"Captain Ichimaru!"
A sudden shout interrupted Gin Ichimaru's thoughts. He slightly turned and looked at Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who had just stepped out of the assembly hall.
"Oh? The newly appointed Fifth Division Captain… What instructions do you have for me at this moment?" Gin asked with a smiling expression.
"Hmph. You're the one pulling the strings, aren't you?" Hitsugaya said coldly. "The way you pressed Captain Kaien just now—what exactly are you plotting?"
"What are you talking about, Captain of the Fifth Division?" Gin shook his head with a sigh. "I've always stood on Seireitei's side. Don't make the same mistake as the Tenth Division captain."
"Stop pretending!" Hitsugaya snapped. "You already knew Captain Kaien had noticed your scheme. That's why you framed him at this captains' meeting, didn't you?!"
"Absurd. If you truly suspect I'm behind this, then investigate it yourself. I have matters to attend to—good day."
Seeing the other captains filing out of the hall, Gin had no intention of lingering. He turned and quickly disappeared from view.
"That guy…" Hitsugaya muttered irritably as he watched Gin leave.
"Don't worry too much, Hitsugaya," Jūshirō Ukitake said gently as he stepped forward. "Kaien is a fortunate man. He'll be fine.
Our priority now is to find Fūjin Taichi and the Ryoka, bring them back, and question them before making any decisions."
"But Captain Kaien already had the Tenth Division search all of Seireitei, and there's still no sign of Fūjin Taichi! And… the invading Ryoka have vanished as if into thin air!"
Frowning like a little old man, Hitsugaya pondered aloud, "There are only two places left that haven't been searched. They might be hiding there."
"Oh? Which two places?" Shunsui Kyōraku asked, leaning in.
"First—the completely restricted zone that no one may enter under any circumstances: the Seijōtōkyorin. That's where the highest authority of Soul Society, Central 46, resides.
Second—the Human World. Whether the Ryoka or Fūjin Taichi, they seemed to have come to rescue the criminal Saitō Tsukuyomi.
Now that she's been freed, they might use Fūjin Taichi's Zanpakutō ability to escape to the Human World… If that's the case, it would be troublesome," Hitsugaya analyzed calmly.
"Well, well… as expected of the 'once-in-a-century prodigy of Soul Society.' You've just taken office and already display such sharp insight. Makes us old folks ashamed," Kyōraku exclaimed theatrically.
"…Shunsui, let's go to the Seijōtōkyorin and take a look," Ukitake said hesitantly. "I've had a bad feeling about that place lately."
"The Seijōtōkyorin, huh… Even captains would face severe punishment for entering recklessly," Kyōraku replied lazily.
"No need to worry about that, Captain Kyōraku," Retsu Unohana said with a gentle smile as she approached. "Yachiru and I had already planned last night to take a look there."
"Ah… that's even better, Captain Unohana!" Kyōraku said in relief. Then he turned his head and called out, "Hey, Captain Kurotsuchi, interested in investigating the Ryoka's whereabouts together?"
"No. Not interested at all," Mayuri Kurotsuchi replied coldly, rejecting the proposal before walking away from the First Division headquarters.
"Hah… what a cold-hearted fellow," Kyōraku sighed. "If we're heading to the Human World, just the few of us might not be enough."
"They… are probably not in the Human World."
Sajin Komamura, the last to exit the hall, spoke up after hearing Kyōraku's complaint.
"What?"
"Fūjin Taichi… seems to be searching for a Zanpakutō. Until he finds it, he likely won't flee to the Human World," Komamura said thoughtfully.
"A Zanpakutō? Which one?" Hitsugaya Tōshirō asked.
"I'm not sure…" Komamura shook his head slightly, then turned to Byakuya Kuchiki beside him. "Captain Kuchiki, please don't be overly harsh on your sister Rukia and Vice-Captain Abarai."
"Captain Komamura, I must disagree," Kuchiki said indifferently as he descended the steps. "Whether noble or commoner, anyone who commits a crime must be punished.
That is the eternal law of Soul Society—and the very foundation upon which the Kuchiki stand as the foremost of the Four Great Noble Houses."
"That's exactly why I dislike dealing with nobles," Kyōraku muttered as he left with Ukitake. "Always giving long-winded lectures."
"Then we'll leave Central 46 in your hands, Captain Unohana," Komamura said with a slight nod.
"No need to be so polite, Captain Komamura," Unohana replied with a warm smile. "I merely happen to have a few questions for the sages of Central 46 myself."
"I understand…," Sajin Komamura nodded, then descended the steps and headed back toward the Seventh Division barracks.
If… the truth is really as Fūjin Taichi claimed, then what am I supposed to do with you, Captain Aizen?
Retsu Unohana let out a faint sigh. She turned and went to the Second Auxiliary Room to find Kotetsu Isane, then made her way toward the Seijōtōkyorin beneath Sōkyoku Hill.
...
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Hundreds of Stealth Force members, clad in black from head to toe with masks obscuring their faces, appeared in the open square before the Second Division barracks. They awaited the orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō, Soi Fon.
"Everyone—" Soi Fon stood with her arms crossed, her white captain's haori fluttering. The two long, braided rings of her hair swayed in the wind.
Her dark gray eyes swept coldly over the gathered Shinigami. "How long," she hissed, "do you intend to let that lowly wretch trample upon the honor of the Stealth Force?!"
"!!!"
The assembled troops stiffened, their gazes sharpening as they stared up at Soi Fon, who stood atop the tall watchtower of the barracks.
"The criminal Fūjin Taichi has completely abandoned the dignity of a vice-captain and shamelessly ground the pride of Seireitei into the dirt!!
I don't care what methods you use—even if you must dig up every building in Seireitei—find him for me!!
Because—I have decided to personally put an end to his disgraceful act of betrayal!!
Now—DISPERSE!!!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The instant she uttered the word "disperse," the hundreds of Stealth Force members scattered in all directions.
In moments, the vast open grounds were left with only one tall, bulky Shinigami wrapped almost entirely in white bandages—
Marechiyo Ōmaeda.
"Ōmaeda! At a time like this, what are you doing here?!" Soi Fon asked without even glancing at him, her eyes still fixed on the horizon.
"Captain, I am deeply ashamed…"
With a thud, Ōmaeda dropped to his knees, bowing low as tears streamed down his face. "I failed to defend your honor with my life. Please, Captain—punish me severely—"
"Idiot! Being defeated by a criminal is your incompetence. What does that have to do with me?!"
Soi Fon finally turned her gaze toward him.
"Besides… you already did your best. Stop saying foolish things like 'please punish me.'"
"N-no, that's not it!" Ōmaeda sobbed uncontrollably. "That criminal Fūjin Taichi insulted you repeatedly right in front of me… and I was powerless to stop him… w-wahhh…"
"What did you say?" Soi Fon's cold eyes snapped toward him.
"H-he… he slandered you, Captain, saying you weren't wearing any under— Aaaah!!!"
Before he could finish, Soi Fon flashed forward in an instant and drove his large head straight into the dirt with a single stomp.
An overwhelming surge of spiritual pressure erupted from her body.
Then, with murderous intent saturating every word, she declared:
"Fūjin Taichi... I will take your head with my own hands!!!"
...
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