Chapter 49: Sensei, Are We Going to Silence Them?
"Why?!"
Sixth Division barracks, Captain's office.
Renji slammed his hands on the desk, completely ignoring rank as he roared at his captain.
"Why do they have to go this far?!"
"You ask why?"
Byakuya stood by the window with his back to Renji. His expression could not be seen, but his voice was heavy.
"Because it is the Hogyoku."
"So what exactly is that damn thing?!"
"A special creation developed by Urahara Kisuke, the first Director of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute and former Captain of the Twelfth Division, as well as the mastermind behind the Soul disappearance incidents that broke out in Rukongai a century ago."
Without responding to Renji's loss of composure, Byakuya slowly recounted the truth he knew.
"Its ability is to allow Shinigami to obtain greater power through Hollowfication. In other words, it breaks the boundary between Shinigami and Hollows, turning Shinigami like you and I into Hollows. It is an evil device."
"Urahara Kisuke used the common people of Rukongai as experimental subjects. When Seireitei discovered this, as many as eight Captain class combatants were dispatched to investigate. However, they never returned and all fell victim to him."
"Central 46 originally intended to strip Urahara Kisuke of his spiritual power and exile him to the World of the Living, but unexpectedly he was aided by another Captain class accomplice and escaped from Soul Society. His whereabouts remain unknown."
Thud.
Renji slumped heavily onto the sofa, so shocked he could not speak.
Captains and Vice Captains were all considered Captain class.
Even if it had only been eight Vice Captains, having them all wiped out at once would still be a catastrophic blow. Yet the culprit was a Captain, with other Captains joining his side.
Given something like that, it would not have been strange if the Gotei 13 had collapsed entirely.
The fact that it did not disband was what seemed incredible.
"You understand now, do you not, how dangerous Urahara Kisuke and the Hogyoku he created truly are?"
Byakuya turned and looked at Renji.
"...Yeah. But I still do not get how something like that ended up inside Rukia."
Renji gritted his teeth.
"Logically, they did not even have a chance to come into contact... No, wait. Could it have been after she went to the World of the Living?!"
"Highly likely."
Byakuya nodded.
"The Gigai stripped from her by the Research and Development Institute has been confirmed to be handmade by him. Captain Kurotsuchi stated that it possesses a spiritual power eroding effect. In other words, the person who gave Rukia that Gigai never intended for her to use it to recover her Shinigami powers, but instead wanted her to completely become human."
"As for what benefit that would bring Urahara Kisuke, or why it had to be Rukia, these are still unknown. Even Rukia herself is completely unaware."
"Damn it!"
Renji clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles went white. He wanted nothing more than to draw his Zanpakuto, head straight to the World of the Living, drag that bastard out and tear him apart.
He had finally overcome the most difficult hurdle. Just that afternoon he had been boasting proudly that he would find a way to shorten her sentence. In the blink of an eye, forget shortening it, even her life was now in danger.
"By the way, Ichimaru..." Renji suddenly frowned. "How did Captain Ichimaru even know the Hogyoku was inside Rukia?"
…
"This whole thing is my fault."
Listening to the faint chorus of insects outside the window, Aizen let out a quiet sigh.
"I was the one who reported that incident back then. Ichimaru Gin, at the time, had graduated early from the Spirit Arts Academy in just one year, ranking first in his class. He was indeed a genius, but the first time I saw him, I felt he was a very dangerous person, cold blooded and cruel, like a snake."
"It would not be an exaggeration to call him a born evil youth."
"I kept him by my side, hoping to guide him onto the right path, and also to keep an eye on him. I initially thought that after witnessing such a cruel incident, he might awaken to something. That was why I later strongly recommended that he become Captain of the Third Division, the so called 'Support Squad,' so that he could use his power to protect others."
"Now it seems highly likely that his eyes were clouded by the power of the Hogyoku. He must have diligently investigated and gathered information related to it, eventually stumbling upon its whereabouts."
"I do not know what ulterior motives he has, but there is unquestionably some unspeakable purpose behind this report."
"Visible betrayal is not terrifying. What is terrifying is betrayal that cannot be seen."
Takeru spoke softly.
Ichigo could not help asking, "Is there really no way to take the Hogyoku out? If they can put it in, there is no reason it cannot be removed, right?"
"Why would they take it out?"
Takeru's voice grew even calmer.
"If it were a divine artifact that could bring positive benefits to Soul Society, even if its origin was unknown, as long as it had no terrible side effects, Central 46 would definitely spare no effort to obtain it, even sacrificing Rukia in the process."
"But the Hogyoku's effect is to Hollowfy Shinigami. Once obtained, it has little real use. Letting it exist would only add an unstable factor to Soul Society."
"So there is no need to look back. They simply destroy both the person and the object. After all, that person... is just a criminal."
"..."
Ichigo ground his back teeth together, barely suppressing the anger in his chest.
He knew Takeru was not voicing his own opinion, but that of those judges in Central 46.
That was precisely why the flames inside him burned hotter and hotter, impossible to quench.
The highest judicial body in Soul Society was actually made up of a group of ruthless dictators.
That realization completely shattered the impression he had held of Soul Society until now.
"Indeed."
Aizen gently adjusted his glasses.
"This is Central 46's style. It does not matter if their methods are crude. It does not matter if they are cruel. Everything is permitted for the greater good of Soul Society. Everyone should consciously obey the law, and anyone who dares to dissent must be malicious."
"That is what they proclaim in public. At the same time, they secretly order the Onmitsukido to arrest any Shinigami they deem to harbor dangerous thoughts."
"Whether that approach is correct or not, there are clearly some cases that could be handled more appropriately in my view. Furthermore, when nobles are involved, their attitude becomes... ambiguous."
"Right, nobles...!"
Ichigo suddenly remembered something.
"Isn't Rukia a member of the Kuchiki Clan? Can someone from the Four Great Noble Clans really be discarded so easily?"
"As far as I know, the Kuchiki Clan has not raised any objections so far, and the nobles' alliance, the Golden Seal Society, has also made no moves. If both parties had protested together, I doubt this sentence would have passed so easily. There would still be room to negotiate."
Aizen's answer made Ichigo frown in confusion.
"How can that be... Never mind that 'society' for now. Kuchiki Byakuya is Rukia's elder brother, right? They are both members of the Kuchiki Clan. How can he not do anything?"
"Rukia was adopted."
Takeru gently reminded him.
Ichigo fell silent, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Things have already come this far. We can only accept the result."
Aizen's tone was tinged with apology.
"I had originally intended to hide this from you, but I do not think that is what a teacher should do. Only by seeing the world clearly can one truly grow."
"No, Sensei, there is no need to apologize."
Takeru shook his head.
"Telling us right away was the right thing to do. We are not so fragile that we would collapse over something this small. Like I said at the bathhouse, I have already seen plenty of this kind of thing in the World of the Living. Compared to that, I think Central 46 are nothing but rigid, pedantic incompetents."
"They are basically bandits. No, worse than bandits."
After finishing, Takeru turned his gaze to the still silent Ichigo.
"Brother Kurosaki, just say it. Are you in, or out?"
"...One month later, right?"
Ichigo slowly raised his head, his eyes firm.
"I told you at the bathhouse. I want to protect as many people as I can."
"Rukia's tragic fate is unfolding right in front of me. There is no way I can pretend I did not see it."
"Besides, I promised Inoue that if there is something I can help with, I absolutely will."
"I do not want to become some bragging coward who talks big and then runs away when it counts."
"So within the next month, I will definitely learn Bankai... and then I will save her by my own strength."
Takeru raised an eyebrow.
"Sounds like you are planning to handle everything yourself."
"No. It is two people."
Ichigo snorted.
"After all, there is no way you can stand this either, so I did not bother leaving you out."
His attitude was exactly the same as when Takeru had seen through his thoughts in the World of the Living and just waved him along: completely self righteous.
"...Should I be moved that you understand me so well, or scold you for dragging me in without asking?"
Takeru sighed.
"I will not stop you if you want to back out now."
"Honestly, she is just an acquaintance to me. Taking such a huge risk for her really is not worth it. But if it is about not being able to stand what those people are doing, then that is a different story."
"I knew you would say that. I was even worried you would be more radical than I am."
Ichigo finally showed a bright, fighting grin.
"I can feel how determined you are. In that case, count me in as well."
Aizen's voice cut in lightly.
"What?"
"..."
Takeru and Ichigo turned to stare at him at the same time.
Aizen's smile did not change, but his eyes were deep and unreadable.
"I told you the first time you came to the Fifth Division barracks that recklessness is a privilege granted to geniuses. As your teacher, I will not stop you. I will support you so you can keep moving forward."
"Even if it means violating the laws of Soul Society, as long as you truly believe you are walking the right path, you should not be bound by anything."
"I can guarantee that you will not be branded as wanted criminals by Soul Society."
"Is Sensei going to take the blame for us?"
Takeru asked suspiciously.
"In the worst case, that possibility is not off the table. But do not underestimate your teacher."
Aizen smiled faintly.
"Revising duty rosters, raising base salaries, simplifying mountains of procedures, and pushing through numerous reforms that benefit Shinigami... I was once hailed as the 'Paperwork Dragon' of the Fifth Division. Do you really think someone who accomplished all that would be a conventional man?"
"Besides..."
He continued calmly.
"I still have two extremely excellent disciples like you. It will not be difficult to come up with a solution that benefits both sides."
"From what I know of Ichimaru Gin, his aims are certainly not limited to this. There must be even more unspeakable plots behind this report."
"I will use the time we have to search for evidence of his crimes. As long as we secure solid proof, your names can be cleared, and you might even receive commendations for your service. Even if nothing turns up before the execution, something will definitely come to light on the day itself, and I will use that moment to achieve my goal instead."
"However, we will need help. For example... Hinamori."
The instant he said her name, there was a faint, awkward sound outside the door.
Takeru and Ichigo exchanged a look. Ichigo sighed and went to slide the door open.
Hinamori Momo stood there, flustered, raising one hand stiffly in greeting.
"Ah... G good evening, everyone."
"Miss Hinamori, what are you doing here?"
"Uh... I was organizing some materials for tomorrow's work, and a Shinigami mentioned there was a Hell Butterfly message and that you two had been called, so I thought it was serious and came over. I did not even have time to change."
Sure enough, the Vice Captain was still wearing the same Shinigami uniform from when she had returned earlier.
"What do you think, Sensei? Are we going to silence her?"
Takeru asked abruptly.
"?!"
"Hey! Don't say something that scary so casually!" Ichigo panicked. "Miss Hinamori, he is just joking. He has a bad habit of telling dark jokes, so do not worry... but if you do choose to report us, then I will have to do something too."
"Takeru, Kurosaki kun, you can rest easy. Hinamori will not betray us."
Aizen's words, filled with absolute trust, made Hinamori's eyes tremble with emotion.
"That is right. I will not betray you!" she blurted. "I heard everything you said just now. If you do not mind, please let me help Miss Kuchiki too!"
"But as I said, although killing you to keep you quiet is a joke, we do need someone's help."
Aizen looked at her gently.
"If you are willing to assist, that would be ideal. As for what I need you to do... I am sorry, Hinamori, but could I trouble you to write a will and then die once?"
"Eh?"
"?"
"..."
Unlike the dumbstruck Hinamori and Ichigo, Takeru simply tipped his head back and stared at the ceiling, his expression saying clearly, So it really came to this.
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