4th Division's Meeting Room.
Sui-Feng, Sajin, Kyoraku, Mayuri, and Jushiro arrived one after another.
Finally, Unohana also returned after leading Rukia and Hyorinmaru to find Sode no Shirayuki.
Then, as was customary, everyone lined up in two rows, standing in their respective places.
"Oh? What's this? We, who had some distance to travel to get to the 4th Division, have all arrived. How come Captain Hitsugaya, who was already in the 4th Division from the start, hasn't shown up yet?"
Seeing Toshiro hadn't arrived, Mayuri suddenly spoke sarcastically.
Having been frozen into an ice sculpture by Toshiro yesterday after cooperating to collect data, Mayuri felt deeply humiliated. Seeing Toshiro late now, he couldn't resist making some sarcastic remarks.
"Oh my, oh my, have a little patience, Mayuri. All the affairs of the Gotei 13 are now on Toshiro's shoulders. Maybe something delayed him a bit."
Kyoraku proactively spoke up to defend Toshiro.
"Hmph, honestly. He's only the Vice-Captain-Commander now, and he's already putting on airs, looking down on us like this. Who knows how arrogant he'll be once he succeeds to the position of Captain-Commander."
Mayuri said discontentedly.
Swoosh!
As soon as Mayuri finished speaking, the meeting room door opened, and Toshiro strode in.
"What's this, Mayuri? Do you have some dissatisfaction with me? If you have any complaints, say them to my face. Don't mutter behind my back. It makes you seem ill-mannered."
Toshiro stood at the head of the assembly, glancing at Mayuri.
"I..."
Just as Mayuri was about to utter some harsh words, he was silenced by a cold glare from Toshiro.
Mayuri had enough self-awareness to know he couldn't beat Toshiro. He also knew that with Toshiro's personality, if he kept provoking him, Toshiro would definitely make an example of him.
Although Toshiro probably wouldn't actually kill him, freezing him like a dog in front of everyone, just like yesterday, was certainly within the realm of possibility.
Seeing Mayuri had quieted down, Toshiro scanned the assembled Captains and spoke, "Apologies, everyone. I was delayed by some matters, which is why I'm a little late."
Earlier, Toshiro had intended to change out of his hospital gown and come straight over, but then he received a piece of news, which held him up. That's why he, already in the 4th Division, was the last to arrive. It wasn't that he was intentionally 'throwing his weight around'.
"Toshiro, we just had a Captain's Meeting yesterday. Why did you call us here again today? Is there something important?"
Jushiro asked.
"Indeed, there is an important matter I need to share with everyone."
Toshiro nodded.
Then Toshiro explained to everyone the method for reclaiming the rebelling Zanpakuto.
"So, by fighting your Zanpakuto and defeating them again to make them submit, you can return them to normal."
Toshiro said.
"I see..."
Jushiro stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Well, at least we've finally found a way to resolve the Zanpakuto rebellion. That's something, I suppose."
"But having everyone find their own Zanpakuto and make them submit again is an incredibly difficult and time-consuming task. And the Zanpakuto aren't just going to stand around waiting for the Shinigami to defeat them."
Kyoraku said with a grimace.
Toshiro, however, was unconcerned. "No need to worry. We'll just do our best. Currently, we Shinigami have the upper hand in strength. As long as we proceed steadily, find the hiding places of those rebelling Zanpakuto, and then mount a large-scale offensive, we can settle this in one decisive battle."
Unohana nodded. "That's true. But what if a Zanpakuto is accidentally killed by a Shinigami during battle and can no longer be restored?"
"Well, that situation is certainly possible. However, casualties are inevitable in battle. All we can do is try our best to avoid killing the Zanpakuto during the fights. But if casualties truly occur, there's no helping it. We can't just do nothing because we're worried about some losses."
Toshiro said sternly, appearing somewhat unsentimental.
However, none of the Captains refuted Toshiro's words, because everyone knew that casualties were unavoidable in war. Toshiro's approach was indeed correct. One couldn't realistically hope for a war with zero casualties.
Seeing no one objected, Toshiro asked Kyoraku, "Shunsui, do you have any leads on the hiding place of Muramasa and the others?"
The 8th Division was the intelligence division, so Toshiro had entrusted Kyoraku with gathering intelligence on Muramasa and the others and locating their hideout.
Upon Toshiro's inquiry, Kyoraku immediately replied, "Although we haven't found anything specific yet, they should still be within the Seireitei."
"This is because the Seireitei is protected by the Sekkiseki. To get out, they would have to use one of the four gates, or use a Senkaimon inside the Seireitei."
"No matter how bizarre Muramasa's abilities are, it's impossible for him to lead all the Zanpakuto and the sealed Old Man Yama out without being detected. So, for Muramasa and his group to leave, they would have to use the Seireitei's four gates or a Senkaimon."
"But we have focused surveillance on both the four gates and the Senkaimon. So far, we haven't found any signs of Muramasa and his group passing through. Therefore, they should still be inside the Seireitei."
"And, according to your orders, Toshiro, we've deployed a large number of personnel to conduct a sweeping search throughout the Seireitei. We've already covered quite a few areas. If we keep this up, it won't be long before we find their hiding place."
Although they hadn't found Muramasa and the others' hideout yet, continuing the search would make finding them only a matter of time.
"Good. Coincidentally, Zaraki and Ashido should be returning soon. Maybe they'll arrive just in time for the battle to surround Muramasa and his group."
Toshiro said.
"Zaraki?"
Kyoraku exclaimed in surprise.
Zaraki had been off somewhere on a rampage. Since the Zanpakuto rebellion began, no one had seen hide nor hair of him. Hearing news of him now, the Captains were naturally surprised.
And everyone knew Zaraki was a monster who, despite being unable to use Shikai or Bankai, still possessed peak-level Captain-class strength.
Given Zaraki's special situation, he was immune to any power loss from a Zanpakuto rebellion. Having Zaraki, with his peak-level strength, would undoubtedly greatly strengthen the Shinigami side, giving them an advantage in the fight against the Zanpakuto.
And Ashido's situation was similar to Zaraki's.
"Mm, that's right. We couldn't find that guy Zaraki anywhere before. Yesterday I made some inquiries and found out he'd gone to Rukongai to pick fights with Hollows. So I sent someone to Rukongai to find him."
"The reason I was late just now was because I received news about Zaraki. He and Ashido, who happened to be on a mission in Rukongai, have both received my emergency recall order and are currently rushing back to the Seireitei at top speed."
Toshiro informed everyone.
"That's good. With Zaraki and Ashido returning, our chances of victory are even greater."
Kyoraku nodded.
"Now, I will announce several orders!"
Toshiro's expression turned serious.
"Captain Kyoraku!"
"Present!"
Kyoraku stepped forward.
"Continue leading the search for Muramasa and his group. You must find their hiding place in the shortest possible time!"
Toshiro commanded.
Kyoraku: "Yes, sir!"
"Captain Sui-Feng!"
"Present!"
Sui-Feng stepped forward.
"Go inform the Kido Corps. Ask them to dispatch an elite unit to participate in the upcoming battle against the Zanpakuto."
Toshiro said.
"The Kido Corps? But they aren't subordinate to the Gotei 13..."
Sui-Feng hesitated.
The Kido Corps was an independent unit separate from the Gotei 13, not a subordinate department. It was under the jurisdiction of the Central 46.
"Don't worry, Captain Sui-Feng. Just go and convey my orders. I think they won't refuse my request."
Toshiro said confidently.
With the new Central 46 not yet formed and Yamamoto's whereabouts unknown, Toshiro, as the Vice-Captain-Commander and Acting Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, held the highest position in the entire Soul Society. So the Kido Corps probably wouldn't dare easily refuse Toshiro's request.
"Very well."
Seeing Toshiro so confident, Sui-Feng said no more.
"Finally, everyone go back and inform the members of your respective divisions. They can each seek out their own Zanpakuto, fight them, and try to reclaim them."
Toshiro said.
Although the Zanpakuto faction's strength was currently inferior to the Shinigami, and logically they should hide quietly, their intense hatred for Shinigami, fueled by Muramasa's power, meant they wouldn't stay hidden. They would come out to cause trouble and might even actively attack Shinigami.
This also presented an opportunity for the Shinigami to reclaim their Zanpakuto.