Beneath Sōkyoku Hill, Amamiya Miyako arrived silently, his senses sharpened as he carefully searched for Kurosaki Ichigo's reiatsu. "Found him…" Miyako muttered under his breath. The wild, fluctuating reiatsu was unmistakably Ichigo's.
Tracing the trail, Miyako stepped into a hidden cave. His hand brushed the rough stone wall before he tore away the concealing kido barrier. Without hesitation, he leapt into the darkness.
"Another presence?!" Yoruichi Shihouin's golden eyes narrowed as she sensed the intruder. The earlier arrival of Abarai Renji had already been troublesome enough—unexpected, though fortunately not hostile. But now, with yet another figure entering, she couldn't help but brace herself for conflict.
A calm voice broke the tension. "It seems I've arrived just in time."
All eyes turned as Amamiya Miyako stepped out from the shadows.
"Amamiya… Miyako?" Yoruichi whispered in surprise.
Ichigo immediately pointed at him, anger flashing across his face. "Oi! You! Why the hell did you send Rukia back then?! Didn't you say you'd help us?! If you had just taken Rukia and escaped, then—"
Miyako cut him off with a sharp shake of his head. "Naïve… far too naïve." His tone was firm, but not mocking. His gaze slid past Ichigo, settling instead on the aged figure in the black trench coat who stood deep inside the inner space.
(Is that… Yhwach? Or at least, a vision of what he might have been when younger?) For a moment, Miyako felt his Zanpakuto, Zetsun, tremble faintly at his side. Yet he pushed aside the unease and kept his composure.
"Yoruichi-san, may I trouble you? Could Kurosaki-kun's training pause for a moment? I have something important to discuss with you all."
Yoruichi frowned, torn. Only minutes earlier, Renji had told her the grim news: Kuchiki Rukia's execution had been rescheduled for tomorrow. Time was already slipping through their fingers—Ichigo's training could hardly be interrupted now.
"I'm sorry," Ichigo snapped, tightening his grip on Zangetsu. "There's no time to waste! I'm finishing this training, no matter what!" He launched himself again into battle against his inner spirit.
Miyako sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yare yare… what a stubborn baka." His eyes shifted to Yoruichi and Renji. "Then at least, Yoruichi-san, Renji—listen to me carefully."
Renji hesitated. He didn't know the details between Miyako and Ichigo, but he could sense Miyako's intent was genuine. This was not a man trying to hinder them—he wanted to save Rukia too. Stepping forward, Renji listened intently.
"Tomorrow during the execution," Miyako began, his voice low but steady, "Captain Ukitake and Captain Kyōraku will use the Shihouin clan's Tenshi Heisō—Heavenly Armaments—to destroy the Sōkyoku outright."
Renji's eyes went wide. "What did you say?! Captain Ukitake and Captain Kyōraku are both going to save Rukia?!" He could hardly believe it. Two Captains, rebelling against the execution?
"And then?" Yoruichi pressed, though she had already suspected as much. She needed to hear the full scope of Miyako's plan.
"The Heavenly Armaments will shatter the Sōkyoku. Once that's done, the execution stand itself will be left to Renji and me to destroy. After Rukia is freed, the real challenge begins—we'll need to hold off the Captains and Lieutenants who move to stop us."
He paused, letting the gravity sink in.
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto will be occupied by his own disciples, Ukitake and Kyōraku. But the rest of the Gotei 13… we'll have to block them with our own strength."
"…I understand." Renji clenched his fists. "Then I'll take responsibility for destroying the stand. And Captain Kuchiki—leave him to me." His voice shook slightly, but his determination was real. He had planned to rely solely on his Bankai training before, but alone he had little confidence. Miyako's plan, however, gave him allies—Vice Captains, and even Captain-level support. His heart swelled with newfound hope.
"If that idiot over there manages to catch up," Miyako said, casting a glance toward Ichigo locked in battle with his Zanpakuto, "our fighting force will be more than formidable."
"No problem," Yoruichi smirked, stretching her arms. "In fact, this timing is perfect. I've got an old friend I've been meaning to pay a visit to. And besides…" Her gaze softened. "I believe in Ichigo. He'll make it in time."
Miyako's eyes darkened slightly. "…But you know the real problem, don't you, Yoruichi-san? Once Rukia is rescued, 'he' will reveal himself. He won't be able to resist anymore."
"…Yes." Yoruichi's voice carried weight, and for the first time, a flicker of unease crossed her face.
Their cryptic exchange left Renji visibly frustrated. "Oi, wait a second! What's going to happen after Rukia is saved? Yoruichi-san, what are you hiding? Even I can tell there's something more going on with this execution!"
"Calm down, Renji," Miyako said firmly. "Let me explain everything first."
Taking a slow breath, he stepped closer. "Yoruichi-san, did Urahara-san ever tell you about the true ability of my Zanpakuto?"
Her eyes flickered with recognition. "Your Zanpakuto's ability? Yes… Kisuke did mention it once. He said it resembled one of the divine artifacts of the Shihouin family."
"Resembles, but not the same," Miyako corrected her. His hand moved instinctively to rest on Zetsun's hilt. "Although it shares certain qualities, Zetsun's true power is something else entirely."
For the first time, Miyako's expression hardened. He had kept the true nature of his blade a secret until now. But with everything about to unfold in Soul Society, there could be no more holding back.
"…It's time I reveal Zetsun's ability."
He placed a hand over the hilt, his tone steady.
"My Zanpakutō, Shinya Zetsunen… its true purpose is to sever the will carried within spiritual power."
Renji's eyes widened. "Oi, Miyako! I thought your Zanpakutō was just about those arrows you shoot—that they could change direction or shape mid-air? That's what I saw with my own eyes!"
"That's only the surface," Miyako replied with a faint smile, almost pained.
He lifted his gaze, and his expression turned serious.
"Shinya Zetsunen is a Kidō-type Zanpakutō. The arrows I release are manifestations of my will. When they strike an opponent, they don't just pierce flesh or spirit—they disrupt the flow of intent infused in their reiatsu. In other words… it can isolate and cut off the will within their spiritual power."
Renji blinked, confused. "Tch… you're sayin' if the will inside reiatsu disappears, then—"
"The techniques created by that reiatsu will collapse," Miyako finished. "Their Kidō won't form, their attacks will weaken or even vanish. And against a Zanpakutō… it can temporarily sever the bond between blade and wielder. For that moment, the Zanpakutō's ability becomes useless."
Yoruichi's golden eyes gleamed with understanding. "So that's it… that's the hidden core of your power." She let out a low chuckle. "No wonder Kisuke chose to confide in you."
Renji's jaw tightened as he let out a low whistle. "Damn… to think there's a Zanpakutō that can even shut down another one's abilities. That's insane…" He scratched his head, looking a little envious. "My Zabimaru's just a straightforward close-range type. Doesn't have any fancy tricks like that."
But Yoruichi wasn't smiling anymore. Her tone grew sharp.
"However, Miyako… you've been under the effect of his Kyōka Suigetsu, haven't you? If he activated his Shikai from the very beginning, then hypnosis covers everything we see, hear, and sense. If we can't strike him directly, then neither your Zanpakutō nor my clan's tools will be able to counter it."
Renji's head jerked up, startled. "H-Hypnosis?! Who the hell are you talking about?!"
But the gravity between Yoruichi and Miyako left him frozen. Their serious exchange made it clear this wasn't the time to interrupt.
Miyako, however, kept his voice calm.
"It's alright, Yoruichi-san. Because when the time comes for him to capture Rukia, he won't use his Zanpakutō. If the Sōkyoku fails, his only remaining option will be Urahara-san's hidden item. At that moment… his guard will falter. And that will be our one chance to strike."
Yoruichi's stern gaze softened into a sly grin. "Heh… you're making me start to believe you can actually pull this off, Miyako."
Miyako only lowered his eyes. It's not that I can stop him… it's that I already have. That's why I'm pushing so hard to end this before it spirals further.
Renji, utterly lost now, finally snapped.
"Oi! Miyako! Yoruichi-san! What the hell are you two talking about?! What's this 'hypnosis'? Who the hell is 'he'? Are you saying Rukia's execution has been manipulated this whole time?!"
His voice cracked with frustration, but Miyako met his gaze squarely, his expression as serious as steel.
"Renji… what I'm about to tell you, whether you believe it or not, you must burn it into your memory. By tomorrow… you'll know for yourself if my words are true."
The weight in his tone made even Renji fall silent. A strange chill ran down the lieutenant's spine, as if he already sensed the storm about to descend on Soul Society.