Outside the barrier, only a group of increasingly agitated nobles remained gathered within the viewing courtyards.
"Hey, Yunoi! What exactly is going on here?"
The middle-aged noble who had earlier watched his own son bitten in half by a Gillian now seized Yunoi by the collar and lifted him straight off the ground.
"This entire event was hosted by your Kasumioji Family! How could something this outrageous happen? Ever since your Clan Head entered that barrier, we can't see a single thing inside!"
"What the hell is your Kasumioji Family trying to pull?!"
The man's voice cracked with hysteria as he vented his fury upon the Kasumioji retainer.
"Sasakura-kun, please calm yourself. Now that the Clan Head herself is trapped within that barrier, our Kasumioji Family is even more anxious than you are."
Yunoi replied with a solemn and righteous expression, though his tone remained measured.
But the other nobles were far from satisfied. Several even began surrounding the Kasumioji Family's ceremonial guards, voices rising in anger.
Some turned their frustration toward the Gotei 13 members stationed outside the barrier, glaring at Fourth Division Vice-Captain Yamada Seinosuke.
"You worthless Shinigami! Are you even capable of doing anything? You can't even break a simple barrier!"
At those words, Yamada Seinosuke slowly lifted his gaze.
The noble who had spoken froze the instant their eyes met his cold stare. Whatever insult he had prepared died immediately in his throat.
Just then, a shout echoed from the distance.
"Captain Aizen has arrived!"
The Gotei 13 members turned as one.
A tall man approached swiftly with Shunpo, his black Captain's haori fluttering lightly. He wore thin black-rimmed glasses, his medium-length brown hair neatly arranged, his demeanor refined and approachable.
Fifth Division Captain Aizen Sōsuke.
He stopped before the enormous barrier that covered several kilometers of the hunting grounds and observed it quietly.
"Interesting…"
Then, in the next moment, a trace of urgency appeared on his usually gentle face.
"Everyone, this barrier is extremely difficult to break. Please join forces with me!"
Thus, to those outside the barrier, it appeared that the Gotei 13 were working together with Captain Aizen, painstakingly attempting to destroy the barrier through combined effort.
Yet behind that illusion—
Aizen's expression remained calm and indifferent.
He glanced at the overlapping layers of barrier before him and simply raised a finger.
"Hadō #4 — Byakurai."
A bolt of pure white lightning erupted forward, thick as a man's wrist. It shot through the air like a divine blade cleaving the heavens.
The massive dual-layer barrier that had left numerous Shinigami helpless was pierced instantly by that single strike.
Crash!
The moment the barrier broke, a violent explosion tore through the opening. Reishi storms surged outward, kicking up clouds of dust that swallowed the entire hunting ground.
When the dust finally settled, the once-bustling battlefield had become eerily empty.
Only two figures remained standing at the center, supporting one another.
Ito Makoto.
Kazumichi Asayuki.
Both were covered in blood, their clothing torn and stained, their bodies swaying as though they had just survived a brutal life-or-death struggle.
"Clan Head!!!"
Yunoi and several Kasumioji attendants rushed forward in alarm.
"Xia Dalulu Head, where are our people?"
"Everyone…"
Kazumichi Asayuki's voice trembled with grief. Yet before any further questions could be asked, her body suddenly went limp, collapsing directly into the arms of the servants who had run to catch her.
Seeing this, Ito Makoto also swayed slightly—
And promptly collapsed as well.
...
"This is your dormitory in the Eleventh Division. There's no one else here. You can stop pretending and wake up now."
Yamada Seinosuke's voice drifted calmly into Ito Makoto's ears.
After a moment, Ito Makoto slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Yamada Seinosuke's half-smiling face.
"Alright, Ito Fourth Seat. That's enough acting."
"I've already examined your injuries. You do have quite a few wounds, but they're all superficial—most likely self-inflicted. The only slightly serious injury was on your right shoulder, but even that has already been treated with extremely skilled Kidō."
He folded his arms thoughtfully.
"You healed it yourself, didn't you? Your Kidō proficiency is quite impressive."
He then added with a faint sigh.
"I truly didn't expect that crazy woman Kazumichi Asayuki to let you live. That surprises me the most."
Hearing this, Ito Makoto simply sat up.
"So you already know everything?"
He looked at Yamada with a slightly annoyed expression.
"Not everything. Only part of it," Yamada replied casually. "The Tsunayashiro Family informed me."
At that, Ito Makoto was no longer surprised.
Given Tokinada Tsunayashiro's long-standing interest in these affairs, and the Tsunayashiro Family's control over the Great Spirit Library, it was only natural they would know the secrets of the Kasumioji Clan.
"Since you're awake, we should prepare to leave."
Yamada gave him a meaningful look.
"Leave? Go where?"
"Where else?" Yamada replied calmly. "Central 46."
"Nearly a hundred nobles died during this incident. You, me, and every Gotei 13 member assigned to guard the event must report there for questioning."
He spoke while calmly packing his medical instruments.
"What about Kazumichi Asayuki?" Ito Makoto asked.
At that question, Yamada paused and looked at him with an odd expression.
"The Xia Dalulu Head herself is a member of Central 46—the Eleventh Sage."
He let the words sink in.
"She interrogates others. No one interrogates her."
"…Eleventh Sage, huh?"
At that moment, many pieces finally clicked into place in Ito Makoto's mind. No wonder the once-dominant Kasumioji Family would later decline and fall under the influence of their retainer Yunoi.
"So relax," Yamada continued. "This entire incident was orchestrated by that madwoman herself. And most of the nobles who died were minor or declining houses."
"For the sake of her own reputation—and that of the Kasumioji Family—she'll certainly suppress the truth."
"In other words, this will end with little more than a formal reprimand."
Soon after, Yamada finished packing his medical kit. He turned back toward Ito Makoto with a suddenly serious expression.
"Actually… there is a personal matter I would like to ask of you."
His tone was sincere, and he even bowed deeply.
"I will soon leave the Gotei 13 to become the Chief Representative of the Shin'ō Reiyakuen within the Noble District. I would like Ito-kun to take over my position as Vice-Captain of the Fourth Division."
He continued earnestly.
"Your Kidō skill alone is already sufficient for the position. And since you come from the Eleventh Division, your combat strength is more than adequate. I believe Captain Unohana would appreciate someone like you."
"Please, Ito-kun."
He bowed again.
"Damn it… these people really love bowing."
Ito Makoto muttered inwardly.
But outwardly, he answered calmly.
"Vice-Captain Yamada, we are still under suspicion. Let's discuss such matters after the Central 46 interrogation is over."
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