Yoruichi sat at a broad sandalwood desk, a thick stack of classified documents spread out before her.
The flickering candlelight cast swaying shadows across her face, reflecting her furrowed brows and solemn expression.
The contents of the documents were shocking.
This was a special report compiled by the Stealth Force, documenting mysterious disappearances of residents in various districts of the Rukongai over the past decade.
It also included a record of Soul Reaper disappearance cases.
Most of the cases were marked as closed in the report, but Yoruichi knew that these so-called closures were mostly just perfunctory.
Public security in the outer districts of the Rukongai was non-existent; the struggle and slaughter among souls were cruel and chaotic, with large numbers of souls vanishing every day.
It was a gray area beyond the reach of law and order, and a preferred source of materials for certain factions.
No one paid attention, and there was no way to trace them.
Yoruichi's fingers brushed over names she didn't recognize, her fingertips feeling slightly cold.
She noticed that the proportion of Soul Reaper disappearance cases had begun to climb in recent years.
The last few pages of the report listed some indirect evidence and suspicious leads, but none of them had led anywhere.
Because they involved the Great Noble Houses.
The Stealth Force was nominally under the direct control of Central 46, but in reality, Central 46 was composed of the nobles themselves.
They could even bypass normal procedures and issue direct orders to deploy the Stealth Force for specific tasks.
This was exactly why Yoruichi's investigation was being blocked.
Whenever a lead pointed in a sensitive direction, she encountered invisible resistance.
Unexpected delays in filing documents, witnesses suddenly changing their stories or vanishing, and even some supposedly confidential action records would mysteriously go missing.
Not even the case of Amamiya Shin was an exception.
A scene from a recent noble assembly flashed through Yoruichi's mind.
A representative of the Tsunayashiro family had proposed expanding the Shino Relief Station, claiming they wanted to build a high-specification medical facility exclusively for the noble class.
At the time, the proposal hadn't drawn much attention, but thinking back now, perhaps it had a deeper meaning.
"Those bastards..."
Yoruichi cursed under her breath. Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
The door creaked open, and Urahara Kisuke poked his head in, clutching a file folder.
"I'm here. So, any progress on the investigation into Amamiya Shin?"
"Sort of."
Urahara walked in, closed the door behind him, and placed the folder on the desk.
"The examination at the Fourth Division is complete. Lieutenant Yamada did it personally."
He opened the top folder and took out several analysis reports filled with data and diagrams, spreading them out before Yoruichi.
"The soul collapse was barely suppressed, but the damage to his consciousness is permanent. Lieutenant Yamada said even he hasn't seen this level of soul destruction very often."
"Can he tell if it was artificial?"
"He can't."
Urahara shook his head.
Yoruichi's gaze turned completely cold.
"So, the matter can only be classified this way—a soul collapse caused by an experimental accident."
"And the disappearance of the Tenth Division member can only be handled like this for now."
The air in the room seemed to solidify.
The candlelight crackled, casting the shadows of the two pensive figures onto the wall.
Yoruichi leaned back in her chair, looking up at the wooden beams on the ceiling, and let out a long sigh.
"I keep feeling like there are inconsistencies behind everything, but in the end, I couldn't find anything. It's frustrating."
"The world is unpredictable. You don't need to take it too much to heart, Captain Yoruichi."
At that moment, Urahara Kisuke suddenly changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, has there been any noteworthy activity in noble circles lately?"
Yoruichi thought for a moment, a sharp light flashing in her eyes.
"Now that you mention it... the Tsunayashiro family has indeed been making some moves recently."
She sat up straight and lowered her voice.
"About a few months ago, they held a noble assembly and proposed a plan to expand the Shino Relief Station, claiming they wanted to establish a high-specification medical research institution exclusively for the noble class."
"Recently, this plan has been put back on the agenda."
"Furthermore, they've already started operating, trying to poach people from the Fourth Division. Their initial candidate for director was Captain Unohana, but of course, she flatly refused."
At this point, Yoruichi couldn't help but let out a sneer.
Those guys really had some nerve.
"Then they turned their eyes toward the Fourth Division's Lieutenant, Yamada Seinosuke."
Urahara's eyebrows shot up.
"Lieutenant Yamada... He has a very high level of expertise in Kido healing and soul medicine, and he has access to a massive amount of medical files and patient data in the Fourth Division."
"This proposal... I can't help but feel there's something else behind it."
"I think so too."
Yoruichi's expression became serious.
"There's one more thing. Captain Unohana took the initiative to suggest that Hasumi Ren go to the Fourth Division for further training... Do you think that's normal?"
"Could it really just be that she values his talent for Kido healing?"
Urahara rubbed his chin, falling into thought.
"Captain Unohana... the first Kenpachi. Her inviting Hasumi Ren at this specific time is indeed intriguing."
Yoruichi also looked pensive.
"Do you think... is it possible that Captain Unohana has also noticed something, or that she has other plans?"
"Well, who knows?"
Urahara smiled.
"Captain Unohana lived through the darkest era of the Soul Society; she has seen far too many conspiracies and betrayals. Her choosing to extend an olive branch to Hasumi Ren now might not be a coincidence."
He looked at Yoruichi, his tone becoming serious.
"But at least one thing is certain: Captain Unohana harbors no ill will."
"And Ren joining the Fourth Division is a good thing for us as well."
"We might as well let him try to get in touch with the inner workings of the Fourth Division. Who knows, he might discover something."
Mentioning Hasumi Ren made Yoruichi's expression soften slightly.
"That kid is indeed interesting. I read the mission report from before. Being able to defeat Amamiya Shin in his Shikai state head-on, and then holding his own against Tosen Kaname in their second encounter..."
"His strength is already close to that of a Lieutenant, and his growth rate is incredibly fast."
Yoruichi glanced at Urahara Kisuke and suddenly smiled.
"What, you seem to think very highly of him?"
"Yeah, I just feel like there are other surprises hidden within him."
Urahara admitted frankly, a glint of anticipation shining in his eyes beneath his bangs.
He stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open slightly.
The night wind rushed in, making the documents on the desk rustle.
Outside, the night in the Seireitei was deep.
Yoruichi also stood up and walked to his side, looking out at the endless darkness.
The candlelight flickered in the wind, as if portending the coming storm.
They both sensed that something was brewing in the shadows.
All they could do was prepare as much as possible before the storm arrived.
To cultivate trustworthy companions and accumulate the power to change the situation.
"Right." Urahara suddenly remembered something and turned his head. "Did Hasumi Ren agree to go to the Fourth Division for training?"
"He did."
Yoruichi nodded.
"I'll arrange a time for him to report. The sooner, the better."
"Next, we'll see just what Captain Unohana intends to teach him."