The reason why the Reiatsu of many captains and vice-captains suddenly vanished was not because they had died.
Rather, it was because they had become the products of an illegal experiment.
Someone had used them as experimental subjects for forced Hollowfication, causing their souls to undergo abnormal transformation. As a result, the Reiatsu that once clearly belonged to Shinigami was twisted into something unstable, violent, and no longer purely Shinigami in nature.
This conclusion was formally proposed by Urahara Kisuke, Captain of the Twelfth Division.
According to his investigation, these Shinigami had not been killed instead, they had been forcibly turned into Hollowfied beings, neither fully Shinigami nor true Hollows.
Urahara Kisuke and Tsukabishi Tessai, Commander of the Kidō Corps, had personally intervened and rescued the captains and vice-captains who had lost control during the transformation.
And according to Urahara
The mastermind behind everything was Aizen Sōsuke, Vice-Captain of the Fifth Division.
When Urahara and Tessai arrived at the scene, they witnessed Aizen preparing to strike down his own captain. Acting decisively, they intervened and stopped him.
For the sake of Soul Society's stability, Urahara formally proposed that Aizen Sōsuke be arrested immediately and subjected to interrogation.
As Commander-General of the Gotei Thirteen, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was inclined to believe Urahara Kisuke and Tessai Tsukabishi.
After all, one was the Captain of the Twelfth Division and founder of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, while the other was the highest authority of the Kidō Corps.
Both were individuals of unquestionable standing.
However
Once the matter was submitted to Central 46, the verdict took a completely different turn.
Central 46 announced that they had conducted their own investigation.
According to their findings, Aizen Sōsuke had remained within the Fifth Division barracks during the entire period, never leaving his post. Numerous members of the Fifth Division testified to this fact.
In contrast
Urahara Kisuke and Tessai Tsukabishi had been secretly conducting forbidden research together for a long time, and their movements had long aroused suspicion.
Thus, after a so-called "unanimous deliberation," Central 46 reached a shocking conclusion:
Urahara Kisuke was the true culprit behind the Hollowfication incident.
Tsukabishi Tessai was his accomplice.
Not only did Central 46 reject the proposal to arrest Aizen,
They ordered the immediate detention of Urahara Kisuke and Tessai Tsukabishi, pending trial.
At this stage, the trial itself was no longer the most pressing issue.
The most urgent matter before Central 46 was how to deal with the Hollowfied captains and vice-captains.
A heated debate followed.
Some members argued that these individuals were elite Shinigami and pillars of Soul Society executing them would be an irreparable loss, and treatment should be attempted.
Others countered that Hollowfication was inherently unstable, and if even one lost control, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Moreover, it was evident that these Hollowfied Shinigami were being influenced by an unknown external power, making their condition even more dangerous.
In the end
Central 46 reached a unanimous decision.
All Hollowfied captains and vice-captains were to be executed and purified.
Eleventh Division Barracks
Gosuke Shigure met Shihōin Yoruichi in secret.
"Teacher," Yoruichi said solemnly.
Gosuke Shigure already knew her purpose.
"You're here because of Kisuke," he said calmly.
Yoruichi nodded. "Yes. I believe him. Kisuke may be unconventional, but he would never use captains and vice-captains as experimental subjects."
"But Central 46 has already passed judgment," she continued.
"I want you to help me collect evidence and expose Aizen Sōsuke's true nature."
Her resolve was unwavering.
Gosuke Shigure's gaze darkened slightly. "Did Kisuke see you before he was detained?"
"Yes."
Yoruichi relayed everything Urahara Kisuke had told her during their brief meeting.
After listening carefully, Gosuke Shigure spoke in a low voice:
"According to Kisuke, Aizen is the mastermind behind all of this."
"But have you considered something important?"
"What?"
"If Aizen truly wanted to avoid suspicion, he would never have appeared before Kisuke and Tessai at all."
"Yet he deliberately exposed himself."
"Combined with Central 46's absolute certainty that Aizen is innocent, this means only one thing."
"Aizen is confident—confident that no matter what evidence you gather, it will be useless."
Yoruichi's expression slowly darkened.
"Then should we just let Kisuke be condemned?" she demanded.
"This world is far more complicated than you think," Gosuke Shigure replied quietly.
"Leaving aside the Quincy who once built a massive shadow realm beneath Seireitei,those enemies haven't disappeared."
"And now there's Aizen."
"Even if you save Kisuke this time, if Aizen is not dealt with properly, he will simply plan something worse."
Yoruichi fell silent.
After a long moment, she asked, "Then… what should I do?"
"That depends," Gosuke Shigure said. "How far are you willing to go to save him?"
"I can offer help but the choice is yours."
Yoruichi clenched her fists.
As the head of the Shihōin Clan, she understood Central 46's authority better than anyone.
She also knew what would happen next.
After executing the Hollowfied captains and vice-captains
Urahara Kisuke would be next.
She would not allow that.
That Night — Central 46 Compound
Within the Senzaikyū (Repentance Cell), Urahara Kisuke and Tessai Tsukabishi were being held.
Suddenly
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Before the guards could react, shadows moved.
The Shinigami guarding the Senzaikyū collapsed instantly.
The massive gate was forced open.
Urahara and Tessai stared in shock at the figure who entered.
"Yoruichi…?"
"Kisuke," Yoruichi said urgently. "There's no time. Central 46 has decided to execute the Hollowfied captains immediately."
Urahara Kisuke's expression changed completely.
The night had crossed the point of no return.
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