Beneath the forested slopes of Sōkyoku Hill—within the First Division headquarters, Genryūdō Hall—
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto lifted a teacup no larger than a coin. He brought it to his nose, inhaled softly, then took a measured sip.
Only after letting the flavor linger across his palate did he exhale in quiet satisfaction.
"…Excellent tea."
"…."
Seated across from him, Mayuri Kurotsuchi had both hands tucked into his sleeves, staring at Yamamoto with an odd expression. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
"Captain-Commander," he said, voice laced with thinly veiled irritation, "regarding the report I submitted last time—about the rogue Shinigami Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin being sighted in Karakura Town… you don't seem particularly concerned."
"Captain of the Twelfth Division," Yamamoto replied without even lifting his gaze, calmly pouring hot water over the lid of the teapot, "what makes you say that?"
"Captain Soi Fon was once the personal guard of Yoruichi Shihōin. And as for that cunning fox, Urahara Kisuke—her connection to him is… intriguing, to say the least."
Mayuri paused deliberately, studying Yamamoto's expression before continuing.
"So merely dispatching Captain Soi Fon to pursue them in the Human World… is far from sufficient."
"Captain of the Twelfth Division."
Yamamoto set down his teacup and opened one eye, fixing Mayuri with a steady gaze.
"If you have something to say, speak plainly. There is no need for such roundabout words before me."
"Captain-Commander, I do not question your judgment," Mayuri said smoothly. "I merely wish to eliminate as many uncontrollable variables as possible—for the sake of Seireitei."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Before that, however, I would like to ask—how did Central 46 rule on the matter of those former captains and vice-captains who call themselves the 'Visored'?"
"…Captain of the Twelfth Division."
Yamamoto closed his eyes again, his voice turning cold.
"The reason I sent Captain Soi Fon—who has past ties to Urahara Kisuke and Yoruichi Shihōin—to the Human World… was to convey my stance."
His tone deepened.
"As I have always upheld—those who betray Seireitei cannot be forgiven. Any act that endangers Soul Society will not be tolerated."
A brief pause.
"However… until the matter of Sōsuke Aizen's rebellion is resolved, no action is to be taken against them."
"That is my will."
"And the will of Central 46."
"…I see."
Mayuri, the so-called "great mind" of Soul Society, understood immediately.
So he didn't press further.
Instead, he shifted topics—with intent.
"Then, Captain-Commander… regarding Captain Fūjin's deliberate act of allowing an Adjuchas-class Hollow into Seireitei—"
His eyes gleamed faintly.
"You merely stripped him of his expedition supervisor role and ordered Captain Kenpachi and Captain Kuchiki to bring him back."
He tilted his head.
"Such leniency… is rather surprising, don't you think?"
The implication was clear.
Urahara, Yoruichi, and the Visored were being tolerated—for now—because they might prove useful against Aizen and his Arrancar.
But Fūjin Taichi?
As expedition overseer, his actions were not only gross negligence—but a deliberate act of allowing the 5th Espada, Nnoitra, to invade Seireitei.
Was that not, by Yamamoto's own definition, an act that endangered Soul Society?
Did that not make him… a traitor?
And if his punishment amounted to nothing more than a reassignment—
Then what, exactly, was this "justice" Yamamoto upheld?
"Captain of the Twelfth Division."
Yamamoto opened one eye again, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"Seireitei stands at a crossroads. This is a time when every capable hand is needed."
His voice carried weight.
"Without concrete evidence, do not rush to conclusions about anyone."
A pause.
"I am aware you bear some personal grievances against Captain Fūjin. But in truth, his actions have caused no irreparable harm—to you, or to Seireitei."
"So—"
"Urgent report—!"
A shout from the corridor cut him off.
Both men turned.
The doors burst open as Chōjirō Sasakibe, Vice-Captain of the First Division, rushed in, breathless.
"Emergency report! At Wangetsu Platform on Sōkyoku Hill —near the Senkaimon linking Hueco Mundo and Seireitei—two captain-class Shinigami have engaged in combat!"
"…What?!"
CRACK!
The teacup shattered in Yamamoto's hand.
He rose to his feet like an ancient pine, towering and immovable.
"Have their identities been confirmed?!"
"Heh… heh…"
Mayuri stood as well, clearly enjoying the unfolding chaos.
"That would be the third matter I intended to report."
He adjusted his sleeves.
"According to confirmation by the Research and Development Institute's communications division—"
"The two captains are…"
"Captain Byakuya Kuchiki of the Sixth Division…"
"And Captain Kenpachi Zaraki of the Eleventh."
"…Insolence!"
BOOM!
Yamamoto slammed his staff into the ground, a wave of overwhelming fury erupting from him.
"One after another… all of them disregarding the laws of Seireitei!"
His voice thundered.
"Do they take me for some harmless old relic?! Chōjirō!"
"Sir!"
"Notify the Third, Seventh, and Tenth Divisions—dispatch all available personnel to Wangetsu Platform immediately!"
His eyes burned.
"Captain of the Twelfth Division… you will accompany me."
Yamamoto Genryūsai had clearly been enraged by the private clash between Byakuya Kuchiki and Kenpachi Zaraki.
In rapid succession, he mobilized reinforcement squads, the Inner Court Guard, and even the patrol units.
"Understood!"
Chōjirō Sasakibe accepted the order and rushed out, while Mayuri Kurotsuchi couldn't help the crooked grin tugging at his lips.
Heh heh heh… someone's about to have a very bad day.
—
At the same time—
At Wangetsu Platform on Sōkyoku Hill—
After a prolonged standoff of crushing spiritual pressure, Kenpachi finally lost patience.
Without warning, he raised his blade and charged.
BANG!
Byakuya met him head-on.
Steel clashed against steel as sparks exploded into the air. In just a few breaths, the two had already exchanged dozens of blows—fast, brutal, relentless.
"Tch! Stop dodging all the time, Kuchiki!"
Kenpachi bared his teeth in a savage grin.
"Isn't putting down a brute like me exactly what a noble like you's been dying to do?!"
"Kenpachi."
Even as he parried each strike with effortless precision, Byakuya spoke calmly:
"End this now—before it draws unwanted attention."
"Tch! Then fight properly! Quit talking!"
For Kenpachi Zaraki, a born battle maniac, there were only two defining traits:
He got lost easily—
And he was violently rebellious.
The more someone told him not to do something, the more he had to do it.
And the more he did it—
The more exhilarated he became.
"Idiot…"
Byakuya sighed inwardly.
Reasoning with a beast like this was pointless.
What was the Captain-Commander thinking, assigning me to work with him…?
"Oi, Kuchiki! Don't zone out on me!"
Kenpachi's voice came roaring in.
"…Tch."
In an instant, Byakuya vanished with Shunpo, slipping past Kenpachi's attack. Reappearing at his flank, he struck—his blade aiming cleanly for Kenpachi's exposed side.
"Hah! Looking down on me, are you?!"
Kenpachi twisted his body with explosive speed. Using his height advantage, he swung his blade down toward Byakuya's right shoulder with crushing force—
CLANG!
CLASH!
Two sharp, ringing impacts echoed at once.
Kenpachi's triangular eyes widened—
Then his grin stretched even wider.
"Oh? So it's you."
At the same time, Byakuya's expression shifted ever so slightly as he stared at the figure that had suddenly appeared between them.
"…You are…"
"Heh… heh… heh… long time no see, Kenpachi. Byakuya."
Standing between them—
Taichi Fūjin.
In his left hand, he held his Zanpakutō Kujūkyū.
In his right, another blade—Ichi.
With both swords, he had blocked their attacks simultaneously.
"Tch. Taichi."
Kenpachi's brief surprise melted instantly into excitement.
"Even if it's you—if you try to stop me, I'll cut you down too!"
"This isn't the time to mess around, Kenpachi!"
Taichi shot back, then turned his gaze toward Byakuya.
"And you, Byakuya—aren't you supposed to be a noble? Since when do you act like some street thug, drawing your blade at every turn?!"
"…."
Byakuya said nothing.
But the pressure behind his blade increased—subtly, steadily—
As if he intended to cut Taichi down where he stood.
Caught between the two—
One drunk on battle, the other unwilling to yield—
Taichi found himself completely pinned in place.
He let out a long, helpless sigh.
Then tilted his head slightly, glancing behind him.
"Well then…"
His voice turned casual.
"What do you think of this little welcome party, Captain Ichimaru?"
"…?!"
"…?!"
Both Kenpachi and Byakuya turned at the same time.
There—
A man in a plain white haori approached at an unhurried pace.
Short purple hair.
Eyes curved into thin, crescent slits.
A faint smile playing on his lips.
Gin Ichimaru raised a hand in greeting.
"Yo. Long time no see, everyone."
..
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