"Where are you going?"
Shin watched Riruka, who had changed back into her own clothes.
"I..."
Riruka looked like a thief caught in the act.
"I'm going to find my friends." She finally gave a random excuse.
"Riruka, why don't you stay here? You can treat this place as your home." Shin saw right through her intentions.
"Home..."
A warm feeling surged through Riruka's heart, but she stubbornly replied, "No need."
"Don't be shy. Come take a look. We have a few rooms here. Which one do you like?"
With that, Shin pulled Riruka along for a tour.
"You can decorate it however you like later."
"I... Let go of me. I choose this room."
Riruka tried to pull away from Shin's hand and pointed randomly at a room.
Shin nodded. "Alright, this will be your room from now on. Just treat us like family. Yoruichi and Nel are both very easy to get along with."
...
That afternoon.
As Shin predicted, Riruka quickly established a good relationship with Nel. This was probably a case of natural innocence overcoming a tsundere personality.
Ding-dong!
Shin opened the door and found Ichigo and two others standing there.
"Nohara, something has happened."
It turned out that Ichigo had run into Orihime at noon, noticed something was wrong with her, and upon asking, learned about the events involving Xcution.
"I already know what happened."
Shin looked at Chad and Orihime, who both wore expressions of utter despair.
'The Book of the End is truly twisted.'
"I suspect that now that Ginjō has gained power, he will definitely seek revenge against Soul Society."
"Yoruichi has already informed Soi Fon, so we will know as soon as anything happens."
Ichigo noticed Riruka at this point and nodded.
"I absolutely won't forgive that guy."
Shin wasn't sure if Ichigo was referring to Kūgo or Shūkurō.
—
Meanwhile, in Seireitei.
Sōkyoku Hill.
Kūgo appeared with Shūkurō, but there was no sign of Tokinada or Sōya.
"Soul Society, I'm back."
An incredibly powerful Reiatsu erupted from Kūgo, seemingly announcing his arrival to Soul Society.
The Gotei 13 naturally noticed this unusual Reiatsu.
Immediately, all the divisions mobilized.
"It's Sōkyoku Hill!"
The Shinigami were starting to feel numb, every incident seemed to happen at Sōkyoku.
The first to arrive were the regular squad members patrolling nearby.
Kūgo was in no hurry to fight, these were just small fry. He was waiting for the Captains to appear.
He didn't have to wait long. Aside from Yamamoto, Mayuri, and Zaraki, the other Captains arrived one after another.
"Ahem..."
"Ginjo Kūgo."
Jūshirō called out the identity of the person before them.
Kūgo said, "Ukitake, you still remember me. Then do you remember my comrades who perished by your hand?"
Jūshirō had not known the reason for Kūgo's defection from Soul Society before, but now it seemed someone had framed him.
He said, "I have never killed your comrades."
Kūgo roared, "Stop pretending!"
"Today, I am here to take revenge on Soul Society! You are all going to die!"
"Ginjō-san, perhaps there has been some misunderstanding. Furthermore, relying on just the two of you to oppose Soul Society is not a wise course of action."
Shunsui naturally chose to trust Jūshirō and tried to persuade Kūgo gently.
Kūgo laughed wildly. "Hahahahaha, do you still think I'm the Substitute Shinigami you could manipulate back then?"
"Now, let me show you my power!"
Kūgo summoned his sword and casually swung it forward.
A massive slash surged toward the Shinigami ranks. The Shinigami scattered to both sides, and the attack left a huge trench in the ground.
Shunsui sighed, "That single strike already possesses Captain-level strength."
However, they had strength in numbers, so they weren't overly concerned.
Kensei was quick-tempered. "Let me see just how strong you are."
"Reduce to ash, Tachikaze!"
He charged at Kūgo, swinging his dagger, which generated fierce winds.
Clang!
The dagger clashed against the greatsword. Kensei then channeled Reiryoku into the dagger, unleashing a bomb that detonated at close range.
Kensei quickly retreated, but Kūgo burst out of the smoke at incredible speed and slashed toward Kensei.
Kensei tried to block with his dagger, but the immense force knocked the dagger away, and the greatsword struck him across the chest. He was sent flying backward and was caught by Mashiro.
Kūgo mocked, "Hahaha, is this what a Captain-level Shinigami is like?"
"Damn it!"
Kensei, severely injured, slumped in Mashiro's arms. He had underestimated Kūgo, he should have used his Hollowfication before attacking.
Just then, a Senkaimon opened in the sky.
Shin, Yoruichi, and Ichigo, having received word from Soi Fon, appeared.
"Looks like you have a few more helpers."
Kūgo was very confident and wasn't bothered by the arrival of the three newcomers.
Ichigo loudly demanded, "Ginjō, Tsukishima, what exactly did the two of you do to Chad and Orihime?"
"Hahahahaha, I might as well tell you."
"Tsukishima's ability, Book of the End, can change the past by inserting his existence into the target's memories. Do you understand now?"
Ichigo finally understood why Chad and Orihime trusted Shūkurō so much. "You despicable scoundrels!"
Kūgo sneered, "I was merciful enough not to kill them."
Ichigo was furious and started to step forward, but Shin stopped him.
"Ginjō, what other tricks do you have? Hurry up and show them."
Shin didn't believe Kūgo would cause havoc in Soul Society without having prepared something major.
"Nohara, you are smart, but why choose to oppose me?"
Saying this, Kūgo pulled out the Ōin.
Tōshirō saw the Ōin that had previously vanished before his eyes and exclaimed, "The Ōin! Why is it in your hands?"
The Captains were all astonished. They remembered that the last time the Ōin went berserk, it took four people—including Shin and Yamamoto—outside the barrier to stop it from expanding.
Kūgo was pleased with their reaction. "Who knows? It just suddenly appeared in my hand."
Naturally, no one believed his explanation.
Yoruichi and Soi Fon exchanged glances and attacked simultaneously, intending to deal with Kūgo before he could use the Ōin.
"Too late."
Kūgo had been watching their movements and immediately swung his sword, severing the Ōin.
A towering golden Reiatsu enveloped him, forcing Yoruichi and Soi Fon back.
When the Ōin's Reiatsu reappeared, Yamamoto, who had originally not intended to intervene, immediately flashed toward Sōkyoku.
Even the uninterested Mayuri changed his mind.
"Hahahahaha, is this the power of the Ōin?!"
Kūgo's maniacal laughter echoed over Sōkyoku Hill.
He could feel the power within him rapidly expanding.
Just then, Zaraki suddenly appeared, charging toward him with a savage grin, only to be intercepted by Shūkurō.
But Kūgo felt that something was wrong. He felt he was reaching his limit, yet the Ōin's power continued to surge into him relentlessly. His body began to tremble, and the power inside him was like a raging torrent, attempting to break free of his constraints.
Large beads of sweat dripped down, and an expression of agony appeared in Kūgo's eyes.
His soul was being torn apart by the impact of this immense power. The intense pain made him howl. He wanted to control this power, but he felt like he was adrift in the middle of a vast ocean, utterly unable to govern himself.
Finally, Kūgo's soul could no longer withstand the onslaught of the savage power, and he let out a scream of despair.
"Tsunayashiro Toki..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Kūgo's body collapsed, lifeless.