For the Seireitei, this day was destined to be anything but peaceful.
On this day, the Soul Society carried out the Sōkyoku execution, a cruel punishment rarely used.
On this day, someone stormed the execution grounds, forcibly halted the execution, and rescued the sinner who was meant to die.
On this day, the greatest conspiracy in the history of the Soul Society was exposed. Three captains had secretly allied themselves with Hueco Mundo and betrayed the Soul Society.
On this day, the entire Central 46, the highest authority within the Seireitei, was slaughtered.
Any one of these events would have been enough to shake the Seireitei to its foundations. Yet on this single day, every one of them erupted at once.
It was as though disaster itself had descended upon the Soul Society.
When the news spread, the shock was unimaginable. The entire Seireitei felt as though it had been struck by countless explosions.
Everyone was completely stunned.
Even the members of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, individuals who possessed exceptional strength and discipline, required a long time to fully process everything that had happened.
Once the aftermath of Aizen's rebellion had mostly been dealt with, all captains and lieutenants gathered at the First Division barracks for an emergency meeting.
Several important decisions were immediately passed.
"The murder of Captain Kuchiki Byakuya has now been confirmed as a conspiracy orchestrated by former Fifth Division Captain Aizen Sōsuke."
"Captain Kyōraku Shunsui, the other captains involved, and Lieutenant Renji Abarai were all deceived by Aizen's zanpakutō."
"Captain Ryūjin Uchiha is innocent."
"Although Captain Ryūjin Uchiha previously caused considerable turmoil within the Seireitei, we ourselves became accomplices who pushed the situation to its current state."
"Furthermore, Captain Ryūjin Uchiha uncovered the truth behind Captain Kuchiki Byakuya's death and shattered Aizen Sōsuke's conspiracy, rendering great service to the Seireitei."
"Therefore, I propose that Captain Ryūjin Uchiha immediately resume his position as Captain of the Eleventh Division."
"Captains, lieutenants, do you have any objections?"
Inside the First Division barracks, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto sat at the head of the room as his heavy gaze swept across the assembled officers.
"Ken-chan, you only got the position of Eleventh Division Captain back a few days ago, and now you have to give it up again. That's pretty pitiful."
Yachiru Kusajishi laughed mischievously.
"Shut up."
Kenpachi Zaraki glared at her.
"What captain position? I don't give a damn about it. If the old man wants Ryūjin Uchiha to take it back, then he can have it."
Kyōraku Shunsui became unusually serious.
"To be deceived by Aizen and become an accomplice in framing Captain Ryūjin is truly shameful."
"Fortunately, Captain Ryūjin's abilities are extraordinary. He exposed Aizen's conspiracy and revealed the truth. The Thirteen Court Guard Squads need people who possess both courage and wisdom like Captain Ryūjin."
Ukitake Jūshirō coughed lightly.
"Welcome back, Captain Ryūjin."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya simply said,
"I have no objections."
The remaining captains also voiced their approval.
Not a single person objected.
Seeing the unanimous agreement, Yamamoto spoke solemnly.
"Since there are no objections, I hereby declare that Captain Ryūjin Uchiha is officially restored as Captain of the Eleventh Division."
The announcement greatly lifted the heavy atmosphere created by Aizen's betrayal.
During the battle, Ryūjin's overwhelming strength had been fully displayed.
He had blocked the attack of the Kōtotsu and was the only person completely unaffected by Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu.
Having a captain of such strength return to the Seireitei was undoubtedly good news.
Thus, Ryūjin's return to the Soul Society was officially decided.
Afterward, Yamamoto brought forward another matter.
The re-evaluation of Rukia Kuchiki's crimes.
The result was equally obvious.
Rukia Kuchiki was innocent.
Although nobody fully understood how Aizen had framed her, his actions during the execution made one thing perfectly clear.
Rukia had been one of his pawns.
In truth, many Shinigami had already questioned the original verdict.
The punishment had seemed excessively severe and deeply unfair.
Even Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō had openly violated orders to rescue Rukia.
Now everyone understood why.
The decision had likely never come from Central 46 at all.
It had been Aizen.
The fact that Aizen had gone to such lengths simply to place Rukia on the Sōkyoku execution stand proved just how important his objective was.
"Rukia, after Aizen took you away, what did he do?"
Only now did Yamamoto ask the most important question.
"He removed something called the Hōgyoku from my body."
Rukia briefly explained what had happened.
"Hōgyoku?"
The captains exchanged glances.
No one knew what the Hōgyoku was.
However, everyone understood that it had been Aizen's true objective from the very beginning.
For Aizen to plan so carefully and risk everything, the Hōgyoku could not be an ordinary item.
"Captain Ryūjin, do you know what the Hōgyoku is?"
After a brief silence, Yamamoto turned toward Ryūjin.
Ryūjin had uncovered many of Aizen's secrets and personally ruined his plans.
Perhaps he knew something.
"I'm sorry, Captain Commander. I don't know what the Hōgyoku is either."
Ryūjin answered without hesitation.
The Hōgyoku was one of his own ultimate objectives in this world, so naturally he had no intention of revealing anything.
No one doubted him.
In fact, they felt his answer was perfectly reasonable.
The fact that Ryūjin had already exposed Aizen's conspiracy was impressive enough.
Expecting him to know Aizen's ultimate goal would have been asking too much.
Yamamoto had only asked out of curiosity.
Since Ryūjin did not know, he turned his attention back to Rukia.
"Rukia, how did the Hōgyoku end up inside your body?"
Rukia shook her head.
"Captain Commander, I don't know. I never knew such a thing existed inside me."
"Captain Commander, Aizen must have done something to Rukia for his own purposes."
Renji Abarai immediately stepped forward.
As Rukia's childhood friend, he naturally defended her.
However, even without Renji speaking, none of the captains suspected Rukia anymore.
Thus, the matter was finally settled.
The final topic concerned Aizen himself.
The appearance of so many Menos and the use of Negación proved that Aizen had long established connections within Hueco Mundo.
Now that he possessed the Hōgyoku, what would he do next?
Unfortunately, the Seireitei lacked information.
They knew almost nothing about Aizen's plans.
For the time being, all they could do was declare Aizen, Ichimaru Gin, and Tōsen Kaname the Soul Society's highest-priority criminals.
The meeting continued for a long time.
Too many events had happened in a single day.
Even after hours of discussion, many issues remained unresolved.
Eventually, Yamamoto brought the meeting to an end.
With three captains gone, the Seireitei was severely short-handed.
Daily operations still had to continue.
Furthermore, Kenpachi Zaraki and Tōshirō Hitsugaya remained seriously injured and required time to recover.
The remaining matters would have to be addressed gradually.
The captains left the First Division one after another.
When Ryūjin returned to the Eleventh Division, Yachiru Kusajishi immediately clapped her hands.
"Xiao Jin, welcome back to the Eleventh Division. Everyone, welcome him back!"
Ikkaku Madarame and the other squad members looked at Ryūjin with burning admiration.
Every gaze was filled with excitement.
Under Kenpachi Zaraki's influence, the Eleventh Division had always worshiped strength above all else.
And Ryūjin had once overturned the entire Seireitei by himself.
He had even defeated Aizen, someone the entire Soul Society had been unable to stop.
In the eyes of the Eleventh Division, Captain Ryūjin had become almost godlike.
Having such a person as their captain filled them with pride.
Even Kenpachi Zaraki remained unusually quiet.
Thus, only a few months after leaving the Soul Society, Ryūjin completed a magnificent return.
Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo.
Within the endless white desert filled with death and decay stood a massive white palace.
Its grandeur contrasted sharply with the desolate landscape surrounding it.
Countless tiny Hollow lifeforms drifted throughout the desert like microorganisms floating through water.
Driven by instinct, they moved toward areas with greater reishi density.
The spiritual density surrounding the white palace exceeded every other location in Hueco Mundo.
Yet not a single Hollow dared approach it.
Because this palace was Las Noches.
Aizen's kingdom.
Inside the vast throne room, only three figures stood.
Aizen.
Tōsen Kaname.
Ichimaru Gin.
Aizen sat upon the throne like an emperor.
Tōsen and Gin stood below him on either side.
"Although certain accidents occurred, we have finally arrived here."
Aizen's voice echoed through the hall.
"After so many years of planning, we have finally obtained the fruit that belongs to us."
"However, this is not a victory."
"Our luck was simply better."
"If Ryūjin Uchiha had arrived even slightly earlier, today's outcome might have been completely different."
Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname remained silent.
Because Aizen was speaking the truth.
Ryūjin possessed the ability to travel through space.
He could have appeared at the Sōkyoku Hill at any moment.
And he possessed the strength to stop them.
Most importantly, Kyōka Suigetsu had no effect on him.
If Ryūjin had appeared before Aizen extracted the Hōgyoku, the consequences would have been impossible to predict.
"Aizen, now that we stand against the Seireitei, they will pursue us relentlessly."
Tōsen Kaname finally spoke.
"The others aren't important."
"But Ryūjin Uchiha will become our greatest threat."
Ichimaru Gin nodded.
"His threat exceeds even that of the Captain Commander."
Aizen slowly closed his eyes.
"You are both correct."
"Therefore, our plans must change."
"The creation of the Ōken remains our highest priority."
"It determines everything that follows."
"And Ryūjin Uchiha is the greatest obstacle standing in our way."
"He is an enemy who must be eliminated."
Tōsen asked seriously,
"Aizen, what do you intend to do?"
Aizen answered calmly.
"Although I dislike admitting it, my current strength is insufficient to defeat Ryūjin Uchiha."
"Fortunately, I have obtained the Hōgyoku."
"Many things that were previously impossible can now be achieved."
"You ask how we should deal with Ryūjin Uchiha?"
"It's simple."
"We will use the same method I used against the Captain Commander."
"We will continuously gather information on Ryūjin Uchiha."
"Then we will create a weapon specifically designed to kill him."
Aizen's voice remained completely confident, as though everything still rested firmly within his control.
===
Get access to the entire catalog on Patreon, where all chapters are conveniently organized into collections.
If you prefer not to pay for a monthly membership, this is a more affordable option that gives you access to the content you want.
(Buying the collection gives you access to all chapters in it.)
Search for "_Zeph" on P@treon to get started.