CHAPTER 461: CHAPTER 461: YOU’RE NOT THE ONE WHO WAS WRONG

"Ganryū-sama, what brings you here?"

Kagerōza Inaba looked at Ryōdoji Ganryū with visible displeasure, his tone edged with caution.

As the head of the Ryōdoji Family, this man rarely left his own estate—let alone stepped into Kagerōza’s dark, secluded laboratory.

Ganryū gave a slight nod, then casually pulled out a chair and sat down, his gaze sharpening with quiet intensity.

"Kagerōza-sama, war is about to begin. The Ryōdoji Family needs your support."

"Materials will be supplied without limit. You must produce as many Reigai as possible within three days. The more, the better."

His voice was grim—there was no hint of jest.

Kagerōza remained silent for a while, his brows furrowed.

Ganryū’s expression had grown even more serious, and it was clear he wasn’t here to bluff.

But Kagerōza didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he sank into deep thought.

He wanted to explain that creating Reigai wasn’t something that could be rushed. It was a meticulous process that demanded care and time.

Some figures—like Masatsuki Aozaki, Aizen Sōsuke, and the various Aozaki family matriarchs—couldn’t even be replicated at the moment due to material limitations.

Then there was Yamamoto. He hadn’t used the Senkaimon in years. Kagerōza had only managed to collect the captains’ Reishi by tampering with the Gotei 13’s Senkaimon. So Yamamoto, too, was off-limits.

Others closely tied to Masatsuki—like Gin Ichimaru—were also nearly impossible to duplicate. Their souls contained strange powers, eerily similar to those of Hollows, the natural enemies of the Shinigami. These energies had to be extracted before replication, a process that was both complex and excruciatingly tedious.

Even so, faced with Ganryū’s stern demeanor, Kagerōza couldn’t bring himself to make excuses.

Instead, he began quietly trying to figure out just what had driven Ganryū to press this matter so urgently.

Seeing Kagerōza’s contemplative look, Ganryū let out a soft chuckle.

He’s just a researcher, after all—not someone who holds real power. His grasp of the bigger picture is lacking. He couldn’t even see the storm looming ahead.

Kagerōza stared at the man before him, growing visibly irritated.

Time was running short for everyone. If there was something to say, he should just say it. Why waste time playing riddles?

Kagerōza had never been good with words. When he first joined the Gotei 13, he served in the 9th Division.

But without the strength to master his Zanpakutō, he was weak—looked down on by everyone.

Eventually, he was forced to transfer to the 12th Division, where he dedicated himself to research and technological development.

And just when he’d begun to show results, the Central 46 Compound accused him of misconduct.

That experience slowly twisted his mind.

After splitting himself mentally, the darker side of Kagerōza Inaba grew increasingly bloodthirsty and violent.

Just now, he may have seemed passive—thanks to the docile nature of Ōko Yushima’s persona.

But in the next second, he could just as easily swing his blade straight at Ganryū’s neck.

Even though they were supposed to be allies now, the irritation bubbling within him was making it harder and harder to suppress that murderous urge.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Kagerōza Inaba finally regained some composure and spoke coolly.

"Ganryū-sama, is something wrong? We’ve suffered heavy losses this time, and our strength has taken a serious hit. Why the sudden rush to start a war?"

Ganryū Ryōdoji shook his head.

"This may be our last chance."

Kagerōza frowned in confusion. "Why do you say that, Ganryū-sama?"

Ganryū sighed.

"Seireitei is in chaos, and the Gotei 13 is bound to be affected. Now is the perfect time to strike."

"If we wait until Masatsuki Aozaki fully takes control of Seireitei, do you really think we’ll have another shot?"

He wasn’t wrong. Once Masatsuki solidified his grip on Seireitei, their chances would shrink drastically.

But was launching a battle now—while still weakened—really the smart move?

Kagerōza went quiet for a few seconds, thinking it through.

He’d waited this long. With Masatsuki Aozaki having already lashed out at the nobles, it felt like a bit of vindication. Waiting just a little longer didn’t seem unreasonable.

But then he reconsidered.

Masatsuki was younger. Even if they waited 3,000 more years for his death, by then his own grave would be covered in weeds.

Unless something on the scale of the Hell’s Gate uprising happened again, this really might be their last shot.

That thought wiped away the indifference from his face, replacing it with a grim and twisted intensity.

"As expected of the Ryōdoji head. You see further than I do. Looks like it’s time we stopped holding back."

"If you’ve come all this way and asked me to prepare Reigai, then I assume you already have a solid plan?"

As he spoke, Kagerōza’s Reiatsu began to stir. His eyes narrowed slowly.

He couldn’t stay on the sidelines anymore. Not when Ganryū was talking about real war—not some covert kidnapping.

Their opponent now was Masatsuki Aozaki, commanding the most elite force in Soul Society—

The Gotei 13.

But before Kagerōza could say more, Ganryū raised a hand, cutting him off.

His expression was serious as he spoke.

"Our objective this time isn’t to defeat the Gotei 13, nor to destroy Seireitei. It’s to retrieve the Shinenju."

Kagerōza froze.

He had been gearing up for war, adrenaline already surging. He’d assumed Ganryū was preparing for an all-out clash with the Gotei 13.

But to think... the target was still that girl?

Still, he couldn’t help but ask, "But what about Masatsuki Aozaki?"

Ganryū sneered.

"With the Shinenju, we can destroy both realms outright. Masatsuki Aozaki won’t matter."

"When the realms collide, it doesn’t matter how strong he is—what could he possibly do to stop it?"

He said it with absolute certainty, as though the outcome was already decided.

Kagerōza considered it.

True, if they secured the Shinenju, everything could be resolved at once. And if they succeeded in destroying the realms, Masatsuki Aozaki would no longer be a threat.

"But..."

Kagerōza hesitated, a flicker of weakness slipping through.

This version of Ōko Yushima, shaped by slightly different events than the original timeline, clearly wasn’t yet unhinged enough to commit to total annihilation.

Which was why, when faced with Ganryū’s plan, Kagerōza couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Ganryū’s lips curled into a cold smirk. His eyes glinted with disdain as he said,

"Tell me, Kagerōza-sama—do you really want to spend the rest of your life hiding in this dark, damp Dangai, scurrying around like a rat afraid of the light?"

His tone was laced with scorn and provocation, mocking Kagerōza’s hesitation and perceived cowardice.

Then his voice grew more intense.

"With such brilliance and power, you should be standing tall under the sun, the center of everyone’s attention!"

"But it’s because of those corrupt, inept nobles that things ended up like this."

"They’re the real culprits. It’s not you—it’s the world that’s broken!"

His words carried raw fury, overflowing with bitter resentment toward the nobles of Soul Society.

Finally, his eyes gleamed with madness as he roared,

"That rotting world ruled by those parasites—what’s so wrong with wiping it out entirely?"

His voice echoed through the air, as if trying to break through the walls of the Valley of Screams and reach every last soul hiding within.