"Old Man Yama!"
Kensei Kenzuru cheerfully pushed open the door to the First Division captain's study and sidled up to Yamamoto, who was sipping his tea.
Yamamoto calmly took a sip of the hot tea in his hand, not even lifting his eyelids, as if he hadn't heard Kensei at all.
"Need a small favor from you," Kensei's face was full of a sincere smile. "Since you've given me the authority to mobilize the Captains, you need to lead by example and prove it, right? Otherwise, how will the other Captains obey my orders?"
"Nonsense." Yamamoto uttered two words, his voice not loud but leaving no room for doubt. "This old man must command the overall situation and coordinate from the center."
"Didn't I do all the work this time? Old Man Yama, you should at least contribute a little, have some sense of participation. Otherwise, people will say this 'Soul Society Crown Prince' is sidelining the Captain-Commander. That wouldn't look good, would it?"
Kensei spoke with righteous confidence, putting on an act of considering Yamamoto's reputation.
Thump!
Yamamoto unceremoniously gave Kensei's head a knock, then pointed towards the door, telling him to get lost.
Kensei rubbed the not-actually-painful back of his head and sighed as he walked out of the room. It seemed the path of recruiting Old Man Yama was a dead end.
Fourth Division barracks. Retsu Unohana was elegantly pruning a bonsai in her room.
"Big Sis Flower."
Kensei knocked on the door, entering only after receiving a response, putting on a well-behaved smile as he did so.
Unohana looked up, giving Kensei a gentle smile. "It's Kensei-kun. What brings you here?"
Kensei briefly explained his purpose. The plan wasn't complicated at all—simply have Big Sis Flower guard one of the Boundary Transfer Pillars to prevent any accidents.
Unohana listened quietly, then set down the flower shears in her hand, her fingertips stroking a petal.
"Assisting in maintaining the Seireitei's stability is indeed a Captain's duty," her voice was soft, her smile as comforting as a spring breeze. "And since the Captain-Commander has granted you authority, I naturally won't refuse."
Kensei was overjoyed. "As expected, Big Sis Flower is reliable. Your great kindness..."
"However," Unohana interrupted Kensei's thanks, the smile on her face deepening a little. "Kensei, afterwards, you must set aside some time to 'stretch my limbs' with me. It's been a long time since I've had a proper spar with you."
A chill enveloped Kensei's entire body. The smile on his face paused for an instant before stiffly replying, "No problem. Just a spar. I can handle it."
Having secured the agreement of this gentle and accommodating lady—who was infinitely better than Old Man Yama—Kensei couldn't help but reflect on whether his choice of teacher had been too hasty. Maybe he should have apprenticed under Big Sis Flower instead.
Eighth Division barracks. Shunsui Kyōraku was lounging comfortably on the roof, his straw hat covering his face, a small sake flask placed beside him—the very picture of idleness.
As the future Captain-Commander, how could Kensei just stand by and watch Kyōraku sink into such decadence?
"Kyōraku-oji-san! How can you sleep at your age!"
Kensei tried to awaken Kyōraku's motivation, but sadly, Kyōraku didn't respond at all. Instead, even snoring could be heard from under the hat.
"Tch, looks like we'll have to trouble Ukitake-senpai." Kensei shook his head with a sigh, his tone sorrowful and indignant. "Even though Ukitake-senpai's health is poor, and moving a few times makes him cough up blood... but who made him have such an unreliable friend?"
"Little Junior Brother, no need to put it so harshly, is there?" Kyōraku moved the hat from his face, a wry smile hanging at the corner of his mouth. "Speak. What do you need from me?"
"Guard a pillar for me. Just one night at most." Kensei Shunpo'd to Kyōraku's side, slinging an arm over his shoulder. "It's just north of the Tsunayashiro estate. No strong opponents either."
"Your senior brother is very delicate, not suited for these violent, kill-or-be-killed missions..." Kyōraku Kyōraku shook the sake flask in his hand.
Kensei leaned in closer, taking a few volumes of "art books" from his chest. "Senior brother, if you guard it well, I'll give you these."
Kyōraku took the things Kensei mysteriously handed over, opened them, and flipped through a few pages. His eyes instantly widened. "Junior brother... no, from now on, you're my senior brother."
"So, about this favor..."
"What's the big deal?" Kyōraku closed the full-color booklet Kensei handed him, carefully placing it inside his robes. "Why don't I just help you take care of the Tsunayashiro Clan altogether? Save some of 'Kensei-aniki's' creative time."
"No need for that." Kensei quickly waved his hands. Just kidding, I'm still counting on this to boost my reputation.
"I'll notify you before the operation starts."
Seeing his objective achieved, Kensei's figure flashed and he slipped away, lest Kyōraku change his mind.
"Ah, it's all my fault for being too sentimental and righteous, actually getting threatened by my little junior brother using Ukitake's health!"
Looking around and finding no one else nearby, Kyōraku took out the booklet from his robes again to have another look.
Next, Kensei found Kensei (Muguruma), Love, and Rōjūrō, assigning the three of them to guard one pillar.
The hot-tempered Kensei immediately declared that he alone was enough, but Kensei (Kenzuru) suppressed the idea, citing that Kensei (Muguruma) had just recently become Captain, this operation was of great importance, and no accidents could be allowed.
Thus, the roster of bodyguards for the four Boundary Transfer Pillars was finalized: the east pillar was Big Sis Flower; the south pillar was Yoruichi and Soi Fon; the north pillar was Kyōraku; the west pillar was the Foolish Trio. As for Ukitake-senpai, he'd just command from the Department of Research and Development.
"Now everything's ready." Kensei nodded with satisfaction. "Just waiting for Urahara to finish, then we can deliver this grand 'gift' to the Tsunayashiro Clan."
As for whether Central 46 would have any objections... Give me a break. After this, there won't even be a Tsunayashiro Clan anymore. And half the members are from the Shihōin and Kuchiki families anyway. What waves could they possibly make?
Completely reassured, Kensei headed back towards the Department of Research and Development.
Night enveloped the Seireitei. The Tsunayashiro main estate was eerily quiet, carrying a stifling pressure like the calm before a storm.
Deep underground in the estate's central laboratory, within a cultivation tank, the experimental subject placed alongside Ikomikidomoe floated up and down. The synchronization rate displayed on the instruments was still steadily rising.
"How much longer?"
Tsunayashiro Jin asked in a deep voice. His current mood was like waiting for a file to download—the closer it got to completion, the more impatient he became. If it got stuck at 99%, he wasn't sure what he might do.
"Reporting to the Clan Head, it will take one more day to complete fully." An experimenter, under Tsunayashiro Jin's gloomy stare, felt somewhat uneasy. "If there is external stimulation, it might speed up the progress."
"Hmm..." Although Tsunayashiro Jin very much wanted to speed things up, all viable experimental methods had been tried, all ending in failure. "Ban'ya, go notify these nobles. Have them prepare to come here to discuss our great undertaking."
"Yes, sir!"
Ban'ya Tenshirō stepped out from the shadows, respectfully taking the list handed to him by Tsunayashiro Jin before melting back into the darkness.
"Clan Head, it's bad!" A personnel member in charge of monitoring called out to Tsunayashiro Jin. "Two strangers suddenly appeared above ground!"
Tsunayashiro Jin frowned and strode forward. Through the monitor, he could see two figures in black robes standing on the ground above the main estate, conversing.
"It seems we've been discovered." Hidden beneath the spiritual pressure-concealing black robes, Aizen pushed up his glasses. "You made the arrangements I asked for, correct?"
"Naturally." Kensei nodded. "Come to think of it, this is the first time I'm fighting side-by-side with you."
"What about the Meizen incident?"
"You didn't contribute much then either." Kensei shot Aizen a look of contempt. Back then, she'd only used Kyōka Suigetsu to disrupt Meizen's senses. Her damage output share was pitifully low.
Underground, Tsunayashiro Jin couldn't hear the conversation, but seeing the two figures strolling about as if on a leisurely walk, a surge of anger rose in his heart. Then, as if realizing something, his expression changed drastically.
"No!"
Tsunayashiro Jin's face turned ashen. He grabbed Enrakyōten, which was placed nearby, and with several flashes of Shunpo, he arrived on the surface.
"Woo~" Kensei whistled. "Didn't expect this bunch to know they need to hide underground for their shady business."
"Normal." Aizen chimed in. "Pathetic individuals who can't recognize their own strength naturally seek out places that provide psychological comfort."
"KENSEI KENZURU!!!" Tsunayashiro Jin's furious roar exploded through the night. "You dare betray me!"
"You can eat carelessly, but you can't speak carelessly." Kensei wagged his finger. "The one who promised you was 'Soul Society Crown Prince Kensei Kenzuru.' What does that have to do with me, 'Azure Star Kensei Kenzuru'?"
"You dare mock this old man!"
Tsunayashiro Jin's spiritual pressure grew turbulent as he prepared to attack Kensei.
Control Room, Department of Research and Development.
Jūshirō Ukitake coughed lightly twice. Together with Urahara and Mayuri beside him, he channeled his spiritual pressure into the control core before them.
Hmmmm—
At the four cardinal directions—east, south, west, north—of the Tsunayashiro main estate, four massive pillars shed their surface concealment Kidō, emitting a faint green light. The four pillars connected to form a rectangle, encircling all the buildings within its range.
This sudden development interrupted Tsunayashiro Jin's actions. Understanding this was some method Kensei had prepared in advance, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. He attempted to use Enrakyōten to mimic a Zanpakutō with powerful offensive capabilities to shatter one of the pillars.
But it was already too late. Before he could complete the action, accompanied by a burst of intense light, the Tsunayashiro main estate vanished from the Seireitei. In its place, only a rectangular pit of unfathomable depth remained.
Ban'ya, who had been sent by Tsunayashiro Jin to notify the followers, was currently leading a group of small and medium-sized nobles swiftly towards the Tsunayashiro estate. Halfway there, they witnessed this unbelievable scene with their own eyes. Realizing their plan had been exposed, panic began to spread through the crowd.
"Destroy those pillars! Don't forget the Clan Head's trump card!"
After executing one noble who tried to flee, Ban'ya's words stabilized the group. Since these people dared to follow along with this scheme, they naturally understood some of the Tsunayashiro's methods.
The nobles, having calmed themselves, led the Shinigami cultivated within their families to attack the four Boundary Transfer Pillars.
"Little Soi Fon, remember to work hard, okay?" At the south pillar, Yoruichi looked with utter disdain at the approaching crowd, still in the mood to tease Soi Fon. "Maybe if you perform well, Kensei will give you a reward."
The tips of Soi Fon's ears reddened slightly, but she still entered combat stance.
"Hey! Rōjūrō, don't you dare use your Bankai!"
At the west pillar, Kensei (Muguruma) cracked his neck, unconcealed excitement on his face.
"Tch, why did Kensei assign me to a mission with these two art-illiterate idiots." Rōjūrō put a hand to his forehead with a sigh. Even though his Bankai didn't discriminate between friend and foe, couldn't Kensei and Love just plug their ears to avoid its effects?
"Burning—Full Swing!"
Meanwhile, Love Aikawa swung his massive, flaming tetsubō, charging towards the crowd with ferocious flames.
At the east pillar, Retsu Unohana simply stood there quietly, the gentle smile on her face unchanged in the slightest. "I hope you all won't cause trouble for a mere healer like me. I'm not very skilled in combat, you see."
The enemies at the front instinctively felt a sense of suffocation, forcefully halting their charge.
To the north, Kyōraku tucked the booklet into his robes. The things Kensei gave him were far more exciting than anything published in the Soul Society. Couldn't let them get damaged.
"Ukitake, Ukitake, it's all your fault I got dragged into doing manual labor. You're buying me drinks later."
Kyōraku crossed his arms, resting his hands on the hilts of his two swords, his gaze placid as he watched the largest group charge towards him.
***
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