Chapter 144 – 144 ⥤ Settling Scores!

As true death approached, Kōga realized he wasn’t as brave as he had imagined.

When facing death, his heart filled with fear.

All his ambitions and dreams of recognition would vanish like smoke once he died.

Akira and Aizen exchanged glances, silently nodding.

“What intelligence?”

“Well…” Kōga hesitated.

Seeing this, Akira grinned with demonic ferocity, “It’s fine if you don’t want to talk. I have a good relationship with Captain Yoruichi of the Second Division. I’m sure the Onmitsukidō can pry open your mouth.”

From Kōga’s behavior, his willpower seemed weaker than a toe’s worth.

Even without bringing in Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi’s interrogation techniques alone would make him spill everything — down to what he had for dinner last night.

“But don’t worry, you’ve served Soul Society and shed blood for the Seireitei. I’ll consider these factors and try to avoid capital punishment.”

Carrot and stick — Akira demonstrated Genryūsai’s techniques perfectly. Even Aizen had to admit this guy had suddenly grown a brain.

Kōga hesitated.

He wasn’t sure if Akira was telling the truth or deceiving him. But at others’ mercy and in his current state, he could barely maintain consciousness, let alone fight.

“Alright, I’ll talk.” He said with a bitter smile, “It’s about the Tsunayashiro clan.”

Then, he detailed the story of Tokinada Tsunayashiro going to the Senzaikyū.

After hearing this, both Akira and Aizen’s eyes widened in surprise. They hadn’t expected such an unexpected revelation.

After casually restraining Kōga with the Kūkan Mukai, Akira pulled his friend aside to discuss.

“Sōsuke, what do you think?”

Aizen gave him a deep look and sighed helplessly, “Tokinada Tsunayashiro had a motive, but this testimony alone isn’t enough to convict him. Kōga Kuchiki was simply weak-minded and fell for his deception, which led to this grave mistake.”

“If it were someone else — say, you — who was misunderstood by Captain-Commander Yamamoto and imprisoned in the Senzaikyū, and someone came telling you similar things, would you choose to rebel on the spot, slaughter the guards, break out of prison, kill the Central 46, and throw the entire Seireitei into chaos?”

Akira stroked his chin, deep in thought.

Worried about this guy’s brain freezing up, Aizen quickly added, “However, considering Tokinada Tsunayashiro’s behavior, I suspect Kōga Kuchiki’s imprisonment might be his doing. Though Kōga’s personality is extreme, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to kill all the accompanying Shinigami without some external influence.”

Akira’s eyes lit up.

As expected of Aizen — even without reviewing the 2nd Division’s investigation files, he could deduce the truth from others’ accounts.

Everything was Tokinada’s fault!

Though unfamiliar with this new threat, Akira had no hesitation in placing all blame on him.

“In that case, things will be much easier to handle.” He clapped his hands together, immediately making up his mind.

Looking at his confident expression, Aizen could only sigh, hoping this guy wouldn’t get beaten too badly by Captain-Commander Genryūsai.

The kid was already silly enough — if beaten too hard, he might become even sillier.

The two cleaned up the battlefield, first taking Kōga and Muramasa to Aizen’s secret laboratory to collect Reishi and soul data, and examine Muramasa.

Of course, all this was done without the knowledge of either man or sword.

Since Aizen’s role hadn’t been dramatic and Akira had been the main force in battle, Kōga barely remembered him.

After completing all this, they brought the rebel back to the Seireitei.

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“Teacher! Captain-Commander! Yama-jii!”

The deafening shout echoed through the 1st Division’s barracks. Chōjirō took a deep breath, suppressing his rising blood pressure.

He had thought Genryūsai’s iron fist would keep this 3rd Seat Akira in line, but instead, he’d become even more unruly.

In the tea room, Genryūsai placed Ryūjin Jakka under the tea stove, lighting a handful of flames.

He decided not to argue with Akira today. The rebellious Zanpakutō had all returned to their original forms, and if nothing had gone wrong, Akira had completed his assigned mission. Judging from his vigorous voice, he probably hadn’t been injured.

Reflecting on his accomplishments, Akira had already surpassed most Shinigami. He had exposed Ansai Tsunayashiro’s rebellion, eliminated multiple rebel strongholds, executed the criminal Takeda Chishi, killed the invading Menos Grande, and repelled the Vasto Lorde Pink Chin-Something Frajola…

{T/N: Frajola=Sylvester from Looney Tunes}

“Teacher!” Akira burst through the wooden door, leaping in to sit properly in the spot the old man had prepared.

“Hmm.” Genryūsai grunted softly, deliberately showing no response.

Despite Akira’s great service to Soul Society, now wasn’t the time for praise — his tail would surely touch the sky if encouraged.

Undeterred, Akira launched into a vivid description of his battle with Kōga.

When he described how Muramasa’s Bankai ability had failed to affect Kūkan Mukai, Genryūsai raised his eyelids to study the young man more carefully.

He knew Muramasa’s power intimately. Without the mind-closing technique, even the Captains’ Zanpakutō would have fallen to it.

Akira’s Zanpakutō had been strange from the start — failing to communicate during initial Jinzen, requiring the sacrificial Jinzen method, and possessing both extraordinary Reiatsu suppression and infinite extension abilities.

Both wielder and sword were peculiar beyond measure, made even more mysterious by their immunity to Muramasa’s power.

“Finally, I unleashed a Sōkotsu that left Kōga Kuchiki wounded, repentant, and begging for mercy. And he revealed an enormous secret.”

At this, Genryūsai narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, waiting.

Akira then shared all the intelligence from Kōga and Aizen’s analysis.

The old man regarded him with bewilderment.

The Tsunayashiro clan’s interference wasn’t surprising. The mighty Five Great Noble Houses had crumbled, losing nearly 80% of their power and wealth. Their authority had been divided among the Shihōin, Kuchiki, and other upper noble houses.

It would have been strange if Tokinada Tsunayashiro hadn’t reacted. Genryūsai had merely expected them to recuperate for centuries before seeking revenge.

But what truly puzzled him wasn’t this — it was how Akira’s supposedly simple mind had pieced it all together. This insight seemed impossible from someone who usually only spoke of fighting and killing.

“Whether it’s Kōga Kuchiki’s rebellion, the chaos in Soul Society, the casualties in the Gotei 13, or the nobles’ mutual suspicion.” Akira gave his final summary, “In short, it’s all Tokinada’s fault! To prevent the situation from expanding further and brewing more serious disasters. I have a proposal!”

“Speak.” Genryūsai took a sip of scalding tea — his high fire resistance let him enjoy it this way.

Akira grinned fiercely, his tone low, “The situation is urgent—let’s kill the traitor Tokinada Tsunayashiro!”

Pffft!

A mouthful of hot tea sprayed across the tatami mat.

Thanks to his maxed-out evasion skills and sharp instincts, Akira managed to dodge the old man’s spray.

“Fool!” Genryūsai thundered, “Tokinada Tsunayashiro is now the head of the Tsunayashiro family. Killing him would throw Soul Society into chaos! And one testimony isn’t enough to condemn him!”

Akira grinned, “Heh, looks like Yama-jii’s going senile — his mind’s not as sharp anymore. Guess it’s up to this strategist to handle things.”

Veins bulged on Genryūsai’s forehead as the room’s temperature soared.

Sensing his Danger Instincts screaming like boiling water, Akira hurried to explain.

“Teacher, consider this — the Central 46 are all dead. Until new members are selected, doesn’t the highest judicial authority in Soul Society belong to our Gotei 13?”

Seeing Akira’s sudden seriousness, Genryūsai’s anger cooled slightly, and he nodded.

Selecting new Central 46 members wasn’t a simple matter. At the nobles’ council, the families were at each other’s throats. Even with the Shihōin and Kuchiki families presiding, they’d barely chosen any wise-men, let alone judges.

Genryūsai estimated it would take three years just to select all Central 46 members — and that would be considered quick.

The execution of Soul Society’s laws now rested entirely with the Gotei 13.

“If that’s the case, then as head of the Gotei 13, doesn’t the First Division represent Soul Society’s highest judicial authority?”

Genryūsai hesitated before slowly nodding.

Akira clapped his hands together, laying it out before the old man, “Then it’s settled! We’re at the pinnacle — why waste words with Tokinada Tsunayashiro? You don’t even need to act personally. Just let my two senior brothers come with me. I guarantee we’ll kill that guy clean and thoroughly, leaving no loose ends!”

Bang!

A heavy fist came flying, and Akira sensed the danger.

Despite his instincts, his body’s slow reaction time left him helpless as Genryūsai’s fist drove him into the floor.

“Nonsense!” Genryūsai raged, “How could I, as Captain-Commander, commit such a rebellious act?!”

Akira pushed himself up and casually relocated to the other side, dragging the tea table with him.

From his experience, Genryūsai hadn’t put much force into that punch.

Clearly, the old man was tempted by the proposal but couldn’t openly admit it due to his position and dignity.

No matter — as a disciple, he should help resolve his teacher’s concerns. Besides, he already despised this Tokinada character. Such a threat to Soul Society’s peace had no right to exist.

{T/N: He don’t even know the guy, but fuck it! Let’s punch some faces!}

“Of course we can’t act without evidence.” Akira said, taking a sip of tea, “If there’s no evidence, why not find some? Didn’t Tokinada Tsunayashiro commit the serious offense of murdering his colleagues?”

At this reminder, Genryūsai recalled a tragic incident from years past.

A lower-ranking Tsunayashiro branch family member had married a commoner Shinigami from the Rukongai, causing tremendous upheaval.

The nobles condemned this breach of tradition. Countless fence-sitters allied with the Kuchiki, Shihōin, and even the Shiba clans, sparking years of rebellion. Though eventually suppressed, the conflict left massive casualties, even within the Gotei 13.

In the aftermath, whether from clan pressure or other motives, that branch family member murdered his wife and colleagues. Though Shunsui reported the matter to Central 46, the perpetrator’s clan status spared him from punishment — he received merely house arrest from the Tsunayashiro family.

The tragedy cut deeper because this Tsunayashiro branch member had been Genryūsai’s own disciple, a classmate of Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku: Tokinada Tsunayashiro.

{T/N: Disciple because the old man was the first Principal of the Shin’ō Academy.}

Genryūsai had never imagined this disciple of such vicious nature would rise to become the Tsunayashiro family head.

As disciples went, Tokinada and Akira were like heaven and earth.

Genryūsai shook his head, not wanting to judge.

“We have the crimes, and the laws are in our hands.” Akira clenched his fingers, smiling kindly, “What’s stopping us from judging a mere Tokinada Tsunayashiro?”

Genryūsai took a deep breath, quite tempted.

“Teacher, don’t hesitate. Now is the perfect opportunity — once this chance passes, it won’t come again!”

Like a demon offering forbidden fruit, Akira persisted in his persuasion, analyzing the main factors behind Soul Society’s unrest.

He methodically listed every transgression — from the rebel wars to noble power struggles, to the countless crimes the Tsunayashiro had committed over centuries.

Genryūsai narrowed his eyes, flames of anger seemingly burning in his pupils.

{T/N: This proves that our dear MC isn’t stupid, he just uses 10% of his brain at all times, just as “science claims”.}

Regardless of how Akira had acquired this knowledge, his assessment of the Tsunayashiro’s guilt was undeniable. They were nothing but parasites feeding on Soul Society’s great tree, draining its marrow and breeding endless tragedy and darkness.

At this thought, Genryūsai opened his half-closed eyes, releasing a wave of heat into the room.

“Chōjirō, notify Kyōraku and Ukitake. Have them come to the First Division tea room for a discussion…”

The moment these words left his lips, Chōjirō, who had been standing guard outside, departed from the corridor and activated Tenteikūra in the empty space beside the tea room.

Web-like Reiatsu instantly expanded throughout the Seireitei…

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/mrblackwing

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep