After saying a proper goodbye to everyone in his family, Masatsuki Aozaki set off on his journey to the Soul King Palace.
Early in the morning, he arrived at the Shiba Clan.
Walking into the heart of the Shiba estate, Masatsuki Aozaki saw the Kakaku Taihō—the massive cannon that would launch him skyward.
An essential tool for reaching the Soul King Palace, the Kakaku Taihō naturally couldn't be left abandoned in the wilderness.
Not far from the cannon stood something resembling a massive pillar.
That was the Tenchūren.
The Tenchūren itself wasn't particularly remarkable—it was simply a vehicle meant for transport. Its only real merit was its incredible durability.
Even after falling from the Soul King Palace, passing through seventy-two layers of barriers, and crashing into Soul Society, it still remained intact.
...
"Hey, brother-in-law, long time no see! What brings you here today? Shouldn't you be keeping your wife company? When are you going to give us a little heir?"
Masatsuki Aozaki greeted Kaien Shiba warmly as he stepped out of the house.
"None of your damn business!"
Kaien Shiba, hands tucked into his sleeves, couldn't help but retort.
"I should be congratulating you, though. I heard you got married again."
"Same to you!" Masatsuki Aozaki said with a grin, clasping his hands together in a mock bow.
Kaien Shiba scoffed.
"Congratulate my ass! Don't get cocky."
"You were smart to go to Yūshirō for the Golden Seal Society," he added, narrowing his eyes.
"But don't think you can get away with everything. Kūkaku might spoil you, but I won't go easy on you, brother-in-law!"
Masatsuki Aozaki smirked.
"Oh? So that means you want to spar with me again, huh?"
Kaien Shiba froze. His expression twisted slightly, as if he had just recalled something particularly painful.
Then, like a deflated balloon, he slumped and muttered,
"I've been feeling under the weather lately. Maybe next time. I'll let you off the hook for now."
"Stupid aniki, stop trying to act tough with those half-baked skills of yours. You should be worrying about how to master your Bankai instead."
Hearing the familiar voice behind him, Kaien Shiba forced an awkward smile.
Masatsuki Aozaki glanced over and saw Kūkaku Shiba walking toward them.
Turning back to Kaien, he raised an eyebrow and asked in a hushed tone,
"You still haven't learned Bankai after all this time?"
Kaien Shiba's face stiffened with embarrassment. He lowered his head slightly and gave a small nod.
A few years ago, his close friend and fellow Shin'ō Academy graduate, Byakuya Kuchiki, had successfully achieved Bankai and become the captain of the Sixth Division.
In comparison, though Kaien Shiba's Reiatsu wasn't weak, he had never been able to grasp Bankai, and it weighed heavily on him.
He recalled an old saying often heard in Soul Society:
"I fear both my brother's suffering and the day he achieves Bankai."
Right now, nothing could describe his feelings more accurately.
Masatsuki Aozaki, watching Kaien's troubled expression, leaned in and asked in a low voice,
"Would you be open to using some… unconventional methods?"
As Masatsuki Aozaki's brother-in-law, Kaien Shiba immediately understood what he was implying.
He was referring to the Tenshintai—a highly restricted artifact under strict control by the Gotei 13.
However, he didn't hesitate for a moment and firmly replied,
"Not at all!"
As a young man of the new era, he wasn't the type to cling to outdated traditions or refuse to adapt.
If there was a good opportunity, why not take advantage of it?
Masatsuki Aozaki patted his chest with confidence.
"Go to the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, tell them my name, and you'll get 20% off."
Kaien Shiba hesitated, tempted but skeptical.
"Really?"
Masatsuki Aozaki grinned.
"Of course it's true! You're my brother-in-law—of all people, I wouldn't lie to you."
Seeing the sincerity in Masatsuki's eyes, Kaien couldn't help but feel a little moved.
Thinking back on the misunderstandings and prejudices he had once held against Masatsuki, a sense of guilt welled up in his heart.
With a firm pat on Masatsuki's shoulder, he sighed with emotion.
"You really are a good brother. I was wrong to misjudge you before."
Back when he graduated from Shin'ō Academy, Kaien had outperformed even Byakuya Kuchiki, ranking as the top student of his year.
And yet, now, Byakuya had surpassed him.
He couldn't say he was jealous, but the gap between them left him feeling somewhat disheartened.
Just then, Kūkaku Shiba leaned in curiously.
"What are you two talking about?"
Kaien Shiba quickly waved his hand dismissively, forcing an awkward laugh.
"Nothing. Just chatting with my brother-in-law. Anyway, I'm done here, so I'll be going now."
Without looking back, he turned and walked away, leaving Masatsuki Aozaki and Kūkaku standing there, exchanging glances.
Yeah, right.
If my sister finds out I even considered cheating my way to Bankai, she'd never let me live it down.
And if Miyako hears about it… that'd be even worse.
A lecture would be unavoidable.
Of course, it wasn't that he was afraid of his wife—he just didn't want to bully women.
...
Kūkaku turned to Masatsuki, a smile forming on her lips.
"Are you ready?"
Masatsuki scratched his head.
"Honestly, there's not much to prepare."
Kirio Hikifune and Senjumaru Shutara had been incredibly accommodating.
Over the past few days, they had gone over everything, making sure all his food, clothing, and accommodations in the Soul King Palace were fully arranged.
There was nothing left for him to do.
"Seventy-two barriers… That's quite a lot," Kūkaku muttered.
She didn't particularly care about the actual distance between the Soul King Palace and Seireitei.
But from her perspective, she could clearly see just how many layers of separation lay between them.
"Don't worry. I'll be back soon."
Masatsuki Aozaki was right there, and his lips… landed on Kūkaku's.
"…Sneaky," Kūkaku muttered, the corners of her mouth curving upward.
...
As the mysterious gateway to the Soul King Palace opened, Masatsuki Aozaki clapped his hands together, standing just outside the towering structure.
Kirio Hikifune and Senjumaru Shutara approached, watching his profile.
"Nervous, Masatsuki?" Kirio asked. "We're about to ascend to the heavens and meet the most revered being in existence."
"I was a little at first, but now? Not really. It's actually better this way—I'm less likely to mess up."
Masatsuki grinned, looking as if he had done this a hundred times before.
Facing the Soul King now didn't feel much different from when he had first arrived in Soul Society and encountered Aizen in Rukongai.
He thought back to that moment.
Back then, the difference between them had been like heaven and earth.
But now, he had become a towering presence in the eyes of many.
That said, he would never be arrogant enough to believe he was the only force that mattered in the world.
With that, the conversation ended.
The three of them stepped forward into the massive pillar-like structure.
Before long, Masatsuki felt the Tenchūren being loaded into the Kakaku Taihō.
The members of the Shiba Clan gathered, channeling their Reiryoku to charge the cannon's core.
As the spirit core's glow intensified—
BOOM!
A deafening blast echoed through the air.
The Tenchūren shot out, streaking straight toward the heavens!
...
At the 1st Division barracks, Yamamoto stood alone in an open courtyard.
Leaning on his cane, he gazed up at the sky.
With the aid of his Reiatsu, he could see the long pillar piercing through the sky, gradually aligning with the blazing sun.
The harsh sunlight made him squint slightly, his aged fingers tightening around his staff.
His expression deepened, eyes clouded with thought.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake