The 6th Division, known as the Noble Command Division, bore three duties:
First, to protect the interests of the Four Great Noble Clans.
Second, to ensure the Kuchiki family's hereditary captaincy.
Third, to oversee incidents within noble territories.
With Rukia being of noble blood, her case was highly likely to fall under the jurisdiction of the 6th Division.
That was something Soi Fong would never allow. She had to personally go to the Human World—and kill the man tied to Yoruichi Shihōin.
Byakuya Kuchiki's brow creased faintly. "Urahara Kisuke… Hōrin Tessai… Yoruichi Shihōin… these three…"
He didn't know much of Urahara or Tessai.
But Yoruichi he knew well.
He could say with certainty that a century ago she had no man. And if she truly knew Rukia's identity, she would never allow her such humiliation.
Yet that human man had spoken otherwise…
Byakuya's heart tightened with a cold suspicion. His expression frosted over, though soon after, a solution surfaced in his mind.
"If that's the case," he said calmly, "then let the 2nd Division handle this matter."
Soi Fong blinked, surprised at his quick concession.
From what she knew, Byakuya was a man of rigid resolve.
Why did he yield so easily?
"Captain Soi Fong," Byakuya said, his tone as cold as steel, "kill those two men. Bring my sister back."
His gaze lingered on her briefly before he turned and strode from the 1st Division barracks without hesitation.
Soi Fong frowned, puzzled by his reaction. But she had no time to dwell on it. Her eyes burned as she turned toward Yamamoto Genryūsai.
"Captain-Commander…"
The old man narrowed his eyes. After a long silence, his cane tapped softly against the floor.
"…Very well. Then you, Captain Soi Fong, will go to the Human World. Seek out Urahara, Tessai, and Yoruichi."
His body suddenly erupted with a suffocating blaze of reiatsu.
Soi Fong, Ukitake Jushiro, and Gin Ichimaru stiffened, as though swallowed in a boundless sea of fire.
Within that crushing aura, Yamamoto's voice was low and grim:
"If they refuse to comply… then I myself will drag them back to Soul Society and throw them into Muken to atone."
"Yes, Captain-Commander!" Soi Fong bowed deeply.
Leaving the 1st Division, Gin chuckled. "Captain Ukitake, Captain Soi Fong… looks like the old man's truly angry. Terrifying, isn't it?"
Soi Fong shot him a frigid glare before vanishing in a flash step.
Ukitake tried to speak but was overtaken by another fit of coughs, pale as death. Gin only smiled wider and strolled away.
—
Back in the 2nd Division, Soi Fong's icy eyes fell upon her vice-captain.
"Omaeda. Is the Senkaimon ready?"
The fat man waddled forward, sweating as he plastered on a grin. "O-of course, Captain. But… are we really going? Those three were once captains… If it comes to a fight, you might be fine, but me—"
"If you say one more word, I'll kill you where you stand."
Omaeda's face drained white. He scrambled to open the Senkaimon, the great wooden sliding door glowing with ancient power.
"Let's go!"
Soi Fong strode through. Omaeda, drenched in cold sweat, had no choice but to follow.
—
Meanwhile, in the 5th Division…
Aizen Sosuke adjusted his glasses as Gin finished his report, the light on the lens flashing coldly.
"…That human… his name was Cole, wasn't it?"
Gin's eyes narrowed slightly. "Captain, how did you know?"
Aizen gave no answer.
He had long kept watch on Kurosaki Ichigo—and by extension, the boy called Cole.
What he hadn't expected was that this seemingly insignificant human would throw such a wrench into his plans for the Hōgyoku.
After several moments of silent thought, Aizen spoke, tone gentle as ever.
"When Captain Soi Fong returns, notify me immediately."
Gin tilted his head, fox's grin widening. "So, you plan to seize what lies within Rukia, then?"
Aizen shook his head. "Not yet. When Soi Fong comes back, I'll visit Central 46 myself… and see to it that they render their judgment."
Gin's heart skipped a beat. So soon—Aizen was already preparing to move against Central 46.
Did that mean… he was certain Soi Fon would fail to bring Rukia back?
—
In the Human World, Karakura Town…
Cole knew nothing of the storm in Seireitei.
He grinned, eyes bright as he pulled open his system screen.
From the latest flood of spirit power, his unassigned points had passed thirty thousand.
A staggering fortune—nearly half his total stats. With the right allocation, he could skyrocket in strength.
"Reiryoku."
"Zanpakuto."
"Kido."
"Shunpo."
Which to strengthen?
His tongue wet his lips as his decision formed.
"Twenty thousand into reiryoku."
"Ten thousand into shunpo."
The moment he confirmed, power surged through him. His reiatsu swelled like a tidal wave, his Ruyi Jingu Bang growing heavier in his grasp.
His foot pressed lightly to the ground—then his figure vanished, reappearing in a blink atop a distant wall.
Rukia gasped. "Cole! You only just learned shunpo!"
Swish!
He appeared before her in an instant, smiling. "Guess it suits me. Before I knew it, I'd mastered it pretty well."
"…Impossible…"
Rukia's eyes dulled, disbelief consuming her. She had trained decades in shunpo, yet hadn't touched a fraction of his speed.
Cole chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Come on, I'll show you how fun it can be."
In her startled cry, his step fell—his body vanishing like a gale into the night.
"Ahhhh!!!"
...…
...
(End of Chapter)
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