Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō novel Chapter 143

Chapter 143 - 143: Giving Hope in Despair

Seireitei, civilian residential district.

Kōga Kuchiki cut down an enemy, sheathing his Zanpakutō with a sigh. "That was the last of the rebel remnants. The war is finally over."

His adjutant chuckled. "Yeah, this war dragged on for decades and brought immense suffering to Soul Society, but it's finally come to an end."

He had noticed how much his captain had changed lately—ever since befriending the young captain of the 11th Division, he had become noticeably more cheerful.

Kōga Kuchiki, basking in the praise of his subordinates, didn't respond immediately. To maintain his composed captainly image, he simply shook his head and examined the bodies of the fallen rebels. Only then did he speak.

"According to the intelligence from the 2nd and 8th Divisions, all the rebels who escaped during the siege have been accounted for. We can finally take it easy for a while."

The adjutant frowned slightly. "But with the rebels eradicated, our Special Forces Unit will likely be disbanded. I wonder where we'll be reassigned?"

For a moment, the atmosphere in the unit grew heavy.

They had been a temporary force, assembled during the war with the sole purpose of fighting the rebels under Kōga Kuchiki's command. Now that the war was over, their dissolution was inevitable.

Kōga Kuchiki's expression darkened.

For a man who had long failed to earn his father-in-law's approval, his status as the Special Forces Unit captain was the last thing preserving his dignity.

Without that title, would he even be able to hold his head high in the Kuchiki Clan?

The adjutant scowled. "With your strength, Captain, you should have been made a proper captain of the Gotei 13. But now, you don't even have a squad to lead. Does the Captain-Commander not care at all about your contributions?"

Feeling his pride wounded, Kōga Kuchiki snapped, "That's enough. Stay out of my business."

The adjutant shrugged.

Truthfully, he wasn't all that concerned about Kōga Kuchiki's future. But after serving under him for so many years, if his captain secured a good position, he'd benefit from it too.

...

Seireitei, Noble District, Tsunayashiro estate.

Tokuyasu Tsunayashiro sat at the head of the room, gazing down at the black-clad death squad below.

Sitting upright beside him, Tamaba Tsunayashiro spoke. "Everything has been prepared according to your instructions."

Tokuyasu's tone was cold. "Then proceed."

Tamaba glanced in the direction of the civilian district, her expression somewhat peculiar. "Will this really work? Would the Kuchiki Clan willingly abandon one of their captains?"

Tokuyasu let out a quiet chuckle, casting her a sidelong glance.

"The Kuchiki Clan prides itself on being the model of nobility. But how many lesser nobles have gathered under their banner?"

"Once this is over, whether they choose to protect that man or not, they will suffer a heavy blow."

If they save him, they'll tarnish their reputation as the noble ideal.

If they don't, they'll lose not only a captain but also the trust of their clan members.

No matter what they decide, the Kuchiki Clan will take the fall.

And their weakness will be our strength.

Tsunayashiro Tamaba forced a smile. "I'll have someone take care of it right away."

...

Kōga Kuchiki stood silently as his lieutenant pursed his lips, then helped him check the corpses. Only after confirming that the bodies had fully dissolved into Reishi did he finally let out a breath of relief.

Kōga Kuchiki opened his mouth slightly—after all, they had been comrades for years, and he wanted to say something to ease the tension. But in the end, his pride held him back, and he merely lowered his head with a quiet sigh.

Shhk!

Suddenly, the lieutenant's body stiffened mid-step. His movements halted, and his Zanpakutō slipped from his grip, clattering onto the ground.

As a seasoned warrior, he immediately realized he had been attacked. But how? They were surrounded by allies—how had an enemy managed to land a blow?

The Reiatsu in this blade... it feels so familiar...

"How... could this happen!?"

Blood gushed from his mouth as his knees gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.

He turned his head, pupils contracting in shock as he stared into the familiar face of someone he had fought alongside for years.

...

In a hidden chamber far away, Sōsuke Aizen watched the scene unfold with great interest.

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