Ten years had passed since the Eighth Kenpachi, Azashiro Kenpachi, became Kenpachi.
After Azashiro Kenpachi obtained approval from the Central 46 Chambers to modify Rukongai's soldiers and civilians to fight Hollows, he finally achieved outstanding results. Rukongai civilians who would flee and be killed even by the most ordinary Hollow managed to kill a giant Hollow with a squad of just ten. Even among Soul Reaper squads, that level ranked among the elite of the elite. Most importantly, the Rukongai civilians Azashiro modified were utterly loyal to him.
For a moment, Central 46... panicked!
"Bastard! His ability is too dangerous!"
"What are we supposed to do if he decides to rebel?"
"He must be locked up! He must be imprisoned in Muken! Only then will our rule be secure!"
"But he hasn't committed a crime, has he?"
"Idiot! Just pin a few charges on him. For example... modifying Rukongai's poor without authorization, violating ethics and morality! And then... plotting to assassinate Central 46 and seize power!"
"Is it really all right for us to do this?"
"Everything is for the interests of our Central 46!"
After a round of chaotic discussion, the Central 46 Chambers finally issued an arrest warrant for Azashiro Kenpachi. In an instant, the entire city became his enemy.
Meanwhile, Sōya Azashiro, who had brought all this about, sat calmly in his clan's courtyard. He had dismissed all the servants and retainers, enjoying these final peaceful moments alone with his older sister.
"Sōya... you're outstanding! Your sister knows..."
Sōya Azashiro's older sister gently held his hand and smiled faintly.
"..."
After hearing his sister's words, Sōya Azashiro remained silent. He did not know how he felt at that moment. Regret? Not really! Even if he had known the final outcome, he might have done it all over again. Unfortunately, it seemed he had failed to protect his sister once more.
"Oh my~"
"What a touching bond between sister and brother."
Just as Sōya Azashiro and his sister were enjoying their final moments of peace, a figure silently appeared in the courtyard.
"..."
Sōya Azashiro glanced at the figure without a word.
"You see? It's just as I said~"
"You'd soon need me. Go ahead and flee without worrying~"
"Leave this place... or be locked up in Muken. As long as you're alive, there will be a day when you meet again. As for your sister, leave her to me without worry~"
The man was none other than Tsunayashiro Tokinada, who spoke to Sōya Azashiro with a smile.
"..."
Sōya Azashiro remained silent. He studied Tsunayashiro Tokinada intently, as though hoping to see something in his eyes.
Unfortunately, the rushing sounds reaching his ears forced him to leave.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The instant Sōya Azashiro left, several Soul Reapers wearing shihakushō completely surrounded the Azashiro Clan's courtyard.
"Oh my!"
"What's going on here?"
"Why are you all carrying swords?"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada took Sōya Azashiro's place, gently pushing his sister's wheelchair as he smiled at the Soul Reapers surrounding him.
"You're... a lord of... the Tsunayashiro Clan!"
Seeing the Tsunayashiro Clan haori Tsunayashiro Tokinada wore, the Soul Reapers froze, then bent at the waist in respectful bows.
"There are no wanted criminals here."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada gripped the wheelchair's handles tightly with both hands and smiled at the Soul Reapers.
"But..."
The Soul Reapers looked at the woman in the wheelchair, somewhat at a loss, yet reluctant to defy Tsunayashiro Tokinada's words.
"I said there are no wanted criminals here. The woman before you is my wife, Tsunayashiro Zakuro~"
"If you intend to charge our Tsunayashiro Clan with a crime, have the Central 46 Chambers hold another meeting and discuss it thoroughly!"
"But remember to remind the six judges that the reason there are six of them is that, a million years ago, it was the Soul King and our Five Great Noble Clans who created all of Soul Society!"
Without waiting for the Soul Reapers to object, Tsunayashiro Tokinada finished speaking and slowly pushed Sōya Azashiro's sister toward the gate.
The Soul Reapers fell silent as they watched Tsunayashiro Tokinada leisurely move forward, but not one dared step up to stop him. Cases involving disputes among nobles were generally handled by the Gotei 6th Division, the noble division headed by the Kuchiki Clan, because other Soul Reapers could not handle the affairs of these great nobles. This was also why only a member of the Kuchiki Clan could serve as captain of the Sixth Division.
On the noble street in Seireitei's sixth district stood a Kyoto-like mansion built directly opposite the Kuchiki Clan. This was the Tsunayashiro Clan's estate. Countless Soul Reapers in shihakushō guarded its grounds. They belonged neither to the Gotei 13 nor to the Central 46 Chambers; they were simply the Tsunayashiro Clan's private army.
"Lord Tokinada!"
After Tsunayashiro Tokinada pushed Sōya Azashiro's sister inside, the Soul Reapers all gave Tokinada slight nods to show their respect.
Tokinada paid them no attention. He pushed Sōya Azashiro's sister straight into a relatively quiet courtyard with only a few servants.
"Sorry for the trouble."
Although Sōya Azashiro's sister could no longer see, she still knew what had happened. She knew the person behind her had protected her.
"It's nothing. After all, your brother and I are... friends~"
After thinking for a long time, Tsunayashiro Tokinada finally arrived at the nature of his relationship with Sōya Azashiro. They were like-minded people working toward the same goal!
"I didn't expect you two to be the ones standing before me in the end."
Outside Rukongai, Sōya Azashiro looked at Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake before him and sighed softly.
"Oh dear~"
"I didn't want to come either~"
"But it was Yama-jii's order, after all. I had no choice!"
Shunsui Kyōraku lightly pressed down on the bamboo hat atop his head, his eyes fixed on the "Zanpakuto" at Sōya Azashiro's waist.
"Azashiro... surrender!"
Jūshirō Ukitake frowned slightly. To be honest, he did not want to fight Sōya Azashiro.
"I'm sorry, but I can't stop here yet, so..."
As he spoke, Sōya Azashiro raised the "Zanpakuto" in his hand, adopting a stance that suggested he was about to release it. In reality, countless wind blades were already poised around Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku. Yet just as Sōya Azashiro was about to act, an unfamiliar Spiritual Pressure suddenly appeared, making him stop.
"Is that so? Not only the Central 46 Chambers, but even the 'Soul King' disagrees with me? I see... so that's what it means for the 'true' king to stand in the heavens by his own will?"
Sōya Azashiro looked toward the distant Spiritual Pressure and murmured softly.
"Hm?"
Shunsui Kyōraku frowned slightly as he watched Sōya Azashiro mutter to himself.
"I surrender!"
Then Sōya Azashiro tossed the "Zanpakuto" in his hand to Shunsui Kyōraku.
"A wise choice."
Kyōraku frowned at Sōya Azashiro's Zanpakuto in his hand. He kept feeling that something was wrong with this sword, but he gave it no further thought and escorted Sōya Azashiro to the Central 46 Chambers.
"Eighth Kenpachi, Sōya Azashiro! You plotted rebellion! You are hereby sentenced to ten thousand years in Muken! Do you have anything else to say?"
The Central 46 Chambers, that fair and impartial institution of supreme authority in Soul Society, questioned Sōya Azashiro.
"..."
There was not a flicker in Sōya Azashiro's eyes. He looked at the Central 46 Chambers as though looking at piles of dog shit. He had nothing to discuss with dog shit.
Thus, Sōya Azashiro was escorted into Muken. What no one knew, however, was that a woman had been following closely at his side, constantly chattering in his ear, yet it seemed not a single person had noticed her.
Yes, this woman was Sōya Azashiro's true Zanpakuto, and her name was Urozakuro! A Zanpakuto that could remain in Bankai forever once its Bankai was activated!
"Seireitei! I'll be watching you from Muken all along."
After being escorted into Muken, Sōya Azashiro turned to look at its slowly closing gates behind him, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
And with the Eighth Kenpachi, Azashiro Kenpachi, escorted into Muken, the unremarkable-looking lieutenant of the 11th Division automatically filled the vacancy and became the Ninth Kenpachi! He was also the only Kenpachi in Soul Society's records to automatically succeed to the position without fighting the previous Kenpachi!
His title was Gosuke Kenpachi! (The weakest Kenpachi in history, one of the two Kenpachi whose tenures even Sister Hana could not bear to watch.)
That's about enough setup. The next chapter will return to the protagonist's perspective, and then we'll be heading back to Soul Society very soon. Shaoling Fon will be appearing soon.
(End of chapter)