After Sōya Azashiro became captain of the 11th Division, his first act was not to communicate with his division members, but to contact the Central 46 Chambers in his capacity as captain of the Gotei 11th Division.
The Central 46 Chambers consisted of forty sages and six judges gathered from across Soul Society. It was Soul Society's highest judicial authority and its most powerful organization, with authority above even the Gotei 13. These forty-six people shared one thing in common: not one of them was a commoner. Behind them stood forty-six noble factions of Soul Society.
Arrogance, conceit, and doing as they pleased were probably the defining traits of these forty-six people. Under ordinary circumstances, Sōya Azashiro, the eldest son of a minor noble family, would never have been able to contact them. But that changed after he defeated Kuruyashiki Kenpachi and became the new Kenpachi. Even these arrogant forty-six people had to respect the opinions of every division captain.
"Sōya Azashiro-no, the Eighth Kenpachi, Azashiro Kenpachi! What business brings you before us?"
The forty sages of the Central 46 Chambers addressed Sōya Azashiro.
"I am here to submit a plan!"
"I hope that the lords of the Central 46 Chambers will permit me to transform the residents of Rukongai into warriors capable of fighting Hollows, then organize an army to conquer Hueco Mundo!"
"To eradicate Hueco Mundo completely and restore peace to the three worlds."
Sōya Azashiro rose to his feet to show his respect for the lords of Central 46.
"..."
Silence. After Sōya Azashiro finished speaking, all of Central 46 instantly fell quiet.
"Pfft..."
"Ahahaha..."
"You can't be serious?"
"Hahaha..."
Then faint laughter reached Azashiro Kenpachi's ears in an unbroken stream.
"What did you say you wanted to turn into warriors?"
Even one of the judges could not help asking Azashiro Kenpachi.
"The residents of Rukongai."
Azashiro Kenpachi remained expressionless, answering as calmly as before.
"Azashiro... do you know why we nobles are nobles? And why those commoners in Rukongai remain commoners no matter how hard they try?"
"Then let me tell you! It is because we nobles are born with Spiritual Pressure that those commoners in Rukongai can scarcely hope to attain! That is why almost every captain and lieutenant in the Gotei 13 today comes from our nobility. And those... commoners, even if they are lucky enough to become Soul Reapers, still struggle to play any decisive role in fighting Hollows. As a noble yourself, you should understand what I am saying, shouldn't you, Azashiro?"
"To be honest, I think quite highly of you. After all, the captaincy of the Gotei 11th Division has been in the hands of those foolish commoners for some time. Its return to our nobility was no small feat. You must not..."
One of the judges seemed to think quite highly of Sōya Azashiro. Perhaps Azashiro's noble status had prompted him to say a little more.
"Now, I must disagree!"
"Azashiro Kenpachi! If you truly can do it, then go ahead!"
"To be honest, I am quite curious to see how you will transform Rukongai's residents into warriors."
But while the judge who thought highly of Sōya Azashiro was offering his earnest counsel, another judge with a different opinion spoke up.
"Hmm..."
A trace of displeasure crossed the interrupted judge's face. Then he noticed that everyone else looked as though they were waiting to enjoy a joke.
"Thank you all for your approval. I will bring you the results."
Sōya Azashiro knew that this man who seemingly valued him merely wanted to make a laughingstock of him, while the man who opposed putting his plan into practice was the one who truly held him in high regard. But he did not care, because he knew he could do it. When the time came, his ideas would slap all those hoping to laugh at him in the face.
"Azashiro!"
"Ah..."
The judge called out Azashiro's surname in frustrated disappointment, then finally sighed helplessly.
After obtaining the sages' approval and leaving the Central 46 Chambers, Sōya Azashiro happened to encounter Tsunayashiro Tokinada standing at the entrance.
"Hey there~"
Seeing Sōya Azashiro emerge, Tsunayashiro Tokinada gave him a small wave in greeting.
"..."
Sōya Azashiro had no intention of acknowledging Tsunayashiro Tokinada and continued walking.
"Hahaha... don't be so stiff."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada chuckled softly and followed closely behind Sōya Azashiro.
"What exactly do you want?"
After walking some distance, Sōya Azashiro turned around and asked with a stern face.
"Nothing. I'm just rather curious about you."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada walked up in front of Sōya Azashiro and smiled slightly.
"Do all the scions of the Five Great Noble Clans have this much time on their hands?"
Sōya Azashiro asked as he looked at Tsunayashiro Tokinada before him.
"Yes, the scions of the Five Great Noble Clans have this much time on their hands."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada answered Sōya Azashiro's question with a smile.
"What exactly is your business? If you have none, please leave. Otherwise, I will personally make you leave on charges of obstructing a captain's official duties."
Sōya Azashiro seemed to truly dislike Tsunayashiro Tokinada. His voice was icy.
"It's nothing much, really. I just heard what you said earlier, so I wanted to come and give you a warning. You'll probably be locked up in Muken very soon, after all, and I might never get another chance to speak to you face-to-face like this."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada smiled like a fox as he spoke those terrifying words.
"..."
"If you have nothing else to say, I'm leaving."
After a brief silence, Sōya Azashiro turned around.
"Don't be so heartless. I came to warn you out of kindness, and I've even prepared a way out for you."
Yet after Sōya Azashiro turned around, he found himself looking at Tsunayashiro Tokinada's face once again.
"Tch..."
Sōya Azashiro clicked his tongue under his breath, irritation welling up inside him.
"Sōya Azashiro, join our Five Great Noble Clans! Officially become one of us! When the true 'King,' whom our Five Great Noble Clans have taken a million years to bring forth, eliminates that false sacrifice and stands above the heavens by his own will, I hope there will be a place for you at the 'King's' side."
The corners of Tsunayashiro Tokinada's mouth lifted, a sharp gleam flashed through his eyes, and he extended a hand toward Sōya Azashiro.
"..."
"Not interested..."
Sōya Azashiro fell silent for a moment, ignored Tsunayashiro Tokinada's outstretched hand, and brushed past his side.
"..."
"Hahaha... did I just get rejected?"
"This is the first time someone outside the Five Great Noble Clans has rejected me..."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada turned to watch Sōya Azashiro's retreating figure, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"We are all followers in the footsteps of the true 'King.' You will return to our side, Azashiro. And... very soon, you will need me."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada watched Sōya Azashiro leave, then turned and headed toward District 6, the nobles' district.
(End of chapter)