CAN’T FEAR YOUR OWN WORLD Part 3 Full Translation.

TN: When this third part was released on the Bleach/Jump+ app, Narita tweeted that “main house” was written in place of “branch house” in one line, I’ve spotted that line and made those amendments in my translation below already. He apologised for any confusion and has stated this will be corrected in the printed book version.



Chapter 2





Several days later - Rukongai.





Hisagi Shūhei is engaged in two different occupations at the same time.

One of those occupations is his professional duties as Squad 9 Vice Captain, which everyone knows.

The other is being the editor-in-chief of the Seireitei Communication.

Seireitei Communication is a public institution magazine which is circulated throughout Seireitei and occasionally as far as some parts of the Rukongai, it is basically under the management of the 9th Division.

Naturally, it ought to be treated as equal occupations, but because the nature of the work differs too greatly from primary Shinigami duties, it was, in effect, perceived by society as something akin to a side job.

Until a few hundred years ago, this was a simple proclamation issued to the general public which could be referred to as tile block print, but from the period when Tōsen Kaname became Captain, that format would come to develop rapidly in accordance with the printing techniques of the Human World.

Perhaps due to Tōsen’s serious disposition, the Captain himself began serving as an editor, it was now being spread throughout Seireitei as one large informational magazine, published with many running stories, or essays and novels and so forth, penned by the Captains themselves.

After Tōsen had left Soul Society, Hisagi, who was his Vice Captain, became responsible for that role.

By all rights, Muguruma Kensei who had returned to his post as Captain, should have been the one to become editor-in-chief, but the man himself entrusted all the decision making to Hisagi saying “during my time, I left it up to the troops…. Frankly, It just doesn’t suit me”, even now Hisagi continues editorial duties as the responsible editor.





“So? The editor-in-chief of Seireitei communication has come all the way out here, what can he possibly want with me?”

The quizzical voice of a woman resounded from the doorway of a certain residence.

“What do you mean, I’m collecting information for an article of course.”

The other party whom Hisagi replied to is Shiba Kūkaku, a pyrotechnician who could be described as a person of clear influence within the vast expanse of the Rukongai.

“What is it? Is it about my new objet d'art? I give up. Jeez, it’s not meant to be an exhibition you know.”

With a boastful expression that was contradictory to her words, she shifted her attention to the item of artwork, stone statues holding up a banner which Hisagi had just passed under a moment ago.

Two huge statues imitating stern looking men stood side-by-side, they held up a banner with the words “welcome to Shiba Kūkaku’s residence” painted on it whilst striking an odd pose.

“No… I mean, it certainly became a popular topic of conversation among some people.”

“In that case, I suppose you want to use it for the front cover in the next issue of Seireitei Communication?”

“…Well, I’ll just make a note of that proposal for now.”

Having returned an innocuous reply, Shūhei begins to broach the real issue at hand almost like he was half dodging the subject.

“I would like Kūkaku san’s cooperation in documenting a memoir of the Protection of the Soul King Great War.”

“Huh? A memoir you say… hasn’t it only been, like, half a year since then?”

“That’s precisely why, you see, I want to keep an accurate record now while I still have the chance.”

Shiba Kūkaku is both a pyrotechnist on the surface as well as behind the scenes, all involvement with Squad Zero and such were declared “side jobs”. It is for this reason, that there exists a curious big-shot like air about her, even if Hisagi, as Vice Captain of Squad 9, ranked higher in terms of station; many among the Vice Captains view her with a sense of respect.

In fact, although they are currently a fallen house, the Shiba clan is a respectable family that once produced a number of seated officers and Captain ranks, they were a family of good social standing to the degree that they were known as one of the “Five Great Noble Clans” alongside the likes of the Kuchiki and Shihōin clans.

For that matter, Shiba Kūkaku herself, who is standing before him, is also a considerably powerful person.

He has heard that she struck down one of the mighty gatekeepers of the Seireitei with Kidō alone; in Hisagi’s eyes, she wasn’t merely a pyrotechnician, but a figure of great influence hidden in the depths of Soul Society.

That he had called on such a woman, it was for the purpose of obtaining an interview on behalf of Seireitei Communication just as he described.

Although Seireitei Communication has currently suspended publication due to problems with its publishing systems, a small circulation of a simplified version is being distributed in various places in order to extensively report on the state of postwar reconstruction to the general public. With the target of officially getting it back into print on the first anniversary of the postwar period, it was gradually gaining a secure foothold.

Then, in anticipation for the upcoming first reissue, he started receiving requests from many readers asking for details regarding the “Protection of the Soul King Great War” to be addressed in his own segment called “Teach Me! Shūhei Sensei!!”

“Teach Me! Shūhei Sensei!!” has featured in Seireitei Communication for a long time, it is a page for his project in which Shūhei answers the questions of the readers.

Nevertheless, it’s popularity is shaky and although​ it may be revived whenever there is demand, it is an unstable project which is often discontinued after only a few runs following its resumption.

Even so, the people of the Seireitei still had yet to grasp the full picture surrounding the war, it seems they were seized by a sense of anxiety about whether or not the war had truly ended, or whether such a thing would never happen again, and they looked to the public institution magazine that is Seireitei Communication to dispel those fears.

In fact, not limited to “Teach me! Shūhei Sensei!!”, the standpoint of many with regard to the magazine itself is a desire to receive an explanation detailing all the particulars of the war, and Shūhei has decided to handle it all as a necessity for his own column.

This is a huge task imposed upon Seireitei Communication. It couldn’t all be left up to the ordinary squad members. Given that the form is a come-back series of “Teach me! Shūhei Sensei!!” which coincides with the first reissue of Seireitei communication, it is he who must clutch the reins of information himself.

With that kind of motivation spurring him on, Hisagi had spent his days running around to personally interview the likes of the Visuals Department, the Department of Research and Development, and Squad 4’s Special Relief Team, but he did not gather as much information as he had initially expected.

It seems there was virtually no one who was able to observe the entirety of the war from a bird’s eye view. Just how many people’s stories would he have to piece together before getting any closer to its domain?

Such misgivings crossed Hisagi’s mind.

The man who presumably had the most extensive view of the battlefield, Yhwach, had already been buried at the hands of Kurosaki Ichigo.

That being the case, he would have no choice but to take it upon himself to pick up and assemble the pieces of war.

If it could be spread far and wide how the Shinigami battled and triumphed in various places, then it’s bound to become hope for the people who were dealing with the restoration efforts.

The Soul Society has now entered a new battle known as post-war recovery.

It is during such times that people simply desire “information” which is able to put them at ease.

“…In other words, it’s what you’d call a battle that only I can fight from here onward!”

In response to Hisagi who had explained the situation after getting himself all fired up, Kūkaku returned an answer as she folded her arms.

“I’m sorry to break it to you, even when you’re sparkling those rugged sanpaku eyes at me, but there’s hardly anything I’m able to speak of you know? I mean, all I did was launch up that lot from Squad Zero along with Ichigo’s group.”

It was a coarse manner of speaking belonging to a woman of mannish character, yet an oddly firm tone of voice.

With that alone, Hisagi had somehow or other come to the conclusion that “yeah, I guess this truly is a matter she can hardly comment on.” Rather than being unwilling to speak of the past, she merely exudes a sort of atmosphere which accepted it all as part of everyday life, thinking “I did what I had to do.”

“Well, I guess that means I’ll just be giving you my greetings for today, I’ll visit another time.”

“It’s nothing but a bother if you plan to keep coming back, and it makes no sense for me to even have a right to say anything about you Shinigami and your squabbles, if you want a story then ask my younger brother Ganju. That guy marched all the way up to the Soul King Palace together with Ichigo and his gang, I suppose he’d be able to tell you at least something.”

“…He went up to the Soul King Palace?”

Speaking of Shiba Ganju, he is the man who once appeared as a Ryoka along with Ichigo and the others during the time of Kuchiki Rukia’s execution scandal. Why did a man from Rukongai go up to the Soul King Palace? Having been decommissioned from the front lines at the final stage of the war, this is the first time Hisagi is hearing of this fact.

—— Come to think of it, I still haven’t covered what happened around Kurosaki and his group….

Naturally, Ichigo’s group who were the most deeply involved by the end of the war should probably be interviewed. However, they are inhabitants of the Human World, not Soul Society. In order to travel expressly to the Human World for interviews, he must obtain the permission of the Captain Commander.

—— I think I’ll be able to receive the Captain commander’s permission, but I wonder if Kurosaki would give his full cooperation in this sort of thing…. I can’t see that guy talking about himself in much detail at all.

As he considered questioning Inoue or Sado about the subject when the need arose, both of whom apparently reside in Ichigo’s neighbourhood, Hisagi decided to leave the Shiba residence for now.

“Understood, then I’ll listen to what your younger brother has to say first.”

“Alright, if you want Ganju, he’s probably mounted on his wild boar, wandering around West Rukongai again. Even if you do a half-assed job of looking for him, I think you’d be able to find him right away? He’s a loud moron so you should be able to recognise him at a single glance.”

“Right, it’s okay though, I’ve caught sight of his face every now and then whenever a disturbance occurs.”

Having received the advice on this dynamic manhunt, Hisagi bows to Kūkaku before leaving the house equipped with a fireworks launch pad.

Then, when he came closer​ to his vehicle which was parked a little further up the roadside, Hisagi noticed something.

A few men had gathered around ‘that vehicle’ which Hisagi had gone to the trouble of ordering from the Human World after it had undergone Reishification. And, he also noticed that these men carry within them a Reiatsu so dense that they could not be mistaken for any ordinary inhabitant of Rukongai, on top of that, the nature of the Reiatsu is different to that of a Shinigami’s or Quincy’s.

“…What? Why is there a Kawasaki Z-II in a place like this?”

At the words of the man who had swept back hair that extended around his shoulders, the tall figure of a young man who was standing beside him shrugged.

“Who knows?”

What stood before the men’s eyes, is a motorbike originating from the Human World and characterised by its deep crimson paintwork.

For those who have died and arrived in the Rukongai, the surrounding standards of culture will have caused them to assimilate to the atmosphere, said to range from the Heian era to Edo period. Perhaps it was because of the fact that no major cultural reformation had occurred when compared to the Human World, that there are many things which almost causes one to feel its antiquity from the clothes to the buildings, and since coming to Soul Society, they have never seen automobiles of this kind until this very moment.

Then, standing behind them, a fellow befitting a gentleman with a black linen eyepatch covering his right eye, stared at this motorbike with great interest as he opened his mouth to speak.

“Hmm… regardless of the fact that we are Fullbringers who can manipulate the souls of matter, things that can be brought to this place through Konsō are only the clothes and articles that can be said to be part of our person, although… Perhaps there is someone who loved two-wheeled vehicles at a level that can only be described as unity of rider and horse.”

“What about such things as gasoline?”

“It’s said that Soul Society essentially produces no oil. Apparently, most of whatever becomes fuel in its place is sent around to the Technological Department or nobles of the Seireitei.”

“So does that mean, this motorbike is just some noble’s plaything?”

Listening to these descriptions of Soul Society narrated by the youthful man, the man with the swept back hair clouded his face ever so slightly.

From behind him, words that denied such speculation were thrown out to them.

“I’ve been saving my wages up to buy that thing. Well, if you want to call it my plaything however, I guess I can’t deny that.”

Turning to look in Hisagi's​ direction - the newcomer that had just appeared - the man with the swept back hair narrows his eyes in a smiling expression.

“…Oh. I came to check things out after I thought I heard the sound of a motorbike which is rare in these parts, but I would never have guessed that I’d come face-to-face with a Shinigami as a result.”

Observing the face of the man who had turned to look at him, Hisagi knit his eyebrows in unease.

That face closely resembled the profile of a criminal which, not too long ago, had been circulated many times over among ​the Gotei 13 as a “dangerous character who kills Shinigami”.

Hisagi has never seen him in person, but his corpse, after being defeated by Ichigo in the Human World, happened to exist in Soul society.

“Ginjō Kūgo…”

The man who is the first substitute Shinigami, and later estranged, a man who slaughtered a number of Shinigami who were in pursuit of him.

The corpse was buried in the Human World at the request of Kurosaki Ichigo, but naturally, souls are a different matter.

Since they were also human beings who lived in the Human World, their souls which had slipped out of their dead bodies would have drifted into the Rukongai.

“Oh my, this is an honour. I’m surprised that a guy with a lieutenant’s armband knows my face.”

Hisagi’s Shihakushō is sleeveless, but when going out to a public place, he fastens his armband, putting it on display around his exposed arm.

In response to Ginjō who smiles boldly while looking at said armband, Hisagi lowers his voice.

“I’ve heard rumours that you didn’t fall into the depths of hell… but what are you doing in a place like this?”

“Dear me, you shouldn’t glare like that on our first meeting, wouldn’t you agree? Have I done something to you?”

“Playing dumb all of a sudden huh… don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what you did to the Shinigami and Kurosaki.

As his eyes narrowed, Hisagi fixed a glare at the man who was once a substitute Shinigami.

Then, Ginjō also narrows his eyes once more, smiling fearlessly in Hisagi's​ direction.

"So what? Do you mean to say that I should get down on my knees and apologise? For your information, I have an obligation to Kurosaki Ichigo, but I’ve never planned on becoming a friend to you Shinigami lot, and I don’t regret being turned into an enemy.”

“You bastard… what are you planning?”

“Ha. Does it look like I’m planning something? If that’s the case, what are you going to do to me?”

Ginjō laughed scornfully, at the same time, the tall young man who was standing next to him, closed the book he was holding and took out a bookmark from its crevice.

“Stop it, Tsukishima.”

“Are you sure? But he’s got a look that says he’s going to come at us with a sword any minute now?”

The man called Tsukishima spoke with a cool visage.

Hearing that name, Hisagi heightens his sense of vigilance even more.

“Tsukishima… if I’m not mistaken, you were the asshole that messed up Kurosaki’s past.”

The man in question, Tsukishima, looked at Hisagi with a cynical​ smile cast on his face.

“That’s a cruel manner of speaking. The past of the person himself hasn’t changed. Oh, although that last time, I helped with a little maintenance on his sword.”

“……?”

Unable to comprehend the meaning behind Tsukishima’s words, Hisagi looked at him in puzzlement.

Having observed the situation, the gentleman with the eyepatch opened his mouth to speak as he heaved a sigh.

"Ginjō san, it appears he has no knowledge of the fact that the two of you assisted Kurosaki Ichigo.“

"You assisted?”

—— Come to think of it, I feel like Renji said something along the lines of “there was an unexpected helping hand"….

—— Tch. Should I have covered what happened there first?

During these past six months, Hisagi has continued to work his fingers to the bone as acting Captain of Squad 9 in place of Muguruma who was undergoing medical treatment for his zombified state.

Therefore, until Muguruma returned, he couldn’t get around to conducting detailed interviews.

Hisagi regrets his own decision to postpone interviews with those concerned on the mere basis that it could be done at any time, meanwhile Ginjō looked bored as he spoke to the gentleman with the eyepatch.

"Assisting him was no big deal. I only paid back a small debt.”

Watching the three people engage in conversation with their placidity still on show, Hisagi thinks.

—— Can I take all three of these guys down by myself?

—— I don’t know this eyepatch guy, but he’s probably Ginjō’s comrade.

—— I’m not sure about his abilities… although, I’ve heard the stories about this other guy from Madarame and Captain Hitsugaya….

Having heard the rumours, could it possibly be this very man who is the “opponent cut down with a single strike by Zaraki Kenpachi”?

Hisagi thought as much, but he is not stupid enough to conclude that this man was weak just because Zaraki Kenpachi was able to defeat him in one blow. Because Hisagi knows well that there is not much difference between a wolf and a puppy before the presence known as Kenpachi.

However, at any rate, what is before his eyes, is the 'enemy’ who once butchered members of the Gotei 13.

Kurosaki Ichigo may have forgiven them, but this is a different​ story, as one among the Shinigami, they are by no means opponents that he can​ overlook.

Coming to that conclusion, Hisagi decided that, for now, he would keep the opponent talking whilst tightening his guard in order to probe into their intentions.

“The Shinigami…Ukitake san, why did you betray them?”

Then, the darkness that was dwelling at the back of Ginjō’s eyes faded away for an instant, he opened his mouth to speak as surprise and amazement intermingled on his face.

“…What a surprise. A Shinigami would ask me that now after such a long time?”

“That’s right, I heard that Captain Ukitake used a substitute badge to monitor you. Though, was that alone enough to turn every member of the Gotei 13 into an enemy? I’m sure that was unpleasant, but it’s merely a matter of objecting against Ukitake san once you’ve noticed it don’t you think?”

“…Once I’ve noticed it, huh?”

As Ginjō murmurs that, a silence falls over him for a moment.

In the next instant, he broke out into a laugh as if he had just witnessed a humorous circus trick.

“HA… is that so. It doesn’t seem like you’re trying to play the fool. Does that mean, even at Vice Captain level, your awareness of the facts only amounts to that much?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m saying I finally get it now. I get that you know nothing at all.”

At that point his smile had disappeared and he began to fiddle with the cross shaped pendant that was suspended over his chest.

Hisagi sensed​ some kind of unpleasant Reiatsu fluctuating in that pendant; taking a step back, Hisagi reached his hand to his own Zanpakutō.

As they maintained their distance from each other, the air of an explosive situation fills the surroundings ——

In the next moment, that atmosphere was shattered to pieces by the squeals of a beast and the trembling of the ground.

When they turned their attention to the squeals, a huge wild boar as big as a Kei car, came careening from the direction of a neighbouring village before plunging towards the confrontation between Hisagi and Ginjō’s group.

The wild boar rapidly eased up on its speed in front of them, and as a result, 'he’ who was riding on the back of the boar was thrust headfirst into the grassland between Hisagi and Ginjō.

“Buhhoo-…!?

The man who had crashed into the ground whilst issuing a comical shriek, staggered to his feet, he then gave a thumbs up towards the boar he was just riding as he raised his voice.

"Heh… that’s my girl. Your​ style was so cool today too Bonnie-chan!”

As if ignoring the man who had just spoken, the wild boar galloped away in the opposite direction with momentum that was as swift as the wind.

With Hisagi watching the sudden comedy routine in round-eyed wonder, the man who had followed the wild boar with his eyes until it was out of sight then turned to face them and began to speak with a high-spirited voice.

“Hey, hey, hey! What’s up with you guys? Is there some kind of trouble here?”

“It’s nothing, Ganju. I was just poking a bit of fun at this Shinigami who is ignorant of the ways​ of the world.”

Hisagi looked at the stern face of the man who Ginjō had called “Ganju”.

“Have you gotten into a dispute with the Shinigami? Jeez, I can understand your poor opinion towards the Shinigami, but you don’t need to raise a riot! Look I can’t say let bygones be bygones, but it’s not cool to all of a sudden go picking fights right in the open.”

Having heard that, the gentleman with the eyepatch inclined his head as he posed a question.

“Is that so? But In Kūkaku dono’s stories, I heard that when you and Kurosaki san met, you got into a childish scuffle with him.”

“Guh…! Big sister talks too much!”

The man, who had a face identical to the banner-bearing statues Hisagi had seen only a short while earlier, pulled a wry expression after remarking as such.

Confronted, beyond a shadow of a doubt, with Shiba Ganju —— the very man he was searching for, Hisagi knit his eyebrows together in bewilderment.

“I can’t tell if your timing is good or bad…”

“Huuhh!? What's​ that you jerk!? ……Oh you're… if I’m not mistaken… you’re the Vice Captain of some squad… Vice Captain… Hi… Hisa….”

“……”

After an awkward silence, Ganju gives a firm nod, and with the same grin he had flashed towards his wild boar earlier, Ganju presents Hisagi with a thumbs up.

“Long time no see! Vice Captain! Vice Captain who is an acquaintance of Kuchiki Rukia!”

“Oh come on it’s only one more character! It’s Hisagi! Of the 9th Division! Hisagi Shūhei!”

To the side of a shouting Hisagi, Ginjō breathed a sigh as he released the pendant from the grip of his fingers.

“What's​ this, you guys know each other?”

Perhaps having confirmed that the tense atmosphere was now completely ruptured, Tsukishima also opens his book once again and turns his attention towards that.

“…Oi, Shiba Ganju, what’s the meaning of this? Do you and Kūkaku san know what kind of people these guys are?”

“Isn’t that a given? Of course we know, these guys are the freeloaders big sis found and brought back with her.”

“Freeloaders…?”

While Hisagi was unable to make heads or tails of it, Ginjō and the others were trying to leave this place a step ahead.

However, the sharp sighted Ganju who detected this, stops them in their tracks with that enigmatic, overbearing manner of his.

“Hey, wait a minute! Where are you guys going!? I don’t know what happened between you and this Vice Captain brother here, but while I’m still around, I won’t allow any fishy grudges between the Shinigami and friends of the Shiba to be left hanging.”

Faced with Ginjō’s group who had turned around, appearing to find the situation irksome, as well as Hisagi who wore a befuddled expression, Ganju spoke sonorously of his solution with a face that was brimming with self-confidence.

“Don’t sweat it, I won’t let you down. Leave it up to this self-proclaimed 'crimson bullet of West Rukongai’, the number one self-proclaimed but 'universally acknowledged boss of West Rukongai’ for 17 consecutive years! And finally, the self-proclaimed 'former number one Shinigami hater’, Ganju sama!”

Ganju was the only one in high spirits.

Unable to decipher how he should respond to the man who had just issued a speech on his puzzling self-introductions towards Ginjō and the others, all of whom were already acquainted with him, Hisagi’s eyes closed half way as he just barely managed to produce a coherent sentence.

“That last one… It’s not exactly necessary to go by that title if it’s 'former’ don’t ya think…?”

And thus the experience of being a Shinigami for many long years, causes his mind to procure a sense of foreboding.

—— This is bad.

—— I mean, I’m not being dragged into some troublesome course of events am I?









A few hours later - Seireitei - Squad 1 Barracks.





“This is a troublesome turn of events huh, very much so.”

In response to these words issued from the mouth of Captain Commander Kyōraku, the two Vice Captains who were before him —— Ise Nanao and Okikiba Genshirō, exchanged a quick glance.

The words Kyōraku had spoken has half become a habitual saying, but from his tone of voice, the Vice Captains Nanao and Okikiba could sense that something​ was up.

Although it is a level of difference that can only be understood by those who are accustomed to hearing it, the Captain Commander's​ mutterings at present was in a tone of voice that was used only when something truly unpleasant had happened.

“What’s the matter, Captain Commander?”

At Nanao’s words, Kyōraku releases a heavy sigh.

“Ah, sorry, did I make you anxious? You can run into my arms if you want to stop your trembling, you know?”

“I’m asking you seriously, Captain Commander.”

“…Yes, well then. A short while ago, before Nanao chan’s arrival here, Nayura chan came to me with an escort. There was an official notice and a request from Central 46.”

“Amakado Nayura sama, came to you in person?”

Nanao also knows about Nayura.

In Soul Society, the highest judicial branch that guides the Shinigami as the mouthpiece for the Soul King and occasionally hands down judgement, is the Central 46.

Amakado Nayura is the youngest amongst its constituent members, a small girl who only looks to be around 10 years of age in terms of appearance.

However, her shrewdness which has existed long beyond what meets the eye, is acknowledged by both Kyōraku and Nanao; with her as the pivot, the central 46 who prioritised nobility, were gradually changing.

There is a conscious disparity that exists between the status quo of the Shinigami and the Central 46, but that gap is slowly being filled through the pressure and encouragement of both her and Kyōraku. At least Nanao felt so, and although there was the question of balance, she was hoping that the administration of justice would settle things in good form for the nobles in their current state and the position of the Shinigami, or perhaps the commoners and every inhabitant of Rukongai.

From Nanao’s point of view, kyōraku needed to refrain from addressing a member of the Central 46 with “chan” attached to their name, but because she often socialised with Nayura who would sometimes come to visit posing as a commoner, she also found herself inadvertently coming close to calling her “Nayura san”.

Uttering the name of that young girl from the Central 46, Kyōraku breathed a sigh with a slight look of melancholy cast over his face.

“The other day, a rather troubling incident occurred among the Four Great Noble Clans. Though I think you’ve already heard about it.”

“Yes. It’s regarding the assassins who invaded​ the Tsunayashiro clan and murdered their family head isn’t it?”

The fact that one of the heads of the four great noble clans and their household members had all been massacred, this is a major incident that would shake the very foundations of the Seireitei under normal circumstances. However, given that it’s bad enough that the post-war turmoil has not yet settled down, the official story was declared in the form of - “their health came to harm from wartime anxieties, and it’s an epidemic that took their lives”.

It is for this reason that the particulars of the case are known only to some of the top brass; those who have a handle on the course of events among the Gotei 13 amounts to only a small number of people including Captain Commander Kyōraku and his Vice Captains, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Onmitsukidō - Soifon.

“Well, I suppose Captain Kurotsuchi and Yoruichi chan would know about it through their own independent channels huh. Rather, following these events, they probably knew about it before I did.”

“…Does this mean, there is some issue with the subsequent​ succession of the clan head?”

“I heard the general details from Nayura chan, but the strife among members of nobility is out of our jurisdiction after all. This falls within the jurisdiction of the Kinin* (*Golden seal) Noble Assembly, not the Gotei 13.… At least, for now.”

In response to Kyōraku who uttered words with a hint of hidden meaning, Nanao narrows her eyes after understanding his intentions.

“For now? Does that mean this will develop into a situation that will involve the Gotei 13 later on?”

“I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

After answering with a somewhat distressed expression, Kyōraku continued speaking as he gazed upon the official notice from the Central 46.

“Ah, also, won’t you summon Muguruma kun and Hisagi kun for me?”

“Squad 9?”

“It would be fine even if it was Hisagi kun alone. But given the circumstances, I think it’s better to have the Captain grasp the situation too, just in case.”

Meanwhile at Shiba Kūkaku’s residence.

“And then! No sooner than those stone statues or whatever had stopped springing up on us without a damn warning, that Ichigo asshole appears from behind us! 'sorry, we ended up moving down below earlier, so we’re here to pick you up now’ he says! And to think that my humble self and Chad got all fired up in order to 'prepare the way back for Ichigo’! The way back and all had already moved down to the Seireitei a step ahead, what’s the meaning of that!?”

The guest room in the basement of Kūkaku’s house.

At the centre, was the figure of Ganju who was making Hisagi listen to his complaints as he gulped down his sake.

“Is he for real!? That guy Chad said 'Ichigo sees nothing but the path forward’! But, I’d never have guessed that it would be thrown in my face in that kind of way damn it!”

“Yeah… I guess, that must have been difficult for you huh.”

“That Chad dude is just as bad too! The first thing he says to Ichigo in a situation like that is 'I see… it’s over then’ with a great big smile on his face. I mean if he’s gonna put it like that, doesn’t it make me look like some narrow minded oaf who whines too much-Gahhh!?”

Midway through his speech, Ganju received a firm kick from behind and was planted face first into the ground.

Kūkaku, the person who had dealt that kick, spoke as she trampled on her fallen brother’s back.

“Quit your infernal yapping! Your so-called guts was probably pathetic in action!”

“It hurts and that’s uncalled for! But, big sis!”

“No ifs or buts! You punk… I spent years training you up so that you’d be able to fight on the front lines until the bitter end, and yet you lost sight of your companions and manage to lose your way on the road, what the hell am I supposed to make of that…?"

"From whom did you hear that I got lost!? I bet it was Ichigo that jerk yeow-tetetetete! Will you cut that out big sis!? My spine will become sand! It’s going to become sand!”

Ganju wailed as Kūkaku continues to relentlessly trample on her brother.

Unable to comprehend how to deal with two such people, Hisagi, seemingly at a loss, took a swig of his drink for himself.

In the midst of doing so, Hisagi shifts his attention to Ginjō who was sitting at the very corner of his field of vision.

Earlier, Hisagi had been shown into this guest room by forceful invitation of Ganju who said “drinking sake will wash your grudges away”, but at any rate, he enquired about the relationship between Ginjō’s group and Ganju, and before he knew it, Hisagi wound up being made to listen to the idle complaints of Ganju who had become tipsy.

Incidentally, Tsukishima proceeded to read his book whilst leaning against a wall at the corner of the room without partaking in the drinking party; while en route here, the man with the cloth eyepatch who introduced himself as Kutsuzawa Giriko, retreated into the Shiba clan’s kitchen saying “allow me to prepare some snacks.”

“I mean, Both Ginjō and Tsukishima are fishy too, you know!? According to what I heard, they managed to skip right over us and get to Ichigo’s location, how the heck do you explain that!? Isn’t that unfair!? Hey, don’t you think that’s unfair!?”

Ganju, who was released from his sister’s foot, changed the subject of his complaints to Ginjō.

Dismissing Ganju's​ words with a nonchalant air, Ginjō drinks his sake in a refined manner whilst shrugging his shoulders.

“That’s because we travelled there directly through Yukio and Riruka’s abilities. Our end was running a fair amount of risk in our own way too you know?”

“Yukio and Riruka?”

At Hisagi’s muttering, Ginjō opens his mouth to speak as he turns his eyes away.

“Oh, I used to hang out with those guys in the Human World. Unlike us, they’re not dead, but they came all the way up here to help Ichigo.”

"To help Kurosaki…?”

As an editor of Seireitei Communication, he wanted to explore these matters thoroughly, but his wariness towards Ginjō did not readily allow that.

At that point, Kūkaku who had observed the situation with Hisagi, now raised her voice.

“Will you quit trying to drink with that mean look on your face. Didn’t we already tell you earlier? Ganju and I have accepted those freeloaders. Even if we got cut up from behind, we would bear no grudge."

"But, those guys are…!”

“Even Ukitake agreed.”

“Huh…?”

In response to Hisagi who choked back a voice of protest in the back of his throat, Kūkaku continued.

“Well, now that things have come to this pass, he can’t even attest to that.”

“…Wait a moment. So, has Ginjō also met Ukitake san?”

When Hisagi cast his eyes in Ginjō’s direction, he spoke whilst turning the empty sake cup in his hand.

“I didn’t meet him. Honestly, I did not intend to meet him until I imposed upon this place.”

“You mean things are different now?”

“Can’t say. Even if we had met, we probably would have ended up killing each other don’t ya think?”

“So, why go that far to-…”

What exactly happened between Ukitake and Ginjō, the first substitute Shinigami?

It’s not like he could dispel his vigilance without understanding the matter even a little bit.

No, no matter what the reason may be, the fact remains unchanged, that the man before his eyes is the very menace who murdered Shinigami.

“However”, Hisagi thinks to himself whilst entertaining a small amount of doubt in his chest —— or perhaps, fear.

Assuming that he was able to kill Ginjō after simply crossing blades with him, would it be possible to say he had struck down an enemy of the Shinigami out of duty to the Gotei 13? Having attempted to put a stop to Captain Tōsen’s vengeance, is it not a mistake to rely on emotions to swing one’s blade?

Aizen’s words from six months ago are called back to Hisagi’s mind.

—— What you are harbouring is not hatred. It is merely sentimentality for your lost Tōsen Kaname and the impression he left behind.

This choice of words may be correct in a sense.

If he were to ask himself whether or not he carried even the slightest fragment of emotion in his blade, then he would probably answer “no”.

Nevertheless, he can’t very well turn a blind eye to Ginjō here. Being misled by the likes of Aizen’s words, and even losing sight of how to use his own blade would be putting the cart before the horse.

Perceiving the indecision and fear within himself, Hisagi regains his presence of mind instead.

Erasing the traces of emotion from his countenance, as a member of the Gotei 13 who must assess threats to the Seireitei, he turned to face the man named Ginjō Kūgo once again.

“……Forget it, you were right, I don’t know anything. For this reason, please enlighten me. What did the Shinigami… what did we do against you, the first substitute Shinigami?”

Having observed the situation, Ginjō raises one eyebrow in slight astonishment, he places his sake cup upon the table before replying.

“I see, sure enough, it’s not like you’re seated as vice Captain for nothing.”

Though he smiled with great interest, Ginjō paused for a brief moment before slowly shaking his head left and right.

“…I appreciate that you’re willing to confront me about this seriously. But, no matter what comes out of my mouth, you just can’t bring yourself to digest the words of a 'dangerous character’, can you? Why not ask your Captain Commander?”

“I reckon that wouldn’t be fair in it’s own way. The Captain Commander isn’t the kind of person who would tell lies, but so far as it goes, I am a journalist. It’s not really impartial unless I listen to both sides of the story.”

“I didn’t expect that a word like 'journalist’ would fly out of a Shinigami’s mouth. Besides, there are no rules that say journalists must be fair in the first place.”

“Fairness is the number one priority, it is a policy I carry on from the previous editor-in-chief.”

Hearing those words, Ginjō chuckles.

“You’re a strange guy. At first glance, you looked like nothing more than an ordinary Shinigami with your typical Shinigami ways.”

“I’ll take that latter half as a compliment.”

“So, then what? Supposing I revealed the reason for my betrayal and I was unable to convince you, what would you do?”

“I think you know. In that case I'll——”

The voice of Kūkaku, who had remained silent up till now, interrupted Hisagi’s speech just as he was about to respond with some resolve.

“Look, I don’t mean to poke my nose into this discord between the freeloader and the Shinigami. But if you’re gonna cross swords, do it outside, got it?”

“…Understood.”

“Alright I got it, we won’t cause any trouble for you.”

Hisagi nods obediently while Ginjō shrugs and accepts these terms.

The air which had grown tense fluctuated, and after several seconds of silence, Ginjō opened his mouth to speak.

“I guess I ended up deceiving Kurosaki Ichigo.”

“…? Ah, so I’ve heard.”

“I personally had Tsukishima alter my own past…. In that past, there was a half Shinigami human who was willing to cooperate with us in order to eliminate the Hollow power from us Fullbringers…. That half Shinigami and my old friends were killed by Tsukishima, that’s how things supposedly went down.”

Something all Fullbringers like Ginjō have in common is that they each have a parent who was attacked by a Hollow.

It is for this reason that they are born mixed with Hollow powers, and Hisagi has also heard that it manifests as a unique ability called Fullbring.

“So, having come back to my senses again, you might be wondering what it was like in my original past…. There was no such half Shinigami like Ichigo. Suffice it to say that I was the one who was undertaking the role of substitute Shinigami. Well then, who killed my old companions who were in those memories?”

“…Wait, if all of that was just down to Tsukishima’s modified past too then…”

“Tsukishima’s ability… "Book of the End” allows Tsukishima to insert himself into another person’s past. Although things such as 'memories’ and 'outcomes’ where Tsukishima was concerned can be inserted, as far as inserting​ people who don’t even exist, that’s impossible. By the way, the guy who I believed was the half Shinigami was actually one of the Shinigami I killed in a fit of rage.“

"…It can’t be.”

Getting an unpleasant feeling, Hisagi gulped.

Tsukishima, who was at the corner of the room, lifts his eyes​ up from his book to glance at the scene between Hisagi and Ginjō.

Perhaps having discerned that it was not the kind of atmosphere where he could cut in, even Ganju quietly strained his ears to the conversation of the other two; Kūkaku wore an expression that said “it’s no concern of mine”, but she gulped down her sake in a silence that was quite out of the ordinary for her.

An uncomfortable silence dominates the space around Hisagi.

And it was the words of a dark eyed Ginjō that killed this silence.

“The ones who killed the friends from my past… are Shinigami. Though, they were a bunch of guys who are all strangers to me.”

Silence and cold air tries to fill the scene once more.

However, Hisagi, who decided that he couldn’t stomach that statement, shook his head as he rose to his feet.

“Hold on…. So, do you mean to say that Ukitake san made them do it!?”

“Hell if I know. But, by that time I had noticed the secret of the Substitute Badge. As for the rest, I guess you can figure it out even without me saying anything right?”

“Uh…”

In his mind, Hisagi recalls the conversation from a little earlier.

—— It’s merely a matter of objecting against Ukitake san once you’ve noticed it don’t you think?

Although he was unaware of the circumstances, Hisagi realised how beside the point his own words were and was seized with a feeling of great shame.

“I see…. It’s not like I can swallow your story just yet… but I’m sorry about earlier.”

“I don’t give a damn about that. It made me laugh didn’t it?”

After mixing in a bit of playful banter, Ginjō takes the conversation further.

“On the day I repaid my debt to Ichigo at the Soul King Palace, I planned to go meet Ukitake. I wondered just how far his orders went, after all, putting me aside whom he didn’t trust me from the very onset, why then did my Fullbringer comrades have to be killed? But, it’s a funny story. When I went looking for Ukitake all prepared to take his life even if it meant losing my own, by then, that man was no longer in any condition to talk.”

“That's…”

Hisagi tries to say something, but words fail him.

In his head, he recalls the moment Tōsen is killed by Aizen.

At the time, Tōsen was indeed able to exchange words with Hisagi in the end. However, just before the paths each chose to follow were about to intersect once more, Tōsen was cruelly murdered at the hands of Aizen —— Hisagi, too, had forever lost the chance to exchange words with his opponent.

Observing the expression on Hisagi who had recollected such a thing, Ginjō heaves a sigh as he clicks his tongue.

“Tch… I’ve said too much. Those drinks must be catching up to me already dammit.”

“Please wait. If that’s true…”

Midway through his sentence, the Denreishinki that was in his pocket produced a noise.

When he took out the device and reviewed it, a familiar notice to convene was displayed on its screen.

“…Sorry. I’m being summoned by Squad 1.”

“Getting called in with this kind of timing huh, well I never, are you also being monitored from above?”

Confronted with Ginjō who speaks with bitter irony, Hisagi utters a reply.

“That might be possible if it were Captain Kurotsuchi rather than the Captain Commander…. Still, regardless of whether I’m being watched or whatever, I won’t stop until I carry out my duty.”

Upon leaving his seat, Hisagi finally speaks to Ginjō in a blunt manner.

“This doesn’t necessarily mean that I take you completely at your word. I am also a Shinigami. I don’t want to believe that my colleagues carried out a massacre in the Human World with no justification…. But, I will definitely investigate the other side of this story too. Because while I am a Shinigami, I am also editor-in-chief of Seireitei Communication. You can count on me.”

“……”

“Anyway, we’ll talk again soon. And Ganju, please allow me to hear your story next time too. Next time, the drinks are on me.”

When he gave a final bow towards Kūkaku, Hisagi departed the Shiba residence.

Hearing the sound of a motorbike engine echoing from afar, Tsukishima, who had been silent up till then, raised his voice whilst his eyes were turned towards his book.

“That’s rare. For Ginjō to actually tell that story to a Shinigami from his own mouth.”

“Yeah. I’ve finally lost my edge haven’t I?”

After remarking jokingly, Ginjō stares into space with a serious look on his face.

“Well, he probably just strikes me as a no-nonsense kind of Shinigami. An awful lot like the Gotei 13 huh. I guess I ended up wondering whether or not a guy like that would take my words seriously… nah, maybe I just wanted someone to vent my frustrations at instead of Ukitake who’s no longer here.”

At that point, Giriko spoke up, having emerged holding a plate.

“Oh. I have the snacks prepared but it seems the Shinigami gentleman has left already?”

“Yeah, I suppose he’s a punctual guy. He was in an awful hurry.”

“I see, that is a wonderful thing. After all, the flow of time is an absolute law that remains as unchangeable in the Human World as it is in the Rukongai and Seireitei. If the Shinigami are anything of the 'gods’ they claim to be, then it is only natural to abide by it.”

Elsewhere from the Fullbringers who were having this conversation, Ganju posed a question to his sister who continued drinking in an unusual silence.

“Say, big sis, what do you actually think?”

“It’s none of my damn business. I told you didn’t I? It’s not something we can poke our noses into when we’re not even Shinigami.”

“…I wonder if big brother knew something.”

This brother he speaks of is Shiba Kaien who served as Ukitake’s lieutenant before the collapse of the Shiba clan.

Although they were ousted from their position as nobles due to his death and the disappearance of Kurosaki Isshin who belonged to a branch of the main house, Ganju still considered his big brother the pride of the Shiba clan even now.

Recalling the face of her older brother who was no more, Kūkaku cast her eyes down to her sake cup whilst forming her words.

“…Who knows. The Shinigami are only alert to external threats all for the sake of protecting Seireitei.”

.

.

.

“Just like it was with that Aizen bastard, when it comes to the Shinigami, they may just wind up becoming all kinds of thick-skinned against the scoundrels created by the Seireitei itself.”









One hour later - Squad 1 - Head office.





“Hey, you’re late Shūhei. Just how far did you have to travel?”

“My apologies Captain, I went up to Shiba Kūkaku san’s place in West Rukongai to collect some material.”

“Kūkaku…? Oh, Kaien’s younger sister…?”

When Hisagi enters the office, the Captain of the 9th division, Muguruma Kensei, is already waiting there; Kyōraku then makes an appearance from the door at the opposite end of the room.

“Dear me, I’m sorry to bother the two of you when you’re both so busy.”

Seeing Captain Commander Kyōraku raise one hand in greeting with his usual rhythm, Muguruma spoke up.

“So? What’s going on Captain commander? Is there any special reason as to why it’s only the 9th division that’s been summoned?”

“Yes, you could say that. It’s kind of a matter that involves Seireitei Communication.”

“Huh? If that’s the case, then why am I here?”

Muguruma is the Captain of squad 9, but he is not involved in the editing of the magazine at all.

Only a few days ago, Muguruma was recuperating in order to treat his zombified flesh, and for a long time he was in no condition to even get a grasp on the current state of Seireitei communication.

“Well, as a matter of fact, I was told in person by the higher-ups that there is something they wish to formally announce in the Seireitei Communication. Therefore, I think it would be better to also run this by you, as the Captain, just in case.”

“An announcement? And by higher-ups, do you mean Squad Zero?”

“No, they were from the Central 46. The group of nobles behind the Central 46 to be exact.”

Saying that, Kyōraku turns his eyes to Hisagi for only a moment before uttering the rest of the story.

“Actually, it turns out that one of the Four Great Noble Houses is to install a new clan head. The matter has already passed through the governmental district and, as a formality, the new clan head will have been instated by now, but very much at the request of this new clan head, it appears that he wants to publicise news of his own inauguration extensively throughout Soul Society.”

“Damn it, so it’s just your average self-absorbed noble again huh.”

Kensei spoke, looking rather bored.

Although there are exceptions such as Shihōin Yoruichi, basically, he knows only too well that both he and the aristocrats would never hit it off, and given that the subject also concerned Seireitei Communication, Kensei was rapidly losing interest in the matter. Meanwhile, Hisagi continues the discussion with a look that said he doesn’t quite understand.

“*sigh*…. Around how many pages will it take? From the onset, the first reissue is still scheduled several months ahead, and it commences with a special feature which looks back on the Protection​ of the Soul King Great War, so having to balance it all against that will…”

“It seems he wants you to produce a special edition extra. He said he wants it to be distributed widely, even as far as the Rukongai.”

“S-Special edition extra! If we have to get the publishing systems fully operational right away, we simply won’t have the kind of budget for it….”

The inauguration of a new clan head among the Four Great Noble Clans is big news in itself. However, because the highest ranking being is the Soul King, it is rare to go as far to issue special editions involving the Four Great Noble Clans even on auspicious occasions or times of mourning.

Of course, budgets that exceed expectations are sometimes required, and if it is to be widely distributed even up to the Rukongai, then there is also the potential for that alone to bypass the annual budget.

Hisagi pondered how he could possibly get by on that budget whilst groaning in frustration, but Kyōraku placed a hand on his shoulder with a plop and smiled.

“You can rest assured. After all, it appears that the budget will be completely handled by that noble clan.”

“Really!?”

If that’s the case, he considered that it may be an opportunity to use the special edition extra as a pretext to promote the advance notice of the reissue and subscriptions to the regular edition of the magazine; in Hisagi’s mind, he began to weigh up the benefits, the implications of which differed from just a moment ago.

However ——

As if to pull him back to reality, Kyōraku’s smiling face then clouded over.

“And, about the new clan head of said noble family…”

“…? Is something wrong, captain commander?”

“…I’m speaking about Tokinada, of the Tsunayashiro clan… you know who he is, right?”





The blood vessels in Shūhei’s body pulsated frantically.

“Tsunayashiro…Tokinada.”

Hisagi knows this name too.

With the objective to bring Tōsen Kaname back to their side after he once strayed onto the wrong path, for a time, Hisagi probed deep into the past of Tōsen in an attempt to learn even a little more about him.

The details of the incident in which Tōsen’s close friend was killed is outrageous, the story goes that her husband at the time considered the idea of imprisonment mere folly, and that he continued to live his life comfortably without even receiving an adequate punishment.

“Hold on a moment. Surely that man is supposed to be in the lowest seat of the branch family…?”

“He has risen to the top. Factors such as the time Aizen massacred the Central 46, and the disorder born out of the last war, all worked to his advantage no doubt. Furthermore, last week the head of the Tsunayashiro clan and the family members around him were murdered by assassins, one by one.”

“Captain.”

Nanao, who had remained silent beside him up till then, raises her voice.

Martial law had been imposed in response to the turmoil surrounding the Tsunayashiro clan assassinations, Nanao couldn’t imagine it a good idea to carelessly reveal information to Hisagi even though he held the position of Vice Captain.

However, holding out a hand to quell Nanao's​ objection, Kyōraku daringly continues to speak.

“I won’t speak from conjecture. Nevertheless, it was Tsunayashiro Tokinada who completely annihilated those assassins by himself, with that meritorious deed in hand, he was then promoted from the lineage of the branch family. Conveniently, all members of the head house are no more… that’s how the story goes.”

Contrary to Kyōraku’s opening remark, the suggestion in his words were the kind where anyone could decipher 'the true culprit behind the assassination scandal and his goals’, regardless of who was listening to it. Of course Hisagi was no exception and he gradually raised his eyebrows in discomfort during the course of the conversation.

“I know about him too. I think you’ve already come to realise this, but he is the sort of man who can do that kind of thing without compunction.”

At those words, not only Hisagi but even Nanao and Kensei expressed a little surprise, judging by Okikiba Genshirō who maintained a deep silence, it seems he agreed with Kyōraku’s words too.

Hisagi and Nanao were surprised because those words just now did not seem to reflect the speech and conduct of the usual Kyōraku who seldom speaks poorly of others.

Perhaps having noticed this predicament, Kyōraku let a wry smile laced with self-mockery play on his face before forming his words.

"Come now, not even I, am a man of noble character. It’s just a matter of one or two men who I don’t see eye to eye with.”

Then, Kyōraku’s smile disappeared once again, he threw a question at Hisagi with a serious look in his eye.

“To sum it up, we have been instructed to issue a special edition celebrating his… Tsunayashiro Tokinada’s inauguration. Hisagi kun…… can you do it?”