For a time, Seireitei fell into chaos.
A Lieutenant had fallen. A captain had fallen. Two captains were gravely injured.
It didn't compare to an attack by a Hollow King, but even in Soul Society's history, such an event was rare.
A war-scale catastrophe—like an invasion by Quincy or a Hollow King—was among the most terrifying threats recorded.
And now, beyond that highest level of terror, a new major incident had appeared:
captains being defeated.
They had assumed the disaster was merely a human—
—but now it seemed that human was only a pawn pushed to the surface.
The true invasion came from three other factions.
The Gotei Thirteen reacted quickly and mobilized.
Yoshio was still stationed in the Human World, so only nine captains could assemble.
"The Thirteenth Division captain Hitsugaya Tōshirō and the Seventh Division captain Komamura are severely injured and have been transferred to the Fourth Division for treatment," Yamamoto said in a low voice. "This time, only a few captains are present for the meeting."
Mayuri had been beaten badly, but the Research and Development Institute had spare bodies. His consciousness had long been stored there—if a body failed, he could transfer into a backup.
That was why he could still attend.
Yamamoto looked at Mayuri. "Captain Kurotsuchi, among the captains present, only you and Captain Kuchiki have personally fought the Ryoka. Now that the invading human has been killed, speak. What can you tell us about that false information?"
"There is nothing to say," Mayuri said dully, standing in place. "Angra Manyu was the one who first discovered the imaginary body. If anything was abnormal… it was only that, compared to other Hollows, he was slightly too intelligent."
"Is that all?"
"That is all."
"Hey—didn't I tell you not to lose in two hits?" Zaraki Kenpachi complained, displeased. "You dragged the fight out, and this is all you learned?"
"If you're so curious, why don't you go investigate yourself?" Mayuri replied coldly, clearly not interested in arguing. "That is all."
"Tch. You guys scared?" Kenpachi yawned. He liked mocking this weird man and that noble brat, but Mayuri's reaction bored him.
"Enough. Let's talk about the situation," Aizen Sōsuke said quietly.
"Judging from the battle traces, Captain Hitsugaya was likely fighting one person when he was taken down by another."
"And Captain Komamura was burned by flames. The prison where Rukia was held was also burned."
"As for the number of attackers: aside from the human killed by Captain Kuchiki, there should have been four more. Including the now-missing Rukia, that makes five."
"Based on the power they displayed, at least three of them likely exceed the strength of an ordinary captain."
"Aizen is right," Kyōraku Shunsui said seriously, abandoning his usual carefree tone. "Especially regarding Rukia—we still can't be sure of the relationship between her and the enemy."
"From Captain Kurotsuchi's words, the group that encountered Captain Kuchiki was trying to rescue Rukia. So if we assume the others shared the same goal… now that Rukia has been taken, has the Ryoka disaster ended?"
"If Rukia went with them, are we not just making a fuss for nothing?"
"I don't think both sides were one group," Ichimaru Gin said with a smile.
"After all, Captain Hitsugaya's location was far from the Repentance Cell. If the enemy only wanted to rescue Rukia, there was no need to attack Captain Hitsugaya."
"Even if they wanted to draw attention, it wouldn't make sense. They didn't follow up with any movement."
"Captain Hitsugaya was originally stationed in the Human World," Aizen said. "Perhaps he and Captain Yoshio discovered something there, and he returned suddenly to report it."
"That's possible," Unohana Retsu said, "but given Captain Hitsugaya's severe injuries, it will be difficult for him to awaken within five days."
"Even so, we can't do nothing," Yamamoto said in a low voice. "Frontline reports indicate the human body has already been taken by his companions. If their objective was achieved, it's very likely they have already left Seireitei."
"Therefore, we cannot restrict our search to Seireitei alone. We cannot abandon Rukongai and the outer regions."
"And ask Yoshio Kamado—who is still in Karakura Town—whether anything happened in the Human World that forced Captain Hitsugaya to return to Seireitei."
The captains nodded. One after another, they left the meeting room to prepare search operations.
…
"Shinigami."
Angra slowly appeared on an island in the middle of a lake, facing Ukitake Jūshirō.
He spoke lightly. "What is your purpose?"
Ukitake couldn't help turning around. "You're Angra Manyu. I heard Urahara talk about you."
"…Have you seen Urahara Kisuke?" Angra asked.
"If we go to the Human World this time, we'll meet," Ukitake said quietly. "Urahara told me some things, but I'm still skeptical of his words."
"But… this time his goal is the same as mine. He wants to save Rukia. That's why I can help them."
Not long after Ukitake arrived in the Human World, he noticed Ichigo—because he looked far too much like Shiba Kaien.
He learned that Ichigo had gone to the Black Cat Bookstore, investigated, and discovered Urahara Kisuke there.
Urahara Kisuke was a wanted criminal in Soul Society—
—but this time they shared the same goal:
Save Rukia.
So this time, Ukitake could cooperate with Urahara.
He didn't fully trust Urahara's words, but…
He chose to believe Kurosaki Ichigo.
To believe Shiba Kaien.
Ichigo and Kaien really were too similar.
Ukitake believed Ichigo, like Kaien, was gentle—and worthy of trust.