Following the captains' meeting, the Soul Society launched a sweeping investigation into Shinigami with Hueco Mundo expedition experience, scrutinizing their combat records and intelligence.
Whether it was Takasugi or Kensei, both slain by Makoto and others, or the recently captured Ansono Jiro, they shared a common thread: during Hueco Mundo campaigns, they had been separated from their units due to ambushes and survived.
Such individuals were rare, keeping the scope of the investigation manageable.
Through phased reviews and arrests, several spies were uncovered.
As investigations followed these leads, more hidden agents came to light.
...
Eighth Division, Intelligence Review Department.
A dozen Shinigami, summoned in advance, lined up outside, entering in groups for questioning.
It appeared to be a routine intelligence briefing.
The surrounding security was almost nonexistent.
But when a few raised their heads and recognized familiar faces, their hearts tightened.
Over the past few days, several comrades had gone silent.
The mounting signs led to an unsettling conclusion.
With this realization, their glances at those around them grew colder.
Thud!
"Hey, why're you shoving?"
"Huh? You stepped on my foot first!"
Suddenly, a large hand shoved one Shinigami, slamming his back against the wall.
The one in front didn't back down, turning to argue with the culprit behind him.
The other refused to yield, raising his voice even louder.
Their bickering escalated, escalating into shoving that jostled the surrounding crowd.
The entire queue's attention fixed on the two.
"What's the racket back there?"
"Quiet down!"
Two guarding Shinigami barked from the corridor's end, their faces taut, hands instinctively gripping their Zanpakuto hilts. They pushed through the crowd toward the squabbling pair.
Hearing the sharp reprimand, the two paused, seemingly cowed, though they continued muttering curses, glaring fiercely at each other.
But as the guards reached them, chaos erupted.
Shing!
Before the guards could react, the bickering duo spun, drawing their blades in unison. Without hesitation, they plunged their Zanpakuto into the guards' chests.
Blood sprayed as the blades were withdrawn.
At that moment, the onlookers' gazes shifted.
"Enemy attack!"
Honed by the brutal battlegrounds of Hueco Mundo, the Shinigami reacted with astonishing speed.
The instant they witnessed the attack, they identified the traitors.
Blades were drawn.
But the corridor's narrow width, barely fitting three or four abreast, prevented them from forming their anti-Hollow formations.
Worse, these traitors were unnervingly strong.
Clang!
A heavy blade swept upward, crashing into a Shinigami's Asauchi.
Sparks flared with a piercing metallic screech in the cramped corridor. The defending Shinigami's wrist ached, forced back several steps.
Such strength?!
Before he could recover, the traitor lunged, his silver blade carving a dazzling arc.
Slash!
The strike cut from shoulder to waist, leaving a gaping wound.
Blood gushed.
"Sano!"
"You bastard!"
Before others could step up, more blades rang out from behind.
Two more Shinigami fell, stabbed from behind, before they could react.
Amid cries of pain, the crowd spun around.
The traitors weren't just two.
Instantly, the Shinigami's gazes grew wary, maintaining cautious distances from one another.
The traitors had seized this fleeting moment of distrust.
Before the group could reorganize, the initial two traitors formed a spearhead, their blades flashing relentlessly as they fought toward the exit.
Reaching the door, they assembled into a five-man assault formation.
"Break through!"
"Then signal Szayelaporro-sama for rescue."
"Yes!"
At the leader's shout, the others responded in unison.
With their strength, escaping the Seireitei was impossible.
But if they could contact Szayelaporro-sama…
With that thought, a spark of determination ignited in their hearts.
Yet, that flicker was snuffed out the moment they burst through the corridor.
The five froze, staring outside.
A large contingent of guards stood silently at the entrance.
Dozens, at a glance.
Among them, a red-haired youth with straight brows slanting outward stood at the forefront, Zanpakuto slung over his shoulder.
His gaze bore into the five escapees with clear hostility.
"I thought Ryoma-senpai was just being paranoid." The youth said. "But you lot really had the guts to try this."
The red-haired youth stepped forward, facing them with a mocking smirk, his tone icy. "I'm Asido, Tenth Seat of the Ninth Division. Since you dared betray the Soul Society, I assume you're ready… to face death."
Step! Step! Step!
The sound of footsteps grew denser behind them.
The five traitors who burst from the corridor faced the youth before them, knowing retreat was no longer an option.
Led by their frontman, they roared with bloodshot eyes, "For Szayelaporro-sama!"
"For Szayelaporro-sama!"
Their battle cry echoed as they charged straight at Asido.
"Tch." Asido scoffed, lowering the Asauchi from his shoulder. His lazy demeanor sharpened into a blade-like intensity.
His Zanpakuto flashed.
Asido stepped casually to the side, then surged forward, his blade slicing effortlessly through the first traitor's waist, leaving a deep gash.
With a flick of his wrist, he raised the tip, parrying the second traitor's descending blade.
Clang!
Metal rang out as Asido's blade slid along the clash, piercing the traitor's chest like a chisel with a dull thud.
His steps were light, almost a dance, as he twisted, withdrawing the blade in a spray of blood before meeting the third traitor's strike.
Clank!
Before the fourth traitor's blade could reach him from the side, Asido's hand shot out, seizing the man's wrist and yanking him forward, slamming him into another like a swung bat.
His blade danced through the opening, carving deep wounds into both.
Finally, he spun, thrusting.
Thud!
His Zanpakuto pierced clean through the fifth traitor's chest, raised high with his Asauchi.
In an instant, he dismantled their five-man formation.
Clean and precise.
"Tch." Asido muttered, sheathing his blade. "That's all you've got?"
Grumbling, he rallied the gawking squad members behind him to bind the five and drag them back to the interrogation room.
He didn't notice others watching the scene.
"Quite the promising kid."
"That kid's called Asido, right?"
Katori stood on a rooftop, turning to Makoto beside her.
"In kanji, it's Yaboto." Makoto corrected with a hint of pride. "Graduated from the Academy just a few years ago. Already Tenth Seat in under twenty years. His strength's probably close to Third Seat level by now."
Katori, a captain, raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. No openings in your division for a promotion, I take it? He'd have to transfer."
Makoto shrugged. "Yaboto's loyal to Ryoma. That's why he stays."
"A pity." Katori sighed.
"You were just thinking of poaching him, weren't you?" Makoto shot her a look.
"Of course." Katori teased, her smile sly. "If I could steal you, Makoto, I'd let the small fry go."
Makoto gave her a sidelong glance. "If Yachiru gets you first, don't blame me."
"No worries." Katori purred, stepping closer to whisper in his ear. "You'd keep my secrets, right, Makoto?"
His Zanpakuto, ever eager, chimed in mentally.
[That depends on your sincerity, Captain! You don't want to miss out on the good stuff, do you?]
Makoto's face darkened as he smacked the hilt, eliciting a yelp from the spirit.
Katori stifled a laugh.
As they bantered, both sensed something and turned.
A figure cloaked in black, face masked, appeared on the rooftop, a hoarse female voice emerging. "Captain Makoto, Captain Katori. The expedition order has been issued. Please report to the First Division immediately."
With that, the figure vanished.
She pretended not to have overheard their gossip.
Big shots and their drama.
As she left, Makoto noted her silhouette, particularly her hips, and mused, "This generation's 'Bee,' huh? Decent Shunpo."
Katori tapped his arm lightly. "You're incorrigible."
...
Three months later, all logistics and intelligence for the expedition were ready.
The official order was issued.
Captains Tenjiro, Katori, and Makoto would lead the Hueco Mundo Expedition Force and the Special Hollow Division in a large-scale search-and-destroy mission.
Their target: eliminate the Vasto Lorde Szayelaporro.
...
Hum.
The massive Senkaimon slid open, its boundless light igniting the night of Hueco Mundo.
Two columns of Shinigami knelt before the gate, divided clearly.
As Makoto and his group stepped through, two representatives rose and approached.
"Greetings, Captain Makoto." Said a tall, handsome white-haired man, his expression stern.
"Thank you, Captain Kotetsu." Makoto replied courteously.
"Ah, no…" The man's serious facade cracked, and he scratched his head sheepishly. "Acting Captain, still just acting. Not official yet."
"Soon enough." Makoto said, clapping his shoulder with a smile.
The white-haired man was Kotetsu Shuichi, former Vice-Captain of the Thirteenth Division, now acting captain after Sumeshi's retirement following the recent incident.
Though not yet at captain-level strength, Kotetsu's administrative skills outshone Makoto's hands-off approach.
"Any unusual activity in Hueco Mundo?" Makoto asked.
"Nothing yet." Kotetsu replied, his tone serious again. "The expedition force conducted multiple reconnaissance missions based on headquarters' intel, but we've found no trace of Szayelaporro's group. Even Baraggan's Las Noches faction, active years ago, has withdrawn, hiding in the Forest of Menos."
"That place… the expedition force can't stay long." Kotetsu added, his voice trailing.
Makoto caught the unspoken meaning.
The Shinigami volunteering for Hueco Mundo were elite members of the Gotei 13.
But the Forest of Menos, as its name implied, was a dense gathering of Menos Grande.
Even the weakest, Gillian, required a high-ranking officer to defeat one-on-one.
For regular squad members, it was a death trap.
Even Kotetsu, with vice-captain strength, wouldn't dare linger there.
Thus, they needed another approach.
Following Kotetsu's wary glance, Makoto turned to the silent figure beside him, a 'deputy' of average height.
She was tall, her form wrapped in pale blue steel-like skin, white bone armor at her joints accentuating a graceful figure. A shark-like tail trailed behind, and her right hand was encased in a bone sword with shark-tooth patterns.
Without these, one might mistake her for human.
Her identity was Tier Harribel, Captain of the Hollow Division.
New Gotei 13's special squad.
"You're Harribel, aren't you?" Makoto said, his smile softening. The question was rhetorical. "To grow this far in just a few centuries? Remarkable."
He reached out naturally, resting his hand on her head, stroking her golden hair as one might a cat.
Harribel placed her left hand on her chest, bowing slightly. "Thanks to your guidance, Makoto-sama." She said, a flicker of fervor in her green eyes.
To elevate a Hollow stalled at Adjuchas for centuries to Vasto Lorde in one leap, what loyalty that must inspire.
No words were needed to explain it.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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