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Shiraha's words made every captain in the chamber turn toward him with strange, heavy expressions.
If he was permitted to strike at others, why would they not be allowed to conceal themselves? A single blow from him was enough to erase Baidaomen entirely—so if he released his full strength without restraint, would it not risk the annihilation of all Seireitei itself?
"Then, how do you explain the incident Captain Ichimaru raised?" Yamamoto Genryūsai's voice rumbled like a storm.
Shiraha had gone to the living world alongside Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai, their mission to capture Rukia Kuchiki. Byakuya's own report stated that Kurosaki Ichigo, who had taken Rukia's Shinigami power, had already been stripped of his Soul Sleep and Soul Knot by Shiraha. Yet, according to Ichimaru Gin, Ichigo had shown no loss of spiritual power at all.
"I'm not certain about that," Shiraha replied evenly. "What I know is that I destroyed that human's knot and Soul Sleep at the time. My elder brother and Vice-Captain Abarai can both testify." He smiled faintly as he spoke.
"Well, Captain Shiraha," Ichimaru Gin answered with that languid smile of his, eyes narrowing, "Captain Kuchiki is your brother. Naturally, he'll speak in your favor. And as for Abarai… his bond with you is hardly a secret. The testimony of those two carries little weight, don't you think?"
The barb in Gin's words was obvious, and it drew frowns from Shunsui Kyōraku, Byakuya, Unohana Retsu, and other captains who trusted Shiraha.
"Captain Kuchiki," Yamamoto's deep voice cut through the tension, "can you confirm whether Captain Shiraha destroyed that human's Soul Sleep and knot after you arrived in the present world?" His tone was measured, but his eyes sharpened with expectation.
Yamamoto knew Byakuya's nature well. Kuchiki Byakuya would never lie on a matter of principle, nor would he bend for family ties if the truth stood against them.
"Head-Captain," Byakuya said, his voice calm and cool, "on behalf of the Kuchiki family, I assure you Shiraha has spoken nothing but truth." He cast Gin a frosty glance before continuing. "Although I cannot claim to know every detail of what transpired, I personally witnessed Shiraha sever Kurosaki Ichigo's Soul Sleep and Soul Knot the moment he arrived. There is no falsehood in this."
"The old man understands." Yamamoto's voice dropped low, the faintest nod betraying that he accepted Byakuya's testimony. If the current head of the Kuchiki family invoked the weight of his house as guarantee, the chance Shiraha was lying was negligible.
"Then let us turn to you, Captain Ichimaru." Yamamoto's gaze cut like steel. "You not only released your Zanpakutō but even invoked Bankai without authorization within Seireitei. How do you answer for this?"
All captains knew the iron law: outside of war, no Zanpakutō may be liberated inside Seireitei. A Bankai unleashed within the Court was beyond forbidden.
"No explanation," Gin replied lightly, smiling as if nothing were amiss.
Yamamoto's eyes narrowed to slits. "Nothing?"
"Nothing. It was my fault. I won't make excuses. Any punishment you deem fit, I'll accept." Gin brushed a hand idly through his hair, smiling as though surrendering to inevitability.
His words sent uneasy glances rippling through the room. Even Yamamoto himself allowed a flicker of surprise to cross his stern features.
"In that case, regarding punishment for Captain Ichimaru and Captain Shiraha—" Yamamoto began.
But before the words were finished, a piercing alarm split through Seireitei.
The shrill siren wailed across every barracks. Even Yamamoto's brows furrowed as the captains stiffened. That alarm sounded only for one reason: Seireitei was under invasion.
"Emergency alert! Emergency alert!" the voice thundered through the court. "Unknown intruders have breached the skies above Seireitei! All divisions, take defensive positions immediately! Repeat, emergency alert!"
"Intruders?" Aizen murmured, feigning surprise.
"Could it be those stray ryoka?" Zaraki Kenpachi bared his teeth in a wide grin, excitement sparking in his wild eyes.
Before anyone could stop him, Kenpachi charged out of the chamber, unable to restrain his lust for battle.
"Wait, Kenpachi!" Aizen called after him, but the Eleventh Division captain ignored him entirely, already sprinting toward the coming clash.
"We'll adjourn here," Yamamoto announced firmly, rising to his feet. "The matter of Captain Ichimaru and Captain Shiraha's punishment will be decided later. For now, all divisions take your positions at once." His staff struck the ground. "This meeting is over."
The captains scattered, vanishing through the chamber doors in rapid succession. Soon only Ichimaru Gin, Aizen, and Hitsugaya Tōshirō remained behind. Shiraha had left with Kyōraku and the others, though his Observation Haki lingered, sensing every movement within.
"The timing of that alarm," Aizen murmured, pausing beside Gin, "was almost too perfect." His voice was calm, his expression unreadable.
"I don't quite follow what you mean," Gin answered with his ever-present smile.
At that moment, Hitsugaya Tōshirō happened to pass by, catching their words. His eyes flickered subtly, suspicion glinting in them.
"Do you really think you can cover your tracks so easily?" Aizen's glasses caught the light as he spoke softly. "You would be wise not to underestimate me."
With that, he turned and walked away, his tone as steady as his measured steps.
Gin's lips curved faintly upward, the shadow of a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth—just as Hitsugaya's gaze fell upon him.
Shiraha, watching through his Observation Haki, could only shake his head. Hitsugaya was far too young, far too naive. What he had just seen was nothing but a performance. Aizen and Gin had staged their exchange for him deliberately, planting seeds of doubt. It was bait meant to direct Hitsugaya's suspicion squarely at Gin, leaving Aizen free to maneuver in the shadows.
"After tonight," Shiraha thought with a quiet smile, "Aizen will move to begin his feigned death."
As he stepped out from the First Division's barracks, intent on returning to the Seventh, a familiar voice stirred within his mind.
"Sign-in task: Register once Kurosaki Ichigo and Zaraki Kenpachi determine victory beneath the holy wall of the Sōkyoku Hill. Reward: Gojo Satoru template progress +10%."
"Check-in task: At the Senzaikyū, sign-in beside Kuchiki Rukia once Kurosaki Ichigo and Byakuya Kuchiki arrive. Reward: Gojo Satoru template progress +5%."
"Check-in task: At the moment of Kuchiki Rukia's execution, destroy the Sōkyoku bracket and shatter the fully released King of Destruction. Reward: Gojo Satoru template progress +3%."
The cold, mechanical voice of the system rang out clearly, and Shiraha's eyes narrowed in thought.
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