The reason Vision had been able to exist in the first place was due to the sheer power of the Mind Stone—a force capable of creating both life and consciousness.
And in the idealistic world of the dead, where souls and consciousness were the strongest forces, such power was even more overwhelming.
Just as he had theorized before, in this world where everything possessed a soul and a will, the Mind Stone was far too powerful.
Uehara Shiroha turned his gaze toward the Enrakyōten, the ancient artifact floating within the fragmented void of a broken dimension. His eyes gleamed with intrigue.
Let's see what happens when I take this a step further.
With a single thought, he activated the Mind Stone once again.
A surge of mental energy radiated outward, piercing into the very consciousness of the Enrakyōten.
And in that instant—
He saw something bizarre.
At first, there was only white—a vast, endless whiteness stretching beyond comprehension.
Then, as if responding to his intrusion, the whiteness began to shift.
It churned, twisted, and exploded into a myriad of colors, surging like a wild, living force.
Uehara Shiroha could feel it—the immense power contained within these colors.
This was no ordinary energy.
This was the very source of the Enrakyōten's consciousness.
The artifact had existed for millions of years, its essence infused with such deep-rooted spiritual authority that it was on the verge of evolving into immortal energy.
An ocean of incomprehensible might. A force so vast, so ancient, that shaking it was nearly impossible.
But Uehara Shiroha was not deterred.
In his eyes, the Tsunayashiro family had wasted the potential of this artifact for far too long.
Their use of the Enrakyōten had been crude—a shallow, ineffective display of its true power.
To them, it was merely a treasured heirloom.
To Uehara Shiroha, it was a goldmine of opportunity.
With the Mind Stone, the Enrakyōten was his to wield.
And so, he began his work.
Using the Mind Stone's influence, he carefully reached out, touching the immense source power within the artifact.
The more he practiced, the stronger his control over both the Enrakyōten and the Mind Stone became.
Yes.
This is it.
Uehara Shiroha felt that the time had come.
It was time to put these artifacts to the test—to see just how much Infinity Stones could alter the world of death itself.
The night was dark and silent as Uehara Shiroha arrived at the Tsunayashiro branch mansion with effortless ease.
This estate, though smaller than the main Tsunayashiro mansion, was still a symbol of wealth and status.
Sprawling courtyards, luxurious golden rooftops, and intricately designed pathways stretched as far as the eye could see.
But Uehara Shiroha had little interest in the grandeur of this place.
With quiet, measured steps, he made his way toward a particular residence—one that, at first glance, seemed less extravagant compared to the other noble dwellings.
However, with his Observation Haki, he immediately sensed the layers of intricate barriers surrounding it.
But rather than be deterred, he simply walked through them as if they were nothing more than mist in the air.
He lifted the spiritual barrier that concealed his presence, making no effort to hide himself.
And at that moment, inside the dimly lit chamber, a man finally took notice of him.
The gorgeously dressed figure turned his head, narrowing his eyes at the masked intruder.
A sneer curled at his lips.
"A sneaky bastard hiding behind a mask… you dare appear before me, Tsunayashiro Tokinada?"
His voice was low, condescending, but there was an edge of cautious arrogance in his tone.
In his hand, he clutched a spatial artifact, one that could allow him to teleport away at a moment's notice.
Just like a soul-communicating talisman, this treasure served as an emergency escape tool, ensuring that no matter what happened, he could flee at any time.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada—his long, dark green hair flowing past his shoulders—was clad in a lavish yellow robe, adorned with ornate noble decorations.
Beneath that, however, was a white Shinigami uniform, and at his waist hung a sharp Zanpakutō.
His face bore an uncanny resemblance to Ichimaru Gin—a snake-like smirk, eerily unsettling.
But unlike Ichimaru Gin, his eyes were wide open.
And the way he constantly wore that arrogant, self-important grin was enough to make anyone irritated at first glance.
But Uehara Shiroha barely spared him a glance.
Instead, he scanned the room, taking in his surroundings before speaking casually:
"Hello, Tsunayashiro Tokinada. You can call me Ōtsutsuki Naruto."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's lips twitched.
"Ōtsutsuki Naruto?" His smile didn't falter, but there was a flicker of recognition in his gaze. "Ah, I've heard of that name before."
Uehara Shiroha calmly met his gaze, his expression unreadable.
"Oh? Then it's my honor." His voice was utterly indifferent. "In that case, you should already know why I'm here."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's smirk widened.
"It doesn't matter what your intention is," he scoffed. "Because in the end, you're finished either way."
There was madness in his eyes as he continued.
"Who do you think you are? To lay your hands on the sacred artifact of the Tsunayashiro family? Do you even understand how noble we are?"
His tone became almost hysterical, his voice laced with arrogance and insanity.
He spoke of the Tsunayashiro name as if it were something to be worshiped, yet—
There was something off about his expression.
Beneath his praise, there was an unmistakable mockery.
His smile never faded, but his eyes revealed something darker.
He wasn't just looking down on Uehara Shiroha.
He was looking down on everything in this world.
A man who claimed nobility, yet held nothing but contempt for the very thing he boasted about.
A lunatic.
A clown.
And to Uehara Shiroha, he was not even worth taking seriously.
His voice remained calm as he replied: "Of course, your family is very noble—so noble, in fact, that you stand above even the Spirit King himself."
A slight smirk played at his lips.
"After all, your ancestors were the ones who defeated the Spirit King, weren't they? Should I be giving you a round of applause?"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's grin widened.
"AHAHAHAHAHA!" He laughed loudly, his expression growing even more deranged.
"You know about that? Amazing! Truly amazing!"
His voice was thick with mad amusement.
"This world… this entire world is built on original sin!"
His golden eyes gleamed as he leaned forward.
"I see now. You're not boring at all."
He chuckled.
"Why don't you join me?"
His voice lowered, becoming almost seductive.
"Help me control the Tsunayashiro family. My tool, Aura Michibane, is already in your possession, isn't she?"
Then, with a dismissive wave of his hand, he added:
"Ah, but it doesn't matter. They're just lowly humans—insignificant, disposable."
His smile sharpened. "But the Enrakyōten—the artifact you hold—is something I need."
"What good will it do me to help you?" A trace of disdain flashed through Uehara Shiroha's eyes.
This lunatic—a man who only wanted to see the world burn—was far too easy to manipulate. There was no challenge in it, no difficulty at all.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada, however, interpreted his hesitation differently.
In his mind, Ōtsutsuki Naruto was a man of ambition—someone who, like himself, could never resist the temptation of power, fame, and wealth.
And people like that...
They could always be controlled.
His confidence swelled, his smirk widening, as he began to delude himself into believing that he had the upper hand.
But what he failed to notice—what he was too blind to see—was the faint glow of the Mind Gem resting in Uehara Shiroha's hand.
A power beyond his comprehension was already at work.
Inside the dimly lit room, a silent confrontation was taking place.
Uehara Shiroha remained calm, watching as Tsunayashiro Tokinada's arrogance gradually returned.
The nobleman, convinced of his own superiority, sneered as he spoke:
"Are you really trying to negotiate with me?" He scoffed, his voice dripping with condescension. "I am the future head of the Tsunayashiro family. You are nothing."
His expression, his tone—even his very posture—exuded arrogance so deeply ingrained that it had become second nature.
But beneath it all, his madness was just as apparent.
This man was beyond reason.
Uehara Shiroha sighed, shaking his head.
"People like you..." His voice was almost disappointed. "...you can't even be reasoned with."
The Mind Gem had already taken full effect.
It had warped Tokinada's thoughts, embedding a single, unshakable delusion in his mind—
That only by working with Uehara Shiroha could he obtain the Enrakyōten and achieve his goals.
But even with this false conviction, the man still couldn't see the hierarchy of power.
He was still too arrogant to understand that he was not the one in control.
What a fool.
But it didn't matter.
In the end, he was just a tool.
It made no difference how warped his mind was—his purpose remained unchanged.
Since reason wouldn't work, there was only one logical alternative.
Beat him until he understands.
Uehara Shiroha slowly lifted his gaze, his eyes radiating undeniable pressure as he spoke:
"I want to see..." His voice was slow, deliberate. "...if the future head of the Tsunayashiro family is truly as strong as he claims to be."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada sneered.
"Typical. The lowborn only know how to resort to violence."
His tone was mocking, but there was an undeniable edge to it.
"Don't underestimate the Tsunayashiro family," he continued, his voice laced with arrogance. "And certainly, don't underestimate me."
He smirked.
"While you've been playing your little Shinigami games, I've been growing stronger every single day."
The moment he finished speaking—
Ōtsutsuki Naruto vanished.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's instincts flared.
Instantly, he drew his blade, spinning around to slash behind him.
In his mind, the masked man was nothing more than a coward—a sneaky assassin who relied solely on his Zanpakutō's abilities.
If the man truly possessed real strength, why would he hide behind a mask?
He must be young. Probably no more than a few hundred years old.
And I...
I am of noble blood, backed by thousands of years of accumulated power.
How could I lose?
With that certainty in mind, he swung his blade.
A thousand years of noble swordsmanship. A strike that should have been absolute.
The silver arc of his attack illuminated the room like snowfall, cutting through the air with deadly precision.
And then—
The blade struck its target.
A sharp edge slicing through flesh.
Blood splattered.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's lips curled into a triumphant smirk.
He had won.
Just as expected.
"A shame," he murmured, voice filled with mock pity.
"This is what happens when you dare to offend the Tsunayashiro family." His smirk widened.
"Lowly creatures like you will never be able to lay a single finger on me—"
But before he could finish his sentence—
The body before him vanished.
A mere illusion.
The smile on his face froze.
A split second later—
A crushing force slammed into his chest.
His body flew backward, slamming hard against the floor.
A sharp pain shot through his ribs. He barely had time to react before the impact forced blood from his mouth.
Coughing violently, he struggled to regain his breath.
His mind reeled.
What just... happened?
For the first time, Tsunayashiro Tokinada felt something foreign—something he had never experienced before.
Panic.
Who am I?
Where am I?
Did I just... lose?
He had barely adjusted his breathing when his gaze lifted, landing on the figure sitting at the table.
Uehara Shiroha.
Perfectly calm, his posture relaxed, as if nothing had even happened.
There wasn't a single scratch on his body.
It was as if Tsunayashiro Tokinada's attack had never even existed.
His mind raced, trying to replay the events—trying to pinpoint exactly when and how he had been defeated.
But no matter how hard he tried—
He couldn't find the answer.
His spiritual perception had detected nothing. His eyes had seen nothing.
He had never lost this badly.
He had never been this confused.
This wasn't just a defeat.
It was a complete and utter annihilation.
How?
Who was this man?
Could it be—?
His mind raced through possibilities.
A member of the Royal Guard?
A secret weapon of Soul Society?
An anomaly beyond his understanding?
But the most terrifying thing—
Uehara Shiroha had never even moved from his seat.
And now, for the first time in his entire life, Tsunayashiro Tokinada was no longer the proud, arrogant noble he had once been.
At this moment—
He looked no different from a defeated dog.
Uehara Shiroha's voice was calm, almost indifferent, as he looked down at the defeated noble.
"This was just a small lesson," he said, his tone devoid of sympathy. "You won't be so lucky next time. Get on your knees."
The Five Great Noble Families?
Nothing special.
From beginning to end, Tsunayashiro Tokinada had been nothing more than a puppet, dancing under the influence of the Mind Gem without ever realizing it.
Disrupting consciousness itself—this power was even more terrifying than Kyōka Suigetsu.
After all, Kyōka Suigetsu could only create illusions—illusions that could still be dispelled if one recognized inconsistencies or relied on alternative methods of perception.
For example, Unohana Retsu, with her intimate familiarity with corpses from centuries of battle and her unparalleled medical expertise, had been able to notice the unnatural state of "Aizen's corpse"—a flaw in the illusion.
But when it came to the Mind Gem's influence…
There was no flaw to find.
No inconsistencies. No room for doubt.
Once the mind itself was altered, there was no way to resist.
Not even instincts or battle-hardened perception could break free.
This was absolute.
Unsolvable.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's face twisted, his expression a grotesque mix of rage and disbelief.
His fingers trembled as he clenched them into fists, his breath heavy with seething hatred.
Aside from Kyōraku Shunsui, he had never hated anyone as much as he hated the man before him.
The anger in his chest burned like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
But despite the fury surging through his veins—
He couldn't do anything.
He couldn't fight back.
He couldn't even run away.
Without Enrakyōten, his carefully laid-out plans had crumbled before they could even begin.
And so, he had no choice but to bow his head.
But this humiliation—
This indignity—
Would not be forgotten.
He would have his revenge.
No one—no one—could humiliate the Tsunayashiro family and live to tell the tale.
Once he reclaimed Enrakyōten, he would erase this bastard from existence.
And when that time came—
Kyōraku Shunsui and Ōtsutsuki Naruto would burn together.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada lowered his proud head, his tone carefully disguised as one of reluctant submission.
"I admit my loss this time," he said smoothly. "As long as you hand over Enrakyōten and help me take my rightful place as Head of the Tsunayashiro Family, I will grant you whatever you desire."
His voice oozed with persuasion, the air of a man who knew how to make deals.
"How does that sound? A fair proposal, isn't it?"
Uehara Shiroha wasn't fooled.
He could see right through him.
After all, Tsunayashiro Tokinada was only following the "script" he had been given.
This so-called future Head of the Tsunayashiro Family believed he was playing a game of manipulation.
But in reality—
He was nothing more than a pawn moving exactly as Uehara Shiroha had orchestrated.
And so, Uehara Shiroha remained completely unfazed, his voice as calm as ever.
"Enrakyōten?" he echoed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "No rush. First, I want to see some sincerity from you."
After all, the Tsunayashiro family had plenty of valuable treasures.
And Uehara Shiroha wasn't about to let this golden opportunity go to waste.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada suppressed his gritted teeth and forced his voice to remain composed.
"Fine," he said, keeping his tone smooth. "What do you want?"
He hid his true intentions well.
All he needed was Enrakyōten—with that, he could wipe out the rest of the Tsunayashiro family in one fell swoop and secure his position as the sole heir.
Once he became the Head, he would have the power to convene the Five Noble Families, activate the Ancient Agreement, and impose their will upon the Zero Division itself.
With their backing, he could bend Soul Society to his will.
And once that happened—
He would be unstoppable.
But Uehara Shiroha's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"I want control of the Visual Department."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada froze for a fraction of a second.
Then—he laughed.
Oh, how ironic.
His plans, his ambitions, his entire grand scheme—
And here was this masked man, asking for something as small as the Visual Department.
How utterly shortsighted.
But of course, he wasn't going to refuse.
"Very well!" he agreed immediately, flashing a sharp, knowing grin.
He had already taken control of the Visual Department long ago.
But to him, that department was no longer crucial.
As long as he obtained Enrakyōten, he could wipe the slate clean at any time.
This minor trade meant nothing to him.
This department would only be temporarily in Uehara Shiroha's hands.
Sooner or later, it would return to him.
But Uehara Shiroha—
He wasn't concerned with the other man's little schemes.
He simply nodded, his expression unreadable.
"Good. Then we have an agreement."
Their words seemed pleasant, their exchange one of mutual understanding.
But beneath the surface—
Their thoughts were identical.
"Die, bastard."
"Die, clown."
With Tsunayashiro Tokinada's cooperation, Uehara Shiroha quickly seized control of the Visual Department.
The nobleman handed over various classified orders and methods of command without hesitation.
With those documents alone, even an idiot could oversee the entire operation.
But Tokinada wasn't worried.
As long as his plan succeeded, reclaiming the Visual Department would take mere minutes.
In his mind, he was only lending it out temporarily.
But Uehara Shiroha knew better.
The fate of Tsunayashiro Tokinada and the Tsunayashiro Family had already been sealed.
They were all simply playing their parts in a script he had written.
One Week Later
Uehara Shiroha made his move.
He handed over the entire Visual Department to the Gotei 13.
And no one—
Not a single soul—
Had expected that the Tsunayashiro family's most powerful surveillance agency would suddenly change ownership overnight.
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