Chapter 32: Those Who Flout the Laws Breaks the Silence
Since the Hollowfication incident three years ago, Genryusai Yamamoto had rarely shown significant emotional fluctuations. Even incidents as major as the dangerous experiment conducted by the acting Captain of the Twelfth Division, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, which resulted in the deaths of several Soul Reapers and severe injuries to many others, did not surprise Yamamoto that much.
However, this heir of the Tsunayashiro Clan had pushed Yamamoto's limits even though it hadn't been that long since he became the Captain of Ninth Division.
During the Captain's assessment battle, he made many Captains wait for half an hour, stating that he was late because of training. Immediately after becoming Captain, he ruthlessly demolished the Eleventh Division barracks' gate in front of a lot of Soul Reapers. He then mercilessly defeated the Third Seat, Ikkaku Madarame, and arrested several Eleventh Division members, including Ikkaku. Not long after the inauguration ceremony, he critically injured his former colleague, Kaname Tōsen.
And now, within a day, he had arrested nearly an entire lower noble Clan.
What on earth was Tsunayashiro Tokikaze thinking?!
Yamamoto suddenly felt that his decision to appoint Tokikaze as a Captain was somewhat hasty.
Even if Tsunayashiro Tokikaze did not violate the laws of the Soul Society, he seemed to be trampling on the face of the First Division and the Central 46.
As the Captain of the 9th Division, he ignored laws and regulations, arrested another Division's Seated Officers and nobles without authorization, and destroyed the Eleventh Division barracks' gate and the gate of Kuragawa Clan's mansion.
Yamamoto had every reason to suspect that the next gate Tsunayashiro Tokikaze would demolish might be the First Division's or even the Underground Assembly Hall.
Upon thinking of this possibility, he found it increasingly difficult to maintain his composure.
"Regarding the Kuragawa Clan..."
Yamamoto asked, "What crimes have they committed? Tsunayashiro Tokikaze wouldn't attack their mansion without reason."
Upon hearing this, Genshiro Okikiba's expression became somewhat strange, as if trying to hide his emotion.
After a long silence, he finally calmed down and answered:
"In order to earn more influence in the Noble Assembly, Kuragawa Zanosuke monopolized water sources in Inuzuri to gather souls with innate spiritual power for his Clan."
Genshiro Okikiba added at the end, "All of this was compiled and submitted by Nanao Ise, the Third Seat of the Ninth Division."
Yamamoto's thick white eyebrows furrowed, almost forming a straight line.
"Isn't Nanao Ise supposed to be under Kyōraku's command?"
"How did she transfer to the Ninth Division and become the Third Seat?"
Even someone as calm as Genshiro Okikiba couldn't help but find this strange. As far as he knew, Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai had never cared about such things.
The Captains of the Gotei 13 had the "right" to appoint a Vice-Captain, and they also had the power to assign seat officers. Small matters like transfers between Divisions wouldn't even be notified to the First Division.
"Nanao Ise is a special case, no need to be too surprised."
Yamamoto seemed to notice Genshiro Okikiba's doubts and explained.
"Ah, Ise Clan, I see."
Genshiro Okikiba suddenly realized the circumstances. Having served as the Third Seat in the First Division for a considerable time, he naturally knew many secrets of the Soul Society.
With Yamamoto's reminder, he immediately recalled the relevant information.
Ise Clan was a Clan of Shinto Priests from Soul Society that oversaw and carried out rituals and rites. They were also responsible for guarding the "Sacred Treasure."
Ise Clan's status in the Soul Society was not inferior to most noble Clans and even slightly surpassed them.
"Is it already the turn of the new generation of priestess?"
Genshiro Okikiba lowered his gaze, "It's truly an unfortunate and unavoidable fate..."
"Since Captain Kyōraku agreed to this transfer, he must have his own reasons."
Yamamoto nodded slightly, acknowledging his explanation.
"Let's set this matter aside for now."
Yamamoto sighed lightly. With the consecutive submission of information, he felt that even the sun above his head was not as warm.
"Inform Captain Tsunayashiro Tokikaze to come to the First Division barracks."
"I want to see what this brat is thinking!"
Genshiro Okikiba bowed his head and respectfully said, "Understood!"
...
Ninth Division, prison.
Under Tsunayashiro Tokikaze's supervision, Toshimura Todo counted and recorded the members of the Kuragawa Clan who were imprisoned.
Apart from registering their names, even their Reiatsu levels were all recorded.
As lower nobles, the Kuragawa Clan still adhered to the tradition of using Reiatsu level to classify the strength of family members.
This was a common tradition among most noble Clans in the Soul Society.
"Captain, it seems like the prison is a bit overcrowded."
After counting the number of people, Toshimura Todo raised his head and respectfully said, "Some of the criminals who are still imprisoned have not even undergone their trial."
"After the disappearance of Captain Muguruma Kensei, these matters have been put on hold."
Because the news of the Captain being Hollowfied was too shocking, the Central 46 classified all personnel involved in the incident as missing.
Only several Vice-Captains and above, as well as some Seated Officers, knew the truth.
Toshimura Todo raised an eyebrow, not expecting that the exile of Muguruma Kensei would leave him with such a mess.
"Handle the previous files after Nanao organizes them."
"As for the members of the Kuragawa Clan, just imprison them all in one cell; they probably won't mind."
Since they were criminals, there was no need to consider human rights.
In his opinion, everyone should be treated equally.
"Understood, Captain!"
Toshimura Todo had no intention of questioning Tokikaze's order.
After witnessing his style of leadership, Toshimura Todo had become a loyal follower of his Captain and meticulously followed all orders.
There was no other reason—Tsunayashiro Tokikaze had given the Ninth Division members a chance they had never experienced before!
Be it the Eleventh Division members or the noble Clan members, all of them would be rounded up equally!
This alone was enough to elevate Tsunayashiro Tokikaze's prestige to its peak in the Ninth Division.
"Furthermore, the prison cell holding the Eleventh Division soldiers can be vacated now."
Tokikaze pondered, "Ikkaku Madarame can serve as your instructor, and the others can be sparring partners."
"Killing two birds with one stone."
Just then, a black butterfly with a purple glow gracefully fluttered outside the prison, landing accurately on Tokikaze's shoulder.