Chapter 113: The Black-Bellied Loli’s Confession

The Hachimayo Clan, once a pillar of Soul Society’s Five Great Nobles, had birthed mighty Shinigami in its prime. But its lineage faded, leaving only Hachimayo Sayo and his sister, Hachiuma Chiyo, orphaned and bound by necessity.

Nobles naturally wielded higher Reiatsu than commoners. Yet Hachimayo Sayo was a failure—clueless in Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō, his Zanpakutō dormant. He squandered days drinking, gambling, and scheming for coin, utterly ambitionless.

Hachiuma Chiyo, though younger, was a prodigy. Her Reiatsu soared, and she awakened her Zanpakutō, Mist-Gazing Flower, mastering illusionary powers that bolstered her defenses. Had they lived apart, conflict might have been avoided.

But Hachimayo Sayo’s controlling nature shackled her. Recently, for a bag of gold, he betrothed her to Shimo Dashichoufu, a mid-ranking noble she’d never met.

That kindled her murderous intent.

She’d always played the dutiful sister—gentle, compliant, silent. Not this time. No one controls my fate, not even my useless brother.

The night the betrothal gold arrived, she hatched a plan. She hired an underworld assassin, paying half the gold to kill the Hachimayo Clan head but spare the sister for three days. She hid her identity, using intermediaries.

The assassin was Shijima Chigiri.

Her scheme unfolded seamlessly. Her brother died the next night, and she played the grieving victim, her youthful appearance amplifying her deception. People underestimated children, assuming innocence.

She capitalized on that. The Gotei 13 eliminated her fiancé, believing her defenseless. She was certain he’d never demand repayment. Then, she aimed to use the Gotei to kill Shijima, erasing all witnesses.

Her plan was nearly flawless.

“I fell for your act at first—a lonely girl,” Yamabuki Haruto said, smirking. “But souls in Soul Society age slowly, especially with strong Reiatsu. You look twelve, but you’re over a hundred and twenty, aren’t you? A century-old soul, naive? Unlikely. I captured Shijima alive, and he had your gold. You inherited the Hachimayo title, shed your controlling brother, used us to remove your fiancé, and played the damsel for sympathy. Brilliant.”

“Yet you caught me,” Hachiuma Chiyo said, smiling carelessly. “How will you handle me? Kill me? Capture me? If the Chief of Staff visits a helpless girl’s home and scandal spreads, what of your future?”

“Scream ‘indecent assault’ all you want. It’s useless,” Haruto said calmly.

“You misunderstand,” Chiyo replied, grinning. “Gotei 13 members hold low noble seats. You, Chief of Staff, are a lesser noble. Content letting idle high nobles lord over you?”

“What’s your game?”

“The Hachimayo Clan’s down to me,” Chiyo said. “A powerless woman needs a strong backer. Marry into our clan, Haruto. Gain me and high noble status.”

Haruto blinked. Kids plot this deep?

“You have strength; I have status. We can nurture feelings,” Chiyo purred, slipping her dress strap to reveal a jade-like shoulder.

Haruto stepped forward, raised Reversal, Silver Angel’s sheath, and tapped her head sharply.

“Ow!”

“Seduction? At your age?” Haruto scoffed, pinching her chin. “Can’t let you run wild.”

Chiyo rolled her eyes. “What’s your plan, great Chief of Staff?”

“The Gotei 13 needs talent like you. Join us,” Haruto said, smiling.

“Fine. I’m bored alone anyway,” Chiyo agreed.

“Fix your dress. If those women see this, they’ll carve me up. Your brother? Scum. Let him stay dead,” Haruto said.

At the door, they collided with Retsu Unohana.

Unohana glanced at Haruto, then at Chiyo’s slipped strap, smiling. “Vice-Captain Yamabuki, care to explain?”

Chiyo raised her hand timidly. “The Chief of Staff said he wanted to—”

Haruto clamped her mouth. This imp!

“Is that so?” Unohana’s smile widened, her Reiatsu flaring with the menace of the Sword of Death. “Bankai, Minazuki: All Things’ End!”