To be blunt, Higashino Shuuichi was not happy with Kisuke's plan.
Even if it was partly his fault that the Kasumiooji family's rebellion happened early—and that Hollowfication appeared before the eyes of many Shinigami—forcing Central 46 and Genryūsai to treat this incident at a far higher threat level…
That only made it harder for Kisuke to spirit Shinji and the others—now Hollowfied and temporarily unable to fight—into the World of the Living.
But dragging Rangiku into this? That was going too far.
If not for Soi Fon's nature—there's no way she'd run—Shuuichi wouldn't have put it past Kisuke to wave the names of Yoruichi and Higashino Shuuichi to coax Soi Fon into helping them escape as well.
By the time Shuuichi heard about it, though, Kisuke had already acted first and explained later, just like he had with Kisaragi Shūsuke.
Besides, Rangiku herself did not object; she only begged to meet Gin once before they moved.
So Shuuichi could only give tacit approval.
Alone—one blade and one mask—he stood near the Eleventh Division sector of Seireitei and flared his reiatsu (spiritual pressure).
After forcing the weak nearby Shinigami to withdraw, he waited in silence to be encircled.
Yes—Kisuke's plan revolved around using the Hollowfied Higashino Shuuichi as the core.
Only a Hollowfied Shuuichi could force Genryūsai to order the captains to concentrate their focus on him.
Because Shuuichi wasn't just a Hollowfication risk. To Genryūsai, Shuuichi's ability to draw Hell's power onto himself was the truly lethal threat to Soul Society.
Only then could Rangiku seize an opening—slipping into the Twelfth Division barracks, which had just lost its captain and lieutenant, to steal the Senkaimon (World Gate) key that opened the way to the World of the Living.
As for Kisuke's team, their job was to block the two Shinigami Shuuichi absolutely could not handle at his current strength.
"So—just you two think you can handle the old man?"
A pressure hit like a falling star before Genryūsai. Kisuke—still in a captain's haori—and Kidō Corps Chief Tessai appeared.
"'Handle' is too strong a word, Sōtaichō (Head Captain). Delay you for a little while—together, I think we can," Kisuke said, smiling, looking perfectly confident before the strongest Shinigami.
"Is that so?"
Genryūsai stamped down with reiatsu; the ground shattered.
"Seems Hollowfying a handful of captains has made you arrogant, Kisuke!"
His reiatsu surged outward—everything it touched broke and leveled.
"Nadegiri (Clean Slice)!"
At the same time, as the Eighth Division captain Shunsui strolled out—slow as ever after receiving the order—he suddenly stopped.
"Head of the Shihōin family—Yoruichi-dono. You're not here to reminisce with me, are you?"
Perched atop the Eighth Division wall, Yoruichi shed her captain's haori and dropped lightly to the street in a tight shinobi bodysuit.
"You got me, Shunsui. With your brains, you've noticed how many holes there are in this whole affair, right?"
Yoruichi made no move to strike—but neither did she drop her guard. She kept a measured distance from Shunsui.
"So what if I have, Yoruichi?"
Shunsui lifted his kasa with his left hand and turned to face her.
"You know very well—if you'd done nothing tonight, there might still be a way out. Instead, at the worst moment, you hit the Maggot's Nest, freed Kisuke and Tessai, and even unsealed Higashino Shuuichi's Zanpakutō without Sōtaichō's permission. You know how dangerous that man's power is. I don't need to explain it."
"The Kabuma clan head said she'll help keep it under control.
And if I did nothing tonight—what would the mastermind do next? His target is Kisuke. If I hadn't moved first, by tomorrow we might be hearing about Kisuke's death."
Yoruichi shook her head, rejecting Shunsui's logic.
"It's the same now, Yoruichi. You don't seriously think that keeping me here means you and Kisuke can leave safely, do you?"
A keen light slid through Shunsui's eyes. "If I'm right, those Hollowfied Shinigami are all in no condition to fight, correct?
Higashino Shuuichi is the lure—to pull all our captains' attention—so you can accomplish another aim. Let me guess: the Senkaimon stored in the Twelfth Division, right?"
Yoruichi didn't answer. Silence was the answer.
Shunsui knew he'd hit it. "But Yoruichi, on paper your plan looks fine. In execution, there's a fatal problem.
With just the four of you, how are you going to hold out until the Senkaimon opens?
Right now, Soul Society has fewer captains—but not fewer captain-class fighters."
Yoruichi's silence deepened.
She didn't know why she and Kisuke had let themselves believe Shuuichi's line: "If you can just stall Sōtaichō and Shunsui for me, I can definitely buy time." It sounded like a boast—and maybe it was.
But at this point, all she could do was trust Higashino Shuuichi. Otherwise, she'd have to abandon Shinji and the others—take only Kisuke, Tessai, and Shuuichi, the ones still lucid and combat-capable, and hide—then look for another chance to flee to the World of the Living.
Because once tonight passed, the Shihōin estate would be searched without fail. Outside of the Shihōin grounds, where could she stash Shinji's group without risking a sudden violent outbreak?
And if they gave up on Shinji's group now—wouldn't that make all of Kisuke's efforts for nothing?
"Whatever happens, Shunsui—wait here with me."
In the lonely night air, Yoruichi finally said it.
Shunsui agreed without hesitation.
"After all, I want her to live too."
In the words he couldn't say out loud lay his deep apology to his lieutenant, Lisa Yadomaru.
If he hadn't hesitated back then—if he'd told Lisa to stay with him—she might not be in this limbo between life and death.
So even without Yoruichi pulling this tonight—so long as he confirmed Kisuke really intended to run and not harm Soul Society further—Shunsui had already decided to let them slip the net.
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