Seireitei.
Two days had passed since the end of the Ōin incident.
The SRDI and the buildings around the Sōkyoku were already being rebuilt.
Right now, Ikkaku and Yumichika were on their way to the shopping district. Suddenly, both sensed a strange reiatsu—one that seemed to cling to people and leave an unpleasant feeling.
They exchanged a glance and immediately gave chase in that direction.
What puzzled them was that, moments later, the reiatsu split into two streams heading off in opposite directions.
"Ikkaku, we'll split up."
So the two split up.
Yumichika followed one stream of reiatsu to an abandoned site. It was Soul Society's old execution ground, once used for public executions.
"When will this pit ever be filled in?" A voice came from behind.
A man wearing a captain's haori stepped to the edge of the pit and stared into the abyss.
"Shinigami whose duty is to eliminate Hollows actually treat Hollows as stage props—how idiotic."
"Only by making the extermination of Hollows our top priority can we live up to the name of Shinigami."
Yumichika now realized the man wore the Eleventh Division captain's haori.
He moved back, fierce killing intent flaring. "Who are you, wearing the same haori as Captain Zaraki?"
He drew his Zanpakutō and thrust, but the blade passed through the man as if through air.
The man said calmly, "The rightful heir to this captain's haori will never be Zaraki."
"Nonsense."
"Zaraki is unworthy of the name Kenpachi, because he never killed the real Kenpachi."
Yumichika wouldn't tolerate slander of his captain and immediately released his Zanpakutō.
"Bloom, Fuji Kujaku!"
The blade fanned out like a peacock's tail, splitting into four sickle-shaped sections.
He attacked again, but the result was the same—he still missed.
'An illusion-type ability like Kyōka Suigetsu?'
Then the ground beneath his feet came alive, wrapping around his ankles and dragging him downward.
He struggled, only to find his shinigami uniform tightening like living ropes, rendering him completely immobile. Fuji Kujaku was yanked from his grasp by an unseen force and landed in the man's hand.
The man studied the sword. "Why do you hide the existence of 'Ruri'iro Kujaku'?"
Yumichika's face paled. He had never revealed his Zanpakutō's true power in front of others, and every enemy who'd seen it had died. How did this man know?
He refused to explain. "I have my own convictions."
The man remained expressionless. "Is that so? I won't tell anyone, but I'll hold on to your Zanpakutō for now."
With that, he turned to leave.
Yumichika shouted, "Who are you? What do you want with my Zanpakutō?"
"Sōya." The man didn't hide it.
"When it's over, I'll return it to you."
Yumichika silently repeated the name—he had no memory of it at all.
"More pointless talk again."
"Are you attached to the Eleventh Division, or to this place?" Urozakuro appeared, teasing Sōya.
Sōya ignored her completely.
Urozakuro asked again, "Are you really going to work with that man? He's so unpleasant, I'd rather bet on Shin."
Sōya showed his annoyance. "None of your concern."
Yumichika looked around, confirmed only the two of them were present, and asked in bewilderment, "Who… are you talking to?"
"Sorry, just treat it as me talking to myself."
"If you've time to talk to yourself, why not kill me?"
"Fights between Shinigami are meaningless. Our mission is to eliminate Hollows—nothing more."
With that, Sōya's figure faded and vanished.
…
First Division Barracks.
Captain's Meeting Room.
Yamamoto convened an emergency session.
All captains were present except the ill Jūshirō and the absent-without-leave Zaraki.
Yumichika knelt at the far end.
Soi Fon was reporting on Sōya, "Part of Muken's seal was housed in the SRDI. When the SRDI was attacked three days ago, the seal was broken, freeing Sōya. All other prisoners remain secure."
"The Onmitsukidō is now devoting all resources to locating him."
Hearing the name, the captains in the know paled.
Shinji recalled, "Back when I was still a seated officer, he was locked in Muken for rebellion."
Tōshirō, uninformed, asked, "Who is Sōya?"
Byakuya explained, "The eighth Kenpachi. He slew the seventh, Kuramochi Kenpachi, but was imprisoned in Muken for grave crimes."
Learning he'd once been Kenpachi, Hitsugaya pressed, "Is he stronger than Zaraki?"
Shunsui gave a wry smile. "Sōya and Captain Zaraki are both unique. No one knows their Zanpakutō's names—no one has even seen Azashiro's."
"He seems to carry no Zanpakutō at all or perhaps we simply can't see it."
"Azashiro has never spoken of his Zanpakutō to us."
Toshiro hadn't expected this Kenpachi to be so mysterious.
Faced with a criminal about whom so little was known, every captain looked grave.
From below, Yumichika voiced his doubt, "Captain Commander, when Azashiro took my Zanpakutō, he seemed to be speaking to someone, but I couldn't see anyone."
After the Zanpakutō-materialization incident, Shinigami had grown more aware of their swords.
"Could that have been his Zanpakutō?" Toshiro voiced his guess.
Shunsui nodded. "Captain Hitsugaya's theory makes sense."
"Azashiro once said we've already seen his Zanpakutō. Perhaps it's been at his side the whole time, we just can't see it."
Yamamoto finally declared, "Whatever the case, our top priority is to capture Azashiro."
"Onmitsukidō will keep searching Soul Society, all other divisions stay alert and on standby, and increase patrols within Seireitei."
"In addition, send word to Urahara, Yoruichi, and the others. Have them watch for developments in the Human World."
(End of Chapter)
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