Chapter 174
Another one!
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“The Sarunomiya family…”
In the Fifth Division barracks, after listening to Kaelith’s account, Aizen wore a thoughtful expression.
After pondering a mont, he nodded.
“I’ll keep it in mind. I’ll find a chance in the next couple of days to investigate this matter.”
He hadn’t expected this family, which never showed off, to have such a mysterious ability. If what they called the “divine artifact” was real, then him being targeted by them would be only a matter of ti.
Seeming to guess his thoughts, Kaelith smiled:
“Don’t worry, Sōsuke.
“Before I ca, I asked Yoruichi about it.
“The Sarunomiya family truly matches their own description… Apart from opposing Hell’s Gate, they never do anything that might cause trouble.
“Whether it’s Sensei or the other noble houses, none can forcibly extract information from them.”
Aizen shook his head: “In the end, it’s just that their thods aren’t strong enough.
“If we had Muramasa’s power and forcibly broke into their minds, we could easily obtain the desired information.”
Kaelith sighed: “You love Muramasa deeply.”
Aizen sighed: “Such a fine Zanpakutō, sadly entrusted to the wrong person.”
Kaelith nodded: “If I had Muramasa, I’d achieve great things.”
Aizen: “…”
Giving Muramasa to Kaelith would be a different kind of ‘entrusted to the wrong person.’
For Kuchiki Kōga, it was given to the wrong person.
For Kaelith, it wouldn’t even be given to a person…
Just then, a squad mber arrived, handing Aizen a box.
The man’s eyes brimd with admiration as he looked at Aizen.
“Lieutenant Aizen! The Captain asked to bring this to you!”
Lieutenant?
Catching the keyword, Kaelith suddenly craned his neck over.
Before Aizen could move, Kaelith snatched the box away.
Opening it, he found a wooden plaque inscribed with the number “Five” and decorated with the Amatsuki flower (Japanese Androda).
Staring at the plaque, Kaelith stood as if struck by lightning.
He widened his eyes, glaring at Aizen.
“Sōsuke… what is this?!”
“This is…”
“This is proof of your betrayal!”
Kaelith cut Aizen off, clutching his chest and staggering back several steps.
“Back then, we clearly agreed to remain steadfast, never yielding to the wicked Hirako Shinji for wealth and rank. How could you fall now?!”
Aizen felt his blood pressure rise slightly.
Why he accepted this thing, didn’t Kaelith know?
Around midday, Hirako Shinji had organized a team luncheon to celebrate their new lieutenant.
Aizen, who looked like a fresh college student and radiated harmlessness, sat beside the wily old-tir Hirako Shinji, forming a stark contrast.
Hirako Shinji’s attention, however, was elsewhere.
“Kaelith! You scoundrel, this is the Fifth Division’s gathering, why are you here?!”
“Captain Hirako, have you grown so old that your mory’s muddled? It’s a gathering, so obviously I ca to eat.”
As he spoke, Kaelith casually picked out the carrots from his plate and shoved them onto Hirako Shinji’s plate.
“Hey hey, what’re you doing? I don’t want carrots!”
Hirako Shinji complained while stealthily trying to pass the carrots over to Aizen.
Smack!
Halfway through extending his chopsticks, he realized that Aizen had silently placed an invisible Kidō wall between them.
“Y-You traitor, Sōsuke!”
Hirako Shinji lanted in heartbreak.
Aizen, after hearing this accusation, calmly glanced at him, then turned back to continue eating.
As soon as Hirako looked away to quarrel with Kaelith again, Aizen dumped his carrots over as well.
When Hirako finally finished bickering and turned back, he saw even more carrots piled on his plate, eyes widening in disbelief.
He suddenly felt that this Fifth Division might soon not be his Fifth Division anymore…
…
That afternoon, Kaelith went to train swordsmanship with Yamamoto at the First Division dojo.
During a break, he took the opportunity to inquire about the Sarunomiya family.
Hearing Kaelith bring them up, Yamamoto showed surprise.
This brat had already grown to the point where the Sarunomiya family took notice?
Seeing his curious disciple staring, the old man felt a touch of complexity.
“As for the Sarunomiya family, you need not worry.
“This clan’s entire focus is on Hell’s Gate. Since the birth of the Soul Society, they’ve never done anything unrelated to Hell’s Gate.
“If they’ve suddenly approached you, it’s probably because of the soul—”
Mid-sentence, Yamamoto stopped.
After a few seconds of silence, he said slowly:
“Decide for yourself. Hell’s Gate has only opened twice in a million years, virtually zero probability.
“Signing a contract with the Sarunomiya family can yield many benefits. It’s not a bad deal.”
Kaelith asked curiously, “Teacher, what did you exchange for back then?”
“Shin’ō Academy.”
Yamamoto’s gaze grew nostalgic:
“When I founded the academy, I lacked many things.
“Teaching materials, building, land, student recruitnt, and publicity…
“I asked the Sarunomiya family with a trial mindset.
“By the next evening, everything I needed to open the academy was delivered before .
“Thanks to their help, Shin’ō Academy opened ten years earlier.”
Kaelith nodded lightly.
As expected of Yamamoto Shigekuni, using such an opportunity to build a school without hesitation…
Suddenly, he recalled another question.
Under Yamamoto’s gaze, Kaelith explained how he asked the Sarunomiya family how many had signed the contract within the Soul Society.
Hearing that Kuchiki Kōga might still be alive made Yamamoto frown.
If there was one Shinigami in the Soul Society he found most troubleso, it was unquestionably Kuchiki Kōga.
Facing Kuchiki Kōga was like guarding against a thief every day.
One lapse in ntal defense, and Muramasa could invade, subverting Zanpakutō.
Kuchiki Kōga alive was not good news…
After Kaelith finished, he added: “Teacher, the two also specifically said ‘the Soul Society itself only these people.’
What did they an by ‘the Soul Society itself’?”
Hearing this, Yamamoto pondered a while.
“Even I can’t be sure.”
“In fact, I’ve also guessed about this before.
“Decades ago, Hell’s Gate stirred once. My spiritual pressure was involved in suppressing it.
“But strangely, the spiritual consumption wasn’t as great as expected.
“It felt as if soone with power not much weaker than mine was suppressing Hell’s Gate alongside .”
Yamamoto narrowed his eyes:
“Yet when I asked the Sarunomiya family, they said the contract requires confidentiality, so they couldn’t disclose it.”
“Brat, if you co across similar clues later, you can pay attention.”
Kaelith nodded.
In his mind, a guess ford.
If it really was who he thought, then the Sarunomiya family was indeed quite capable.
That very night, the Sarunomiya family ca back again.
They brought every item Kaelith had listed from Urahara’s requirents.
Seeing their wealth and their tight-lipped policy, Kaelith didn’t bother nagging. He directly signed the contract.
Upon Kaelith agreeing, the two Sarunomiya emissaries sighed in relief.
Following their instructions, Kaelith completed a simple ritual.
As an invisible thread of spiritual power connected to his soul, Kaelith felt a distant presence… a colossal gate.
A huge gate to Hell.
On either side of the gate stood giant skeletal guardians, like gatekeepers, pressing their massive bony hands against it.
Kaelith’s consciousness circled the door a few tis.
He opened his eyes, nodding in satisfaction:
“Not bad, this Hell’s Gate looks nicer than I expected.”
Sarunomiya Jin was stunned.
“Mr. Kaelith, you can see Hell’s Gate directly through the contract?”
Kaelith muttered, “Not very clearly, but close enough.”
In truth, he saw it far clearer than he admitted, practically experiencing it firsthand.
Jin and Kōsei exchanged a surprised glance.
“Mr. Kaelith, your affinity with Hell’s Gate is the highest we’ve ever seen.”
“If you ever encounter Hell’s Gate during a mission, please keep your distance and don’t approach.”
They bowed again and left.
Before departing, they gave Kaelith a communicator.
If he decided on requests later, they’d fulfill them to the best of their ability in fair exchange.
Watching them leave, Kaelith stroked his chin.
Affinity with Hell’s Gate, they said?
You’ve piqued my curiosity. If you say I have a high affinity, how can I not test it? (t/N: I don't think that is a good thing....)
…
Ti passed, and finally, the first act of the Konso Reisai—“Seirei nryōbaku”—arrived.
All the vice-captains gathered together to enter the Living World via a Senkaimon.
Leading them, of course, was First Division Lieutenant Sasakibe Chōjirō.
As the old man read out the precautions, most vice-captain’s attention drifted to Kaelith.
Although he’d been a Shinigami for less than a year, Kaelith’s legendary na had begun to spread.
Information about Kaelith was tightly sealed, but at the vice-captain level, they had their own sources.
Kaelith going alone to Hueco Mundo, protecting Yoruichi Shihōin for two days under Tsunayashiro’s relentless siege and delivering her safely to the Central 46—it was widely known.
Facing the man who ended the Tsunayashiro dynasty, most vice-captains who hadn’t interacted with him were naturally curious.
Kaelith wanted to find Aizen for a chat.
But as his gaze swept over the vice-captains, he spotted two familiar faces.
Under Kaelith’s cat-got-his-tongue stare, Yamada Seinosuke, with a “Four” plaque on his arm, grinned broadly.
Not far away, Kuchiki Sōjun, wearing a “Six” plaque, nodded shyly.
Kaelith’s eye twitched.
He moved beside Yamada Seinosuke, lowering his voice:
“What’s this about? With your third-rate skills, what are you doing here?”
Yamada huffed:
“Our Fourth Division doesn’t focus on combat, but on dical ability.
“I, Yamada Seinosuke, whether in dical knowledge, surgical skill, or healing speed, am now second only to one in the Fourth Division.
“I deserve the vice-captain position!”
“And you, who aren’t even a real vice-captain, co here to join a vice-captains’ event. That’s what I call crashing the party!”
Kaelith: “…”
Damn, he’s got a point!
Impressed by Yamada Seinosuke’s logic, Kaelith chose another form of communication.
A mont later, Yamada, now sporting a bruised eye and locked in a headlock by Kaelith, decided to adopt a more civilized tone. (t/N; bwhaha)
Released by Kaelith, Yamada straightened his collar, thinking:
A gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years.
Once Unohana Captain teaches her swordsmanship, I’ll have Kaelith groveling!
Kuchiki Sōjun walked over, smiling and separating them.
Seeing Kuchiki Sōjun, Kaelith felt a headache.
Though Sōjun’s strength was decent, he was still too young.
Lacking experience and reaction ti compared to veterans, stepping into a vice-captain role so soon might not be good.
If Kaelith rembered correctly, Kuchiki Byakuya’s father died young.
Probably because he rose too fast, with strength not keeping pace.
No choice—since Kaelith was the father figure among their four peers, he’d look after Sōjun a bit.
Thinking this, he pulled Aizen over too.
Aizen looked at these people, feeling helpless.
He felt more like they were heading to Shin’ō Academy for school rather than going on a mission.
Once ready, Sasakibe ordered the Senkaimon opened, leading the way in.
Kaelith and the others followed suit.
Passing through the long Dangai, the scenery of the Living World appeared before Kaelith’s eyes!
…
In the Living World, the vice-captains set up devices to attract Hollows and began their mission.
Back in the Soul Society, Yamamoto stood in a secret place, spiritual pressure surging.
Before him struggled a grotesque Hollow.
Not far away, several Shinigami in noble robes watched quietly.
As the ceremony proceeded, Yamamoto’s spiritual pressure surged forward, disintegrating the Hollow into dust.
With its death, a giant gate slowly opened.
Within its crimson vortex, energy swirled.
Yamamoto took out a spiritual pressure specin and crushed it.
Then he pointed toward the Gate of Hell—
“Shinchira Renzosuke.”
Minutes later, dark red reishi flooded in from all directions.
These indissoluble reishi gradually ford a human shape—Shinchira Renzosuke!
Now half-transparent, Renzosuke hovered in midair, looking at the Hell’s Gate, then at Yamamoto, seemingly puzzled.
Just awakened from death, his mind couldn’t function fully.
Before he could understand anything, Yamamoto’s spiritual pressure pushed him into Hell’s Gate’s crimson vortex.
Then Yamamoto crushed the second specin.
“Gosuke Kenpachi!”
One after another, Shinchira Renzosuke, Takada Tai, Gosuke Kenpachi, and the Tsunayashiro-aligned captains who qualified were all sent into Hell.
Each soul sinking into Hell’s Gate added a subtle emotion to Yamamoto’s gaze.
As for Kuchiki Kōga’s send-off, it failed—no reishi responded.
It seed Kuchiki Kōga truly hadn’t died.
When it ca to Takada Tai, he briefly regained consciousness.
He looked at Yamamoto, opened his mouth—
“Kaelith…”
“Kuchiki…”
He couldn’t finish his words before sinking into Hell’s Gate.
Yamamoto felt puzzled.
Kaelith, Kuchiki?
Why ntion these two surnas suddenly?
His first thought was that soone in the Living World targeted Kaelith or Kuchiki Sōjun.
But soon he dismissed this idea.
When Takada Tai died, he couldn’t have known about the Konso Reisai or that Kaelith and Kuchiki Sōjun would join it.
After thinking, he concluded Takada Tai’s words were just nonsensical utterances from a muddled mind.
As he prepared to end the ceremony, the Sarunomiya family’s observing Shinigami suddenly turned pale!
................
.......
..
In the Living World, as Kaelith hunted Hollows, his vision suddenly spanned countless distances, seeing sothing not before him.
A Hell’s Gate.
In front of it stood Yamamoto Shigekuni.
The giant gate shook violently, as if sothing inside… was struggling to break out!
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