Outside the barrier, only a group of flustered nobles remained in the courtyard.
"Hey, what exactly happened with Yunoi?"
The noble who had previously witnessed his offspring bitten in half by a Gillian now grabbed Yunoi by the collar, lifting him directly.
"This event was hosted by your Kasumioji Family! Why did such an outrageous accident occur? Ever since your Clan Head went in, we can't see what's happening inside at all!"
"What the hell is your Kasumioji Family doing?!"
The middle-aged noble was hysterically venting his anger at Yunoi, the Kasumioji Family's retainer.
"Sasakura-kun, calm down. Now that the Clan Head is also trapped in this barrier, our Kasumioji Family is even more anxious than you!"
Yunoi said with a serious and righteous expression.
However, the nobles still didn't buy it, and even directly surrounded the Kasumioji Family's honor guard.
Some nobles, on the other hand, looked at the Gotei 13 and Fourth Division Vice-Captain Yamada Seinosuke, who were blocked outside the barrier.
"You useless Shinigami, can you even do anything? How can you not even break open a barrier?"
Upon hearing this, Yamada Seinosuke immediately looked over. The noble who spoke instantly fell silent after meeting Yamada Seinosuke's cold gaze.
Suddenly, a voice came from afar:
"Captain Aizen is here!"
The Gotei 13 turned their heads and saw a tall man with medium-length hair, wearing black-rimmed glasses, looking very refined and amiable, dressed in a Captain's haori, approaching with Shunpo.
It was none other than the Fifth Division Captain, Aizen Sōsuke!
He gazed at the enormous barrier, stretching for several kilometers in the hunting ground before him, and murmured.
"Interesting!"
But in the next instant, a hint of urgency suddenly appeared on Aizen Sōsuke's refined and amiable face.
"Everyone, this barrier is extremely difficult to break. Please join forces with me!"
Thus, in the eyes of those outside the barrier, it appeared as if the Gotei 13 and Aizen had to work together to painstakingly break the barrier.
However, the actual situation hidden beneath the illusory facade was that Aizen, with a calm and collected expression, looked at the double barrier before him and simply pointed a finger:
"Hado Number Four—White Lightning!"
A pure White Lightning bolt, as thick as a bowl, shot out, like a divine blade cleaving through the heavens, soaring towards the enormous barrier stretching for several kilometers. The double barrier, which had left many Gotei 13 helpless, was directly pierced by Aizen's single White Lightning!
"Crash!"
The moment the barrier was pierced, a huge explosion erupted from the gap of the barrier, and a massive reishi storm stirred up a sky full of dust.
Not long after, the dust cleared, revealing that the vast hunting ground was now empty, with only two figures supporting each other: Ito Makoto and Kazumichi Asayuki. Both of them were covered in blood, looking as if they had just experienced a horrific battle!
"Clan Head!!!"
Seeing Kazumichi Asayuki in such a state, Yunoi and the Kasumioji Family servants rushed over.
"Kasumioji Clan Head, where are our people?"
"Everyone..."
Kazumichi Asayuki's voice was choked with sorrow, but before the nobles could inquire further, Kazumichi Asayuki directly collapsed into the arms of the welcoming servant!
Seeing this, Ito Makoto also quickly imitated Kazumichi Asayuki and collapsed!
...
"This is your Eleventh Division's dormitory. There's no one else here. You can wake up!"
Yamada Seinosuke's voice softly drifted into Ito Makoto's ears.
So, he tentatively opened his eyes.
He then saw Yamada Seinosuke's half-smiling face.
"Alright, Ito Fourth Seat, stop pretending. I've already checked your wounds. Although there are many, they are all superficial, probably self-inflicted. The only relatively serious wound is on your right shoulder, but that wound has already been treated by a very skilled Kidō!"
"You healed this yourself, didn't you? Your Kidō is quite good!"
"I can't believe that crazy woman, Kazumichi Asayuki, didn't kill you. That truly surprises me!"
Hearing Yamada Seinosuke's words, Ito Makoto stopped pretending and sat up directly:
"How do you know everything?"
He looked at Yamada Seinosuke with a frustrated expression.
"Not everything, just a part of it. The Tsunayashiro Family told me!"
Hearing Yamada Seinosuke's words, Ito Makoto no longer found it strange.
It seemed he had already been involved with Tokinada Tsunayashiro for a long time. It was only natural that the Tsunayashiro Family, who controlled the Great Spirit Book Repository, would be well-informed about the Kasumioji Family's affairs.
"Since you're awake, let's get ready to depart!"
Yamada Seinosuke revealed a meaningful smile, looking at Ito Makoto.
"Depart? Where to?"
"Where else? To be interrogated by Central 46, of course!"
"Nearly a hundred nobles died in this incident. You, I, and all the Gotei 13 responsible for protection must go to Central 46 for questioning!"
Yamada Seinosuke explained slowly while tidying his medical kit.
"What about Kazumichi Asayuki?"
Upon hearing Ito Makoto's words, Yamada Seinosuke paused his movements of packing, and looked at Ito Makoto with a strange expression:
"The Kasumioji Clan Head herself is a Central 46, the eleventh-ranked Sage! Only she interrogates people; no one interrogates her!"
"Eleventh Sage? Ah!"
Hearing this, Ito Makoto finally understood why, in the original storyline, the Kasumioji Family, the foremost noble family below the Five Great Noble Clans, would fall under the control of their retainer, Yunoi.
"So don't worry, this incident was caused by that crazy woman herself! And most of the nobles who died were minor, impoverished nobles!"
"Presumably, for the sake of her and the Kasumioji Family's reputation, she will also downplay this matter!"
"Therefore, we are just going through the motions, a minor punishment as a warning!"
Not long after, Yamada Seinosuke finished packing his medical kit, turned around, and looked at Ito Makoto with a serious expression.
"Speaking of which, I do have a private matter I'd like to trouble Ito Fourth Seat with!"
Yamada Seinosuke's tone was very sincere, and as he spoke, he even bowed to Ito Makoto.
"I am about to leave the Gotei 13 to serve as the Chief Representative of the Shin'ō Reiyakuen in the Noble District! I would like to ask Ito-kun to take over my position as the Fourth Division Vice-Captain!"
"Ito-kun's Kidō is so proficient, it's enough to serve as the Fourth Division Vice-Captain! Moreover, you are from the Eleventh Division and not weak in strength. In the future, you will surely please Captain Unohana!"
"Please, Ito-kun!"
As he spoke, Yamada Seinosuke bowed to him again...
"Damn it, these Japanese really love to bow!"
Ito Makoto secretly complained in his heart.
On his lips, he replied formally:
"Vice-Captain Yamada, we are currently under suspicion. Let's talk about it after the interrogation by Central 46!"
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