Time flew quickly.
Two months had passed since Shimo returned to Seireitei. The situation in the Human World was now entirely handled by Urahara Kisuke, in whom Shimo had built deep trust over the years of cooperation.
That day, just like any other, Shimo prepared to head for the General Relief Ward to conduct routine inspections. As lieutenant, he couldn't afford to appear idle — though, of course, this had nothing to do with the fact that Shiba Kūkaku happened to be stationed there.
As soon as he slid open his door, he was greeted by Rokushima Yūsuke, striding toward him.
"Lieutenant Shimo!"
Yūsuke had recently returned from the Human World himself. Under his command, the Sixth and Seventh Relief Unit had managed to suppress several Hollow outbreaks across multiple cities, losing only one member in total.
Shimo raised an eyebrow, noticing the sealed envelope in his subordinate's hand.
"A letter from the Twelfth Division!" Yūsuke said excitedly.
Taking it, Shimo saw layers of Kidō seals and the special spirit-locking devices unique to the Department of Research and Development.
"Reiryoku recognition… auto-destruction upon breach," he read aloud, amused.
Then, with a faint smile: "Mayuri really does have too much time on his hands. If he wanted to talk, he could've just used Tenteikūra instead of showing off his toys."
He knew Mayuri well — every "invention" was just another excuse to demonstrate his genius.
Pouring a small amount of spiritual energyinto the envelope, Shimo activated it. A thin sheet of white paper floated out, marked by a single line:
"Report to the Twelfth Division immediately."
Shimo frowned slightly. "What's he plotting this time?"
He turned to Yūsuke. "You'll handle the patrols at the Relief Ward today."
"Yes, Lieutenant!"
The next instant, Shimo vanished in a flash step, leaving only a brief ripple of reiatsu behind.
Though Mayuri was eccentric, Shimo respected him. He'd never once called Shimo over for something trivial. If he was asking now, it was for a reason.
---
At the Twelfth Division's Research Bureau, the flickering light from the spiritual energy monitors reflected in Mayuri's golden eyes.
"Shimo-kun," he hissed, his grin sharp. "Your assigned Human World territory — Karakura Town — seems to have run into another… problem."
As his words ended, Shimo appeared silently beside the monitor.
The map on the screen displayed the area of Karakura Town, its glow shifting from white to bright red — the alarm state. Below, the actual alarm device had already been smashed to pieces, likely by Mayuri himself.
"You called me here for this nonsense?" Shimo's tone was calm, almost bored.
The schedule he and Urahara had set for the Human World had not deviated.
Mayuri, slightly startled, tapped the console repeatedly. "According to the sensor logs, a Menos Grande — at least Gillian-class — has appeared again in Karakura Town!"
"And?" Shimo spread his hands. "Do you expect me to rush down there and exterminate it myself? That's Thirteenth Division work. Don't forget — I'm no longer assigned to the Human World."
His tone carried quiet indifference. "If it concerns Hollows, contact Shiba Kaien, the Thirteenth's lieutenant."
Mayuri's expression twisted, frustration flickering in his sharp eyes. But before he could respond, the red zone on the monitor suddenly turned white again.
"What?!"
His abnormal senses caught something strange.
"Report!" he barked.
A nearby technician blurted out, "The Hollow's reiatsu just vanished! It was eliminated — by a Shinigami signature! But… there aren't any lieutenants or seated officers currently stationed in the Human World!"
Mayuri froze. Then his grin returned, crooked and unnerving.
Shimo, watching the screen, smirked faintly. As expected, this wasn't random.
And it wasn't Urahara's doing either.
This was clearly the result of Ichigo Kurosaki and Uryū Ishida's first true battle together.
"Seems Uryū Ishida's personality hasn't changed much," Shimo thought quietly.
Mayuri's laugh echoed, sharp and unpleasant. "Heheheh… I think this incident deserves a deeper look."
Shimo shrugged. "Do as you please. Just remember — I'm only the Fourth Division's lieutenant now. It's not my concern. Report to Kaien or the Captain-Commander if you want. Oh, and your research report was excellent, by the way. Let's collaborate again soon."
Before Mayuri could respond, Shimo was gone.
The scientist's grin twisted into a snarl. "He's insufferable!"
Still, he turned back to his console. The Research Bureau began a formal investigation of the anomaly.
---
That night, Seireitei was blanketed in clouds. The moon's light was swallowed by darkness, cold wind whispering through the streets.
Patrolling guards in the inner court marched silently, their faces expressionless.
Through the mist, a black-cloaked figure walked calmly toward the inner sanctum. None of the guards reacted — as if blind to his presence — and the figure passed through them unhindered.
Beneath the cloak, Aizen Sōsuke strode confidently, his every step defying the laws he once swore to uphold.
His destination: the Central 46 Chambers, the underground council that ruled all of Soul Society.
Forty wise men and six judges presided there, passing judgment on all matters of law.
To Aizen, their seals and barriers were meaningless. He stepped through them effortlessly and entered the chamber.
The arrogant councilors looked down upon him from their elevated seats.
"Who are you? How dare you intrude upon this sacred chamber?"
"Captain of the Fifth Division — Aizen Sōsuke?! Do you intend to defy the will of the Central 46?!"
"Disrespect the council, and you will find yourself in Muken, the Eternal Hell!"
Though they shouted, their voices trembled faintly. They still believed themselves untouchable — the supreme rulers of Seireitei.
But soon, they noticed something strange.
No guards had responded. No footsteps echoed in the halls.
The temperature dropped sharply. Realization dawned too late.
They were alone.
"Aizen," one judge barked, "leave now before we condemn you to eternal imprisonment!"
Aizen looked up, his eyes calm and smiling.
"The last screams of insects… are always so loud."
A flash of light.
Steel sang. Blood splashed across the chamber walls, warm and dark.
One of the judges collapsed wordlessly.
"Guards! Guards!"
"You dare kill Judge Mikawa?! Aizen, this is treason!"
"Where are the guards?! Why aren't they coming?!"
Panic filled the chamber. The sages and judges, who had ruled for centuries, now trembled before the inevitability of death.
For the first time, they felt fear.
Aizen drew his Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu, the blade gleaming cold and pale.
Their desperate Kidō spells fizzled harmlessly in the air. The power gap was too vast — their attacks meaningless.
Reflected in the mirrored surface of Aizen's sword were faces twisted by terror.
He spoke softly:
"Explaining to insects is a waste of breath… especially ones whose minds have long since rotted."
Kyōka Suigetsu shimmered.
Screams, curses, and pleas filled the air — then fell silent.
When it was over, only the sound of measured footsteps echoed through the blood-stained hall.
Aizen looked upon his work, smiling faintly.
"A quiet council chamber… now that," he murmured, "is the kind of order I prefer."
---
Meanwhile, in the Fourth Division barracks, Shimo finished his evening meditation, his Zanpakutō resting across his knees.
He was just standing when a frantic knocking sounded at his door.
"Shimo!"
The voice belonged to Shiba Kaien.
"What's he doing here so late?"
Sliding the door open, Shimo found Kaien's face pale and tense.
"Karakura Town — something's wrong!" Kaien's voice was urgent, his breathing heavy from rushing at full speed.
Shimo frowned. "What happened?"
Kaien took a breath. "You remember Hinamori Momo, the Fifth Division's lieutenant?"
Shimo nodded slowly, his expression tightening slightly. "You mean… she's been found?"
Kaien nodded. "According to the Twelfth Division's data, she was detected in Karakura Town!"
Though Shimo feigned mild shock, inwardly he felt no surprise at all.
Had he not been connected to the Hollow suppression operation himself, Kaien would have reported directly to Head-Captain Yamamoto.
"So what do you think we should do?" Kaien asked.
"Report it truthfully," Shimo replied without hesitation. "A missing lieutenant resurfacing in the Human World — that's no small matter."
Kaien hesitated, then nodded firmly. "Understood."
...
By morning, the news had spread through Seireitei.
After confirmation from the Twelfth Division's investigation, Hinamori Momo was indeed alive in the Human World.
It should have been cause for celebration.
But fortune and misfortune are two sides of the same coin.
Hinamori had allegedly shared her spiritual energy with a Human — a grave violation of Soul Society law.
The revelation shook the Gotei 13.
In the Tenth Division, icy spiritual pressure radiated from the captain's office; even ordinary squad members couldn't approach.
In the Third Division, Lieutenant Kira Izuru rushed to confirm the news with Ichimaru Gin, trembling with disbelief.
And in the Fifth Division, an oppressive silence hung over every corridor.
---
At the Fourth Division headquarters, both Unohana and Shimo stood before a messenger draped head to toe in ceremonial bindings — the seal-bearer of the Central 46's secret orders.
The Central 46, arbiters of Soul Society's law, had spoken.
"Captain Unohana, Lieutenant Kyōraku Shimo," the messenger intoned. "This is an official sealed directive from the Central 46 Chambers. Please review it immediately."
He handed over the scroll and withdrew without a word.
Shimo broke the seal without hesitation. After scanning its contents, he looked toward Unohana — just as she quietly asked,
"This concerns the Fifth Division's lieutenant, doesn't it?"
---------------------------///
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