"Cough… khh—cough!"
As the others spoke, Hisagi Shūhei spat out a good amount of blood, looking as though he was already at death's door.
"Let's heal him first," Shunsui said.
"Judging from Hisagi's condition, he's hanging by a thread."
Shimo stepped in front of Hisagi. A soft emerald glow blossomed in his palm, spilling over Hisagi's head and then cascading downward until it wrapped his entire body.
Under Shimo's healing kidō, Hisagi's condition improved with surprising speed…
Yet for some reason, Shunsui couldn't shake a sense of disharmony.
The emerald light spreading downward from Hisagi's head felt… oddly glaring.
After several minutes, Hisagi had already been pulled back from death.
Breathing unevenly, Hisagi bowed.
"…Thank you, Lieutenant Shimo."
To him, Shimo—the Fourth Division lieutenant who once saved him some time ago—was someone whose kindness he could never forget.
Having his life saved once more only deepened Hisagi's gratitude.
"No need for thanks," Shimo waved him off. "It was nothing."
Seeing Hisagi stable, Komamura Sajin finally exhaled in relief.
Hisagi was the only person who held evidence regarding his friend's death, so of course Komamura cared deeply.
Moreover, he resonated strongly with Hisagi's values.
A friend worth trusting—That was Komamura's impression of Hisagi Shūhei.
As treatment concluded, several captains arrived on the scene.
Aside from Soi Fon, Unohana Retsu, and Kuchiki Byakuya, someone else's presence caught Shimo by surprise—
Aizen had come as well.
His expression was calm but tinged with worry. His gentle smile was nowhere to be seen.
As a captain known for caring about his subordinates, the fact that Hinamori Momo had been imprisoned in the Shishinrō had weighed heavily on him.
Aizen had appealed to Yamamoto multiple times on her behalf—something hardly secret in Seireitei.
"What happened here?"
Byakuya landed before Shimo, speaking in a low voice.
Shimo motioned with his chin toward Hisagi, now able to stand and walk normally.
"Let Hisagi explain. I'm not clear on all the details."
At that, every captain turned their attention to Hisagi.
He steadied his emotions and spoke in a calm, measured voice.
"Unable to accept my captain's death, I searched his former quarters for any possible evidence."
"After extensive searching, I found an arrow symbol carved beneath a floorboard."
"And the direction of that arrow… pointed straight toward Third Division Headquarters."
His words drew varied reactions.
But most captains did not immediately suspect Gin.
After all—Tōsen Kaname had rarely interacted with Gin.
They had no conflict, no ideological rift.
Gin had no motive to kill him.
"Oh my, oh my…"
A foxlike smile curled onto Gin's face.
"That's your evidence?" he said calmly.
"Just an arrow? And based on that, you point fingers at a captain?"
"And even attack him over such a flimsy notion?"
Hisagi's expression didn't shift. His steady tone showed he had regained his composure.
"If it had been only the arrow, I might have suspected a setup."
"But before I could continue searching the Third Division grounds… I heard you, with my own ears."
"'Tōsen is dead. The obstacle before us has been swept aside.'"
Hisagi's eyes burned with killing intent as he locked onto Gin and roared:
"Do you dare deny saying that?!"
Everyone present knew Hisagi's character well.
Because of that, their gazes naturally shifted toward Gin.
Gin's narrow eyes flashed with disdain.
"Why should I admit to your baseless accusations? This is nothing but your claim—hardly evidence."
Komamura's face darkened with anger.
"To confirm whether Hisagi is telling the truth, I will keep my eyes on you in the coming days," he growled.
"Pray I don't find anything—otherwise I will personally bring you to justice!"
His thunderous voice echoed across the ruined street.
Komamura's attention was now fixed entirely on Gin.
Hisagi stood beside him, united by shared rage.
Other captains exchanged uncertain glances, their eyes shifting back and forth between the two sides.
"I propose we detain all three of them first," Shunsui said.
As the most senior captain present, his voice carried weight.
"By Seireitei law, when captains engage in internal conflict, Central 46 must judge the case."
"As for Captain Tōsen's death, the investigators appointed by Central 46 will conduct a formal inquiry."
"You three have become unstable elements within Seireitei."
His gaze swept coldly across Gin, Komamura, and Hisagi.
"Regardless of the true culprit, keeping Seireitei stable is our top priority."
All other captains nodded and agreed.
Gin, Komamura, and Hisagi had no grounds to object.
Their battle had already demolished several streets.
There were no casualties, but the damage to the Gotei 13 grounds was severe.
And so, this matter reached a temporary pause.
Yet although the surface had calmed, Seireitei's waters only grew more turbulent.
The mud at the bottom of the pond had been completely stirred.
The already murky currents were now cloudier than ever.
Those with sharp intuition could feel the growing tension pressing over Seireitei.
When word of the confrontation between Gin and Hisagi reached First Division—
Captain-Commander Yamamoto issued his orders.
Third Division Captain Ichimaru Gin.
Seventh Division Captain Komamura Sajin.
Ninth Division Lieutenant Hisagi Shūhei.
For violating Seireitei regulations, all three were to be confined within their respective division holding cells.
No one was permitted to leave without Yamamoto's direct approval.
Eighth Division Captain Kyōraku Shunsui would oversee the entire matter.
---
"Ahhh… honestly…"
Shunsui sighed bitterly.
"How did things end up like this?"
It was clear Yamamoto trusted his disciple greatly.
Shunsui might appear unreliable most days, but when it came to actual work, he was far more dependable than most captains.
Shimo shot him an irritated look.
"And you dare complain? This was your assignment—why did you drag me along?"
Shunsui gave a sheepish smile.
"Well, well… I was worried Captain Ichimaru might not behave. And if he tried to run, I wouldn't be able to stop him alone."
Hearing their exchange, Gin suddenly turned his head, walking in front of them.
"No need for such worries, Captain Kyōraku," he said lightly.
"I never admitted Captain Tōsen's death had anything to do with me."
"As an innocent man caught in this mess, I trust Central 46 will make the correct judgment."
Shunsui's eyes flickered.
"From his tone… could he really be uninvolved?" he wondered.
Shimo, however, wasn't thinking about that at all.
Tōsen Kaname's "death" had little to do with Gin.
After all—Tōsen wasn't dead.
Most likely, he was with Central 46 right this very moment, issuing secret directives.
Aizen and Gin were here in Seireitei.
Tōsen had "died."
Yet the edicts from Central 46 continued to flow without pause.
Execution dates had even been repeatedly pushed forward.
Shimo glanced at the paling sky. The dawn light was faint.
"Just a few hours left…"
Then Shunsui turned toward the small, cold-eyed figure near Shimo.
"By the way, Captain Soi Fon…"
He scratched his head.
"Why are you getting involved in all this?"
Soi Fon's face remained expressionless, her tone cold and clipped—no different from usual.
"I have a question I need to ask someone."
Shunsui raised an eyebrow, eyes shifting suspiciously between her and Shimo.
His expression gradually shifted into something bordering on scandalized.
"Ahem… Captain Soi Fon," Shunsui cleared his throat.
"There's something you should know."
"While noble marriages aren't forbidden, our Shimo here already has a fiancée—"
Before he finished, Soi Fon's eyes flashed with irritation.
"Please leave."
Shunsui quickened his pace immediately, pushing Gin ahead of him.
As he passed Shimo, he whispered:
"Shimo—"
"The Kyōraku family doesn't have a one-wife tradition."
"Reviving the clan falls on your shoulders!"
Before Soi Fon could unsheathe her Zanpakutō, Shunsui practically fled the scene with Gin in tow.
Shimo rubbed his forehead helplessly.
That foolish old man…
Some habits were truly unchangeable.
Turning to Soi Fon, Shimo sighed.
"So? What did you want to ask me this time?"
Facing Shimo, Soi Fon's demeanor shifted ever so slightly—almost embarrassed.
Especially after someone had just exposed her… inclinations.
Even so, once Shimo asked, her expression steadied. Her eyes carried a complicated depth.
"Shimo… I hope you won't hide this from me."
"…Has Lady Yoruichi returned to Soul Society?"
Shimo blinked in surprise.
"Yes. Yoruichi Shihōin has returned to Soul Society," he admitted.
"How did you figure it out?"
In the faint morning light, Soi Fon's eyes trembled slightly with suppressed emotion.
Her idol—her master—had defected a hundred years ago.
That betrayal had always been a thorn in her heart.
Now that she knew Yoruichi was back—she needed answers.
She needed to ask that question face-to-face:
Why did you choose to abandon us?
"It was simple," Soi Fon said.
She stepped close to Shimo, rising slightly onto her toes to inspect his shoulder.
"There are several black cat hairs on your uniform."
Shimo stared at her, speechless.
What kind of deduction is that?
Just how obsessed with Yoruichi are you… that you can identify her cat hairs on sight?
"Unbelievable," Shimo muttered, rubbing his temples.
Soi Fon turned away, speaking softly.
"Shimo…"
"When Seireitei settles down… I hope you'll come to the Fon Clan."
With that, she vanished using Shunpo, disappearing before Shimo could reply.
Watching her retreating form, Shimo murmured:
"…Was she running away?"
No sooner had he spoken than he felt a small weight land on his shoulder.
"Oi, little Shimo," a familiar voice purred.
"I'll explain it to you."
The black cat—Yoruichi—balanced easily on his shoulder, her golden eyes watching Soi Fon's departure with mixed emotion.
"The Fon Clan is a branch family under the Shihōin Clan. Their role is to protect the Shihōin line."
"And for a Fon woman to marry someone…"
Her tail flicked.
"…she must first pass the Fon Clan's traditional examination."
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