The evening breeze carried a faint humidity, gently rustling the light brown curls around Aizen's head.
As spiritual particles stirred nearby, Aizen didn't turn around. He continued gazing at the tranquil nightscape of the Soul Society and spoke in a calm, steady voice:
"Gin, how did it go? Has the video footage been delivered to the Tsunayashiro family?"
The fluctuations of spirit particles slowly subsided, and Gin's figure appeared beside Aizen, standing one step behind. He still wore his signature smiling expression.
"It's done, Lord Aizen. If everything goes as expected, the Tsunayashiro family head should be watching that footage tonight."
Aizen nodded in approval and said warmly:
"Good. You've done well. I'm glad to have companions like you and Tōsen on the path to realizing our plan."
Gin simply squinted his eyes slightly and smiled, offering no reply.
At that moment, Tōsen Kaname appeared at Aizen's other side. His face carried a hint of urgency as he questioned:
"Lord Aizen, only the captains present at the meeting should be aware of that footage. If the Tsunayashiro family gets hold of it, the Head Captain might suspect all captains present. Once he starts investigating, there's a real risk that our actions could be exposed. Isn't it too risky just to target someone like Asano Kiyoshi?"
Aizen turned his head, smiling gently. But his words were as cold as arctic ice, devoid of any warmth:
"Tōsen, you're wrong on two points. First, I'm not targeting Asano Kiyoshi. What I'm doing, at most, is accelerating his growth. The illegitimate son of the Tsunayashiro family likely won't pose much threat to him. On the contrary, he'll probably end up being a stepping stone on Asano Kiyoshi's path."
"Second, the matter of the footage is easily explained. You see, the Gotei 13 is far from a solid unit. It's more like a wooden plank full of holes—leaking everywhere. In Squad 4, each noble family has planted a few spies. After all, medical resources are the most sought-after and profitable assets for the nobility."
"When I realized a fight had broken out, I had already contacted my people in Squad 4 to observe. And to avoid detection by Mayuri, I hypnotized him with Kyōka Suigetsu. Although I considered hypnotizing all the captains, the Head Captain's strength is formidable, so I opted for the safer route—just one."
"The squad member who recorded the footage was actually a Tsunayashiro family member. I altered his perception using Kyōka Suigetsu. After delivering the footage, I'll make sure he vanishes during a mission. That'll erase all traces. As for the rest, there's nothing to worry about."
Tōsen nodded at Aizen's smiling face, but still asked with some confusion:
"Then, Lord Aizen, what exactly is the purpose of all this?"
Aizen wasn't annoyed by the question. He simply looked toward the distant Seireitei, his expression indifferent:
"Asano Kiyoshi is clearly of the Head Captain's direct lineage. Though the Tsunayashiro family and the Head Captain's faction haven't openly clashed, their core interests do conflict. From what I've learned, the Tsunayashiro family seeks something hidden deep within the Great Spirit Book Archive. To access it, they must secure the top spot in this year's Shinō Academy graduation. I believe the Head Captain sent Asano Kiyoshi to block them."
"With the conflict and tension in place, I'm just complicating and intensifying it. The more chaotic the situation becomes, the safer our plans will be. And honestly, no matter who wins—whether the nobility or the Gotei 13—it doesn't matter. They're all decaying relics. Whether they enter their coffins sooner or later is irrelevant—they're already dying."
After hearing this, Tōsen understood. Under the soft glow of the moon, the three figures slowly vanished.
And as they disappeared, hidden currents surged and rolled deep beneath the surface.
Tsunayashiro Clan Estate, Seireitei Central
The slightly overweight Tsunayashiro Sōsuke stared at the footage handed to him by a subordinate. A grim expression clouded his face. His hand trembled slightly as he gripped his teacup, causing the fine porcelain to creak. Scalding tea spilled onto his hand, snapping him back to his senses.
Sōsuke looked at the cracked teacup and gave a small, apologetic smile before turning to the elder beside him:
"Master Yūta, it seems my cultivation of patience still needs work."
The elder said nothing, simply nodding. Then, eyeing the footage, he remarked:
"Asano Kiyoshi's presence poses a serious threat to Koshiro's chances of graduating top of his class. If he fails, our plans will be indefinitely delayed… So no matter what, Tsunayashiro Koshiro must secure first place and gain access to the Great Spirit Book Archive."
Sōsuke nodded in agreement. A glint of ruthlessness flickered behind his seemingly kind and plump face.
"Based on the data, Asano Kiyoshi appears to be a direct disciple of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni. That makes him untouchable for now. Any move against him would mean open war with the Gotei 13. While that old man might not flip the table, it's not good for the bigger picture. So targeting Asano directly isn't an option."
The elder Yūta added:
"Yamamoto won't start a war—of that, you can be certain. To him, Seireitei's stability is paramount. Besides, the Soul King wouldn't allow it. But provoking him outright is still unwise. It could collapse the entire noble hierarchy and trigger a reshuffling of power across Soul Society. Between two evils, we must choose the lesser. It's time for Koshiro to make a real sacrifice for the Tsunayashiro clan…"
A smile returned to Sōsuke's round face. He turned to the messenger who had delivered the footage:
"Thank you for your hard work. Please bring Koshiro here, would you?"
The subordinate nodded and turned to leave—but suddenly, the world around him spun violently.
In his final moments, he saw his own headless body slump to the floor, and in the clan leader's hand—his bloodied Zanpakutō.
"Apologies. You were loyal—very loyal. But the dead are even more loyal. We can't afford any loose ends in this matter… so I must trouble you to die."
T/N: For up to 20 chapters ahead on all my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle
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