As his words fell, Yamamoto didn't even wait for a response. He vanished in a flash step.
The surrounding captains and lieutenants froze slightly, somewhat bewildered.
Shigure's gaze flickered too.
This sudden summons from Yamamoto naturally left him confused as well.
The Zanpakutō rebellion had just ended. What urgent matter could there be...?
From Yamamoto's expression and words, he couldn't tell anything.
However, he had nothing pressing now anyway. Going wouldn't hurt.
Thinking this, Shigure was about to speak when Kyōraku beside him suddenly laughed lightly, then said:
"Tsk, if the old man hadn't said he wanted you, I'd have almost forgotten about that matter..."
As his words fell, everyone immediately looked toward Kyōraku.
Shigure looked over too.
However, they all found his words somewhat puzzling.
Seeing this, Kyōraku pressed down his hat slightly, lowered his eyes, and said with a light laugh:
"Coincidentally, I happened to notice some clues at the time."
"However, because the matter is significant, I can't reveal it. I can only tell you this... Segawa, what he wants to discuss isn't idle chat..."
Saying this, Kyōraku raised his eyes slightly, his smile exceptionally mysterious. He lowered his voice:
"The decision in this matter concerns everything about your future..."
"So you must... must consider it carefully."
?!
As his words fell, everyone's expressions froze simultaneously.
Even Shigure's breath caught.
Because they'd never heard Kyōraku say something like this before.
Even he called it "significant and unable to be revealed"...
And moreover, just one conversation would relate to everything afterward...?
Everyone stared at Kyōraku, trying to read something from his expression.
But Kyōraku only maintained his mysterious smile, gazing at Shigure without saying more.
Shigure's gaze flickered, his doubts and confusion growing deeper.
After a moment, he exhaled imperceptibly, then showed a faint smile. Looking at Kyōraku, he laughed lightly:
"Captain Kyōraku, though you saying this seems like you're trying to whet my appetite..."
"Still, thank you for the reminder. Whatever the discussion is about, I'll consider it seriously."
Hearing this, Kyōraku laughed heartily.
However, only the two of them were laughing. The heavy atmosphere around them hadn't broken.
After a moment, Shigure's gaze swept across everyone's faces, then looked toward Rukia nearby, saying with a light laugh:
"I'll leave division affairs to you temporarily. I'm going now, Rukia."
Rukia snapped back to attention. Looking at Shigure, she bit her lip and nodded gently.
"...Yes, Captain."
As his words fell, Shigure didn't linger. He vanished from the spot in a flash step.
However, even over ten seconds after he left, not a single person had departed, nor had anyone spoken.
After a moment, Kyōraku broke the silence again. He showed a helpless smile:
"Ah, how troublesome. This is after a major battle, everyone... Are we really going to spend the night here?"
"If everyone has nothing else, let's return separately. I'm going to..."
His words were cut off halfway by a voice.
"Captain Kyōraku."
Hearing this, Kyōraku's expression paused. He looked toward the voice, then smiled:
"Mm, what is it, Captain Soi Fon?"
The speaker was naturally Soi Fon. However, her expression was exceptionally grave right now.
Seeing Kyōraku look over, she immediately said seriously:
"Captain Kyōraku, has Shigure... encountered some disaster...?"
"Is it... the Central 46... having some problem?!"
Hearing this, everyone's expressions changed slightly.
Though Soi Fon's words were her own speculation, they undoubtedly reminded them.
Nanao beside them immediately grew nervous, saying carefully:
"Could... could it be because Captain Segawa previously... sealed Aizen with his Zanpakutō...?"
"I remember the laws established by the Central 46... don't allow that..."
"Though Captain Segawa had no choice at the time and had to do it, but... but if it's those people in the Central 46..."
Nanao's expression was very worried. However, she stopped halfway through.
But even without finishing, everyone knew what she meant.
The Central 46... wasn't a place that reasoned.
Seeing the gazes looking over and hearing Nanao's words, Kyōraku froze instantly.
After a long while, he laughed wryly, shaking his head while laughing:
"It seems that because of too many disturbances in Seireitei recently, everyone's nerves are a bit tense..."
"What I mentioned certainly isn't that matter... Moreover, for the current Segawa, the Central 46 poses no threat at all, right?"
"...Hm?"
Hearing this, Nanao froze. Soi Fon and the others' gazes flickered too.
This made the important matter Kyōraku mentioned even more incomprehensible to them...
The air fell silent again. Everyone's expressions varied.
After a moment, Ukitake finally spoke. He showed a wry expression looking at Kyōraku:
"Kyōraku, if you keep being mysterious like this, everyone really might spend the night here..."
Hearing this, Kyōraku laughed and lowered his head. Then he raised his hand to his hat, laughing lightly:
"Can't be helped. I'll reveal a bit then."
"Though this matter is extremely important and secret, temporarily unspeakable, for Segawa... it's a good thing."
"...A good thing?"
Everyone around froze, not understanding what Kyōraku meant.
At this time, Kyōraku raised his head again.
A mysterious smile appeared on his face once more. Strange colors flashed in his eyes.
He suddenly slowly raised his right hand. Then he extended his index finger, pointing at the sky.
Seeing this gesture, quite a few people around were still confused.
However, Unohana, Ukitake, and others simultaneously caught their breath, their expressions freezing.
Kyōraku's smile intensified. Lowering his voice, he slowly said:
"After all, this news comes from 'above'..."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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