Zanpakutō Jittaika (Zanpakutō Materialization)—it had only been a few days since that happened. The scene of how he'd been brutally beaten by his own Zanpakutō last time was still vivid in everyone's mind. So the First Division Shinigami patrolling outside Central 46 didn't hesitate at all, and immediately sounded the alarm.
"Hasn't Soul Society been way too turbulent lately? It hasn't even been three days since the last time, right?"
Not far away, inside the Iba family's dōjō, Ayasegawa Yumichika—who had been accompanying his close friend Madarame Ikkaku to spar with Iba Tetsuzaemon—pushed himself up from the floor and looked toward the direction the alarm was coming from.
"Who cares about all that? An alarm's a good thing!"
Madarame Ikkaku, on the other hand, said it with complete indifference. He hoisted his Zanpakutō and charged straight toward the alarm.
And within Seireitei, there were plenty of Shinigami who made the same choice as Madarame Ikkaku. Faced with an alarm going off inside Seireitei itself, a small portion of the older Shinigami—those who'd lived long enough to weather decades of storms—felt their hearts turn cold with lingering dread.
But before those Shinigami could even get close to Central 46, it was as if they heard a gloomy laugh whispering right beside their ears. And right after that, the materialized forms of their own Zanpakutō appeared directly before them.
Compared to last time—when Kuchiki Kōga only had Muramasa selectively target Shinigami who were neither seated officers nor captain-class—this time, after completely letting himself go, Kuchiki Kōga's Zanpakutō Muramasa had started indiscriminate Zanpakutō Jittaika (Zanpakutō Materialization) on everyone.
As everyone knew, in the vast majority of cases, a Shinigami's final strength was decided by talent. Someone like Higashino Shuuichi—who could rely on foreknowledge and use all kinds of absurd, over-spec tools to break his own shackles—was truly one in a million.
So when it came to ordinary Shinigami who couldn't even grasp Shikai (Initial Release), their Zanpakutō materializing could only cause limited damage. But once the level climbed to seated officers—or even vice-captains—who had already mastered Shikai (Initial Release) and might one day achieve Bankai (Final Release), the situation became impossible to control.
Even the previously hot-blooded Kuchiki Kōga had only dared, back then, to materialize the Zanpakutō of the Ninth Division's vice-captain Shiya at the general assembly venue—because there were captains present to hold the line.
But now—
"Sōtaichō, the commotion outside… seems a bit too big."
Inside Central 46, the captains were still waiting for Unohana Retsu to speak, when the Eighth Division captain, Kyōraku Shunsui, lowered his voice and spoke to Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
Originally, Central 46 was supposed to be completely isolated from the outside world—so that once you were inside, nothing beyond its walls could affect you. The intent was to protect the trial's integrity and prevent interference. But after the Kasumiooji clan rebellion incident, most of the sages of Central 46 realized just how flawed that approach was.
So afterward, they specifically commissioned Urahara Kisuke—who was still the Twelfth Division captain at the time—to install a special device that could monitor outside conditions. This was also the technological predecessor of the surveillance-bacteria technique later invented by Kurotsuchi Mayuri in the Gijutsu Kaihatsu-kyoku (Research and Development Institute).
"Soi Fon!"
No further words were needed. With a single look, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni signaled the Second Division captain at his side.
Soi Fon understood instantly. Using Shunpō (Flash Step), she vanished from inside Central 46.
Watching the spot where Soi Fon had been—now only an afterimage—Higashino Shuuichi narrowed his eyes.
It seemed that while he hadn't checked on Soi Fon's progress for quite some time, the increasingly tense state of Soul Society had pushed her to hone her Shunpō (Flash Step) into something truly impressive.
By Higashino Shuuichi's naked-eye judgment alone, Soi Fon's Shunpō (Flash Step) technique had already reached at least ninety percent of what Shihōin Yoruichi had before she defected—maybe even the full ten out of ten.
"Once Yoruichi comes back in the future, she'll probably be shocked… That 'Shunshin (Flash Goddess)' title might even change hands~"
Higashino Shuuichi sighed inwardly.
But now wasn't the time for him to think about that.
Even though the outside changes had already let him roughly guess the outcome, every remaining captain present still kept their eyes fixed on Unohana Retsu.
Because only she—the person actually injecting Reiryoku (spiritual power) into the Tenshintai (Zanpakutō Training Dummy)—had the greatest authority to speak.
Most of the captains were filled with anticipation. Only Kuchiki Byakuya's face had gone a shade pale.
Kuchiki Kōga's Zanpakutō had rebelled!
And it had done so at the exact worst possible moment—refusing to cooperate when it mattered most!
If he could do it over again, Kuchiki Byakuya would absolutely go to the Shihōin clan and apply for the use-rights of their inherited divine artifact, the "Bandage," then, in the instant that accident occurred, seal Kuchiki Kōga's Zanpakutō on the spot—
Leaving Muramasa no chance to make decisions on its own outside!
But now, it was too late!
Kuchiki Byakuya could already see the image of Kuchiki Kōga being held accountable and sentenced.
And that was the best-case outcome. The worst-case outcome was that Kuchiki Kōga would spill the secret scheme involving himself, Kyōraku Shunsui, and Higashino Shuuichi. If that happened, Kuchiki Kōga would, by his own power alone, destroy the Kuchiki clan—and even Soul Society's future!
Kuchiki Byakuya didn't dare imagine what would happen if their relationship with Higashino Shuuichi was exposed. Once Higashino Shuuichi lost his undercover identity, how could he possibly stand his ground in a Soul Society where Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni still sat as Sōtaichō?
And without an undercover asset like Higashino Shuuichi, how were they supposed to deal with the Tsunayashiro clan—now blazing at the height of its power?
More than that, this incident would heavily damage Kyōraku Shunsui's standing among the captains and the nobility, and would also strike a brutal blow to the Kuchiki clan's reputation.
Snow on top of frost.
That same vision wasn't only in Kuchiki Byakuya's mind—it appeared in Kyōraku Shunsui's as well.
Only, compared to the younger Kuchiki Byakuya, Kyōraku Shunsui was clearly steadier. At least, from his expression alone, you couldn't see a shred of emotion.
In truth, Kyōraku Shunsui was already going mad inside, racing through damage-control plans.
Say Kuchiki Kōga's intel was wrong?
No—wouldn't that be treating everyone like idiots? And that explanation couldn't account for the commotion outside anyway.
Or say, "Unohana-taichō, maybe your perception is off—let me try again"?
No—that was even stupider. Who was Unohana Retsu? In terms of seniority, she was older than most Shinigami in Soul Society by entire generations. As someone in the know, how could he possibly question her?
Then maybe… copy what Urahara Kisuke did before, and secretly help Kuchiki Kōga flee to the Human World and hide?
That could work. And conveniently, Shuuichi had experience—hand it to him, and it'd be perfect. The only problem was: who should they choose to help?
In a single instant, countless thoughts flashed through Kyōraku Shunsui's head.
Until Unohana Retsu slowly lowered the Tenshintai (Zanpakutō Training Dummy), stopped feeding it Reiatsu (spiritual pressure), and opened her eyes.
"Sōtaichō, I confirm it. Everything Kuchiki Kōga said before… was the truth."
"???"
At the same time, both Kyōraku Shunsui and Kuchiki Byakuya—whose emotions had been surging inside—felt three huge question marks pop over their heads.
What the hell???
Could it be that Higashino Shuuichi had deceived them all, and his Tenshintai (Zanpakutō Training Dummy) really did have that kind of effect?
"N-no, impossible!"
Kyōraku Shunsui rejected it instantly. If Higashino Shuuichi's Tenshintai (Zanpakutō Training Dummy) truly had that effect, then Kuchiki Kōga should've seen it back in the Great Spirit Book Corridor—unless Kuchiki Kōga had been lying, or the Great Spirit Book Corridor's records were wrong.
And since those were absolutely impossible—
Then there was only one truth left.
Kyōraku Shunsui stared at Unohana Retsu's back.
This elder—Soul Society's first Kenpachi—was protecting Kuchiki Kōga for some reason Kyōraku Shunsui didn't know!
But as far as he knew, Unohana Retsu and Kuchiki Kōga had basically no connection. It was hard to say whether they'd even met more than three times before this.
Rather than believe she was shielding Kuchiki Kōga, it made more sense to believe she had guessed something of the truth behind the scenes—and was choosing to shield Higashino Shuuichi.
Considering Unohana Retsu's past relationship with Higashino Shuuichi… and the fact that, in Kyōraku Shunsui's memory, Unohana Retsu had never publicly moved against Higashino Shuuichi—not even back when he was branded a traitor due to Kyoka (Hollowfication), when Unohana Retsu had "participated" by basically doing nothing—
Kyōraku Shunsui had to admit it: his guess was bold, yet it convinced even himself.
Then, when he turned his eyes to Higashino Shuuichi and saw that utterly calm—almost slightly shocked—expression…
Yeah. Trying to read anything off Higashino Shuuichi's face was hopeless. Kyōraku Shunsui figured he had a better chance of waiting for Ichimaru Gin to publish a heartfelt essay praising the beauty of human nature in the next issue of Seireitei Bulletin—maybe in a hundred or two hundred years, once Ichimaru Gin had a change of heart.
As for Higashino Shuuichi, the moment he saw Unohana Retsu not announce the result immediately, instead closing her eyes and waiting briefly, he already knew what answer she would give.
Because the secret of the Tenshintai (Zanpakutō Training Dummy) could be sensed the instant a Shinigami poured Reiatsu (spiritual pressure) into it. Unohana Retsu had waited because she must have felt the one discordant spot inside the Tenshintai (Zanpakutō Training Dummy)—the place where Higashino Shuuichi and the others had planted the surveillance bacteria.
Higashino Shuuichi believed that with Unohana Retsu's intelligence—and his earlier hints—once she discovered the bacteria, she would inevitably understand his purpose.
And Unohana Retsu wasn't the kind of person who would arbitrarily decide for others without explanation. Otherwise, back then, she wouldn't have respected the young Zaraki Kenpachi's wishes—letting him leave, while she returned alone to Seireitei, learned Kaidō (healing arts), changed her division and her name, left the title "Kenpachi" to Zaraki, and waited for Zaraki Kenpachi to come to her again.
She wouldn't blurt everything out. She would choose to act silently.
Just like now. Even if Unohana Retsu didn't know why Higashino Shuuichi had designed a trap to smear himself into a criminal, she was willing to cooperate.
And she would wait—until Higashino Shuuichi himself gave her the answer.
It was trust. It didn't vanish. It simply moved from one person to another.
"Even so, that previous Zanpakutō Jittaika (Zanpakutō Materialization) incident wasn't done by me!
So what if my Tenshintai (Zanpakutō Training Dummy) has that effect?
Do you have any proof that I used it that day?!"
Once everyone had finished their lines, Higashino Shuuichi knew it was his turn to step forward and sing the climax of this play!
Even with the evidence nailed down—even though his goal was to make every Shinigami besides the few main conspirators believe he was the planner and executor behind the Zanpakutō materialization incident—Higashino Shuuichi knew that simply admitting it and throwing a tantrum was the lowest-tier approach.
The best approach was: deny, deny, deny.
Because when the evidence was already on the table, aside from a handful of meddlesome detectives in mystery stories, most people would only think: He's desperately struggling in despair.
And that, in turn, made them believe the conclusion even harder—so they would conveniently ignore the Tenshintai (Zanpakutō Training Dummy), that easy-to-poke hole in the story.
"Now that the evidence is conclusive, Higashino Shuuichi, you still want to argue in front of us captains?!
I've always known a Shinigami like you—someone who once betrayed Soul Society—couldn't be trusted!"
As Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's loyal supporter, Komamura Sajin-taichō played his usual role as the first spear once he believed the matter was already decided.
"Although I already knew you possessed the Tenshintai (Zanpakutō Training Dummy), Grand Blade-Hunting Chief Shuuichi, I truly didn't expect you to do something like this. It seems the misunderstanding between us… you never truly let it go."
With Aizen's tacit approval behind him, Tōsen Kaname-taichō followed up with another stab.
"So then, Grand Blade-Hunting Chief Higashino… I told you long ago, the person who attacked you back then wasn't me. Why won't you believe it?"
Ichimaru Gin-taichō came next.
Only, in Ichimaru Gin's case, the version of events he'd received didn't quite match everyone else's. In the version Aizen had given him, the Tenshintai (Zanpakutō Training Dummy) he made for Higashino Shuuichi was always the one being displayed right now. This was simply a case of taking advantage of the moment after learning Kuchiki Kōga's ability—using the opportunity to frame Higashino Shuuichi and achieve Aizen's own goals.
"The evidence is already crystal clear—witnesses and proof are both present. Higashino Shuuichi, how exactly do you plan to argue?"
After catching his breath, Kyōraku Shunsui-taichō looked at Higashino Shuuichi and spoke slowly.
"Submit quietly."
Kuchiki Byakuya-taichō also added, a beat late.
"Guilty or not guilty, our Gotei 13 will find the truth~"
Aizen Sōsuke-taichō smiled warmly at Higashino Shuuichi.
"Hahaha! I didn't expect you'd become a criminal again, Shuuichi! This is great—looks like you won't be able to refuse my sparring requests anymore!"
Zaraki Kenpachi-taichō roared with laughter, not treating what Higashino Shuuichi had "done" as anything important at all—or maybe the concept simply didn't exist in his head.
"I feel like… there might be some misunderstanding here? Grand Blade-Hunting Chief Higashino doesn't seem to have any reason to do this."
Well, Higashino Shuuichi hadn't expected that, in this scene of "everyone turning against him," there would still be a "clear-headed" person like Shiba Isshin-taichō. Unfortunately, Isshin's words were like the Shiba surname among the nobility: it seemed like it carried weight, but in reality, everyone conveniently ignored it.
"…"
The remaining silence came from the Twelfth Division captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri and the Thirteenth Division captain Ukitake Jūshirō.
One of them didn't care about this at all—if anything, he even looked forward to the result. If the final verdict sentenced Higashino Shuuichi to death and handed his body to him for dissection, that would be perfect; if not, then it had nothing to do with him.
The other simply felt that the case was riddled with suspicious points, and for the moment, he couldn't make an accurate judgment.
And amid this nearly one-sided "denunciation," as the final decision-maker of the Gotei 13—the First Division captain and Sōtaichō—Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni basically didn't need to deliberate further, nor did he need to wait for the three chief judges to finalize any procedural details.
"Higashino Shuuichi—your crimes are, this time, beyond doubt. I declare: until the final verdict is delivered, your Zanpakutō will remain sealed!
At the same time, you are removed from your position as Grand Blade-Hunting Chief of the Katana-gari-shū (Blade-Hunting Corps). The remaining members—Kisaragi Shūsuke, Matsumoto Rangiku, and Nagasawa Satomi—are all to have their movements restricted until we confirm they pose no danger!
As for you, Higashino Shuuichi—you will be temporarily confined in the Maggot's Nest!"
"Hehahahaha… it's the same again! Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni—you're doing it again, judging me without listening to a single word of my explanation!
I'll make you regret it!"
Higashino Shuuichi threw his head back and laughed like a madman in front of every captain.
It looked like desperation.
In truth, everything was proceeding exactly according to Higashino Shuuichi's script.
Because on the other side, every single twist and turn inside Central 46 had been delivered, word for word, into Tsunayashiro Kamihara's ears.
On one hand, Tsunayashiro Kamihara sighed in his heart at Higashino Shuuichi's loyalty—and at Higashino Shuuichi's complete break with the Gotei 13. Now, he no longer had to worry about Higashino Shuuichi turning on him.
On the other hand, Tsunayashiro Kamihara's dissatisfaction was piling up.
What the hell was Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni playing at?!
Did he really think this Soul Society couldn't function without him—without his Gotei 13?!
He actually dared to lay hands on a Shinigami of the Tsunayashiro clan without even distinguishing right from wrong?!
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