In the present world, Karakura Town, a hidden stronghold somewhere.
Raindrops, hurled by the strong wind, crackled on the transparent glass.
Inside the room—
A man with dark green hair sat lazily on a large chair.
He wore aristocratic formalwear over a Shinigami's standard Shiba-style uniform, with a Zanpakutō at his waist. His expression was playful and unrestrained, and his slender, elegant figure exuded a cold nobility.
"I don't like this weather."
"What's up with the humans in this world? Didn't they say it wouldn't rain today? And now it's pouring like hell."
The man stood up slowly, amusement in his eyes as he spoke.
But that smile—was chillingly fake. Disturbingly hollow.
"Master Tokinada."
From the corner, a middle-aged man emerged from the shadows and bowed deeply, clearly awaiting orders.
"Go, Miyamoto. Get rid of the cloud over my head. It's blocking my view."
The man nodded silently.
And in the next second—
A massive surge of spiritual pressure erupted in the sky. With a thunderous shockwave, it shattered the thick, looming rainclouds overhead, sending the storm scattering.
"…Much better. Much easier on the eyes."
The man's smile widened—but the wider it grew, the more terrifying it became. As he sat back down, the family crest embroidered on his cloak came into view:
The emblem of the Tsunayashiro Clan.
He was none other than Tsunayashiro Tokinada, the current head of one of the four noble families.
Not long after, another figure silently stepped into the room—blending perfectly with the darkness—returning to his place in the shadows.
It was the same man: Tsunayashiro Miyamoto, a direct retainer of Tokinada. Loyal to no one but him.
"It's been over an hour. How hard can it be to arrest one half-blood Quincy?"
Tokinada drummed his fingers against the table, his tone dripping with boredom and irritation.
Over the last few decades, he'd organized Quincy-hunting operations more times than he could count. He didn't expect anything different this time.
Sure, the target was allegedly captain-class.
But still—a mixed-blood Quincy?
They were inherently inferior, lacking the purity and physical reinforcement that came from full Quincy lineage and ceremonial training. Their bodies, while infused with Reishi manipulation, were fragile in combat. If they took a single good hit—slashed by a Zanpakutō or impacted by raw force—they'd collapse immediately.
Not to mention, Awula Dao-Yugen was leading the operation.
Just as Tokinada's impatience peaked—
The gates to the underground facility creaked open.
Dao-Yugen Awula entered, soaked from the storm.
"You're alone?" Tokinada's eyes narrowed, his tone icy.
"Mission failed. The target's not a normal captain-class."
Awula's voice was short and cold.
"…Where's Ming Gu? Didn't he return with you?"
Tsunayashiro Miyamoto asked grimly—but Awula remained silent.
Miyamoto's heart sank. From her silence alone, it was clear:
Tsunayashiro Yaguya was dead.
That shouldn't have been possible.
According to intel, this guy—Kurosaki Kanbaru—was just an impure Quincy with decent Reiatsu. Even with captain-level strength, there was no way he could survive a fight with a true Shinigami of the same level.
The gap in durability alone was massive.
Shinigami could survive deep wounds, limb loss, or critical strikes. Mixed-blood Quincy? Not so much.
"If even Jiao Gu died, what a disgrace."
Tokinada's expression didn't shift. His tone was icy with disinterest, clearly indifferent to the death of his subordinate.
Still, he flashed a curious grin.
"…Interesting. If he took down Ming Gu, then he might not be like other mongrel Quincy after all. He might be—an ideal test subject."
"I remember… he has a younger sister. Kurosaki Masaki, right?"
"Bring her here."
Tokinada's smile twisted with sadistic anticipation.
"If we use her as leverage, maybe he'll roll over and behave."
"Probably."
It wasn't about obsession with women.
Tokinada wasn't interested in anyone romantically. He simply delighted in using people's loved ones as torture props. Pain was more exquisite when it came from someone else's screams.
But then—
A voice answered from inside the room.
> "What made you think you could threaten him with Kurosaki Masaki?"
Tokinada froze.
…Wait.
Whose voice was that?
He turned sharply—and his pupils contracted.
Standing at the back of the room—
Was Kurosaki Kanbaru himself.
Next to him were two women.
One was Kurosaki Masaki.
And the other—
Why did her appearance so closely resemble that of the former Arrancar, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck?
"You even came straight to my door. How adorable."
Tokinada chuckled, genuinely amused.
"Eh???"
Kurosaki Masaki's eyes narrowed. "I'm your sister, and you let someone try to kidnap me?"
She stared at her brother—well, man—with a look full of betrayal, hurt, and some drama.
Kanbaru scratched the back of his head, sighing as he gently peeled her off him.
"Exactly why they haven't succeeded yet."
Masaki gave him a dangerous glare.
> [Your sister is quietly watching that annoyingly attractive face and is already picking baby names.]
> [By the way, I have a problem. My squad leader's been looking down on me lately. I'm not sure why.]
> [All I ever did was play cards when he played chess, overturn the table when he picked food, skip his karaoke songs, brake when he sipped tea, and poke his Xiaomi when he was focused.]
> [He can't seriously be holding a grudge just for that, right?]
> [Maybe I'll send him my limited-edition orphan fairy collection and beg for forgiveness.]
> [Oh yeah, back to the topic. That's Tsunayashiro Tokinada, one of Soul Society's Four Great Nobles. Certified old villain. Probably planning to turn you into a lab rat.]
> [Also, he's already set his eyes on your sister and Nilu. Not romantically—he just wants to turn them into test subjects to break your spirit.]
> [You know what to do—wreck his shit.]
End of Chapter.
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