"A dark light? It must've been a shadow. How could I have been so wrong, thinking that guy was glowing?"
Gin Ichimaru looked up at the sun hanging high in the sky and narrowed his eyes.
"There's no such thing as a dark sun…"
He clenched his fists.
Masatsuki was right.
Going with him would be pointless.
With his current strength, he wasn't qualified to help.
But staying behind? That was something he could do.
Unlike Masatsuki, Rangiku wasn't as sharp when it came to things outside of him. She wasn't stupid, but her thoughts were always fixated on Masatsuki, leaving little room for anything else.
Someone had to stay and watch over her.
...
A few moments later, Masatsuki arrived alone in the northern part of the forest.
The terrain stretched into rolling mountains, thick with lush greenery. Birds sang in the trees, the scent of flowers drifted through the air—it was a peaceful place. A fitting location for a final rest.
Ensuring no one had noticed his movements, he pressed two fingers to the ground.
His Reiatsu pulsed outward in an invisible ripple.
"Found you."
A faint light appeared in his vision, marking a location deep within the dense forest.
Detection-Type Kidō.
A technique Yoruichi had taught him.
Raising his fingers, he could clearly sense the lingering trace of his own faint Reiatsu.
With the direction confirmed, he rose to his feet.
This was a risky move, no doubt. But Masatsuki wasn't the reckless type.
He hadn't survived the cutthroat streets of Rukongai, let alone become the dominant force in District 1, through sheer strength alone.
Without intelligence, he would've been outmaneuvered and killed countless times by now.
Before entering the World of the Living, he had confirmed with the instructors that the only ones sent to guard Asaka Tsunayashiro were students from the Academy.
A group of students who had never even experienced real combat.
Which meant that, despite their Reiatsu and techniques, against him…
They wouldn't stand a chance.
That was all he needed to know.
With that thought, Masatsuki stepped forward.
A pulse of Reiatsu expanded beneath his feet.
In an instant, his spiritual energy gathered at his soles, forming an invisible platform that allowed him to stand in midair.
This was a technique rarely executed in Soul Society—gathering Reiatsu at one's feet to create a foothold for flight.
In the World of the Living, where Reishi density was lower, it wasn't difficult.
But in Soul Society, where Reishi was far too concentrated, such a feat was nearly impossible.
The next second, Masatsuki stepped forward and ascended into the sky, vanishing into the clouds.
...
At the same time…
In the dense northern forest of the Konsō internship site, four elegantly dressed figures sat atop a large boulder, the sunlight filtering through the green leaves, casting shifting shadows over them.
"What's with this damn weather? The sun is so irritating."
Asaka Tsunayashiro raised a hand to shield her eyes, squinting in annoyance at the bright sky.
Sunlight streamed through the trees, illuminating the ground and grass with a golden glow, painting the lush forest in dazzling light.
What should have been a scene brimming with life only made Asaka feel irritated.
"Lady Asaka! The only escorts assigned for this internship are twelve students from Rukongai."
A student dressed in a Shin'ō Academy uniform, with noble attire peeking out from underneath, stepped forward respectfully and bowed deeply.
"With the two of us and Sugikami-sama, there are fifteen in total dedicated to ensuring your safety during the internship."
Asaka waved her hand dismissively, her displeasure evident.
"Why are they all from Rukongai? Where are the noble students?"
As the heir to the Tsunayashiro Clan, she had her own personal guards, but due to the special circumstances of the Konsō internship, family retainers were not permitted to participate.
The only exception was if a guard happened to be a graduate of Shin'ō Academy and was officially taking part in the internship.
Normally, this wouldn't pose much of a risk. The Academy instructors stationed at the perimeter weren't just for show—most of them held the strength of mid-to-high-ranking Seated Officers.
The guard hesitated before responding cautiously.
"Reporting to Lady Asaka, we sent word to the noble families, but many declined, saying they wished to complete their own internships first."
"In my humble opinion, it's likely that they fear Masatsuki Aozaki's strength and don't dare to come."
Hearing this, Asaka clicked her tongue impatiently.
While both noble and Rukongai-born followers attached themselves to the Tsunayashiro Clan for power, there was a fundamental difference between them.
The students from Rukongai were powerless and desperate, while noble students had wealth and status. Naturally, they wouldn't risk their lives unnecessarily.
The clan never expected them to be truly loyal—what mattered was the power of the families behind them.
"…Oh, and one more thing."
Asaka paused before continuing.
"That man—Masatsuki Aozaki."
The guard stiffened, recalling the handsome man's earlier "gift." Bowing again, he asked cautiously,
"Lady Asaka, do you wish to call off the plan?"
"After all, he is Captain-Commander Yamamoto's disciple, and he seems to be aligning himself with the clan. If he's willing to accept the family's goodwill, perhaps we should report this to the elders after the internship. Such a contribution would surely solidify your position as heir…"
Asaka suddenly laughed, as if she had just heard a particularly amusing joke. She waved a hand, sneering coldly.
"No, I'm not saying we shouldn't kill him—I'm saying we wait. Let him leave this place first, then have the family send someone to take care of him later."
The guard froze, struggling to follow her reasoning.
Had she lost her mind?
The Tsunayashiro Clan held immense power, enough to decide life and death with a word, but Masatsuki wasn't just anyone—he was the disciple of Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
If someone like that was offering his allegiance, shouldn't they be welcoming him with open arms?
Even if they wanted him dead, they would need a valid justification. The clan elders would never approve an execution without reason.
Noticing the doubt on the guard's face, Asaka's expression darkened. Without warning, she lifted her foot and stomped on his head, forcing him to kneel.
"Are you questioning my decision?"
"N-No! I would never… I was simply being foolish!"
The guard prostrated himself on the ground, face pale, body trembling uncontrollably.
Satisfied, Asaka smirked and scoffed.
"If you must know my reasoning…"
Her eyes narrowed, her voice laced with malice.
"There's no way to tell if his loyalty is genuine or just an act."
"The elders have already promised me—if I can kill him, I'll be one of the heirs to the clan."
"So why take the gamble? Why risk trusting him, hoping his allegiance will please the elders?"
"There's no need for that… But before we kill him, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have a little fun first."
With that, she extended a delicate hand from her sleeve, hooking a finger under Tetsuya Sugikami's chin.
The two guards immediately understood her intent and silently stepped away.
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake