Fantasy Library, Ch 241-245

Chapter 241: Ryoka! Just Taking a Stroll?

As days passed one after another, the day of Rukia Kuchiki's execution drew nearer, making the atmosphere within Seireitei grow more tense.

On the surface, the Shinigami of each Division still went about their duties as usual, doing their assigned tasks, not paying much attention to Rukia Kuchiki’s situation. Only the more perceptive individuals realized that Seireitei, which seemed as it always was, was actually brewing a storm.

Rukia Kuchiki—a mere Division member of the Thirteenth Division, an adopted daughter of the Kuchiki Clan, average in origin and talent—should not, even if executed, cause such a stir. Yet it was this seemingly ordinary Shinigami who drew the attention of many important figures.

If time continued to pass like this until the day of execution arrived, no one knew what might happen.

But the fuse that would ignite this powder keg of a seemingly calm Seireitei arrived quickly.

“Buzz…”

That day, outside Seireitei, in the sky above Rukongai, a gate suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and several figures tumbled out from it.

“Wahhhhhhhh…!”

Amid chaotic screams, those figures fell into Rukongai, stirring up clouds of dust.

“Ow…”

“Thought we were goners…”

“Did we make it?”

Those who had landed in a heap groaned and struggled to stand, looking disheveled and travel-worn.

Upon closer inspection, their clothing was entirely different from the style of the Soul Society. No kimonos, no traditional wear—rather, they were clad in modern clothing, entirely out of place in the Soul Society.

“We’re back… Soul Society…”

A black cat walked calmly, gazing at the familiar scene with a voice full of emotion and nostalgia.

“…So this is the Soul Society?”

One person had already stood up early, staring toward Seireitei as he muttered.

He had orange hair and brown eyes, wore a Shihakushō, and carried a Zanpakutō on his back—clearly a Shinigami.

The Zanpakutō on his back had a very unique appearance: shaped like a cleaver, the blade was massive, with the handle wrapped in white cloth, lacking any guard or ornamentation—highly conspicuous.

Of course, the unique appearance of the blade was only a minor feature. What was truly striking was the powerful Reiatsu faintly emanating from the Shinigami.

That Reiatsu was not much weaker than a Lieutenant’s, at the very least comparable to a Third or Fourth Seat.

If that were all, it would be nothing special. The problem was that his Reiatsu fluctuated wildly, like only the tip of the iceberg was visible.

Such peculiar Reiatsu would definitely be noticed by those with keen spiritual perception.

“Is Rukia in there?”

The man stared fixedly at Seireitei, seemingly unaware that his companions had gathered behind him.

“I wonder how Kuchiki-san is doing now?”

A girl with long, waist-length orange-red hair, gray-blue eyes, wearing a pair of pale blue flower-shaped hairpins, and with a stunning figure and refined beauty, voiced her concern.

“She’s become a criminal… I doubt she’s having it easy.”

A tall, slender man with short, midnight-blue parted hair, dark blue eyes, and silver-framed glasses, dressed in a white battle uniform with blue stripes and a shoulder mantle, replied calmly.

“What now, Ichigo?”

A muscular man with brown skin, short curly brown hair, and brown eyes partly hidden by bangs, bearing a tattoo of a twin-winged heart entwined by a snake with a ribbon reading “Amore e Morte” in Galician on his left shoulder, and wearing a gold coin pendant with an eagle engraving on his neck, turned to the lead Shinigami and asked.

“I must warn you, Seireitei is the Shinigami’s stronghold. There are thousands of Shinigami there, and those stronger than you are countless. Especially the Captains of the Gotei 13—each one is a monster. You all aren’t a match for them right now.”

The talking black cat leapt onto the woman’s head, issuing a sharp warning to everyone.

Unfortunately, the orange-haired Shinigami showed not the slightest hint of fear.

“Dragon’s lair, tiger’s den… I’ve heard those warnings far too many times. No need to repeat them now.”

His eyes grew sharp, and his previously fluctuating Reiatsu suddenly surged to its peak.

It lasted only a moment, but during that moment, the orange-haired Shinigami’s Reiatsu reached the Captain level.

“No matter if this is hell or the underworld, I only have one goal.”

He stepped forward, heading firmly toward Seireitei.

“I’m going to rescue Rukia!”

The one who had received spiritual power from Rukia Kuchiki and became a Shinigami… had arrived in the Soul Society.

The chaos of the Soul Society was about to begin.

……

“Bang—bang—bang—bang—bang—”

That day, a blaring alarm echoed throughout Seireitei.

Someone struck the alarm boards at each Division’s barracks, and the sound resounded in every corner.

“Ryoka have invaded Seireitei!”

“Ryoka have invaded Seireitei!”

The warnings spread rapidly, startling many Shinigami.

“Ryoka?”

“There are actually Ryoka?”

“That’s rare indeed.”

So-called Ryoka referred to individuals who entered the Soul Society through unofficial means, without permission.

If a Soul arrived in the Soul Society without being guided by a Shinigami, the Shinigami would deem it a harbinger of disaster, capable of shaking Seireitei or even all of the Soul Society—these beings were labeled as Ryoka.

The Adjuchas that had invaded the Soul Society and been defeated by Kaiser before could also be considered a type of Ryoka, though more often they were classified as invaders.

This time, however, the invaders were genuine Ryoka—souls, or even living humans, who had arrived in the Soul Society without being guided.

“Where are the Ryoka?”

“How did they get into Seireitei so easily?”

“Did someone open the gate for them?”

The Shinigami spoke amongst themselves.

The walls around Seireitei were constructed of Sekkiseki, which could disrupt spiritual energy. The waves emitted by Sekkiseki formed a spherical barrier that extended from the sky to the ground, fully protecting Seireitei. Normal souls couldn’t break through the walls to enter.

To enter Seireitei safely, one had to pass through one of the four gates in the east, south, west, or north. Each of these gates was guarded—not by Shinigami, but by elite warriors carefully selected from within the Soul Society. Ordinary Shinigami might not even be able to defeat them.

If Ryoka wanted to enter Seireitei, they either had to force their way through the Sekkiseki walls and barrier—something that would cause a massive disturbance, not something that would go unnoticed until now.

Or… they had to defeat one of the four gatekeepers and have them open the gate.

Clearly, this Ryoka incursion happened by the latter method.

“Enough chatting, let’s go find the Ryoka.”

“The Captain Commander has personally issued the order: all Divisions are to freely deploy and capture the Ryoka.”

“Apparently one of them is a Shinigami.”

“A Shinigami becoming a Ryoka? How does that make sense?”

The Shinigami grumbled and discussed as they began to mobilize en masse, spreading throughout Seireitei to search for the Ryoka.

At first, they took it rather lightly. The Ryoka were few in number and had faint Reiatsu. To most Shinigami, they seemed like weaklings.

But then, shocking news began to spread.

“Third Seat of Division 11 has been defeated by the Ryoka!”

“And Fifth Seat of Division 11, too! Also defeated!”

“No way! Those are officers from Division 11!”

“Third and Fifth Seat… those are upper-level officers!”

The Shinigami were dumbfounded.

As the most elite combat Division of the Gotei 13, Division 11’s members were stronger than those of other Divisions.

A Fifth Seat of Division 11 would be at least a Third or Fourth Seat elsewhere.

A Third Seat might be equivalent to a Lieutenant.

Yet such officers had been defeated by the Ryoka—this made the seriousness of the situation clear.

“Quick! Send for the Lieutenants or Captains!”

“You’re kidding… to deal with Ryoka, we need Captains?”

“Idiot! Even Division 11’s Third and Fifth Seats were taken down! If the Captains don’t act, how can we guarantee results?”

“Don’t act alone! You’ll be picked off one by one!”

“Latest news! Kenpachi of Division 11 has made his move!”

“Those Ryoka are finished now!”

Seireitei descended into chaos. Some were frightened, some were anxious, some were furious, and some took the opportunity to act—stirring up the waters further.

“Things are finally getting interesting.”

Inside the Third Division barracks, in the Captain’s office, Kaiser looked out the window at the now-fiery Seireitei, a smile on his face as if he feared peace more than war.

“So Kenpachi has moved?” Kaiser muttered. “Of course he has. The moment prey appears, he’ll be the first to charge. It’d be stranger if he didn’t.”

He closed the window, cutting off the noise outside, and walked toward the desk.

“Huff… huff…”

Momo Hinamori was sprawled across the desk, fast asleep.

These past few days, Kaiser hadn’t handled any duties, leaving Momo to take care of everything—no wonder she’d dozed off at her desk.

Thinking of the suffering Momo went through in the original story during this event, Kaiser felt a pang of pity.

“At the very least, this time… you won’t be hurt.”

He draped a coat over Momo, then turned to leave.

“Whoosh!”

With a Shunpo, he moved through the window and exited the barracks, preparing to head out.

But the moment he appeared outside, several dark figures arrived in a flash, surrounding him.

They wore black garments, resembling stealthy ninjas. No Zanpakutō were visible, but various hidden weapons could be vaguely seen.

Seeing them, Kaiser raised an eyebrow.

“Not the Patrol Corps… but the Executive Militia?”

He recognized them instantly—they were from the Onmitsukidō.

The Onmitsukidō had five squads, each with different duties.

Squad One: Executive Militia—a combat unit responsible for executions and assassinations, skilled in Shunpo and Hakuda, directly under Suì-Fēng, Captain of Division 2.

Squad Two: Patrol Corps—responsible for surveillance within Seireitei and monitoring Shinigami movements, led by Ōmaeda Marechiyo, Lieutenant of Division 2.

Squad Three: Detention Unit—oversees the Surveillance Tower and handles Shinigami deemed a threat to the Soul Society.

Squad Four: Search Unit—locates missing Shinigami, closely connected to the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. They were the ones who found the powerless Rukia in the World of the Living and discovered Isshin Kurosaki’s disappearance.

Squad Five: Inner Court Troop—tasked with delivering orders swiftly, said to be faster and more precise than Hell Butterflies, usually carrying top-priority orders.

Kaiser had already sensed someone monitoring him and had assumed it was the Patrol Corps.

But now the ones before him were from the Executive Militia?

“Don’t tell me you’re here to assassinate me… Captain Suì-Fēng?”

Kaiser chuckled toward the back of the group, remaining relaxed even while surrounded.

“Whoosh!”

Suì-Fēng, clad in her Captain’s Haori, appeared instantly, standing at the front of the Executive Militia, entering the encirclement with Kaiser.

“Considering it’s you, if you tried anything, the Patrol Corps wouldn’t be able to stop you.”

Her expression remained cold.

If a fight were to break out, there was no doubt the Executive Militia was more suited to act—and Suì-Fēng herself had come, showing just how seriously she was treating Kaiser.

“Let me ask you this, Captain Kaiser,” Suì-Fēng said sternly, eyes locked on him. “While the Ryoka are invading, you’ve left your Lieutenant behind—what exactly are you planning?”

Hearing this, Kaiser tilted his head slightly and replied:

“Nothing. Just taking a stroll.”

That one line brought the entire atmosphere to its lowest point.

Chapter 242: You've Shown It—So What?

At this moment, the full moon had already risen into the sky, the night completely descending, plunging all of Seireitei into darkness.

Unlike the World of the Living, the Soul Society did not use electricity—lamps were lit with oil—so there was no such thing as a brightly lit night.

But since Ryoka had invaded, and the Captain Commander had already issued the order to search for the intruders overnight, one could now see torches moving through the streets and alleys of Seireitei, dots of firelight piercing the darkness.

In such circumstances, not far from the Third Division’s barracks, near the water’s edge, there wasn’t a single flicker of firelight.

The Executive Militia were dressed entirely in black, their faces covered, their whole bodies seemingly blending into the night—yet faint killing intent emanated from them.

Suì-Fēng looked at the calm-faced Kaiser in front of her and took a deep breath.

“You’re not even bothering to come up with an excuse now?”

Her tone had gone cold, showing just how bad her mood was.

Kaiser, on the other hand, appeared not the least bit concerned with the surrounding Executive Militia or even the Second Division’s Captain in front of him, speaking with composure.

“I was indeed planning to take a stroll first, since I haven’t decided where to go yet.” Kaiser raised his fingers and counted as he spoke. “Should I go to the Palace of Penitence first? Or maybe Central 46? Or perhaps I’ll just meet with those Ryoka?”

“I haven’t even decided yet, and you all showed up.”

“So no, I’m not making any excuses.”

Suì-Fēng’s expression grew extremely grim.

“Go back,” she said coldly. “If you return now, I’ll pretend I saw nothing.”

“How could I?” Kaiser smiled faintly. “Aren’t we supposed to be capturing Ryoka? How could I just go back and sit idle?”

“A few Ryoka hardly require a Captain’s intervention,” Suì-Fēng said expressionlessly. “Besides, that muscle-head Kenpachi has already moved out. He’s more than enough.”

“That’s not necessarily true,” Kaiser shook his head, speaking meaningfully. “That guy Kenpachi won’t go all out just to catch a few Ryoka. On the contrary, he might even hold back to enjoy the fight—giving his opponents the upper hand.”

“To enjoy battle, that guy might not even fight seriously. Forget Zanjutsu—even that eyepatch of his, he won’t remove it until the last moment.”

“If his opponent is the type that grows stronger mid-battle, even bursting out with hidden power—then his outcome is only one.”

“And that’s defeat.”

Kaiser’s words, like a prophecy, failed to sway Suì-Fēng in the slightest.

“Don’t think just because you beat Kenpachi once you can look down on him,” Suì-Fēng responded unfazed. “No matter what, he’s a monster who became a Captain with nothing but a sword, without mastering Bankai or even Shikai.”

“He took down the former Captain of the Eleventh Division to get where he is. A battle maniac like him—how could a few Ryoka beat him?”

“Is that so?” Kaiser chuckled indifferently. “So that’s why Captain Suì-Fēng had the free time to come monitor me in person?”

“Your words are too dangerous, Kaiser,” Suì-Fēng’s tone remained cold. “The Soul Society has operated under its current order for who knows how many years. A newcomer not even a hundred years old like you—what gives you the right to challenge it?”

“All over a few unresolved anomalies?”

“Don’t make me laugh. Compared to the millions of years of Soul Society’s history, what are a few anomalies worth?”

Her meaning was obvious: Kaiser was making a mountain out of a molehill.

The Soul Society had existed for an unfathomably long time. Its current system had been around for ages. Central 46’s history even predates the Gotei 13—what could possibly go wrong?

So what if there were a few anomalies? The Soul Society had always survived them.

Suì-Fēng knew well that some things weren’t about whether there were problems—but about not probing too deep. Otherwise, one would only invite disaster.

The number of Noble Clans in Seireitei was not large, but not small either. There were even rumored Royalty and Royal Guards—perhaps scheming in the shadows, aiming for certain goals or profits.

And their actions could well be the root of the so-called “anomalies.”

Take Rukia Kuchiki for example. No matter what, she was part of the Kuchiki Clan—the foremost of the Four Great Noble Clans. Being sentenced to double execution was clearly extreme, but who knew if it wasn’t a rival noble’s plot?

This was a clash between great Noble Clans. It had little to do with the Gotei 13. At most, it was the Sixth Division’s business—certainly not something for others to meddle in.

Suì-Fēng herself came from a Noble background and was also the head of the Executive Militia and Commander of the Onmitsukidō. She had seen countless dark corners of Seireitei, and so she would never question Central 46 or challenge the authority of the Soul Society over a few anomalies.

But if Kaiser, as a Captain, tried to approach such matters—things that shouldn’t be touched—then she couldn’t stand idly by. She would have to stop him, even destroy him preemptively.

Suì-Fēng believed this was also what Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto thought.

Thus, she would not ignore Kaiser’s actions during this critical moment.

Of course, Kaiser found this somewhat laughable.

“This is your reason for ignoring everything and blindly obeying?” Kaiser said mockingly. “Not bad. Pretty original. First time I’ve heard of resolving crises by watching comrades instead of investigating the actual anomalies.”

“Looks like the Gotei 13 is even more useless than I thought.”

Suì-Fēng’s expression turned frosty, Reiatsu radiating coldly from her body.

“As a Captain of the Gotei 13, you should know what to do.”

She actually said that.

“Is that so?” Kaiser squinted, suddenly smiling. “But I heard that over a hundred years ago, a certain Captain once broke into Central 46 and rescued a friend.”

“What was that Captain’s name again?”

“Pretty sure she was from a noble house too?”

Kaiser pretended to rack his brain. After a moment, as if remembering, he casually spoke.

“I remember now—her name was Shihōin—”

Before he could finish, a figure flashed before him at lightning speed.

“Bang!”

With a muffled impact, a shockwave burst between them.

The person who had appeared in front of Kaiser struck with a powerful palm—but Kaiser blocked it with one hand, causing the blast and impact wave.

Suì-Fēng glared at Kaiser, her face no longer impassive—now filled with visible fury across her still-youthful features.

“Don’t…”

She growled out.

“Don’t ever mention that person’s name in front of me!”

At this moment, it was as if Suì-Fēng had been provoked at her most sensitive spot. Her Reiatsu, previously restrained, erupted like a dam bursting.

Without warning, she lifted her leg and kicked at Kaiser’s side—her leg wind sharp like a blade, painful even before contact.

“Whoosh!”

Kaiser vanished in an instant, evading the kick.

But Suì-Fēng vanished right after, reappearing alongside Kaiser in another direction.

“Bang!” “Bang!” “Bang!” “Bang!” “Bang!”…

A flurry of impacts echoed through the air. Kaiser and Suì-Fēng appeared sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right, sometimes in midair, sometimes on the ground, using expert-level Shunpo and shocking speed to engage in a fierce hand-to-hand battle.

Only now did the Executive Militia react, attempting to charge forward and attack Kaiser—but to their horror, they realized they couldn’t even see the two’s movements clearly, much less keep up with their Shunpo.

And these were Onmitsukidō members renowned for mobility.

Just like how Fourth Division might lack combat power but excel at Kaidō, and Eleventh Division was weak at Kidō but strong in combat—Onmitsukidō members might not use Shikai or Bankai, but they definitely excelled in Shunpo.

Yet they couldn’t follow Kaiser and Suì-Fēng’s Shunpo. They couldn’t even see their silhouettes. That was shocking.

They could understand Suì-Fēng’s speed—she was their Captain, Commander of the Onmitsukidō. Of course she was fast.

But that the Third Division’s Captain Kaiser could fight her evenly, matching her in speed and agility—that was stunning.

What they didn’t know was that Kaiser wasn’t even fighting seriously.

“Are you looking down on me?!”

Suì-Fēng knew this all too well. Her fury surged uncontrollably.

“In the Captain’s meeting, your Shunpo wasn’t just at this level!”

“So where is it now? Show it to me!”

“Show it to me!”

With that, Suì-Fēng’s attacks accelerated.

One had to admit, her Hakuda was exceptionally strong. Her close-quarters skills ranked among the best Kaiser had ever encountered.

She was an all-rounder—proficient in Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kidō—but of the four Zankensōki techniques, Hakuda and Shunpo were undoubtedly her specialties.

Facing her Hakuda, Kaiser, who hadn’t drawn his sword, naturally fell into a defensive stance—barely managing to block everything.

No helping it. Of the four techniques, Kaiser’s weakest was Hakuda. Without drawing his blade, he couldn’t match a Captain-level expert in Hakuda.

Yet his expression remained as relaxed and calm as ever.

Especially after hearing Suì-Fēng’s words, the corners of Kaiser’s mouth curled upward.

In her fury, Suì-Fēng failed to notice Kaiser’s expression. She formed a knife-hand with her palm and thrust it straight toward Kaiser’s chest.

“Pffft!”

The next second, her strike stabbed through Kaiser’s chest, piercing his body entirely.

But rather than delight, Suì-Fēng was alarmed.

“No good!”

She realized something and whipped around.

At that moment, the figure she had pierced vanished like an illusion.

Kaiser appeared behind her, face to face just as she turned.

Suì-Fēng reached for the Zanpakutō at her back, but before she could draw it, a hand pressed down on her shoulder.

“—!”

Suì-Fēng’s expression changed dramatically.

The figure in front of her vanished again like an illusion, replaced by the voice of the one now gripping her shoulder.

“You’ve shown it… so what?”

That simple sentence made Suì-Fēng grit her teeth and tremble all over.

She was holding herself back, afraid that if she drew her blade, the hand on her shoulder would strike before she could even turn.

Though it didn’t show, Suì-Fēng could feel it—the palm pressing down was gathering spiritual power ready to explode.

Sensing that massive power, she had every reason to believe that if she moved, in the very next instant, a Hadō of at least level eighty would blast her shoulder, her arm, and half her body apart at point-blank range.

“Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!”…

At that moment, the Executive Militia who had fallen behind finally caught up, using Shunpo to surround Kaiser and Suì-Fēng again.

“Stand down!”

Seeing them about to charge Kaiser directly, Suì-Fēng immediately shouted to stop them.

“Wise decision,” Kaiser’s voice came from behind her, as if praising. “Rushing in now would only anger me—and drag you down too. Nothing good would come of it.”

“…What are you trying to do?” Suì-Fēng didn’t turn her head. She didn’t dare. She clenched her teeth and said, “Are you really going to defy Central 46 and challenge the Soul Society’s authority?”

“Who knows.” Kaiser’s hand remained on her shoulder. He smiled faintly. “At the very least, I won’t blindly obey like you all.”

With that, he withdrew his hand and turned away.

“Instead of wasting time with me, you’d be better off chasing down those Ryoka.” Kaiser said to Suì-Fēng. “Here’s a little tip.”

“There’s a black cat among the Ryoka.”

“That black cat… is probably the one you’ve been looking for all this time.”

Suì-Fēng’s eyes widened.

“You say wh—”

She turned, about to question him—only to find Kaiser already gone.

She could only stand there in a daze, her expression dark and conflicted.

Not long after, Suì-Fēng withdrew her troops.

At the same time, within Seireitei, a figure began desperately searching for the Ryoka.

Chapter 243: A Little Revenge for That Year

Fifth Division, barracks.

Unlike the Third Division’s quarters by the water, the Fifth Division’s quarters were built directly on the water, not just a single building, but a cluster of wooden houses, each of a different design.

The wooden houses were connected by roofed walkways, forming a secluded paradise upon the water. The environment was pleasant and the location not too remote, yet it carried an inexplicable sense of tranquility, putting people at ease.

At this moment, in the Captain's office of the Fifth Division’s quarters, Sōsuke Aizen, wearing the white haori of a Captain, was seated at his desk, holding a brush and carefully writing something.

The room was extremely quiet. Other than Sōsuke Aizen, there was no one else present. Yet, as if time and space had suddenly distorted, a moment came where, without any sign or warning, another figure appeared before Aizen as though it had always been there.

“What a rare guest.”

Aizen didn’t look up, didn’t even stop moving his hand. A smile remained on his face as he spoke.

“For Captain Kaiser to visit personally, I believe this is the first time, isn’t it?”

The figure who had appeared before Aizen was indeed Kaiser.

“Is Captain Aizen reproaching me?” Kaiser sat down nonchalantly across from Aizen, as though he were an old friend, pouring himself tea from the pot on the side and saying calmly, “But you haven’t visited the Third Division’s quarters either, have you? Not even once!”

“Is that so?” Aizen still didn’t look up, smiling. “Maybe it’s just that you never noticed.”

“That’s true.” Kaiser nodded with mock seriousness, raised the teacup, and took a sip. “With Captain Aizen’s skill, sneaking into the Third Division’s quarters unnoticed would be a piece of cake.”

“Forget the Third Division—even Central 46 probably couldn’t stop your steps.”

Kaiser’s relaxed and casual remarks would’ve caused an uproar had anyone else heard them.

Yet the ever-gentle Aizen didn’t offer any denial.

“You’ve always been this way,” Aizen said with an implied meaning. “Even though I’ve shown you nothing but kindness, you’ve always kept a vague yet persistent wariness toward me.”

“Always projecting a free and easygoing image, yet you occasionally reveal an unexpected insight, as though you see through everything.”

Aizen finished writing, set the brush aside, looked up, and gazed at Kaiser.

“I’m quite curious. Why are you like this?”

“Did you happen to meet people who should no longer appear in Soul Society, and learn something from them?”

“Or… have you been one of them from the beginning?”

For those unaware of the inner truth, Aizen’s words would’ve sounded baffling.

But not for Kaiser.

“By ‘them,’ do you mean Urahara Kisuke? Or the Visored?”

Kaiser’s calm response made Aizen look at him deeply.

“So you do know them.”

Aizen’s smile remained gentle.

“I’ve indeed looked into them.”

Kaiser’s reply carried layers of meaning.

Over a hundred years ago, the Gotei 13 was not what it is today.

At that time, the former Captain of the Third Division was still alive, Aizen was still a Lieutenant, and Gin Ichimaru had only just emerged, not yet famous.

Back then, a major incident had shaken all of Soul Society.

At first, only souls from Rukongai were mysteriously vanishing. Later, even Shinigami began disappearing, prompting serious attention from the Gotei 13 and leading to several Captains and Lieutenants being dispatched to investigate.

As a result, during the investigation, the former Captains of the Third, Fifth, and Seventh Divisions, the former Lieutenant of the Eighth Division, the former Captain and Lieutenant of the Ninth Division, the former Lieutenant of the Twelfth Division, and the former Deputy Chief of the Kidō Corps—eight in total—were all caught in the incident and began undergoing Hollowfication.

These top-level Shinigami of Soul Society were transforming into Hollows, which naturally caused an uproar throughout Seireitei.

Afterwards, Central 46 declared that the former Captain of the Twelfth Division had orchestrated a Hollowfication experiment, victimizing several Captains and Lieutenants, and sentenced him to death. Those affected by Hollowfication were also treated as Hollows and sentenced to execution.

At a critical moment, the former Captain of the Second Division broke into the courtroom, rescued everyone, and escaped.

Since then, the Gotei 13 was left with many vacant positions. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto began heavily promoting talent, appointing capable Shinigami to Captain and Lieutenant roles.

That was when Aizen became Captain of the Fifth Division and promoted Gin Ichimaru as his Lieutenant. Kaname Tōsen became Captain of the Ninth Division, Suì-Fēng became Captain of the Second Division, Sajin Komamura became Captain of the Seventh Division, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi became Captain of the Twelfth Division. Only the Captain’s seat of the Third Division remained temporarily vacant due to a lack of candidates; the other positions were filled gradually.

The “Urahara Kisuke” and “Visored” Kaiser referred to were the victims of that incident.

Urahara Kisuke was the former Captain of the Twelfth Division, declared by Central 46 to be the mastermind behind the Hollowfication experiment.

The Visoreds were the group of affected Captains and Lieutenants who banded together.

Their existence had become something of a taboo in Seireitei. For over a century, almost no one had dared mention them.

But Kaiser, who only arrived in Soul Society after that incident, casually revealed their existence.

“I heard you were still the Fifth Division’s Lieutenant back then,” Kaiser looked at Aizen with a detached gaze and said, “Who would’ve thought that a mere Lieutenant was secretly orchestrating the Hollowfication experiments, turning several Captains and Lieutenants into test subjects?”

“Of course, that was hardly your only scheme.”

“Decades ago, the Hollow I encountered during my training in the World of the Living was your doing. That attack was your plan.”

“Over twenty years ago, you also orchestrated the disappearance of the former Captain of the Tenth Division, Isshin Shiba, nearly killing him in the World of the Living.”

“This time, you planned the execution of Rukia Kuchiki.”

Kaiser set down the now-empty teacup and slowly addressed Aizen.

“To think the one who plotted all of this, who manipulated so many conspiracies behind the scenes, is the universally admired, gentle, kind, and friendly Captain of the Fifth Division… If word got out, no one would believe it.”

At this, Aizen pushed up his black-rimmed glasses and chuckled softly.

“So, is that why you came to see me alone?”

Because no one would believe him, he had to do it himself.

Because there was no evidence, he had to bear the burden alone.

“You’re more responsible than I thought, Kaiser-kun.”

Aizen used the nickname from their Shin'ō Academy days.

But that only made Kaiser scoff.

“You think I came here to stop your evil schemes?”

Kaiser laughed as if hearing a joke.

“Isn’t that why you came?”

Aizen’s smile didn’t fade.

“Of course.” Kaiser’s smile deepened. Then he said, “I only came here for one reason.”

“To take a little revenge for that year.”

As those words left his lips, another figure of Kaiser appeared behind Aizen.

Just as he had done when facing Suì-Fēng, this second Kaiser reached toward Aizen’s shoulder, seemingly about to grab it.

Reiryoku swirled around his palm, causing the seated Kaiser in front of Aizen to become faint like a lingering afterimage.

Just as Kaiser’s hand was about to touch Aizen’s shoulder, he suddenly stopped.

“Clang!”

With a sharp sound of clashing metal, Kaiser’s glowing hand abruptly lifted and collided with a sharp, indiscernible weapon—sparks flying.

“Whoosh!”

A slicing wind struck from Kaiser’s other side, carrying a blade's edge sharp enough to sting the skin.

“Shhk!”

The Kaiser who had been raising his hand was split in half by the unseen strike, his entire body blurring once again.

“Hm?”

Only now did Aizen’s eyes shift as he looked up.

“Scattered bones of beasts, spires, red crystals, wheels of iron, the wind moves, the sky is still—the sound of spears clashing echoes through the empty castle!”

Kaiser had appeared above, on the ceiling, standing upside down as if walking on flat ground. He extended his palm toward Aizen below.

Dazzling lightning flashed in his hand.

“Hadō #63: Raikōhō!”

Lightning burst forth, flooding the room.

“BOOM!!!”

A wooden building of the Fifth Division, standing on the water, exploded with a thunderous roar, bolts of lightning shooting outward.

This massive disturbance naturally drew the attention of nearby Shinigami.

“Enemy attack!”

“Enemy attack!”

“Is it the Ryoka?!”

“It’s coming from the Fifth Division’s barracks!”

“Get over there!”

Nearby Shinigami, drawn by the commotion, rushed over with torches in hand.

“Something’s wrong! It’s coming from the Captain’s side!”

“The Captain’s in danger!”

“Hurry!”

Shinigami stationed at the Fifth Division were the first to be alarmed. Their expressions changed as they rushed toward the Captain’s office.

When they reached the blast site, the scene that greeted them left them frozen in shock.

Amid the ruined rubble, Kaiser stood on the shattered floor, gripping Aizen’s neck with one hand, lifting him into the air. His other hand held a Zanpakutō, thrusting forward.

“Shhk!”

The bloodstained blade pierced through Aizen’s chest, entering from the front and exiting the back in a burst of blood.

“…”

Aizen’s eyes widened, filled with shock, regret, pain, and disbelief as he looked at Kaiser.

“Why…”

He coughed blood and uttered that word, as if betrayed by someone he trusted.

“Captain!”

“Captain!”

The Shinigami of the Fifth Division screamed in rage.

“What are you doing?!”

Several of them charged at Kaiser in fury, blades swinging.

Kaiser didn’t even glance at them. He simply looked coldly at the bleeding Aizen and spoke.

“So that’s your trick?”

Kaiser tossed Aizen’s body aside like garbage and tightened his grip on the Zanpakutō.

The furious Shinigami swung at him, but it was like striking stone—their blades couldn’t even break his skin.

Kaiser’s Reiatsu was already overwhelming, no weaker than Kenpachi Zaraki’s—perhaps stronger. Just as Kenpachi could use his Reiatsu to make his body nearly invulnerable, Kaiser could do the same.

To wound him, one would need at least a Lieutenant-level opponent.

Even Renji Abarai, an elite among Lieutenants, could have his blade stopped with just a finger.

So damaging Kaiser required a Captain-level opponent—anything less was pointless.

Unfortunately, the Fifth Division didn’t even have a Lieutenant at the moment. All that remained were ordinary Shinigami, and even those of Seated Officer level couldn’t touch him.

Still, they showed no fear and instead roared at Kaiser in anger.

“Why did you kill Captain Aizen?!”

“Have you lost your mind?!”

“Answer us! Captain Kaiser!”

Every Shinigami who had come shouted accusations at him.

Despite knowing he was a Captain, they didn’t hesitate. They were consumed with rage.

It showed just how deeply Aizen’s image had been ingrained in the Fifth Division.

They could never know—that image was fabricated.

Including everything they were seeing now—it was all an illusion.

Kaiser could clearly sense it: a familiar feeling of being watched, and that strange sense of wrongness, was fading.

“…Escaped, huh?”

Ignoring the shouting and accusations around him, Kaiser clicked his tongue.

More Shinigami were arriving. Their faces changed at the sight.

The place was becoming more and more crowded.

Crowded to the point it chilled the heart.

Chapter 244: Why Exactly?

“Splash, splash…”

Perhaps it was because a large amount of moisture had been evaporated by the earlier Raikōhō, but light rain began to fall over the Fifth Division’s quarters, creating the soft sounds of rainfall and droplets hitting the water.

Yet every single Shinigami drenched in that rain felt cold to their core—hands and feet numb, heads blank.

Because before them, lay a corpse whose chest had been pierced by a blade, the entire body soaked in blood.

Wearing black-rimmed glasses and a white haori, the once gentle and kind-hearted Captain of the Fifth Division lay there, devoid of all signs of life.

Sōsuke Aizen—was dead.

This fact was laid bare in the most direct way before all of them.

Even for the Shinigami who had arrived afterward, and the Captains who rushed over upon hearing the news, the sight of the corpse left no room for denial—a respected Captain had died before their eyes.

“Boom!”

A heavy, explosive thud rang out.

It was the sound of a wooden staff slamming heavily onto the ground.

Standing at the front, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto’s entire body radiated scorching Reiatsu. Though no rage was visible on his face, anyone could see that the Captain Commander of the Gotei 13 was now furious.

“This is your way of maintaining order in the Soul Society, Kaiser?!”

Yamamoto’s voice thundered like a great bell, the anger within it unmistakable to all.

Unfortunately, Kaiser had already left and could not feel Yamamoto’s fury in the slightest.

Those who were initially present had wanted to stop him, but even Suì-Fēng—Captain of the Second Division and Commander of the Onmitsukidō—couldn’t keep up with Kaiser’s Shunpo. How could ordinary Shinigami possibly stop him from leaving?

Thus, Yamamoto’s anger had nowhere to go and simply burst out as overwhelming Reiatsu, making all nearby Shinigami feel as though a mountain was pressing down on them—they could barely breathe.

“Let it go for now, Captain Commander,” Shunsui Kyōraku said quietly, head lowered. “If you keep this up, our own Shinigami will collapse first.”

“That’s right, Sensei,” Jūshirō Ukitake added with concern. “A Captain has died—this isn’t a small matter. On top of that, the Ryoka are causing a stir. If you don’t take command, things may spiral out of control.”

At their words, although flames of anger still flickered in Yamamoto’s eyes, reason prevailed, and he reined in his Reiatsu, allowing the Shinigami around him to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Where are the others?” Yamamoto asked grimly. “Something this serious has happened, so why haven’t they come?”

The news of Aizen’s death had already spread. The other Captains should have arrived by now.

But despite the time that had passed, only Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, and Retsu Unohana were present.

Kyōraku and Ukitake stood to Yamamoto’s left and right, while Unohana had been silently examining Aizen’s corpse since arriving, frowning deeply as though lost in thought. She hadn’t said a single word.

As for the rest of the Captains, not a single one had shown up.

“They’re probably not at their barracks, so the message didn’t reach them right away,” Kyōraku explained, as the Captain of the Eighth Division, well-informed on his peers’ whereabouts.

“Captain Suì-Fēng of the Second Division is pursuing the Ryoka with the Execution Corps. I heard she’s searching for a black cat.”

“Captain Kenpachi Zaraki of the Eleventh Division hasn’t returned since going out. Probably lost again, as usual, while chasing Ryoka.”

“Captain Kurotsuchi of the Twelfth Division is, unusually, not in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. Apparently, he’s searching for any Ryoka who might interest him as experimental subjects.”

As for the others, their actions were more ambiguous.

“Captain Kuchiki of the Sixth Division is at the Special Detention Building. No one knows what he’s guarding or waiting for.”

“Captains Kaname Tōsen of the Ninth Division and Gin Ichimaru of the Tenth are missing. Even their Lieutenants don’t know where they are.”

“Captain Komamura of the Seventh Division is currently looking for Captain Tōsen…”

In total, seven Captains were still acting on their own, possibly unaware of what had happened.

Only Kyōraku, Ukitake, and Unohana had been in their barracks when the news broke, so they’d learned immediately and rushed over without delay.

Including Yamamoto who arrived first, the absent Kaiser, and the deceased Aizen, the Captains of the Gotei 13 were now scattered and disunited.

Yamamoto’s expression grew worse.

At such a crucial time, the Captains were either acting on their own, had met with misfortune, or were outright missing—and some even appeared to have betrayed the Soul Society. The Gotei 13 had become so unstable at this moment that Yamamoto’s anger almost reignited.

“Relay the command at once!” Yamamoto issued a cold order. “Any Captain not currently assigned to a mission is to lead their Lieutenant and subordinates in searching for Captain Kaiser. Once his location is discovered, capture him immediately!”

The nearby Shinigami received the order and began moving.

“What about the Ryoka?” Ukitake asked. He wasn’t surprised by Yamamoto’s decision but still inquired, “What do we do about them?”

“A few Ryoka, no matter how disruptive, can’t compare to the death of a Captain!” Yamamoto declared without hesitation. “Our top priority is apprehending Captain Kaiser. Everything else can wait!”

“Kenpachi Zaraki is already after the Ryoka. That alone is sufficient!”

“As for the Special Detention Building, both the Ryoka and Kaiser may head there. Since Captain Kuchiki is already stationed there, let him remain on watch!”

“All other Captains must focus their efforts on capturing Kaiser—no delays permitted!”

This made it clear: Yamamoto was going all-in to capture Kaiser.

Except for Kenpachi Zaraki and Byakuya Kuchiki, all other Captains would be recalled.

The target had slain a fellow Captain and was one of the greatest geniuses in Soul Society history. Though furious, Yamamoto had not lost his reason. He knew that to capture someone like Kaiser, he’d have to commit everything.

So this time, Division 1 would mobilize as well. If Kaiser’s whereabouts were discovered, Yamamoto himself would go and take action.

The remaining Captains were allowed to work together to ensure success.

However, just then, Unohana—who had been silently observing Aizen’s corpse—spoke up.

“Captain Commander, I will not participate in the search.”

Unohana spoke calmly. “I want to examine Captain Aizen’s body and see if I can find any clues.”

She had a strong feeling that something about Aizen’s corpse was amiss, though she couldn’t say exactly what.

She wished to take the body back to the Fourth Division for thorough examination and investigation.

“Granted.”

Yamamoto assumed she wanted to find out why Kaiser attacked Aizen. After some thought, he approved.

Even without Unohana, the remaining active Captains were enough. If they all mobilized, surely they could take down Kaiser.

Just as Yamamoto was about to leave, Chōjirō Sasakibe appeared.

“Captain Commander Yamamoto.” Sasakibe knelt on one knee beside him and reported, “Central 46 has issued a new resolution.”

“The order states: due to the current chaos in Seireitei, and to ensure Rukia Kuchiki’s execution proceeds without complications, the execution has been moved up.”

“The new time is noon, three days from now. The location remains Sōkyoku Hill.”

At this news, not only Yamamoto but all the Captains present were stunned.

“They moved the execution up?”

Ukitake was shocked and anxious.

“Why?”

Unohana frowned and muttered.

“Rukia Kuchiki, of all people… why are they in such a rush to kill her?”

Kyōraku’s eyes gleamed, his thoughts racing.

Even Yamamoto’s gaze grew heavy.

But he voiced no objection.

Central 46’s rulings must not be contested—not even by the Captain Commander. This had always been Yamamoto’s belief.

Even sensing something was wrong, Yamamoto still intended to uphold this principle, to preserve Soul Society’s authority.

“…Relay this order as well.”

“Yes.”

Sasakibe acknowledged Yamamoto’s command, then vanished with Shunpo.

“You all—move out immediately.”

Yamamoto left these final words, then departed with the help of his staff.

Unohana also left, taking Aizen’s body with her. Only Kyōraku and Ukitake remained behind.

“Are you alright?”

Kyōraku patted Ukitake’s shoulder and asked gently.

The two of them were among the first graduates of the Shin'ō Academy, personally taught by Yamamoto himself. They were also the first students to rise to the rank of Captain, and their deep bond was well known.

They had fought alongside each other for over a thousand years. No one knew Ukitake’s heart better than Kyōraku.

“…Shunsui,” Ukitake said with a pale expression and sorrowful tone. “Why does everyone want Rukia Kuchiki to die?”

He had been thinking of ways to save her, but now with the execution moved up to just three days away, what could he possibly do?

He no longer knew what to do.

“I want to know what really happened too.” Kyōraku sighed and said meaningfully, “Maybe only Captain Kaiser knows the truth behind all this.”

“Him?” Ukitake blinked in surprise. “He knows the truth?”

“It’s just a guess,” Kyōraku smiled. “Otherwise, why did he say those things during the Captain’s meeting? Why did he kill Captain Aizen in broad daylight?”

“I don’t understand what grudge he had with Aizen, or why he killed him. But precisely because I don’t understand, I suspect the truth may be far bigger than any of us imagined.”

“Or do you really think he’s the kind of person who would kill a comrade and challenge the old man in front of everyone without reason?”

Kyōraku’s words made Ukitake shake his head thoughtfully.

“Based on Captain Kaiser’s usual behavior, this really is unusual.”

For decades, Kaiser had never once challenged Yamamoto in a Captain’s meeting. He rarely voiced opinions, always indifferent and detached.

With other Captains, he had never openly clashed—though he once fought Kenpachi Zaraki, they had remained neutral ever since. With Byakuya Kuchiki, aside from one fight in the past, they had minimal interaction.

Rumor had it he wasn’t especially close to any Captain.

But among those who graduated with him from the Shin'ō Academy, it was said he maintained good relations, even after becoming a Captain. People often saw them training together.

As for Aizen…

Thinking about it, Kaiser had always been somewhat distant toward Aizen.

Why?

Aizen was known for his good personality, easy to get along with, and had shown appreciation for Kaiser even when he was just a student—frequently praising him in public and treating him warmly. Yet Kaiser had always kept his distance—and now he had killed him.

Why?

At that moment, Ukitake knew what he had to do.

“Let’s go find him,” Ukitake said resolutely. “Let’s ask him what he knows.”

Kyōraku smiled without responding, simply nodded.

The two stepped into Shunpo and vanished.

Meanwhile, other Captains who received the news also began moving, searching for Kaiser.

This night was destined to be anything but peaceful.

Chapter 245: Encounter! Who Are You?

“Current Fifth Division Captain Sōsuke Aizen was killed by current Third Division Captain Kaiser.”

“All Captains of the Gotei 13 have been ordered to apprehend Kaiser.”

“The execution date of Rukia Kuchiki has been moved up.”

“The restriction on carrying Zanpakutō within all areas of Seireitei is lifted. All Shinigami are now permitted to carry their blades anywhere in Seireitei.”

As these announcements spread through Seireitei, everyone was stunned.

“Captain Kaiser killed Captain Aizen?”

“T-That’s impossible!”

“Rukia Kuchiki’s execution date has actually been moved up?”

“Blade-carrying permission… is that true?”

Countless people who heard the news, whether they were Shinigami or not, were overwhelmed with shock, plunging all of Seireitei into clamor and unrest.

Especially those from the Third and Fifth Divisions—upon hearing news about their Captains, they either shouted in disbelief or stood dumbfounded, falling into chaos.

“H-How could it be…”

Inside the Third Division’s barracks, Momo Hinamori, who had fallen asleep from exhaustion, shot to her feet the moment she heard the news.

“This can’t be true! Captain… there’s no way Kai-kun would kill Captain Aizen!”

Momo Hinamori simply couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

But shortly after she received the news, the Tenth Division—serving as the patrol unit—arrived at the Third Division’s barracks and took control of everyone.

Leading them was the Tenth Division’s Lieutenant, Tōshirō Hitsugaya.

He was accompanied by the Tenth Division’s Third Seat, Rangiku Matsumoto, as they entered the Captain’s office.

“…Sorry, Momo. From this moment forward, we will be taking over supervision here.”

Tōshirō Hitsugaya tried his best to speak with a formal tone, but couldn’t help closing his eyes, unwilling to look at Momo Hinamori’s now pale face.

“Shirō-chan!” Momo Hinamori, as if clinging to a lifeline, quickly ran toward Hitsugaya, pleading, “There must be some mistake, right?”

Hitsugaya did not answer that question.

He wished it were a mistake too.

After all, Kaiser had once been his mentor. He truly did not want to see Kaiser become an enemy of the Gotei 13.

Unfortunately…

“This order came directly from the Captain Commander, Momo,” Rangiku Matsumoto said, a bit pained. “There were many witnesses to Captain Kaiser killing Captain Aizen—witnesses from other Divisions, even.”

“Captain Aizen’s body is currently at the Fourth Division, and Captain Kaiser immediately fled afterward. He hasn’t been seen since.”

“I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s the truth. Several Captains have already been ordered to hunt down Captain Kaiser. I even heard the Captain Commander himself is ready to step in at any time.”

Momo Hinamori trembled all over, nearly collapsing.

“I don’t believe it… I don’t believe it…”

She murmured in a daze, face pale.

“Captain… there’s no way Kai-kun would do something like this…”

That was exactly what Hitsugaya wanted to say.

He had a bit of a bond with Kaiser and knew very well that he wasn’t someone who would casually kill others or commit major crimes.

That man wasn’t a saint, but unless someone provoked him, he would never recklessly kill.

Could it be that Captain Aizen did something to him that caused him to lose control?

But wasn’t Captain Aizen known for being gentle and kind, never one to offend others?

“Momo,” Hitsugaya couldn’t help but speak, “you’re Captain Kaiser’s Lieutenant, the one closest to him. Did you not notice anything unusual before this?”

Momo Hinamori froze.

“Unusual…”

Her eyes flickered slightly.

If she had to say—there had definitely been anomalies, and very obvious ones at that.

For instance, even before Rukia Kuchiki’s crime had been exposed, Captain Kaiser had seemed to know about it, instructing her to monitor Rukia’s movements.

Also, when Rukia was captured and imprisoned by the Sixth Division, it was as if he had already known she’d be sentenced to death. He even did some strange things to her.

Later, he argued with the Captain Commander at the Captain’s meeting and appeared highly concerned about the arrival of the Ryoka and the current state of Seireitei—almost as if he already knew everything in advance.

It was as if everything happening now was within his expectations, as if he had already seen it all.

All of this, by Hitsugaya’s definition, was abnormal behavior.

Even at the time, Momo had been confused by Kaiser’s actions. Thinking back now, it seemed even more certain—he must have known something beforehand, and that knowledge led him to act, which brought him to his current situation.

With that thought, Momo Hinamori could no longer sit still.

“I’m going to find Captain!”

She stood up again.

“No,” Hitsugaya refused flatly. “According to the Captain Commander’s order, from this moment on, every member of the Third Division will be under surveillance.”

“Especially you, Lieutenant Hinamori. From now on, you’re not allowed to leave the Third Division’s barracks.”

Momo Hinamori was stunned.

“Matsumoto,” Hitsugaya turned away, unable to look at her expression, and addressed Rangiku, “I’m leaving this to you.”

“Yes,” Rangiku nodded and accepted the task.

Hitsugaya left the office and the barracks, but the Tenth Division Shinigami surrounded the area, allowing no one in or out.

“Momo…”

Rangiku looked at the stunned Momo Hinamori and stepped forward to embrace her.

“Rangiku-san,” Momo sobbed, tears filling her eyes, “Captain must’ve had an important reason for doing this…”

“…I believe you,” Rangiku said, holding her tightly, her expression complicated. “Men are like this. They never tell those closest to them what’s on their minds—they just act on their own and end up doing things that get them misunderstood, never thinking about how worried we are for them.”

Thinking of the man who, even after becoming her superior, still always avoided her, Rangiku couldn’t help empathizing with Momo.

“Seriously… what a bunch of bastards.”

She cursed aloud, and Momo’s sobs grew louder.

Similar situations were unfolding in the Sixth and Thirteenth Divisions.

“That bastard… what the hell is he trying to do?”

Renji Abarai, already agitated because of Rukia Kuchiki’s execution being moved up, clenched his Zanpakutō and rushed out of the barracks.

“Something’s definitely wrong!”

Izuru Kira also didn’t believe Kaiser would do something like this. If it weren’t for Jūshirō Ukitake assigning him to lead the unit, he would’ve rushed out to find Kaiser himself.

“What the hell is that bastard planning?”

Elsewhere, Suì-Fēng, who had been searching for a black cat, felt the weight of this news fall squarely on her shoulders.

If only she had stopped Kaiser and prevented him from leaving the Third Division, then maybe Sōsuke Aizen wouldn’t have been killed.

Feeling responsible, Suì-Fēng gritted her teeth and turned around, abandoning her search for the cat and instead tracking Kaiser.

The other Captains had varied reactions to the news—some indifferent, some in disbelief, some changing their course, some standing their ground—plunging all of Seireitei into an atmosphere of looming turmoil.

And at this moment, Kaiser was swaggering across the sky above Seireitei.

“Shun!” “Shun!” “Shun!” “Shun!” “Shun!”…

With every step of Shunpo, Kaiser’s figure zipped forward like teleportation, moving so fast that it produced the faint sound of tearing through the air.

“Not here?”

Landing atop a rooftop, Kaiser rested one hand on the hilt of his Zanpakutō and closed his eyes, seemingly sensing something.

“Not here either…”

He checked several directions, but found nothing.

“That guy… sure is better at hiding than I am.”

Opening his eyes, Kaiser muttered to himself.

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, Kaiser sensed two unusual Reiatsu.

“Whose Reiatsu is that?”

He was surprised.

One of them fluctuated wildly—sometimes as strong as a Captain, sometimes as weak as a third- or fourth-seated officer—completely unstable. The other was extremely faint, but gave Kaiser a feeling that it was not to be underestimated, as if it was intentionally concealing something.

If his Reiatsu-sensing ability weren’t so sharp, he might not have noticed anything strange at all.

“Shun!”

Kaiser activated Shunpo, flashing toward the source of the Reiatsu.

Soon, he landed atop a wall and saw the owners of the two Reiatsu.

“That’s…”

When he saw them clearly, Kaiser froze for a moment.

It was a combination of a Shinigami and a black cat.

“Hey! Ishida! Chad! Inoue! Where are you guys?”

The Shinigami was running along a main road, shouting loudly while running, drawing attention with his bright orange hair and ridiculously large Zanpakutō.

“Idiot! You’re a Ryoka now! If you keep yelling, the Gotei 13 will find you!”

The black cat running alongside him yelled in exasperation, visibly startled by his recklessness.

“What else can I do? There’s no signal here! I can’t text them to come over!”

“You’re the one who told them to run ahead! I told you all not to get separated in Seireitei!”

“What else could we do? That bald guy and that sissy girl blocked our path, and you said they weren’t people we could fight! Of course I had to let them run!”

“Couldn’t you have just run with them? You didn’t have to fight!”

“Huh? Are you kidding, Yoruichi-san? If I didn’t take them out, how were we supposed to escape?”

“You little punk…”

One man and one cat argued while running at high speed, clearly trying to avoid the surrounding Shinigami.

“So it’s them?”

Now Kaiser understood why those two Reiatsu felt so strange.

Because the owners themselves were unusual.

Especially that orange-haired Shinigami. Kaiser stared at him for a moment—then suddenly smiled.

“Shun!”

In the next instant, Kaiser used Shunpo to disappear—and reappeared right behind the man and the cat, less than a meter away.

“————!”

At that moment, both the orange-haired Shinigami and the talking black cat turned pale.

“Ichigo!”

The black cat let out a high-pitched scream.

Without thinking, the orange-haired Shinigami grabbed the hilt of his Zanpakutō, letting the bandages wrapped around the blade unravel as he slashed toward the figure behind him.

The oversized Zanpakutō released chaotic Reiatsu as it slashed toward Kaiser, sending gusts strong enough to blow his bangs.

“What a violent slash.”

Kaiser simply tilted his head slightly to dodge the blade, letting the sharp winds graze his body.

The man and cat took the opportunity to leap far back, standing off against Kaiser.

“Who are you?!”

The orange-haired Shinigami stared at Kaiser and demanded an answer, while cold sweat poured down his face.

He didn’t know why, but he instinctively sensed that this man was incredibly dangerous—so dangerous that even his instincts were screaming at him to run.

He had never felt this way before—not when facing powerful Hollows in the World of the Living, nor when clashing with Byakuya Kuchiki or Renji Abarai.

This was, without a doubt, the most terrifying, powerful, and invincible person he had ever encountered!

And that thought was quickly confirmed.

“The boy in the Third Division Captain’s haori…?!”

The black cat at his feet narrowed its eyes and shouted loudly.

“Run! Ichigo! You absolutely cannot fight him! You’ll die!”

Hearing the rare panic in the black cat’s voice, Ichigo Kurosaki broke into a strained smile, sweat pouring down.

“So he’s a big deal, huh… Yoruichi-san, do you know who he is?”

The answer came without hesitation.

“He’s the Captain of the Third Division, the greatest genius in Soul Society’s history. He’s broken numerous records and accomplished unbelievable feats!”

“He became a Captain before the age of twenty, defeated the Eleventh Division Captain just six months after becoming a Shinigami, and now, decades later, he’s only grown more unfathomable!”

“Among the potential enemies we feared encountering, he’s one of the worst! Right now, there’s no chance you could win against him!”

“Run! Run as far as you can! Don’t fight him!”

“You’ll die!”

As Yoruichi’s warning turned into something close to a scream, Ichigo’s sweat poured more profusely.

Kaiser looked at the man and cat before him—and smiled.

(End of Chapter)