Eto had destroyed two of her own kakuhou.
Though she still possessed several more, her combat power would still drop dramatically. If she went kakuja now, her form would be incomplete—at minimum two sizes smaller, with certain areas left exposed like weak points.
Years ago, when Kuroiwa Iwao had merely damaged a single kakuhou, Eto had been forced to flee in defeat.
That alone showed how significant these two kakuhou were.
Blood flowed from her self-inflicted wounds, more trickling from the corner of her mouth.
"Why... why are you helping me?"
Akira asked, still stunned.
"I suppose you could call it guilt...?"
Eto said frankly. "I still remember a female investigator I killed eleven years ago. Her ID read 'Kasuka Mado.' That was your mother, wasn't it...?"
"Yes..."
Akira nodded, her expression complicated.
"I killed your mother, so..."
Eto said. "I'm not asking for your forgiveness. I simply want to help you, that's all. And I want to see how that guy is doing too."
"...I'll trust you. But only for Byakuya's sake. For some reason, he seems to trust you completely."
Akira said.
Byakuya had also told her that Eto was someone she could trust.
She believed in Byakuya, so she could believe in Eto...
"..."
For once, Eto made no jokes.
Normally she would have said something like "probably because Byakuya likes me."
Afterward, Akira followed Eto out of the room.
The moment they stepped into the corridor, they saw several unconscious investigators strewn across the floor—clearly Eto's doing while making her way to Akira.
The RC suppressant Byakuya had injected her with had been fake from the very beginning. Her RC cells were never actually suppressed, and ordinary handcuffs couldn't hold her. She could move freely throughout CCG headquarters.
Before any Special Class investigator could spot her, Eto quickly led Akira outside.
Even without her kakuja form, Eto retained limited flight ability—an inherent trait of her ukaku kagune.
She carried Akira to the rooftop of the tallest building near the Washuu estate.
From here, looking toward the estate, nearly the entire compound was visible.
Fortunately, Akira had brought binoculars for an even clearer view.
"See Byakuya? He should already be in contact with the Washuu."
Eto said.
"I see him..."
Akira observed the estate through her binoculars, finding Byakuya.
While watching, she said, "Byakuya told me he learned those Washuu secrets from you..."
"Yes... that's right."
Eto confirmed.
The secrets hadn't actually come from her, but from Rize—and Byakuya himself had likely noticed certain things already. Understanding the situation immediately, she covered for him.
There was no point explaining all this to Akira now.
"I'd like to know... about you and your father. Would you tell me?"
Akira asked.
The Non-Killing Owl and the One-Eyed Owl—nearly every investigator was curious about these two SSS-rated ghouls.
Especially now that Byakuya had told her both Owls had betrayed the Washuu Clan.
"Seems like Byakuya told you quite a lot."
Since there was no longer any need to hide her relationship with Yoshimura, Eto began recounting the story of Kuzen and Ukina to Akira...
...
Meanwhile, Amaha Byakuya had made contact with Tsuneyoshi Washuu.
The General Chairman—and patriarch of the Washuu family.
Byakuya and Tsuneyoshi now sat facing each other in a study.
"General Chairman, our investigation revealed that investigators' bodies have mysteriously vanished from the cemetery in large numbers. We suspect the Washuu Clan has been stealing remains. There are also widespread rumors that the Washuu are a family of ghouls..."
Byakuya's expression remained calm. "I hope the General Chairman can offer an explanation."
"..."
After a pause, Tsuneyoshi spoke. "Those rumors come from Takatsuki Sen's work. She created a human organization based on the Washuu Clan specifically to slander us and sow chaos. If even you investigators believe such rumors, you're falling into her trap."
Though their retreat to the estate was somewhat undignified, Tsuneyoshi maintained his authority as General Chairman. His words were steady and composed.
"Slander... is that so?"
Byakuya said. "Yet you still haven't explained the mysterious disappearance of the investigators' remains."
"We know nothing about those bodies. It has nothing to do with us."
Tsuneyoshi flatly denied the Washuu's involvement.
"I see..."
Byakuya sighed. "Since words won't settle this, I'll have to verify through action whether the General Chairman is a ghoul."
As he finished speaking, both his eyes transformed into the Rinnegan.
"...?!"
Seeing Byakuya's Rinnegan, alarm flashed across Tsuneyoshi's face.
"Are you trying to rebel?"
Tsuneyoshi said coldly.
"Ghouls are the enemy of humanity. How is this rebellion?"
Byakuya replied evenly.
"..."
Tsuneyoshi's expression darkened.
From the moment Byakuya had launched the cemetery investigation, Tsuneyoshi had suspected him. Now those suspicions were confirmed...
Realizing this was now a life-or-death confrontation, Tsuneyoshi abandoned all pretense.
BANG—!
His palm shattered the table before him. Teacups and other objects exploded, fragments flying toward Byakuya.
Almighty Push!
Using the Rinnegan's power, Byakuya instantly repelled everything around him.
An invisible force radiated from his body, pushing all matter away.
The countless shards reversed course, hurtling back at Tsuneyoshi!
"?!"
This strange power exceeded anything Tsuneyoshi understood. Unable to react in time, his face and body were pierced by countless fragments.
But this level of damage was trivial to him.
His face showed mostly shock—he hadn't seen his opponent make any move at all. It was as though an invisible force had simply deflected everything.
Could it be... those strange eyes?!
Tsuneyoshi stared hard at Byakuya's Rinnegan—eyes no normal person could possess. An inexplicable dread welled up within him!
If Byakuya had simply shown kakugan, or even a single ghoul eye, it wouldn't have disturbed him nearly as much.
Ghouls, half-humans, half-ghouls—all were within his comprehension.
But the Rinnegan was utterly beyond Tsuneyoshi's understanding. Humans always feared the unknown, and ghouls—having originated from humans—were no exception.
"What are those eyes of yours?!"
Tsuneyoshi couldn't help but demand.
"What are they...? Guess."
Byakuya's expression didn't change.
Before he even finished speaking, he raised his hand and activated the Rinnegan again.
Universal Pull!
Instantly, Tsuneyoshi felt an invisible force of attraction. His body was pulled toward Byakuya against his will.
"What?!"
Terror filled Tsuneyoshi's face.
Sensing extreme danger, he immediately activated his kakuja form.
Kagune and kakuja forms had hereditary traits within families. Even if kagune could be shaped through imagination, the fundamental type remained similar.
Ordinary ghouls also lacked Eto's imagination and control—however much she altered her kagune, it still resembled Yoshimura's.
Thus Tsuneyoshi's kagune and kakuja were the same type as Rize's.
Kakuja forms could vary based on body type, but the kagune remained essentially identical.
None of this mattered, though. Even as a kakuja, Tsuneyoshi couldn't escape Universal Pull's gravity. The Rinnegan's abilities were simply broken in this world.
Damn it!
Tsuneyoshi had transformed into a humanoid kakuja similar to Rize's.
But he never expected to remain utterly powerless even after transforming—completely unable to control his own body.
Meanwhile, Washuu clan members rushed toward them—Tsuneyoshi's table-shattering blow had served as a signal.
That signal meant it was time to fight.
As Byakuya pulled Tsuneyoshi toward him, Yoshitoki arrived with reinforcements.
Byakuya immediately raised his other hand—though the gesture wasn't necessary. He only needed the Rinnegan's focus. Raising his hand was simply habit.
Yoshitoki was instantly caught by Universal Pull's gravity.
"What's happening?!"
Yoshitoki was horrified.
Before he could process anything, Byakuya slammed him into Tsuneyoshi.
In the instant before collision, Yoshitoki instinctively activated his kakuja—a desperate self-preservation attempt.
CRASH!
Two kakuja collided!
Normally, a simple collision between kakuja would cause no harm given their defensive capabilities.
But this was empowered by Universal Pull's gravity—completely different from an ordinary impact.
Both Tsuneyoshi's and Yoshitoki's kakuja shells shattered across large areas, leaving them dizzy and disoriented.
The Washuu clan members behind them stood stunned.
The patriarch and heir had been defeated like that? Their eyes hadn't even registered what happened!
"I gave you a chance. You chose not to take it."
Byakuya gazed coldly at Tsuneyoshi and Yoshitoki.
Suddenly, his body rose into the air.
Tsuneyoshi, Yoshitoki, and the other clan members looked up.
The point wasn't that he could fly—it was what he intended to do...
Almighty Push blasted through the ceiling above as Byakuya ascended.
...
"Mommy, what's that?"
"Someone... in the sky? They're actually flying?!"
"Must be a human-shaped kite? Someone's prank? But looking closely, it really does seem alive...?"
"..."
Numerous Ward 1 civilians noticed the distant figure in the sky.
The investigators surrounding the Washuu estate—being closest—gaped up at Byakuya in utter astonishment.
"Arima... what is he doing?"
Marude stared blankly.
"..."
Arima gave no answer. He had no idea either.
From their rooftop, Eto and Akira naturally noticed Byakuya as well.
Eto hadn't finished telling the story of Kuzen and Ukina when she suddenly spotted Byakuya floating—still ascending.
"What's that guy doing?"
Eto murmured in bewilderment.
If Eto didn't know, Akira certainly didn't either.
Meanwhile.
High above, Amaha Byakuya surveyed the ground below.
The Washuu estate was vast—befitting Japan's de facto rulers—with no civilian residences nearby. Even Eto and Akira's building was quite distant.
His only concern had vanished.
"Know pain. Consider pain. Accept pain. Understand pain. Those who do not understand pain cannot understand true peace!"
Under countless watching eyes, Byakuya proclaimed these words, still rising.
He believed Nagato's philosophy held profound truth—only through war and suffering could humanity come to desire true peace.
The Infinite Tsukuyomi could only erase ghouls as a race. Humans would inevitably continue killing each other.
He, with the power of a god, could become this world's "nuclear deterrent"...
Even relative peace would be meaningful.
As for the Washuu Clan—merely a pawn for making this world feel pain...
Before anyone grasped his words' meaning, his ascent stopped. His arms spread slowly...
"From this moment forward, let the world know pain..."
"Almighty Push!"
...
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