"In… internal inspection?"
This time, Hinamori Momo was truly flustered.
She helplessly looked back at the quiet barracks, then at the four unquestionable captains in front of her.
Whether it was an internal inspection or letting the captains conduct the search themselves, how could a decision at this level be made by a mere lieutenant like her?
"I… I need to report to Captain first."
"No need, Hinamori."
At that moment, a gentle voice, warm as jade and soft as a spring breeze, slowly came from deep within the barracks, instantly smoothing away all of Momo's anxiety and unease.
"If one stands upright, one need not fear a crooked shadow. Since our colleagues have come under orders, then let everyone search."
As the voice fell, Aizen Sosuke's tall figure stepped out from the shadows.
He was still wearing his neat captain's haori, that familiar smile on his face that made people feel as if bathed in spring sunlight, as though being blocked at the gate by four captains was nothing more than a friendly tea gathering.
"Captain Aizen!"
Seeing her pillar appear, Momo's eyes reddened. It was as if she had found something to lean on, and she instantly relaxed.
In her eyes, Captain Aizen was an all-powerful god. As long as he was here, even if the sky fell, there was nothing to fear.
"Since Captain has said so."
Momo wiped the corner of her eyes and turned to shout at the members of the Fifth Division, "All members, listen up! Immediately split into groups and conduct a full search of the barracks! We must prove our innocence!"
"Yes!"
Though the members of the Fifth Division were dissatisfied with the search warrant from the First Division, under their captain's gaze, they quickly began to move.
Seeing the main figure appear and cooperate so readily, the four captains outside exchanged nods.
"Begin."
With a low shout from Hitsugaya, all four raised their hands at the same time. Four completely different yet equally powerful captain-level spiritual pressures shot into the sky.
Red, white, yellow, and purple lights intertwined, instantly forming a visible hemispherical barrier that sealed the vast Fifth Division barracks tightly inside.
It looked imposing, but this kind of lockdown carried more symbolic meaning.
If that human was truly hidden inside, and the Fifth Division was determined to hide her, they would not force their way in and search again.
But for these four, this represented their stance.
We carried out the Captain-Commander's order, sealed the scene, and applied sufficient pressure.
As for the result, that would depend on the Fifth Division and on fate.
After all, Captain-Commander Yamamoto's authority was worth about this much now.
To tear their faces apart with Aizen over this and force entry would simply be too disrespectful.
"Thank you, all of you, for making this special trip in the middle of your busy schedules."
After the barrier rose, Aizen bowed slightly to the four captains through the faint light curtain, his manners so impeccable that no fault could be found.
"Actually, regarding the small misunderstanding behind this search, before you arrived, Captain Kuchiki and Captain Rosse had already informed me privately."
Aizen's voice was not loud, yet it clearly entered everyone's ears.
"So I had already ordered the members to prepare. The entire Fifth Division will fully cooperate with the Captain-Commander's order."
'Hmm?'
The impact of that sentence on Komamura Sajin was even greater than that barrier just now.
Standing at the front, Komamura suddenly lifted his head. A trace of astonishment flashed in the eyes hidden beneath his mask.
At the side, Tosen Kaname, in order to cooperate with his close friend, deliberately made a show of surprise as well.
Though he already knew the truth, on the surface, he and Aizen had no connection at all.
After all, the information contained in Aizen's words was enormous.
This kind of sudden search was supposed to be top secret, yet Aizen not only knew in advance, he even named Kuchiki Byakuya and Rosse as the ones who told him.
This meant that at this moment, Aizen had openly shown his hand.
No matter which side was behind the false accusation and framing of the Fifth Division, because of Central 46 and the First Division's actions, Aizen was now going to stand on Rosse's side.
Although waves surged in his heart, the surprise lasted only an instant.
Komamura quickly adjusted his mindset. The beast-like eyes hidden in the shadow of his hat regained their steadiness.
"As it should be."
He nodded slightly, his voice deep and heavy.
"If the Fifth Division is truly innocent, then even if we do find traces of that human in the end, no good person will be wronged. The Gotei 13 will uphold the principles of fairness and justice and conduct a public trial."
Thinking it over, Aizen's choice at this critical moment was understandable.
No matter who was behind the report against the Fifth Division.
At this key stage, with the internal struggle in Soul Society reaching a boiling point, an old and powerful captain like Aizen was exactly the kind of crucial piece both sides would try their hardest to win over.
It was only natural for Rosse's side to show goodwill early and try to pull Aizen to their camp.
As for Captain-Commander Yamamoto… Komamura sighed inwardly.
Perhaps only that overwhelmingly powerful Captain-Commander would, for the sake of upholding rules, issue such a search warrant without hesitation, one that almost pushed Aizen to the opposing side.
It seemed fair and selfless, but in truth it felt somewhat too cold and arrogant.
But since the Captain-Commander had already made this decision, in Komamura's view, Aizen choosing to lean toward Rosse, who had shown goodwill, in order to protect himself was nothing unreasonable.
Only, Komamura's gaze flickered slightly.
If one looked purely at who benefited the most, then the possibility that Rosse's side had played this conspiracy actually increased.
After all, from a results-oriented perspective, forcing Aizen to turn and fully stand with Rosse would undoubtedly make Rosse's camp the biggest winner.
As for the idea that Aizen himself had a problem? That he staged all this for some hidden purpose? What a joke!
That absurd thought only flashed through Komamura's mind for a split second before he crushed it without hesitation.
Although in the battle against Kurosaki Masaki, Aizen had displayed terrifying strength far beyond previous understanding, that only proved his loyalty to the Gotei 13.
A captain who, for the sake of protecting the Seireitei, would fight that kind of abnormal monster to the bitter end even at the cost of serious injury, how could he possibly be a bad person?
On top of that, Aizen's consistent gentleness and humility over the past hundred years had long since rooted the image of a reliable good man in everyone's hearts.
In the eyes of a straightforward captain like Komamura, he could suspect anyone, but never Aizen.
Therefore, there was only one conclusion.
This was a frame-up against Aizen.
Even if they really did find that human named Inoue Orihime in the Fifth Division later, then someone must have taken advantage of the chaos to bring her in.
It was absolutely impossible that Captain Aizen had hidden her himself.
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