"Ugh, even after being caught, these guys are still so annoying."
Listening to Haineko and Tobiume's noisy clamor, Rangiku couldn't help but run her fingers through her hair in frustration.
"Heh heh..."
Momo responded with an awkward laugh, then said to the other Shinigami present, "Well then, I'll trouble you to escort Tobiume and Haineko to the 4th Division barracks."
"Yes, Lieutenant Hinamori. We will safely escort them to their destination."
The Shinigami quickly replied respectfully.
"What?! Handing us over to someone else? Where are you two going?!"
Haineko demanded loudly.
"You two heartless creatures!!"
Tobiume shouted angrily as well.
But before they could continue their protests, the Shinigami tasked with escorting them pushed the cart away.
"Hey..."
Haineko and Tobiume's voices faded into the distance.
"Ahh, Haineko's annoying voice is finally gone."
Rangiku made a face.
Logically, defeating a Zanpakuto and making them submit again should return them to normal. But although Rangiku and Momo had defeated their Zanpakuto, Haineko and Tobiume still showed hostility.
This was because Rangiku and Momo hadn't defeated them through sheer force, but by using strategy and capturing them with Kido.
So, despite losing, Haineko and Tobiume weren't convinced.
Of course, the method used to defeat the Zanpakuto wasn't too important... what mattered was making them 'accept' the defeat. Since Haineko and Tobiume had been captured through trickery and were still 'unconvinced' deep down, Rangiku and Momo remained targets of their Zanpakuto's hostility and couldn't reclaim them. So, they had no choice but to have them transported back for now.
"Rangiku-san, we should head back to the 10th Division too. Now that Shiro-chan is stationed at the 4th Division overseeing everything, we have to temporarily manage the 10th Division's affairs ourselves."
Momo said, taking Rangiku's hand.
"Sigh!"
Hearing Momo's words, Rangiku couldn't help but sigh. "Momo, just looking at those documents gives me a headache. Maybe we should go capture some other Zanpakuto instead..."
Momo refused without hesitation. "No way! Shiro-chan said that if a Zanpakuto is harmed by someone other than its master, it might never recover. So, aside from Captain Kurotsuchi capturing some for experiments, other Zanpakuto should be left for their owners to deal with. We shouldn't interfere. Let's head back to the 10th Division and handle the work."
"Sigh! Alright, alright."
Rangiku reluctantly agreed.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
After they left, their figures vanishing in an instant, a shadow flickered and disappeared behind a large tree in the area.
...
Elsewhere.
The Shinigami escorting the cart holding Haineko and Tobiume continued on their way to the 4th Division.
"Hey, what do you think will happen to Lieutenant Matsumoto and Lieutenant Hinamori's Zanpakuto once they get to the 4th Division?"
"Beats me. If they're lucky, maybe they'll be locked up temporarily until we find a way to resolve the rebellion. If they're unlucky, maybe they'll end up as test samples for Captain Kurotsuchi."
"Eww… sent to Captain Kurotsuchi! That's terrifying. Just thinking about it makes me shiver."
"Well, I don't think that'll happen. They are Lieutenant Matsumoto and Lieutenant Hinamori's Zanpakuto. With the Captain-Commander gone, Captain Hitsugaya holds the highest authority in the Soul Society. And Lieutenant Matsumoto and Lieutenant Hinamori are Captain Hitsugaya's subordinates, close to him. Even Captain Kurotsuchi probably wouldn't dare target their Zanpakuto, right?"
"Hmm, that makes sense... Huh?"
Suddenly, one of the Shinigami stopped, a questioning look on his face.
"What's wrong?"
The others asked, puzzled.
"I think I sense Captain Kuchiki's Reiatsu..."
The Shinigami said uncertainly.
What happened next confirmed his guess. A handsome young man wearing a Kenseikan and a scarf approached them. It was the Captain of the 6th Division, Kuchiki Byakuya.
"Captain... Captain Kuchiki! Please forgive our rudeness!"
The Shinigami straightened up and respectfully greeted Byakuya.
But Byakuya, his expression cold and proud, didn't acknowledge them.
The Shinigami were puzzled. If it were just him not responding, that might be understandable, given Byakuya was not only the Captain of the 6th Division but also the head of the Kuchiki Clan, the foremost of the Four Great Noble Houses, a man of high status and known for his aloofness.
However, Byakuya had been missing since the Zanpakuto rebellion began, with no news of him. Now he suddenly appeared, and before them, insignificant soldiers.
This was certainly strange. Even if Byakuya had encountered some trouble and could only now return, he should go back to the Gotei 13 first, not seek out low-ranking soldiers like them.
Thinking this, one Shinigami couldn't help but ask, "Captain Kuchiki, you were earlier..."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Byakuya's figure flickered rapidly.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The Shinigami collapsed instantly, not even seeing Byakuya's movements.
"What!"
"What's going on?!"
Haineko and Tobiume stared in shock at the suddenly appearing Byakuya.
"You... you're Kuchiki Byakuya! Aren't you the Captain of the 6th Division? Why are you doing this?!"
Haineko asked, wary and confused.
Clang!
Byakuya drew his sword and slashed through the metal chains of the prison cart, then opened the door.
"Come out."
Byakuya said calmly.
Although utterly confused by Byakuya's actions, Haineko and Tobiume first stepped out of the cart.
"Why are you saving us?"
Haineko asked, puzzled.
"Because..."
...
Deep inside a dark, remote cave far from civilization.
"How is that old man Yamamoto Genryusai doing?"
Muramasa walked over and asked Katen Kyokotsu, Sogyo no Kotowari, and Minazuki.
"Same as always. He's sealed himself within a barrier. We can't touch him, but he can't sense the outside world either."
'Kyokotsu' of the Katen Kyokotsu pair replied.
"Speaking of which, Muramasa, don't you care about the other Zanpakuto going out to attack Shinigami? Given our current strength, we're no match for the Shinigami side. Sending them out to fight could very well mean they won't come back."
Kyokotsu asked.
"I have no choice. You should know this well. We Zanpakuto have been enslaved by Shinigami for so many years. Every single one of us harbors an intense hatred for them. Very few can restrain that hatred. Even if I tried to stop them, few would listen."
Muramasa said, sounding helpless.
"Well, what you say makes sense. But what I'm really worried about is, what if someone gets captured by a Shinigami, or is reclaimed by their master, and reveals our hiding place?"
Kyokotsu expressed concern.
"Don't worry. I've used my power to set up some precautions. If any Zanpakuto is reclaimed by a Shinigami, my power will affect them, making them forget about us."
Muramasa explained.
"And even if they do find us... that might not necessarily be a bad thing..."
Muramasa suddenly said, his expression mysterious.
Kyokotsu caught on. "You mean... actively reveal our position, lure Hitsugaya here, and then use..."
"Exactly. With our power, we can't break Yamamoto Genryusai's barrier. And Hyorinmaru refuses to cooperate with us. So why not actively use the enemy's power to achieve our goal?"
Muramasa, as if imagining something, couldn't help but smile smugly.
Just then, a commotion erupted outside.
'Hmm? What's going on? Have the Shinigami found us already?'
Thinking this, Muramasa quickly headed out.
...
At the center of the cave.
The cave where Muramasa and the others hid was divided into three parts: the outer area, the central area, and the innermost depths. Muramasa and the others usually stayed in the central area, while Katen Kyokotsu and the others guarded Yamamoto in the deepest part.
Now, walking from the depths to the central area, Muramasa saw that a Shinigami had indeed come. But it was only one.
"Kuchiki Byakuya! What are you doing here? Do you think you can defeat all of us alone?"
Muramasa asked.
"That's right! Shinigami, if you want to die, we'll oblige!!"
A group of Zanpakuto shouted.
The central area was where the Zanpakuto gathered. Many who had gone out to attack Shinigami had also returned. So, numerous Zanpakuto glared at the suddenly appearing Byakuya. The commotion Muramasa had heard earlier was due to Byakuya's sudden appearance.
Facing the hostile crowd, Byakuya calmly stated, "I have come to join you."