Ukitake walked out of the Great Spirit Art Corridor, his face shadowed with unease. The air around him was heavy, and Amamiya Miyako could feel the weight of it pressing down.
"Miyako, this matter cannot be spoken of to anyone. Do you understand what I mean?" Ukitake's tone was unusually stern.
"I understand, Captain Ukitake. But... at least for Kurosaki Ichigo, shouldn't we secretly reveal some of the truth to him?" Miyako's voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp. He already knew this matter touched the pride and secrecy of the Four Great Noble Families. It wasn't something that could be spoken of lightly.
Ukitake hesitated for a long moment before sighing, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "...I see. I misunderstood. To change the Substitute Soul Reaper system is impossible, at least for now..."
"Let's go, Miyako. We need to report what we've learned to Genryūsai-sensei."
"Yes."
Inside the First Division barracks, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Yamamoto sat quietly with his loyal lieutenant, Chōjirō Sasakibe, standing at his side. The silence was suffocating, broken only when Yamamoto opened one eye as Ukitake and Miyako entered.
"Well, Jūshirō... have you discovered anything?" Yamamoto's voice rumbled, deep and commanding.
"Yes, Genryūsai-sensei," Ukitake said firmly. "I believe we've uncovered Aizen's true objective. My Vice Captain was the one who found the information Aizen sought in the Great Spirit Art Corridor."
At those words, Yamamoto finally turned his full attention to Amamiya Miyako. For the first time, the old man's gaze seemed to truly weigh him. This young Soul Reaper had played a pivotal role—stopping Aizen and buying precious time for the Soul Society.
Miyako met the Captain-Commander's gaze with composed respect and bowed slightly.
"Then, Jūshirō, tell me what you've found."
"Yes, sensei. Aizen's true objective... is the Ōken."
"What did you say?!" Yamamoto's voice thundered, shaking the room. The calm elder's tone sharpened like a drawn blade. "The location of the Ōken is a secret known only to the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13! And according to our most sacred tradition, it can only be passed down verbally to the next Captain-Commander. It would never be recorded in the Great Spirit Art Corridor—how could Aizen possibly know of it?"
"That's exactly it," Ukitake answered gravely. "He wasn't looking for the location of the Ōken... but for the method to create it."
"The Ōken Creation Method..." Yamamoto's eyes opened fully, his expression hardening.
"The materials for it..." Yamamoto muttered, frowning as his memory stirred.
"Yes, sensei," Ukitake nodded, his face grim. "It requires one hundred thousand souls, and a reishi concentration zone with a radius of one ri. Currently, the only such place in the Human World is Karakura Town—the very place where Kurosaki Ichigo and his companions live."
"I see..." Yamamoto closed his eyes again, sinking into deep thought. The implications were dire.
"Vice Captain Amamiya."
"Yes, Captain-Commander." Miyako straightened at once.
"I've heard your Zanpakutō can suppress Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu. Is this true?"
"Yes, sir. But with my current strength, I can only seal Kyōka Suigetsu for a few seconds... and even then, only if Aizen lets his guard down." Miyako revealed just enough of his Zanpakutō's power to be credible, but kept its true depths a secret.
Yamamoto stroked his beard, considering. "Hmph. Though you once violated regulations by colluding with the enemy, for exposing Aizen's true scheme, I will overlook that past offense."
"Thank you, Captain-Commander." Miyako bowed respectfully, his tone steady.
"You have done great service to the Soul Society," Yamamoto said gravely. "Is there any reward you wish? If it is within my power, I will grant it."
He had heard Ukitake praise his Vice Captain before, but there were many promising youths among the Soul Reapers. Until now, Miyako had not stood out in the Captain-Commander's eyes. Yet his decisive role in this crisis had proven his worth—his composure rivaled even seasoned Captains. Yamamoto now regarded him differently.
Miyako, however, was not one to be easily swayed by offers. He knew Yamamoto, though strict and stubborn, was fair to those he trusted. Bowing once again, he answered evenly, "Captain-Commander, I have no particular request at the moment. May I take some time to consider it?"
Genryūsai Yamamoto slowly opened his eyes, his fiery gaze resting on the young Vice-Captain. After a long pause, he finally rumbled, "I understand. This old man will grant you that much."
"Thank you, Captain-Commander," Miyako said, bowing deeply with sincerity.
Yamamoto stroked his long beard before speaking again, his tone heavy. "Communication with Kisuke Urahara has not yet truly begun. Although we understand now that the Captains from a hundred years ago were all victims in Aizen's schemes, none of them are willing to return to Soul Society. Only Kisuke Urahara has shown any willingness to cooperate."
Miyako listened quietly, absorbing each word.
"Because his attempt to seize the Hōgyoku failed," Yamamoto continued, "Aizen will be forced to create a new one in Hueco Mundo. But none of us can say how long that will take. For now, we must rely on Kisuke Urahara's knowledge. Until we receive word from him, Soul Society cannot make full preparations for the coming war."
The Captain-Commander's eyes sharpened, shifting to the white-haired Jūshirō Ukitake. "Therefore, Jūshirō, this matter is not to be revealed to anyone until Urahara has spoken with us directly."
"I understand, sensei," Ukitake replied, his voice calm but grave. He knew this wasn't merely about suppressing rebellion anymore. The fact that Menos Grande had been able to intervene to rescue Aizen meant that Hueco Mundo had likely fallen under his control.
And if war came...
It would not simply be Shinigami versus Shinigami. It would be Soul Society against the endless darkness of Hueco Mundo.
This would be the greatest trial the Gotei 13 had faced since its very founding. Every choice, every secret, every step from this point on had to be made carefully, for a single misstep could cost countless lives.
At that moment, Miyako stepped forward again. "Captain-Commander, if I may... I have one more matter to report."
"Miyako?" Ukitake glanced at him with mild surprise.
"Speak, Vice-Captain Amamiya," Yamamoto said firmly.
"I already discussed this briefly with Captain Ukitake. It's regarding the Hollows appearing in the Human World... more specifically, the Hollows in Karakura Town."
"The strange Hollows you and Kuchiki Rukia encountered?" Ukitake asked.
"That's right," Miyako nodded. "When I was stationed in Karakura Town, I noticed something unusual. The Hollows there were far stronger than those I'd encountered elsewhere. At first, I thought it was simply due to the high concentration of reishi in the area, drawing in powerful Hollows. But..."
Miyako's eyes narrowed as he recalled the reports. "After hearing Rukia Kuchiki's account, it became clear—the Hollows in Karakura Town are abnormally powerful, and some even possess strange abilities. Aizen himself once mentioned releasing certain Hollows there in search of Kisuke Urahara. Which leads me to believe..."
He stopped short of revealing his true source, but his intent was clear enough.
Yamamoto's brows furrowed. "You suspect... that Aizen Sōsuke has already begun creating new forms of Hollows using the Hōgyoku?"
"Yes," Miyako answered bluntly.
Ukitake's expression darkened. "That would mean the enemy already understands us completely... while we remain blind to their true power."
Yamamoto's grip tightened on his staff. "Hmph. This old man understands. Your intelligence and deductions are valuable, Vice-Captain Amamiya. If this is indeed the case, then the monitoring of the Human World must be reinforced immediately."
Straightening, Miyako bowed his head slightly. "Captain-Commander, the Thirteenth Division already has some experience handling matters in the Human World. If additional surveillance is needed, please allow me to take part."
Though the Hōgyoku still rested secretly in his possession, Miyako knew he had to return to Karakura Town sooner or later. If Aizen's influence was growing there, he needed to see it with his own eyes... and prepare for what was to come.
Yamamoto studied him for a long moment. Finally, the old man gave a slow nod. "Very well. This old man will consider it carefully."
Miyako bowed deeply once more. "Thank you, Captain-Commander."
The weight of the looming war pressed down on the room like a storm. Yet within that pressure, Amamiya Miyako felt a quiet resolve. Karakura Town... the Human World... the battles yet to come.
He knew that his path was already leading him there.