tightly shut. Because the case involved nobles, he had been held separately. The walls and cell door had even been forged with Killing Aura Stone mixed into them. A mere Candidate Shinigami had absolutely no ability to escape.

Tousen Kaname, dressed in white, was trapped behind bars. His hands were bound by ropes reinforced with spells, sealing his ability to use Kidō. The Zanpakuto that was usually by his side had also vanished.

He still appeared calm... or rather, he was forcing himself to remain calm.

For a man who lived in darkness, ordinary suffering was not worth mentioning. Even if someone took the chance to exact revenge on him through torture and interrogation, it would merely be routine. Like an ascetic, he accepted all physical pain.

But there was one thing that deeply unsettled him:

His Zanpakuto had been taken away!

As a prisoner, having his Zanpakuto confiscated was only natural. But to Tousen Kaname, that blade was more than a weapon. It was a vessel for his convictions, the "relic" he cherished most!

...But what use was there in saying that now?

He had been imprisoned as a "thug who attacked nobles." In a few days, he would likely be tried and convicted. In the worst-case scenario, he might even be executed. If he could not even protect his own life, how could he protect that relic?

At this point, his fate was no longer his to decide. All a prisoner could do was wait silently within a cage of darkness.

Fortunately, he had long been accustomed to darkness... Come to think of it, he had never imagined there would be a day when he felt fortunate to be blind, because only then did he not have to see how ugly this world was!

"In the end... am I truly unable to do anything? Heh heh..."

Just as Tousen gave a self-abandoning laugh, calm, unhurried footsteps came from outside. He immediately shut his mouth tightly, unwilling to reveal his true emotions before others.

He had assumed the visitor would be a jailer or one of the nobles' lackeys. Yet as the footsteps drew closer, a familiar yet unexpected voice rang out.

"Looks like you've suffered quite a bit, Senior Tousen."

"...Iori? Iori Aizen?" Tousen Kaname turned his head toward the sound, his face full of shock. "Why are you here?"

"Why can't I be?"

Iori smiled and casually sat down before the iron bars. "Don't sit so far inside. Come closer and let's talk."

Suppressing his doubts for the moment, Tousen Kaname stood and moved to the bars. He really did sit down as instructed, then felt something soft and warm placed in his hands. A tempting fragrance spread through the air, making his stomach instinctively rumble.

"What is this?"

"I thought prison food probably wouldn't be very good, so I brought you a red bean bun. Don't be too happy, though. I just took it from the cafeteria."

"...Thank you."

Tousen Kaname pressed his lips together and expressed his thanks with restraint. But he did not immediately begin eating. Instead, he continued questioning Iori.

"Why did you come to the prison too? And by yourself..."

"Relax. I'm not like someone who got dragged in here after being arrested." Iori still had the mood to tease Tousen in a place like this.

Then his expression became slightly serious. "I heard you caused trouble and got locked up, so after asking around in several places, I found you here. I called in some favors to come see you.

"Don't worry. It's not a big deal, and I've already asked an acquaintance to keep an eye on it. There should be a result before long."

Iori made it sound easy, but Tousen knew how much effort such things required. Broad connections alone would not be enough.

"...Why are you going this far?"

Tousen considered himself only "friends" with the Aizen siblings. Their relationship had not reached the point where Iori should generously help him at the risk of offending nobles.

Having seen all the warmth and coldness of the world, he upheld the "justice" in his heart, but he did not trust so-called human nature.

But if Iori had ulterior motives... he did not seem to possess anything worth coveting.

It was truly baffling!

"Because you're a good person."

Iori thought for a moment, then added with a smile, "A useful person."

"..." Tousen froze. Though he had considered all sorts of possibilities, Iori's answer was still beyond his expectations.

"To put it simply, I think you'll accomplish great things in the future, and you have a high degree of loyalty. You're suitable for early investment, then I can recruit you as my subordinate—does that sound like a sufficient reason?"

Iori spoke very seriously, not seeming to joke in the slightest. Tousen, his eyes closed, raised his head blankly, unsure how to respond.

"Iori, you..."

"Or should I put it in a warmer, more touching way?

"For example, I can't stand nobles being tyrannical and bullying the good, so I spoke out righteously and drew my sword to help?"

Iori rubbed his chin. "Which one do you prefer?"

"..."

Tousen Kaname was silent for a long time before suddenly asking, "Why me? There are many people with better talent than mine. Besides, I'm only blind. The Thirteen Court Guard Squads has never had a blind Vice-Captain or captain.

"Even when I graduate, there is no guarantee that I will be able to join the Thirteen Court Guard Squads as an ordinary squad member.

"Even if you were seeking someone to use, why would it be me?"

"If I judged by conventional standards of 'prospects,' I should be recruiting noble children rather than offending them."

Iori gave a cold laugh. "Do you think I'm some trash collector who accepts anyone? To catch my eye, a polished résumé and family background are nowhere near enough.

"Why you? Because I admire you. I believe you are someone who can agree with my ideals and walk steadfastly to the very end."

"...Ideals?" Tousen Kaname became cautious. "What do you mean?"

"It's only a very simple idea."

Iori paused, then asked leisurely, "Tousen, don't you think this world is far too unfair?"

"—!" Tousen's body trembled slightly.

"This society does not determine status based on a person's character and talent. Nobles live in the prosperous Seireitei generation after generation. Even without any ability, they stand above commoners.

"The Seireitei is ultimately ruled by Central 46 and the nobles. There are powerful commoners who can cultivate Bankai, but that only allows them to transcend their own circumstances; it cannot change the overall order.

"That is why nobles standing high above can casually humiliate commoners. Even when they commit crimes, they can receive special pardons, while ordinary people who have been harmed have nowhere to appeal and no one to uphold justice for them!

"Even when there are one or two fair rulings, it is often because some great figure speaks up. In essence, it is just a righteous lord... meaning power suppressing power, rather than a normal process."

"...Breaking this injustice—is that your ideal?"

Tousen Kaname's voice trembled slightly. Every word Iori spoke resonated with him, and it was precisely what he had never been able to let go of... Of course, compared to Iori, he had one more reason: to avenge his dear friend!

"No. Mere resistance and destruction will only bring chaos. What I seek is power that stands above everything, then the establishment of a new order from the top down!"

Iori spoke sincerely, spouting nonsense he did not believe in at all. "Then, what happened to you and your dear friend will never happen again."

"...So you did find out." Upon hearing the words "dear friend," Tousen's expression dimmed. "About her..."

"I asked around. Though it was only the nobles' side of the story, it is not hard to imagine what really happened... You must be very unwilling to accept it, right?"

"I... If that is what you think, then even if I am being used, I am willing!"

After speaking, Tousen Kaname could not help but laugh. "But you have clearly helped me unilaterally, giving me the chance to fulfill my revenge. How can that be called being used?

"Iori Aizen, you really are not good at lying...

"You were worried that if I accepted your help for nothing, I would feel too much gratitude and guilt. You did not want me to feel burdened, so you used such words to comfort me, didn't you?

"But if that is the case, you are underestimating me.

"Affection and loyalty have never been burdens. They are the force that supports me as I move forward through this dark world!"

"...Sorry. It seems I worried too much."

Iori smiled faintly. "After all, what I need are companions who share my ideals, not subordinates who obey orders like puppets."

"On this path of justice, I will never betray you!"

Feeling the warmth of the red bean bun in his hands, Tousen Kaname knew that although Iori claimed to have taken it from the cafeteria, the Spirit Art Academy was not close to this place. He must have used Shunpo all the way here to keep it warm.

Having never felt such warmth again since his dear friend's death, he felt hot tears gathering in his long-dry eye sockets.

If it was this person... perhaps he was worthy of following for a lifetime!

Ding!

—Hearing the notification, Iori narrowed his eyes.

Watching Tousen Kaname wolf down the bun, he shook his head almost imperceptibly.

I will not be as heartless as the original Aizen, and not everything I told you was a lie. As long as you follow me to the summit, revenge will naturally be an easy matter, and you will be able to pursue the justice you desire.

However, I have never been a seeker willing to sacrifice myself for an ideal. I will only judge gains and losses from my own perspective.

So do not place expectations on me beyond the proper limit, or you will only bring yourself more disappointment, because—

CG Added

Admiration Was the Feeling Farthest From Understanding

Fragments of the Spirit King