The time density of the Dangai was 2000 times that of the outside world. One year outside was equivalent to 2000 years inside the Dangai.
Without the threat of Omega Shenron, the Dangai would indeed be an excellent place for training, equivalent to a Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
Unfortunately, Omega Shenron was deeply bound to Setsuna, so Setsuna naturally couldn't peacefully train in the Dangai.
The rift in the Dangai had not even fully healed before the two had already emerged from it.
If not for the shocking traces on both of them… torn haori, covered in bloodstains, and the violent and chaotic Reiatsu fluctuations around them that had not yet fully subsided, many might have thought they had just gone in and come right back out.
Everyone held their breath, their gazes fixedly locked on the two, eagerly wanting to know who had won.
However, Yamamoto only swept his icy gaze over the assembled Captains and the distant noble spies peeking out. Without a word, he turned and flew towards the ruins of the 1st Division's barracks.
Setsuna, meanwhile, stretched his neck, producing a faint cracking sound. He likewise made no explanation about the fight's outcome.
He shifted his gaze and found Shusuke, who was being protected behind the others, his face full of worry and expectation.
"Shusuke, come here." Setsuna beckoned.
Shusuke quickly trotted over.
Setsuna then looked towards Aizen in the crowd: "Tenth Seat Aizen, immediately assemble all available members of the 11th Division. We are going to the Kasumioji Clan's residence."
"Understood." Aizen responded promptly.
Setsuna's command was like a spark dropped into boiling oil.
The 11th Division, a division renowned for its love of fighting and disregard for rules, rapidly assembled under its Captain's clear directive.
Zaraki, carrying his Zanpakuto over his shoulder, grinned as he walked at the front. Azashiro followed silently, and Yoruichi merged into the formation as a shadow...
Two hundred elite soldiers, led by Setsuna, marched directly towards the Kasumioji Clan in the noble district with undisguised killing intent.
This completely undisguised, clearly targeted action instantly pushed the tension in the Seireitei to its peak!
"They... they are really going to the Kasumioji Clan?"
"What is Chiaki Setsuna trying to do? Does he completely disregard the dignity of the nobles anymore?"
"What about the Captain-Commander? Won't the Captain-Commander stop him?"
The nobles were scared out of their wits, especially those families with intertwined interests with the Kasumioji or those who were themselves not clean.
They could no longer sit still. A group of heads and elders, usually lofty and accustomed to ease, now disregarded all dignity.
They rushed at top speed to the ruins of the 1st Division to seek an audience with Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
Outside the temporary simple shelter set up by the 1st Division, they saw Yamamoto, whose expression was still gloomy.
"Captain-Commander! Captain Chiaki has taken the 11th Division to the Kasumioji Clan! This... this is utterly disgraceful!"
"Yes! Without a ruling from the Central 46, without permission from the Captain-Commander, arbitrarily mobilizing troops to attack a noble residence! This is rebellion! This is trampling the rules!"
"Captain-Commander, please order him to stop immediately! Your fight with Captain Chiaki... what was the outcome? You can still restrain him, right?"
Facing the chattering, panicked nobles, Yamamoto slowly lifted his eyelids. The authority in his gaze silenced everyone instantly.
"The result of the battle is," Yamamoto's voice was hoarse and tired, but clearly reached everyone's ears, "a draw. I cannot stop him."
A draw. Cannot stop him.
These two sentences exploded like thunderclaps in the nobles' minds.
'A draw? It meant Chiaki Setsuna truly possessed the strength to compete with the strongest Shinigami in a millennium. It meant even the Captain-Commander could not forcibly restrain this lawless monster.'
After the shock, a deeper chill swept through them.
But soon, some shrewd nobles felt a trace of relief and hope in their hearts.
At least the Captain-Commander hadn't lost. At least the Gotei 13 hadn't completely lost control.
'No matter how strong Chiaki Setsuna was, the Captain-Commander could still counterbalance him to some extent. He probably wouldn't be completely unscrupulous... right?'
'Besides, he was targeting the Kasumioji Clan. What did that have to do with us? Let those fools in the Kasumioji Clan take the heat themselves.
Harboring this mentality of 'let the other person die, not me', most nobles, after their initial fright, actually relaxed a little. Some even felt a glimmer of schadenfreude.
They couldn't wait for the Kasumioji Clan, this source of trouble, to be completely eradicated by Setsuna, to appease the wrath of this ferocious star and prevent it from affecting themselves.
So, after a few symbolic pleas to Yamamoto, the nobles quickly dispersed.
Each returned to their own residences, tightly closed their gates, strengthened their guards, and pricked up their ears, nervously watching the developments from the direction of the Kasumioji Clan.
At this moment, the Kasumioji Clan was already in complete chaos, as if doomsday had arrived.
Inside the residence, the elders, their faces ashen, surrounded the pale-faced but still forcibly composed Yuka. Their voices were filled with fear and malice:
"This is all your fault, all because of you! You had to mess with those Bakkoto, you had to control Kisaragi Shin'etsu to commit murder. Now look, you've attracted that killer Chiaki Setsuna!"
"He even dared to fight the Captain-Commander. What can we possibly use to resist him?"
"You need to think of a way quickly, or our entire clan will be buried with you!"
Yuka gritted her teeth, her nails digging deep into her palms.
She knew the family had already made her a scapegoat and the chief culprit.
But things had reached this point… she could only tough it out.
Just then, orderly and heavy footsteps sounded outside the residence.
The 11th Division had arrived!
Setsuna's voice clearly spread throughout the residence:
"The Kasumioji Clan is suspected of developing and using forbidden weapons, manipulating Shinigami to attack colleagues, and framing the loyal and upright. Open the door. I am now conducting a search of your premises."
The mansion gate remained tightly shut. From within came a trembling but defiant response:
"Captain Chiaki, you... you have no right to arbitrarily search a noble residence! This violates the laws of the Seireitei! You must first have a search warrant from the Central 46!"
Setsuna let out a scornful laugh. "Laws? Search warrant? You can report me afterwards to the Gotei 13, or to the Central 46, for abuse of power and excessive use of force in enforcing the law."
"But today, this Kasumioji Residence, I am searching it! Open the door, or... I will open it for you."
A deathly silence fell over the residence. The Kasumioji Clan knew they must not let the Bakkoto research workshop and evidence be exposed.
After a brief, panicked discussion, the gate slowly opened a crack. An elder said in a trembling voice:
"You may search. But for the sake of family privacy, only Captain Chiaki may enter alone. Your subordinates must wait outside the residence."
Setsuna knew they would try some tricks, but it didn't matter. "Agreed."
Setsuna, alone, strode boldly into the seemingly calm but actually danger-filled Kasumioji Residence.
He was led by several nervously servants deeper into the residence, away from the front courtyard.
Time ticked by, minute after minute.
Outside, the 11th Division's members waited quietly, but their Reiatsu remained hidden yet ready to erupt, like a pack of wolves preparing to pounce.
Inside, the silence was terrifying.