The pain made his voice echo to the heavens; even though the killing stone could absorb sound, the commotion Shihouin made while beating him still couldn't be hidden from Yamamoto Genryusai and Tsunayashiro elder, two masters.
When they arrived with their people, they saw Tsunayashiro hikaru collapsed on the ground, a shadow of his former self.
His body was covered in bruises, his eyes swollen like a panda's, a sight of utter devastation and extreme disarray.
Beside him was Yoruichi Shihouin, panting heavily and covered in sweat. It was clear that a joyful smile bloomed on Yoruichi's face.
But in stark contrast to that expression...
Her fists were dripping with blood.
Drip...
Seeing this scene,
Everyone instantly fell silent.
Even a child innocent of the world could, with the purest intuition, discern what had just transpired.
The first heir of the Tsunayashiro Clan had been beaten by the head of the Shihouin Clan!
This was a major incident!
If not handled properly, it would inevitably trigger the long-standing animosity between the two clans, leading to war!
Yamamoto Genryusai's eyes narrowed slightly, and he struck the ground heavily. He was about to ask what had happened here.
Beside him, Tsunayashiro hikaru could no longer suppress the rage in his heart and yelled at Yamamoto Genryusai:
"Yamamoto Genryusai, this is the great deed done by the Captain under your command!"
"The head of my Tsunayashiro Clan has been beaten to such a state..."
"Do you take us for pushovers!"
Facing this accusation, Yamamoto Genryusai snorted coldly:
"What you eat is none of my business. How do you know he shouldn't be beaten?"
"Or are you saying that, given Yoruichi Shihouin's status, she couldn't beat him?"
"She beat him well! This is the Captain of my Gotei 13. We always protect Seireitei, not you nobles!"
"You..." Tsunayashiro hikaru was left speechless by Yamamoto Genryusai's words.
In terms of status, the five great noble clans were supreme. Even if a Captain, or even the Captain-Commander, beat someone in the street, they wouldn't come out ahead.
But unfortunately, Yoruichi Shihouin was not only a Captain but also the head of the Shihouin Clan, making Tsunayashiro hikaru merely a junior in her presence.
An elder teaching a junior a lesson...
It was only right.
Damn it!
Tsunayashiro hikaru took a deep breath, the gloom in his eyes so thick it seemed to drip.
This was not just anger at being suppressed.
It was also hatred for Tsunayashiro hikaru's utter lack of resistance.
Both were high-ranking nobles, so why were you brutally beaten by Yoruichi Shihouin?
If he could have put up even a slight fight, the situation might not have been so tense and oppressive.
Between the lines, Yamamoto Genryusai's Gotei faction held an absolute advantage...
Was this matter just going to be dropped?
The head of the Tsunayashiro Clan was beaten like this... and couldn't even save face?
No! This cannot be!
As a clan elder, he absolutely could not stand by and let this happen! This was a defilement of the clan's dignity!
Even if the opponent was Yamamoto Genryusai, or Yoruichi Shihouin, they could not be let off so easily!
So, Tsunayashiro hikaru decisively sent out a signal. Instantly, all four clan elders, including himself, arrived.
The moment they saw Tsunayashiro hikaru, they all frowned. If they hadn't spent hundreds of years together,
They would never have known that this swollen-faced man was actually the eldest among the clan's heirs...
--What happened?
The eyes of some clan elders turned to Tsunayashiro hikaru, who took a deep breath before quickly explaining what had just happened.
After he finished speaking.
Suddenly.
"No!"
"We can't let them off!"
"We must demand an explanation!"
The several people spoke in unison, their gloomy eyes fixed on Yamamoto Genryusai, as if they could devour him whole.
Yamamoto Genryusai's narrowed eyes watched them, and the atmosphere, with the arrival of both sides' high-ranking officials, became solemn and oppressive.
The surrounding air seemed to turn into a swamp-like substance, thick and heavy, making it difficult to breathe.
They had originally thought that with their numerical advantage, they could force Yamamoto Genryusai to compromise.
But seeing the opponent's unperturbed, unyielding demeanor, Tsunayashiro hikaru's heart suddenly sank.
--This old man wouldn't want to break ties with them, would he?
Is it necessary? We just need an apology.
The Captain under your command beat our head to this state.
If they couldn't even get an apology, then in the future, the prestige and reputation of their Tsunayashiro Clan would be completely ruined.
He let out a deep breath.
At this moment, Yoruichi Shihouin, who had been forgotten by everyone, slowly spoke:
"I say, gentlemen, don't you want to ask me why I beat him?"
It was truly hard to understand. She was the one who beat him, so why were they all questioning Yamamoto Genryusai?
It was as if her actions were orders from Yamamoto Genryusai.
How could this Head Captain give an order to beat someone? Even if he gave an order, it would be to instantly kill or capture them alive...
Any normal person could see this.
The power struggle between nobles was truly annoying.
Yoruichi Shihouin's tone was quite helpless.
Upon hearing this, The four clan elders of the Tsunayashiro Clan glared at her, as if questioning why she was getting involved when she was already out of it.
Yamamoto Genryusai, however, chuckled softly, stroking his beard, and nodded:
"Indeed, I almost forgot. Yoruichi Shihouin, tell us, why did you do it? Did he do something to anger you?"
"More or less," Yoruichi said, taking off the bandages wrapped around her fists and re-wrapping them.
"Captain-Commander, this guy is the real culprit who kidnapped Kisuke Urahara and provoked you."
"When he was finally caught, he was still provoking us. Tell me, should I have beaten him?"
"Hmm..." Yamamoto Genryusai replied, "You should have, and you beat him well."
His deep, powerful voice resonated in the surroundings.
"Kidnapping a Captain, suspected rebellion, crime upon crime, it is already a sin that could send him to the deepest hell."
"Four of you, what do you think?"
Yamamoto Genryusai's gaze slowly turned to the four clan elders. His seemingly calm tone was actually full of murderous intent.
It was as if he was saying, if you don't express an opinion, I'll send him in.
The four clan elders' faces were somewhat grim, and one of them raised a finger, arguing:
"Nonsense! This is just your personal opinion!"
"My Tsunayashiro Clan would have to be out of its mind to rebel!"
"Then how do you explain Kisuke Urahara?" Yamamoto Genryusai's peripheral vision swept over Kisuke Urahara, who had been knocked unconscious by Tsunayashiro hikaru on the ground, and his eyes narrowed slightly again.
"Hmph," the clan elder snorted, "It was just an invitation. Because he didn't agree, we kept him here for a while to let him consider."
"How can you call that kidnapping?"
"Where's the evidence?"
"Without evidence, no matter how much you say, it's just your baseless speculation. Kisuke Urahara is your person, so his testimony cannot serve as substantial evidence!"
These words were pure sophistry, but from the perspective of a noble, they were indeed true.
However,
"Seniors,"
Tsugikuni Yoriichi suddenly spoke at this moment, "Who said there's no evidence?"
"People can lie."
"But swords cannot."
"Shall we hear what Kisuke Urahara's Zanpakuto has to say?"
"Who are you?"
Tsugikuni Yoriichi's words made the Tsunayashiro Clan elders frown suddenly.
Their gazes all turned. Because they never interfered with the Gotei 13 or clan affairs,
They had no impression of Tsugikuni Yoriichi, who was next to Yoruichi Shihouin.
Even if they did, it was all hearsay.
Like vague descriptive terms such as physical characteristics.
Observing Yoriichi's appearance...
Hmm...
He wasn't wearing a Captain's haori, so he wasn't a Captain.
Looking at his clothing... it wasn't expensive.
Probably not a noble...
Wait... if he's none of that, then how did he get in here?
The confusion in one clan elder's eyes was almost overflowing.
If Tsugikuni Yoriichi hadn't seemed to be connected to Yamamoto Genryusai or Yoruichi Shihouin, he would have wanted to scold him and tell him to leave.
Is the Noble District a place where commoners can enter?
Thump!
Yamamoto Genryusai struck the ground heavily, glancing sideways at the clan elder, and explained:
"He is my disciple. What, do you have an objection?"
"Objection?" The clan elder snorted, understanding.
"Even if he's your disciple, he shouldn't speak nonsense. How can a sword speak?"
"Are you trying to make fools of us?"
"He hasn't explained yet, how do you know he's making fools of us?" Yamamoto Genryusai's eyes were half-closed, his tone casual yet with an elusive depth.
"Let's hear what he has to say."
"Also, it's still early. We still have much to discuss."
"You..."
Their conversation was very fast, but it was full of tension.
Yoriichi stood in front of the two, suddenly feeling Yoruichi Shihouin's gaze on him.
Yoruichi blinked, also quite puzzled.
Yoriichi's expression was calm, and he didn't explain anything.
When the confrontational conversation between Yamamoto Genryusai and the Tsunayashiro Clan elders ended, he slowly said:
"Teacher, do you remember Kisuke Urahara's Bankai ability?"
"I do. What about it?"
"If you remember, then it's easy. His sword can materialize and seems to possess life.
In other words, as long as Kisuke Urahara is conscious, everything will come to light."
"Oh?" At these words, Yamamoto Genryusai's eyes opened slightly.
His slightly lowered eyes scrutinized Tsugikuni Yoriichi, replaying these words in his mind, and suddenly he realized something.
So, he continued:
"Indeed."
His white beard fluttered in the breeze. He stroked it up and down, his tone containing a hint of imperceptible thought.
"Regarding this, I did overlook it. Since that's the case, let's wait until he regains consciousness."
"Four of you." Turning around, Yamamoto Genryusai's face was serious, his voice slightly deep, full of oppressive power.
"Can you wait a little longer?"
"Since you don't trust Kisuke Urahara, then you should at least trust his sword."
"Just as my disciple said, people lie and make various choices due to their stance, but swords do not."
"Their souls originate from above. Surely you wouldn't distrust even those above, would you?"
By the end, Yamamoto Genryusai's eyes were almost narrowed into slits.
These seemingly ordinary words, however, stirred up a storm in the hearts of the Tsunayashiro Clan elders.
One clan elder's eyes widened, his tone questioning:
"Yamamoto Genryusai, you're bluffing me! There can't be a Bankai with intelligence in this world!"
"You're a Shinigami who's over a thousand years old. If you want to trick me with such childish tricks, there's no way!"
"How do you know I'm bluffing you?" Yamamoto Genryusai smiled slightly, this amiable smile as glaring as a black spot on white paper in the clan elder's eyes.
It made the latter's breath catch.
Meeting the other's complex gaze, Yamamoto paused, then continued:
"Regarding the understanding of Zanpakuto, neither I nor you can ever reach 100%."
"Because its creator, Nimaiya Ōetsu, was a Shinigami who was promoted to Squad Zero tens of thousands of years ago."
"For these tens of thousands of years, our understanding of Zanpakuto has only been passed down orally among Shinigami."
"Shikai is one thing, but Shinigami who can use Bankai have only been a mere few dozen in a thousand years."
"With such a sparse number, how dare you assert that in the long, hundred-thousand-year span, it's impossible for a Shinigami to awaken a Bankai with intelligence?"
"Don't be too arrogant, sir."
"You, I, and even those behind you, are merely frogs at the bottom of a well."
"To discuss the size of the sky is simply ridiculous."
The words were somewhat absolute, but the truth was indeed so.
Zanpakuto were not something Shinigami inherently possessed. As weapons that appeared later, no Shinigami could claim to truly understand them.
The only one who understood them resided in the Soul King Palace and had not descended for tens of thousands of years.
Even if the Tsunayashiro Clan was unwilling to believe, facing Yamamoto Genryusai's resolute attitude and confident tone, they couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive at this moment.
Did they really have to wait for Kisuke Urahara to regain consciousness and verify whether his Zanpakuto Bankai possessed intelligence?
If it was false, then so be it.
But if it was true...
Then... Tsunayashiro hikaru's suspected crime of rebellion would be confirmed. Although it was an invitation, looking at his posture and actions, it didn't look like an invitation at all.
House arrest, kidnapping... Once the charges were confirmed, the Tsunayashiro Clan's prestige would suffer its second major blow in a thousand years.
One misstep, and they might fall to the fourth position.
This...
They couldn't afford to gamble!
Their mood was as heavy as if they had swallowed a steelyard weight. The Tsunayashiro Clan elders exchanged glances. One insisted on his existing judgment, determined to take a gamble.
As a result, his words were interrupted by someone beside him before he could even speak.
Tsunayashiro hikaru grabbed his hand and whispered:
"What are you doing! Are you crazy?"
"To gamble the future of the Tsunayashiro Clan on our shallow understanding of Zanpakuto, do you think the odds are good?"
"Tsunayashiro hikaru has already lost! This kid has no value whatsoever. We cannot sacrifice the entire Tsunayashiro for him!"
Given the current situation of the Tsunayashiro Clan, they couldn't risk even a small chance of failure.
If they agreed, it would be like going all-in with the clan's foundation. If they won, fine, but if they lost... the old clan head, upon hearing it, would surely flay them alive.
They didn't understand Kisuke Urahara's Bankai... nor did they understand how much truth and falsehood there was in Tsugikuni Yoriichi's and Yamamoto Genryusai's words.
To verify everything one by one... they didn't have the time, because once Kisuke Urahara woke up, they would lose their last retreat and escape route.
And the cause of all these results was Tsunayashiro hikaru's stupidity; he was captured alive, and the evidence was blatantly laid out.
If not for this, how could there be no room for maneuver?
Whenever Tsunayashiro hikaru thought of this, he felt a pang of toothache.
What a waste!
Taking a deep breath, he took a deep look at Tsunayashiro hikaru, who was half-dead on the ground, and gritted his teeth, saying:
"Yamamoto Genryusai, you are very good!"
"This matter isn't over today. My Tsunayashiro Clan remembers you."
"And..."
He also glanced at Tsugikuni Yoriichi...
A hint of anger also flashed in his eyes.
--If he hadn't brought that up, their sophistry would have been impossible for anyone to break!"