Chapter 42: New changes
“What the hell?! Does he have a twin or something?!”
Seeing that the man that was supposed to turn into smithereens because of him was escorted by Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō, Jidanbō’s eyes almost bulged out.
The White Road Gate sustained minor damage. Thankfully, a damage of that scale should be able to be repaired in a few days.
“No, your technique is just so powerful that you blow him so far away.”
Kyōraku Shunsui came up with a random answer, but Azashiro Kenpachi did not deny it and remained silent.
“So that’s how it is! That must be it! I thought I blow him into smithereens, and I was worried about how to bury him!” Jidanbō was relieved and mentioned Azashiro Kenpachi in such a frivolous manner.
“Now, take this opportunity to learn your lesson. Don’t fight near the gate next time. You can see the gate is damaged because of your fight, right?”
“……fight?”
“Forget it. The rabbles on the other side are not worth mentioning anyway.”
Hearing the gatekeeper’s words, Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō frowned. As far as he remembered, only the 3rd Division, 5th Division, and the 9th Division Captain were defeated at the hands of Azashiro Kenpachi, yet what were the rabbles all about?
3 of them went past Jidanbō and walked back to Seireitei’s area.
“This is……”
Although Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō were prepared for this, they couldn’t help but gasp upon seeing hundreds of Shinigamis lying on the ground past the gate.
Although they all seem lifeless, no one died. The 4th Division was rushing toward them to treat them because they couldn’t even stand.
“You should teach that gatekeeper the difference between ordinary Shihakushō and a Captain Haori. He was lucky that I am forgiving. Had it been another Captain, that gatekeeper might die in vain by now.” Azashiro Kenpachi indifferently said as if he had nothing to do with the scene in front of him.
Of course, the other two Captains, who were escorting him, heard him clearly.
“All of these are your doing? I did expect this to some extent, but seeing it in person is something else entirely.” Ukitake Jūshirō could not hide the shock on his face. He did realize that Azashiro Kenpachi was really skilled, but not this skilled!
“That aside, why are there only Captain Sanada from the 3rd Division and Captain Nishino from the 9th Division?” Kyōraku Shunsui pointed at the two Captains who were receiving treatment. “Where’s the 5th Division Captain Watanabe Keiryū?”
Ukitake Jūshirō immediately took a look around and finally noticed that Watanabe Keiryū was nowhere to be found. That was when he turned towards Azashiro Kenpachi with an inquiring look.
“You mean that shameless guy?” Azashiro Kenpachi said with a sarcastic tone and eyes full of disdain and contempt, “Maybe he already escaped out of fear by now.”
“What!?”
Even Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō, who were calm most of the time, couldn’t help but gasp when they heard Azashiro Kenpachi’s remark.
“What the hell is going on? I demand an explanation, Azashiro Kenpachi.”
Kyōraku Shunsui sounded serious as he put his hand on his Zanpakuto, ready to draw it any second. After all, what Azasahiro Kenpachi said was simply hard to believe. Why did a Captain choose to desert in the first place? Kyōraku Shunsui suddenly remembered how Azazhiro Kenpachi gave himself up so easily earlier, which was clearly odd. Were these two things related somehow? And what role did Azashiro Kenpachi play in this?
Seeing Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō was so cautious that they were ready to draw their Zanpakuto at any second, Azashiro Kenpachi smiled, “There’s no need to get all worked up. There’s nothing in it for me to lie about this.”
Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō let their guard down slightly because of Azashiro Kenpachi’s answer. Indeed, Azashiro Kenpachi was not the kind of person who would resort to cheap tricks. He had his pride that wouldn’t allow him to stoop that low.
“Even if you’re telling the truth, I can’t afford to let my guard down.” Kyōraku Shunsui said with a helpless expression on his face, but his hands were still on the hilt, ready to make a move anytime.
Azashiro Kenpachi didn’t mind because he knew Kyōraku Shunsui very well. He knew Kyōraku Shunsui, who seemed like a laid-back guy and loafing around all the time, was actually a sharp and cautious guy, so Azashiro Kenpachi didn’t even think about making any funny move.
“Those two Captains are severely injured. I’ll take it from here.”
A soft voice said from the place where the wounded were treated.
“Hm? Captain Unohana!”
“I heard that the 3rd Division and 9th Division Captain suffered serious injuries, so I came in person.” Unohana Retsu glanced at Azashiro Kenpachi, who was escorted by Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō before turning the other way.
“Are their injuries that serious?” Ukitake Jūshirō asked.
Unohana Retsu examined the injuries that both Captains sustained and said: “well, it’s a severe injury that almost damages the internal organs. Their life may be in danger if they aren’t treated immediately.”
Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō’s complexion changed. There were currently two vacant Captain seats in Gotei 13. Had they lost these two Captains in front of them, Soul Society would be in peril if something happened…
Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō looked at each other, and there was a trace of worry in their eyes.
“But what bothers me is their wounds are on the back, which is odd.” Unohana Retsu examined the two Captains’ wounds for a moment, but then she seemed shocked all of a sudden, “This lingering Reiatsu belongs to Captain Watanabe!”
Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō looked at each other, and their worries turned out to be true.
They had a feeling that was the case when Azashiro Kenpachi said it earlier. They couldn’t really bring themselves to believe that Watanabe Keiryū might betray Soul Society when Azashiro Kenpachi mentioned him earlier because they still couldn’t figure out the purpose behind Watanabe Keiryū’s betrayal. However, they did realize what kind of person Azashiro Kenpachi was, and they could safely say that he wouldn’t lie in this kind of circumstance.
Perhaps Azashiro Kenpachi’s idea did go against Soul Society’s guidelines, but his motive and intention were pure. He believed in his own justice, it just happened that his justice contradict Soul Society’s moral compass.
“Things are getting more and more troublesome!”
Kyōraku Shunsui said with a helpless tone while tilting down his straw hat.
“But first, let’s take Azashiro back to Old Yamamoto. We’ll leave it to Old Yamamoto to deal with the punishment for the 5th Division Captain.”
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“Lieutenant, there is nothing out of place nearby.”
“Have a look once again. This is a crucial time. Be sure to check thoroughly!”
“Yes!”
Kimura Muyang could at least breathe a sigh of relief, knowing the commotion didn’t affect the 12th Division’s jurisdiction.
“Hm? “
Suddenly, Kimura Muyang felt a familiar Reiatsu and gazed at the White Road Gate in the distance. He couldn’t mistake this Reiatsu for someone else’s. It was definitely Watanabe Keiryū’s! Ever since the day Watanabe Keiryū humiliated him in public, he has always remembered his Reiatsu, and upon sensing that familiar Reiatsu, he couldn’t contain his anger.
However, as far as Kimura Muyang remembered, 3rd Division Captain Sanada Shino and 9th Division Captain Nishino Kenji were also with Watanabe Keiryū. Although he has only met them a couple of times, and Kimura Muyang still remembered their Reiatsu, but judging from the fluctuation of their Reiatsu, Kimura Muyang speculated that the two Captains were attacked, and the attacker is…
Kimura Muyang immediately called Suitaku Byakuya: “Byakuya, I’ll leave things to you here. I have something to do.”
Kimura Muyang immediately used Shunpo before Suitaku Byakuya could even answer, rushing toward where Watanabe Keiryū was.
As Watanabe Keiryū said, attacking a Captain was considered a serious crime, so he’d be the one taking his life!
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