"Gosuke, how have you been lately?"
"Jushiro, weren't you supposed to be recovering? You came as well?"
"Captain Hikifune, you seem to be getting more and more beautiful."
"Long time no see, Captain Shihouin!"
"…"
Before the captain's meeting officially began, it was naturally impossible for the captains of the Gotei 13 to simply stand in silence.
After all, they were not strangers.
They were colleagues, individuals who shared the same responsibility: protecting Seireitei, maintaining the order of Soul Society, and safeguarding the balance of the Three Realms.
Although each division usually operated independently, opportunities for all captains to gather together like this were actually quite rare.
Because of that, once they met, brief greetings and casual exchanges were inevitable.
Voices rose and fell across the corridor as captains acknowledged one another, some with familiarity, others with polite courtesy.
Among them, Shunsui stood out the most.
He moved effortlessly through the group, exchanging words with nearly everyone.
Whether it was the noble-born captains such as Shihouin or Kuchiki, or those who had risen from common origins, Shunsui treated them all with the same relaxed and approachable demeanour.
His noble background allowed him to converse naturally with aristocrats, while his easy-going personality made him equally popular among those of humbler origins.
It was precisely this balance that made him something of a social center among the captains.
The group gradually made their way down the long corridor.
Their footsteps echoed softly against the wooden floor as conversation continued in low voices.
Finally, they arrived at the captains' hall.
The room was spacious and solemn, designed specifically for meetings of this level.
It carried an atmosphere of quiet authority.
For Shigure, this was his first time attending such a meeting as a captain.
Though his expression remained calm, there was a faint sense of novelty in his eyes.
After entering the hall, the twelve captains took their respective positions.
Behind each captain stood their vice-captain, maintaining proper formation.
Only Shigure stood alone.
The absence of a vice-captain at his side made him stand out slightly among the others.
Still, he showed no sign of concern.
After a short period of waiting, a heavy presence approached from outside.
Yamamoto entered the room.
His steps were slow and steady.
The wooden staff in his hand tapped lightly against the floor.
Thump!
The dull sound echoed clearly throughout the hall.
At that instant, the atmosphere shifted.
All conversation ceased.
Every captain straightened instinctively, their expressions turning serious.
From the tone Yamamoto had used earlier when summoning them, it was clear that this meeting was not routine.
Something significant had happened.
Yamamoto's sharp gaze swept across the room before settling on one individual.
"Captain Hikifune," he said calmly. "Please explain."
Leaning slightly on his staff, he signalled for Hikifune Kirio to step forward.
Hikifune moved without hesitation.
As she stepped into the center, her figure naturally drew attention.
Her presence carried a unique charm, and as she walked, her movements caused a slight sway that did not go unnoticed.
Several captains instinctively glanced in her direction.
Shigure also took a brief look.
Then, without warning, an unrelated thought surfaced in his mind.
He recalled how Hikifune would appear much later, after more than a century in the Royal Guard.
At that time, her once graceful figure would transform into something far more… exaggerated.
A completely different form.
For a moment, Shigure couldn't help but feel a strange sense of admiration.
After all, the reason behind that transformation was her role in creating food infused with spiritual essence.
The cost of that ability was her physical form.
To willingly sacrifice one's appearance for such a purpose, that level of dedication was not something ordinary people could achieve.
Of course, Hikifune had no way of knowing Shigure's wandering thoughts.
She focused on the matter at hand and began speaking.
"Through the monitoring conducted by the Twelfth Division across Hueco Mundo, the World of Living, and Soul Society…"
Her tone became serious.
"…we have discovered an abnormal phenomenon."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"In the Human World, the number of hollows appearing has been steadily decreasing."
"Not only that."
"Even in Hueco Mundo, the number of newly formed hollows has also begun to decline."
As soon as she said this, several veteran captains frowned.
Their expressions turned grave.
They clearly understood the implications behind such a change.
However, some of the newer captains looked confused.
Hirako Shinji, who had recently become the captain of the Fifth Division, raised his hand slightly and spoke without hesitation.
"Captain Hikifune," he said, "isn't that a good thing?"
"Hollows devour souls and threaten the stability of the world. One of our duties as shinigami is to eliminate them."
Behind him, Aizen stood quietly.
Although he said nothing, his eyes sharpened slightly.
Unlike others, he sensed that something about this situation was not so simple.
Hikifune sighed softly.
"Hirako, before answering your question, I need to correct something."
"The duty of shinigami is not to eliminate hollows."
"It is to purify them."
Her words caused several people to pause.
"Hollows are fallen souls," she continued. "When they are cut down by a Zanpakutō, they are purified and returned to their original state."
"Weaker hollows revert to ordinary souls and enter Rukongai."
"As for stronger ones… their spiritual power is too great."
"They are sent elsewhere."
She paused for a brief moment.
"Hell."
The room grew slightly heavier.
Hikifune continued.
"To understand this issue, you must also understand the relationship between Soul Society and Hueco Mundo."
"In many people's eyes, Hueco Mundo is a chaotic and dangerous place filled with evil beings."
"That is not entirely wrong."
"However…"
She looked around at the captains.
"Since the establishment of the Gotei 13, we have never attempted to destroy Hueco Mundo completely."
"All our actions have been limited to dealing with hollows that cross into other realms."
"And the reason for that is…"
She spoke slowly.
"Balance."
"Balance?"
Shinji frowned.
The word clearly did not answer his question; it only created more.
Behind him, Aizen's gaze deepened further.
He had already realized that this discussion was approaching something fundamental.
Something that touched the very structure of the world itself.
If he could understand it, he would be one step closer to the truth.
"Captain Hikifune," Shinji said, "what exactly do you mean by balance?"
Hikifune was about to continue.
But at that moment—
Thump!
The sound of Yamamoto's staff striking the ground interrupted her.
"Captain Hikifune."
His voice was calm, but firm.
It was a warning.
Hikifune immediately understood.
She could not continue.
Explaining balance would inevitably lead to deeper truths.
Truths about the structure of the world.
About the origin of everything.
And ultimately, about the Soul King.
If it's just in front of the captains, it's fine. Although the existence of Squad Zero is a secret, many captains still know about it.
But in today's captain meeting, vice-captains were also called over.
Such matters were not meant for vice-captains to hear.
She fell silent.
Yamamoto took over.
"When we purify hollows," he said slowly, "we are maintaining the balance of this world."
"You do not need to understand the full reason behind it."
"It is enough to know that this is the duty of the shinigami."
His gaze hardened slightly.
"However…"
"According to the Twelfth Division's observations…"
"There are now some remnants attempting to disrupt that balance."
*****
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I am working on the following projects:
✓ Killed For 100 Years in Hueco Mundo, Aizen Invited Me To Soul Society!
✓ Naruto: Senmei Asahi
✓ Naruto: Uchiha's Intelligence Dealer
✓ Naruto: The Fifth Hokage Is Naruto's Uncle
✓ Naruto: Who Made Him a Ninja?
✓ Bleach: In My Second Reincarnation, I Became The Ninth Kenpachi
✓ To Love-Ru: Spoiler Route [R-18]
✓ Naruto: The Accidental Incubus [R-18]