Pruning the Eyes and Branches, Eradicating the Beginning

Few people knew about the emergency captain meeting held a week ago, and it seemed to have changed nothing. It was not until this night that people realized the change had already been quietly taking place.

"This Extermination Operation will be carried out in three simultaneous parts. You are to lead a team to arrest Soya first, then proceed with Kirio and the others into Hueco Mundo..."

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, the tall captain of Squad 11, gazed at the mansion before him, his face filled with melancholy. Those who knew him well would find it hard to reconcile this sight with the easygoing, optimistic man they saw every day.

"Of course, if you truly find it difficult to bear, I can take over a portion of the task..." Kyoraku Shunsui's words from three days ago resurfaced in his mind. Kuruyashiki Kenpachi lowered his head and murmured softly, "Don't treat me like some weeping little girl! A person must pay the price for what they have done. If you truly did it, then so be it, Soya!"

"Captain?"

"Hmm?" Kuruyashiki turned back, seeing the worried expression on his lieutenant's face. He forced himself to perk up and said with a smile, "Gosuke, I'm fine! Don't wear that look; it's not yet certain how things will turn out!"

The Extermination Operation was prepared by Yamamoto to completely eradicate the Quincy. The full details of the operation were known only to the captains of the Gotei 13, the Central 46, and a Soul Reaper named Ao.

The operation was divided into three parts. The first part, known as Pruning the Eyes and Branches, was a purge within the Seireitei.

Seven days ago, Ao brought news to the emergency captain meeting that a faction within the Seireitei was secretly colluding with the Quincy. To prevent the operation from being leaked by this group and causing the Quincy to scatter, Pruning the Eyes and Branches was born—to blind the prying eyes while simultaneously trimming the crooked branches growing within the Seireitei.

Pruning the Eyes and Branches was executed personally by four captains: Kyoraku Shunsui, Ukitake Jushiro, Unohana Retsu, and Kuruyashiki Kenpachi. The homes of the forty-four lower-tier noble families and fifteen mid-tier noble families on the original list were now filled with cries of grief. They would be detained temporarily and interrogated only after the Extermination Operation had concluded in its entirety.

The family that Kuruyashiki Kenpachi had personally led a team to arrest was naturally not so simple. The two elegant, sweeping characters on the nameplate indicated the ownership of the mansion—Azashiro! It was the family of the accuser, Azashiro Kozo, and the only high-tier noble family involved in this operation.

The history of the Azashiro family was considered quite turbulent even within the long annals of the Seireitei.

As a high-tier noble family, the Azashiro clan had once been incredibly glorious. Their descendants were particularly skilled in martial arts. Although no one from the family had ever served as a captain, the Azashiro family held immense influence within the Gotei 13.

Because of this, the envied Azashiro family was framed by a coalition of other nobles over three hundred years ago. This led to the deaths of most of their descendants, and the three surviving siblings were forced to face the "Void-Confinement Punishment" of that era—a sentence of constant battle against Hollows until death.

At the time, Azashiro Kenichi, the eldest sister, was the only one among the three who had awakened her Shikai, and she fought desperately to protect her two younger brothers. But facing the endless waves of Hollows, Kenichi could not hold out for long and was soon buried in the swarm.

What could the two remaining children, who had not yet awakened their Shikai, possibly do? Their deaths were certain, and the Azashiro family becoming a footnote in history was a foregone conclusion! Yet, just as everyone thought this, the awakening of a genius pulled the Azashiro family back from the brink!

Azashiro Soya, the younger brother of Kenichi and the eldest son of the Azashiro family, awakened his Shikai at that very moment, instantly tearing the Hollows that had killed his sister to pieces!

A Zanpakuto with such power at the mere Shikai stage was certainly no ordinary blade. A new star was rising!

The Seireitei had always been tolerant of geniuses. The Central 46 immediately halted the Void-Confinement Punishment and began a reinvestigation into the Azashiro family's affairs. The truth was eventually brought to light: the Azashiro family was innocent, and the nobles who had participated in the framing met miserable ends. The young Azashiro Soya became the head of the house. Although only he and his brother Kozo remained, the Azashiro family had at least been preserved.

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi stepped into the Azashiro mansion. Although the courtyard was vast and the buildings numerous, most were dark and silent. Standing in the center of the courtyard was a thin, elegantly dressed man, who seemed to be the only living soul in this massive estate.

The man wore his hair in a black ponytail, with two thin strands hanging in front of his face. His complexion was pale, devoid of any color, giving him a sickly appearance, and his narrow eyes were like a pool of clear water that could soothe a restless heart.

"I have been waiting for a long time." The man's voice was light, as if a gust of wind could scatter it. He slowly raised his hands and continued, "Let us go."

"You, I don't know whether to praise you for being bold enough to face the consequences or to curse you for being a fool." Kuruyashiki shook his head with a bitter smile. Since the other party had already confessed, he had nothing more to say. That the Azashiro family, once victims of a frame-up, had ultimately walked the path of the accuser himself was something that surprised him, and disappointed him even more!

"You're lying, right?! Soya, you aren't the kind of person who would betray the Seireitei! Tell me, Soya!" Lieutenant Gosuke, overcome with emotion, shouted out the thoughts of the other squad members.

The man before them was the very genius who had saved the Azashiro family years ago, the current head of the Azashiro house—Azashiro Soya! He was also the 3rd Seat of Squad 11, and his reputation among the members was second only to Captain Kuruyashiki Kenpachi.

In the eyes of the Squad 11 members, the everyday Azashiro Soya was a gentle, selfless man, one of the few intellectuals in the squad. Despite being the 3rd Seat, his strength was immense, and many believed he was the most likely successor to the title of Kenpachi.

Even when the captain of the 3rd Division stepped down a while ago, the Central 46 had actually favored Azashiro Soya over Otoribashi Rojuro to take on the burden. But unfortunately, Azashiro insisted on remaining in Squad 11, and the matter was ultimately dropped.

Could such an Azashiro Soya really collude with the Quincy and intend to harm the Seireitei? Most of the Squad 11 members present did not believe it and were clamoring for him to provide an explanation. However, looking at Azashiro Soya's silent demeanor, he had no intention of explaining anything.

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi raised a hand to stop the members' agitation and beckoned to the Kido Corps members accompanying them. Four white-robed, masked figures holding long, metal, fork-shaped staves stepped forward and attached Kido devices to Azashiro Soya's neck and wrists to restrict his spiritual power.

"Hand over your Zanpakuto as well, 3rd Seat Azashiro!" one of the white-robed figures commanded.

"My Zanpakuto?" Azashiro Soya smiled for the first time, the corners of his mouth curling up as he said, "I don't usually carry it, and I'm afraid I don't quite remember where I left it."

The white-robed figure frowned and barked harshly, "You had better behave yourself! Azashiro Soya!"

"The fact that you are still alive proves that I am behaving quite well!" After saying this, Azashiro Soya began to walk on his own. The surrounding Kido Corps members were stunned for a moment before they began to move as well. Who exactly was arresting whom?

Azashiro Soya's lack of resistance, bordering on a voluntary surrender, was both expected and yet beyond reason. As for the future of Azashiro Soya and the others, it would only be revealed after this operation concluded. This night was still very long, as Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, who was about to head to Hueco Mundo with Hikifune Kirio, Shihoin Dozo, and Kuchiki Ginrei, understood well.

And at this moment, Diezuka Hiroe, already far away in the Zaraki District, knew even more clearly: Pruning the Eyes and Branches was only the beginning; the real war was only just starting!