Whoosh! Whoosh!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
In an instant, over a hundred Shinigami flashed into existence.
At their head stood four figures: Vice-Captain Izuru Kira of the Third Division, Vice-Captain Shiba Miyako of the Tenth, Captain Sajin Komamura of the Seventh, and his Vice-Captain Tetsuzaemon Iba.
"Report!"
Chōjirō Sasakibe dropped to one knee, his upper body slightly bowed as he addressed Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto with crisp precision.
"The Third, Seventh, and Tenth Divisions are assembled and awaiting orders!"
"Hmph."
Yamamoto let out a heavy snort, his gaze sweeping across the captains and lieutenants present before issuing his judgment.
"Relieve Ninth Division Captain Fūjin Taichi of all duties. He is to be confined to his barracks. His responsibilities will temporarily be assumed by Captain Sajin Komamura of the Seventh Division."
He paused, then added coldly:
"As for the former Third Division Captain, Gin Ichimaru—detain him in the Repentance Cell (Shishinrō). Without my permission, no one is to approach him."
"Yes, sir!"
Sasakibe rose sharply and gestured forward.
"All units—move in! Detain them both!"
The crowd surged forward. Dozens upon dozens of Shinigami closed in, surrounding Fūjin Taichi and Gin Ichimaru completely. Blades flashed as countless Asauchi were drawn, their tips trained on the two men from every direction.
At the same time, Sajin Komamura stepped forward, positioning his massive frame beneath the Senkaimon, completely cutting off any possible escape route.
"My apologies, Fūjin… Ichimaru…"
Tetsuzaemon Iba approached with a pair of Sekkiseki handcuffs, his tone strictly professional.
"I'm acting under orders. Please cooperate."
"Sorry about this, Captain Ichimaru…" Taichi ignored Iba entirely, turning to Gin with a wry smile. "If I'd known it would end like this, I wouldn't have convinced you to come back."
"It's fine," Gin replied lightly, his usual smile in place. "From a safety standpoint, this is expected. For a 'traitor' like me, making it back alive is already a pretty good ending."
With that, he surrendered his Zanpakutō without resistance and extended his hands.
The cuffs clicked into place.
Escorted by several Shinigami, he was led away toward the Repentance Cell.
"Now then, Fūjin," Iba said, turning back and shaking the cuffs in his hand. "You're next."
"Idiot. I'm under house arrest, not a criminal." Taichi shot him a look. "If you're looking to settle personal grudges, pick another day."
"Fūjin! The Captain-Commander stands before you—watch your tone!" Iba barked. "I am carrying out my duty. This has nothing to do with personal matters!"
Even as he spoke, the memory lingered in his mind—
Back when Ichigo Kurosaki invaded the Seireitei, chaos had broken out, and everyone had been shouting to capture Fūjin Taichi. In the end… he and Ikkaku Madarame had been the ones beaten down instead.
"Enough."
Yamamoto tapped his staff against the ground, silencing the tension.
"That will do."
He turned to Sasakibe again.
"Chōjirō. Notify all captains within the Seireitei to assemble at headquarters in thirty minutes for an emergency Captains' Meeting. All others are dismissed."
"Yes, sir!"
Sasakibe departed at once. Meanwhile, Kira and Shiba exchanged confused looks before leading their respective squads back to their divisions.
"Iba," Komamura rumbled, lowering his head slightly. "You may return as well. With the Captain-Commander and myself here, Fūjin won't be going anywhere."
"Yes, Captain!"
Reluctantly, Iba withdrew the cuffs and left with his men.
Silence settled over the platform.
"Now then," Yamamoto said, his burning gaze locking onto Taichi, "with all irrelevant parties dismissed—you may speak freely."
"Explain in full how you brought Gin Ichimaru back."
His voice was steady, but the weight behind it was unmistakable.
"I will judge the truth of your account together with Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain Sajin Komamura, and Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi."
He paused.
"And in thirty minutes, at the emergency Captains' Meeting… I will deliver the final judgment. For both you—and Gin Ichimaru."
"?!!"
"?!!"
"?!!"
Each of the captains reacted differently—
Byakuya remained indifferent.
Mayuri's lips curled in faint amusement.
Komamura stood firm, fully alert.
Taichi, however, understood one thing clearly:
What he said next would determine Gin's fate.
He took a breath, thoughts racing—then spoke.
"Two days ago…"
—
Two days earlier.
Hueco Mundo, Area 10.
"Seeping crest of turbidity. Arrogant vessel of lunacy. Boil forth and deny. Grow numb and flicker. Disrupt sleep. Crawling queen of iron. Eternally self-destructing doll of mud. Unite. Repulse. Fill with soil and know your own powerlessness!
Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi (Black Coffin)!"
The moment Gin Ichimaru finished the incantation, the sky seemed to darken—
—and then it fell.
A massive black cube, shaped like a coffin, crashed down from above, sealing Fūjin Taichi inside in an instant.
"Taichi…"
The smile faded from Gin's lips.
For a brief moment, countless thoughts flashed through his mind as he stared at the pitch-black coffin before him.
Just how wide is the gap between you… and Aizen?
If you can walk out of that unscathed… then maybe—just maybe…
You'll prove yourself worthy.
Crack.
A sharp, brittle sound rang out.
Gin's eyes flicked upward.
Thin fractures began to spread across the surface of the coffin—one, then dozens, then hundreds—spiderwebbing across the black structure.
A blinding flash erupted—
BOOM!
The coffin shattered like glass.
Countless black fragments burst outward, scattering into the sky like a field of stars—only to vanish moments later, leaving nothing behind.
"Ichimaru Gin…"
Taichi stood there, sword in hand. With his free hand, he reached up and removed the skeletal mask from his face.
"My spiritual pressure has already surpassed yours."
His gaze sharpened.
"And with the power of the Hōgyoku… I'm now infinitely close to Aizen himself."
He lowered the mask, voice steady.
"So you can drop the act. Come back to Soul Society with me."
"Captain Fūjin… what nonsense are you talking about?" Gin smiled faintly, lips curving as always.
"I already told you why I came here."
His eyes narrowed.
"To kill you."
"Ichimaru Gin, don't be stubborn."
Taichi frowned, his tone firm but not unkind.
"Aizen's glory is already fading—he won't be standing much longer."
He took a step forward.
"But you're different."
"You're still young. Don't walk down a dead-end path with him."
A brief pause.
"So listen to me… come back."
"…Matsumoto Rangiku is still waiting for you."
"…"
At the mention of that name, Gin's eyes opened just a fraction wider than usual.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then—
"It doesn't matter anymore… whether I return or not."
His voice was calm. Too calm.
"Seireitei or Las Noches… it's all the same now."
A faint, almost bitter smile touched his lips.
"I've already become a sinner beyond redemption in both worlds."
"The ending is already set."
He lifted his head slightly, gaze locking onto Taichi.
"So now… there's only one thing left for me to do."
"…What?"
"To stake my life… and test whether you truly have what it takes."
Gin's smile returned—but this time, there was something sharp beneath it.
"To see if you're worthy… of carrying the hope of defeating Aizen."
A surge of overwhelming spiritual pressure erupted from him, distorting the very air.
"Don't disappoint me, Taichi."
His pale blue eyes gleamed like drawn blades.
"Because this time…"
"I won't hold back."
He raised his sword.
"Bankai—Kamishini no Yari."
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