"I hadn't even entered the prison before the clan sent someone to pull me out."
"And that brat has already been locked up for three days, yet Ginrei-sama hasn't even gone to see him once."
'How is that possible?'
On the rooftop, Koga felt as if he had been plunged into an icy abyss.
The noble's words shattered the last shred of hope in Koga's heart.
Meanwhile, in the 11th Division's Captain's office, Kyoya suddenly looked up, his gaze turning toward the direction of the 6th Division.
'It's begun, huh?'
'Then the stage is set. Let's see how many people will step onto it this time...'
Kyoya stood up and opened the door to the Captain's office.
"Fourth seat Ichinose." (T/N: The RAW is written as third seat, but Ichinose should be fourth seat, so I changed it to fourth seat.)
"Yes, Captain Kyoya."
At Kyoya's call, Ichinose instantly appeared before him, kneeling on one knee.
"Pass down my orders. The current unrest in Seireitei is being stirred up by the nobles. The 11th Division will not participate."
As the Captain of the 11th Division, even though Kyoya had ultimately chosen to leave, he didn't want his subordinates to suffer injuries or deaths in this political struggle.
In Kyoya's eyes, the casualties from such conflicts held no meaning for the Shinigami.
Well, perhaps for the nobles, these meaningless sacrifices were exactly what they needed to maintain their lofty status.
"Understood, Captain Kyoya."
Though Ichinose didn't understand why Kyoya would issue such an order at this moment, he would carry it out without hesitation… because it was Kyoya's will.
Once he confirmed that Ichinose had relayed his command, Kyoya turned his gaze back toward the 6th Division.
The 6th Division was separated from the 11th by nearly half of Seireitei.
Even if Koga caused a significant disturbance, it would have little effect on the 11th Division's area.
Aside from Captain-level Shinigami who could vaguely sense the Reiatsu clashes, even Lieutenant-level Shinigami would struggle to perceive what was happening at such a distance.
…
"Stop this, Koga!"
A familiar voice made Koga halt his movements.
He casually tossed aside the man he had been holding, not caring whether he would be thrown into the flames and suffer further injuries, before turning to face the silver-haired Ginrei.
"Father, you've come."
Koga's lips curled into a smirk.
"What are you doing, Koga?!"
Ginrei glanced at the destroyed izakaya and the injured Shinigami scattered around, his heart sinking as he demanded an answer from Koga.
He hadn't expected that Koga, after awakening that power, would undergo such a drastic change.
If it had been the old Koga, even if he had been imprisoned, Ginrei was certain he would have obediently remained in his cell… whether for three days, three months, or even three years, waiting for Ginrei to resolve everything before his release.
But now, he couldn't even last three days.
Without a doubt, this test had left Ginrei disappointed in Koga.
Watching the successor he had placed such high hopes on become corrupted by power, Ginrei felt both grief and relief.
Grief, because Koga had lost the 'nobility' of a noble.
Relief, because he hadn't truly entrusted the Kuchiki Clan and the 6th Division to Koga.
Otherwise, the Kuchiki Clan's million-year reputation might have been ruined by Koga's actions.
And the 6th Division, too, might have strayed from its identity as the 'Noble Division'.
But Ginrei had never considered that Koga's current state was precisely the result of his own lack of trust.
When you begin testing the strength of a mirror, you've already doomed it to shatter.
Similarly, the moment Ginrei began doubting Koga, betrayal became inevitable.
No one can live under the weight of another's suspicion.
Unless they truly harbor some unspeakable secret that forces them to endure it.
And indeed, no matter how Koga behaved, Ginrei would always find hundreds of reasons to justify his distrust.
"What am I doing?"
"Father, isn't it obvious?"
Koga pointed at the noble he had thrown aside and asked, "Father, if I recall correctly, three days ago, this man was supposed to be a 'criminal' just like me, imprisoned for violating Seireitei's laws."
"Koga, you still know that you are a criminal."
"Then why aren't you staying in your cell? What are you doing here?"
"Don't tell me you escaped?"
Ginrei frowned as he questioned Koga.
"Father, before I answer you, may I ask you a question?"
"Speak."
"Could you tell me why I was left in prison for three days without anyone checking on me, while this man was released before he even stepped foot in a cell?"
"In terms of status, he's nothing more than the son of a low-ranking noble family… who knows if he's even the legitimate heir."
"Meanwhile, I am the future head of the Kuchiki Clan and the third seat of the 6th Division."
"In terms of strength, how can a weakling like him, who doesn't even have the power of an average Shinigami, compare to me, who possesses Captain-level strength?"
"So why is it that for the same crime, the blame falls on him, yet I'm the only one imprisoned?"
Faced with Koga's furious questioning, Ginrei remained silent.
He couldn't reveal that this had all been a test for Koga.
If he did, Koga would only be further provoked.
"It seems you have no intention of explaining, Father."
"Then, Father."
"May I ask why I was ignored for three days in prison?"
"And why was the truth of my conflict with this man twisted?"
"Why did you turn a blind eye to all of this, letting me bear the crime and become the Kuchiki Clan's sinner?"
"..."
Ginrei let out a sigh, "Koga, you must understand… everything I did was for your own good."
Indeed, in Ginrei's eyes, everything he had done was for Koga's sake.
With such a dangerous Zanpakuto, Koga had undoubtedly drawn the attention of Yamamoto and other nobles.
To prove that Koga was 'controllable', Ginrei had subjected him to a series of 'tests' to demonstrate that he wasn't a terrorist who would destroy Seireitei.
"For my own good?"
"Hahahaha..."
Koga laughed wildly, tears streaming uncontrollably from his eyes.
"For my own good, so you stood by and watched as others framed me..."
"For my own good, so you truly treated me like a criminal, locking me in prison while the one who framed me became the 'victim', slandering me everywhere..."
"For my own good, so you planned to leave me imprisoned forever..."
"And for my own good, you would even silently allow them to drag me before the Central 46's judgment?"
With each sentence, Koga's Reiatsu surged.
By the time he finished venting his grievances, Koga's Reiatsu had formed a towering purple pillar of energy, piercing the sky.
The overwhelming Reiatsu rolled out like a tidal wave, forcing the people around Koga and Ginrei to their knees, trembling in fear.
"Koga, what do you think you're doing?!"
Seeing Koga like this, Ginrei's expression darkened, "Do you intend to commit an even greater crime?"
"Stop this at once, or else-"
"Or else what?"
Before Ginrei could finish, Koga raised his head and pointed at Ginrei.
"Father, I think I no longer need you to do what's 'good' for me."
Seeing Koga's gesture, Ginrei's expression changed, and he immediately sealed off his heart.
As someone deeply wary of Koga's abilities, Ginrei, along with Yamamoto, had devised a method to resist his Zanpakuto's power.
Since Koga's Zanpakuto could hypnotize and control other Shinigami's Zanpakuto, they decided to cut off the root of the problem… preventing Koga's ability from taking effect in the first place.
By closing off their hearts, they could stop Koga's Zanpakuto, Muramasa, from invading their Inner Worlds and manipulating their swords.
However, every advantage comes with a disadvantage.
By sealing their hearts, they could indeed block Muramasa's influence… but at the cost of severing their own connection to their Zanpakuto.
In this state, Ginrei could only rely on the Shinigami's four fundamental combat skills. His Zanpakuto was effectively sealed.
"Muramasa!"
With Koga's whisper, a purple figure instantly appeared at his side.
"Koga..."
"You're here."
"Yes."
"Then let's begin!"
"Okay!"
Muramasa nodded and handed his true form, which is his own sword, to Koga, standing by his side as they both faced Ginrei, "Bankai."
"Mukojochu Muramasa!"
Boom!
A pillar of purple Reiatsu erupted once more. The Reiatsu of a Captain-level releasing Bankai made Shinigami across the Seireitei faintly sense the direction of the battle.
For Lieutenant-level Shinigami, the oppressive terror was even more palpable.
"That direction… it's the 6th Division!"
"Didn't they say releasing Zanpakuto within the Seireitei is forbidden? Who dares to be so bold? Aren't they afraid of being tried by the Central 46?"
"An unfamiliar Reiatsu… has the Gotei 13 gained another Captain-level figure?"
"Wait… that's third seat Kuchiki Koga's Reiatsu… and Captain Kuchiki's?"
"What are they doing?"
For a moment, all the Shinigami who sensed Koga's Reiatsu turned their attention toward the battlefield.
Especially the Captains.
With their heightened perception, they could clearly sense that aside from Koga, Ginrei's Reiatsu was also present.
As far as they remembered, Koga was the successor Ginrei had personally chosen.
Now that a battle had erupted, was this a Captain Assessment for Koga, or something else entirely?
Moreover, why was only Koga's Bankai detectable, and not Ginrei's?
A Shinigami's Reiatsu undergoes subtle changes before and after using their Zanpakuto's Bankai.
This is normal.
After all, a Zanpakuto's Bankai is, in essence, the temporary fusion of two distinct souls… the Shinigami and their Zanpakuto. If there were no changes at all, that would be the truly frightening thing.
"Ginrei…"
In the 1st Division's barracks, Yamamoto furrowed his brows as he sensed Koga and Ginrei's Reiatsu.
Perhaps, in all of the Seireitei, only he truly understood Ginrei's thoughts.
But now, it seemed they had miscalculated.
Koga was not someone they could control.
And with the power of Koga's Zanpakuto, if he sought to overthrow the Seireitei, even if Yamamoto himself ultimately suppressed him, the damage to the Gotei 13 would be catastrophic.
"Chojiro!"
"Captain-Commander."
Sasakibe appeared instantly behind Yamamoto, bowing in acknowledgment.
"Immediately evacuate all Shinigami within a ten-spirit miles radius of the 6th Division. That includes you… no one is to approach."
"Yes!"
Though Sasakibe didn't fully grasp Yamamoto's order, he would carry it out without question.
After all, any command from the Captain-Commander was absolute.
Of course, while executing his duty, Sasakibe would also rely on his own judgment.
As the one who had served Yamamoto the longest, he could often intuit orders left unspoken.
For example, a hundred years later, during Rukia's execution at Sokyoku Hill, Sasakibe, despite his strength, would be knocked out by a single punch from Ichigo in his base state. Unbelievable, right?
Even Captain Sui-Feng of the 2nd Division had been stunned by such scene.
If Yoruichi hadn't appeared, Sui-Feng might have immediately activated her Bankai to deliver a one-hit kill to Ichigo.
As Sasakibe departed, Yamamoto's figure vanished from the 1st Division's barracks.
He needed to hurry to save Ginrei.
Without the power of his Zanpakuto, Ginrei in his current state stood no chance against Koga.
As for the other Captains, without understanding Koga's abilities, the more who intervened, the worse the situation would become.
In fact, to minimize the destruction Koga could inflict on the Seireitei, Yamamoto had specifically ordered Sasakibe to clear a ten-spirit miles radius.
One could say that, just to deal with a small fry like Koga, this was one of the Gotei 13's largest mobilizations in recent years.
"Kongobaku!"
A massive fireball condensed at the tip of Koga's Zanpakuto as he swung it toward Ginrei.
After Muramasa informed him that he couldn't sense Ginrei's Inner World, Koga realized that his father had already devised a way to counter his Zanpakuto's power.
If this had happened before his battle with Kyoya, Koga might have panicked momentarily.
But after fighting Kyoya, Koga understood that in the face of the strongest Captains, his Bankai's ability was far from invincible.