Isshin quickly realized how serious the situation was. An alarm suddenly blared in the middle of the night, and all the captains of the Gotei 13 in the Seireitei were summoned for an emergency assembly.
The fact that an emergency assembly was called at this hour showed how severe the situation was.
Isshin had been sitting in the corridor with Ethan, staring blankly and unable to sleep. This time, he was truly shocked. Was Captain's premonition really that accurate?
"I'm going to the First Division."
Captain emergency assemblies were always held in the Captain's Meeting Room of the First Division, the same place where Ethan's succession ceremony had taken place. It was the designated location for the captains of the Gotei 13 to gather and discuss matters.
It was just a small separate room within the First Division barracks, neither spacious nor specially decorated, but it was a place only a very select few could enter.
Including Captain-Commander Yamamoto, and excluding Ninth Division Captain Kensei Muguruma, who was involved in the incident, as well as Kenpachi Zaraki, who habitually ignored captain meetings, the remaining captains had all arrived. Kisuke was not there yet.
The meeting did not wait for everyone to arrive before starting. According to regulations, captains had to reach the meeting within a certain time after an emergency summons was issued, and the meeting would begin once that time was up. Unless there were special circumstances, Yamamoto, who always strictly adhered to regulations, would not delay the start time.
However, Kisuke did not arrive much later. He appeared just as the meeting began.
"Please send me."
Kisuke was extremely worried about his lieutenant, Hiyori, and volunteered to join the investigation team, but he was rebuked by Yoruichi. He needed to trust his lieutenant.
Yamamoto also did not select Kisuke, who was clearly agitated, for the investigation team. Instead, he chose Third Division Captain Rojuro Otoribashi, Fifth Division Captain Shinji Hirako, Seventh Division Captain Love Aikawa, along with Eighth Division Lieutenant Nanao Ise and Kidō Corps Vice-Commander Hachigen Ushoda. These individuals formed a temporary investigation team to head to the location where Ninth Division Captain Kensei Muguruma had the incident.
Dispatching so many captains at once showed Yamamoto's attention to this matter. However, Ethan still noticed that when making his selections, Yamamoto kept several of the strongest individuals in the Seireitei behind. This was likely because, in a completely unknown situation, the highest priority was still the defense of the Seireitei. He also kept Fourth Division Captain Unohana, who was most skilled in healing, behind.
"Captain-Commander, if Captain Unohana cannot easily leave the Seireitei, why not let me go?"
Ethan's suggestion was not accepted. Yamamoto was very stubborn and rarely changed his decisions, nor did he pay much attention to others' opinions.
Even later, when his two most trusted disciples drew their swords against him, he was unwilling to spend extra time listening to their reasons. As long as he determined their actions were wrong, he would draw his sword.
"The internal defense of the Seireitei requires the Tenth Division's responsibility. Captain Ethan must guard the Seireitei."
The Tenth Division was originally a defense force, so there was nothing wrong with what Yamamoto said. Furthermore, he had dispatched so many captains and the Kidō Corps Vice-Commander. He did not believe so many people could not handle this crisis.
Ethan, however, knew that all the Shinigami selected for the investigation team this time would face disaster. Together with Kisuke and Yoruichi, who were later forced to flee to the Human World by Central 46, and the Grand Kidō Commander Tessai Tsukabishi, the Gotei 13 would suffer heavy losses in this incident.
He thought that if he got involved, perhaps some changes might occur, but unfortunately, he could not sneak into the investigation team.
After the meeting concluded, the members of the investigation team departed immediately. No additional matters were arranged. The situation of Kensei was unclear, and even a slight delay might cause them to miss the best rescue opportunity.
The relationships between these captains had always been good, so they naturally rushed to provide assistance.
Aside from these captains, the remaining captains had to arrange the defense of the Seireitei and remain on standby to ensure that if unexpected incidents occurred, they could respond immediately.
Among them, the Tenth Division had the heaviest burden. All members canceled their rest and returned to their posts. In addition to increasing the number of defense personnel, they also had to reserve enough support teams to handle various unexpected situations.
All of this required Ethan to return to the Tenth Division immediately to make arrangements. The situation in the Second Division was similar. The Second Division had to monitor the Shinigami to ensure no one took advantage of the situation to cause trouble.
Looking around, Kisuke was still in a state of extreme worry, while Shunsui casually left the First Division. Ethan knew that this seemingly lazy man was likely going to confirm something.
"Let's go, we have a lot of work."
Yoruichi patted Ethan's back.
"Don't worry about Kisuke, he'll adjust quickly."
"Yes."
Kisuke would indeed adjust quickly. He would soon put on specially made clothes that concealed his spiritual pressure and secretly follow the investigation team to rescue his lieutenant.
Ethan did not rush to stop Kisuke or go with him. During this period, he had realized one thing. He was not very good at scheming and preferred to flip the table directly. If he did that, he probably would not be able to remain in the Seireitei, or even in Soul Society.
After returning to the Tenth Division, he first assigned the work. Once all the team members had rushed to their respective posts, Ethan looked up at the bright moonlight and then said something to Isshin that left him puzzled.
"I'll be relying on you next, Isshin."
Isshin felt that he did not have Ethan's powerful precognitive ability, but at that moment, he also had a premonition that something major was about to happen.
Ethan did not explain anything. After arranging the Tenth Division's duties, he quietly made a trip to the Fourth Division and the Kuchiki family, then headed straight for the location of the incident.
However, just as he left the Seireitei, he noticed someone following him.
"Tch."
He did not even need to stop to see who it was. Even if he could not clearly see the figure or sense their spiritual pressure, the familiar feeling told him that the person following him was Yoruichi.
"You didn't have to come."
"Stop saying useless things. How could I not come?"
After Ethan decided to act, he did not notify Yoruichi, but she was extremely intelligent and sensed the unusual situation. She had guessed that Ethan would definitely make a move.
"All those preparations you've been making these past few years were for dealing with something like this, weren't they?"
Ethan did not deny it. He had been making various preparations over the years. Neither Yoruichi nor Kisuke had pressed him for the reason, but they were both smart enough to understand what these preparations were for.
"It seems I'll have to say goodbye to the Seireitei, no, to Soul Society."
"You don't have to leave."
"Ha, how could I feel at ease then?"
Ethan stopped trying to persuade her. Yoruichi had already made her decision, and continuing to persuade her to stay in Soul Society was meaningless.
They increased their speed. At full speed, Ethan and Yoruichi were no joke, and they arrived at the scene quickly.
Several captains and lieutenants from the investigation team, along with the Kidō Corps Vice-Commander, were lying on the ground. Judging by their condition, things did not look good. Ethan knew that as long as Kisuke treated them in time, none of them would be in mortal danger, which was why he had not insisted on joining the investigation team.
Currently, only Shinji barely retained some consciousness. Kisuke seemed to have arrived earlier, as he had also received a lot of extra training over the years, and his strength was considerably greater than at the same point in the original story.
"Oh? It seems I've arrived just in time."
Standing beside Aizen were the still young Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tosen, who was currently a seated officer in the Ninth Division. Tosen seemed about to attack Hiyori, who was in a Hollowfied state, but was blocked by Kisuke.
"Oh, if it isn't Captain Ethan and Captain Shihoin."
"Lieutenant Aizen, can you explain the current situation?"
"Of course."
Ethan listened to Aizen's explanation. If he had not known the plot, he might have believed this rhetoric. He was truly worthy of being the number one actor among the Shinigami.
He claimed that as Shinji's lieutenant, he was worried about his captain's safety and secretly followed, only to accidentally discover a shocking conspiracy. Twelfth Division Captain Kisuke was secretly conducting dangerous experiments and extending his wicked hands toward several fellow captains. Having accidentally discovered Kisuke's evil experiments, he was now facing the crisis of being killed to eliminate evidence.
"Oh, then I really did arrive just in time."
"Yes, thankfully Captain Ethan arrived in time."
"Then you're really lucky, Aizen Sosuke."
A flash of sword light suddenly appeared. Ethan drew his blade so quickly that everyone present was startled. Shinji, who was in great pain and worried that Ethan would believe Aizen's nonsense, had been about to endure the pain to refute Aizen's words, but was stunned by this sudden change.
However, such a sudden attack was easily parried by Aizen. The long sword in his hand accurately blocked the Zanpakuto in Ethan's hand.
"Captain Ethan, so you were with Captain Urahara."
Facing Aizen's insincere acting, Ethan did not expose him directly. Instead, he followed his words.
"Yes, didn't you already confirm that?"
Aizen was momentarily stunned, then revealed a smile of acknowledgment.
"I underestimated Captain Ethan."
Their Zanpakuto remained locked together. Tosen, standing nearby, drew his sword and prepared to attack Ethan from the side, but just as he was about to strike, he suddenly felt his limbs go weak.
"Captain Ethan's Zanpakuto is unexpectedly strong."
"Lieutenant Aizen's Zanpakuto isn't weak either."
(To be continued.)