"Who are you?"
Seeing that Tsuna was a stranger, Riruka Dokugamine immediately became wary. Her posture subtly shifted into a defensive stance.
"I'm looking for Kūgo Ginjō," Tsuna said with a gentle smile, trying to appear as friendly as possible.
Riruka didn't trust him at all.
"Where did you hear that name?" she demanded cautiously.
"Riruka? Who is it? I think I heard my name."
A lazy male voice came from inside the apartment.
Moments later, footsteps approached, and a sturdy man with slicked-back hair appeared behind Riruka.
It was the very person Tsuna had come to see—
Kūgo Ginjō.
"He says he's looking for you. Deal with it yourself," Riruka said coldly, turning her back and leaving the doorway to him.
"My friend," Ginjō said, examining Tsuna carefully. "I don't believe we've met before."
He felt that Tsuna didn't resemble a pursuer sent by Soul Society. Those Shinigami never knocked politely—they attacked first and asked questions later.
"That's fine," Tsuna said calmly.
"We'll know each other after today."
A faint green glow flashed across Tsuna's hand.
Ginjō immediately recognized it.
Fullbring Reiatsu.
The caution in his eyes eased slightly.
In his understanding, Fullbring was a power only humans could use—meaning Tsuna probably wasn't a Shinigami.
"So you're a newcomer," Ginjō said with a faint smile. "Welcome. Come in."
Assuming Tsuna had heard rumors about Xcution and wanted to join, Ginjō invited him inside.
After entering the apartment, Tsuna noticed the interior was surprisingly ordinary.
It was far less luxurious than how it appeared in the anime.
Riruka was sitting on a somewhat worn sofa. Beside her sat a dark-skinned beauty with crossed legs.
Tsuna recognized her immediately.
She was another member of Xcution—
Jackie Tristan.
Neither Riruka nor Jackie paid much attention to Tsuna, each busy with their own activities.
Tsuna silently made a note.
So Yukio hasn't joined yet?
If he remembered correctly, Xcution's headquarters was later renovated using Yukio's funds.
At the far end of the room stood a shabby bar counter.
Behind it, a tall, slender man calmly wiped a glass.
Tsuna immediately recognized him.
The person he was most wary of—
Shūkurō Tsukishima.
"Tsukishima, prepare something for our new guest," Ginjō said.
He glanced at Tsuna for a moment.
"…A glass of milk."
Apparently he didn't think Tsuna was old enough for alcohol.
It seemed that before Giriko Kutsuzawa joined, Tsukishima had been acting as Xcution's bartender.
On the surface, he looked like a gentle and refined man.
"So, newcomer," Ginjō said as he sat beside Tsuna at the bar.
"Where did you hear about Xcution?"
"I don't remember saying I came to join Xcution," Tsuna replied.
"Oh?" Ginjō's expression darkened slightly.
"Then what are you here for?"
Over the years, there had been more than a few arrogant Fullbringers who tried to recruit Xcution as subordinates.
"I already said it when I knocked on the door."
"I'm here to find Kūgo Ginjō."
"The first Substitute Shinigami."
Tsuna calmly took a sip of milk.
The moment those words left his mouth—
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
All eyes turned toward him.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
"Did Soul Society send you?" Ginjō asked with a sinister smile.
"You may be misunderstanding—"
Before Tsuna could finish speaking—
A sharp gust of wind passed above his head.
Tsuna calmly tilted his head aside as a blade sliced through the air where his head had been.
"Why waste time talking?"
Tsukishima's expression was completely cold.
"If I cut him once, we'll understand everything."
He pointed his blade at Tsuna.
At Ginjō's command, he would attack immediately.
Meanwhile, Jackie and Riruka had already stood up.
Green Fullbring energy shimmered around their bodies.
They were ready to attack at any moment.
Unlike Tsukishima, however, this was their first time facing someone connected to Soul Society. They hesitated slightly instead of attacking immediately.
"Mr. Ginjō," Tsuna said innocently.
"Aren't we supposed to be friends? Why the violence?"
Ginjō sighed.
"I thought Soul Society had given up."
"Looks like they're still sending people to die after all these years."
He finally stopped pretending.
With one motion, he tore off the cross-shaped necklace around his neck.
Through Fullbring, it transformed into a massive greatsword—
Cross of Scaffold.
Tsuna sighed helplessly.
"So we're fighting after all."
"How about we change locations?"
"You all seem to be struggling enough already. It'd be a shame if your house got destroyed."
At those words, Ginjō's expression darkened.
For years he had been chased by Soul Society.
Every temporary base he built had been destroyed sooner or later.
His savings had vanished the same way.
That was why he now lived in such a shabby apartment.
Ginjō was about to agree—
Thud.
A blade suddenly pierced straight through Tsuna's chest.
Blood burst outward.
"Tsukishima, you—"
Ginjō rubbed his forehead in frustration.
That ruthless approach was typical of Tsukishima.
But the man they had just met seemed sincere.
And now Tsukishima had stabbed him before they could even talk.
It wasn't like Ginjō could blame him either—Tsukishima was acting for his sake.
Blood poured from Tsuna's chest as his face turned pale.
Ginjō's expression suddenly changed.
"Tsukishima… what happened?"
Under normal circumstances, that strike shouldn't have caused any real damage.
Tsukishima's ability should have activated first—reading Tsuna's past.
But instead…
He had just stabbed Tsuna to death.
"This isn't right!"
Tsukishima's usually calm expression cracked.
"My ability didn't activate!"
"What?!"
Even Ginjō lost his composure.
He had never seen Book of the End fail before.
That power could activate even by stabbing a blade into the ground.
"Is he even human?"
"Of course I'm human."
"You're the one who used to be a ghost, Substitute Shinigami."
Tsuna's voice suddenly came from behind Riruka.
Riruka spun around in shock.
Tsuna was now sitting casually on the sofa she had been occupying earlier.
Meanwhile—
The Tsuna impaled on Tsukishima's blade slowly faded away.
Only then did Ginjō understand.
It was a Zanpakutō ability.
But when had it been activated?
Riruka and Jackie immediately attacked.
Riruka began forming a heart-shaped construct, while Jackie launched a powerful kick.
But Tsuna was faster.
Click.
Two metallic sounds echoed simultaneously.
Black handcuffs snapped onto Riruka's wrists and Jackie's ankle.
It was Tsuna's Fullbring—
Alaude's Handcuffs.
More cuffs multiplied rapidly.
Within seconds, the two women were completely bound, wrapped in restraints like mummies as they collapsed to the floor struggling.
"Don't bother resisting," Tsuna said calmly.
"If I really intended to kill you, you'd already be dead."
Hearing that—and feeling the unbreakable restraints—Riruka and Jackie quickly gave up struggling.
After all, Tsuna was here for Ginjō, not them.
And their relationship with Ginjō wasn't strong enough to risk their lives.
Ginjō noticed their reaction immediately.
That was simply how Xcution worked.
Their alliance existed only because their interests aligned.
Without hesitation, Ginjō lifted the Cross of Scaffold and swung it toward Tsuna.
Tsukishima followed closely behind, waiting for another chance to strike.
Ginjō's massive blade descended—
And passed straight through Tsuna.
"…What?"
Not only Tsukishima's attack—
Even Ginjō's couldn't touch him.
From Riruka and Jackie's perspective, the scene was terrifying.
Ginjō and Tsukishima were swinging their weapons wildly—
At empty space.
Meanwhile, Tsuna remained seated calmly on the sofa.
Their eyes filled with fear.
Who exactly is this guy?
How is he toying with Ginjō and Tsukishima like this?
Given Tsuna's caution toward Tsukishima, how could he possibly approach unprepared?
From the moment he knocked on the door—
He had already activated his Mist-Attribute Shikai.
From the instant Riruka opened the door, they had all been trapped in Tsuna's illusion.
That was why Book of the End had failed.
Tsukishima had simply been stabbing thin air the entire time.
Now that Riruka and Jackie were neutralized—
Only the most troublesome opponent remained.
Shūkurō Tsukishima.
From Ginjō's perspective, something strange suddenly happened.
Handcuffs appeared on Tsukishima's wrist.
Then more and more cuffs multiplied—
Binding his entire body until he collapsed.
Even then, Tsukishima struggled.
He desperately tried to stab his own restraints.
If he could cut the handcuffs even once, he could insert himself into their past, gaining control over them.
Just a little more—
Right before he succeeded—
Tsuna appeared and kicked the blade from his hand.
The weapon instantly reverted to a bookmark, drifting to the floor.
Tsuna pulled Tsukishima down beside the others.
A book fell from Tsukishima's pocket.
The book he used to store his bookmark—
The origin of the name Book of the End.
Watching his companions fall one after another—
Even Tsukishima, the person he trusted most—
Ginjō finally snapped.
An overwhelming Reiatsu surged inside him.
He was about to fight with everything he had.
Tsuna noticed immediately.
But he had just promised not to destroy the apartment.
Fighting here would likely collapse the entire building.
Tsuna sighed.
He might as well finish the job properly.
His real body quietly opened the door of the Xcution base.
Meanwhile, the illusionary Tsuna stood outside making a mocking face at Ginjō.
In his enraged state, Ginjō took the bait instantly.
The two figures shot upward—
Rising into the sky above Naruki City.
PS: I've been releasing chapters daily . Honestly, it hurts seeing almost no support on Patreon after all that work.If you're enjoying the fic, even a little, supporting me would mean a lot. It helps a student stay independent .
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