While Byakuya Kuchiki plotted to rescue his sister-in-law, Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions, aided by Kisuke Urahara, arrived in Soul Soci
While Byakuya Kuchiki plotted to rescue his sister-in-law, Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions, aided by Kisuke Urahara, arrived in Soul Society's Rukongai. Their rescue mission was underway.
Because Kaien Shiba hadn't perished at Rukia Kuchiki's hands (a deviation from the original storyline), the Shiba clan, one of the five noble families, remained in the Seireitei.
However, due to Kūkaku Shiba's inherent aversion to constraint, she established a fireworks workshop on the outskirts of Rukongai, secretly providing refuge for Yoruichi Shihōin. It was a well-concealed location.
Under Yoruichi Shihōin and others' tutelage, Ichigo Kurosaki mastered his first Bankai form: a slender black blade and a black coat. It was a powerful transformation.
Unbeknownst to Ichigo Kurosaki, this form's power stemmed not from his Zanpakutō's Bankai, but from his Quincy heritage. It was a Quincy ability.
This newfound power granted Ichigo Kurosaki captain-level combat capabilities. Simultaneously, Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado, after rigorous training under Kisuke Urahara, significantly enhanced their abilities, reaching near-lieutenant levels of proficiency. They were ready.
With preparations complete, Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions stealthily infiltrated the Seireitei, poised to commence Rukia Kuchiki's rescue. The mission was about to begin.
Shortly after their infiltration, patrolling Shinigami detected the intruders, immediately reporting the incident to Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai. The alarm was raised.
In the Captain's meeting hall, all captains were summoned by Yamamoto Genryūsai, including Yusuke, who had returned from Karakura Town in the Human World to submit his official report. Yusuke's presence was required.
Beyond the routine report, the Captain-Commander also summoned Yusuke to witness the impending Sōkyoku execution. His attendance was mandated.
"Captains, tomorrow, we execute former Fourth Seat of the Thirteenth Division, Rukia Kuchiki. Today's intrusion of Ryoka is undoubtedly connected. Remain vigilant; deploy your subordinates to search for these intruders and apprehend them immediately upon discovery!" Yamamoto Genryūsai declared with a stern expression. He was deeply concerned.
The term "Ryoka" (outsiders) is unique to Soul Society.
Any soul arriving in Soul Society without guidance from a Seireitei Shinigami is classified as a Ryoka.
The Seireitei's treatment of Ryoka is far from benevolent; they are typically imprisoned indefinitely.
Should a Ryoka resist arrest, the Seireitei permits Shinigami to execute them summarily. They were considered a threat.
Following the issuance of the order for Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions' apprehension, Yamamoto Genryūsai turned his gaze to Tōsen Kaname, standing in formation.
"Captain Tōsen, the prisoner must be transferred from the prison tower to Sōkyoku Hill before tomorrow's execution. What is the status of the preparations?"
Tōsen Kaname stepped forward. "All preparations are complete, Captain-Commander. However, I have a request requiring your assistance."
"State it," Yamamoto Genryūsai instructed.
"Captain Kuchiki of the Sixth Division previously breached security to visit the prisoner, and now, we have this Ryoka intrusion. I fear unforeseen complications; therefore, I request that you assign a captain to assist me in transferring the prisoner," Tōsen Kaname stated calmly. He was anticipating a rescue attempt.
Yamamoto Genryūsai nodded in agreement.
He, too, harbored concerns about a potential prison break. Among the captains, Tōsen Kaname possessed comparatively weaker strength; an unforeseen event could easily overwhelm him. He needed backup.
At this juncture, Aizen interjected. "With all due respect, Captain-Commander, perhaps Captain Uchiha could undertake this task. To the best of our abilities, Captain Uchiha's strength is undeniable, and assisting other divisions falls squarely within the purview of his responsibilities." It was a subtle suggestion.
Yusuke, upon hearing Aizen's suggestion, looked at him; Aizen returned a knowing smile.
Through Aizen's glasses-obscured eyes, Yusuke perceived the subtle undercurrent of a clandestine scheme. He was suspicious.
However, for Yusuke, Aizen's machinations were of secondary importance at this moment. He had other priorities.
Unbeknownst to Aizen, tomorrow's events at Sōkyoku Hill would not unfold solely according to his design. He was about to be surprised.
Yamamoto Genryūsai addressed Yusuke. "Captain Uchiha, you will assist Captain Tōsen in the prisoner's transfer tomorrow." Yusuke was assigned a key role.
Following the conclusion of the Captain's meeting, the assembled captains returned to their respective divisions, instructing their subordinates to participate in the search for the intruders. The hunt was underway.
However, Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions were now attired in Shinigami uniforms, effectively disguised as Seireitei Shinigami.
Given the Seireitei's substantial population of Shinigami—numbering in the hundreds of thousands—swiftly apprehending them posed a considerable challenge. They were well-hidden.
On the eve of Rukia Kuchiki's scheduled execution, Aizen, accompanied by his assistant, Mirai, arrived at the Central 46 chambers. Their visit was not officially sanctioned.
Within a matter of minutes, they had systematically eliminated every individual within the Central 46 chambers. Subsequently, Aizen, employing the power of Kyōka Suigetsu, imposed a potent illusion, creating the deceptive appearance of normal operations within the chambers. He had eliminated the Central 46.
Aizen had initially contemplated feigning his own demise, thereby establishing a covert surveillance network throughout the Seireitei from within the Central 46 chambers.
However, his current command over the Technical Development Bureau, capable of providing equivalent surveillance capabilities, coupled with his apprehension regarding Yusuke and Yū's ability to potentially perceive through his Kyōka Suigetsu illusion, dissuaded him from taking such a direct approach. He had other methods.
Tomorrow marked the commencement of his decisive action, representing his final day within the Seireitei; retaining the Central 46 chambers served no further purpose. He had no further use for them.
Aizen's actions, however, weren't driven by mere animosity towards the Central 46; beneath the chambers lay a location of paramount importance—the Soul King's Palace, a repository of knowledge he sought to access. He had a specific goal.
The Soul King's Palace is a place of immense mystery, rumored to contain all of Soul Society's accumulated knowledge.
The origins of this knowledge within the Soul King's Palace, and indeed the very architects of the Palace itself, remain shrouded in enigma. It was a place of mystery.
In the original storyline, Aizen utilized the Soul King's Palace to ascertain that extracting the Hōgyoku from Rukia Kuchiki didn't necessitate the Sōkyoku execution, subsequently employing a method discovered within the Palace to directly extract the Hōgyoku from Rukia Kuchiki. He had found a solution.
This effectively amounted to a clandestine rescue of Rukia Kuchiki; even had the Sōkyoku execution not proceeded, Aizen would have inevitably transported Rukia Kuchiki to Hueco Mundo to facilitate his research into Hōgyoku extraction. He had other plans.
However, unbeknownst to Aizen, before his entry into the Soul King's Palace, an uninvited guest had already visited, leaving behind a fabricated method for extracting the Hōgyoku! Someone had been there before him.
"So, utilizing Hōgyoku of disparate properties, in conjunction with spiritual pressure, can draw out the Hōgyoku residing within a soul, thereby facilitating its extraction. This appears to be a viable approach," Aizen mused, examining the entirely spirit-energy-composed golden pages. He had found a solution.
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