Another major incident has occurred in Soul Society.
This ti it involves Kōga Kuchiki — the forr 6th Division's 3rd Seat, current Captain of the 1st Division Special Forces, and son-in-law of the Kuchiki family.
2nd Division Captain Yoruichi Shihōin and 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku personally investigated the cri scene in the Rukongai.
The vast battlefield was strewn with corpses, blood flowing like rivers. The bodies of 1st Division soldiers and rebel forces lay so intermingled they couldn't be separated.
Division mbers reported it as the most horrific battle they'd ever witnessed, with both sides fighting until not a single body remained intact.
As the investigation concluded, the truth erged: Kōga had killed everyone present, including his own teammates.
Shunsui imdiately arrested him and placed him under strict confinent in the 1st Division's underground prison.
Kōga, seeming to grasp the gravity of his actions, offered no resistance.
A Captains' Council was promptly convened.
{T/N: I was using the wrong term before. Its Council, not eting.}
Without deliberation, Kōga Kuchiki was found guilty of killing his colleagues and temporarily imprisoned in the 6th level of the Shishinrō, awaiting Central 46's final judgnt.
{T/N: Shishinrō=Repentance Cell, within the Repentance Palace (Senzaikyū)}
"That concludes everything." Genryūsai said. Tapping his cane on the ground, he declared gravely, "Council adjourned!"
The Captains dispersed with grim expressions.
Recent incidents in Soul Society had far exceeded the past century's total, with Division casualties reaching unprecedented levels. Ironically, only the 11th Division — responsible for frontline combat — remained unscathed.
They now spent their ti spreading shrine worship throughout the Rukongai. Most peculiarly, these battle-hardened warriors had absorbed religious knowledge through osmosis, carrying themselves with an air of mystical intensity.
This world was becoming increasingly bizarre...
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Shishinrō, Sixth Level.
Ginrei gazed at the figure bound by multiple layers of Kidō restraints, his mouth sealed by torture implents. The prisoner's eyes reflected deep disappointnt and regret.
As an elder, Ginrei had always placed great expectations on the younger generation. His own natural talent wasn't exceptional, falling short compared to other Shinigami Captains.
Years of warfare had left nurous hidden injuries throughout his body. Though considerably younger than Yamamoto, his appearance was more aged, his entire deanor carrying the weight of twilight years.
The Kuchiki clan appeared glorious, held up as the model of noble conduct — even the mighty Tsunayashiro clan showed them deference. Yet in reality, the clan's new generation remained immature, while the old generation was either dead or incapacitated, leaving this massive clan supported by Ginrei alone.
To uphold the Kuchiki na, Ginrei had arranged for the promising prodigy Kōga to marry into the family, granting him the Kuchiki surna. He had hoped this talented man would one day beco a right-hand supporter to his son, Sōjun.
He had expected Kōga to help lead the Kuchiki clan to new heights — instead, he had committed this grave error!
"Father!" Kōga called out, his voice muffled through the restraints as he lunged forward, chains rattling, "Listen to ! Killing my colleagues wasn't my intention — I was frad!"
Ginrei replied without emotion, "Your intention no longer matters. The facts are established. Central 46 has passed their judgnt: you will be stripped of all Reiryoku, your Zanpakutō destroyed, and you will be imprisoned in the Mugen for one thousand years."
Kōga's pupils constricted as he roared like a madman.
"Father, this isn't what you think! You know I would never harm my colleagues!"
Ginrei said nothing more, simply watching until his son-in-law cald down.
"I told you long ago: without the mindset to match one's power, it's like a child playing with swords — the slightest mistake will result in self-injury. I arranged for you to serve in the 1st Division so Captain-Commander Yamamoto could guide you until you fully mastered your power."
"Yet an accident still occurred, in a way this old man could never have imagined. The joint investigation by the 2nd and 8th Divisions revealed that everyone on the battlefield died by their own Zanpakutō, with you as the sole survivor."
Kōga fell silent. Only stillness remained in the deep prison.
"Reflect well on your actions."
With those words, Ginrei turned and left.
Kōga watched his gradually fading silhouette, his gaze filled with deep complexity.
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Mayuri Kurotsuchi had been in a foul mood lately.
A series of incidents in Soul Society had severely delayed his experintal research. First, forr 7th Division Captain Okama Shinji and his followers had raided the barracks, destroying multiple laboratories along with precious experintal data and equipnt.
Then ca the fall of the Tsunayashiro clan head — leader of the Five Great Noble Houses and Mayuri's primary funding source. This broken financial chain had forced many of his projects to halt.
Most serious was Takeda Chishi's betrayal.
Since Mayuri had been the one who initially received that traitor at the barracks, several people now suspected he might be prone to betrayal himself.
To this, he rely stated he had no desire to communicate with idiots.
After letting things settle, he returned to his research on constructing a Reishi Separation Monitoring System — a technology he had long planned to develop.
{T/N: Possibly a predecessor of the Reishi Kotei Sōchi (Spirit Particle Suspension Devices). It was the closest match I could find, but I might be wrong.}
Now he just needed to refine so details to complete the final step...
"Sōsuke!!"
A loud shout echoed through the 12th Division barracks.
Mayuri glared out the window.
"Who's making such a racket out there?" His interrupted train of thought only worsened his already foul mood.
A nearby researcher glanced up briefly and answered, "Oh, it's the 3rd Seat from the neighboring division."
"Which 3rd Seat?"
"The rising genius, Akira Kisaragi! Captain Mayuri, you should get out more. As Captain Hikifune often says, staying cooped up in the lab all day isn't good for you..."
Before the researcher could finish speaking, Mayuri strode out.
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"Third Seat Kisaragi, do you rember ?"
Looking at the approaching figure with tousled blue hair — who had a decadent air yet remained undeniably handso — Akira furrowed his brows, trying to place the face in his mory.
"Don't know you, no impression, I'm looking for Sōsuke, thanks."
Mayuri frowned.
He was worst at dealing with these brute-like characters. His first impression of this kid had been that he wasn't very bright.
If he hadn't needed an experintal subject right now, he wouldn't have bothered greeting this fellow.
"Sōsuke, right? I know where he is." Mayuri took a deep breath and put on what he considered a friendly smile, "Please, follow ."
Akira frowned, looking the person before him up and down. His intuition said this guy looked familiar, but he couldn't match him to any specific mory.
Out of caution, he didn't imdiately agree.
"Sorry, Fourth Seat Kurotsuchi, I'll take care of him."
Just as the two were at an impasse, a resigned voice sounded from behind.
Seeing who had arrived, Akira's eyes burned up like he was brainstorming — like he needed a friend who could take the bla if the shit hit the fan!
Mayuri frowned as he looked at the suddenly appearing Aizen, sowhat displeased.
The main person had arrived; he couldn't continue his deception. After a mont's thought, he temporarily abandoned his plan to lure Akira, nodded, and turned to leave.
Aizen watched the retreating figure, a flash of light passing through his deep pupils.
The two walked through the barracks for a mont before arriving at Aizen's private quarters.
The guy had been promoted from a simple Officer to 7th Seat shortly after joining.
Though he excelled in Zanjutsu, Hakuda, and Hohō, his Reiatsu was slightly lacking, so he stopped there. Fortunately, his scientific talent and culinary skills were quite good, earning Kirio Hikifune's appreciation, which gave him considerable freedom within the 12th Division.
He frequently ventured alone into the Rukongai searching for experintal materials.
"Rember that person's Reiatsu and stay away from him." Aizen warned, looking seriously at the young man.
Akira furrowed his brows in confusion, "Who was he? Why did he act like he knew when I don't rember him at all?"
"That's Fourth Seat Mayuri Kurotsuchi of the 12th Division." Aizen explained, "Rember our first visit to the 12th Division? At the Shutara Scale Laboratory, he was the one who escorted us out."
Akira's eyes widened in recognition.
No wonder the man had seed familiar yet unrecognizable — Mayuri had altered his appearance since then.
Co to think of it, Mayuri was quite peculiar. Though not unattractive, he had an unusual sense of aesthetics, painting strange colors on his face and adorning himself with remarkably ugly decorations.
"What brings you here during work hours?" Aizen asked, knowing his close friend well.
Akira blinked, realizing Aizen must have been in the Rukongai again collecting experintal materials.
"Well..." He began, relaying Yoruichi's intelligence word for word before concluding, "I've t Kōga Kuchiki before. Though he's sowhat obsessive, he doesn't seem ntally unstable. So..."
Aizen calmly finished his thought, "You think there's more to this situation?"
"You know well, Sōsuke!" Akira grinned, "What's your take on this?"
Aizen regarded him quietly. Anyone with basic reasoning could see sothing was amiss.
Without outside interference, Kōga wouldn't have attacked his colleagues. He held no grudges against those subordinates. Though his position was effectively a demotion disguised as a promotion, unlike Akira, he wasn't the type to seek personal revenge.
Most likely, Ginrei was already seeking ways to prove Kōga's innocence. If they could find evidence of others' involvent or buy so ti, his punishnt might be reduced.
If the old man Kuchiki hadn't been so rigid about upholding family principles, the situation might not have beco so complicated.
Aizen summarized his analysis briefly.
"So I shouldn't worry too much?" Akira mused.
Aizen fixed him with a look, "Why are you, a Third Seat, involving yourself in all this?"
Akira scratched his head, "I just sense sothing's off — like sothing's brewing."
Aizen's gaze lingered for a mont, "Don't overthink it. Let Captain-Commander Yamamoto and Captain Kuchiki handle this. Actually, I need your help with sothing."
Akira looked at him in disbelief.
Ignoring his reaction, Aizen continued, "My research has hit a wall, and we're running low on laboratory materials. I plan to open a Garganta and explore Hueco Mundo to capture suitable test subjects. Care to join ?"
Akira's eyes lit up.
The shit could really hit the fan?!
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East Rukongai, 80th District.
This area lay on the edge of Soul Society, its conditions so harsh that even the most vicious rogues avoided it.
Yet Akira knew this place well.
His previous battle with Takeda Chishi had occurred in the nearby mountains, where battle scars still marked the landscape. The residual Reiatsu from their explosive fight had dissipated over ti, reintegrating into Soul Society's atmosphere.
The two had arrived in the area five minutes ago.
While Aizen tinkered with an unknown device, Akira kept watch.
"...Sōsuke...mmm...who invented these dango anyway..." he mumbled through a mouthful of snacks stolen from the 12th Division. Without turning around, he added, "You're taking forever — I could've beaten Rōjūrō three tis by now. Aren't you done yet?"
Aizen chose not to comnt on Akira's questionable ethics. The man had been chattering non-stop since they'd arrived.
Didn't his mouth ever get dry?
As Aizen confird the final coordinates, he pressed the red button on the device. Imdiately, enormous Reiatsu burst forth through the device's conversion.
"This Reishi Converter transforms Shinigami Reiatsu into Hollow Reiatsu and generates specific frequencies to open a Garganta to Hueco Mundo."
{T/N: I couldn't find specifically which device he's talking about, but I believe it could be either a Reishi Henkanki (Spirit Particle Converter) that performs this kind conversion instead of Kishi→Reishi. It could also be a type of device similar to what Mayuri found in Hueco Mundo to open a Garganta.}
As he spoke, the Reiatsu struck the void. The air cracked like glass under trendous force, fissures spreading outward.
With a shattering sound, the ground before them split open, revealing a deep, dark passage that emanated chaotic energy.
Seeing this, Akira quickly wolfed down the last of his dango.
"Follow ." Aizen said, glancing back before stepping into the Garganta.
Akira grinned and followed.
Hueco Mundo, here I co!
{T/N: Run for your lifes, dear Hollows.}
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/mrblackwing
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