On the streets of Seireitei in Soul Society, cherry blossoms drifted down.
Pedestrians walked beneath them, petals swirling in the air in a soft, romantic haze.
Inside the 1st Division barracks, however, the scene was entirely different.
Nearly all of the Gotei 13's captains were gathered there. Standing opposite them was the Grand Blade-Hunting Chief of the Katana-gari-shū (Blade-Hunting Corps).
There was a lot to talk about.
To Head Captain Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, that man Higashino Shuuichi had brought back out of the Dangai was far from something that could be explained in a few words.
But right now, there was another problem laid out in front of all the captains.
Namely—Higashino Shuuichi had been attacked by Ichimaru Gin. Again.
Why again?
Because decades ago, Higashino Shuuichi had already claimed that he'd been attacked by Ichimaru Gin. Back then, Ichimaru had still been 3rd Seat of the 5th Division, and he'd had a perfect alibi.
And now, once again it was Higashino Shuuichi claiming he'd been attacked by Ichimaru Gin in league with Arrancar—but this time, even as the captain of Soul Society's 3rd Division, Ichimaru Gin still had a perfect alibi.
At least three captains could testify that, at the time of the incident, Ichimaru Gin had been attending a calligraphy event with them.
"How is that possible? I saw him with my own eyes both times! He even used his signature Zanpakutō Shinsō (Divine Spear) to attack me. You can't fake a Zanpakutō's ability, can you?"
Higashino Shuuichi stood in front of the assembled captains, demanding answers in righteous anger.
"If that's what you want to ask about, Grand Blade-Hunting Chief Shuuichi, then I think you should take a look at this report."
Kyōraku Shunsui tossed a report over. Higashino Shuuichi caught it out of the air; in the corner of his eye he caught the title: Investigation Report on the Arrancar Aaroniero Arruruerie.
"And what am I supposed to be looking at this for?"
Higashino Shuuichi didn't open it, but instead shot the question right back at Kyōraku.
"This is based on the samples I took from Aaroniero's corpse you brought back this time. From my preliminary analysis, Aaroniero not only inherited the traits of his predecessor, Atedis Utori—his body also incorporates a special structure targeting Shinigami.
If my research direction isn't off, this structure allows Aaroniero to devour a Shinigami's spiritual power and then use that devoured reiatsu as if it were his own."
Kurotsuchi Mayuri provided the explanation for Higashino Shuuichi.
Of course, given their current relationship, Mayuri had already discussed this with him in private. But since, to the outside world, there was nothing particularly special about their relationship, he still had to lay it out again in a formal setting like this.
"What are you getting at? You trying to say the 'Ichimaru Gin' I saw was actually just some special kind of Arrancar?"
Higashino Shuuichi snorted coldly.
"It's possible. Based on our analysis of that structure in Aaroniero's body, we believe Aaroniero himself isn't a complete individual, but a composite.
You should know what that implies. It means the technologies used on Aaroniero were likely stitched together from multiple separate techniques. And that, in turn, means there may also be special Hollows in Hueco Mundo dedicated solely to mimicking Shinigami reiatsu."
Kyōraku Shunsui elaborated to Higashino Shuuichi.
"So at the end of the day, the Gotei 13 still can't produce a single decisive piece of evidence proving the one who attacked me wasn't Ichimaru Gin, can you?
Let me ask you something: why are you always so certain that what I saw has to be a fake—but what you see must be real?"
Higashino Shuuichi hurled the question like a spear at Kyōraku and the other captains.
"The reason is simple. In a battle, tricking you, Grand Blade-Hunting Chief Shuuichi, would be easy. That Arrancar would only need to imitate my reiatsu and abilities to about my level.
You're fighting. You don't have the leisure to carefully observe every detail. Confusing your perception would be trivial.
But if it were among other Shinigami, that wouldn't work. No Arrancar could perfectly mimic our habits, our speech, our mannerisms. The longer they stay, the easier they'd be exposed.
Tell me, Grand Blade-Hunting Chief Shuuichi—didn't you notice any strange behavior from 'me' during that battle?"
The one answering Higashino Shuuichi's question was Ichimaru Gin himself.
Obviously, as the one orchestrating this, Ichimaru Gin had to personally step forward to guide how the situation developed.
"Strange behavior?"
Higashino Shuuichi knew exactly what Ichimaru wanted him to say—and he also knew Ichimaru was well aware that, with his intelligence, he'd already noticed it.
After all, that entire scenario had been designed by Ichimaru based on his assessment of Higashino Shuuichi's intellect—meticulously crafted as a trap, just waiting for Shuuichi to step into it of his own accord.
But standing where he was now, Higashino Shuuichi also knew that at a time like this, he had to swallow his pride and play the fool. That was what fit his current state of mind.
So he only ducked his head slightly and said nothing.
That reaction was exactly what Ichimaru Gin had expected.
He knew his plan was already more than halfway successful. In Higashino Shuuichi's heart, under that little "reminder," he must have already begun to focus on the odd details Ichimaru had deliberately exposed.
If Higashino Shuuichi wouldn't say it, then he'd help him out.
"I've already read the report you submitted to Central 46 after that Hirutsuki Squad assessment incident. You clearly wrote that the 'Ichimaru Gin' you mentioned used provocative language to deliberately enrage you—and after taking a Nadegiri (Stroke-Cut) from you, he fled in a panic.
Yet when he ran, Grand Blade-Hunting Chief Shuuichi, you were still being surrounded and attacked by three Espada representing Hueco Mundo's highest combat power.
Let me ask you this: if he really intended, from the very beginning, to reveal his true face and kill you inside that sealed space… why would he give up that perfect chance at a four-on-one siege?
Even with the fearsome reputation you carry as the one who slew the former ruler of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan, the Arrancar still deployed such a powerful lineup to deal with you. That alone shows they were fully prepared for a decisive battle against you.
But in the end, because that 'Ichimaru Gin' ran away mid-battle, all they did was hurriedly leave a single Espada—Aaroniero—and retreat to Hueco Mundo.
Tell me, does that sound reasonable to you?"
Ichimaru Gin laid out his argument in a righteous, solemn tone.
"It does sound a bit unreasonable…"
7th Division Captain Komamura Sajin muttered quietly after listening.
That surprised Higashino Shuuichi a little. Since when had straight-laced Komamura started playing the role of comic foil?
"The only explanation I can think of is that the whole thing was just a performance—designed solely to deepen the rift between you, Grand Blade-Hunting Chief Shuuichi, and the Gotei 13… and even between you and me. After all, your story isn't exactly a secret in Soul Society. A lot of people know it.
And the fact that you've stubbornly insisted it was me and 9th Division Captain Tōsen Kaname who framed you back then—that's something many in Soul Society know as well.
If some Arrancar in Hueco Mundo wanted to make use of that, it wouldn't be strange at all."
Ichimaru Gin continued.
If Higashino Shuuichi hadn't already known what kind of man Ichimaru really was, then purely judging by the way he'd handled things this time… Shuuichi had to admit, there was a real chance he might have been fooled.
Because Ichimaru Gin had learned his core trick.
The more effort people put into thinking for themselves and digging for an answer, the more firmly they tend to believe in the conclusion they reach.
So instead of arranging some scene where Higashino Shuuichi directly saw an Arrancar mimic a Shinigami's powers, Ichimaru had set up a situation where, through calm reasoning and analysis, Shuuichi would reach the conclusion that "Arrancar could very well pull something like this off."
The impact of those two approaches was completely different.
Part of Higashino Shuuichi actually wanted to see what face Ichimaru Gin would make if, after coming this far, he still dug in his heels like an old fossil and refused to budge. At the very least, that faint smile would finally vanish, right?
But he knew he couldn't do that. It wouldn't match the persona he had now.
Maintaining clear-headed rationality was one of the reasons Tsunayashiro Kamihara, Kyōraku Shunsui, and Tokinada Tsunayashiro had chosen to put their trust in him. "Stubborn old fool" was not one of his labels.
"So what you're saying is that there's been a strategist in Hueco Mundo all along—someone pulling the strings behind everything?"
Higashino Shuuichi's attitude began to soften.
That was exactly what Kyōraku Shunsui had wanted to see.
In his view, those unresolved questions surrounding Ichimaru Gin, Tōsen Kaname, and Aizen Sōsuke from back then were the core reason Soul Society could never fully bring Higashino Shuuichi and those other exiled Shinigami back into the official Gotei 13 structure.
If they could resolve what Kyōraku saw as the lingering grudge in the hearts of those banished to the World of the Living, they could regain a whole group of powerful fighters.
For Soul Society, now seemingly on the verge of another great crisis, that would be a desperately needed shot in the arm.
Kyōraku turned to look at the man seated at the center—Head Captain Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, his teacher. Yamamoto's face showed no emotion at all.
As the archetypal conservative, it was clear he still would not accept the existence of a Hollowfied Shinigami like Higashino Shuuichi.
Even if Higashino Shuuichi had helped Soul Society by killing Baraggan, it did nothing to change Yamamoto's attitude about recognizing him as a "true" Shinigami.
"According to our speculation, that Starrk is very likely the true mastermind behind all of this. It's even possible that Baraggan's original invasion of Soul Society was something he quietly pushed from behind the scenes—just to topple Baraggan from the throne of Hueco Mundo so he himself could take the seat.
What Starrk probably hadn't expected was that Baraggan would actually die by your blade in the end, Shuuichi."
Kyōraku explained to Higashino Shuuichi.
Watching the way those two were practically performing a two-man act, Higashino Shuuichi had no doubt that before he'd made his move this time, Ichimaru Gin had already sought Kyōraku out—and the two of them had reached some sort of private understanding.
Ichimaru Gin wanted to clear his name. Kyōraku Shunsui wanted to help those exiled Shinigami untie the knots in their hearts and bring them back into Soul Society's system.
The two fit together perfectly.
Which was why Kyōraku hadn't dug deeper into the underlying causes of this incident, but instead helped Ichimaru Gin "put a lid on it."
In a sense, Kyōraku really was better suited to be Head Captain of the Gotei 13 than Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
Unfortunately…
Higashino Shuuichi glanced at Yamamoto sitting at the main seat.
"So what you're saying is that what happened to our Hirutsuki Squad this time wasn't an accident at all, but a premeditated operation—with me as the target. Is that right?"
Kyōraku nodded. At least, that was what he believed.
"In that case, can any of you tell me what's going on with that so-called 'First Generation Captain' in the Dangai? And what's the connection between Sakahone Saizō and Starrk?"
Higashino Shuuichi knew that the portion concerning himself had gone as far as it needed to. If they kept going, it would just dissolve into meaningless bickering. That wasn't why he'd come today.
He'd already asked Tsunayashiro Kamihara the same questions earlier, but the answers he'd received had been vague dodges.
It had made Higashino Shuuichi seriously question whether what Tsunayashiro Kamihara had told him before was true at all.
Because of that, he'd gone to Aizen, and under Aizen's guidance, he'd realized he'd made a serious mistake.
He'd trapped himself in an information cocoon of his own making.
Ever since he'd returned from that fabricated future, the narrative he kept hearing was the same: the Fullbringers in the World of the Living had gotten too arrogant, had fallen out with the Tsunayashiro clan that oversaw things on the Soul Society side, and after that the two parties had simply gone their separate ways.
The people in the World of the Living retreated into the West Administration, cutting off all contact.
Meanwhile, the Tsunayashiro clan had been actively searching for a new representative for themselves in Soul Society.
Given how desperate the Tsunayashiro had seemed back then, it hadn't felt like an act to Higashino Shuuichi. So he'd always believed it.
But Sakahone Saizō's sudden appearance had thrown everything back into confusion.
"Did the Tsunayashiro clan really cut all ties with that group in the World of the Living?"
That single line from Aizen had shattered the shell around Higashino's thoughts.
He realized that, regarding what had happened in the World of the Living, he'd never gathered information from any other angle.
Everything he knew had come solely from Tsunayashiro Kamihara and Tokinada Tsunayashiro.
That was why, this time, he'd chosen not to hand Sakahone Saizō over to the Tsunayashiro clan, but instead to deliver him directly to the Gotei 13.
And that was why he was standing here now, questioning Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni face to face.
At the same time, there was no way Tsunayashiro Kamihara wouldn't notice such an open move.
"So, Higashino Shuuichi went off to the Gotei 13 on his own, huh? He's not planning to—?"
A voice spoke from within the shadows.
Yet in the room itself, only Tsunayashiro Kamihara could be seen.
"He won't," Kamihara said, shaking his head. "As long as Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni is still sitting in that Head Captain's seat, he'll never stand together with those Gotei 13 Shinigami.
He's only doing this because I didn't clear up his doubts before—and now he wants to use Sakahone Saizō to wring the truth out of that old fossil Yamamoto."
Tsunayashiro Kamihara shook his head, fully confident.
As far as he was concerned, when it came to where Higashino Shuuichi belonged… Shuuichi had no choice at all.
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