The 9th Division, led by Captain Kensei Muguruma, arrived in the Rukongai district to investigate the sudden deaths of several souls.
When Kensei and his team reached the scene, they found nothing unusual—except for one child who had been attacked by a Hollow. It looked as if the so-called "sudden death" incidents were simply the work of a few stray Hollows.
"Things are never that simple…"
As a battle-hardened captain, Kensei's sharp instincts picked up the scent of conspiracy in the air.
"We'll set up camp here tonight."
With furrowed brows, he sensed the restless reishi stirring around them. For some reason, unease crept into his heart.
"I hope I'm just overthinking…"
Glancing at his lieutenant Kuna Mashiro and the squad of 9th Division elites, his worries eased. With the entire division's best gathered here, surely nothing could go wrong. Surely nothing…
That very night, the captain, lieutenant, and every seated officer up to the 7th Seat disappeared without a trace.
Seireitei erupted in chaos. Torches blazed, and Head Captain Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto urgently convened an emergency Captains' Meeting.
All of the Gotei 13 assembled—save for the deceased 10th Division captain, the ever-independent 11th Division captain, and the missing 9th Division captain.
"Lisa-chan, you cannot attend. This is a Captains' Meeting. You should be waiting patiently in the 12th Division."
At the 1st Division's hall, Kisuke Urahara struggled to restrain a furious Hiyori Sarugaki. (In this version of events, she hadn't been sent to the 9th Division earlier.)
"Don't be ridiculous! That idiot Kensei is missing! And you expect me to sit at home patiently waiting?!"
"This is the 1st Division headquarters. The Head Captain is here—it's not a place where you or I can act out of turn," Kisuke pleaded. Normally, Hiyori's temper was troublesome enough, but here, he dared not let her cause a scene. After all, no one other than division captains were ever allowed into a Captains' Meeting.
But just as the two made a spectacle of themselves outside the chamber, Yamamoto's aged yet commanding voice boomed from within:
"Let Captain Urahara enter. Vice-Captain Sarugaki will be permitted to sit at the end."
"Pah~"
Kisuke reluctantly let go. Hiyori immediately spun around, landed a flying kick on him, and stomped a shoeprint into his face before striding inside. She quietly took her place beside Shunsui Kyōraku.
"The Captains' Meeting will now begin."
Eyes narrowed, Yamamoto's tone turned grim.
"Recently, unexplained deaths among Soul Reapers have shaken the Soul Society. Today, even a division captain has gone missing. This cannot be ignored. For the honor of the Gotei 13, this matter must be resolved.
"I hereby order Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi of the 3rd, Captain Shinji Hirako of the 5th, and Captain Love Aikawa of the 7th to investigate. Captain Yoruichi Shihōin of the 2nd will remain on standby. Captains Ginrei Kuchiki of the 6th, Shunsui Kyōraku of the 8th, and Jūshirō Ukitake of the 13th will safeguard Seireitei. Captain Retsu Unohana of the 4th and Captain Kisuke Urahara of the 12th will prepare medical and rescue support."
Yamamoto's orders were precise. He had chosen three strong, capable captains to investigate, while leaving the most powerful defensive leaders behind in Seireitei. Yoruichi, the fastest in the Soul Society, was ready to provide support if needed. It was a near-perfect arrangement—though not without flaws.
"I object!"
Unohana stepped forward, her serene presence radiant with maternal grace.
"As the 4th Division captain, it is my duty to provide medical aid at the front lines, not remain here."
"Denied."
Yamamoto immediately cut her down. The frontlines were too unpredictable. He would never allow her—or her squad—to step into such danger.
"…Then I will go," Kisuke raised his hand.
"Denied."
Yamamoto's sharp reply gave him no room to argue.
But then the Head Captain turned toward the doors.
"You may enter."
Two figures appeared: one carrying a staff, the other with prayer beads clasped between his hands—Great Kidō Chief Tessai Tsukabishi and Vice Kidō Chief Hachigen Ushōda.
Shunsui's eyes flickered. "Ara~ Even the Kidō Corps is here. Things really have escalated."
Yamamoto nodded. "Tessai-dono and Ushōda-dono will accompany the captains to the front."
"Understood," Tessai answered calmly, his composure reflecting his overwhelming power.
As Yamamoto lifted his staff to conclude the meeting, a voice interrupted.
"Head Captain—please allow me to go as well!"
Hiyori dropped to one knee before the assembly, her small frame trembling with determination.
"Denied. Vice-Captain Sarugaki, you know the rules—"
But before Yamamoto could finish, Kyōraku lazily interjected.
"Yama-jii~ don't you think sending both Tessai-dono and Ushōda-dono might be overkill? We don't even know what's out there. If we lose them both, it'll be a heavy blow. Why not send just Ushōda-dono, and fill the extra slot with two vice-captains instead? My Lisa, and Kisuke's Hiyori—they're strong enough."
After some back-and-forth (and Lisa dramatically revealing she'd been eavesdropping outside), the final roster was set:
Captain Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō (3rd Division)
Captain Hirako Shinji (5th Division)
Captain Aikawa Love (7th Division)
Vice-Captain Lisa Yadōmaru (8th Division)
Vice-Captain Hiyori Sarugaki (12th Division)
Vice Kidō Chief Hachigen Ushōda
The meeting ended with Yamamoto's staff striking the ground.
…
Later, as Kisuke lingered outside, unease gnawed at him. Something about all this felt deeply wrong. Tessai, too, voiced his suspicions—and then Aizen Sōsuke appeared, ever-polite and smiling warmly, his mask of innocence firmly in place…
But by the time the strike team reached the Rukongai, the truth revealed itself. Their "enemy" was not Hollows. It was not Quincy.
It was their comrades—Kensei and Mashiro, both hideously transformed by Hollowfication.
"Is that… really Kensei?"
His spiritual pressure was monstrous, his appearance nearly indistinguishable from a Hollow.
Hesitation filled Shinji's blade for the first time.
And in the chaos that followed, the strike team was torn apart. One by one, they were overwhelmed by their Hollowfied comrades—until a shadow fell over the battlefield.
Two figures emerged: Kaname Tōsen and…
"Kaidō Hōsuke?!"
Shinji's voice shook as realization dawned.
The true betrayal was beginning.