"Are you saying someone already recognized that you are actually manifesting in this world by relying on a Zanpakuto, and they even brought a weapon called the Heavenly Armament wanting to suppress you?"
Suzuki Makoto picked up the scabbard that had been smoked somewhat pitch-black, looking thoughtful.
"Yeah, they said it was something called the Four Maple Leaf family, or something like that."
"It's the Shihoin family, the clan that controls the lifeblood of weapon forging in the Soul Society."
"You know that too? Didn't you say you were a time traveler? Is this world your original world?"
Black Jeanne was somewhat curious. Suzuki Makoto rarely chatted with her about his own affairs, and that had always been the part she wanted to understand the most.
"No, I just happened to learn a few things by chance. However, I probably understand why those nobles are targeting me so crazily now—they are likely coming for you."
"Coming for me?"
"That's right. In this world without the Throne of Heroes, you shouldn't have been able to be summoned. But because the proof of your existence—that Holy Grail—was brought out by me, combined with the grievances accumulated in the previous world, you were able to manifest again.
"And this world just happened to have a perfect, compatible vessel that can contain any power and allow it to be displayed in any form, which is what allowed you to descend here."
Suzuki Makoto pointed to the large cross-shaped sword at Black Jeanne's waist.
"When I summoned you, I didn't chant an incantation to summon a Servant like Ritsuka Fujimaru did, but rather the release command for a Zanpakuto's Bankai. In a sense, your current state, in the eyes of the locals, is a Zanpakuto that has grown legs and can run around on its own. To the nobles, this is naturally a rare and precious treasure."
"How would they know? Even I'm not too clear on this matter."
The young girl keenly discovered the crucial point.
"That is, of course, because there is a precedent. The swordsmith who invented the Asauchi did indeed once forge a Zanpakuto that possessed an autonomous consciousness. As for whether it could perform Bankai autonomously, I'm not clear, but perhaps it could."
"Eh? There really is one? What is that sword's name?"
"Ikomikidomoe."
"What kind of crappy name is that!"
Suzuki Makoto spread his hands; he wanted to ask the same thing.
"So that means, in their view, you are just a sword rack, and this whole thing was created by me, so catching me will settle it?"
"Pretty much. For a noble to mobilize such a Captain-level combatant, they mostly just want to capture you and obtain this treasure. The Yellow Turbans and I are just incidental collateral damage.
"After all, there is only one of you. If they want to obtain this Zanpakuto, they naturally have to use other reasons to tie other nobles to their war chariot."
Black Jeanne paused, her toes tapping unconsciously against each other, stealing glances at Suzuki Makoto, who had started stealing moments of leisure to work on project blueprints again.
"Then... are you not considering handing over this Zanpakuto in exchange for a chance at peace talks?"
"I can still talk after beating them until it hurts."
Suzuki Makoto didn't even lift his head.
"Did you really not have even a tiny bit of that thought?"
"You are my sword. I will not use my sword to make a trade."
Having received the answer she wanted, the girl happily nestled into the makeshift bed paved with freshly dried hay at the side, basking in the softness and the scent of the sun.
Meanwhile, Suzuki Makoto continued his miserable drawing.
Where is CAD? CAD, save me!
Oh right, in this timeline, it seems even the World of the Living doesn't have CAD yet.
The man could only continue his sorrowful hand-drawing, as if he had returned to his former life as a corporate slave.
*
Just as Suzuki Makoto was working conscientiously overtime for the future of the Rukongai, the news of the third wave of reinforcements being routed also traveled back to the Seireitei.
At this moment, the nobles finally realized that the Rukongai seemed to have produced an extraordinary fellow, whose combat power could even exceed a Bankai user carrying the Shihoin family's Heavenly Armament.
Consequently, Central 46 urgently convened a meeting, attempting to have Shigekuni Yamamoto mobilize the Gotei 13 to take action.
"I do not believe the Yellow Turbans have any ability to threaten the Soul King."
No matter what the nobles said, the old man only had this one sentence.
"Captain-Commander! Please do not forget, the Shiba family's estate is still in the Rukongai, and that is also a path leading to the Soul King Palace!"
"Oh, is that so? But what does that have to do with the Yellow Turbans who are far away beyond District 70?"
"What if they push their way over?"
"If they enter the range of District 40, the Gotei 13 will certainly mobilize."
The Captain-Commander naturally wouldn't allow Suzuki Makoto to expand his sphere of influence unscrupulously to the perimeter of the Seireitei. In his view, District 40 was completely within a controllable range and had sufficient strategic depth.
When the time came, the Shinigami would manage Districts 1 to 40, and the Yellow Turbans would manage Districts 41 to 80; only then could the Rukongai truly count as a place where people could live and work in peace.
The people of Central 46 were fuming with rage for a moment, yet they were helpless against the old man's attitude. If the other party was willing to obey Central 46's orders, that was due to his integrity and kindness. When he wasn't willing to obey, they could naturally only stare blankly.
This meeting ultimately ended with nothing settled. If the Captain-Commander didn't relent, the Gotei 13 would absolutely not mobilize.
Meanwhile, the Tsunayashiro family, having lost a Captain-level combatant, was also holding a meeting.
"What exactly is going on? We even borrowed the Heavenly Armament from the Shihoin family, so why were we still unable to obtain that Zanpakuto?"
"Is there something wrong with that man?"
"There can be no issues with the records of the Great Spirit Book Gallery. He is just an ordinary Wandering Soul who came to the Soul Society and got lucky enough to obtain that Zanpakuto."
"The Shihoin family has already sent a letter questioning us."
"Just compensate them; the Shihoin family isn't the main point! The main point is how we are going to obtain that sword!"
After the chaotic discussion, the man sitting at the last seat raised his hand.
"Tokinada, what do you want to say?"
The others also turned their gazes over, though most were filled with contempt and disdain.
It wasn't because of the matter of him killing his wife and friend—after all, they were just commoners of the Rukongai—but rather, doing such a thing and still letting others get a handle on him was enough to prove the mediocrity of his aptitude.
Even if the whistleblower was Shunsui Kyoraku.
"We probably can't obtain this sword through normal means anymore. If we let it continue to stay in the Rukongai, we will never be able to get it—but if we can make it enter the Seireitei, then perhaps there might be other ways."
Tokinada Tsunayashiro's words made many people's eyes light up; this was at least a feasible direction.
"Then how do we make the opponent enter the Seireitei?"
"Isn't there a ready-made example of someone entering the Seireitei from Zaraki?"
The viper once again began to spray his venom, and his only goal was simply to make this world suffer.
Nothing more.
_____
New Story: Bleach: Dominating Soul Society in One Sting
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