"The Hōgyoku… actually fused with someone else's soul?!" Kisuke Urahara's voice rang out in disbelief, his fan slipping slightly from his hand.
On the monitor, Yoruichi Shihōin sighed and scratched her head, sounding both annoyed and resigned. "That's what that kid Amamiya said. He promised he'd check it for you the next time he comes back to the Human World. But… he set one condition."
"What condition?" Kisuke's eyes narrowed, his tone turning grave.
"If Captain-Commander Yamamoto asks about the Hōgyoku, I need you to cover for me," Yoruichi replied in verbatim. "Just say I already handed it over to you."
"…I see. I understand." Kisuke closed his eyes for a moment, then gave a small nod. "If that's the case, I'll agree. I only hope Amamiya-kun can come to the Human World soon."
If Amamiya Miyako dared to say something like that, it meant there was a real possibility the Hōgyoku had already fused with him. Right now, aside from himself and Yoruichi, no one knew of the artifact's whereabouts. That secrecy would buy them time, and more importantly, keep the situation manageable.
For now, whether the Hōgyoku truly resided inside Amamiya or not, keeping its trail linked to Soul Society was the safest option.
But Urahara wasn't at ease. Yoruichi had already told him—Aizen had discovered the process for creating the Hōgyoku on his own. He was firmly entrenched in Hueco Mundo, building his own power. Even if this Hōgyoku slipped from his grasp, Aizen would eventually craft a complete one himself.
"Time… At least our plan worked. We've bought a little more time. The only real threat left hanging over us… is Inoue-san's ability." Kisuke frowned slightly, the thought gnawing at him.
...
Meanwhile, back in the Thirteenth Division barracks, Amamiya Miyako had just returned when Captain Ukitake called him aside.
"Miyako-kun, perfect timing," Ukitake said, his expression unusually serious. "There's an important matter I need you to accompany me on."
"Captain Ukitake? What's going on?" Miyako asked, tilting his head, clearly puzzled.
"It's about Aizen's true objective," Ukitake said, his tone heavy. "Creating the Hōgyoku was only one step. To surpass the limits of a Shinigami… there has to be something far greater he's after."
He paused, then looked firmly at Miyako. "That's why we need to head to the Great Spirit Library in the Central 46 underground compound. If Aizen searched for records, there might still be traces."
"…I understand. Let's go, Captain." Miyako straightened, sensing the gravity of the matter. He followed immediately.
Central 46 had been annihilated not long ago, and no new council had yet been chosen. That meant the once-restricted underground archive could be accessed—provided Captain-Commander Yamamoto gave approval. Which he had.
...
"Found it." Ukitake's voice carried across the dim corridor. He studied a stack of records documenting past inquiries about the Hōgyoku and related research. Using these files as the central clue, he searched for activity in the logs—but found nothing.
"Tch… nothing. Did Aizen really not leave behind any traces here…?" Ukitake frowned, his expression dark.
"Captain Ukitake," Miyako spoke up suddenly, "I think I've found another inquiry record."
"Really? Miyako-kun, where?" Ukitake asked quickly, eyes lighting up with urgency.
"I used the execution date as the starting point and checked backward. Luckily, the record showed up almost immediately." Miyako held out the file, calm but focused. He already understood Aizen's intentions, which made his search far more direct.
Ukitake's hands trembled slightly as he took the document. His face paled as he read the inquiry logs Aizen had left behind.
"…It's true. He was after this all along…" Ukitake muttered. He had suspected it before. During their last confrontation, Aizen had looked him straight in the eyes and whispered a single word: "God."
And in Soul Society, there was only one being that word could ever mean—the Soul King.
"…Ōken," Miyako said softly.
"Yes… the Ōken," Ukitake answered grimly. "Aizen was researching the method to create the Ōken…"
He turned to Miyako, his tone heavy with warning. "Miyako-kun, you've only just taken on the role of Vice-Captain, so you may not know the details. The Soul King is the supreme being who maintains Soul Society. The Ōken is the key to open the pathway to the Soul King's Palace. Aizen hasn't discovered its location yet, but he did uncover how to create one…"
Miyako's brows furrowed. "Captain Ukitake… the method to create an Ōken…"
Ukitake exhaled slowly, the weight of the truth pressing on him. "Yes… it isn't simple. To forge an Ōken requires one hundred thousand human souls… and a heavy spiritual ground spanning one spirit mile. And right now, the only place that qualifies as heavy spiritual ground is…"
"…Karakura Town," Miyako finished grimly.
Ukitake nodded. "Exactly. Our Thirteenth Division has always kept a close watch on heavy spiritual grounds. The seated officers we dispatch are always among our best. But if Aizen has already set his sights on Karakura… then our division alone will no longer be enough."
His expression hardened. "Let's go, Miyako. We need to report this directly to the Captain-Commander."
Miyako shook his head. "Not just yet, Captain. There's one more thing I have to ask." He stopped in his tracks, his gaze steady. Inside the Great Spirit Library Corridor, perhaps it was finally time to speak the truth.
Ukitake frowned. "What is it? Couldn't this wait until after?"
"It's about Kurosaki Ichigo," Miyako said firmly. "If I'm not mistaken… once Ichigo leaves Soul Society, he'll be officially appointed as a Substitute Soul Reaper, right?"
"…Yes," Ukitake admitted after a pause, his face clouded with a complicated expression. "If nothing unexpected occurs, that is the path that awaits him."
Miyako's tone sharpened. "But Captain… you know the rules regarding Substitute Soul Reapers, don't you?"
Ukitake lowered his gaze. "…If a Substitute Soul Reaper is suspected of betraying Soul Society, they are to be eliminated without hesitation. That regulation was enforced by Central 46… after Ginjō Kūgo's betrayal." Even now, Ukitake's eyes held pain. He had never truly understood why Ginjō had turned against them.
"Captain Ukitake," Miyako pressed, "don't you think Ginjō Kūgo's so-called betrayal was… suspicious?"
Ukitake's eyes widened slightly. "Miyako… you mean to say… there was someone orchestrating things from the shadows?"
Miyako nodded faintly. "The Great Spirit Library Corridor isn't under strict restriction right now. And as the division that created the Substitute Soul Reaper system in the first place, our Thirteenth Division could use the data here to… refine it. If we quietly adjust the system to prevent abuse, no one would object, would they?" A small smile touched his lips.
Ukitake stood in silence, lost in thought. Though he was a man of order, he was not blindly obedient. Some regulations of the Soul Society had always sat uneasily with him. If Miyako hadn't raised the issue, Ichigo's fate could easily mirror that of Ginjō Kūgo.
Neither of them could say for certain whether Ichigo would ever betray Soul Society. But if the system itself was designed as a trap… then Ichigo would be condemned regardless of his will.
"I see…" Ukitake finally said, his voice quiet but firm. "To protect the Substitute Soul Reaper system… and to prevent another tragedy, we must investigate Ginjō Kūgo's case more thoroughly. Only then can we avoid repeating history."
Miyako inclined his head. "Exactly. Ichigo deserves better than to be punished for a crime he hasn't committed."
Together, the two delved deeper into the records of past incidents involving the Substitute Soul Reaper system, hoping to uncover the truth. If they could at least bring clarity to Ginjō's case, perhaps they could prevent Kurosaki Ichigo from sharing the same fate.
Finally, Ukitake froze, his hand tightening around a document. His face turned pale.
"This… this can't be… So Ginjō's betrayal was actually…"