Bleach: No cheat codes, he joined Aizen's side.

Chapter 2.2. The Absurd Trial

Soul Society, Seireitei, Central 46 Chambers.

Countless trials have been held here over the past thousand years, and today is no exception.

On the platform sat forty wise men and six judges.

Beside the stage were Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni of the Gotei 13, Vice-Captain Higashino Shuichi of the 4th Division, Captain Kyoraku Shunsui of the 8th Division, and Captain Mukusha Kensei of the 9th Division.

Below the stage was a solitary figure, Tsunami Daitoshi.

To be honest, given the scale of the operation, Higashino Shuichi felt it was somewhat excessive.

It's not surprising that Captain-Commander Yamamoto is here. He attends almost every trial of the Central 46, which is the source of the confidence that the 46 judges on the stage have to conduct the trials.

It's not surprising that Kensei Muguruma, the captain of the Ninth Division, is here. After all, it was this captain of the prison squad who led his team to capture Tsunayoshi Tokinada after the incident.

However, Higashino Shuichi couldn't quite understand why Kyoraku Shunsui was here.

No, is it really necessary for an intelligence team leader like you to appear in this trial meeting?

Well, this question can only remain in Higashino Shuichi's mind; at least he won't directly ask Kyoraku Shunsui himself.

However, as the trial progressed, Higashino Shuichi soon learned the reason.

Seeing the murderous look in Tsunayoshiro Tokinada's eyes as he looked at Kyoraku Shunsui, Higashino Hideaki could only silently give Kyoraku Shunsui a thumbs up in his heart.

"Brother, you're really brave!"

It turns out that Tsunayoshi Tokinada had already been found innocent through the Tsunayoshi family's negotiations, and Kensei Rokusha was ready to release him. However, Shunsui Kyoraku filed a lawsuit that reached the Central 46 Chambers, and now the Central 46 Chambers are starting to have a headache.

Should we give face to the Tsunayoshi family, one of the five great noble families?
You must give it!

Should we give face to Kyoraku Shunsui, the captain of the 8th Division of the Gotei 13, the number one person in Soul Society, and the prized disciple of Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni?

You must give it!
Well, no matter which one we choose, we'll offend the other side.

Thus began this trial, which Higashino found utterly absurd.

The people of Tsunayoshi Tokiba were brought in, and charges were attached to them, but listen to those charges...
"Unintentional homicide" and "excessive self-defense".
All of these accusations are evasive and do not address the core issues.

Unfortunately, one of the sages on the stage looked at Kyoraku Shunsui with an extremely aggrieved expression and revealed that they had done their best.

But in the end, Tsunayoshi Tokinada was only punished with a 500-year home confinement, which was postponed for six months.

It was said to give Tsunayoshi Tokina a buffer period to hand over his work.

Other punishments, such as compensation, were not mentioned at all.

Even Higashino Shuichi, a transmigrator who didn't consider himself to have high moral standards, felt that this was a bit too much.

This kind of punishment is even worse than no punishment at all; at least it leaves others with a glimmer of hope.

As expected, after hearing the result, Higashino Shuichi looked at Kyoraku Shunsui beside him and found that the latter's eyes were full of disappointment.

"If Kyoraku Shunsui hadn't been born into the upper-class Kyoraku family, he probably would have followed Aizen without hesitation, right?"

Higashino Shuichi thought to himself, as if he had just realized something.

As a Shinigami with a strong sense of justice, Kyoraku Shunsui Mirai is indeed a person full of contradictions.

However, most people were misled by his nonchalant appearance.

In Higashino's view, the trial of the Central 46 was a complete failure. It seemed to have satisfied the demands of both sides, but in fact, it offended both.

Furthermore, the members of the Central 46 seemed to lack this self-awareness. After the trial, they even ordered Kensei Muguruma, the captain of the 9th Division, to take Tsunayoshi Tokinada out and announce the verdict to the entire Seireitei, in order to demonstrate the righteousness of their Central 46.

Following Kensei Rokusha, when Shuichi Higashino saw the man below who was clenching his fists, gritting his teeth, and was blind, Shuichi Higashino instantly understood.

He misunderstood Aizen before.

Aizen's purpose in summoning him was not to guard against any unexpected events during the trial, but rather for the sake of this man.

"Dongxian Yao"

In the original storyline, Aizen was supposed to personally recruit Tosen Kaname, but now that Aizen has a useful subordinate like Higashino Shuichi, he naturally doesn't need to show up in person.

That would only increase the risk of him being exposed.

The reason Aizen brought up the past with Higashino Shuichi last night was most likely because he wanted Higashino Shuichi to recall his original intentions, so that he could see his past self in Tosen Kaname.

Even if Aizen doesn't explicitly say anything, Higashino Shuichi will recruit Tosen Kaname on his own.

Thus, Aizen maintained his consistent persona of mystery, power, and aloofness in front of Higashino Shuichi.

"sharp."

After figuring all this out, Higashino Shuichi couldn't help but sigh silently to himself.

As expected of the intellectual ceiling in the entire Bleach world, if he didn't have the advantage of being prescient, he would probably have been completely fooled by Aizen.

While Higashino Shuichi was pondering, Kensei Muguruma announced the results of the trial to everyone.

Looking at the ordinary Grim Reapers who were unaware of the truth and cheering with joy, Higashino Shuichi shook his head to himself.

They didn't even notice that Kensei Rokugurashi left with the members of the Ninth Division after his announcement, leaving behind only the now completely free Tsunayoshi Tokinada. Yes, this was utterly absurd in Higashino Shuichi's eyes as well.

Even if it's a suspended sentence, shouldn't there be some restrictions on Tsunayoshi Tokinada's personal safety?

At worst, you can leave someone to keep an eye on them, right?

Unfortunately, all of the above are just fantasies.

Reality remains surreal.

However, not everyone was unaware of this.

Although Tosen Kaname is blind, this has given him an extra ability to perceive spiritual power. In his other vision, he stares intently at Tsunayoshi Tokinada, who has not left.

Tsuna also clearly knew Tosen Kaname, his former wife and Utako's best friend.

He walked unhurriedly toward Dongxianyao.

The latter questioned him about why he killed Kagura, while he arrogantly boasted to Tosen about his "achievements" in the previous days.

It particularly emphasizes his disdain for his wife, Ge Kuang.

Whether it was Kagaku's kindness or his dream of a world without conflict, filled with love and care, it was all worthless in Tsunayoshi Tokinada's eyes, and might even make him feel nauseous.

Finally, he even personally held the asahi sword that Tosen had been tightly gripping around his neck.

"Do it now. With just a gentle swing of your arm, you can avenge your dearest friend, my wife, Ge Kuang. But which is more important, Ge Kuang's dream or avenging her?"

Tsuna stared at Tosen Kaname's unfocused eyes and grinned menacingly.

Is he betting that Tosen won't make a move?

Higashino Shuichi, who was watching all this from afar, shook his head.

He knew this was simply because Tsunayoshi Tokina didn't care at all. He didn't care about his own life at all. As long as he could please himself, his life was nothing. He could just lose it.

In contrast, Tsunayoshi Tokinada would much rather see Tosen Kaname's painful struggle.

From the moment Tsunayoshi Tokinada voluntarily placed the ashen sword against his own neck, he had already achieved his goal, and he didn't care about the outcome anymore.

However, fate was on his side. After hesitating for a long time, Tosen ultimately decided not to swing Asauchi.

He could avenge Ge Kuang with just one strike, but the thought that Ge Kuang's dream was love and peace prevented him from having the courage to bring himself to do it.

"If I were to swing it down, and then encounter Ge Kuang after I die, I wouldn't have the face to see her."

Tosen is suffering.

His suffering, however, fueled Tsunayoshi Tokina's madness.

The latter began attacking him relentlessly with his fists, elbows, and knees, hoping he would retaliate.

However, Tosen Kaname never resisted and silently endured it all.

When Tsunayoshi Tokinashi got tired of fighting and looked at the dying Tosen Kaname on the ground, he finally lost interest.

"Since you're so insistent on that disgusting dream, then go and join Ge Kuang!"

Leaving behind these words, Tsunayoshi Tokina turned and left.

He was just a commoner, not worth executing himself.

The retainers of their Tsunayo family nearby are sufficient to accomplish this task.

However, things have come to this point, and it's finally time for Shuichi Higashino to make his appearance.

"Binding Spell Number Sixty-Two: Hundred-Step Railing!"

Dozens of shimmering white rods suddenly appeared from mid-air and fell, blocking all the death gods who were trying to approach Tosen Kaname.

"Vice Captain Higashino?!"

One of the Grim Reapers recognized Higashino Shuichi's identity.

“Although I don’t know what just happened, this is Seireitei. The presence of a commoner here is suspicious, not to mention that he is holding an asauchi of unknown origin. Therefore, this person cannot be allowed to get into trouble for the time being. I need to take him to the 10th Division for questioning. Is there a problem?”

Higashino Shuichi landed between Tosen Kaname and the Shinigami, his spiritual pressure subtly expanding, completely thwarting their attempts to launch a sneak attack.

“But he is Tsunayoshiro.” One of the Shinigami tried to argue, but was silenced by a glare from Higashino Shuichi.

"I have never heard of a nobleman being able to arbitrarily decide a person's life or death without trial. Even the Central Forty-Sixth Bureau does not have this power."

Higashino Shuichi wasn't making this up, because in principle it is indeed true. However, in practice, when the target is often a nobleman and the victim is a commoner, the matter is usually downplayed or ignored.

However, if it's brought up in the open, it's impossible to actually do it, just like how Kyoraku Shunsui reported Tsunayoshi Tokinada's behavior this time.

In the end, those Grim Reapers who were stopped could only grit their teeth and watch as Higashino Shuichi gave Tosen Kaname a simple treatment and then took him away.

As for the first stop to take him away, it was naturally not the 10th Division, which was in charge of civilian safety, but his own 4th Division vice-captain's rest room.

Here, Higashino Shuichi indeed met Aizen Sousuke, who had been waiting for him for a long time.

(End of this chapter)