4th Division, General Medical Center, Underground Medical Cell 075.
A tiny butterfly fluttered its wings and drifted in through the ventilation opening near the floor.
"Wow, a butterfly." Uryū Ishida watched the white butterfly floating through the air. "It's beautiful... Is it spring in Soul Society now...?"
"Talking to a butterfly like that? He's seriously sick in the head." Ganju Shiba, wrapped in bandages from head to toe like a mummy, snorted. "You could go chase it, Uryū. Nobody would judge you."
Uryū Ishida instinctively stood up, but stopped halfway.
"You... are you kidding me?! Who goes around chasing butterflies?! And why are you calling me by my first name?! I don't remember us being that close!"
Ganju Shiba exploded with anger, looking like an enraged mummy.
"What?! I only suggested it because you looked like you were in bad shape! Thought it might help your mood! And who wants to be close with you anyway?!"
"Then why are you calling me so casually?!"
"That's casual to you? Your upbringing must have been freezing cold!"
Yasutora Sado stood between them with an innocent expression. He had no intention of stopping them. They weren't going to start fighting anyway.
All of them wore Reiatsu-suppressing handcuffs. Although the 4th Division had treated their injuries and their lives were no longer in danger, they had completely lost the ability to fight.
"Uryū," Ichigo Kurosaki said.
"Hm?"
"Your perception is better than mine," Ichigo Kurosaki said. His chest was wrapped in bandages, his brow tightly furrowed. "You didn't say anything because you didn't want us to worry, right?"
"Yeah..." Uryū Ishida's expression darkened.
The truth was, he really hadn't sensed anything.
Because his Quincy powers were disappearing.
After the Sanrei Glove was destroyed, Uryū Ishida's ability to gather Reishi had been pushed to the absolute limit. But he had no way to control that power. As a result, most of his Reiryoku had been lost, and even what little remained was slowly fading away.
Ichigo Kurosaki misunderstood his expression. He stared thoughtfully toward the narrow ventilation opening.
"That direction should be where the Sōkyoku is. I wonder what's happening over there right now."
"Muten..." Yasutora Sado said quietly. "He'll figure something out."
"Yeah. Muten always finds a way." Ichigo Kurosaki clenched his fists, feeling the same helplessness as always. "We came here to rescue Kuchiki, but now we're locked up here and can't do anything."
"Look on the bright side," Ganju Shiba said comfortingly. "At least we didn't make things worse. Not saving someone isn't failure. As long as no one has to save us, that counts as success."
Boom!
The wall above suddenly cracked open and collapsed.
Amid the group's startled cries, Rukia Kuchiki appeared above them with a smile.
"I'm glad you're all safe."
Ganju Shiba: "..."
"What are you standing there for?!" Rukia Kuchiki swung her Zanpakutō and cut through the handcuffs on everyone's wrists. "Hurry!"
Only then did the group snap back to their senses. One after another, they leaped out of the pit and followed Rukia Kuchiki and Orihime Inoue as they ran outside.
"Where's Muten?" Ichigo Kurosaki asked. "How is he doing?"
"He's still fighting," Rukia Kuchiki replied as she led them around a corner. "So we need to hurry and find him."
A Shinigami with short black hair, drooping eyes, and a tired expression waved to them.
"This way!"
"That's Hanatarō Yamada," Rukia Kuchiki said, gesturing for everyone to follow. "When we were in the 4th Division, he took very good care of both me and Muten."
"No, no, no!" Hanatarō Yamada waved his hands quickly while opening the entrance to the underground sewer passage. "You were the ones always helping me. I've always wanted to help you too, but I'm just too useless..."
"You're the one who helped us find them," Orihime Inoue said reassuringly. "And you even knew about this underground passage."
She suddenly paused, realizing something.
"Wait... that's not right. It wasn't you helping us. We forced you!"
If it was put that way, the investigation afterward wouldn't cause Hanatarō Yamada any trouble.
"Thank you, but this was my own decision," Hanatarō Yamada said, scratching his head. "If it was my decision, then lying to everyone else about it... that just doesn't feel right. So never mind."
"I see..." Orihime Inoue smiled. "You really are a brave person."
Hanatarō Yamada's eyes widened. The timid look in his eyes began to sparkle with light.
Rukia Kuchiki noticed the change in his expression and glanced toward Orihime Inoue.
Anyone would be warmed by Orihime Inoue's sunlight-like kindness.
She suddenly stopped and raised a hand, signaling the others not to move.
Ahead of them stood a man wearing a Captain's Haori, blocking their path.
Dark skin. Purple dreadlocks. Behind the lenses of his goggles were closed eyes.
Captain of the Ninth Division, Kaname Tōsen.
Born in Rukongai, he was blind, yet still rose to become the captain of the Ninth Division, the unit responsible for prison management. His strength and character were evident from that alone.
"Captain Tōsen..." Rukia Kuchiki took a deep breath. "You must have already noticed something is wrong. Someone in Seireitei is secretly plotting something. That clearly goes against your sense of justice. Even so, are you still going to stop us?"
"I am not the one obstructing you. You are the ones obstructing the path to peace." Kaname Tōsen slowly drew the Zanpakutō at his waist. "This meaningless battle should end. Cry, Suzumushi."
Rukia Kuchiki was just about to move when a strange sound rang out first.
Everyone's bodies stiffened instantly. A wave of dizziness struck them, and they lost their balance.
Kaname Tōsen pulled out strips of white cloth and flicked them through the air. The bandages spiraled into a circle, wrapping around everyone, including himself.
...
"That was... a hypnosis ritual, wasn't it?"
"Correct," Sōsuke Aizen said plainly. "The condition for activating complete hypnosis is having the enemy witness the moment Kyōka Suigetsu is released. Once someone has seen it even once, they will be under complete hypnosis from that moment on. Afterward, every time I release Kyōka Suigetsu, they fall into complete hypnosis."
"Once someone has seen it..." Retsu Unohana immediately thought of someone.
"It seems you've figured it out again," Sōsuke Aizen said slowly. "If seeing it once is enough to trigger hypnosis, that also means someone who has never seen it cannot be hypnotized. Such a person must remain under my control. That is why Kaname Tōsen has been my subordinate from the very beginning."
A strip of white cloth flew from Gin Ichimaru's sleeve and began wrapping around both him and Aizen.
"That's... Sentan Hakuja!" Isane Kotetsu realized they were about to escape and immediately drew her sword to stop them. "Wait!"
Retsu Unohana raised her hand to stop Isane Kotetsu.
"Stop."
"A wise choice." Sōsuke Aizen's figure gradually disappeared behind the white cloth. "After all, there's no way to be certain that what you're seeing right now isn't simply an illusion."