Faster! They had to move faster!
Makoto led his squad, racing toward the largest courtyard in their assigned area.
The Genji shinigami behind him followed suit.
Though the sudden assault on Captain-Commander Yamamoto had briefly left the Genji shinigami dazed and uncertain, once clear orders were issued, these executioners known as a murder syndicate became the most effective enforcers in all of Soul Society.
Especially when it came to slaughtering nobles.
"Kidō squad! Break the barrier!"
Makoto shouted his command, pointing his blade at the gate adorned with the "Kyōraku" plaque.
However, the nobles of the Seireitei weren't all incompetent fools.
Countless years of peace might have dulled their ambition, but when it came to protecting their own wealth and property, they spared no effort.
Even under the combined efforts of several senior Genji shinigami, the barrier held firm for nearly a quarter of an hour.
Crack!
The gate shattered, and Makoto led the charge inside.
Yet all they found was an empty estate.
"Makoto-sama!"
"There are traces of spatial interference here!"
The Kidō squad quickly detected faint signs.
Makoto's expression darkened slightly.
For these upper-tier nobles, techniques like spatial interference Kidō or Dangai traversal were hardly secrets.
In a situation like this, fleeing was naturally their best option.
There was no stopping them.
Along the way, they had already encountered several similar cases.
Learning from experience, Makoto let out a slow breath.
"Takasugi Konji!"
"Yes, sir!"
A resolute-looking Genji shinigami stepped forward from the squad, a vertical scar running through his right eye.
Makoto issued rapid orders. "Split up now! You lead the second team and the Kidō squad to investigate the other abandoned estates."
"Ryoma! You take the rest and come with me."
"Yes, sir!"
The diminutive Kuruyashiki Ryoma responded loudly.
Turning sharply, Makoto pointed straight toward the largest courtyard in the western part of Soul Society.
That was the Tsunayashiro's ground.
Searching aimlessly like headless flies was pointless.
If that was the case, they'd just find someone who knew where the others were.
…
"Hadō 91: Senju Kōten Taihō!"
A dazzling blast of Kidō, bolstered by the combined Reiatsu of the Kidō squad, roared toward the massive courtyard.
Radiant light illuminated half the sky.
The enormous courtyard barrier was instantly blasted open, a straight path carved through it.
Batsu'unsai Katori took the lead.
Wielding her Zanpakuto she moved with a cold gaze, her steps so light they seemed to float, silent as a ghost.
The surrounding Genji shinigami descended like tigers among sheep, their faces twisted with ferocity as they lunged at the resisting Seireitei shinigami.
Roars, wails, and the clash of blades filled the air without ceasing.
But no one felt the slightest shred of sympathy.
The rift between nobles and commoners had long since reached a point of irreconcilable enmity.
"Tsunayashiro-sama! Please evacuate immediately!"
One of the Tsunayashiro family's retainers, indebted to their favor, bellowed desperately. He charged toward Batsu'unsai Katori with Shunpo, brandishing an Zanpakuto, heedless of his own life.
Even if it cost him everything, he aimed to buy the young lord behind him the last possible moment to escape.
But when the weak faced the strong, no amount of sacrifice or desperation could alter the outcome.
Shing!
The naginata slashed through, cleaving the obstacle in two.
The pure and refined bespectacled girl stood still, a faint smear of blood staining the hem of her clothes.
A visibly youthful boy froze in place, utterly at a loss.
Unlike other families that at least had someone in charge, the Tsunayashiro had lost both Tsunayashiro Shōgo and Tsunayashiro Mado in succession. This last surviving member of the main family, a mere boy, held no authority whatsoever.
The other power-holders of the Tsunayashiro had slipped away or fled before the barrier was breached, leaving this half-grown child to foolishly buy time.
"So this is the last one."
Katori muttered to herself, raising her naginata.
But before the blade could fall, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from beyond the gate.
"Katori, wait!"
At the moment the blade was about to fall, Makoto's figure abruptly appeared in front of the bespectacled girl. With his Zanpakuto reversed and slung over his shoulder, he blocked the strike with raw force.
"Makoto?"
Katori looked at him quietly, her gaze tinged with a hint of confusion.
Before she could say more, Makoto's free hand was already pressing down on the shoulder of the youthful boy beside him. "Sorry! No time to explain right now."
"I need to borrow this one for a bit."
"…"
"Mm."
Katori glanced at him briefly, nodded casually, and moved on to the next target.
Thud.
The Tsunayashiro boy, who had narrowly escaped being cleaved in two, collapsed onto the ground, legs giving out beneath him. He stared blankly at the blood and corpses littering the family hall, unable to speak.
The glorious Tsunayashiro his grandfather and father had spoken of…
Was this the end?
But just as that thought crossed his mind, the bandit beside him gently patted his shoulder, offering a warm smile. "Sorry about that. Did we scare you just now?"
"We're pressed for time, so everyone's had to get a little rough."
Hearing that carefree tone, the boy despite his youth mustered some unknown surge of courage. His neck stiffened as he trembled and stammered, "E-Even if you kill me…"
"I-I won't disgrace… disgrace the Tsunayashiro name!"
"No need to be so tense." Makoto smiled gently, his demeanor calm. "Let's start with introductions."
"What's your name?"
Gazing at that sunny, kind face, the boy seemed to relax slightly, murmuring, "Tsunayashiro… Mitsunobu."
"Mitsunobu, huh?"
Makoto wrapped an arm around his shoulders like a best friend. "The Tsunayashiro, one of the five great noble families with a million-year legacy in Soul Society, boasts such a storied history. Yet it falls to ruin the very year you take over as head."
"You must feel pretty unwilling, right, Mitsunobu-kun?"
"You know, the branch families can't carry the Tsunayashiro name forward."
"…"
Tsunayashiro Mitsunobu clenched his lips tightly, his face pale, his body faintly trembling.
Of course he knew this.
Though still a young man under fifty, Mitsunobu had received a full noble heir's education. He understood exactly what this meant.
But he wasn't a fool.
He also knew that a bandit speaking to him like this at such a time must have some scheme in mind.
As for the turmoil in his heart, even he couldn't quite articulate it.
That's why Makoto's gentle nudge at this moment was so pivotal.
Lowering his voice, he leaned in close. "Right now, I'm giving you a chance to preserve the Tsunayashiro."
"But you'll need to do me a little favor."
"A fair trade."
"That's reasonable, right?"
The moment he heard "preserve the Tsunayashiro," Mitsunobu's eyes widened instinctively. He turned to face Makoto, who was mere inches away. "W-What do you want?!"
For a young noble raised with a thorough family education, nothing in the world mattered more than continuing the family.
At that, Makoto's face finally broke into a sly, benevolent grin, his true intent revealed. "Me? I'd like to check something in the Daireishokairō."
"You'll help me with that, Mitsunobu-kun."
"Right?"
The instant he heard that request, Mitsunobu's face drained of color.
But as he looked at the man's warm smile, he knew one thing clearly.
He had no power to refuse.
…
Makoto moved quickly and efficiently.
He knew full well that while Yamamoto was strong, that strength was limited to the level of a shinigami.
Against Ichibē Hyōsube, with his dominion over names, there was no way Yamamoto could overcome that rule manipulation baldy, no matter how hard he tried.
No one knew how long he could hold out up there.
After securing Mitsunobu, Makoto dashed at breakneck speed into the central underground meeting room already reduced to rubble, and under Mitsunobu's guidance, descended even deeper.
The Daireishokairō lay beneath the central underground chamber.
Here, all the history of Soul Society past and present was recorded.
Naturally, that included the whereabouts of the nobles who had fled to parts unknown.
Because he understood the immense power of the Daireishokairō, Mitsunobu realized the moment he heard this demand that he'd be forced to stand against all the other nobles.
But if it was for the sake of his family…
He gritted his teeth hard.
"Makoto-sama, this way, please!" Mitsunobu finally steeled himself, speaking with a detached, resolute tone.
Makoto followed the massive spiral staircase downward.
Every few steps, a barrier of ultra-dense Reiatsu blocked their path.
Mitsunobu had to cut his finger, drawing talismans with his blood, to proceed further.
As keepers of the Daireishokairō, the Tsunayashiro knew best how to navigate this colossal structure.
Makoto, meanwhile, gazed downward with a hint of fascination.
In this vast underground space, countless streams of information formed swirling scrolls, guided by invisible threads, endlessly adding, editing, and flowing.
The entire chamber operated without a single soul present.
Yet everything ran in perfect order.
For a moment, Makoto felt a spark of curiosity, but he quickly refocused on the urgent task at hand. "Mitsunobu-kun, help me look up the current gathering spots of the main lines of the upper noble families, as well as the whereabouts of the current Head of the Kuchiki, Kuchiki Ginrei."
"…Yes!"
After only a brief hesitation, Mitsunobu gave a firm reply.
He knew exactly where his value and that of the Tsunayashiro lay in the eyes of these bandits.
In no time at all, a massive map of Soul Society appeared before them, dotted with numerous red markers.
Each red dot was labeled with the names of different families.
Judging by their density, the vast majority were concentrated in one area.
Clearly, this had been planned long in advance.
Watching this, Mitsunobu unconsciously bit his lip, his eyes tinged with bloodshot veins.
They'd all fled without telling him…
Leaving him alone to draw the enemy's fire?
Then don't blame me.
Without realizing it, even his reporting tone grew sharper as he quickly said, "Makoto-sama! Based on the map's traces, they should be at the outskirts between North District 3 and District 4."
"I know the Kuchiki secret site there."
Makoto smiled and ruffled his hair. "Thanks for that."
As his words fell, his expression turned colder. He stretched both hands forward, chanting swiftly.
"Bakudō 77: Tenteikūra."
A sprawling web of Reiatsu extended from his body, spreading in all directions, rapidly seeking out the familiar large Reiatsu signatures to establish a communication link.
"This is Instructor of the 11th Division, Makoto Fujimiya."
"I'm currently at the Daireishokairō. With the assistance of our converted ally, Tsunayashiro Mitsunobu, I've located the hiding spots of numerous fleeing Seireitei nobles. Most of them are situated…"
In an instant, nearly every captain and instructor heard Makoto's voice.
Chika, Yorita, Saitō, Katori, Unohana…
Across the corpse-strewn Seireitei, more and more people caught his report.
Many turned their heads, gazing toward the northern Rukongai.
…
Kuchiki Secret Grounds.
The remaining direct-line Seireitei nobles gathered in this underground wilderness.
No familiar palaces, no attendants, no family guards.
Most had only made it here through the sacrifices of others, now huddled together under the leadership of the last remnants of the Kuchiki.
Everyone wore expressions of unrelenting dread.
For these once-mighty figures, killing servants or commoners was as trivial as squashing a bug barely enough to stir their emotions.
But when they saw people of equal or greater status cut down like dogs before their eyes, a primal fear welled up from deep within, leaving them more fragile than even the average person.
They weren't anything special.
"Kuchiki-sama, we… we'll be fine, right?"
"Kuchiki-sama, if the great nobles have any trump cards left, please use them!"
"The Seireitei is finished!"
"Order has collapsed! Order has collapsed! How dare those filthy peasants…"
The clamor of voices buzzed in his ears as portly direct-line nobles crowded around him. Kuchiki Ginrei had never faced such a scene and had no idea how to respond.
But as the last head of the five great noble families present, he could only maintain a stern face, hoping to steady everyone's nerves.
The image of countless weak adults seeking solutions from a child struggling to be strong struck outsiders as absurdly comical.
Even in this dire situation, they couldn't shed the shackles of status, rank, and rules.
Watching their feeble demeanor, Kuchiki Ginrei suddenly understood.
Why the Seireitei had fallen so easily.
Unconsciously, he recalled words Tsunayashiro Shōgo had once said to him not long ago.
"Nobles and commoners are different."
"But…"
"How are they different, Shōgo-sama?"
Kuchiki Ginrei asked himself quietly in his heart.
No one answered him anymore.
Finally, Kuchiki Ginrei took a deep breath and shouted to the last of these direct-line nobles, "Listen to me!"
"Right now, the Kidō squad is setting up a large-scale spatial passage!"
"Once it's complete, we can retreat elsewhere and bide our time!"
"Please, everyone, stay calm!"
He strained to raise his voice.
But amidst the chaotic crowd, it was quickly drowned out.
In that moment, Kuchiki Ginrei couldn't help but feel deflated.
The Seireitei was truly finished.
Just as that thought crossed his mind...
Boom!
A massive explosion erupted from above the secret grounds.
The noisy nobles, who had been chattering moments ago, fell eerily silent in perfect unison.
Everyone shut their mouths, quietly tilting their heads upward.
Then, natural sunlight poured down from above.
Countless figures gathered around the rim of this giant pit.
"…"
Kuchiki Ginrei watched the scene, feeling an inexplicable sense of relief.
No doubt about it.
They were now truly fish in a barrel.
"Kill!"
Unohana issued the order calmly.
The Genji shinigami behind her roared as they charged toward these final foes.
But at that very moment...
"What's that?!"
Someone, still looking up, shouted involuntarily toward the edge of the sky.
It wasn't just him.
Every Shinigami of any skill level present abruptly lifted their heads toward the sky.
Then they saw it, a blazing streak, like a meteor, plummeting from the highest point in the sky.
"Senri Tsūtenshō!"
With a thunderous shout, an overwhelming surge of Reiatsu pierced through countless miles, crashing straight into the massive underground pit.
Searing flames slammed into the center of the crowd.
The moment they saw the figure within the fire, all the Genji shinigami froze in shock.
Unohana, standing at the top, felt her pupils constrict.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto lay in the pit, covered in wounds.
Beside him stood a monk, his body marked with scorch scars, his burly upper half bare, yet still wearing that hearty grin.
He held a brush that had turned into a white blade, standing in place.
Turning his head, he glanced at the surrounding Seireitei and Genji shinigami.
"Whoa, you guys sure move fast."
"I told you to kill a little less, didn't I?"
Ichibē Hyōsube grumbled to himself, seemingly oblivious to the stunned expressions around him.
Kuchiki Ginrei didn't react at first.
But the next moment, his face lit up with wild joy!
In contrast, the Genji shinigami especially the captains at the top unsheathed their Zanpakuto in unison, their faces grim and ready.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto had lost.
That single, short realization hit harder than anything they'd witnessed in recent years combined.
Yet it was unfolding right before their eyes.
"My lord!"
Surprisingly, Kuchiki Ginrei was the first to react, shouting loudly, "Those people over there are the Genji shinigami!"
"The Seireitei's bloodlines have been nearly wiped out, all because of them!"
"Please, my lord, uphold the Soul King's will and restore our honor!"
The moment he spoke, the remaining nobles snapped to their senses, shouting in a clamor.
But Ichibē acted as if he hadn't heard them at all.
He turned grinning broadly at the Genji shinigami standing ready before him, and said heartily.
"Let this war end here!"
The instant his words landed, the field fell into a profound silence.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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