After a brief period of upheaval following the change in the 11th Division's captain, Soul Society soon returned to peace.
"Sister... as we agreed, I've become the captain of the Gotei 11th Division and an outstanding Soul Reaper."
Sōya Azashiro... no, he should now be called the Eighth Kenpachi. The man named Azashiro Kenpachi, the current captain of the 11th Division, spoke softly as he pushed a woman in a wheelchair through an empty courtyard.
"Hahaha, that's my Sōya. I told you that you could reclaim all the glory of our Azashiro family."
The woman sat in her wheelchair with her eyes tightly closed and a faint smile on her face.
"Pfft... hahahaha... reclaim the Azashiro family's glory?"
"A man who only beat Kuruyashiki Kenpachi through a sneak attack and became the Eighth Kenpachi actually dares to talk about reclaiming his family's glory? That's hilarious."
Sharp, grating laughter rang in Sōya Azashiro's ears, making his hands tremble slightly on his sister's wheelchair.
"Shut up!"
Sōya Azashiro turned sideways, glaring viciously at the person beside him as he spoke.
"Pfft~ did you lash out because you're embarrassed? Because I touched a nerve and pointed out the fact that you only beat Kuruyashiki Kenpachi through underhanded means?!"
The person slowly approached Sōya Azashiro, revealing her figure. The woman bore some resemblance to Sōya Azashiro and wore an extravagant kimono, with a leather strap covering her right eye. She exuded an air of deviousness.
"Urozakuro, I don't want to argue with you in front of my sister."
Sōya Azashiro forcibly suppressed his anger, his body trembling slightly.
"Sōya, are you arguing with Miss Urozakuro again? How could you?"
"You mustn't argue with your own Zanpakuto!"
As Sōya Azashiro fumed, his sister spoke from her wheelchair.
"I understand, Sister."
Sōya Azashiro nodded helplessly to his sister.
"Miss Urozakuro, you're in this direction, aren't you? I'm sorry! Because my own Kidō blast injured my eyes and legs, I can't see you, Miss Urozakuro, but I'm sure you must be very beautiful~ please take care of my foolish little brother."
Sōya Azashiro's sister turned slightly and smiled in Urozakuro's direction.
"..."
Sōya Azashiro watched his sister, who still worried about him despite her grievous injuries, and his heart ached a little. Unfortunately, even if his sister's eyes hadn't been injured, she might still have been unable to see Urozakuro. But his sister was absolutely right about one thing: his Zanpakuto, Urozakuro, was indeed beautiful, just like his sister.
Yes, the beautiful woman with a leather strap over her right eye looked exactly like the woman in the wheelchair Sōya Azashiro was pushing.
"Oh, Sōya, have you visited the Shihoin family?"
While Sōya Azashiro watched his sister in silent heartache, she asked him a question.
"Uh... I haven't had time yet!"
Sōya Azashiro looked flustered at his sister's words.
"Honestly, how could you not go? Have you forgotten the great benefactor who saved both of us?"
Sōya Azashiro's sister spoke angrily upon hearing his answer.
"No, I wouldn't dare forget!"
Sōya Azashiro shook his head repeatedly at his sister's words. Even now, he dared not forget what had happened back then.
He still remembered his despair back then, facing the roaring Hollow about to kill him and the nobles in the stands who kept mocking him as though it were a game. His sister had been ready to sacrifice herself to save him, taking the Hollow down with her. At the critical moment, a white figure had moved his sister out of the blast. Although that figure had still been a little too slow, leaving his sister without her eyes and legs, it had been enough. He was already content with that. At least his sister was still alive.
"Then hurry up and go, and tell him you've become a captain while you're there!"
Sōya Azashiro's sister urged him repeatedly.
"But, Sister, you..."
Sōya Azashiro frowned deeply at his sister's words.
"Go on! The servants are here to look after me. You don't need to worry."
Sōya Azashiro's sister gave him a gentle smile.
"All right, Sister."
Knowing that nothing more he said could change his sister's mind now, Sōya Azashiro nodded lightly.
"Hurry along!"
Sōya Azashiro's sister urged him.
"All right, Sister."
At his sister's words, Sōya Azashiro hurried toward the gate, not forgetting to tell the guards at the entrance to take good care of her before he left.
Wearing the Captain's Haori of the Gotei 11th Division, with a katana at his waist (not a Zanpakuto), Sōya Azashiro bought a box of fine pastries and hurried toward the Shihoin residence.
"Whoosh!"
The moment Sōya Azashiro reached the gates of the Shihoin residence, several black-clad members of the Stealth Force blocked his way.
"Please give these pastries to Lady Yoruichi Shihōin and tell her that I'll come to visit in person again when Lord Sōgo returns."
As though he had known all along that members of the Stealth Force would appear, Sōya Azashiro handed the pastries to one of them, saying something that left them all baffled.
"Then I'll take my leave."
Sōya Azashiro turned around as he spoke, preparing to leave.
And just as Sōya Azashiro turned, he happened to come face-to-face with a man carrying two Zanpakuto at his waist.
"..."
A trace of displeasure crossed Sōya Azashiro's face as he looked at the man before him, but he said nothing more.
"Hmm?"
The man, whose hair fell to his shoulders and whose eyes were slightly narrowed, showed a hint of curiosity upon seeing Sōya Azashiro.
"What an honor to meet the Eighth Kenpachi, currently Soul Society's strongest Soul Reaper, at the gates of the Shihoin residence."
Although Sōya Azashiro had no intention of paying him any attention, the man was very interested in him.
"..."
Sōya Azashiro fell silent for a moment at the man's words.
"If you've come to offer that lord a sword, I suggest you go back. That lord is away from Seireitei for the time being."
Sōya Azashiro glanced at the Zanpakuto at the man's waist and spoke coldly.
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing Sōya Azashiro's words, the man's eyes instantly opened wide, a trace of astonishment flashing through them. He didn't know how the man before him knew his purpose in coming here, but he knew the other man wasn't lying to him.
"..."
Sōya Azashiro paid the man no further attention, brushing past him and striding away.
"Interesting~"
The man... whose real name was Tsunayashiro Tokinada, stood behind Sōya Azashiro with the smile of a sly fox, watching him leave.
"Honestly, he's not here? After all the trouble I went to stealing this Zanpakuto, it looks like I'll have to return it for now to that useless piece of trash who doesn't deserve this sword at all!"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada toyed with the Zanpakuto in his hand and shook his head helplessly. In his eyes, the strongest should be paired with the strongest. This Zanpakuto in his hand, the strongest in Soul Society, should be wielded by Soul Society's strongest person.
(End of chapter)