Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero.

“Justice?” Liu Chuan repeated the word, as if discussing a purely academic concept, “a very vague word.”

He paused for a moment, then continued, "If we follow the common principles of Soul Society, maintaining the order of the Seireitei, abiding by the laws, protecting the soul cycle, and resisting the invasion of Hollows, then that is justice."

From an aristocratic perspective, upholding family honor and interests, and consolidating the existing class, might also be considered their form of 'justice.'

He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through Tosen Kaname before him, venturing into the distance, his tone carrying a trace of the calm and detachment characteristic of a researcher:

"However, in my view, so-called 'justice' is often nothing more than a matter of a specific stance, a specific force, and a specific historical context."

A set of behavioral guidelines has been constructed to explain the rationality of its own behavior.

Its core is not an immutable truth, but rather something that constantly changes with shifts in power dynamics, distribution of interests, and evolving perceptions.

Today's judgment that the execution of Tsunayoshiro and the 'attack on royal agents' is 'just' is based on my identity and power.

His foolish actions happened to cross the line that the existing order of Seireitei could not tolerate, making 'punishing him' a necessary 'performance' to maintain the 'justice' of this order.

However, in a different context or with a different person, the same behavior might be interpreted as a 'necessary sacrifice,' a 'reluctant choice,' or even a 'great achievement.'

He looked at Tousen Kaname, his gaze sharp:

"So, if you ask me what justice is, my answer is: I don't know, I don't believe there is an absolute 'justice'."

"However, although I cannot tell you the truth of 'justice,' I can tell you about the justice that belongs to me alone."

He paused slightly, then said, word by word:

"My sense of justice is very simple, consisting of only three points."

"First, protect your companions. Those I acknowledge, accept, and am willing to walk alongside are my companions. To harm them is to be my enemy."

"Second, eliminate our enemies. Anyone who takes the initiative to become our enemy should be eliminated without hesitation, with swift and decisive action to cut off all threats."

“Third,” he paused, his gaze falling on the Spirit King's Palace suspended in the sky, a hint of responsibility in his voice.

"As a member of Squad Zero, I maintain the basic balance and stability of the three realms."

Yanagawa's three principles of "justice" are clear, concise, and even carry an almost naive toughness.

There are no grand ideals, no complex moral debates, only clear behavioral guidelines based on one's own position, strength, and responsibilities.

Protect what needs to be protected, eliminate what needs to be eliminated, and perform what needs to be performed.

This brings "justice" down from the lofty, abstract concept and back to concrete people and specific responsibilities.

When Yanagawa uttered these three points, Tosen's body straightened up almost imperceptibly.

His face, covered by an eye mask, remained expressionless, but a deep, imposing aura emanated from him.

However, this crystal-clear declaration seems to have caused a subtle change.

Liuchuan's "justice" is so selfish, yet so...powerful.

It doesn't try to persuade others or seek universal recognition; it's only about its own choices.

Protecting companions—this is based on emotional bonds and identification;

Eliminating the enemy—this is based on the instinct for survival;

Maintaining stability in the Three Realms—this is a responsibility based on one's status.

This is completely different from the grand yet more ethereal "justice" that Tosen Kaname harbors, which desires to overturn everything and rebuild a "truly" just world.

Liuchuan's sense of justice is more like a sharp blade that has been tempered and is wielded only for a specific goal;

Kaname Tosen's sense of justice is more like a raging wildfire trying to burn down the old world and illuminate a new one.

However, beneath this drastically different core, Tosen Kaname seemed to sense an essential similarity—

Yanagawa uses "eliminating the enemy" to practice his justice, while Tosen Kaname does so for the "new world" in his heart.

Haven't they already prepared to be enemies with the entire Seireitei and even the existing order of the three realms?

However, Liuchuan's "battlefield" and "enemy" seem to be more specific at present.

But what about him... was the entire world? Was the "justice" he upheld truly right? Tosen's heart wavered at this moment.

Finally, Tosen Kaname bowed deeply to Yanagawa once again with utmost solemnity.

This bow was more profound and lasted longer than the previous ones.

When he straightened up, his "gaze" covered by the blindfold seemed even more complex and difficult to understand.

"Thank you for your guidance, sir." Tosen Kaname's voice returned to its previous deep and steady tone, but upon closer listening, it seemed to carry an indescribable... determination? Or perhaps some kind of confirmation?

He made no comment on Yanagawa's "sense of justice," nor did he ask further questions or explain why he thanked him.

It was as if his trip was solely for obtaining this answer, or rather, to "verify" something using this question.

"Captain Tosen, you're too kind."

Liu Chuan responded calmly. He still didn't know Tosen's true intentions, but since the other party was no longer willing to say anything, he wouldn't press the matter.

Everyone has their own path and secrets, and as long as they don't get in his way, he has no interest in delving into them.

Tosen Kaname took one last "look" at Yanagawa, then turned and walked away alone in the opposite direction from Yanagawa.

His silhouette appeared exceptionally lonely in the sunlight.

Liuchuan stood there, watching Dongxian Yao's figure disappear around the corner.

“Justice… Kaname Tosen…” he murmured to himself, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

Today's chance encounter and conversation, though brief, seem to reveal a glimpse of the unknown side of this silent captain's inner world.

The death of Tsunayoshiro Sakuwa may have had a special significance for Tosen Kaname.

The "justice" that Tosen Kaname seeks is probably far more complex than the Seireitei claims on the surface.

Chapter 58 Mole City Shuangye

If the Seireitei is likened to a great tree rooted in the Soul Society, then the ground beneath the First Division Quarters is the deepest root system of that tree.

Passing through layers of strict barriers and guards, crossing through the chilling layers of prisons, until finally reaching the absolute forbidden zone known as the "Eighth Underground Prison".

"The Avici Hell".

The massive portal, so heavy it seemed capable of crushing a soul, forged from killing stones and a special alloy, slowly opened inward amidst the ear-piercing sounds of gears turning and chains rubbing together.

Behind the door was not the narrow prison cell one might have imagined, but rather... an endless, suffocating darkness.

There was no light, no sound, no sense of the passage of time, only an absolute nothingness and deathly silence that seemed to freeze consciousness.

The concentration of spiritual particles here is extremely high, but it is chaotic and viscous, carrying a smell of decay and despair, and cannot be absorbed and utilized normally at all.

This is the ultimate prison specifically for holding the most vicious criminals in Soul Society.

Two elite guards from the First Division, dressed in special protective suits and wearing isolation masks, pushed the executioner Scarface into the edge of this darkness as if escorting a dangerous item.

Scarface still wore the murderous stone shackles on his hands and feet, and his spiritual power was suppressed to the limit.

The moment he was pushed in, he felt a sudden heaviness all over his body, as if an invisible weight was pressing down on his soul, making even breathing extremely difficult.

The surrounding darkness was as thick as ink. With his senses, he could barely see three feet in front of him, and beyond that was a void that swallowed everything.

“Go in, Executioner ‘Scarface’,” a guard said coldly, his voice muffled and distorted behind his mask.

"Originally, with your crimes, you wouldn't even be qualified to enter this 'abyss,' but this time you've gotten involved in something big enough."

To ensure absolute safety, I've granted special permission to imprison you here. Your sentence... well, you can count it yourself, if you can still keep up the count."

Another guard added, his tone tinged with mockery:

"Time flows differently here than outside, so you'll feel... it's very 'long'. And you're not the only 'celebrity' locked up here."

After saying this, the two guards said no more and settled the scarred face.

The enormous door, seemingly separating two worlds, slowly closed.

“Wait…” Scarface began instinctively.

As the last ray of light from the outside world was completely swallowed up, absolute darkness and deathly silence enveloped him.

He, a villain who originally deserved only a regular prison, was thrown into this infernal hell simply because he got involved in a shocking conspiracy targeting the Zero Division.

Ironically, he is still alive, while the mastermind, Tsunayoshi, has been completely destroyed.

But Scarface would rather die under the double poles, because his intuition told him that "living" in this "infernal hell" was probably a thousand times more terrifying than any form of death.

He felt an unprecedented chill that came from the depths of his soul.

However, at this very moment, in the deepest part of this dark "infernal hell," there exists a being completely different from the terror and despair of Scarface, the newcomer.

It sits quietly in a void, with an air of detachment.

He was a man who appeared quite refined, even somewhat scholarly.

He had long black hair, tied into a neat ponytail at the back of his head, with two signature long, center-parted bangs hanging down in front of his forehead, swaying slightly with the flow of invisible spiritual particles around him.

He was wearing a slightly worn white robe, which was now tattered.

Moreover, he was pierced, entangled, and fixed by countless chains made of spiritual particles, tightly connecting him to the "base" of this space.

He closed his eyes, his face calm, as if he were only dozing. He was none other than Mochishiro Souya.

Once upon a time, he was also a member of the 11th Division of the Gotei 13, a man who defeated the 7th Kenpachi, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, who had been invited by the Zero Division, with absolute strength.

Thus, he inherited the title of the eighth "Kenpachi" and became one of the strongest figures standing at the pinnacle of the Shinigami.

However, due to the extreme nature of his beliefs and actions, he was eventually imprisoned here, becoming one of the most famous and dangerous "residents" of this infernal hell.

Even in this deepest prison, bound by countless restrictions and chains, Souya Mochishiro's spirit did not seem to be completely isolated from the outside world.

He slowly opened his eyes.

Profound and serene, yet carrying a detached indifference that comes from seeing through the vanities of the world.

His gaze was not focused on any physical object, but rather seemed to penetrate the thick layers of rock and countless barriers, "looking" at the vast world of Seireitei.

"Tsunayoshiro and... Zero Squad... Yanagawa..."

A voice, tinged with a hint of interest, slowly escaped his lips.

His Zanpakuto, "Rain Dew Pomegranate," has long ceased to be a physical sword.

Since its first Bankai, due to some special rule anomaly and Azajo's own will, it has maintained a Bankai state that cannot be sealed by conventional means.