Although all students at the Shin'ō Academy are required to study Konsō (Soul Burial), and are periodically dispatched to the Human World for practical training, the truth is that most Shinigami rarely perform such duties after graduation.
The division most responsible for soul burials
Was the Thirteenth Division, often referred to as the primary unit overseeing purification and field operations in the Human World.
A large portion of its members were assigned long-term patrol and garrison duties in the Human World, maintaining the balance of souls and eliminating Hollows.
Thus, when Shinigami stationed in the Human World began to disappear one after another, it did not take long for the Thirteenth Division to notice something was wrong.
In fact, it would have been stranger if they hadn't.
Under normal circumstances, if a stationed Shinigami lost contact, the first assumption would be either mission failure… or death in the line of duty.
But when multiple Shinigami vanished within a short period
It was no longer an isolated incident.
It was a crisis.
Shiba Kaien, Lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division, stepped into the captain's quarters with a grave expression, a compiled report in hand.
The air was heavy and humid that day.
Weather like this often aggravated Captain Ukitake Jūshirō's condition.
Sure enough
As Kaien entered, he found Ukitake coughing.
"Cough… cough…"
Kaien did not react with concern as an outsider might. He had long since grown accustomed to Ukitake's illness and understood that it was neither contagious nor sudden.
He stepped forward calmly.
"Captain… please take a look at this."
Ukitake, though visibly unwell, sensed the seriousness in Kaien's tone. He steadied himself and accepted the report.
Because of his chronic illness, much of the division's administrative work had been handled by Kaien in recent years. For Kaien to bring something directly to him meant
This was not something that could be decided lightly.
Ukitake flipped through the report.
As he read, his expression gradually darkened.
Within a single month, multiple stationed Shinigami in the Human World had lost contact.
For a Shinigami, "loss of contact" generally meant one of two things:
Defection.
Or death.
Given the scale and frequency of the incidents, betrayal was highly unlikely.
Which left only one conclusion.
They had been killed.
Ukitake's grip on the report tightened slightly.
"This is… abnormal."
In the Human World, the density of reishi is low. As a result, powerful Hollows rarely manifest there naturally.
Most Hollows that appear are recently transformed soulsweak, unstable, and easily purified by even lower-ranked Shinigami.
Even in the rare case that a Menos Grande crosses into the Human World, stationed Shinigami are trained to immediately request reinforcement from Soul Society.
Under normal circumstances, such losses should not occur.
In contrast, Soul Society itselfrich in reishiwas far more prone to large-scale Hollow incursions.
Yet now
The Human World had become the site of repeated casualties.
Ukitake closed the report slowly.
If not for his physical condition, he would have gone to investigate personally.
But that was not an option.
After a moment of silence, he made a decision.
"Forward this report… to the appropriate division for investigation."
His voice was calm, but firm.
Though the Thirteenth Division oversaw Human World operations, matters of internal threat assessment and abnormal incidents often required coordination with other divisionsparticularly those responsible for reconnaissance and rapid response.
Kaien nodded.
"Understood."
Before long, the report circulated through Seireitei.
Eventually
It reached the Tenth Division.
Shiba Isshin, Captain of the Tenth Division, reviewed the document personally.
As he read through the details, the usual carefree expression on his face faded.
"This isn't normal…"
His instincts, honed through years of battle, immediately recognized the gravity of the situation.
This was not a series of random incidents.
Something
Or someone
Was targeting Shinigami in the Human World.
And given the scale and precision…
Isshin's thoughts grew sharper.
Without hesitation, he made his decision.
"I'll handle this myself."
Not just because the report came through Kaien
Who, as his nephew, he trusted deeply
But because as a captain of the Gotei 13, it was his responsibility to eliminate threats before they escalated further.
Isshin had never been one to hesitate.
Once he decided to act, he moved immediately.
Later that day
Matsumoto Rangiku and Hitsugaya Tōshirō arrived at the captain's office as usual.
The atmosphere within the Tenth Division was notably relaxed.
Isshin lacked the rigid authority typical of most captains. Rangiku, in turn, showed little formality toward him, and Hitsugaya often found himself caught between exasperation and reluctant responsibility.
It created an unusual, but functional balance.
However
The moment they entered, Isshin spoke abruptly.
"Rangiku, I'm heading to the Human World for a while."
"Division matters are yours until I get back."
Before Rangiku could even respond
Isshin vanished.
A flash of Shunpo, and he was gone.
"…Huh?"
Rangiku blinked, momentarily stunned.
A beat passed.
Then another.
"…Don't tell me the captain just ran off again?" she muttered, irritation rising.
She turned, clearly intending to drag him back if necessary.
But Hitsugaya didn't move.
Instead, he walked quietly to the captain's desk.
There, he picked up the report Isshin had left behind.
As his eyes scanned the contents, his expression gradually hardened.
After a long pause, he spoke softly
"This report…"
Rangiku noticed the change in his tone and frowned.
"What is it?"
She stepped beside him and took the report.
As she read
Her expression, too, shifted.
The casual irritation vanished.
Replaced by seriousness.
The room fell silent.
Both of them understood.
This was no ordinary assignment.
Something dangerous
Was already moving within the Human World.
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