Hitsugaya's imagined iron fist did not fall. Of course, this wasn't because Kōe couldn't bring himself to do it; he really did want to smack the kid on the head.
It had to be said, having a good lieutenant could sometimes save one from a bit of suffering, just like right now.
Ichimaru Gin's Shinsō lay horizontally between Kōe and Hitsugaya, seemingly saving Hitsugaya. Of course, that was the truth. However, Kōe felt that the kid would absolutely never admit to such a thing.
"Should I say thank you?" Kōe asked, tilting his head. Ichimaru Gin tilted his head as well, looking as if he didn't care and the decision was entirely up to Kōe.
On the other side, Matsumoto Rangiku, who had just rushed over, did not share Kōe's relaxed demeanor. For her, being held at swordpoint by Shinsō was no laughing matter.
"Please retract your sword, Captain Ichimaru," Matsumoto said calmly while catching her breath. "And Lord Shihouin, if you still insist on this course of action, then I will be the one to fight you!"
'Actually, the one Ichimaru Gin wanted to save all along was Matsumoto, right?' Kōe glanced at the beautiful figure to his left. 'Am I really that untrustworthy? Even if Matsumoto charged at me just now, it's not like I would definitely hurt her, right?'
'What a love, as cold as winter snow yet so reliable.'
"I have no intention of fighting. I was merely forced to defend myself," Kōe said, shaking his hand and standing up as if nothing had happened. "You should be very clear on who attacked first, Lieutenant Matsumoto."
Hyōrinmaru's Reiatsu was hard to ignore even if one tried. Therefore, the one who struck first was definitely Captain Hitsugaya. Coupled with the fact that Hinamori was also lying on the ground, this was not difficult to deduce at all.
Thus, looking solely at the current situation, the one at fault could only be Hitsugaya.
'We've fallen into a trap.' Matsumoto really hated this feeling. She had a thousand questions but couldn't bring herself to ask them. Even if she did, Gin wouldn't answer. That was exactly why he was so infuriating...
However, Hitsugaya, having freed himself once again, lacked the awareness of having fallen into a trap. He swung his blade at Kōe once more. He had no intention of letting Kōe and Ichimaru Gin go; that had been true from the very beginning.
'This is what happens when you don't punch them when you have the chance,' Kōe thought. However, he had no intention of continuing this scuffle. He sidestepped to dodge a slash from behind, pushed off his heel to distance himself from Hitsugaya, and with a flash of his figure, appeared on the roof of the Squad 3 barracks the next moment.
"Cherish your life, Tōshirō. If not for yourself, then at least don't let Matsumoto's efforts go to waste."
"After all, someone has already gotten hurt because of you, Captain Hitsugaya." Ichimaru Gin picked up where Kōe left off, leaping up to land beside him. "Rather than relentlessly chasing after us, it would be better to take care of Hinamori first. Or perhaps, invite a few more captains over?"
"You bastards!" How could Hitsugaya endure such provocation? Matsumoto quickly stepped in front of him, advising in a low voice, "Please endure this for now, Captain! If we continue this conflict, the ones who get hurt will definitely be us, and Hinamori."
"A wise choice!" Kōe smiled once again. "I believe we will meet again soon, Matsumoto."
With that, Kōe turned and left first. Ichimaru Gin glanced back, softly dropping the words, "Don't follow us," before leaving as well. It just wasn't clear who exactly that remark was meant for...
"Captain, I... I'm sorry. I acted on my own."
Silence, endless silence. The words 'It's fine' simply could not leave Hitsugaya's mouth. He didn't blame Matsumoto; continuing the fight truly wouldn't have done them any good. Against Shihouin Kōe alone, he would have struggled to hold his ground.
Furthermore, even Kōe and Ichimaru Gin's words were right. He was the only one in the wrong, and that was exactly what he could not accept.
He could only blame himself for lacking the strength to avenge Hinamori and Aizen. But just as Matsumoto had said, he had to endure. Hitsugaya took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "Why are you here, Matsumoto?"
"Lieutenant Kaien told me everything. Shihouin... he is the true mastermind behind the second Hollowfication experiment."
"The second Hollowfication experiment? Does that have anything to do with what's happening now?!" Hitsugaya asked anxiously.
"I'm not sure. Let's take Hinamori back first, Captain." Matsumoto shook her head, seemingly unwilling to elaborate further. "I'll tell you the details after I get some rest, alright?"
It was to become a Shinigami like Kōe that she and Gin had desperately fought their way into the Seireitei. But now, that seemed to have been a mistake.
'I really want to sleep. How wonderful it would be to wake up and find out this was all just a nightmare.' Matsumoto looked up at the crescent moon hanging high in the sky. Despite being exhausted to the bone, she didn't feel sleepy at all.
These past few days had truly been awful...
"You looked quite angry just now," Ichimaru Gin teased unceremoniously as they darted through the Seireitei.
"And that's why you look so happy, isn't it?" Kōe replied.
"Me?" Ichimaru Gin waved his hand. "I'm always like this."
"Isn't it because your goal has been achieved? Thanks to you guys, that brat Hitsugaya hates my guts right now," Kōe replied with a matching smile, though his smile was rather cold. Trailing at the back of the group, Kira couldn't help but shiver.
The reason Aizen left that suicide note was never to frame him, but to divert the attention of the Gotei 13.
In his past life, Kōe had always found it strange. On one hand, Aizen wanted to push forward the execution process; on the other hand, he left behind this suicide note. Although the motive stated within was fake, it still highlighted a glaring issue: there was something wrong with Rukia's execution.
How could he guarantee that the execution wouldn't be canceled? Of course, having already taken control of Central 46, he was fully capable of ensuring it. But such an action was tantamount to asking for trouble.
As her direct captain, Ukitake would definitely run around trying to stop this bizarrely suspicious execution the moment he woke up. Add Hitsugaya Tōshirō to the mix, and that level of opposition was nothing to scoff at.
There was only one reason for this: aside from Hitsugaya, absolutely no one would assist him based on the claim that someone was trying to steal the Sōkyoku. This included Ukitake, who was dead set on saving Rukia.
This suicide note was fake from beginning to end. In the eyes of Old Man Yama and the others, it was practically a joke. It had nothing to do with who the real culprit was; the very idea of stealing the Sōkyoku was laughable enough.
Yoruichi had mentioned this before. The Shihouin clan, bearing the title of the Tenshiheisōban, not only possessed numerous spiritual tools unknown to outsiders, but they were also intimately familiar with the other spiritual tools within the Seireitei—and this included the Sōkyoku.
Whether the Sōkyoku truly possessed the combined Reiatsu of a million Zanpakutō was unknown. Perhaps it didn't, but it wouldn't be far off. Something capable of instantly evaporating a spiritual body and soul could never be considered ordinary.
But there was one crucial detail to note: the Sōkyoku itself was an instrument of torture, not a weapon. Based on this fact alone, wanting to steal its power was a complete joke.