"Captain Gin, you—"
Renji glared angrily at Gin.
Byakuya cut him off, voice cold as ever. "Enough. We're leaving."
Watching his retreating back, Gin's foxlike smile widened.
"The Human World… far more interesting than I thought."
He had assumed that with Byakuya's merciless nature, he would surely drag Rukia back. But only Byakuya and Renji returned — both injured.
"Was it Shinji Hirako, that useless fool? Or maybe… Kisuke Urahara?"
…
"Captain Aizen, that's how it went. Looks like your plan failed again."
Inside the Fifth Division, Gin reclined in his chair, smiling slyly at Aizen, watching closely for his reaction.
But before Aizen could respond, Kaname Tosen slammed his hand against the chair, furious.
"Byakuya must've held back because she's his sister! That's betrayal of Soul Society!"
Gin laughed in his heart. Betrayal?
Byakuya was nothing. The real traitors were the three of them — masterminds of the Hollowfication, controllers of Central 46 through Kyoka Suigetsu, guilty of countless crimes. If revealed, they'd rot in Hell for millions of years.
Aizen remained silent for a long time. Even he hadn't expected taking Rukia to be this troublesome.
Kisuke Urahara… That name flashed in his mind.
Finally, his tone sharpened. "Gin, Kaname — prepare yourselves. You two, and perhaps other captains, will be sent to the Human World."
Gin's heart skipped. So Aizen would move personally. Could Urahara truly withstand him?
…
Two hours later.
Within the First Division, the captains of the Gotei 13 gathered.
Mayuri glared at Byakuya, his voice sharp and mocking.
"Captain Byakuya, perhaps you'd like to explain why a simple mission resulted in you illegally releasing bankai?"
His experiment had been ruined when alarms blared across the Twelfth Division, all because Byakuya and an unknown reiatsu at captain level clashed in the Human World.
Even Kenpachi's eyes lit up, hungry for a fight. "Oi, Byakuya! You meet someone strong out there? Real strong? Need me to cut them up?"
Soifon snorted. "If anyone is sent, it won't be you, Kenpachi."
"What was that!?" Kenpachi snapped.
Shunsui quickly stepped in, smiling. "Now, now. She means you're… less suited for battle in the Human World. Too much collateral damage, you see."
Love's replacement, Sajin Komamura, ignored the bickering, his gaze heavy on Byakuya.
"Captain Byakuya, explain yourself."
Byakuya finally spoke. "I used bankai because I encountered an opponent in the Human World… equal to me."
The room went still.
Hitsugaya's eyes widened. "You mean… Urahara? Or Shinji?"
The youngest captain had heard their names but never fought them.
Even Yamamoto's gaze turned, measuring.
Byakuya shook his head. "No. It was a human who became a Soul Reaper."
Shock rippled through the room.
"A human?"
"A Soul Reaper?"
"You're serious!?"
They could hardly believe it. A human's lifespan was far too short. Even Hitsugaya had taken decades to reach captaincy, and that was with vacancies after the exile.
For Byakuya to claim a mere human rivaled him — it sounded impossible.
"Speak in detail," Yamamoto ordered.
Aizen's face was calm, but inside he wondered. Ichigo Kurosaki? Had the boy grown that fast?
"No. His name is Cole. Trained under Yoruichi and Tessai. His hoho and kido are at captain level. He can use high-level kido without incantation."
Byakuya deliberately concealed Cole's zanpakuto, only mentioning its overwhelming weight.
The captains all widened their eyes.
"Not even twenty years old!?"
"Shunpo equal to Byakuya, kido mastery up to number 99!?"
"Are you sure he's human?"
"Byakuya, this is no time for tall tales."
Byakuya didn't bother defending himself, standing cold and silent.
"A prodigy of that level… tied to Urahara and Yoruichi."
Yamamoto's eyes narrowed. Troubling indeed.
Ukitake coughed, his voice weak. "Commander, if he's truly that strong, then Rukia's matter must be handled cautiously."
Others nodded. A large-scale clash in the Human World could destabilize all three realms.
Aizen pushed up his glasses, tone warm. "Commander, I agree. For the sake of balance, we mustn't endanger the Human World over one Soul Reaper."
Soifon added coldly, "Exactly. A battle could devastate the Human World entirely."
Byakuya expected this. To Soul Society, protecting the World of the Living outweighed capturing so-called traitors.
But Yamamoto's staff slammed the floor, silencing all.
"Central 46 has decreed! Rukia Kuchiki must be taken back for trial without fail. Any other traitors encountered must also be captured."
For the first time, Byakuya frowned. "Commander… are you certain this order came from Central 46? Why was I not informed?"
As Kuchiki clan head, he should have known.
Tosen sneered. "Do you think Central 46 must consult you, Byakuya?"
Byakuya glanced at Shunsui and Ukitake. Their faces showed the same shock.
Why now? Central 46 had ignored exiles like Urahara and Shinji for a century. Why demand Rukia's arrest so suddenly?
Was she more important than captains?
Byakuya held his tongue. But Kenpachi, Gin, Tosen, and Komamura were eager.
"Haha! A captain-level human with a physical zanpakuto? Can't wait to feel that cut!"
"Ara, Byakuya, you wouldn't shelter this criminal, would you?"
"Betrayal cannot be forgiven. She must be judged."
"Justice of Soul Society must not be tainted."
With four captains pressing, Yamamoto struck his staff again.
"Then let us plan! Byakuya, you will not go. Gin, Tosen, Hitsugaya, Unohana — you will head to the Human World."
…
At Urahara's shop, word had already reached.
Kisuke frowned deeply. "This isn't right. Central 46 doesn't move like this. It feels… manipulated."
Aizen's hand, surely.
Soon, Cole, Ichigo, Rukia, Uryu, Chad, and Orihime were called in.
When they heard the news, they were shocked.
"So many captains… just to capture me?" Rukia muttered, stunned.
Ichigo hefted Zangetsu. "Then let them come. We'll beat them all."
"Idiot," Uryu scoffed. "You can't even handle one captain yet."
"What did you say!?" Ichigo barked back.
Chad clenched his arm. "I've been training with Cole. I think I've discovered a new strength."
Orihime fidgeted, embarrassed. "I… I can only heal."
Kisuke shook his head. "You may not have time. Three days — that's how long until they arrive. I suspect it's also the window for Rukia to surrender herself."
"Three days…" Even Ichigo's confidence wavered. Could he grow strong enough in time?
Cole just smiled, clenching his fist.
"Kisuke, just help us train. We'll handle the rest ourselves."
"You plan to deal with this yourself?" Kisuke blinked.
"Yeah!" Cole's eyes burned. "If they come… I'll storm Soul Society itself!"
(End of Chapter)
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