Seireitei, Fourth Division barracks.
Though not long ago, the First Division had suffered a terrifying attack with over a hundred squad members dead.
The Fourth Division, as the medical squad, remained surprisingly idle.
However, this idleness left everyone breathless.
Because the reason for this idleness was—
Not a single wounded.
Everyone who'd seen the enemy was dead.
Therefore, even with nothing to do currently, this fact pressed on every Fourth Division member's heart like a massive stone.
At this moment, Fourth Division Captain Retsu Unohana was arranging flowers in her rear courtyard.
After assigning the Fourth Division's forces, she naturally had little else to do.
But her lieutenant, Isane Kotetsu, clearly had something on her mind. Though helping Unohana with the flowers, her eyes kept wandering.
Noticing this, Unohana didn't stop her movements. She chuckled softly:
"Isane, you needn't be so anxious."
"During the last Seireitei invasion, the most severely damaged area was near Black Ridge Gate."
"In other words, the enemy likely used some method to invade through that gate."
"So, given the current alert level of each division, once we're invaded—"
"One of the four gates should react immediately. We're not in a passive position..."
Hearing this, Kotetsu nodded worriedly, saying softly:
"You're right... I'm worrying needlessly..."
Though she said this, her stalled movements still showed her concern.
Seeing this, Unohana was about to speak again when suddenly, something changed—
Above in the sky, a massive invisible spiritual pressure net suddenly spread open!
Though this spiritual pressure dispersed in a net-like pattern, its density and magnitude were still palpable.
The next moment, streams of spiritual pressure immediately descended, landing on both Unohana and Kotetsu.
The two exchanged glances. Both froze.
They'd both mastered Kidō extensively. They couldn't fail to recognize this—
Bakudō #77: Tentei Kūra.
And the person releasing this Kidō, with such vast spiritual pressure, was undoubtedly... Segawa Shigure.
"Segawa? Why would he...?"
Only now did Unohana stop her movements, standing straight. Kotetsu immediately stood as well.
They truly wondered why Shigure would suddenly use Tentei Kūra at this moment.
In fact, not just them—at this moment, except for Yamamoto, all division captains and lieutenants were puzzled.
A captain's meeting had just been held not long ago.
Moreover, the Seireitei was currently peaceful. No enemy invasion at all. Logically, such measures shouldn't be necessary.
But naturally, they wouldn't ignore it.
Tentei Kūra had effectively become the default Kidō for critical moments within the Seireitei.
So no one would take it lightly, even if a lieutenant used Tentei Kūra.
Much less when the person releasing it now was Segawa Shigure. They'd take it even more seriously.
Even people like Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Kenpachi Zaraki, who usually paid little attention, waited silently.
Everyone stopped what they were doing.
After a moment, Shigure's voice transmitted through the spiritual pressure network—
"Captains and lieutenants, good afternoon. This is Fifth Division Captain, Segawa Shigure."
"I'm sure you find this message somewhat strange."
"However, please remain calm. Because what I'm about to say is extremely important, regarding—"
"The 'Wandenreich.'"
"Without exaggeration, these words concern everyone's lives going forward. Even the survival of the Seireitei and Soul Society itself."
"?!"
Hearing this, everyone's breath caught simultaneously.
It was... that important...?
They couldn't be unaware of what kind of person Shigure was.
Even two years ago, when Aizen fused with the Hōgyoku and led the Arrancar army in decisive battle against the Gotei—
He'd never shown such an attitude.
Much less said anything about "survival."
Because even that supposedly dimension-transcending Hōgyoku Aizen had no resistance whatsoever before Shigure's Bankai.
But this time, the enemies had only appeared briefly once.
Though they'd certainly shown many strange aspects and displayed considerable strength, no one expected even Segawa Shigure, the "new strongest," to say such things.
Everyone's expressions became extremely grave, tinged with confusion.
At that moment, Shigure's voice continued:
"I know everyone hearing this must wonder—"
"How can I make such a definitive judgment based only on the enemy's first appearance?"
"Then I'll speak plainly—"
"In fact, since I defeated and sealed Aizen two years ago, the enemy commander has already been... observing me for two full years."
"?!"
Shigure's calm words fell like thunder from a clear sky, instantly shocking everyone rigid.
Especially Rukia, Soi Fon, and several others—they were utterly horrified.
For two years, they'd frequently been in contact with Shigure. But they'd never noticed any abnormality!
Forget surveillance—they'd never even noticed... any watching gaze...
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