On this seemingly ordinary yet profoundly unusual day in Soul Society, the Sōkyoku execution, a sentence not carried out in nearly several c
On this seemingly ordinary yet profoundly unusual day in Soul Society, the Sōkyoku execution, a sentence not carried out in nearly several centuries, was about to be enacted.
The condemned prisoner, a member of the Kuchiki clan, currently Soul Society's most esteemed noble family, was about to face this ancient punishment. This was an event of paramount significance for every Shinigami!
The Sōkyoku itself comprises a spear and a crucifixion apparatus. The spear used in the execution is, in fact, a specialized Zanpakutō named " Kikōō" (Firebird King), said to possess the destructive force equivalent to one million ordinary Zanpakutō.
Captains and lieutenants from virtually every division had assembled at Sōkyoku Hill, the designated execution site, awaiting Tōsen Kaname's arrival with the prisoner, Rukia Kuchiki.
The assembled captains and lieutenants exhibited a wide spectrum of emotions and attitudes toward this impending execution. Some openly voiced their strong opposition, others expressed profound sympathy, while a considerable number displayed utter indifference.
Yet, in the eyes of all the captains present, this execution served as a stark demonstration of power by the Central 46, a thinly veiled warning to the Gotei 13 to ensure absolute compliance with their edicts; Rukia Kuchiki's fate served as a cautionary tale for any Shinigami who dared to defy them!
"Ahem, the Central 46 are nothing more than power-hungry manipulators; Rukia is merely an innocent casualty," Jūshirō Ukitake remarked to his close friend, Kyōraku Shunsui, from his position at the periphery of the assembled captains, his words punctuated by a fit of coughing.
Because Rukia Kuchiki was under his command, Jūshirō Ukitake had repeatedly petitioned the Central 46 to spare her life, but his efforts had been completely unsuccessful.
This explains Jūshirō Ukitake's somber expression; his already precarious health had recently deteriorated significantly. His illness was worsening.
Kyōraku Shunsui, shedding his customary lighthearted demeanor, shook his head gravely. "Those words are only safe for our ears. If they reached the Central 46, they would undoubtedly seek retribution." He was warning his friend.
Jūshirō Ukitake responded with a sardonic laugh. "Seek retribution? In my current state of ill health, what do I have to fear?"
Following this statement, Jūshirō Ukitake was seized by another violent coughing fit; Kyōraku Shunsui immediately supported him, gently patting his back to ease his breathing.
"Do you sense any possibility of unforeseen developments today? Byakuya Kuchiki's composure strikes me as unusually placid. Remember, he's been petitioning the Central 46 even more diligently than you, and even nearly engaged in a physical altercation with Captain Tōsen," Kyōraku Shunsui remarked, his brow furrowed as he observed Byakuya Kuchiki, who stood nearby with his eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought.
Jūshirō Ukitake nodded, his brow furrowed. "I, too, sense the imminence of a significant event, but our positions as captains within the Gotei 13 dictate that we cannot act impulsively. However…"
At this point, Jūshirō Ukitake and Kyōraku Shunsui exchanged a subtle, knowing smile, both discerning the unspoken word "leniency" mirrored in the other's eyes. They had a plan.
At that precise moment, a Shinigami, his body drenched in blood, ran towards them. His armband clearly identified him as a member of the Ninth Division's prison detail.
"Captain-Commander! Captain Uchiha has rescued Rukia Kuchiki! All the guards are dead, except for me!" the Shinigami announced urgently.
This announcement sent a shockwave through the assembled captains; even Byakuya Kuchiki, who had been seemingly lost in thought, opened his eyes in astonishment.
"What's happened? This deviates entirely from the plan Yusuke outlined. Has he decided to act prematurely?" Byakuya Kuchiki mused internally, his carefully laid plans thrown into disarray.
The other captains and lieutenants were equally bewildered. Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia Kuchiki's own brother, remained outwardly composed, yet Yusuke, with no direct familial connection, had undertaken the audacious act of a prison break. It was completely unexpected.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai, his narrowed eyes now fully open, addressed the breathless messenger. "Relate the entire sequence of events, from beginning to end, to me and the assembled captains." He demanded a complete account.
Simultaneously, Tōsen Kaname and Yusuke, charged with transferring Rukia Kuchiki to Sōkyoku Hill, were traversing the bridge leading to her prison tower.
Even before reaching the tower itself, Yusuke detected a faint but unmistakable trace of blood permeating the air.
"The prisoner appears to be absent from the tower," Yusuke stated calmly, his observation sharp.
Tōsen Kaname halted his steps, his demeanor composed. "Indeed. However, I remain entirely unaware of the motivations behind Captain Uchiha's actions in perpetrating this act of prison breach!" He was accusing Yusuke.
Yusuke instantly recognized this as a blatant attempt to shift blame. He was being framed.
Uncertain of Rukia Kuchiki's current whereabouts, Yusuke felt a surge of apprehension, fearing the situation was spiraling beyond his control.
"Captain Tōsen, might Lord Aizen be initiating his plan today?" Yusuke inquired calmly, his counter-question revealing his sharp intellect.
Tōsen Kaname was taken aback. He was aware of Yusuke's ability to see through Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu, but Yusuke shouldn't know about his subordinate status to Aizen. He had been exposed.
At that precise moment, Aizen's form materialized from within the prison tower; however, his physical presence appeared spectral, almost illusory—a clear indication of Kyōka Suigetsu's manipulation; his actual presence was elsewhere.
"Captain Uchiha, it seems you have been diligently monitoring my actions," Aizen remarked smoothly.
Yusuke offered a slight smile. "Captain Aizen, wouldn't a peaceful resolution be preferable? Your actions place me in a rather precarious position." He was attempting to de-escalate the situation.
Aizen, witnessing Yusuke's continued composure, displayed a flicker of surprise.
A self-satisfied smile graced Aizen's lips. "A mere fifteen minutes ago, Captain Uchiha personally eliminated all the Ninth Division personnel guarding Rukia Kuchiki. Only Captain Tōsen, who risked his life to recover Rukia Kuchiki, and a fortunate escapee, managed to alert the Captain-Commander. And these transgressions have been meticulously recorded by the Technical Development Bureau's surveillance systems."
Having delivered this pronouncement, the illusory Aizen drew his Zanpakutō. Then, both he and Tōsen Kaname disintegrated like shattered mirrors, vanishing into thin air. They had disappeared.
"Captain Uchiha, you should contemplate how you will address the Captain-Commander's wrath," Aizen's final words echoed in Yusuke's ears.
Aizen's decision to frame Yusuke served a multifaceted purpose: eliminating a potential obstacle, dispersing the Gotei 13's forces, and compelling the Captain-Commander to personally engage Yusuke. It was a strategic move.
In Aizen's eyes, every member of the Gotei 13, including the Captain-Commander himself, was merely a powerful piece in his elaborate game. He was manipulating everyone.
"Aizen, your scheme is indeed ingenious. However, I had already intended to openly defy the Seireitei today; this merely accelerates the timeline," Yusuke muttered to himself, shaking his head after Aizen's departure.
With that, his form dissolved into a spatial vortex, silently vanishing from the scene. He was leaving.
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