Central 46.
The political heart of the Soul Society.
The tower where old men shape the fate of thousands.
Today marked the seventh day since the noble gathering.
And during that time, Kaito had trained with abnormal intensity, fully exploring his new ability:
> Spiritual Clone.
It was, essentially, a system bug.
Now, Kaito could train in all spiritual arts simultaneously — even the difficult practice of communicating with his Zanpakutō.
His progress skyrocketed like a rocket launch.
But his momentum was interrupted for a special reason:
He would accompany his father, Raien, to Tokinada's trial.
Normally, no one outside of Central 46 was allowed to attend.
But when you're the patriarch of one of the Five Great Noble Houses,
rules become mere suggestions.
---
Kaito wasn't there for justice.
He despised Tokinada.
All he cared about was what the System would offer this time.
And, of course, the System answered:
> [Location Login: Central 46]
Condition: Kill all members
Reward: Chimera Queen (Hunter x Hunter)
Kaito raised an eyebrow.
"Chimera Queen?"
"That's an interesting reward… A whole new species for the Three Realms..."
"Things are about to get a lot more fun."
Kaito had always found the world of Bleach limiting.
After all, in centuries of existence, the Soul Society had only two major threats:
One was Aizen — a Shinigami.
The other, Yhwach — a threat sealed for over a thousand years.
"This world is too stable... too predictable."
"Time to bring in a little chaos."
But upon seeing the condition, Kaito immediately understood:
"That reward will have to wait."
"Why do I feel like the System is trying to push me to become an enemy of the Soul Society?"
"Maybe it's time to craft a new identity — for missions that don't suit my current name."
---
As Kaito silently observed, one of the Central 46 judges raised his voice:
— "We sentence the defendant, Tokinada Tsunayashiro, to one thousand years in Muken!"
The elder judge was drenched in cold sweat.
Raien's gaze crushed him like an invisible blade.
Kaito looked away, analyzing coldly:
"Muken will be a bit inconvenient if I need to collect the reward from him directly..."
"But creating a Soul King candidate is still far off."
"Today's nuisance might become irrelevant in the future."
He turned to leave — unaware that someone was watching.
---
Sōya Azashiro observed everything from afar, hidden in a blind spot within Central 46.
His ever-sarcastic Zanpakutō whispered:
— "Hahaha… That boy's a little devil.
He got that arrogant noble buried in Muken for a thousand years."
Azashiro remained silent.
He had seen everything at the Tsunayashiro mansion.
He knew Tokinada had been manipulated.
And he knew who pulled the strings.
But knowing the swamp that was the noble world, Azashiro chose not to wade in.
Besides, he owed a favor to the Kasumiōji family.
That debt was now paid.