Although mischievous children are easily scolded by their elders, they are the ones who understand those elders best.
Shunsui was exactly that kind of mischievous child. That was why he stopped Ukitake, who wanted to rescue Kaien at Sōkyoku Hill. If they stayed there any longer, Old Man Yama would show absolutely no mercy.
Since when did it start? Perhaps it was when Aizen was murdered, or perhaps even earlier, during Ichimaru Gin's bizarre actions of seemingly confronting the Ryoka while actually letting them escape. Or perhaps it was even earlier than that—when Kuchiki Rukia was first brought back to the Seireitei. Had Yamamoto already sensed the anomalies within the Seireitei by then?
Only Yamamoto himself knew the exact time. However, Shunsui was certain of one thing: as the Head Captain, Old Man Yama might be stubborn, but he was absolutely not a man without foresight.
Executing Rukia was indeed problematic, but she had violated the laws of the Seireitei to begin with. If one were to assign blame, it would at most be that Central 46's punishment was somewhat excessive.
Therefore, Yamamoto would not plead for Rukia, nor would he use this as an excuse to hold Central 46 accountable. To put it bluntly, Rukia's life simply did not carry enough weight.
However, the situation changed entirely when Yoruichi and the others invaded the Seireitei. Shunsui could tell that their actions were a show of goodwill towards them, and it was impossible for Yamamoto not to see it as well.
That was likely why he hadn't issued an order to kill on sight. Whether Yoruichi was fighting some unknown faction within the Seireitei, or if this was all a facade—an attempt by Urahara to fracture the Gotei 13 from within—it didn't matter to Yamamoto.
To Yamamoto, the focal point of all this was clearly Kuchiki Rukia. No matter how many people were involved, they would all have to reveal themselves at the final moment.
Did Yoruichi intend to destroy the Sōkyoku to help the Seireitei uncover a hidden cancer? Or was she simply creating an atmosphere to incite infighting within the Seireitei? Yamamoto only needed a result. He could allow this chaotic situation to play out, or he could put a stop to it—at any time.
He had that confidence. In the entire Seireitei, only Old Man Yama possessed such unwavering composure. This was a method of handling things unique to him.
Just as Yamamoto had said earlier at Sōkyoku Hill: "Those who abducted the sinner are lieutenants. If they are killed, there will naturally be others to replace them. We can settle the score with them later."
What he could not accept was a captain doing something similar. Destroying the Sōkyoku could still be considered a prank, but directly assisting the Ryoka and lieutenants in abducting a sinner meant standing on the side of the Ryoka.
A prank, regardless of its outcome, could be dealt with through a minor punishment as a warning. But if one showed blatant favoritism, the consequences would be entirely different.
Shunsui felt fortunate. Although Old Man Yama had released Ryūjin Jakka once again and looked terrifying, he was actually just warning him and Ukitake. Of course, this minor punishment wasn't exactly pleasant to endure.
This grace period would last until Rukia stepped past the borders of the Seireitei. Yoruichi herself knew very well that if the "cancer" she spoke of didn't appear by then, it would be time to settle the score.
He and Ukitake couldn't truly stop Old Man Yama. Even if they could, there was still another senior veteran in the Seireitei, even if she was easily overlooked.
For as long as Shunsui could remember, Unohana Retsu had been the Captain of Squad 4...
However, the senior veteran Shunsui was thinking of had not yet made a move for the final reckoning. Or rather, it wasn't time yet.
"Even if it's an absolute certainty, I still have to do it. Let me down, Captain Unohana!"
Unohana naturally wouldn't reveal Head Captain Yamamoto's thoughts to Kaien. However, she felt that even if she did, it wouldn't change his mind.
"Why not try another method, Lieutenant Shiba?" Unohana said softly. "Since you feel that a mistake is being made, then tell us exactly where the error lies. You are still a Shinigami, are you not?"
"Let us go and verify for ourselves who exactly has fallen into blind obsession."
Isane glanced at Unohana, then shifted her gaze to Shiba Kaien. What was with this inexplicable tension? Was it because she felt Lieutenant Shiba wouldn't listen to the captain?
Although she no longer feared battle, she still didn't like it. She really didn't like it.
"And if it can't be verified?" Kaien asked cautiously.
"Then that would only prove you have been deceived," Unohana said, suddenly standing up. "If we cannot find the answer here, there is nowhere else that will satisfy the conditions."
Here? Isane turned her head and looked down. The massive, octagonal white building was entirely unique within the Seireitei—Central 46!
"So she really did destroy the Sōkyoku. No wonder Yoruichi delayed her move for so long after the Ryoka scattered." Deep within Central 46, Aizen spoke as if he had anticipated Yoruichi's destruction of the Sōkyoku all along.
"So, were you too late to stop it? Or did you simply not expect Urahara to have such a plan from the start?" Kōe asked with a smile, seemingly implying that Aizen was just putting up a tough front.
"It would be the most logical plan. But if it were Urahara Kisuke, he might have made an unexpected move, such as going straight to the Senzaikyū to rescue Kuchiki Rukia." Aizen didn't seem to catch Kōe's underlying implication. Instead, he offered a compliment. "Tōsen needed to keep a constant watch on the area around the Senzaikyū, and Gin had to keep an eye on your movements. After all, with you in the mix, Kōe, it was highly possible that you would team up with Yoruichi to rescue Kuchiki Rukia."
To put it bluntly, it was still a matter of insufficient manpower. Throwing out bait in multiple locations to hide one's true objective was an old-fashioned method, but it was effective enough.
"However, this might have actually done me a favor," Aizen said, casting a sideways glance at Kōe. "After all, the existence of the Hōgyoku is perhaps something that even Kyōka Suigetsu cannot conceal."
Kōe's face flushed slightly, and he let out two dry coughs. "Th-There is indeed such a possibility..."
He had indeed been the one to tell Aizen that. Of course, it might not have been a lie. According to the progression of his past life, Aizen slaughtering Central 46 and preparing to evacuate clearly showed that he had considered the possibility of being unable to seize the Hōgyoku silently.
"Rather, if that possibility didn't exist, there would have been no need to completely annihilate Central 46." Aizen saw right through Kōe's little thoughts and continued, "But without them, it is much quieter here. I have no intention of blaming you, Kōe."
'He's clearly just being cautious, yet he speaks so breezily, and even takes the chance to mock me,' Kōe silently grumbled about Aizen. He was just about to retort, but swallowed his words before they left his mouth.
Although it was faint, he still detected movement outside the room. The brat had arrived a bit earlier than expected.
'I was almost lured away by Kira,' Hitsugaya angrily berated himself in his mind. He hadn't realized this until he was nearly at the entrance of Central 46.
Kira had always followed Ichimaru Gin. Perhaps he was the one who slaughtered all of Central 46, but at most, he was just an accomplice.
If his sudden appearance at Central 46 was meant to lure him away, then it was highly likely that the masterminds—Shihouin Kōe and Ichimaru Gin—were currently trapped inside Central 46 by him.
At the very bottom of the underground assembly hall, Hitsugaya looked at the bright, quiet cavern before him. If those two were still in Central 46, they could only be in the restricted area where the sages of Central 46 rested—the Seijōtōkyorin!
Are they inside that wooden house? Just as Hitsugaya reached out, ready to draw Hyōrinmaru at a moment's notice, a person suddenly walked out of the building opposite him. Another person followed behind them, though their face was obscured.
"You really are here, Shihouin Kōe!"
Hitsugaya gritted his teeth, glaring at Kōe as he stepped out of the house like a furious young lion. But when the other person also stepped out and was illuminated by the lamplight, the anger on his face was instantly wiped away.
The person behind Kōe wasn't Ichimaru Gin, but someone who shouldn't have been here at all. How could it be him?!
"Captain Aizen!"