Although Asido had been away from Soul Society for many years, it was not as if everyone had forgotten him.
After all, the lifespan of a Shinigami is far too long for memories to vanish so quickly.
During these countless years, Squad 11 had seen wave after wave of newcomers joining its ranks. Yet, among its members, there were still Shinigami who had lived from the days of earlier Kenpachi generations all the way to the present. Some of these veterans were old comrades of Asido.
When word spread that Asido had returned alive from Hueco Mundo, several active and even retired Shinigami came to greet him, sharing stories of old battles and memories. Their warm welcome made Asido feel much lighter.
Originally, he had been uneasy about his decision to return. He had lived for so long in Hueco Mundo that he doubted whether he still belonged in Soul Society. Would his return be met with suspicion, or even rejection?
But today, seeing familiar faces and old friends still alive, he realized his choice had not been a mistake. His existence still left traces in Soul Society, even after all those lost years.
The only regret weighing on him was that the Kenpachi he had once sworn loyalty to was no longer alive.
It was in those conversations with his friends that Asido finally learned more about the current Kenpachi, Gosuke Shigure. Not long after Asido's expedition to Hueco Mundo all those years ago, Shigure had risen through the ranks—first becoming the vice-captain of Squad 11. He had loyally served under Kenpachi Kiganjō and continued to do so even after the mantle passed on.
When the rebellion of Muguruma Kensei's era and later turmoil shook the Gotei 13, Shigure eventually stepped forward and took part in the captain's proficiency assessment. It was then that he claimed the title of the Eleventh Kenpachi.
Hearing these stories, Asido's respect for Shigure deepened. The man had not only carried the weight of the 11th Division but had also gained recognition from both his peers and Central 46.
Of course, Gosuke Shigure himself was unaware of the stories being shared. After introducing Asido to the members of Squad 11, he left the barracks and made his way toward the Tsunayashiro estate.
For Shigure, defeating and killing Tsunayashiro Tokinada was more than an act of justice—it was the final severing of a grudge that had entangled him since the days of his past life. Yet, when grudges end, responsibilities often remain.
After slaying Tokinada, Shigure now carried two blades.
One was Shikei no Kōro ("Path of Death"), the Zanpakutō he had wielded in his previous life. That sword belonged to him alone, and he had no intention of surrendering it.
The other, however, was the Yanluo Jingdian ("Yama's Mirror Scripture"). This cursed Zanpakutō had once belonged to the Tsunayashiro family's founding ancestor. Its ability was terrifying—it could replicate the Shikai of any Zanpakutō it had witnessed, whether it was Ryūjin Jakka's burning inferno or Kyōka Suigetsu's illusions.
But the power came at a heavy price.
Every invocation demanded a sacrifice of the wielder's soul.
In his past life, Shigure had been able to bypass that cost due to his unique existence as a soul-born Zanpakutō. But in this reborn body, his nature was different. Even his own blade could no longer be wielded in its true form without restrictions, let alone a cursed weapon like Yanluo Jingdian.
To Shigure, the blade was little more than a burden. A weapon only a desperate fool like Tokinada would wield once stripped of his true Zanpakutō.
Still, he could not entirely dismiss it.
Even if cursed, its ability to mimic Shikai might one day become useful. Yet that was only speculation. The future was uncertain, and clinging to illusions could lead to ruin.
For now, he decided to focus on what mattered most—his next destination: the Tsunayashiro main household.
The Tsunayashiro estate was located across from the noble district where the Kuchiki family resided. Smaller in size than the Shihouin grounds, the estate sat at the edge of a forest, giving it a bleak, shadowed atmosphere befitting its reputation.
From ancient times, the Tsunayashiro family had been shrouded in mystery. Though they were counted among the Four Great Noble Houses, their members were few. This was a problem shared by most noble clans; long lifespans led to low birth rates, and generations often dwindled before heirs could be secured.
Both the Shihouin and Kuchiki had faced similar struggles. Shihouin Kongchan's line had produced only one heir, but his granddaughter Yoruichi, gifted and brilliant, ensured the family's survival.
The Kuchiki, by contrast, had turned to arranged marriages—taking in outsiders like Kuchiki Kōga as a son-in-law to preserve the bloodline, though that decision later backfired disastrously.
The Shiba had declined into near ruin after tragedy, with only a few survivors remaining. The Ise clan, dominated by women, endured by its own traditions.
As for the Tsunayashiro—once, their main and branch families had been numerous. Tokinada himself had been from a branch house. But now, with his death and the fallout of his schemes, the main household teetered on the brink of collapse.
From what Shigure had learned, only a single young heir remained in the main family, with the rest either elderly and infirm or slaughtered in the chaos. Without strength or talent, that heir would be devoured by the ambitious branch houses and erased from history within a generation.
Reflecting on this, Shigure arrived at the Tsunayashiro estate and prepared to confront the final remnants of the once-proud clan.
After all, even if nearly extinguished, a main house was still the main house. Until its last bloodline perished, no branch family could claim its name.