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When Yamamoto Genryūsai's words fell, the chamber was swallowed in silence. Only the sound of breathing remained. His tone had carried no wasted syllable, and the weight he gave to these three matters was unmistakable.
Moyu, however, did not seem particularly troubled. From the Head Captain's voice he caught the faint absence of anger, which suggested his trial would be a matter of formality rather than condemnation.
Yamamoto's aged gaze drifted across the room. "Captains, what are your thoughts?"
A long pause followed before Shunsui adjusted his hat and broke the stillness. "I've already investigated with the Fourth Division regarding the Ryoka invasion. Three days ago, with Urahara Kisuke's help, they bypassed the Senkaimon and forced a path straight to the Repentance Cell. From there they freed Abarai Renji and moved to Sōkyoku Hill. In the ensuing battle they even defeated Captain Komamura."
At those words, Komamura lowered his head, shame flickering across the wolfish face. Entrusted with such a task and failing it was a weight he could not deny.
"Afterwards," Shunsui continued without pause, "it was Captain Moyu's timely arrival that stopped their flight and brought Abarai Renji to the Hill. My opinion is simple: the Ryoka caused no lasting damage to Seireitei. Instead, their intrusion exposed the first threads of Aizen's treachery. The loss of three captains is painful, but perhaps… in the long run, this path spares us a greater disaster."
His words ended with a faint nod, and Yamamoto's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "So. The old man understands." His voice rumbled low. "Do the rest of you see it differently?"
No one spoke.
"Then," Yamamoto said at last, "the Ryoka shall be absolved of charges. As for Abarai Renji—he too is acquitted, having been nothing but a victim."
One matter closed, but the true reckoning followed.
"The treachery of Aizen and his cohort," Yamamoto's voice hardened, "struck a grievous blow to the Gotei and laid bare our weakness. The Hollowfication incident of the past, too, was woven from his hand. The vacancy of three captains cannot be treated lightly. Who shall fill these seats?"
Ukitake stepped forward, coughing twice before speaking. "Head Captain… this disciple proposes that Hirako Shinji be restored as Fifth Division Captain. In addition, Hitsugaya Tōshirō of the Tenth has already achieved Bankai. He is qualified to assume command. For the final post, I nominate Shiba Kaien, Vice-Captain of the Thirteenth."
Hearing this, Moyu understood clearly. The decisions had been set long before this gathering; today's "discussion" was ceremony. Yamamoto knew the measure of his subordinates—many unreliable, some indifferent. Better to dictate himself than to leave fate to them. Still, he would hear objections if they arose.
Shinji, for his part, gave no protest. "Thank you for your trust," he said, bowing with easy sincerity. "I will not disappoint you." Despite his irreverent manner, even he bore respect for the man who had stood at the head of the Gotei for a millennium.
Yamamoto inclined his head. "Captain Hirako's efforts in this affair cannot be overlooked. Without him, Kaname Tōsen would never have been exposed."
Then his gaze turned, flames smoldering in his pupils. They fixed on Moyu. The weight of his silence alone was accusatory. Renji dragged to Sōkyoku Hill, the King's Seal split in half, Aizen's conspiracy left unreported—was this not folly?
Moyu felt the judgment pressing down. Without Ichigo's interference, Renji might have been taken away and the execution derailed. If that had happened, he himself would never have gained the chance to unleash his blade against the Sōkyoku and temper his power. Komamura alone would never have held back Ichigo. But excuses could not be voiced here.
Yamamoto's voice at last cut through. "The old man will overlook your… irregular conduct. But as for the intelligence concerning Aizen—speak. How did you discover it, and why was it not reported?"
Every eye in the room turned toward Moyu. Some carried disappointment, others doubt. Had he spoken earlier, might some lives have been spared?
Moyu's mind moved swiftly, though his face betrayed nothing. Stepping forward, he answered evenly, "The intelligence came through Urahara Kisuke."
The captains stirred.
"As a Kuchiki, my family's ties to the Shihōin line are well known. My connection to Shihōin Yoruichi is no secret here. During a garrison assignment in Karakura Town, I traced her presence… and in doing so, I encountered Urahara and the Visored. The reason I withheld my findings was simple: I knew nothing of Aizen's true design. To avoid alarming him, I reported to no one save Captain Unohana, and Hirako Shinji himself—as one of Aizen's former victims—was informed as well. That is the whole truth."
The chamber sank into silence. It was a neat construction: lies woven with strands of verifiable fact. The hardest kind to unravel. Urahara's intellect would serve as the anchor; when questioned, he would find his own way to reinforce the story.
At length Yamamoto spoke, his tone low. "The old man understands. We shall confirm the details when Urahara Kisuke is brought forth. Until then, this account will stand." His gaze swept the room. "What say the rest of you?"
"I believe Captain Moyu to be blameless," Unohana said softly. Her calm, measured words left little room for dissent.
One by one, the other captains inclined their heads. Only Komamura remained silent, his eyes shadowed. With that, the matter was closed.
The discussion turned to details of the three new appointments. With multiple captains entering office at once, ceremonies and transitions required lengthy attention, and so the meeting stretched on.
---
When it ended, the Gotei returned to a veneer of calm. Ichigo and his companions, their wounds healed, were escorted back to the living world. Yet before departure, one last matter was settled.
By Yamamoto's order, Ichigo was to receive a Shinigami Substitute Badge—delivered into his hands by Moyu himself.
Through the gate, Moyu pressed the small black device into Ichigo's palm. Its surface gleamed with the skull-and-cross insignia. "Your strength may yet have use in the battles to come," Moyu explained evenly. "The Head Captain asked me to hand this to you."
Ichigo stared curiously at the token.
"It will sense the presence of Hollows nearby, alert you, and allow you to enter your Shinigami form instantly," Moyu continued. Then his tone sharpened. "But understand this—it will also track your movements."
He revealed the badge's secret without hesitation. To Moyu, the most important thing between people was not obedience—
It was trust.
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