By the time Naraku Sora followed the residual traces and arrived, Inaba Kagerōza was already foaming at the mouth under the crushing weight of extreme Reiatsu, having completely lost his ability to think.
Previously in the laboratory, considering the presence of other Soul Reapers nearby, Aizen couldn't fully unleash his Reiatsu.
Now that they were in the Rukongai, those concerns were no longer an issue.
However, this was somewhat difficult for Inaba Kagerōza to accept.
The reason he had passed out was half due to the overwhelming Reiatsu, and half out of sheer anger.
He originally thought he was only slightly inferior to Aizen at most, so he could easily brush off those mocking words as the mere jealousy of a researcher toward a true scientist.
But when Kagerōza realized that he couldn't compare to Aizen in absolutely any aspect—
His long-held pride completely collapsed, and his entire worldview suffered a severe blow.
Naraku Sora walked up to Aizen. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly thought of something, and his expression instantly darkened.
"Sōsuke, we've been busted."
Hearing this, Aizen, who was just about to cast a Bakudō barrier to seal Kagerōza, paused his movements and looked up.
"Head Captain Yamamoto knows everything?"
Naraku Sora nodded.
"Although my teacher occasionally suffers from a bit of senile dementia, he's normal most of the time. He only had to glance at the intelligence reports to guess that I was involved."
"Now that old man wants to settle the score with me. Do you have any ideas, Sōsuke?"
Aizen remained perfectly composed and calmly replied, "Thank you for your hard work."
Naraku Sora: "?"
'I took the blame for such a massive scapegoat on your behalf, and all I get in return is a "thank you for your hard work"?'
'Has your conscience been fed to Sajin?!'
Seemingly sensing a certain someone's thoughts, Aizen sighed and helplessly explained.
"The fact that you are standing here means the Head Captain has tacitly approved of this matter."
"Since he isn't pursuing it, what is there to fret about?"
Naraku Sora twitched his mouth and laid out his conditions.
"Of course, if there's a next time, please make sure to invite me."
"Doing absolutely nothing yet still having to take the blame goes against my moral code."
Aizen stared at him for a few seconds before nodding.
"I understand."
Although he said that, when the time actually came, what he would do was an entirely different matter.
Besides, Central 46 and the nobles weren't like weeds in a field; they couldn't just grow back overnight.
Based on his understanding of the Soul Society's efficiency, for a very long time to come, the responsibilities of the highest judicial authority would fall squarely on the shoulders of the Gotei 13.
Perhaps the guy standing right in front of him would even have to shoulder a portion of it.
However.
On a path destined to be lonely, having a like-minded friend to walk alongside him... it truly was a good feeling.
Aizen sealed Inaba Kagerōza with practiced movements, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
Rukongai, secret laboratory.
After testing and analyzing with specialized equipment, Aizen confirmed his previous suspicions.
"Fragments of the Spirit King truly exist within Inaba Kagerōza's soul, and they belong to a very important part."
"Judging from the results displayed, it should be an organ similar to a Soul Reaper's Soul Chain."
"The Reiatsu contained within isn't considered strong, but it allows for the creation of things like Reigai by splitting the soul."
"This ability, however, reminds me of the Tsunayashiro family's Enrakyōten."
A flash of excitement crossed Aizen's eyes.
As a researcher, although he wasn't as devoted to science as Mayuri, he was equally filled with anticipation when it came to exploring the unknown.
Now that a new research subject had appeared right before his eyes—one that even overlapped with his previous studies—it naturally piqued his immense interest.
Naraku Sora, on the other hand, had no interest in this whatsoever.
With this free time, he might as well go back and see how the war between the Soul Reaper Captains and the Reigai was progressing.
"Well then, take your time researching. I'm heading out."
Naraku Sora turned around and left the laboratory.
Squad 2, Interrogation Room.
Kujō Nozomi looked nervously at the two figures standing before her.
One had wheat-colored skin, delicate features, and a cheerful smile hanging on her lips.
The other, although slightly lacking in figure, had an icy expression and a look of disgust in her eyes, giving her a unique sort of charm.
She had no impression of the latter, but the former was very familiar.
The Captain of Squad 2, Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō, and the head of the Shihōin family—a major figure standing at the absolute pinnacle of the Soul Society in both power and strength—
Shihōin Yoruichi.
As for the one beside her, she was likely also an important member of the Onmitsukidō.
Thinking of this, Kujō Nozomi instantly grew tense.
She was well aware of her identity. As one of the root causes of this rebellion, even if she had done nothing, she would still face corresponding punishment according to the laws of the Soul Society.
Now that she was detained in this interrogation room, they were probably going to subject her to severe torture to extract all the intelligence related to Inaba Kagerōza.
Therefore, to suffer a little less, it would be better to confess early.
"My name is Kujō Nozomi. I am the other half of Inaba Kagerōza's soul, he..."
However, before she could finish her sentence, Yoruichi raised a hand and interrupted her.
"Stop, stop!"
"Miss Kujō, have you misunderstood something?"
"Huh?"
Kujō Nozomi looked completely bewildered.
"No one here cares about Inaba Kagerōza's trivial matters. The reason I had Soifon bring you back is because I wanted to ask a little about Sora... well, the guy who saved you..."
Yoruichi explained earnestly.
However, upon hearing that it was related to Naraku Sora, Kujō Nozomi's expression instantly turned vigilant.
She wasn't clear on the relationship between this Squad 2 Captain and Naraku Sora.
But as far as she knew, the various organizations within the Seireitei were not a unified monolith; conflicts between them were perfectly normal.
If this Captain Shihōin wanted to extract intelligence about Lord Naraku from her mouth, she was going to be sorely disappointed.
Kujō Nozomi would absolutely never betray her benefactor!
Yoruichi wore a solemn expression, staring intently at the green-haired girl in front of her. Kujō Nozomi, unwilling to show weakness, met her gaze with exceptionally firm eyes.
Then, she heard:
"Miss Kujō, please answer truthfully. Do you actually like Sora?"
"I'll never... Ah, huh?!"
Kujō Nozomi froze in place, her eyes going blank, as if the entire cosmos was unraveling inside her mind.
'Are matters involving personal feelings also within the jurisdiction of the Onmitsukidō?'
'This isn't what interrogation and torture are supposed to be like in my mind!'
Seeing the girl standing there dumbfounded, unable to react for a long time, Yoruichi sighed helplessly and waved her hand, gesturing.
"Soifon, write it down for now."
"It seems we have yet another enemy this time."
Kujō Nozomi suddenly snapped back to reality. Seeming to have realized something during her brief mental storm, she denied it with a flushed face.
"I don't, I haven't, I..."
Soifon cast a somewhat pitying glance at the girl and asked,
"Then Miss Kujō, if your crimes are pardoned, are you planning to join the Gotei 13, or the Shino Prison?"
"The Shino Prison, of course."
Kujō Nozomi replied without a second thought.
'Just as I thought.'
Yoruichi's eye twitched.
Every time that guy saved the Seireitei, he managed to capture a young girl's heart.
It was getting a bit ridiculous.
'Damn it, I was clearly here first!'
At this thought, the sound of teeth grinding in frustration echoed through the interrogation room.
Feeling the sudden surge of resentment in the room, Kujō Nozomi instinctively shrank her neck.
'I suddenly feel like I've been dragged into something incredibly troublesome...'
Squad 1, Meeting Hall.
Yamamoto stood at the head of the room, his aged hands resting on his vortex-shaped walking stick. His majestic gaze swept over the Captains present, a trace of dissatisfaction flashing in his half-closed eyes.
During this Reigai rebellion, the performance of certain Captains was even worse than that of the new Gotei 13 next door.
Being trapped in the Dangai by someone was one thing.
That was caused by an information asymmetry, which was his own dereliction of duty.
However.
In the battles following their return to the Soul Society, they were still unable to swiftly take down those Reigai clones.
Due to the incompetence of his subordinates, Yamamoto had been forced to take action once again.
Although the losses weren't considered massive, this was undoubtedly a severe trampling of the Gotei 13's dignity.
"I presume all of you are already more or less aware of the inside story regarding this rebellion."
"The mastermind behind the scenes was the 7th Seat of Squad 12, named Inaba Kagerōza. Drawing inspiration from the 'Spearhead Project', he developed the entities known as Reigai."
"Later, for his own selfish desires, he plunged the entire Seireitei into chaos."
"According to the intelligence provided earlier by the Acting Head Captain, this person was caught during his escape, put up a stubborn resistance, was defeated, and inadvertently killed."
Hearing this, the Captains revealed somewhat peculiar expressions to varying degrees.
Hirako Shinji narrowed his eyes, a flash of suspicion passing through them.
If he remembered correctly, the first person to chase after Inaba Kagerōza was his own Lieutenant.
Yet, according to Yamamoto, the mastermind had been taken out by Naraku Sora.
Considering the close friendship between those two, he could guess with his toes that they were hiding some unspeakable secret.
Coupled with the abnormal behaviors he had noticed from Aizen in the past, as well as his deliberately hidden strength...
It was hard not to suspect whether that guy was secretly plotting some evil scheme to overthrow the Soul Society.
'No, I absolutely cannot just sit back and watch.'
Hirako Shinji immediately made up his mind. As soon as this Captains' meeting ended, he would launch an investigation into Aizen the moment he returned.
If possible, he couldn't let Naraku Sora off the hook either.
Just as he was deep in thought, a dull, heavy thud echoed through the meeting hall, instantly drawing everyone's attention. Yamamoto looked at the crowd with a displeased expression.
"As Captains, you have neglected your training. At the critical moment, you were unable to take down the enemy, and even forced me to step in."
"Everyone, what exactly do you take the word 'Gotei' to mean?!"
Some lowered their heads in shame, while others grinned, taking pleasure in the misfortune of others.
Yamamoto glared irritably at Naraku Sora, who was auditing the meeting. If he hadn't considered that they were currently in a meeting, his sandbag-sized fist would have already landed on his rebellious disciple's head.
"From this day forward, everyone, including the Captains, must place their training as the top priority. There will be no slacking off!"
The Captains breathed a sigh of relief.
After everything that had happened, even if Yamamoto hadn't brought it up, they would have made time to train. If they didn't work hard now, they would be left completely behind.
Just as everyone thought the meeting had concluded, Yamamoto's deep voice echoed through the room once again.
"There is one more thing!"