6th Division.
Inside a room, Byakuya stood before the memorial tablet of Hisana, gazing silently at her photograph.
"Byakuya-sama, it's almost time. Please prepare to head to Sokyoku Hill."
The steward of the Kuchiki Clan spoke from outside the room.
"Yes, I understand."
Byakuya replied in a calm tone.
"I'm leaving now, Hisana."
With that, Byakuya turned and left.
7th Division.
"Uoooooh! This is bad!!"
7th Division's Lieutenant, Iba Tetsuzaemon hurriedly rushed towards the Captain's quarters.
"Captain! I'm sorry!! Iba Tetsuzaemon, a real man, fell asleep on the toilet! Now I have no choice but to atone with seppuku..."
Upon entering the Captain's room, Iba immediately prostrated himself on the floor to apologize.
"It's fine. Everything is already prepared."
7th Division's Captain, Komamura Sajin said indifferently.
"Is... is that so?"
Iba hesitated for a moment.
"Yes. Don't overthink it, Iba."
Komamura reassured him.
"Ah... I'm not over..."
"You don't need to hide it. I know you're worried. You're concerned that I might have doubts about this execution. Because of that worry, you want me to think it through carefully, which is why you deliberately delayed the time, isn't it?"
Komamura interrupted Iba.
Iba bowed his head in admission: "Yes... I truly cannot hide anything from you..."
Komamura was usually a man overflowing with a sense of justice, wanting to intervene whenever he encountered an injustice. And the punishment Central 46 had decided for Rukia this time was excessively harsh. Therefore, Iba was afraid his Captain might get hot-headed and do something irrational.
"Don't worry. I have no doubts whatsoever regarding this matter. Every action I take is solely to repay Yamamoto-dono for his kindness."
"He took me in back when everyone ostracized me. Therefore, I can only do my utmost to repay his great kindness. I have no hesitation in this matter. As long as he says it is right, even if it means my death, then that too is right."
Komamura stated firmly.
"And you, Tosen?"
Komamura suddenly asked.
"Of course, I too have never changed."
9th Division's Captain, Tosen Kaname walked slowly in from outside.
"What these blind eyes of mine see is always the path with the least sacrifice."
"And I believe, I walk the same path as you, Komamura."
…
2nd Division.
"Ahh! So troublesome, such a pain! First it's an invasion by Ryoka, then a murder incident, then the Vice-Captain-Commander's betrayal. That alone is annoying enough, and now there are people arguing about whether the execution should even happen!"
"That's a decision from above. Arguing about it is completely meaningless! They're really stupid, aren't they, Captain?"
2nd Division's Lieutenant, Omaeda Marechiyo, complained to his Captain, Sui-Feng, while eating a green onion pancake as they headed towards the execution site.
"Boring!"
"Right and wrong, good and evil, I have absolutely no interest in them. For me, there is only my duty as a Captain of the Gotei 13 and my pride."
"Anyone who gets in my way is an enemy."
"And if you're an enemy, you must die!"
"That's all there is to it."
Sui-Feng said with an indifferent expression.
"Heh, is that so?"
Omaeda picked his nose.
"That goes for you too, Omaeda. Don't stand on the wrong side. Remember, if you hinder me, you're also the enemy."
Sui-Feng glanced coldly at Omaeda.
"Yes, I'll keep that firmly in mind, Captain."
Omaeda replied, sweating profusely.
8th Division.
"Phew—"
"Phew—"
"Mm-hmm..."
Kyoraku lay on the rooftop, a blade of grass in his mouth, eyes closed. It was unclear if he was asleep.
"Ah! So this is where you were, Captain!"
Ise Nanao climbed onto the roof and finally found Kyoraku.
"Please stop sleeping and get moving!"
Nanao urged.
"Nanao..."
"I'm feeling troubled right now... Can you listen to me?"
Kyoraku said with a troubled expression.
Seeing his expression, Nanao couldn't help but feel a bit sympathetic. "Troubled? Feel free to tell me. I am your Lieutenant, after all."
"Actually, I thought putting a blade of grass in my mouth would look cooler..."
"But maybe it's a poisonous grass, because now my mouth feels all tingly, and it's troubling me quite a bit..."
Kyoraku explained his 'trouble' to Nanao with a completely straight face.
"Idiot! Throw it away immediately!"
Nanao swiftly slapped the blade of grass out of Kyoraku's mouth.
Even though she knew he might be joking, Nanao was still afraid the grass might actually be poisonous.
"Nanao..."
"What should I do?"
"Now Toshiro is being called a traitor to the Soul Society and is wanted. And Rukia shouldn't have to die either. Besides, Toshiro and Rukia seem to be friends, right? There's a high chance Toshiro will show up during the execution, isn't there?"
"So, what should I do?"
This time, Kyoraku was genuinely troubled.
Nanao adjusted her glasses and said, "Don't worry. I'll try to avoid trouble and keep a sufficient distance from you."
Nanao knew her Captain was willful and would definitely act according to his own thoughts. All she could do was stay far away and not hinder him.
"Yare yare, what a headache. If that's the case, won't I be the only one getting scolded by Old Man Yama again?"
Kyoraku stood up, his expression turning serious.
Since Nanao said she would keep her distance, Kyoraku no longer had any worries and decided to act willfully according to his own thoughts.
Meanwhile, Zaraki Kenpachi was also heading towards Sokyoku Hill with Madarame Ikkaku, Ayasegawa Yumichika, Ishida Uryu, and Inoue Orihime. However, they got lost again along the way, wandering aimlessly around the Seireitei like headless flies.
"Hmm?"
Zaraki suddenly stopped.
"Come out. Hiding and skulking around like that is pretty shameful, you know."
"Hiding your Reiatsu and concealing yourselves... that's not behavior befitting Captains."
Zaraki spoke to the seemingly empty space ahead.
"You've got a big mouth. Do you know what you're doing?"
As the voice came, several figures suddenly appeared in front of Zaraki and the others.
They were Komamura, Tosen, and their respective Lieutenants.
"Where do you think you're taking these Ryoka, Zaraki? Arbitrarily releasing Ryoka from the 4th Division's recovery prison... Have you abandoned all dignity as a Captain?"
Tosen accused self-righteously.
"Hahaha..."
Zaraki laughed wildly, completely ignoring Tosen's accusation.
"Let me count. Komamura, Tosen, Iba, Hisagi... Hmm, two Captains and two Lieutenants. Four in total. Four against one? Perfect. Just right for me to test my blade."
Zaraki grinned, revealing a fierce and terrifying smile.