"What a farce."
"Everyone, don't you think this incident is riddled with suspicious points?"
Inside the Seireitei, the Captains of the Gotei 13, having just finished clearing the Ryoka from the Rukongai and tidying up their respective districts, were gathered together.
At this moment, they had already learned the news of Aizen Sosuke's murder.
However, Central 46 had made no statement regarding it. Instead, they issued orders afterward that were completely different from before.
"Don't forget that before Captain Aizen Sosuke of the 5th Division was murdered, Central 46's order was to advance Kuchiki Rukia's execution as much as possible."
"They even specifically ordered Kuchiki Rukia to be transferred to the custody of the 5th Division, where Aizen Sosuke was."
Adjusting the straw hat on his head, Kyoraku Shunsui, Captain of the 8th Division, spoke lazily:
"But now, they have suddenly ordered a postponement, and commanded us to search with all our might for the whereabouts of Aizen Sosuke, a dead man."
"Connecting this with the previous order to send us away to clear out the Ryoka, and combining it with the fact that Central 46 believes Aizen Sosuke feigned his death..."
"Don't you think this is like a play that has been postponed because the lead actor left without permission after the stage was already set?"
"I think so too, Teacher."
Ukitake Jushiro, the current Captain of the 13th Division and Kuchiki Rukia's direct superior, nodded, clearly agreeing with Kyoraku Shunsui's judgment.
He looked towards the dignified and resolute old man at the head of the crowd—the Captain-Commander, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni—and spoke:
"This matter reveals strangeness inside and out. I think we had best meet with the great personages of Central 46 in person to confirm their thoughts."
"I am afraid we still need to ask you, Teacher, to come forward for this."
"I do not understand the meaning of your words," Soi Fon, Captain of the 2nd Division, retorted expressionlessly.
Always executing orders as coldly as a machine, she never doubted the decisions from above, considering Ukitake Jushiro and Kyoraku Shunsui's actions to be superfluous:
"Since it is an order issued by Central 46, we only need to strictly follow it. Why bother the Captain-Commander?"
Moreover, isn't the postponement of the traitor Kuchiki Rukia's execution exactly what you people hoped for?
"Stop acting so hypocritical there!"
"It doesn't matter to me. I didn't meet any interesting guys when clearing out the Ryoka just now."
"How boring. If there's nothing else, I'm leaving first."
Zaraki Kenpachi, Captain of the 11th Division, spoke impatiently.
Originally, upon seeing Central 46 issue orders, he thought some strong individuals were attempting to break into the Seireitei, and he had intended to test their level.
As a result, after sweeping through the perimeter, it was all just small fry and rotten shrimp.
"Speaking of which, have Toshiro and Ichimaru Gin not arrived yet?"
"It really makes one worry about them."
Unohana Retsu, Captain of the 4th Division, smiled faintly.
This woman, who superficially appeared to only be skilled in Healing Kido and responsible for the logistics and medical relief of the Gotei 13, seemed to care quite a bit about the situation of the two absent Captain-class Soul Reapers.
She was also the only Captain-class Soul Reaper who had not been required to go out and clear the Ryoka.
"Silence."
The clamor of the Soul Reaper Captains came to an abrupt halt the moment Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni spoke.
This bald old man, who had guarded the Seireitei for a thousand years, raised his sharp gaze:
"Just as Soi Fon said, since it is the order of Central 46, we need only obey."
"Soi Fon, Tosen, Komamura. Go and capture the former Captain of the 5th Division, Aizen Sosuke, who feigned his death. Regardless of what plans he is making, he has already angered Central 46."
"Your orders received, Captain-Commander."
Soi Fon and Komamura Sajin bowed to indicate they received the order. Leaving Soi Fon aside, Komamura Sajin, with his wolf-like appearance, never doubted any decision made by Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.
What exactly is Aizen-sama planning?
This diverges too much from the original plan...
But Tosen Kaname was different. Being blind, he felt the unease in his heart reach its peak.
In the past, while following Aizen Sosuke, he had always felt incomparably at ease.
Because of Aizen's flawless stratagems and powerful strength, he firmly believed that the man could change this rotten Soul Society.
But now, a loophole had appeared in the plan. After Aizen feigned death and lost contact, Tosen didn't even know how he should act.
"Jushiro, Shunsui."
"I have pondered what you two just said, and it indeed holds reason."
"This old man will take you to meet the great personages of Central 46 to clarify the sequence of events—after capturing Aizen Sosuke."
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni turned to speak to Kyoraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jushiro.
Originally, seeing that his two disciples wanted to defy orders and obstruct the execution, he had been prepared to clean up his own house.
But now, it seemed this conflict could be avoided.
As the Captain-Commander of the 1st Division, the old man was not as cold and heartless as he appeared.
On issues that did not involve principles, he did not mind granting leniency to others.
Especially to his two proud disciples.
"Thank you for your understanding, Teacher."
"Since that is the case, before Central 46 issues new instructions, return to your respective posts."
"As for the situation regarding the absence of 3rd Division Captain Ichimaru Gin and 10th Division Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro... this old man will go to inspect it personally."
"After all, an uninvited guest has already arrived unannounced."
Having made the arrangements, the old man draped in a kyomurasaki haori looked toward the horizon.
Boundless Spiritual Pressure surged within his seemingly withered body; a thousand years of time had failed to smooth away that fighting spirit which blazed like the sun.
"Teacher (Captain-Commander)?"
Hearing these words from Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, the Captains present did not understand his meaning.
"?!"
"No, look quickly at the sky, that is..."
"A red moon?!"
But when they raised their heads to follow Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's line of sight...
Noticing the red moon that had manifested at the horizon unbeknownst to them, despite it clearly being noon, everyone's expression changed abruptly!
[Death and Evil link the Ring of Darkness; Life and Good toll the Bell of Doomsday.]
[I wield the scythe to harvest all creation; the prosperous realm shall return to the Void.]
A true Death God strolled forth from the night, an unknown ballad resounding in everyone's ears.
When that girl appeared—her figure seemingly petite, yet releasing a "Spiritual Pressure" not in the least weaker than Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's—almost all the Soul Reaper Captains held their breath!
The figures were not limited to just the girl.
Not long after she appeared, the Soul Reaper Captains saw two figures covered in cuts and bruises smashing down from mid-air.
Everyone was no stranger to these two figures; they were precisely Ichimaru Gin and Hitsugaya Toshiro!
Had Unohana Retsu not caught them in time with Bakudo, they would likely have suffered injury upon injury.
The former was alright, merely smiling bitterly, but the latter had passed out directly.
The most terrifying thing was that even the Zanpakuto at his waist, Hyorinmaru, had been snapped into several pieces!
But the crowd no longer had the mind to pay attention to these two Division Captains who had only arrived now.
Everyone's attention was focused on that petite white-haired girl. She was draped in a pitch-black cloak, looking just like the Grim Reaper from Western mythology.
Who was she?
A Soul Reaper? Or a Hollow?
Before anyone could think, in a split second, the Zanpakuto named Ryujin Jakka had already been unsheathed from the old man's walking stick!
Spiritual Pressure of extremely high density erupted from Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's body, forming an invisible barrier that resisted the terrifying aura pressing down from all directions, centered on the girl's petite form!
"Tripoka does not like trouble..."
Thus, the girl opened her third, blood-colored eye:
"But you are blocking Your Holiness's path."
____
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