Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō novel Chapter 149

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Chapter 149 - 149: Hollow Fame

Seireitei, 2nd Division Barracks.

Kōga Kuchiki sat alone in his cell, his face dark and grim.

Betrayed by those he trusted, he was filled with grief and indignation, struggling to suppress the turmoil within him. But he hadn't lost hope. He firmly believed that his revered father-in-law would not be swayed by mere rumors!

For the sake of his son-in-law and the honor of the Kuchiki Clan, he would uncover the truth.

Kōga glanced at the tightly shut prison door, a flicker of expectation in his eyes.

Would his esteemed father-in-law walk in at any moment, telling him that the investigation was complete and he had been proven innocent?

Suddenly, he furrowed his brows, catching the conversation of the Shinigami guards outside.

"It's the first time I've seen a prisoner living more comfortably than the guards."

"Keep your voice down. He's still the son-in-law of the Kuchiki Clan, and Captain ordered us to take good care of him."

"Captain!?"

"Yeah, Captain! They say it's because of Aozaki-sama that we're treating him well. Otherwise, do you think he'd be getting this kind of treatment in prison?"

Hearing their exchange, Kōga sat on his soft cushion, feeling warmth spread through his heart.

He hadn't seen his friend in days, yet even now, he was looking out for him. He had truly made the right friend.

...

Kuchiki Clan Estate.

Seated in the main hall, Ginrei Kuchiki looked exhausted.

It wasn't just the investigation into Kōga Kuchiki's case that wore him down—it was the pressure from the other noble factions.

The Tsunayashiro Clan and its allies had been relentless, demanding Kōga's expulsion from the Kuchiki Clan or even his execution.

On the other hand, the members of the Kuchiki Clan and their allied nobles insisted on protecting him. They had spent years by Kōga's side and knew his character well.

He could be impulsive at times, but using his comrades' lives as a display of strength? That was simply not something he would do.

The claim that Kōga had murdered his teammates felt off to Ginrei.

The Tsunayashiro Clan's sudden involvement was too suspicious. More than that, he knew Kōga's nature. Arrogant? Yes. Conceited? Perhaps. But bloodthirsty? That was utter nonsense.

Because of this, Ginrei had no intention of abandoning him.

If the other squad members had truly tried to take Kōga's life first, then it wasn't unthinkable that he would have retaliated and killed them all.

"No matter how you look at it, this was a setup. When will that boy finally learn?"

Ginrei sighed inwardly.

"Should I really do as Masatsuki Aozaki suggested and speak with him directly?"

A lifetime of stubbornness had left him hesitant, but for the first time, his resolve wavered.

Allowing Kōga to marry into the Kuchiki Clan had been his way of acknowledging him. He truly didn't want to see the boy's life destroyed.

"Clan Head, the Tsunayashiro Clan has gone too far! They dared to frame Kōga-sama—this is a direct challenge to the Kuchiki Clan!"

"We all know Kōga-sama's character. He would never do something like this!"

"Exactly! This is clearly a scheme by the Tsunayashiro Clan. We cannot let them get away with it!"

"For decades, we've tolerated their arrogance—are we supposed to keep backing down?"

"We are the model of nobility, yet we allow the Tsunayashiro Clan to recklessly disrupt the order of Seireitei. If we continue to turn a blind eye, isn't that a betrayal of the Soul King?"