Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō novel Chapter 92

Chapter 92 - 92: Brother-in-Law Is Not Here

After the two of them stepped into a new world, Masatsuki Aozaki took a moment to rest, shifting back into his human form before dressing and leaving the 2nd Division.

As the 3rd Seat, he could come and go from the barracks freely without anyone stopping him. However, to maintain the dignified image of a responsible officer, he decided it wouldn't be wise to let his subordinates catch him slacking off. Instead, he chose the more discreet route—scaling the walls and heading straight for West Rukongai.

...

A light drizzle fell.

After weaving through a dense cluster of grand mansions, Shingū Tsunayashiro finally caught sight of the towering council chamber.

Pushing open the doors, he stepped inside to find that the elders had been waiting for quite some time.

"What's going on? Why has Takasugi Hirofumi been imprisoned in the Nest of Maggots?" His voice was sharp with accusation.

Tamaba Tsunayashiro's lips curled slightly in a mocking smile.

"Your Excellency Shingū, this is the Tsunayashiro Clan's elder council. Is there a need for such outbursts?"

"Don't forget your position—you're an elder yourself, representing the dignity of this family."

Shingū Tsunayashiro's expression darkened. He had no retort to Tamaba's ridicule, knowing that the latter's influence within the main family far exceeded his own.

His power primarily lay within the branch families, and despite his frustration, Tamaba's words weren't wrong. He had no valid counterargument.

"But Takasugi Hirofumi has a Third-Class Reiatsu, and the Nest of Maggots is under the jurisdiction of the Shihōin Clan."

Shingū Tsunayashiro took his seat among the elders, his voice heavy.

Tamaba Tsunayashiro cast him a glance before Tokuyasu Tsunayashiro raised a hand, prompting a subtle shift in the elders' expressions.

"Your Excellency Shingū, it's not that we don't want to save Takasugi Hirofumi—it's that we simply can't."

"Yes, the Tsunayashiro Clan is the most powerful noble house at present, but if the Kuchiki and Shihōin Clans join forces, even we would struggle to hold our ground."

"I suggest you recognize the reality of the situation. The Tsunayashiro Clan is not omnipotent. If we were, there would be no need for the rebels to exist, don't you agree?"

The elders nodded in agreement.

The purpose of the rebel faction was to weaken rival noble houses and expand the Tsunayashiro Clan's influence. If they truly had absolute control, there'd be no need for such tactics—they could simply command their enemies to submit or disband outright.

"So we're just going to let Takasugi Hirofumi die in the Nest of Maggots?" Shingū Tsunayashiro clenched his fists, his voice laced with cold laughter. _{f .r e\ewebnov(e)(l).c om}

"The Central 46 sentenced him to imprisonment, not execution."

"A three-thousand-year sentence might as well be a death sentence. And with Masatsuki Aozaki overseeing the Nest of Maggots now, who knows how long he'll last?"

"That's not for us to decide."

Tokuyasu Tsunayashiro waved a hand dismissively.

"We did everything we could to preserve his life, and even our family's reputation has taken a hit because of it."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Perhaps the branch families should start looking for other solutions."

Tokuyasu knew full well that while Shingū Tsunayashiro had some intelligence, it wasn't quite enough.

That was precisely why the branch families had chosen him as their representative—someone too clever would be difficult to control, while someone too foolish wouldn't be able to rise to an elder's position even with support.

The best candidate was someone with just enough cunning, but not too much.

Shingū Tsunayashiro's expression remained cold as he reluctantly nodded.

As he sat there, listening with his eyes closed, the sound of rain outside the window seemed to grow heavier—pounding down with increasing intensity.

...

Meanwhile, thanks to his exceptional Shunpo skills, Masatsuki Aozaki easily slipped out of Seireitei.

He greeted the Hakutōmon gatekeeper,Jidanbō Ikkanzaka, before once again stepping onto the soil of Junrinan, the first district of Rukongai.

Upon reaching the outskirts of the Shiba residence, Masatsuki Aozaki carefully concealed himself at a distance, peering toward the main gate.

Two towering, muscle-bound men stood guard, but the one person who viewed him as a sworn enemy was nowhere to be seen.

"Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko, is your Aniki not home?"

"Masatsuki-sama...?" The two burly men looked slightly surprised before answering, "Yes, the head of the household is not at home."

They were the Shiba family's servants and had also been Kūkaku and Kaien's teachers, raising them since childhood.

One look at their sturdy physiques made it clear they were both masters of hand-to-hand combat.

"Is Kūkaku home?"

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