"You two, Captain Aizen wants to see you in his room. It's an urgent matter!"
"?"
Shimiya Takeru and Ichigo exchanged glances, their sleepiness vanishing instantly.
When they arrived at Aizen's room,
they found Aizen in his pajamas, clearly having been about to sleep but disturbed by some urgent matter—a matter closely related to the Hell Butterfly resting on his finger.
"You're here. Let's skip the pleasantries; I'll be brief…"
Aizen's expression was solemn.
"Just now, news came from Central 46… the judgment regarding Thirteenth Division member Kuchiki Rukia has changed."
"It's been changed from one hundred years of imprisonment to… execution by Sōkyoku, to be carried out in one month. This is the final judgment and will not be altered again."
"What?!"
Ichigo's face changed drastically.
Shimiya Takeru glanced at him and asked, puzzled, "Logically, Central 46 wouldn't overturn its own decisions so easily… What happened in between, Sensei?"
"A dozen hours ago, Captain Ichimaru Gin of the Third Division submitted a report."
Aizen's voice was faint, and his words were astounding.
"He claimed that Kuchiki Rukia's body contained a dangerous substance capable of destroying the order of the Soul Society, and its name is… Hōgyoku."
"Central 46 investigated and confirmed it to be true, and therefore decided to destroy it using Sōkyoku.
"Why?!"
Sixth Division barracks, Captain's office.
Renji slammed the desk, ignoring the hierarchy as he angrily questioned his Captain.
"Why do they have to go this far?!"
"You ask why?"
Byakuya stood by the window, his back to Renji. Though his expression was unseen, his voice was filled with a heavy meaning.
"Because it's the Hōgyoku."
"So what exactly is that damn thing?!"
"A special product developed by Urahara Kisuke, the first Director of the Technical Development Bureau and Captain of the Twelfth Division—the mastermind behind the soul disappearance incidents that erupted in Rukongai a century ago."
Without dwelling on Renji's outburst, Byakuya slowly recounted the truth he knew.
"Its ability is… to allow Shinigami to gain stronger power through Hollowfication, that is, to break the boundary between Shinigami and Hollows, turning Shinigami like you and me into Hollows—an evil object."
"Urahara Kisuke used the common people of Rukongai as experimental subjects. Later, when the Seireitei discovered it, they sent as many as eight Captain-level powerhouses to investigate. However, they never returned, all falling victim to him."
"Central 46 originally intended to strip Urahara Kisuke of his spiritual power and exile him to the Human World, but unexpectedly, he was aided by another Captain-level accomplice and thus escaped from the Soul Society, his whereabouts unknown."
Thud.
Renji plopped down on the sofa, too shocked to speak.
Both Captains and Lieutenants belong to the Captain class.
But even if it were just eight Lieutenants, their complete annihilation at once would be an extremely terrifying disaster, not to mention the culprit was a Captain, with other Captains joining the enemy.
Given such an event, it would not be surprising if the Gotei 13 fell apart.
Rather, it was incredible that it didn't disband.
"You understand now, don't you, how dangerous Urahara Kisuke and the Hōgyoku he created truly are?"
Byakuya turned around and said to Renji.
"…Ah, but I can't understand how something like that ended up inside Rukia's body. Logically, they shouldn't have had any opportunity for contact… No, wait, could it be after she went to the Human World!?"
"Highly likely. The Gigai stripped off by the Technical Development Bureau has been confirmed to be handmade by him, and Captain Kurotsuchi stated that it has the effect of eroding spiritual power. In other words, the person who gave Rukia the Gigai never intended for her to use it to recover her Shinigami powers, but rather hoped she would completely become human… As for what benefit this would bring Urahara Kisuke, or why it had to be Rukia, these are currently unknown, and even Rukia herself is completely unaware."
"Damn it!"
Renji clenched his fists, wishing he could now draw his Zanpakuto, go to the Human World, find that bastard, and tear him to shreds.
He had already passed the most difficult hurdle. In the daytime, he was still proudly boasting that he would find a way to shorten her sentence, but in the blink of an eye, let alone shortening the sentence, her life was now at risk.
"By the way, Ichimaru… How did Captain Ichimaru know that the Hōgyoku was inside Rukia?"
…
"—This whole thing is my fault."
Accompanied by the rustling of insects outside the window, Aizen sighed:
"I was the one who reported the incident back then. Ichimaru Gin, at the time, graduated early from the Spirit Arts Academy in just one year with the top score. Although he was a genius, the first time I saw him, I felt that this person was very dangerous, as cold-blooded and cruel as a snake."
"It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was a born evil youth."
"I kept him by my side, trying to guide him to the right path, and also to supervise him. I initially thought that after witnessing such a cruel incident, he would have some awakening. Therefore, I later strongly advocated for his recommendation to become the Captain of the Third Division of the 'Support Squad,' so that he could use his power to protect everyone."
"Now it seems highly likely that his eyes were clouded by the power of the Hōgyoku, so he diligently investigated and collected relevant information, and eventually stumbled upon the whereabouts of the Hōgyoku."
"I don't know what ulterior motives he has, but there must be some unspeakable purpose behind this report."
"Visible betrayal is not terrifying; terrifying is invisible betrayal."
Shimiya Takeru lamented.
Ichigo couldn't help but ask, "Is there no way to remove the Hōgyoku? If it can be put in, there's no reason it can't be taken out, right?"
"Why take it out?"
Shimiya Takeru's expression grew even calmer.
"If it were a divine artifact that could bring positive benefits to the Soul Society, even if its origin was unknown, as long as there were no terrible side effects, Central 46 would certainly find every possible way, at all costs, to obtain it, even sacrificing Rukia."
"The Hōgyoku's effect is to Hollowfy Shinigami. Once obtained, it doesn't have much utilization value. Allowing it to exist would only add an unstable factor to the Soul Society."
"So, there's no need to look back; just destroy both the person and the object. After all, that person… is just a criminal."
"…"
Ichigo gritted his back teeth, desperately suppressing the anger in his heart.
He knew this wasn't Shimiya Takeru's thought, but the thought of those judges.
Therefore, the fire of anger burned brighter and brighter, unable to be quelled.
The highest judicial body of the Soul Society was actually a group of cruel and ruthless dictators.
This completely shattered his impression of the Soul Society up until now.
"Indeed."
Aizen also gently adjusted his glasses.
"This is the style of Central 46. It doesn't matter if it's crude, it doesn't matter if it's cruel; everything is for the greater good of the Soul Society. Everyone should consciously uphold the laws, and anyone who dares to dissent must be an ill-intentioned individual… That's what they proclaim publicly, and they also instruct the Onmitsukidō to secretly arrest Shinigami they believe harbor malicious intent."
"Regardless of whether this approach is correct, some cases, in my opinion, clearly have more appropriate handling methods. Furthermore, when nobles are involved, their attitude also becomes ambiguous."
"Right! Nobles…!"
Ichigo suddenly remembered something.
"Isn't Rukia a member of the Kuchiki Clan? Can members of the Four Great Noble Clans be so easily discarded?"
"As far as I know, the Kuchiki Clan has not raised any objections so far, and the noble alliance organization, the 'Golden Seal Society,' has also made no moves. If both parties protested together, I think this judgment would not have passed so easily, and then there would still be room for maneuver…"
Aizen's answer made Ichigo frown, utterly perplexed.
"How could this be… Never mind what that 'society' is for now, isn't Kuchiki Byakuya Rukia's older brother? They're both relatives of the Kuchiki Clan. Is he not going to do anything either?"
"Rukia is adopted."
Shimiya Takeru seemingly kindly reminded him.
Ichigo was at a loss for words for a moment.
"Things have come to this; we can only accept the outcome. I originally wanted to hide it from you, but I don't think that's what a teacher should do. Only by correctly understanding everything in the world can one grow."
Aizen's face showed an apologetic expression.
"No, Sensei, there's no need to apologize. Telling us immediately was the right thing to do, and we won't be so fragile as to be crushed by such a small matter. I said it in the great bathhouse; I've seen enough of that kind of thing in the Human World. Compared to that, I think Central 46 is just a bunch of rigid, pedantic, and incompetent fellows… They're practically bandits, even worse than bandits."
Shimiya Takeru finished speaking, then turned to look at the silent Ichigo.
"Brother Kurosaki, just say it: are you in or out?"
"…One month later, right?"
Ichigo looked up, his gaze firm.
"I also said it when I was soaking in the hot spring at the great bathhouse: I will protect as many people as possible."
"Rukia's tragic fate is happening right before my eyes; I simply can't ignore it."
"Besides, I promised Inoue that if I can help, I definitely will."
"I don't want to be seen as a boastful coward who talks big and then doesn't follow through."
"So, within the next month, I must learn Bankai… and then rescue her with my own strength."
Shimiya Takeru raised an eyebrow: "It sounds like you're planning to do it alone?"
"No, it's two people… After all, you definitely can't stand this kind of thing, so I didn't exclude you."
Ichigo's attitude was exactly the same as when Shimiya Takeru had seen through his thoughts in the Human World and waved him off—self-righteous.
"…Should I be touched that you understand me, or should I reprimand you for dragging me into this?"
Shimiya Takeru said, exasperated.
"I don't mind if you want to back out."
"Indeed, that fellow is a mere acquaintance to me; taking such a big risk to help her really isn't worth it. But if it's about not being able to stand what those people are doing, then that's another matter."
"I knew you'd say that. I was even worried you'd be more radical than me."
Hearing this, Ichigo showed a spirited smile.
"I feel your resolve. In that case, count me in too."
Aizen suddenly interjected.
"What?"
"…"
Shimiya Takeru and Ichigo looked at him in unison.
Aizen's smile remained unchanged, his gaze profound.
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