Meanwhile, in the Seireitei.
After leaving the First Division's pre-war strategy meeting, Shigure brought Rukia Kuchiki directly back to the Fifth Division.
Whether by regulation or reason, as Fifth Division captain, Shigure had to hold a pre-war mobilization assembly.
The purpose of such assemblies wasn't to make squad members understand how dire the situation was.
That would only deepen their fear of the enemy. Their dread of war.
Now they weren't just Gotei squad members anymore. Not rescue squad members either.
In this blood war between Soul Reapers and Quincies, they had only one identity—
Warriors.
And warriors didn't need the emotion called 'fear.'
So this pre-war assembly only needed to tell them why they must fight. Who the enemy was. That was enough.
Two years had passed. Shigure had long grown familiar with such matters.
The assembly ended. Following combat assignment orders, squad members immediately departed for their respective patrol posts.
Just then, Shigure noticed a petite girl in Soul Reaper uniform standing there, looking somewhat worried.
Her expression seemed uncertain.
Shigure immediately recognized her—Igarashi Moe, who graduated from Shinō Academy last year.
Young squad members like her had increased tremendously in the Fifth Division these past two years.
Their reason for choosing the Fifth Division was always the same—
"Admiration for Captain Segawa."
When they first joined, they looked at Shigure with eyes practically glowing.
"What's wrong, Moe...?"
Out of curiosity, Shigure walked toward her while asking with a light smile.
Hearing this, Igarashi Moe didn't show her usual liveliness. Instead, she spoke with low spirits:
"Captain Segawa... actually, about this mobilization, I... I don't quite understand something."
"...What?"
"Why must we fight the Quincies...?"
"Hm?" Shigure's gaze shifted.
Rukia Kuchiki beside him immediately showed a strange expression and interjected:
"Wh-what are you saying... Isn't it because they declared war on us...?"
Igarashi Moe quickly shook her head:
"N-no... Lieutenant Kuchiki, I know that of course. I... don't mean that."
She raised her head, looking earnestly at Shigure:
"I'm wondering why... we Soul Reapers and Quincies must be on opposing sides... Everyone's goal should be dealing with Hollows, right...?"
Hearing this, Rukia Kuchiki froze. Shigure lowered his eyes, looking at Moe with a helpless smile:
"Seems removing that curriculum from Shinō Academy really wasn't appropriate after all—"
"Hm...?"
Moe widened her big eyes, looking earnestly at Shigure. Clearly waiting for his explanation.
Naturally, Shigure wouldn't leave his words half-finished. After pondering a moment, he began:
"In fact, the biggest difference between Soul Reapers and Quincies... lies in how we handle Hollows."
"We Soul Reapers purify Hollows, then send them back to Soul Society. In this process, though spiritual particles dissipate, their souls don't directly perish."
"But Quincies kill Hollows. Completely destroy even their souls..."
"You've probably heard that since ancient times, Soul Reapers have had another title—'Balancers,' right?"
"...Mm-hmm." Moe nodded seriously.
"That title refers to the essential nature of Soul Reaper work—"
"The number of souls existing in Soul Society and the World of the Living always maintains fundamental equilibrium. Through the boundary line called 'Dangai,' the two are separated, avoiding mutual contact."
"Without Soul Reapers, or if souls become imbalanced, the delicate balance between both worlds would break directly."
"After that, we'd face... the collapse of both worlds."
"?!"
Hearing this, Moe's small body immediately trembled.
Shigure continued unhurriedly:
"All souls are sent from Soul Society to the World of the Living in biological form. Dead spirits are uniformly guided to Soul Society by Soul Reapers' hands."
"This way, cycling repeatedly, we can control the total number of souls. Adjust the balance with the World of the Living."
"However, since Quincies appeared, they've been disrupting this balance."
"To prevent this collapse, a thousand years ago, Soul Society already initiated dialogue with Quincies several times."
"But the dialogue results were unsatisfactory."
"The Quincies rejected Soul Reaper demands again and again."
"Even so, talks and negotiations between both sides continued for hundreds of years. Several battles of considerable scale even broke out."
"Yet still, the Quincies refused to yield."
"Therefore, the world kept advancing toward destruction."
"So..."
Shigure narrowed his eyes slightly. He paused before continuing:
"After Soul Society's long discussions and decisions—"
"Two hundred years ago, led by the Gotei captains, they finally launched an operation to annihilate the Quincies."
"Soul Reapers and Quincies are natural enemies."
"Besides battle, there's no other path to walk."
Shigure finished slowly, feeling deeply moved.
Though a visitor from outside this world, he'd lived in the Seireitei so long he'd grown familiar with everything here.
Hearing these words, Rukia Kuchiki's expression also grew heavy.
Then Moe spoke again. She looked timidly at Shigure, raising her pale little hand:
"Captain... I... may I ask one more thing... In this battle, are we Soul Reapers on the side of justice...?"
She asked carefully. Her eyes flickered lightly.
"..."
Hearing this, Shigure raised his head slightly, gazing at the sky.
After a moment of silence, he spoke:
"If justice truly belonged to one side, this would be subjugation and defense."
"But this is war."
"War exists because both sides uphold their own justice."
"So what we need to do... is believe we stand on the side of justice."
"That's enough."
Saying this, Shigure suddenly turned around, his back to them. Walking outward, he said:
"Alright, Rukia, Moe. Return to your positions."
"Next, I'm going to the First Division to see the Captain-Commander."
"Regarding this war and the enemy... I still have much to discuss with him."
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