A temporary captains' meeting had once again been convened.
This time, it was scheduled for the early hours of the following day.
Not out of any desire to delay things, but because the damage needed to be assessed—and the ripple effects of the recent chaos were simply too overwhelming.
Sasakibe Chōjirō strode quickly through the corridor, his face set in grim lines it hadn't worn in a long while.
Thinking back, the last time such solemnity had hung in the air might've been that upheaval a thousand years ago...
No time to dwell.
The First Division Lieutenant held the compiled documents in hand, head held high, and stepped up to the door.
"Pardon the intrusion."
As the door slid open, the few people inside all turned to look at him simultaneously.
Different from past meetings, there were many empty seats today... and even more people bearing visible injuries.
The remaining power of the Gotei 13—what was left—had gathered here.
"Chōjirō... we've been waiting."
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni sat at the head seat, his expression unreadable, his tone perfectly even.
"Give us a concise report."
"Understood!"
He quickly stepped forward and stood beside Yamamoto.
"In response to the recent events, with the assistance of the Second Division, we completed the full compilation one hour ago…"
"I will now share the relevant information."
"I ask all captains and colleagues to listen closely."
The intelligence compiled through the entire night was finally laid bare before them.
"At present, losses among captain-level personnel have confirmed three individuals."
"The 12th Division Captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, is seriously wounded… He is currently undergoing emergency treatment within the Department of Research and Development."
That particular incident mostly followed the original timeline.
Uryū Ishida and Orihime Inoue had infiltrated the 12th Division's domain and caught Mayuri's attention. Uryū had activated his Spirit Disintegration Glove and blasted Mayuri in front of everyone.
In a twisted way, this was fortunate.
After all, Uryū's glove roughly mimicked a youthful version of the Quincy Vollständig.
At this point, if one of the less combat-savvy captains had faced off against that kind of self-detonating Quincy... it might have ended in a death.
In that sense, Mayuri had acted as a lightning rod for danger.
"11th Division Captain, Kenpachi Zaraki, is seriously wounded... Currently being treated by the 4th Division, and has basically exited the critical stage."
Because of the sheer difference in strength, Ichigo Kurosaki hadn't held back.
The explosive heat and energy from the Cero had pierced through Kenpachi's unprepared body—ripping through flesh and organs alike.
Such a wound could only be endured by a war-crazed monster like Kenpachi, who could barely survive and self-stabilize.
Of course, Unohana Retsu's skills were also indispensable.
Though... what would happen when the two generations of Kenpachi came face-to-face again was anyone's guess.
Each report landed like a heavy blow.
And as if the fire hadn't been hot enough, these only threw more fuel into the inferno.
Even Yamamoto closed his eyes... Namu Amida Butsu. If even the Head Captain was at a loss...
"And this from nothing more than a Ryoka infiltration..."
But the bad news wasn't over.
Chōjirō's voice even began to tremble as he continued, his eyes shifting solemnly.
"5th Division Captain, Seiya…"
"After repeated verifications—"
"It is confirmed: deceased."
This was not just hearsay from one party.
In addition to Unohana's judgment, the entirety of the 13th Division had conducted further thorough investigation.
Compared to anything else—the Ryoka invasion, Rukia's execution—nothing was as grave as the death of Seiya.
This was no minor incident. It affected internal stability and involved too many key figures.
People, after all, are emotional beings.
The passing of some individuals cannot be summarized in one short, clinical statement.
A culprit must be found.
The truth must come to light.
Nothing else mattered to the Gotei 13 right now.
"Not just the body—even the soul has vanished entirely."
"This is too delicate a topic for open discussion at this moment…"
"But regardless, the conclusion remains unchanged."
Chōjirō's vague wording wasn't due to uncertainty—it was because of the topic hinted at at the end of the original timeline: Hell.
Those at or above captain-level, whose spiritual power was too immense to dissolve into the cycle of reincarnation, needed special methods to be guided onward.
Such knowledge, of course, required high clearance.
Considering this, Chōjirō had valid reasons for holding back the full truth.
But not everyone in the room understood.
Sui-Feng, her right shoulder bandaged, frowned and stepped forward, her tone sharp and cold.
"We're already in a captain-level meeting. What information is there that can't be said outright?"
Despite the aggression, Chōjirō did not flinch.
"Because the perpetrator's identity... is still unconfirmed, isn't it?"
After thorough investigation—
The matter concerning Seiya…
Like a bolt from the blue.
Sui-Feng's lips pressed into a tight line, and she returned to her spot, her face filled with restrained rage.
She had fought with Byakuya during the earlier chaos, yet still refused to reveal her whereabouts afterward.
As one of the primary suspects, the Second Division Captain now had no room to speak.
Chōjirō looked like he wanted to continue, but Yamamoto opened his eyes.
"Speak."
He paused briefly.
The old man's voice deepened, grim and low.
"What do all of you think?"
This wasn't a standard captains' meeting.
They weren't gathered just to share intel, but also to analyze, question, and reflect.
And perhaps... address some of the prior irrational confrontations.
The silence was heavy.
Then it was Sui-Feng who broke it first.
"My whereabouts are not for public discussion. But regardless... I would never do something as lowly as betraying a comrade."
"If I wanted to kill that bastard, I'd do it openly. Just like he would've."
Her words were hard as iron.
And while they might've sounded stubborn or unreasonable to some, the captains knew her well.
She was, if anything, predictable.
Kyōraku Shunsui, 8th Division Captain, a bandage on his face, glanced sidelong with a smile.
"There are a lot of people with very easy-to-read personalities here. But come to think of it... even knowing how stubborn you are, I still couldn't hold back. Guess I've got room to grow too~"
13th Division Captain, Ukitake Jūshirō, almost choked on his own cough.
"Cough—cough! You idiot! This isn't the time for jokes!"
"Self-reflection is vital for growth. Small, forgivable mistakes should be given space to breathe…"
Kyōraku turned, still smiling.
"Right, Captain Kuchiki?"
With the tension easing, the oppressive atmosphere loosened slightly.
6th Division Captain, Byakuya Kuchiki.
His entire neck was bound in thick bandages, still oozing spots of blood.
"...I apologize. I was too impulsive that day."
Sui-Feng's eyes widened.
"What?! You think a half-assed apology wipes away what you did?!"
10th Division Captain, Ichimaru Gin, cut in with a grin.
"But from Captain Sui-Feng's perspective, those kinds of words would be hard to say herself, wouldn't they?"
"Grgh…"
Touché.
7th Division Captain, Komamura Sajin, his head covered in a metal helm, murmured deeply.
"This matter is already shameful enough. Continuing to argue is useless… Let us focus on finding the culprit instead."
9th Division Captain, Tōsen Kaname, added gravely:
"Even so, we currently have no leads."
It's common knowledge:
To find the killer, you need evidence.
But right now, there was very little to go on.
And to gather more intel, new steps would need to be taken.
Before that, though—
4th Division Captain, Unohana Retsu, her hands folded, spoke with gentle solemnity:
"From the perspective of the victim, the body offers no further clues… The dead deserve respect. I ask you all to let Captain Seiya retain his final dignity."
At her words—
No one, no matter how cold-hearted, could bring themselves to refute.
Even Yamamoto cast his gaze downward.
Unable to speak further, the meeting ground to a tense halt—
Until:
3rd Division Captain, Aizen Sōsuke, broke the silence.
"Everyone... perhaps we should consider a different perspective?"
All eyes turned to him.
He was calm, though dark circles hung under his eyes. He looked exhausted.
Kyōraku blinked. "Captain Aizen... what do you mean?"
"Nothing complicated. I'm just suggesting we look at things from another angle."
Maybe his explanation wasn't the clearest.
So—
"Allow me to take a bit of your time."
"I was there that day. I heard Captain Unohana. I believed it too."
"I too thought someone from the Gotei 13 had suddenly attacked."
After all, what other reason could there be for Seiya's death?
He was once a captain who could easily defeat Sui-Feng. After all these years of growth, his power should've increased further.
In combat, it was hard to imagine anyone casually killing Seiya.
"But after much thought, I believe we've all fallen into a false assumption."
Aizen's voice remained even, his gaze steady.
"Could it be... that Captain Seiya wasn't killed at all?"
"Could it be... he was trying something—something that failed, and this was the result?"
This wasn't idle speculation.
There was precedent.
"After all, we've seen before—people who tamper with their own souls, only to suffer severe backlash."
Someone who disabled themselves through their own recklessness—perhaps a unique case.
The captains looked at one another, unsure.
But they couldn't quite shake the eerie dissonance.
Eventually, Byakuya spoke up.
"Even if Captain Seiya's own mistake led to this outcome... Why would he have been in that place?"
"That," Aizen said, "is the crux of it."
A trap, set ahead of time.
The first to fall in was none other than Byakuya himself.
Aizen pushed up his glasses, tone heavy, eyes glinting.
"I don't believe this was a single event. More likely... a layered, coincidental convergence."
"Captain Seiya's error may have served as bait."
"Drawing something lurking in the shadows into the light."
He raised a hand, pointing into the air.
"The enemy may have used Seiya's death to conceal something more important. A convenient coincidence, perhaps."
Sui-Feng ground her teeth.
"Just get to the point!"
Her patience had clearly run thin.
But Aizen didn't flinch. He simply coughed lightly and continued calmly.
"In short, I think it's time to change our thinking."
"Let's examine whether something within the Seireitei itself is quietly changing."
For instance...
"Don't you all think the Central 46's reaction this time has been... strangely calm?"
Not just a suggestion.
A provocation.
"Of course, this is just one example."
"How to investigate—I believe someone more qualified should lead that."
"As for Captain Seiya…"
Aizen paused.
"Perhaps we should speak to those close to him. Understand his recent thoughts, emotions..."
Maybe, just maybe—
"That might lead us to something new."
Still water, left undisturbed, never turns murky.
But Aizen Sōsuke—
Was no longer interested in remaining still.
After all...
Fireworks are only beautiful—
When they explode grandly.
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Powerstones?
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