Seireitei, 6th Division's Headquarters.
Renji walked through the corridor, his red hair tied into a bunch at the back of his head, his face full of mixed emotions.
"Good morning, Lieutenant Abarai." Several passing squad members stopped and bowed respectfully.
"Yeah." Renji simply acknowledged, not pausing his steps.
He reached the depths of the barracks, an area used to temporarily detain prisoners.
Renji took the corresponding key from his waist. The door clicked open.
"Renji-san, isn't today your day off?" The guard on duty was somewhat surprised to see him.
"I'm here to see the prisoner." Renji's voice was somewhat muffled, "Is she still being stubborn?"
Before the guard could answer, a cold voice came from the cell.
"I'm not being stubborn."
Renji waved his hand, signaling the guard to leave. He walked alone to the cell.
Through the iron bars, he saw the familiar figure.
Rukia sat with her back to him on a stone bench, wearing the white prisoner's garb, looking exceptionally small and thin.
"Then why aren't you even eating?" Renji's tone was irritable.
"Just not hungry." Rukia didn't turn around, but then, as if remembering something, a hint of teasing entered her voice, "Lieutenant-sama."
"What do you mean?!" Renji's eyebrows instantly shot up. He stepped forward, grabbing the bars with both hands, gritting his teeth, "You have a problem with me being Lieutenant?!"
"No, not at all." Rukia's shoulders shook slightly, a smile curling her lips. She slowly lowered her head, as if holding back laughter.
Then, Rukia's voice sounded again, clear and loud.
"Good luck, Lieutenant-sama."
"Your eyebrows look strange, Lieutenant-sama."
A vein bulged on Renji's temple.
"I'll kill you! Get out here!" He shook the bars madly.
However, the teasing voice from the cell suddenly turned subdued without warning.
"Renji..." Rukia's voice became very soft, "I really can't escape death, can I?"
Renji's shaking of the bars stopped abruptly.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something comforting, but ultimately...
"Of course." Renji's voice was hoarse, "Transferring Shinigami power to a human is a grave crime. You will be executed soon."
Inside the cell, a deathly silence fell.
After a long while, Rukia's voice sounded again.
"I see... that makes sense."
"You idiot!"
Renji could no longer hold back. He slammed a fist against the bars.
"Of course that's a joke!" He looked at the figure who had slightly turned her head, trying to make his tone sound lighter.
"Right now, Captain Kuchiki is probably at the Central 46, requesting a reduced sentence for you."
The Central 46 Chambers were the Soul Society's highest judicial body, responsible for judging Shinigami's crimes. They could mobilize the Gotei 13, and their verdicts held absolute authority.
"What will happen..." Rukia's voice was full of uncertainty.
"Idiot, that person is your brother!" Renji said with annoyance.
"No." Rukia's voice was cold, "He will kill me."
From the day she was adopted by the Kuchiki Family over forty years ago, that man had never once looked her directly in the eye.
To Rukia, Byakuya was a symbol of rules.
Therefore, when she committed a grave crime, tarnishing this family's honor, she firmly believed that man would erase a stain like her without hesitation.
Rukia buried her head deeply, her shoulders trembling slightly.
When Renji watched her like this, the irritation in his heart growing stronger.
Just then, Rukia's voice sounded again.
"Speaking of which..."
She paused, as if organizing her words, "Do you know Uchiha Sasuke?"
Hearing Rukia said this name made Reji stunned for a moment.
The image of that always scowling black-haired brat flashed through his mind.
"Ah, that brat..." Renji's expression became complicated. He released his tight grip on the bars and leaned against the wall, as if recalling something.
"How should I put it... that guy is pretty special." He scratched his eye-catching red hair, "When he first joined the 11th Division, he was just a wet behind the ears little punk, but he always had 'revenge' on his lips, acting like he was carrying some huge grudge."
Renji curled his lips, "You know how it is in the 11th Division. We're never short on those self-important types."
Rukia listened quietly without interrupting.
Renji continued, his tone growing more displeased, "And that brat's fighting style didn't fit in with the 11th Division at all."
"He always liked to mix in all sorts of flashy Kido during fights. You know, in our squad, using Kido is looked down upon."
The 11th Division is passionate about blade-to-blade combat, and in that environment, Sasuke seemed very out of place.
"His Zanpakuto is also completely different from the straightforward, heavy-hitting types in 11th Division."
"Is that so." Rukia responded softly.
"Back then..." Her voice was hesitant. She looked up at Renji, "Why did he attack Ichigo back then?"
She had been thinking about this for a long time.
Hearing this, the expression on Renji's face instantly became even more unnatural, even carrying a hint of jealousy.
He sharply turned his head away, avoiding Rukia's probing gaze, his tone stiff, "Who knows what that guy was thinking!"
But after a moment of silence, he still muttered, in an extremely reluctant tone, offering his own judgment.
"...Probably, to protect that orange-head."
Rukia's body jolted sharply.
Renji continued his analysis. "Although that guy's methods were a bit harsh, directly destroying that kid's Saketsu and Hakusui, he did leave him with his life."
"In that situation back then, if Captain Kuchiki had personally intervened..." He didn't continue, but the implication was clear.
Given Byakuya's personality, facing a human who dared raise a blade against a Shinigami, he would show no mercy.
The result could only be death.
"...I see." Rukia slowly lowered her head.
Only one thought remained in her heart.
'Ichigo, you must survive...'
…
In Karakura Town, a figure moved between buildings at an undetectable speed.
"Hey." Sasuke suddenly stopped, his gaze falling on the leisurely black cat on his shoulder, "Why bother with those humans? It's unnecessary."
His voice was impatient. "Instead of wasting time on such boring matters, we should start the Bankai training as soon as possible."
In his view, Yoruichi's so-called plan to gather companions was utterly stupid.
'Whether it was that Quincy who used a bow or that orange-haired woman who only knew how to cry, they were all just half-baked.'
'Bringing them along would only increase the risk of exposure and slow down the entire operation's efficiency.'
"As long as that idiot and I master sufficient power, plus you..." Sasuke's gaze swept over Yoruichi, "Achieving the goal with the lowest cost is the most reasonable option."
Moreover, Sasuke himself was still an active 11th Division's Shinigami. As long as he behaved appropriately, entering the Seireitei wouldn't raise any suspicion at all.
This was the most crucial part of the plan, not forming some ridiculous rescue team.
"Oh?" Yoruichi spoke lazily, a hint of laughter in her voice, "Brat, you're thinking of infiltrating the Seireitei way too simply?"
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