"So, the teacher was the one who sent you?"
Perhaps because of his recent antics with Sōgyo no Kotowari, Jūshirō Ukitake's complexion looked better than usual, lacking its typical sickly pallor.
"Speaking of which, the teacher really does have it rough. Not only does he have to worry about the safety of the Seireitei, but he also has to keep an eye on a student like me. As his disciple, I fail to ease his burdens. As a Captain, I still have to rely on my Lieutenant's assistance."
Ukitake let out a deep sigh, a look of genuine shame crossing his face.
Naraku Sora set down his empty teacup. Having recently been disciplined, the two spirits of Sōgyo no Kotowari were now being remarkably well-behaved, promptly refilling the cup. They were rewarded with an appreciative glance from Sora.
"Senior Ukitake, you're being a bit too extreme. Look at it from another perspective. As the Captain of the 13th Squad, you have to consider the problems Old Man Yama faces. As a disciple of the Genryū, you're also responsible for the administrative records of the Gotei 13. For instance, at the last Captains' Council, didn't you propose letting Lieutenant Muguruma take Takeda Goki's place as the Captain of the 9th Squad?"
Ukitake paused.
'Should I expect anything less from my youngest junior? This way of thinking is very much in Shunsui's style.'
Sora took a gentle sip of the tea. A refined, elegant fragrance filled his mouth, leaving a faint, sweet aftertaste. Even a brute who knew nothing of the tea ceremony could appreciate its quality.
Hagoromo Tea. It was a top-tier leaf with scarce production and a high price tag, mostly monopolized by the nobility. It was worth noting that the Ukitake family was also of the lower aristocracy. Furthermore, because of Ukitake's current status, his family's prestige had grown considerably among the lower-tier nobles.
"If you ask me, there's nothing to agonize over." Sora grinned. "You've done well enough, Senior. Anyone else in your position probably would have collapsed under the pressure long ago."
Feeling the warmth of the consolation, Ukitake spoke softly. "To be honest with you, the 13th Squad is short on talent. The Lieutenant position has been vacant for a long time. While Sentarō is excellent at clerical work, his combat strength is lacking; he lacks the prestige to lead. Coupled with my own failing health, a significant portion of the workload is distributed among the Seated Officers. But this can't go on forever."
He looked toward the horizon. "If we encounter another serious incident like today's, and the squad doesn't have a Captain-class Soul Reaper capable of taking charge, it could easily lead to chaos that the rank-and-file members won't be able to handle."
Hearing this, Sora glanced at the two spirits of Sōgyo no Kotowari standing obediently on either side, and then back at Ukitake. His eyes seemed to ask: 'Are you seriously referring to those two kids wanting to play games as a "serious incident"?'
Questioned by that gaze, Ukitake remained unfazed. He took a sip of tea and continued in his charismatic voice. "Therefore, to prevent such incidents, it would be best if a Soul Reaper who could eventually succeed me joined the 13th Squad. After hearing about your exploits, Junior, I feel you are the person I've been waiting for—the future pillar of the 13th Squad."
Sora stared at him. "..."
Why did he suddenly feel like he was being scammed? He had only come here to suppress a rebellious Zanpakutō, yet the conversation had somehow turned to such a heavy topic.
"Senior Ukitake, I—"
Sora started to speak but stopped abruptly. The smile on his face slowly vanished. He finished his tea in one gulp and set the cup down. Then, his hand moved slowly to the hilt of the blade at his waist.
The Central Underground Assembly Hall.
Inside the vast chamber, the atmosphere was exceptionally heavy and tense.
"Kuchiki Kōga conspired with rebels, violated the law, and released his Bankai within the Seireitei without authorization, causing severe casualties!"
"Seventy-three people have died. Eighty-nine are so severely injured that recovery is unlikely. Countless other soldiers suffered minor injuries, and the damage to the squad barracks amounts to an astronomical figure!"
"The Moriyama family, a high-ranking noble house, has been completely wiped out. Countless members of the nobility lost their lives in the chaos of the noble district."
"Such a heinous criminal, one who has defied the natural order, should be sentenced to the Sōkyoku to uphold the law! Furthermore, as a member of the Kuchiki family, Kōga committed these crimes while the family not only failed to intervene but repeatedly shielded him. This led to this great disaster. The Kuchiki family must be held accountable!"
"We should propose to the Central Noble Assembly that the Kuchiki family be stripped of their status as one of the Five Great Noble Houses and be exiled from the Seireitei!"
Behind the first seat, an elderly man read from the document in his hand with righteous indignation. As he reached the more emotional parts, spittle flew from his mouth.
An uproar immediately broke out in the hall. Another judge stood up from behind the fourth seat and shouted a sharp rebuke.
"Absurd! To slandering the Kuchiki family—one of the Five Great Noble Houses—without a shred of evidence? The Kuchiki family is a paragon of Soul Reapers, a model for all nobility to follow! Asano, you old fool, has the carousing and wine finally rotted your brain? How dare you make such baseless accusations?! Do you have any evidence for what you just said?"
From behind the ninth seat came a disdainful sneer.
"Evidence? Countless eyes witnessed the rebellion of the Zanpakutō. Do you intend to deny it? It is common knowledge that the only person capable of such a feat is Kuchiki Kōga. The abilities of his Zanpakutō, Muramasa, are still recorded in the sealed archives of Central 46. You should remember that better than anyone!"
"Without proof, all of this is nothing more than a frame-up!"
The fierce argument echoed through the hollow underground hall as the tension continued to spread. Even Yamamoto, who had been invited to observe, had his brows furrowed in a deep scowl. He did not understand why the Tsunayashiro faction had chosen this moment to strike at the Kuchiki family.
Central 46 was essentially composed of forty-six families, each selecting their most representative figures to act as Sages or Judges. Their families might only have moderate influence in the Soul Society, but standing behind them were the Four Great Noble Houses that symbolized the pinnacle of power.
Soon, the grand assembly hall turned into a noisy marketplace.
The Sages of the Tsunayashiro faction continued to list various crimes, forcibly pinning them on the Kuchiki family in an attempt to finalize the motion and strip them of their status. Naturally, the Kuchiki faction did not take it lying down, retaliating by bringing up old scandals involving the Tsunayashiro family.
In the heat of the moment, some even channeled Reiatsu into their throats to amplify their voices.
The Sages aligned with the Shihōin and Shiba families, however, were happily watching the drama unfold, content to let the two sides bark at each other. Such a lively atmosphere was rare in the Underground Assembly Hall.
With the power of Central 46, they naturally couldn't sentence the Five Great Noble Houses directly. At most, they could finalize a proposal and send it to the Central Noble Assembly for an internal ruling by the Five Houses.
The Kuchiki faction was completely baffled. Just yesterday, they were discussing waiting until Kōga was captured before deciding on a specific punishment. Why had the Tsunayashiro faction's Sages completely changed their tune in just one night?
As the crowd argued, a faint ripple of Reishi wafted through the hall. Below the seats, a nearly imperceptible light glowed on the floor.
Yamamoto's brow tightened. A bad premonition welled up in his heart.
Thump!
He struck his heavy staff against the ground, instantly silencing the hall. Dozens of gazes looked through the curtains toward the aged figure at the bottom.
"Everyone, there is no point in continuing this argument."
Yamamoto's eyes narrowed slightly. Faint heat waves began to rise from his haori like flickering flames. "It is better to leave this matter to the Central Noble Assembly for an internal ruling. As for Kuchiki Kōga, I guarantee that I will—"
Before he could finish, a brilliant beam of light erupted from beneath his feet, shooting straight toward the ceiling and dispelling the darkness above the assembly hall.
"Head Captain Yamamoto, what are you doing?!" a voice roared in anger from behind the curtain of the first seat. "Kido is strictly forbidden within the Underground Assembly Hall!"
Yamamoto frowned and instinctively tried to move away from the beam. However, before he could act, the light expanded instantly, covering the entire area of the floor where he stood.
In the next moment, a powerful spatial fluctuation erupted, instantly suppressing the noise in the hall. The solid floor, constructed of Spirit-Sealing Stone, collapsed with a roar. A storm of Reishi whistled and swirled, swallowing Yamamoto's figure in an instant.
When everything settled, the members of Central 46 discovered to their horror that only a deep, pitch-black void remained on the floor below. Head Captain Yamamoto, who had been standing there, was nowhere to be found.
Looking up at the crescent moon hanging high in the sky and feeling the soft, fine sand beneath his feet, Yamamoto narrowed his eyes. A scorching aura of fire erupted from his body.
'Damned fools!'
Back at the Rainy Dew Hall, a heavy spiritual pressure suddenly blanketed the entire area. Complex Kido incantations, like tadpoles swimming in water, quickly filled the sky.
Kotsubaki Sentarō, who had been keeping a close eye on the hall, immediately noticed the anomaly. Without a second thought, he rushed over, managing to dive inside just before the Kido barrier was completely sealed.
"Captain, I'm here to protect you!"
Ukitake remained silent. "..."
Sora didn't have time to pay attention to those two. His entire focus was on the figure stepping out of the shadows. At this moment, the Kido barrier had completely covered the Rainy Dew Hall, thoroughly isolating their presence from the outside world.
"Third Seat Naraku?"
"Captain Gosuke?"
A heavy atmosphere gradually spread, enveloping everyone.
"It seems an unexpected situation has occurred, but no matter." Gosuke shook his head. "Lord Taketori's plan must not fail. Since you've appeared here, you can die along with him."
Sora grinned. "It's too early to say who will have the last laugh. Setting a death flag this early isn't a good omen, Captain Gosuke. But if I may ask... why are you here?"
Gosuke looked a bit surprised. As a Seated Officer, Sora showed no fear while facing a Captain. Was it courage, or simply the ignorance of the weak?
He shook his head, his voice low. "No comment."
"Alright, the small talk ends here."
"Brat, it's time for you to die!"
The moment the words left his lips, a terrifying Reiatsu erupted like a crashing tide!