That guy... did he escape?
Sajin Komamura covered the wound on his left shoulder with his right hand and thought to himself.
For a mere Vice-Captain… to possess strength rivaling a Captain—it's truly astonishing.
Crack—
"What?! Could it be—"
Komamura suddenly realized that a five-inch fracture had split across his bronze mask. It was clearly left by Fūjin Taichi's blade.
"No… It seems he withdrew on his own accord. But why?"
Stepping out of the Senzaikyū onto the floating bridge, Komamura gazed down over the entire Seireitei and murmured:
"Perhaps there truly is a hidden secret behind all of this…"
"Captain!"
His thoughts were interrupted by a distant shout. Tetsuzaemon Iba came running frantically.
"Report! Latest update—Fūjin Taichi just broke into First Division's Sword Disposal Room and seized two Zanpakutō—"
"So fast…" Komamura muttered, then asked, "Whose blades?"
"One belongs to Saitō Tsukuyomi—Unicorn. The other belongs to Saitō Keichirō—Yamata no Orochi.
But according to eyewitness Okikiba Genshirō, Taichi wasn't satisfied after taking the two blades. He turned the entire room upside down… as if searching for a third Zanpakutō!"
"A third…?" Komamura's eyes narrowed. "Could it be Aizen's?"
"Captain Aizen?" Iba smacked his forehead in realization. "But after Captain Aizen's unfortunate death, his body and Zanpakutō were already taken away by Fūjin Taichi!"
"I see…"
Komamura exhaled slowly.
"Iba, withdraw the Seven Division members guarding the Senzaikyū."
"Huh? Why?"
"The criminals Saitō Tsukuyomi and Saitō Keichirō have already been rescued by Fūjin Taichi. There's no point in keeping our men there."
"…Understood! I'll notify Captain Tōsen to rotate the guard— Huh? Captain… you're injured!"
Noticing the wound on Komamura's shoulder, Iba gasped.
"Was it inflicted by Vice-Captain Fūjin as well?!"
"Don't make a fuss, Iba," Komamura said with a faint smile.
"That man… is someone the Captain-Commander holds in high regard. We cannot underestimate him."
"Yes, sir!"
Iba nodded firmly, recalling what had happened not long ago—
Fūjin Taichi had single-handedly defeated five Vice-Captains, including himself… even subduing Bankai-wielding Ikkaku Madarame with ease.
"In any case, I will report all of this truthfully to the Captain-Commander. Iba—come with me to the First Division. We will request an emergency Captains' meeting!"
"Yes, Captain!"
...
Outside the infirmary beside Fourth Division's barracks, Retsu Unohana knelt silently beneath the eaves. Her hands were folded within her sleeves, her expression unreadable.
"That concludes everything regarding Captain Aizen's 'faked death' plan. If Captain Unohana does not believe me, you may personally verify it at Seijōtōkyorin on Sōkyoku Hill."
After laying out the entire conspiracy, Fūjin Taichi calmly lifted his cup of jasmine tea and took a small sip.
"At first… I did suspect you of ulterior motives," Unohana said softly, her eyes lowered to the tatami where Kasumioji Hoko lay like a living corpse.
"But now, I am certain you are not the one who killed Captain Aizen and Vice-Captain Kasumioji.
However… you claim that the mastermind behind all this is a Captain Aizen who has already 'died.' I fear many will find that difficult to believe."
"Whether they believe me or not doesn't matter," Taichi replied, setting down his teacup.
"It is enough that Captain Unohana believes."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Because… as far as I know, in all of Seireitei, the only ones capable of suppressing Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu are the Captain-Commander and you."
Unohana covered her mouth and chuckled lightly.
"Vice-Captain Fūjin flatters me. How could the captain of a mere medical division compare to Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto?"
Taichi remained silent.
He knew well of Unohana's hidden depths. Until he fully understood her true intentions, it was better not to respond rashly.
"Vice-Captain Fūjin, Vice-Captain Kasumioji may remain in Fourth Division for recovery for now. Once you retrieve her Zanpakutō, I will attempt to awaken her.
As for Captain Aizen's 'faked death'… I too find it suspicious. But without concrete proof, I'm afraid I cannot assist you."
Unohana's tone remained calm and composed.
"Mm… As long as Captain Unohana doesn't step in to stop me, I still have a chance to drag Aizen out into the open!"
Fūjin Taichi stood up and said to Retsu Unohana:
"I'll leave Hoko in your care, Captain Unohana. Thank you for your trust."
"…,"
Unohana gave a slight nod and watched as Taichi leapt into a strange cross-shaped spatial rift and disappeared.
"Captain… can Vice-Captain Fūjin's words be trusted?" Isane Kotetsu hurriedly asked after he was gone.
"Not trustworthy… but not entirely false either."
After saying that, Unohana summoned two Fourth Division medics to carry the "sleeping-cursed" Kasumioji Hoko to the infirmary ward, then rose and stepped outside.
"Captain, where are you going?"
"To Seijōtōkyorin."
She paused slightly, then looked back at Isane.
"Isane, tomorrow morning, accompany me to Central 46."
"Yes, Captain!"
...
Meanwhile, inside the Tenth Division captain's office—
"What?! Transferring Tenth Division Third Seat Tōshirō to become Captain of the Fifth Division? Th-that's way too sudden!!"
Kaien Shiba exclaimed in shock.
"That's right!" Rangiku Matsumoto crossed her arms indignantly. "When it comes to becoming a captain, promotions should at least follow seniority! What's the meaning of skipping over me and promoting Tōshirō instead?!"
"Matsumoto, you can say that after you've mastered Bankai."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya set down a thick stack of documents on the desk and shrugged.
"Captain Kaien, I've finished handling all the backlog from last week and this week.
If there's nothing else, I'll head out. The First Division is waiting for me to officially assume the position of Fifth Division Captain… It's pretty boring, but at least it passes the time."
"Ugh, hearing you say that just makes me mad!"
Rangiku grabbed Hitsugaya and pulled him against her chest, huffing angrily.
"And if you leave, won't all your work fall onto me?!"
"Y-you idiot!"
Hitsugaya struggled free, face flushed red.
"Those duties were originally yours and Captain Kaien's responsibility to begin with!"
"Alright, alright. I always knew Tōshirō would become a captain sooner or later," Kaien said, smoothing things over.
"It's just… the division he's taking over makes me uneasy."
Then he lifted Hitsugaya up with both hands.
"Of course, I'm sure the successor captain I personally trained—Tōshirō—will thrive like a fish in water once he reaches the Fifth Division!"
"Captain Kaien… you've really got some nerve saying that," Hitsugaya sighed helplessly, inwardly grumbling:
I can't even imagine what kind of mess the Tenth Division will turn into after I leave…
Just then, a black Hell Butterfly fluttered into the office.
Rangiku quickly raised her finger to receive it, and the voice of First Division Communications Officer Ichirō Suikaze rang out:
"Notification: All Captains and Vice-Captains are to attend an emergency Captains' meeting tomorrow. Attendance is mandatory.
Repeating: All Captains and Vice-Captains are to attend an emergency Captains' meeting tomorrow. Attendance is mandatory!"
...
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