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The camera slowly tilted upward.
In the end it landed on the two bodies lying on the hospital bed.
Muguruma Kensei…
Ōtoribashi Rōjirō…
Both had stopped breathing. Their pupils were blown wide from instant death, their corpses twisted in gruesome final expressions.
Obviously…
Just like the blond boy had said, during the brief moment when Kotetsu Isane questioned him, he had already used his "imagination" to silently kill two Gotei 13 captains.
The Living World
Outskirts of Karakura Town, inside the Vizard hideout.
"W–what the hell…"
The opening scene hit like a royal straight flush—no, like millions of nuclear warheads detonating at once inside everyone's chest. In a single instant, every mental defense they had collapsed.
"No way… seriously…?" Hiyori stared at the light screen, mouth hanging open. She shrieked before she could stop herself. "Kensei! Rōjirō! You two are like—"
She couldn't finish. Her lips trembled too much. The shock was overwhelming.
"!!!"
N–no… no way…
What the hell is happening?!
Why… why do I die right when I appear?!
Rōjirō stared dumbly at the screen, looking at his own now-lifeless body. His vision swam, and he almost passed out.
Compared to him, Kensei completely lost it.
He looked like he'd snapped, roaring hysterically, "Impossible! There's no way I die the moment I show up! And there's no way I'd ever put that captain's haori back on and play buddy-buddy with those idiots in the Gotei 13!"
He shook with rage and disgust.
The sudden shock hit so hard that even he struggled to process it.
Back in Soul Society
4th Division Barracks
"Hm?"
"How is it those two…?"
Inside the elegantly furnished, wood-scented office, Unohana Retsu sat by the low table. Even her face—normally calm and gentle as still water—was frozen in genuine surprise.
She was the original Kenpachi…And one of the few captains from the previous century still in service.
Seeing those two familiar faces appear again after so many years startled her no less than it had startled Kensei and Rōjirō themselves.
After all, the last time they'd met…
It had been almost a hundred years ago.
She never imagined she'd see them again like this.
"C-Captain… I… I swear I didn't know anything!" Kotetsu Isane sobbed beside her.
The moment she heard her own voice in the footage, she had dropped the teacup in her hands. Hot tea splashed across her cheeks, but she didn't even flinch.
She stood frozen like stone, staring blankly, utterly stunned.
Unohana sighed softly.
Seeing her lieutenant in such a state, she spoke gently. "Isane, calm down. I'm not accusing you of anything."
"But—"
Isane tried to explain, but Unohana cut her off sharply.
"That's enough. No need to explain. These scenes are from the future. They have nothing to do with you."
Perhaps it was the sight of her former comrades lying dead…
For once, Unohana looked truly serious. A faint crease formed between her brows, showing rare impatience.
She couldn't understand it.
Why had Kensei and Rōjirō—two men who had defected and vanished for decades—returned to the Gotei 13?
And before the blond boy killed them, what kind of enemy had they faced to end up so gravely wounded?
Everything…
Was a mystery that weighed heavily on her mind.
11th Division
"Heh…"
"If I'm not mistaken, that blond kid sitting by the bed is Gremmy Thoumeaux, right?" Zaraki Kenpachi stood up, grinning like a man thrilled for a fight.
Back when he joined the Gotei 13, Kensei and Rōjirō had already been gone for years.
Kenpachi had never cared about captain history anyway, so of course he didn't know them.
To him, they were nobodies—background characters.
All his attention was on Gremmy.
"I don't know what started it, but that scene looks pretty bad…" Ikkaku muttered with a tense expression.
For some reason, just watching Gremmy through the projected screen made every pore on his body prickle. As if that harmless-looking boy held a power far beyond imagination.
"Ah! Vice-Captain Isane's in danger! Isn't there anyone else there? Someone go help her already!" Yachiru, perched on Kenpachi's shoulder, clenched her tiny fists, genuinely worried.
But as her childish voice rang out—
Suddenly—
A sharp metallic sound sliced through the air.
A blade cleaved toward Gremmy's back with blistering speed.
At the same time, a familiar figure flashed into view.
"Wait… that's… Yachiru?!"
First they stared at the video.
Then they turned to look at the real Yachiru sitting right there.
Kenpachi, Ikkaku, and Yumichika exchanged wide-eyed looks as a cold shiver climbed their spines.
What the hell…?
Why was their mascot-like Yachiru appearing in the footage?!
The room instantly chilled over with unease.
Kenpachi's grin vanished. His expression darkened, brows knitting.
To him, Yachiru wasn't just important—she was everything.
Because the truth was simple:Yachiru was his Zanpakutō.A part of his very soul.
They relied on each other. They were inseparable.
So the sight of her rushing into danger alone…
Made Kenpachi's blood boil. The wild, dangerous edge in his gaze sharpened as he stared at the screen.
Meanwhile, the video continued.
"Hey, Shinigami…"
Gremmy casually twisted his body, dodging the ambush. He gently grabbed Yachiru's wrist, his tone cold and conversational.
"Imagine this for me."
"If the bones in your arm suddenly became fragile as a cracker… they'd snap pretty easily, wouldn't they?"
"Right?"
As the last word left his mouth—
The next scene made everyone's eyes go wide.
Crack.
A sickening snap echoed through the silence.
Right after Gremmy spoke, the bones in Yachiru's grabbed arm twisted and buckled at an impossible angle—bending on their own as if her body were obeying his imagination instead of reality.
The eerie sight…
Perfectly proved his earlier words.
Everything that happened…
Had been shaped by his imagination.
"..."
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