Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō novel Chapter 50

Chapter 50 - 50: My Apologies

"Cry out, Bōkunchō!"

The moment Asaka Tsunayashiro called out, her Zanpakutō elongated into a thin, needle-like double-edged blade. In a flash, it pierced straight through Masatsuki Aozaki's body.

Splurt!

Bright red blood spilled from Masatsuki's chest, soaking into the pristine white of his uniform.

Asaka twisted the hilt, laughing hysterically.

"You lowly, pathetic fool! Did you really think you could break me? That you were worthy of conquering me?"

"You didn't even bother using Shikai and dared to stand before me. Did you think that just because we're in the World of the Living, I'd be afraid of you?"

Shinigami ranked Lieutenant and above had their Reiatsu restricted to 20% when entering the World of the Living.

That meant a Shinigami with Fifth-Rank Reiatsu would be reduced to the level of a Sixth-Rank—merely equivalent to a Seated Officer.

Had she brought noble academy students with her, they could have overwhelmed him before he had the chance to lift his restrictions.

But all she had at her disposal were a handful of Rukongai students—none of whom had reached Seated Officer level. The odds of her plan succeeding had been far too low.

That was the real reason she had called off the ambush.

All that talk of gifts, of marriage—what a joke.

No matter how handsome he was, he was nothing compared to the position of family head.

"I'm the one most fit to inherit the Tsunayashiro Clan, I—ah..."

Her words cut off abruptly.

Masatsuki's figure wavered before her eyes, shifting...

No longer him—but Tetsuya Sugikami.

Pain erupted in her chest.

The laughter died in her throat.

She slowly looked down.

A pure white, beautiful blade had run her through.

"No wonder you're from the Tsunayashiro Clan. Even in a moment like this, you had the courage to fight back," Masatsuki said, pulling his sword free from her body with a casual flick.

Dark blood splattered onto the forest floor.

"But... when did you get the idea that I hadn't used my Shikai?"

...

A shrill, agonized scream tore through the woods.

Pain surged through Asaka's body, her mind barely able to process what had happened.

What kind of ability is this?!

Was he insane?

He had actually dared to strike down a member of the Four Great Noble Houses!

Does he have a death wish?!

This was an irreconcilable feud with the Tsunayashiro Clan.

No matter who stood in their way, the clan would hunt them down with relentless vengeance.

Even the Central 46 would be shaken by this.

This was a line no one in Soul Society dared to cross!

"You're too noisy."

Masatsuki frowned and swung Banshō Senran impatiently.

As the blade moved, Asaka's vision blurred.

Then—

A bloodied arm fell to the ground.

A strangled gasp left her lips. Her body convulsed from the pain, but this time, she didn't scream.

Gritting her teeth, she shoved Tetsuya's limp form aside and glared at Masatsuki through bloodshot eyes.

"Your... Reiatsu... You're not restricted?"

Masatsuki smiled.

"Oh, I am restricted. But just recently, I happened to break through to Fourth-Rank Reiatsu."

Asaka's eyes widened in horror.

"Then... your Zanpakutō—"

She never got to finish her sentence.

Masatsuki's sword was already swinging.

"Remember the Zanjutsu test? When I used my Shikai?"

"Your little lapdogs said I was showing off in front of the teachers and students."

"But you know... I was showing off."

He paused, then smiled coldly.

"But not for free."

"With strength like that, it was no mere weakling. It could probably rival a high-ranking Seated Officer!"

"Why would a Hollow of that level appear in a Konsō area?"

"My lord, thanks to you... My lord, what's wrong?"

...

Two injured guards stood at the forefront, their expressions grim.

Scattered on the ground were a few pieces of clothing, but their owners were nowhere to be seen.

"How could this be? Where has Lady Asaka gone?"

The students, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly turned pale, tension gripping them once more.

"That Hollow just now... it seemed to have come from here."

"Shut up! Go search for him! Turn this place inside out if you have to, but find Lady Asaka!"

The guards' faces darkened, a bad premonition rising in their chests. One of them shouted furiously,

"If you don't find him, you're all dead!"

At that moment, their Reiatsu flared without restraint, all traces of their earlier relief gone. Their urgency far surpassed that of the students.

If something happened to Asaka Tsunayashiro, they were as good as dead.

The students' legs nearly gave out beneath them.

Not far away, Gin Ichimaru and Rangiku Matsumoto sensed the sudden surge of Reiatsu and looked up sharply.

"Don't just stand there. The Konsō internship isn't over yet."

Masatsuki's voice rang out from behind them. He stood there, holding three unconscious children in his arms—spiritual beings in their soul forms.

"If you don't finish the internship, you'll have to spend another year at Shin'ō Academy before you can reapply for graduation. Don't say I didn't warn you."

A flicker of doubt passed through their eyes, but both were wise enough not to ask questions.

Judging by how relaxed Masatsuki seemed, things probably weren't as bad as they looked.

Rangiku smiled and asked, "Masatsuki, where'd you pick up these kids?"

Masatsuki shot her a look. "I didn't 'pick them up.' I found them in a nearby town."

"That place isn't safe—Hollows show up all the time. It wouldn't be safe for these three brats to stay there."

"So I figured we'd let them help out with the Konsō internship... and send them to the Soul Society along the way..."

(40 Chapters Ahead)

p@treon com / PinkSnake