CHAPTER 462: CHAPTER 462: THE PROUD OLD MAN

Gotei 13, 1st Division Captain’s Office.

Nozomi Kujō looked up at the young man beside her, concern flickering in her eyes.

"When are you planning to deal with Kagerōza Inaba?" she asked softly.

"No rush. Let’s rest a bit first. Young lady, you don’t want Kagerōza Inaba’s scheme to succeed, do you? Then be good and behave."

Masatsuki Aozaki’s tone carried a commanding weight, yet remained gentle—fully befitting his role as the Captain of the 1st Division.

He gently stroked Nozomi’s short green hair, savoring its soft texture.

He had to admit, her hair felt surprisingly pleasant.

Nearby, another black-haired girl, also tied to the fate of the world, knelt quietly, pouring them tea with practiced grace.

Just then, a figure arrived in a flash of Shinsoku.

It was Rangiku Matsumoto. She greeted the girls warmly before turning to Masatsuki, her tone shifting to urgency.

"Report, Captain Masatsuki—our outer patrol squad in the 1st Division has been attacked."

"There’s no one else around, and you’re still calling me ’Captain’? Come on, that hurts my feelings," Masatsuki muttered, feigning offense.

"We’re on duty, so using proper titles is only appropriate."

Rangiku stuck out her tongue playfully, showing no sign of tension despite the news, and continued,

"A squad of Reigai captains launched a surprise attack on the Shin’ō District. Lieutenant Aizen and the other captains are already on the move."

Hearing this, Nozomi’s heart skipped. Her face clouded with worry.

Kagerōza Inaba had finally made his move.

If nothing unexpected had happened, then it was clear—he had seen how the current state of Seireitei was fractured, with factions clashing and power constantly shifting. The chaos made for the perfect opportunity.

He couldn’t wait any longer.

Nozomi instinctively turned to Masatsuki Aozaki.

His presence alone was reassuring—this Captain-Commander could take down five captain-class Reigai in under thirty seconds without breaking a sweat.

Without question, he was the only light she could see amid this darkness.

Just being near him brought her a sense of calm, like all shadows would crumble in his presence. He was like the sun—warm, radiant, and untouchable.

Masatsuki let out a low chuckle and downed the mysterious wine in his hand in a single gulp.

Then he said softly,

"The timing is perfect. Everything’s right where it needs to be. It’s time to bring this to an end."

"Seireitei... the world... I’ll be the one to protect them."

Nozomi and Senna fell silent, staring at the man before them, lost in thought.

It was clear—he didn’t take his enemies seriously.

And after spending these past days with him, they understood why. Masatsuki Aozaki truly had the power to back up that confidence.

Even without stepping in himself, the Aozaki matriarchs alone were far from ordinary opponents.

Masatsuki’s lips curved slightly as he raised his arm with a light gesture.

A flash of mysterious light shimmered, and a woman clad in armor reminiscent of a Valkyrie emerged beside him, as if stepping out from the void itself.

She dropped to one knee, posture straight and brimming with power, like a war maiden pulled straight from myth.

Her gaze was sultry, and when she looked into Masatsuki’s eyes, it was like ripples across a still lake in autumn.

Masatsuki reached out slowly, curling a finger beneath her chin. He lifted her face and kissed her softly on the lips.

His movements were smooth and unhurried, as if he had the entire world in the palm of his hand.

"This is your deposit. Once it’s done, you’ll get the rest. I’m counting on you."

His voice was low, rich with an irresistible allure.

Enrakyōten licked her lips, a fiery glint sparking in her eyes.

She gave a small nod, accepting the mission. Then she stood, turned, and walked toward the door.

Senna and Nozomi watched in wide-eyed silence, captivated by everything that had just unfolded.

But as Enrakyōten reached the door, they were stunned to see—

Her hair instantly turned black, and the shining armor transformed into a black Shihakushō and a white Haori.

The sudden shift left them speechless, as if they’d just witnessed a stunning magic trick.

"Aren’t you going?"

Senna snapped out of her thoughts and turned to Masatsuki Aozaki, who was casually sipping his tea.

There was a trace of confusion in her voice—she couldn’t understand his calmness. After all, with such powerful enemies approaching, shouldn’t they be throwing everything they had at them?

Masatsuki smiled and gave a small shake of his head. The teacup in his hand swayed slightly, sending gentle ripples across the surface.

"King faces king, general faces general. Their commander hasn’t even shown up yet—what’s the rush?"

His tone was relaxed, almost playful, as if the entire war were nothing more than a game.

His calm and confidence quickly settled both Senna and Nozomi Kujō.

...

Meanwhile, elsewhere within the 1st Division—

Shunsui Kyōraku stood with his dual blades at the ready, his expression grim as he stared down a figure not far off—an exact copy of himself.

His breathing grew heavier, tension winding through his chest.

The doppelgänger exuded a pressure that couldn’t be ignored. Shunsui knew exactly how dangerous someone like himself could be.

"What a pain in the ass..." he muttered, tightening his grip on his blades.

He was all too familiar with his own abilities, and he knew this fight was going to be a nightmare.

Masatsuki Aozaki and the others had warned him how powerful the Reigai were. But actually facing one—it was another matter entirely.

As his opponent vanished again, Shunsui groaned.

"Why is Katen Kyōkotsu’s ability so damn complicated? Is my heart really that twisted?"

Even as he complained inwardly, he launched into Shunpo, flashing several dozen meters away in an instant.

After all, Zanpakutō were the reflection of a Shinigami’s inner world. He wasn’t about to pin everything on Katen Kyōkotsu.

Especially when her abilities depended entirely on her mood.

Even a stray thought could earn him punishment—and when he got home, he might just end up kneeling on a washing board.

From the shadows, the Reigai Shunsui emerged, blade swinging—and missed.

Seeing his real counterpart dodge so swiftly, the Reigai adjusted his straw hat and chuckled.

"Oi... don’t run so fast. I almost got you there."

Shunsui rolled his eyes. "Yeah? That’s exactly why I had to move faster!"

Hearing the exact same lazy, irritating tone he was known for coming from someone else made Shunsui’s mood take a turn.

...Was I always this punchable?

Maybe that’s why the old man’s fists always found their way to me. Makes sense now.

Well, I guess there’s one thing I’ve got over Masatsuki!

The thought gave him a strange sense of superiority.

But the other captains didn’t have time to indulge in nostalgic self-reflection.

They were busy—fighting for their lives.