Outside the barrier, a group of nobles anxiously gathered in the courtyard, their expressions filled with anger and worry.
"Hey! What the hell is going on?!"
A nobleman, his face twisted in fury. He was the father of one of the unfortunate souls who had been brutally torn apart by Gillians. His voice trembled with rage.
"This event was organized by your Kisumi family! How could such a catastrophe happen? Ever since your head of the family entered, we've had no way of knowing what's happening inside!"
"What in the world is your kisumi family doing?"
The middle-aged nobleman's hysteria echoed across the courtyard, his anger directed entirely at Kisaki, a retainer of the Kisumi family.
"Sasakura, calm yourself!" Kisaki said, trying to maintain composure. "The head of our family is trapped inside that barrier just like everyone else! Do you think we are any less anxious than you? Our Karakura family is suffering just as much!"
But his words did little to appease the nobles. Instead, their frustration grew, and they began surrounding the Kisumi family's honor guard. Some turned their ire toward the Death Team members who were standing helplessly outside the barrier, including the deputy captain of the Fourth Team, Kiyonosuke Yamada.
"You useless Shinigami! Can't you even break a simple barrier?"
Yamada Kiyonosuke turned his sharp gaze toward the speaker. The noble who had been yelling instantly fell silent under his cold stare.
Just then, a voice called out from the distance:
"Captain Aizen is here!"
The Death Team members turned their heads and saw a tall man approaching. He had medium-length hair, black-framed glasses, and an air of effortless grace. Clad in his captain's haori, he strode forward with an easygoing demeanor—Aizen Sosuke, the captain of the Fifth Division.
Aizen halted before the enormous barrier that stretched for kilometers across the hunting grounds. He studied it for a moment, then murmured to himself:
"Interesting."
But in the next instant, a trace of concern flickered across his face.
"This barrier is not easily broken. Everyone, lend me your strength!"
To the onlookers, it appeared as if Aizen and the Death Team members were working together to dismantle the barrier. But beneath this illusion, a different reality unfolded.
Ayanoshiro stepped forward, pointing at the shimmering barrier and chanting:
"Bakudō 4: Byakurai!"
A bolt of pure white lightning, thick as a pillar, shot forward like a divine blade slicing through the heavens. It struck the double-layered barrier—one that had previously rendered the Death Team helpless—and in an instant, Aizen's Byakurai pierced through it.
A deafening explosion erupted as the barrier shattered, sending a massive spiritual shockwave into the sky. Smoke and dust billowed in all directions. When the air finally cleared, the once-magnificent hunting grounds were in ruins. Only two figures remained standing amidst the devastation—Makoto Ito and Kisumi , supporting each other.
Both were covered in blood, their clothes tattered, their bodies bearing the marks of a harrowing battle.
"The head of the family!" Yunjing gasped.
The Kisumi retainers rushed forward, their faces stricken with a mix of relief and horror.
"Lady Kisumi , where are our people?!"
Kisumi 's voice was heavy with sorrow. "Everyone..."
Before she could finish, her strength gave out. She collapsed into the arms of a servant who had come to receive her.
Seeing this, Makoto Ito also crumpled to the ground.
Darkness.
Then, a voice broke through the silence.
"This is the Eleventh Division barracks. You can wake up now."
Makoto Ito's eyes fluttered open. The first thing he saw was Yamada Kiyonosuke's smirking face.
"Come on, Ito. Stop pretending. I've already examined your wounds. They may be many, but they're all superficial. Looks like you inflicted most of them on yourself. The only serious injury was on your right shoulder, but it was treated with an extremely precise healing technique."
Kiyonosuke leaned closer, his smirk widening. "You did that yourself, didn't you? You've gotten quite skilled."
Makoto Ito sat up with a groan, rubbing his temples. "How do you know all this?"
"I don't know everything," Kiyonosuke said with a chuckle, "but I do know enough. The Tsunayashiro family told me."
At the mention of that name, Makoto Ito immediately understood. So, the Tsunayashiro clan had already gotten involved. It made sense—they had deep ties to the Great Spirit Book Corridor and the Kisumi family. It was only natural that they would have their own sources of information.
Kiyonosuke began gathering his medical supplies. "Well, since you're awake, it's time to get going."
Makoto Ito frowned. "Going? Where?"
"Where else? To the Central 46 Chambers for trial."
Makoto's expression darkened.
"Nearly a hundred nobles died in this incident," Kiyonosuke continued. "You, me, and everyone involved in the escort will be brought in for questioning."
Makoto Ito clenched his fists. "What about Lady Kisumi ?"
Kiyonosuke's hands paused as he packed up his tools. He looked at Makoto Ito with an unreadable expression.
"The head of the Kisumi family is one of the Eleven Sages of the Central 46. She is the judge—no one can judge her."
Makoto Ito fell silent, his heart sinking.
The trial awaited, but justice was already out of reach.
Makoto Ito's eyes widened. "Eleven Sages? Ah!"
At that moment, he finally understood why, in the original timeline, the Kasudaru family—the most powerful among the Five Noble Clans—had ultimately fallen under the control of their own retainer, Yuni.
Yamada Kiyonosuke smirked. "So don't stress too much. This whole mess was caused by that crazy woman! And let's be honest, most of the nobles who died were just minor aristocrats, fallen houses without much power."
He leaned back slightly, his tone almost nonchalant. "She'll twist this whole situation to protect herself and the Kisumi family. What will probably happen is a slap on the wrist—a minor punishment, a stern warning, and we move on."
Having finished packing his medical box, Yamada Kiyonosuke turned to Makoto Ito, his expression growing more serious.
"That said, there's something personal I'd like to ask of you, Ito."
His voice was uncharacteristically solemn, and to Makoto Ito's surprise, he gave a respectful bow.
"I'll soon be leaving the Gotei 13 to take up a position in Rukongai as the chief acting director of Shino Pharmacy Academy. Before I go, I want to ask you to take my place as the Fourth Division's vice-captain."
Makoto Ito blinked. "Me?"
Kiyonosuke nodded. "Your healing skills are already on par with what's required for the position. And coming from the Eleventh Division, you have the combat ability to gain Captain Unohana's favor in the future. I truly believe you're the right person for this."
With that, he bowed again, his sincerity evident.
Makoto Ito groaned internally. Why do these guys from the East always have to bow so much?
Outwardly, however, he maintained his composure and responded seriously:
"Vice-Captain Yamada, we're still considered guilty parties in this situation. Let's get through the Central 46's interrogation first. Then we'll talk about promotions."
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