Kuchiki Kōga might have been ignorant, but Kuchiki Ginrei was not.
If Kōga really dared to draw Muramasa in front of the Gotei 13 captains and lieutenants within the First Division's Assembly Hall—no matter the reason, no matter who was right or wrong—both he and Muramasa would be finished.
The reason Ginrei accepted Kōga into the Kuchiki clan, even marrying his daughter into someone from Rukongai, was not because of his mediocre strength or character—but entirely because of his Zanpakutō: Muramasa.
A Zanpakutō capable of manipulating other Zanpakutō—an anomaly in Soul Society. A dangerous weapon. A tool worthy of being used. That was what Kuchiki Ginrei had set his eyes on. But now?
Were they really going to lose it all because this idiot couldn't read the room?
Slap!
Before Ginrei could use Shunpo to stop his son-in-law, a figure flashed between Kōga and his Zanpakutō.
A single hand landed on the hilt just as it began to draw—and pushed it back into the sheath.
"Whisper—Muramasa."
As soon as Kōga heard the release command, he panicked.
He thought Aiyan was about to do what he did to Hirako Shinji—take Muramasa from him, humiliate him, and destroy his dignity.
So, instinctively, he shouted Muramasa's Shikai command.
"It's over!"
Kuchiki Ginrei's heart dropped like a stone into the abyss.
"Presumptuous!"
As expected—after being silent for a long time—Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni opened his eyes.
Gone was the look of senile calmness. His eyes, sharp as blades, gleamed like an unsheathed Zanpakutō.
To release a Zanpakutō without permission in front of the Head Captain, and worse, inside the First Division's Assembly Hall—was an insult. An unforgivable offense.
But then something happened.
Silence.
Yamamoto's gaze froze.
Ginrei's pupils constricted.
Even Kōga himself was left confused.
Muramasa, who had been right by his side just moments ago—ready to draw his sword—was… gone.
Gone.
Vanished. Not even a trace of spiritual pressure left behind.
"Where is… Muramasa?" Ginrei muttered, scanning the hall.
"That Zanpakutō… known as the 'Shinigami Nemesis'... was it sealed?"
Yamamoto narrowed his eyes and slowly turned his gaze to one person—Aiyan.
And so did everyone else.
Captains. Lieutenants. Even those who had only heard rumors of Muramasa's dangerous power. All their eyes were now on the Fifth Division's newly appointed captain.
Aiyan stood there calmly, his palm still resting on the hilt of Kōga's sheathed Zanpakutō.
No Shikai. No reaction. Not even a sound.
The blade was completely suppressed.
The entire hall fell into stunned silence.
"…Aiyan, you—"
Kōga's face was pale. His spiritual connection to Muramasa felt like it had been buried underground, cut off, or worse—devoured.
"You said you were going to teach me what dignity is, what rules are, and what authority means."
"I've only been a captain for a day. Maybe I haven't learned all the rules yet."
Aiyan's voice was calm, almost casual. But with each word, the pressure grew heavier.
"I only understand one thing: fist is power."
With his left hand holding Muramasa's hilt firmly, his right hand slowly clenched into a fist.
A chilling sound echoed in the hall.
"So, Kōga…" Aiyan's gaze fell on the trembling Kuchiki, "What do you think?"
With a single movement, he dragged the blade forward with his fist—an unmistakable gesture.
Kōga's face turned ashen.
"What did you do to my Zanpakutō?! Aiyan! Answer me!"
Kōga's voice cracked. It was no longer just anger. He panicked in Desperation.
Why had he been accepted into the Kuchiki clan? Why was he given the noble surname?
Because of Muramasa. That was it. Without Muramasa, he was nothing.
He wasn't stupid. He knew.
But now, with a single touch, Aiyan had made his Zanpakutō silent. Unresponsive. Dead.
"Stop yelling."
"You just look weak."
Aiyan stared at him coldly, "Also, remember next time—when you talk to me, use my proper title."
"Captain Aiyan."
"Do you understand?"
His two eyes lit up with contrasting radiance.
His left eye glowed like the sun—brilliant and all-seeing.
His right eye gleamed like a black hole—deep, bottomless, and terrifying.
Kōga's breath stopped. He felt as if his very soul was sinking. As if Muramasa had been dragged into eternal darkness, and his own spiritual body was being sliced apart.
For the first time since bonding with Muramasa, he felt fear.
Fear that he couldn't describe.
A moment ago, he was shouting.
Now, silence.
"I haven't heard your answer yet, Kuchiki Kōga."
Aiyan's tone was soft, but to Kōga, it sounded like the weight of a mountain. It made his legs weak and his thoughts freeze.
"...I understand."
"Hmm?"
"...Captain Aiyan."
"Good."
Only then did Aiyan let go of Muramasa's hilt.
Shunpo!
Kōga vanished in a flash, appearing near the door of the assembly hall. He didn't even dare look back at Aiyan.
And the first thing he did was shout, deep in his heart—
"Muramasa!"
Finally, Muramasa reappeared in his inner world—shivering, panicked. Only Kōga could see him.
"Kōga! Don't let him touch me again!"
Muramasa's expression was completely different from before. His usual calm arrogance was gone, replaced by unease and… fear.
"What happened?" Kōga asked sharply.
"I called you again and again, and you didn't respond!"
"You were the one who told me to act! Why didn't you appear?"
Muramasa's voice trembled.
"I… I don't know either."
"I saw a massive black hole… and I was sucked into it."
"There was nothing. Just darkness."
"I tried everything to escape. I couldn't."
Muramasa was still shaken.
"…Aren't you the one who controls Zanpakutō?"
"Why didn't you just cut off Aiyan's Zanpakutō from the inside? That's your ability!"
"I couldn't."
Muramasa looked at Kōga, deeply shaken.
"When he grabbed me… all my powers were gone."
"I couldn't do anything."
Silence.
Kōga felt like the world was crumbling around him.
Muramasa had never failed. No Zanpakutō had ever resisted him.
Yet here—before Aiyan—he was powerless.
"…What about Bankai?" Kōga whispered, trembling.
Muramasa shook his head.
"I don't think it matters."
And just like that—Kōga's greatest source of pride, his weapon, his status, his fantasy of rising through the ranks and one day challenging even Yamamoto Genryūsai—shattered.
Everything he had built in his mind crumbled like dust.