Soul Society, Seireitei.
The battle had finally come to an end, but Seireitei was anything but peaceful. A heavy, sorrowful atmosphere hung over the entire Soul Society, settling over its streets and buildings like an oppressive fog that refused to disperse.
Countless shinigami had lost their lives in the battle.
Although the quincies had been the first to withdraw, their retreat brought little comfort to the surviving shinigami. There was no sense of relief or gratitude that their enemies had finally departed. Instead, grief and anger lingered in the hearts of those who had survived the slaughter, accompanied by the bitter realization that many of their comrades would never return.
The Gotei 13 had fought desperately throughout the invasion, engaging in bloody battles against the Sternritter and managing to kill numerous quincies. Several captains had even confronted members of the Sternritter directly, fighting with everything they possessed to protect Seireitei from the invading army.
Yet no matter how many quincies they had killed, their victories could not bring back their fallen comrades.
The death of an enemy could not compensate for the loss of a friend.
The destruction throughout Seireitei was equally devastating. Several division barracks had been damaged or completely destroyed by the pillars of blue fire that had erupted during the invasion. The First Division barracks had suffered an even worse fate, having been directly destroyed by Yhwach himself.
Fortunately, the Fourth Division barracks had escaped the worst of the destruction.
After Urahara Kisuke brought Kenpachi Zaraki and Kurosaki Ichigo to receive treatment from Unohana Retsu, more and more wounded shinigami were transported to the Fourth Division as the fighting gradually subsided. The medical personnel were immediately overwhelmed by the sheer number of casualties.
Among the wounded were ordinary shinigami, seated officers, and even one of the Gotei 13 captains.
The strength of the quincy army had far exceeded the Gotei 13's expectations. Had Yamamoto Genryusai not provided them with the medicine capable of reclaiming a stolen Bankai beforehand, the situation would have been considerably more disastrous. Without that preparation, several captains might have permanently lost their greatest abilities in the middle of the battle, leaving them at a tremendous disadvantage against the Sternritter.
Even with the medicine, the cost of the invasion had been appalling.
Unohana personally attended to the wounded, doing everything in her power to stabilize the injured captains and save as many lives as possible. The situation was so severe that she even arranged for Yamada Seinosuke, a former lieutenant of the Fourth Division who had been transferred to serve the nobles, to return and assist with the treatment of the wounded.
Seinosuke was the elder brother of Yamada Hanatarou. In terms of medical expertise, he was among the finest healers in Seireitei, surpassed only by Unohana herself. It was precisely because of his exceptional abilities that the nobles had employed various means to secure his services at their medical facilities on Noble Street.
Under ordinary circumstances, no matter how severe the fighting in Seireitei became, persuading the nobles to release Seinosuke would have been an exceedingly difficult task. They would undoubtedly have prioritized their own safety and treatment, keeping the physician in their service rather than allowing him to return to the Fourth Division.
But these were no ordinary circumstances.
The nobles had suffered their own losses, and their influence had weakened considerably. More importantly, the Gotei 13 was facing a crisis that threatened the very survival of Soul Society. At a time like this, nobody had the patience to concern themselves with the pride and objections of the noble families.
After all, even Kuchiki Byakuya, the head of one of the Four Great Noble Clans, was currently receiving treatment in the Fourth Division.
If the head of the Kuchiki family could set aside his dignity and remain under the care of the Fourth Division, why should the nobles expect special consideration for a physician who had once served them?
Thus, Seinosuke was brought back to assist Unohana and the other healers.
The work continued for a long time.
Only after an exhausting period of treatment did Unohana and her subordinates finally manage to stabilize the conditions of the wounded captains. Even then, many of the injured remained in critical condition, and the medical staff had little opportunity to rest.
Eventually, inside one of the Fourth Division's wards, the surviving captains began gathering together.
Those who had suffered severe injuries remained in their beds, while the captains who could still move came to join the discussion. Kisuke was also present, accompanied by Hirako Shinji and the other former captains of the Visored.
Everyone understood that the quincies had only withdrawn temporarily.
The war was far from over.
"Although the Wandenreich has temporarily withdrawn its forces, we all know this battle isn't finished yet. What should we do next?"
Hitsugaya Toshiro looked around at the assembled shinigami, his expression unusually troubled. The young captain had witnessed the devastation firsthand, and the sheer scale of their losses weighed heavily on him.
Komamura Sajin, whose body was still wrapped in bandages, turned toward Kisuke.
During his battle against Bambietta Basterbine, Komamura had suffered severe injuries while attempting to withstand the terrifying effects of her Schrift, The Explode. Even now, the wounds left by that confrontation had yet to heal completely.
Despite his condition, however, the question that concerned him most was not his own recovery.
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto... Where is he?"
The moment Komamura asked the question; the other captains turned their attention toward Kisuke.
They had already learned that Kisuke had led Ichigo to intervene during the battle between Yamamoto and Yhwach. When the situation had deteriorated beyond what even the Captain-Commander could handle, Kisuke had helped Ichigo rescue Yamamoto and used a spatial transfer technique to move him away from the battlefield.
But they still did not know the full extent of their leader's injuries.
Kisuke's expression grew solemn as he looked at the assembled captains.
"Those of you who are still capable of moving, please come with me for a moment."
His voice was heavier than usual.
After everything that had happened, the morale of the surviving shinigami was already at a dangerously low point. He knew that the captains needed answers, but he also understood that some things were better explained in person than discussed in a crowded ward.
The captains exchanged glances.
Although several of them were confused by Kisuke's request, nobody objected. One after another, they rose from their seats or climbed down from their beds, preparing to follow him.
Ichigo had initially intended to accompany them. However, when he thought about his seriously injured friends, Abarai Renji and Kuchiki Rukia, he ultimately decided to remain behind.
He wanted to make sure they were safe before leaving.
There was another reason he could not bring himself to leave just yet.
Tensa Zangetsu had been broken.
Although Kisuke had assured him that there was a way to resolve the problem, Ichigo could not shake the feeling that the shopkeeper was withholding something important. Kisuke had always been good at concealing his true thoughts behind a relaxed expression and a few seemingly harmless words.
Ichigo had known him long enough to recognize when he was not telling the whole story.
For now, however, he had no choice but to wait.
…
Beneath Sōkyoku Hill lay an enormous underground training ground, hidden from the eyes of ordinary shinigami.
It was a place with a long history.
In the past, Urahara Kisuke and Shihouin Yoruichi had used this secluded training ground while working toward the mastery of Bankai. Kisuke had also made use of the Tenshintai during his research and training, and the underground facility had subsequently become an important location for those seeking to develop their Zanpakutō abilities.
Over the years, numerous individuals had trained within these walls.
After Kisuke and Yoruichi left Soul Society, the facility continued to serve as a secluded training ground. Mazuru had even used it to train Sui-Feng in Shunko, while Yoruichi later brought Ichigo here to help him master Bankai after his invasion of Soul Society.
The place had witnessed countless struggles, breakthroughs, and turning points in the lives of those who had entered it.
Now, after the devastating invasion of the Wandenreich, it was being used once again.
But this time, it was not for training.
"So, it really was hidden here!"
Sui-Feng glanced around the familiar surroundings, her eyes flickering with complicated emotions.
The sight brought back memories she had long since tried to put behind her. And once those memories resurfaced, it was difficult not to think of the woman who had abandoned her position in Soul Society and disappeared from the Gotei 13.
Shihouin Yoruichi.
Even after all these years, the name continued to stir feelings that Sui-Feng could never entirely put into words.
Kisuke stepped forward and raised his hand. After forming the necessary Kidō, he began dismantling the barrier concealing the entrance.
The spiritual barrier shimmered before gradually opening, revealing a passage that descended farther into the hidden facility.
Kyouraku Shunsui glanced at the newly revealed entrance and let out a quiet sigh.
"Well, this is certainly a surprise. I never imagined there was a place like this hidden beneath Sōkyoku Hill."
His light-hearted remark was an attempt to ease the oppressive atmosphere surrounding the group. Ever since the battle had ended, the surviving captains had appeared weighed down by their losses, and even the usually composed Shunsui could not entirely conceal his exhaustion.
Kisuke adjusted his hat before answering.
"This is where Yoruichi and I trained in Bankai. Since then, quite a few people have trained here as well. After I left Soul Society, I continued to regard this place as one of the last secure strongholds available to us within Seireitei."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Considering what happened today, I thought it would be better to bring everyone somewhere that isn't likely to be disturbed."
With that explanation, Urahara led the captains through the passage.
The group followed him deeper into the underground facility. The further they proceeded, the more the sounds of the ruined Seireitei faded behind them. Eventually, they emerged into the spacious training ground.
And there, waiting inside, were Sado Yasutora and Inoue Orihime.
Beside them lay an elderly man.
The moment Komamura recognized the figure, his eyes widened.
"Captain-Commander!"
Ignoring the pain that flared through his injured body, Komamura hurried forward. His movements were unsteady, but he paid no attention to his wounds as he approached the unconscious Yamamoto.
Kyouraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jushiro, two of Yamamoto's most distinguished disciples, immediately followed him. Both men looked deeply troubled as they examined their former teacher, their expressions betraying the anxiety they had struggled to suppress since the end of the battle.
The remaining captains also gathered around.
Seeing Yamamoto alive brought them a measure of relief. Although he remained unconscious, they could still sense his reiatsu through their spiritual perception.
It was faint.
Far weaker than the overwhelming spiritual pressure they had known for so many years.
Nevertheless, it was there.
The Captain-Commander was still alive.
For a brief moment, that realization allowed the captains to breathe a little easier. Even in his current condition, Yamamoto's survival meant that Soul Society had not yet lost the man who had guided the Gotei 13 for centuries.
Unohana stepped forward and knelt beside him.
Her expression remained composed as she began examining the Captain-Commander's condition, carefully assessing the injuries that had nearly claimed his life. The surrounding captains watched in silence, waiting for her professional judgment.
It did not take long for her to reach a conclusion.
Unfortunately, the results were far from encouraging.
Although the portion of Yamamoto's body that Yhwach had destroyed had been restored with Orihime's ability, Sōten Kisshun, the damage had been too severe to dismiss simply because his physical wounds had healed through her rejection.
A substantial portion of his body had been destroyed, and the injuries had extended to his brain.
Even though Orihime had managed to restore what had been lost, Yamamoto's condition remained precarious. His body had survived, and his reiatsu had not vanished entirely, but the damage he had sustained had left him in a state from which recovery would be extraordinarily difficult.
After completing her examination, Unohana slowly withdrew her hand.
"The situation is not good," she said quietly.
The words immediately weighed upon everyone present.
She continued to explain that, despite the successful restoration of Yamamoto's destroyed body, the damage to his brain had left him in an extremely grave condition. There was little she could do beyond maintaining his current state and ensuring that his body continued to function.
At least for the foreseeable future, he could not be expected to awaken or resume his duties.
In other words, the Captain-Commander might survive, but he would remain bedridden and unresponsive, much like a person in a vegetative state.
Silence descended upon the underground training ground.
The captains had endured the deaths of countless subordinates, witnessed the destruction of their divisions, and fought enemies whose abilities had surpassed their expectations. They had already suffered losses that would haunt Soul Society for years to come.
Yet hearing that their Captain-Commander might never awaken was another blow entirely.
For centuries, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni had stood at the center of the Gotei 13, an overwhelming presence whose strength and authority had held Soul Society together through countless crises.
Now, that pillar had fallen.
And as the captains stood around his unconscious body, none of them could find the words to break the silence.
*****
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✓ Killed For 100 Years in Hueco Mundo, Aizen Invited Me To Soul Society!
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