"Uchiha Ryūjin, return to Soul Society with us and await judgment in the Seireitei!"
Kyōraku Shunsui's voice rang out once again, interrupting Ryūjin's thoughts.
Ryūjin looked up and saw Kyōraku Shunsui, Soi Fon, and Tōshirō Hitsugaya staring at him as though they were facing a dangerous enemy.
He remained silent for a moment, sinking into thought.
Although he did not fully understand why Aizen had chosen to target him, he understood Aizen's capabilities better than anyone present.
Once he returned to the Seireitei, he would undoubtedly be found guilty.
There would be no room for mercy.
Even without considering any additional evidence Aizen might have prepared, the testimony of three captains and one lieutenant alone was enough to seal his fate.
As for his supposed motive for killing Kuchiki Byakuya, Ryūjin was certain Aizen had already prepared a perfectly reasonable explanation.
One convincing enough to fool everyone.
"It seems I can't return to the Seireitei."
Ryūjin shrugged inwardly.
As much as he disliked admitting it, Aizen's scheme had worked.
If he returned, there was only one outcome waiting for him.
Arrest.
The crime of murdering a captain was no small matter. Once imprisoned, escaping would be nearly impossible.
Ryūjin did not even know what motive Aizen had fabricated for him.
If it crossed a certain line, he might even be sentenced to death.
Even if he somehow survived and was eventually released, there was no chance he would remain captain of the Eleventh Division.
More likely, he would be expelled from the Gotei 13 entirely.
In that case, what reason did he have to stay in the Seireitei?
Perhaps it was time to leave.
From another perspective, Ryūjin had already spent enough time there.
He had obtained most of the Zanpakutō abilities he wanted, and he had also acquired the majority of the high-level Kidō techniques available.
The Seireitei no longer held the same attraction it once had.
Leaving now was not impossible.
However, there was one problem.
If he left, he would not leave in disgrace.
Nor would he leave carrying the stigma of a murderer.
And he certainly would not leave as the loser in Aizen's game.
After a brief moment of consideration, Ryūjin reached a decision.
Looking at the three captains before him, he spoke calmly.
"I'll return with you."
The three captains visibly relaxed.
Thank goodness.
None of them wanted to fight Uchiha Ryūjin.
His strength was simply too overwhelming.
Resolving the situation peacefully was the ideal outcome.
"Uchiha Ryūjin... did you really kill Byakuya Nii-sama?"
Rukia Kuchiki's trembling voice broke the silence.
With three captains and one lieutenant all saying the same thing, even if she wanted to deny it, doubt had already taken root.
She stared at Ryūjin with wide eyes filled with shock, grief, and resentment.
There was even a trace of killing intent.
"Criminal Rukia Kuchiki."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya stepped forward, his expression serious.
"You will also return to the Seireitei with us immediately."
What else could Rukia say?
Thus, Ryūjin, Rukia Kuchiki, and the three captains returned together to Soul Society.
As soon as they stepped through the Senkaimon and arrived at the First Division headquarters, they discovered that the area was already packed with people.
Every captain and lieutenant had gathered.
The captain of the Eleventh Division being accused of murdering the captain of the Sixth Division was a matter significant enough to shake the entire Gotei 13.
A gathering of this scale was only natural.
Among the crowd stood Sōsuke Aizen.
Ryūjin glanced at him briefly.
Aizen appeared completely uninvolved, as though the entire situation had nothing to do with him.
"Rukia Kuchiki."
At that moment, Kaname Tōsen stepped forward.
The captain of the Ninth Division faced Rukia directly.
"You committed a serious crime in the Human World. Following investigation and confirmation by the Gotei 13, you are no longer recognized as a member of the Gotei 13. You are now classified as a criminal."
As captain of the division responsible for imprisonment and punishment, Tōsen naturally handled such matters.
"I am guilty."
Rukia offered no defense.
"I failed in my duty to the Seireitei."
She then turned toward Jūshirō Ukitake.
"Captain, I'm sorry. I've brought shame upon the Thirteenth Division."
"Rukia."
Ukitake's expression was solemn.
"I believe you had your reasons, but mistakes require accountability."
Rukia lowered her head.
"You're right, Captain. I'm willing to accept whatever punishment awaits me."
"Lieutenant Hisagi, take the prisoner away."
Tōsen issued the order.
"Understood."
Shūhei Hisagi stepped forward immediately and escorted Rukia away.
Naturally, this was merely temporary detention.
Although her crime had already been established, formal judgment and sentencing still had to follow proper procedures.
At the moment, however, the accusation against Ryūjin completely overshadowed Rukia's case.
Compared to the murder of a captain, transferring Shinigami powers to a human seemed insignificant.
"Captain Ryūjin, the Captain Commander is waiting for you."
Chōjirō Sasakibe stepped forward and addressed him gravely.
As Sasakibe spoke, the surrounding captains and lieutenants subtly shifted positions.
Without drawing attention to it, they formed a loose encirclement around Ryūjin.
The meaning was obvious.
If he attempted anything suspicious, they would attack immediately.
Unfortunately for them, they were worrying unnecessarily.
At least for now, Ryūjin had no intention of fighting.
Accompanied by the gathered captains, he followed Sasakibe to the presence of Captain Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
Inside the hall, Yamamoto stood waiting.
The old man who usually sat quietly behind his desk was now standing upright.
His seemingly aged body radiated overwhelming authority.
"Captain Uchiha Ryūjin."
Yamamoto's sharp gaze fixed on him.
"I have been informed of your actions in the Human World. Do you have anything to say?"
An immense pressure descended upon Ryūjin like a mountain.
For ordinary people, merely standing there would have been unbearable.
Ryūjin felt nothing.
"I didn't do it."
His answer came without hesitation.
Direct.
Simple.
Blunt.
"Uchiha Ryūjin! You're still denying it!"
Renji Abarai immediately exploded with anger.
Pointing at Ryūjin, he roared furiously.
"Can you really deny what you've done!?"
"You refuse to admit it?"
Yamamoto questioned coldly.
"Why would I admit to something I didn't do?"
Ryūjin's expression remained unchanged.
"Lieutenant Renji."
Yamamoto turned toward Renji.
"Explain the details of the incident to all present. Leave nothing out."
"Yes, Captain Commander!"
Renji responded immediately.
Suppressing his grief, he began recounting the events.
"Captains, Lieutenants. Captain Kuchiki and I were ordered by Central 46 to travel to the Human World and apprehend the human illegally possessing Rukia Kuchiki's Shinigami powers."
Only now did Ryūjin finally understand.
Aizen had sent Kuchiki Byakuya and Renji Abarai to capture Ichigo Kurosaki.
The moment Ichigo's name entered the conversation, along with Isshin Kurosaki and Kisuke Urahara, Ryūjin instantly realized the brilliance of Aizen's scheme.
The other captains showed no surprise.
After all, Central 46 ordering the arrest of a human possessing Shinigami powers was entirely reasonable.
"During our investigation, we discovered that Rukia had transferred her powers to a human named Ichigo Kurosaki."
"However, while investigating him, we uncovered something unusual."
"That investigation drew the attention of two former Shinigami who had long disappeared from Soul Society."
"Isshin Shiba and Kisuke Urahara."
Expressions immediately changed throughout the hall.
Everyone understood the significance of those names.
Isshin Shiba had abandoned his position as a Shinigami.
Kisuke Urahara was something else entirely.
A criminal.
Over one hundred years ago, Urahara had conducted illegal Hollowfication experiments involving several Shinigami, including Shinji Hirako.
After the incident was exposed, Central 46 ordered punishment.
Urahara escaped alongside Shinji Hirako and the others, disappearing from Soul Society.
No one had expected such a connection.
"Not only that."
Renji's voice grew heavier.
"We also discovered Captain Ryūjin with them."
"It appeared they were secretly planning something together."
"And when Captain Kuchiki uncovered Ryūjin's secret, Ryūjin attacked and killed him."
"Captain Kuchiki bought enough time for me to contact the Captain Commander."
"Reinforcements arrived later, but it was already too late."
"Captain Kuchiki... still died."
The hall fell silent.
The amount of information contained within Renji's testimony was staggering.
Even Ryūjin was momentarily speechless.
He had to admit it.
Aizen's plan was nearly flawless.
Under this narrative, Ryūjin became an accomplice of Kisuke Urahara and Isshin Shiba.
After being exposed by Kuchiki Byakuya, he murdered him to silence him.
Meanwhile, because Urahara and Isshin were outside Soul Society, no one could verify the truth.
No one could prove Ryūjin's innocence.
Worse still, Urahara's identity alone made everything appear suspicious.
It painted Ryūjin's rise through the ranks as part of a larger conspiracy.
As though he had been planted inside the Seireitei from the very beginning.
Naturally, such thoughts would influence everyone's judgment.
Combined with the available evidence, Ryūjin's guilt appeared undeniable.
"Captain Commander. Captains."
Kyōraku Shunsui stepped forward.
"After receiving Lieutenant Renji's message, Captain Commander Yamamoto ordered Captain Hitsugaya, Captain Soi Fon, and myself to investigate."
"We met up with Lieutenant Renji and found Captain Kuchiki."
"Unfortunately, his injuries were beyond treatment."
"Before passing away, he personally identified Captain Uchiha Ryūjin as the culprit."
Hitsugaya and Soi Fon both confirmed Kyōraku's testimony.
The atmosphere immediately became heavier.
The gazes directed at Ryūjin filled with anger and hostility.
One lieutenant.
Three captains.
How could all of them be mistaken?
To everyone present, Ryūjin's guilt seemed certain.
"Captain Ryūjin."
Yamamoto's eyes bore into him.
"Do you have anything else to say?"
"Given the evidence, I understand why everyone believes I killed Captain Kuchiki."
Ryūjin looked around the hall.
"But I still maintain my innocence."
"I was framed."
"What a joke."
Gin Ichimaru stepped forward with a smile.
"Framed? Are you saying Lieutenant Renji was mistaken? That three captains were mistaken?"
"Why don't you stop pretending and tell us why Kisuke Urahara placed you in Soul Society?"
At this point, Ryūjin simply shook his head.
"Words are meaningless now."
"No matter what I say, none of you will believe me."
"So I won't waste my time arguing."
His gaze swept across the hall.
Then he spoke slowly.
"I'll use facts instead."
"When you witness my true strength, you'll understand just how ridiculous Renji's accusation really is."
The atmosphere instantly froze.
Ryūjin's eyes remained indifferent.
"Because I alone am enough to stand against the entire Seireitei."
"With strength like that, if I truly wanted to kill Kuchiki Byakuya..."
He looked directly at Renji.
"...would I leave a lieutenant alive?"
"Would I allow him the opportunity to report my identity to the captains?"