Chapter 18: Chapter 18: All for the Sake of the Seireitei
Chapter 18: All for the Sake of the Seireitei
The Shiba clan made no trouble for Yato, and the matter concerning his Zanpakuto was swiftly resolved.
Ayaka Fujita, who handled Asauchi affairs, filed a detailed report, completely cementing his ownership.
Kaien Shiba didn’t stay for long. Having just returned from Hueco Mundo, he had a mountain of matters awaiting his attention back at his Division.
"Where to next, Yato?" Byakuya Kuchiki asked as they left the reception room.
Uchiha Yato chuckled softly.
"I originally planned to head back for some Jinzen training, but with Akame’s situation settled, I’m in a good mood. Let’s go out and get something good to eat."
"I’ll join you."
"Oh?" Yato intentionally teased him.
"If I recall correctly, the last time you stayed out all night, the Head of the Kuchiki gave you a thorough scolding and nearly brought out the family discipline..."
Byakuya stiffened his neck, attempting to look more resolute.
"That’s exactly why you’re coming to my house as a guest this time! I was going to invite you right after our spar, but Kaien Shiba showed up, and it got delayed until now."
"Alright, alright." Yato grinned, throwing an arm around Byakuya’s shoulders.
"If the Young Master Kuchiki extends an invitation, how could I possibly refuse? Let’s go!"
...
Over the past six months, Yato had frequented the Kuchiki estate quite often.
Since Byakuya belonged to a Great Noble Family and lived within the Seireitei, he opted to return home every night despite having a dormitory room at the Shin’o Academy, effectively making him a day student.
Whenever the two wanted to spar and test the fruits of their training, Yato would go to Byakuya’s home to use the Kuchiki clan’s private training grounds.
During these visits, he had even crossed paths with Yoruichi Shihoin twice.
By now, Yato was quite familiar with the Kuchiki manor.
Familiarity aside, however, being formally invited to a banquet was a first.
As an ancient Great Noble Family whose history mirrored that of the Soul Society, the Kuchiki clan’s extravagance was truly a sight to behold.
They prepared a "Daikyo Cuisine" (Grand Banquet), striving for absolute perfection in taste, presentation, and meaning. It was both elegant and grounded, adhering to strict etiquette while subtly incorporating a touch of rustic charm.
During the banquet, Byakuya’s elders, Ginrei Kuchiki and Sojun Kuchiki, came over to greet Uchiha Yato in accordance with proper etiquette.
"Yato," Byakuya introduced them respectfully.
"This is my grandfather, Ginrei, and my father, Sojun."
Yato hastily stood up, conversing with the two men deferentially.
"Yato, is it? You are quite impressive." Ginrei Kuchiki stroked his snow-white beard, his fondness for the youth plainly visible.
"Our Byakuya speaks of you often. Tenacious, outstanding, and remarkably talented... Byakuya is a proud and impulsive boy. Thank you for looking after him."
Yato quickly replied that he didn’t dare claim such credit.
Beside him, Sojun Kuchiki also spoke with a warm smile:
"There is no need for false modesty. It is precisely because of young people like you that the Seireitei can continue to protect the three realms."
This Lieutenant of the 6th Division, who received little focus in the original story, was the kind of exceptionally handsome man who immediately caught one’s eye.
Sojun Kuchiki possessed exquisite features. Despite his Great Noble lineage, he completely lacked the overbearing arrogance typical of his class. Instead, he was gentle and approachable. Coupled with his slender frame and slightly pale complexion, he possessed the distinct aura of a "sickly beauty."
He spoke with Yato in a soft, gentle voice for a long time before smiling and pointing at the Zanpakuto on the youth’s waist.
"So, she is Akame?"
Perhaps feeling he was being slightly abrupt, Sojun Kuchiki offered an apologetic nod.
"Yato, your entry into the Shin’o Academy caused quite a stir. A genius capable of achieving Shikai before even enrolling... the Gotei 13 is practically salivating over you. Everyone is making bets on which Division you’ll join after graduation... Haha, in short, both you and your Zanpakuto have become quite famous."
"Lord Sojun, it was merely a stroke of luck." Yato replied modestly. He unsheathed Akame, performed a quick flourish, and presented it to Sojun Kuchiki.
"Excellent!" The gentle, frail man applauded warmly.
"It is indeed a fine blade."
As elders of high status, Ginrei and Sojun Kuchiki knew their presence would only make the two young juniors uncomfortable. After instructing Byakuya to fulfill his duties as a host, they departed from the banquet.
Father and son walked along the corridor, passed through the rock garden, and arrived at the innermost sleeping quarters of the Kuchiki estate.
"Urgh!"
The moment they arrived, Sojun Kuchiki could hold on no longer. He coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood and collapsed into a chair.
He let out a few hollow laughs, a desolate sigh escaping his lips.
"...It truly is a fine blade."
"Sojun!"
Ginrei Kuchiki rushed forward, hastily pulling open his son’s collar.
Right over a vital spot on his chest, a grievous wound that reached his internal organs seemed to have come alive, fresh blood constantly seeping from it.
This lethal wound was inflicted by Akame.
No... at that time, she didn’t have a name. She was merely an Asauchi.
At that time, the youth gripping the Zanpakuto was named Moritora Shiba!
Tonight’s events left Sojun Kuchiki feeling somewhat dazed.
He felt as though he had been transported back three years, to the night he ventured into Hueco Mundo alone to assassinate Moritora Shiba.
"Father... the ways of the world are truly unfathomable. That very Asauchi has appeared before me once more, bearing witness to my impending death."
"Sojun, do not speak so much. Your organs cannot handle the strain."
"It’s no use, Father. When I suffered heavy injuries to kill Moritora Shiba in Hueco Mundo back then, and then eliminated that Adjuchas a few months ago... the damage to my body became irreversible."
Sojun Kuchiki panted for a long time before finally catching his breath.
"This is an incurable wound. Moritora Shiba truly was a genius. Had he continued to grow, their family might have genuinely produced three Captains."
"Sojun..." Ginrei Kuchiki squeezed his eyes shut in anguish, unable to bear looking at the bone-deep scar on his son’s body.
"Why did it have to come to this?"
"Father, you understand." The frail man swallowed a mouthful of blood, slumping weakly in his chair.
"It wasn’t because I couldn’t tolerate the Shiba clan growing stronger.
"As fellow members of the Five Great Noble Families, I would have even welcomed such prosperity.
"That is why, when the Head of the Tsunayashiro approached me, proposing an alliance to assassinate Moritora Shiba, I categorically refused.
"But during that Noble Assembly... I coincidentally overheard a conversation between Moritora Shiba and the Head of the Shiba clan."
The sickly, gentle man gripped the armrests tightly. A bone-chilling coldness and roiling killing intent flared within his eyes.
"He actually... he actually declared that he intended to free the Soul King, reshape the order of the three realms, and allow Hollows, Humans, and Soul Reapers to live together in a free nation devoid of conflict!
"Such ideology is incredibly dangerous. What’s even more terrifying is that the Shiba clan actually seemed capable of achieving it!
"If that came to pass, the three realms would be overturned! Hueco Mundo, the World of the Living, and the Soul Society would fuse into one, returning to the primordial era! A world without life or death, without progress or regression!
"Everything the Soul King and all of us have sacrificed... all our efforts would vanish into thin air!"
Having said all this, Sojun Kuchiki was left gasping for air, coughing up blood incessantly.
"I don’t have many years left, Father... I am profoundly sorry for forcing you to attend your own son’s funeral."
Ginrei Kuchiki’s heart ached with profound sorrow. He spoke softly, attempting to comfort him:
"Sojun, you will live. I will send word to Squad Zero immediately and have them take you to the Soul King Palace. Only the Kido there can heal you."
Hearing this, Sojun Kuchiki merely shook his head.
"There is no need, Father. A life for a life; that is also a rule of the Kuchiki clan.
"Let the matter end with me. There is no need to tell Byakuya the truth. His heart is radiant, and to his very core, he is a true noble. That is a good thing. Not like his father... forced to rely on deceitful tricks and shadowy schemes due to a frail body.
"And do not seek trouble with Uchiha Yato. The Kuchiki clan’s magnanimity does not allow for venting our anger on a child.
"I only hope that through this incident, those fools from the Shiba clan will realize that the matter of the Soul King is of the utmost gravity. Rebellion is not something to be spoken of lightly.
"The Kuchiki clan are not pedantic zealots... but we cannot sit idly by and watch the three realms be overturned!
"But if the deaths of myself and Moritora Shiba still fail to serve as a wake-up call to them, then we will have no choice but to follow the words of the Tsunayashiro Head. We will ally with the Shihoin and Squad Zero... and have the Shiba... the Shiba..."
He closed his eyes, speaking no more.
However, though his breath was as faint as gossamer, the fierce, unyielding will in his words did not weaken in the slightest:
"Everything... is for the sake of the Seireitei."
____________________________________
Hey guys this is hollowborn i just want to ask you guys if you like this book please give it the power stone and comment on the Chapter it’s give this book boost in power stone and active ranking, and i’am going to set a review goal form now on for ever review you got a bonus Chapter.
Thank you for listing.
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced Chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that’s help the story a lot Thank you
Comments