Why am I the one being punished?

"My abilities were useless."

Muramasa's voice trembled slightly as he explained to Kuchiki Kōga.

"But Kōga, don't panic. The key problem is—I got caught by him. I suspect it's Aiyan's Zanpakutō ability."

"In other words, next time if you face him again, you must use Bankai before he gets close. Release my power, let me enter his inner world. As long as I do that, I can definitely take control of his Zanpakutō."

Now that the fear had passed, Muramasa was left with deep frustration and fury.

Until now, he had never taken any Zanpakutō seriously—not even Ryūjin Jakka, the legendary flame-type Zanpakutō wielded by Genryūsai Yamamoto himself. In Muramasa's eyes, every Zanpakutō in the entire Soul Society existed only to submit to him.

But just now?

He had been sealed—instantly and completely—by a Zanpakutō he didn't even recognize. One that didn't even show any hostility or intent. Just one touch, and it was over.

For a Zanpakutō like Muramasa, who prided himself above all others, this was the ultimate humiliation.

"I can fight back," he muttered with conviction.

Hearing this, Kuchiki Kōga finally let out a breath of relief. The heavy pressure Aiyan had imposed on him was now slowly fading. And with Muramasa's reassurance, a glimmer of hope was born again.

Even the illusion of being able to take revenge began to form in his mind.

But right at that moment…

"Kuchiki Kōga."

The voice of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, sharp and majestic, suddenly echoed from the front of the meeting hall. It instantly silenced everything and everyone.

"Captain-Commander!" Kōga stiffened. The earlier heat in his head disappeared at once. He knelt on one knee without hesitation.

The cold sweat on his back hadn't even dried yet, but a chill ran through him again.

This is bad… really bad!

"Captain Kuchiki, what is your opinion?" Yamamoto's calm voice carried a chilling authority.

This was not just a casual question. Anyone familiar with Soul Society knew—if Yamamoto Shigekuni asked for your opinion on a matter like this, you'd better agree without hesitation.

And Kuchiki Kōga knew that if it were any other officer—whether a seated officer or even a lieutenant—they wouldn't even get a chance to speak. They'd be punished on the spot.

"Captain-Commander," replied Kuchiki Ginrei calmly, "Kuchiki Kōga is no longer a 3rd seat of the Sixth Division. He is now a member of the First Division."

"I leave everything in your hands."

Without any hesitation, Ginrei personally sealed Kōga with a Bakudō and pushed him forward to Yamamoto.

"Kuchiki Kōga," Yamamoto declared firmly, "you disrupted the Captain's Inauguration Ceremony, shouted in the First Division's Assembly Hall, and attempted to release your Zanpakutō without authorization."

"You showed no respect to the chain of command. You disrespected your superior, the newly appointed captain, and even spoke insolently to this old man."

"As of this moment, I strip you of your position as Captain of the First Division's Special Task Force, revoke your rank as Chief Officer, and reduce you to a regular Shinigami of the First Division."

The hall fell silent.

Kōga's eyes widened in shock. He had only just received the position—and in mere minutes, it was gone. Not just the title, but he'd been thrown down to the lowest rank.

This wasn't just a demotion. It was public humiliation.

"Why?" Kōga thought in disbelief. "Why am I the one being punished?"

Aiyan was the one who suppressed him. Aiyan had humiliated him. And yet Aiyan was fine. More than fine—he had just been officially accepted as captain and now stood with his head held high.

Wasn't Kōga the one defending the rules?

But Kōga didn't dare say these words out loud. Because as soon as Yamamoto narrowed his eyes, a cold gleam flashed through the air.

"Do you have an objection?" the old man asked, tone laced with warning.

"No, Captain-Commander." Kōga swallowed his frustration. His gaze dropped, hiding the storm of emotions swirling inside.

"I accept my punishment."

Ginrei's voice followed coldly, filled with disappointment and frustration.

"No matter who you are, how high your potential is, or how talented your Zanpakutō may be—if you don't know how to hold yourself, it all means nothing."

The captaincy had been arranged through special channels. He had gone through a lot just to pave this path for Kōga.

And now? All wasted. All because of Kōga's arrogance.

He even began to consider removing Kōga entirely, replacing him with Byakuya Kuchiki, his grandson.

As Kōga walked back with his head down, no one saw his face hidden beneath his hair.

But behind those bangs, his eyes burned with resentment and gloom.

"Even with the Kuchiki name… I'll never truly be one of them."

"A monkey in noble clothes… still a monkey."

"Maybe I should extract the Spirit King fragment from him…"

Ginrei's thoughts flickers briefly. But he quickly shook the idea off.

The Spirit King fragment could be removed and given to Byakuya. That was no issue for the Kuchiki clan.

But Muramasa… that was different.

He was too rare, too valuable. Unlike the Spirit King's fragment, Muramasa couldn't simply be 'transferred.'

And talent-wise, Kōga was still exceptional. Better even than Byakuya in some aspects—his ambition, city-like cunning, and raw Shinigami potential.

Despite everything, Ginrei hesitated to abandon him completely.

Meanwhile, on the side—

"Tch, so much for the proud son-in-law of the Kuchiki family."

"He couldn't even draw Muramasa, and now he's been dismissed."

"Even Muramasa didn't dare act up."

"No wonder Shinji got wrecked last time!"

"What the hell is Aiyan's Zanpakutō? What kind of power is that?"

"Not to mention his Shunpo… it's insanely fast. Even someone like Kōga, with captain-class power, couldn't keep up."

The captains Muguruma Kensei, Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, and Aikawa Love exchanged glances. They had all seen Muramasa before.

Even they wouldn't want to go against him.

But what about Aiyan?

He crushed Muramasa by simply placing a hand on the hilt.

They couldn't believe it. This man had been a Shinigami for less than two months.

And yet…

"Captain Aiyan, your haori."

Two First Division members arrived, kneeling respectfully in front of Aiyan. One held a long-sleeved haori, the other a short-sleeved version.

Aiyan glanced at them and calmly picked up the long-sleeved haori, slipping it on effortlessly.

The other Shinigami quietly took the unused short-sleeved haori and returned to the Fifth Division to deliver it back.

"Huh? Captain Aiyan looks even more handsome now."

"I was honestly worried… if he picked the short-sleeved one, it might've looked awkward!"

"Strength, looks, aura… everything is top-tier."

As the long-sleeved captain's haori fluttered behind him, more than a few female Shinigami—lieutenants and captains alike—couldn't take their eyes off him.

Their glances, once secretive, were now open admiration.

And so, Aiyan stood tall.

The hall, the captains, the Gotei 13—all had witnessed his first true step.

And it was overwhelming.