"W-what are you talking about?!"
Kōga blurted out reflexively.
Satoru blinked. "Are you hard of hearing?"
"Of course not!"
Kōga was both shocked and furious.
Had this guy overheard his complaints about his father-in-law?
And what was with his attitude toward him, the son-in-law of the Kuchiki family?
Was this how commoners should behave toward one of the Five Great Noble Families?
Yet, recalling Satoru's earlier words, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitent.
If his father had asked for Satoru's help, then if they ultimately decided to collaborate, Satoru would surely be one of the planners.
With his approval, Kōga's chances of participating would increase dramatically!
At this thought, a glimr of eagerness flashed in Kōga's eyes.
"You'd really take with you?"
He couldn't resist asking.
Though he hadn't been a noble for long, he had learned a thing or two about the power struggles among the aristocracy.
For Ginrei Kuchiki to personally request assistance like this was essentially an act of indebtedness.
In such cases, Satoru and Yoruichi would naturally seek to maximize their own advantages and shares in the operation.
Most likely, he would be relegated to a peripheral role, far from the core of the plan.
That was precisely why he had been so eager to volunteer earlier.
Only to be scolded for it.
Satoru nodded. "Of course. Why wouldn't I?"
"You clearly have the strength and sufficient loyalty to the Kuchiki family. It would be strange not to utilize you."
"How many captain-level powerers are there in the entire Seireitei? Soone like you, with an undefeated record since your debut, is exceptionally rare."
"Not making good use of you would be a waste of resources."
Hearing Satoru's words, Kōga subtly straightened his posture.
This guy... though his tone was a bit irritating, he actually understood.
Unexpectedly, compared to his father-in-law, it was this brat who truly grasped his worth...
Looking at Satoru perched on the tree, he nodded. "Thank you."
"Hey, no need for formalities. We're both sons-in-law—we ought to help each other out."
Satoru waved his hand with a grin.
Kōga froze.
Both sons-in-law?
Once the aning of those words sank in, his eyes widened in shock.
"You and the Shihōin—"
"Shh, shh! That's still a secret for now. Can't let anyone know."
Satoru raised a finger to stop him.
"Even old man Kuchiki doesn't know about this yet."
Kōga quickly nodded.
Indeed, the marriage between the Head Captain's disciple and the head of the Shihōin family would shake the entire Soul Society.
Then, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.
Why would this guy reveal sothing so significant to him?
As if reading his thoughts, Satoru leaped down from the tree and stood before him.
Under Kōga's gaze, Satoru spoke solemnly:
"The rebel uprising has dragged on for too long."
"Countless lives have been lost—hos destroyed, families torn apart."
"This cannot continue any longer."
"Yamamoto-sensei told that the Soul Society needs soone to step forward and deliver the decisive blow to end this war."
"And you, Kōga Kuchiki, are one of the pri candidates in his eyes!"
Kōga's eyes widened.
"T-The Head Captain said that?!"
For a mont, his face flushed with excitent.
To think the Head Captain himself held him in such regard...?!
Satoru nodded.
"Indeed."
"Lord Kuchiki, in you, I see an unyielding passion and a burning sense of justice."
"When sensei first ntioned it, I was skeptical. But after today, I've co to believe it."
"So rest assured—if we reach an agreent, I'll strongly recomnd you."
Kōga's breathing grew uneven.
Gratitude shone in his eyes as he looked at Satoru.
"Thank you, Lord Satoru... for your trust!"
"Please inform the Head Captain that I won't fail his expectations!"
Satoru smiled and nodded.
Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he glanced at the sword at Kōga's waist.
"By the way, Lord Kuchiki, I recall sensei ntioning that your Zanpakutō can awaken the consciousness within others' blades?"
Caught off guard by the abrupt shift in topic, Kōga paused before nodding. "That's correct."
He raised his Zanpakutō. "My blade is called Muramasa. It can awaken the consciousness within other Zanpakutō and amplify their emotions!"
"A Zanpakutō and its wielder are like comrades in arms."
"No matter how close they are, minor frictions and grievances inevitably arise between them."
"Such dissatisfaction, under normal circumstances, doesn't affect anything at all. Whether it's between a Shinigami and their Zanpakutō, between lovers, or even between parents and children, it's impossible to avoid occasional dissatisfaction during prolonged interactions."
"But... Muramasa can amplify these emotions. By magnifying the Zanpakutō's dissatisfaction endlessly, it can breed resentnt toward its master."
"As the resentnt grows, the Zanpakutō may even turn against its wielder on the battlefield, attacking them directly!"
Kōga spoke at length, thoroughly explaining his Zanpakutō's ability.
In his view, since Satoru was Yamamoto's disciple, such information would be easy for him to obtain anyway, so there was no need to hide it.
Moreover, Satoru had shown such admiration for him—he considered him a friend. To withhold anything from him now would be downright dishonorable.
Upon hearing Kōga's words, Satoru's eyes glead with anticipation.
"Then, Lord Kuchiki, could you try using this ability on ?"
"...Huh?"
Kōga looked puzzled.
He hesitated before replying, "Lord Satoru, I just explained very clearly... my ability makes the Zanpakutō resent its master. It's uncontrollable and irreversible."
"If your sword is truly affected, the only way to fix it is for you to win it back over and regain its recognition."
"At such a critical ti, this is extrely dangerous. What if you lose your combat ability because of it?"
Satoru shook his head dismissively. "It's fine, don't worry. Even if I can't use my sword temporarily, it won't affect much."
Hearing this, though still unable to fully understand, Kōga nodded.
To prevent their Zanpakutō releases from being detected—a violation of Seireitei law—the two used Kidō to erect a barrier that concealed their spiritual pressure.
Under Satoru's eager gaze, Kōga's expression turned solemn as he raised his Zanpakutō—
"Be careful, Lord Satoru. I'm beginning."
As he spoke, his spiritual pressure gradually surged.
"Whisper, Muramasa!!"
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