Early the next morning…
Masatsuki Aozaki and Yoruichi Shihōin arrived at the 1st Division barracks, hand in hand, and greeted Rangiku Matsumoto, Lisa Yadōmaru, and Kirio Hikifune.
The group exchanged jokes and laughter, with no bloody conflicts erupting—everything seemed perfectly harmonious. Except...
When they passed by Retsu Unohana, Yoruichi deliberately stopped to chat with her, all while still holding Masatsuki's hand.
Unohana returned her a smile, and for the first time in a long while, Masatsuki sensed the killing intent hidden within it.
So... how did things even end up like this!?
Masatsuki let out a deep sigh as he looked up at the sky.
Even if this were some kind of battlefield, shouldn't the other person in this mess be Rangiku or Kūkaku? Why was it Retsu Unohana of all people?
I haven't even done anything inappropriate with Unohana, so why am I suffering like this!?
Shaking his head, Masatsuki simply couldn't make sense of their behavior.
As Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, and Isshin Shiba walked past, each wore an expression of amusement, surprise, or helplessness.
Kyōraku and Ukitake even winked mischievously and discreetly gave him a thumbs-up.
"The Genryū school is full of jerks. Not a single decent one among them. When a senior sees his junior in trouble, he doesn't even bother to help..."
Masatsuki muttered under his breath, cursing even himself in his frustration.
Fortunately, the old man Yamamoto arrived just in time, putting an end to the spectacle without needing to say a word.
He shot his popular young disciple a glance before letting out a cold snort, sending a chill through everyone present.
Even Yoruichi instinctively let go of Masatsuki's hand.
Yet Masatsuki remained unfazed, standing calmly behind Yamamoto.
This time, he positioned himself slightly closer to the front, not far from Yamamoto and the other captains.
After defeating Kenpachi Kiganjō, his confidence had grown significantly, and even in such a formal setting, he could maintain his composure.
Scanning the meeting room, Masatsuki noted that compared to the last captains' meeting, the number of attendees had decreased.
Because one of them was dead—killed by him.
Two days ago, Central 46 had issued an order for Kenpachi Kiganjō to be included in the next Konsō Reisai.
The Konsō Reisai was a ceremony held once every twelve years in Soul Society, meant to send fallen captains to Hell.
A captain's Reiatsu was far too powerful—after death, their Reishi couldn't naturally return to Soul Society. The only way to handle it was through the Konsō Reisai.
However, while Kenpachi Kiganjō's body still existed, his soul had already become part of Masatsuki's grand creation. Who knew what would happen during the next ceremony?
Masatsuki stroked his chin thoughtfully.
There were still a few years until the next Konsō Reisai—if anything went wrong, it wouldn't be his fault... probably.
Several captains instinctively glanced at the spot where Kenpachi Kiganjō once stood, then turned to look at Masatsuki, standing behind Yamamoto.
Kenpachi Kiganjō had served as a captain for nearly a century, making him one of the more senior members of the Gotei 13.
He had always come across as somewhat slow-witted.
But no one could have predicted that he would actually betray the Gotei 13—not only joining the rebel faction but even attempting a prison break at the Nest of Maggots!
He had witnessed the Captain-Commander's power firsthand—did he seriously think he could get away with something like that?
Did he truly believe the nobles could protect him after angering Yamamoto?
What a complete fool.
The captains all reached the same conclusion at once, their feelings mixed.
Yamamoto swept his gaze over the room, then struck his cane against the ground with a loud thud.
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to him.
"Masatsuki Aozaki!"
"Here!" Masatsuki Aozaki responded loudly, stepping forward.
Yamamoto nodded in satisfaction and said, "There's no need to conceal your Reiatsu. As someone directly involved in the attack on the Nest of Maggots, give the captains a detailed account of the entire incident."
"Understood."
Under the stunned gazes of those present, Masatsuki Aozaki stopped suppressing his Reiatsu.
The moment they felt it, the captains' eyes widened in shock.
They had all heard about his victory over Kenpachi Kiganjō, but witnessing firsthand this undeniable display of third-rank spiritual might was another matter entirely!
How old was he? What gave him the right? What made him worthy? They had spent centuries—some even millennia—cultivating their strength, only to be overtaken in just a few years?
They couldn't help but find themselves asking the same question that Kenpachi Kiganjō once did.
A realm that most would never reach in their lifetime... and Masatsuki Aozaki had already stepped into it after only a few years of training!?
If he kept growing at this rate, how many of them would even be his match in a few more years? In a few decades?
"..." Kensei Muguruma stared, eyes wide.
Shinji Hirako exaggeratedly dropped his jaw. "Oi, oi... seriously? How the hell is this even possible!?"
Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake paused, exchanged glances, then shook their heads with a wry smile.
Comparisons like this were enough to drive anyone mad. No wonder Master had invested so much effort into him.
Outside the office, the Lieutenants waiting in the hallway, as well as the 1st Division members in the barracks, all instinctively halted their movements, turning toward the office with expressions of disbelief.
Some of them knew Masatsuki Aozaki personally, while those who didn't could immediately tell that this Reiatsu was unfamiliar—yet overwhelming.
And there was only one unfamiliar presence inside that room—
The young man named Masatsuki Aozaki!
Even Seinosuke Yamada, who usually did nothing but mock others with his sharp tongue, now wore an expression of shock and reluctant admiration.
Lisa Yadōmaru, normally lost in her books, found herself momentarily distracted. She even put down her special edition magazine of Suichūgetsu.
"Masatsuki-kun, you haven't let me down," Sōsuke Aizen mused inwardly, his usual warm, gentle smile remaining in place.
He had received a message from Masatsuki Aozaki just the day before and had rushed back from the World of the Living early this morning.
Even for him, standing before Yamamoto demanded a degree of caution.
Meanwhile, Chōjirō Sasakibe stroked his mustache with an air of pride, thinking smugly to himself—
"See? This is Master Genryūsai's disciple!"
All across Seireitei, those with keen spiritual perception instinctively turned their heads toward the 1st Division barracks.
This time, without a barrier blocking their senses, they could feel it clearly.
"This is... Masatsuki's Reiatsu?"
Kisuke Urahara, who had been lounging in bed, taking advantage of his captain's absence to slack off, suddenly opened his eyes.
"Tch. What a troublesome guy. Way too flashy."
In the Shihōin Clan's underground prison, Mayuri Kurotsuchi—his body wrapped in bandages—gritted his teeth.
In a hidden meeting room in the 6th District, several 2nd Division members were gathered. Suì-Fēng abruptly lifted her head, her cheeks faintly reddening.
...
In the Noble District, inside a mansion belonging to the Tsunayashiro Clan, a group of elderly nobles suddenly widened their eyes.
That Reiatsu...
"Yamamoto... is this a warning?" Tokuyasu Tsunayashiro sighed.
"In the end, this is a world where strength speaks louder than power. Influence alone isn't omnipotent. What will the next era look like?"
One of the elders hesitated before asking, "Do we really have to let this next era arrive? There's still time to stop it..."
Tokuyasu Tsunayashiro cast him a glance, then slowly lowered his gaze into deep thought, remaining silent.
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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