Chapter 34: You'll Understand Later |
'Kisuke conducted a hollowification experiment on eight officers and lieutenants... do you dare to mock me?!'
Yoruichi exclaimed coldly, as her captain-class reiatsu flooded out from her body.
Kisuke Urahara couldn't have done such a thing!
And his accomplice was Tessai Tsukabishi?
Seriously?!
Tessai Tsukabishi and Kisuke Urahara grew up in the Shihoin clan manor, and Kisuke was her trusted subordinate before becoming Captain of the Twelfth Division. She knows them better than anyone!
Those two are definitely incapable of such a terrible and outrageous crime!
It was blindingly obvious to her that they were framed along with the eight captains and lieutenants, and the Central 46... it seemed those idiots had no brains at all!
"Yoruichi-sama..."
The Captain of the Second Division lowered her head and slowly turned, intending to leave the division's headquarters, but just then, a hand rested on her shoulder.
"..."
It was Yeruashi's hand.
"There must be very strong evidence if the verdict was handed down in just a few days. You won't achieve anything by going straight to the Captain-Commander or the Central 46 right now," Yeruashi said calmly, maintaining a firm grip on his captain's shoulder.
Yoruichi clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. "But I’m sure Kisuke and Tessai are innocent... they were definitely set up! How can I just sit idly by..."
The sinister premonition she had felt for the last few years had indeed come true...
They had lost ten captains and lieutenants in one fell swoop, if you count Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi!
A terrible incident resulting in the loss of ten top-ranking officers at once...
It was likely that the Gotei 13 had encountered such massive losses among its senior staff for the first time in history!
Had this incident occurred a bit earlier, the bulk of her suspicions would have fallen directly on Yeruashi.
But now, Yoruichi had to admit that Yeruashi couldn't be the instigator, as he had been with her on a mission at that exact time.
Since the only person she might have previously suspected of orchestrating such a sinister event was cleared, the true culprit—and likely more than one—must be hiding somewhere in the Seireitei!
She didn't believe anyone could single-handedly deceive ten captains and lieutenants, including Kisuke Urahara!
"You should conduct an investigation yourself, Captain."
Yeruashi said impassively, "But you'll fall into a trap too if you aren't careful enough. Over the years, I've often heard Kisuke Urahara called the smartest Shinigami in the entire Gotei 13, yet even he fell for this... there's definitely an incredibly dangerous and clever manipulator behind all this."
Yoruichi was never actually too impulsive; she simply wanted to get to the truth as soon as possible and understand who had framed her friends so ruthlessly. Yeruashi's timely intervention helped cool her surging emotions.
The Captain of the Second Division let out a breath and said slowly, "You're right."
Yeruashi nodded and pulled back his hand as Yoruichi's raging reiatsu began to subside.
Once Yoruichi had calmed down and evaluated the situation rationally, she realized their position wasn't as dire as it first appeared.
Yes.
The figure lurking behind the scenes had successfully neutralized ten captains and lieutenants in one go, but two very unforeseen events had occurred elsewhere simultaneously!
Lilith had achieved Bankai, and Yeruashi's reiatsu had surpassed the captain class!
Her lieutenant had rocketed into the ranks of the top three strongest Shinigami in the Gotei 13!
They still had a chance to oppose the mastermind with the support of other trusted captains like Ginrei Kuchiki and Isshin Shiba, members of the Great Noble Houses of the Soul Society.
Not to mention that the manipulator wouldn't be able to act as they pleased as long as Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai and Captain of the Fourth Division Retsu Unohana remained in the Gotei 13.
A secret investigation was needed to drag this rat into the light!
"Yeruashi, we must report the mission results to the Captain-Commander."
After Yoruichi had fully calmed down and assessed the situation, she turned to Yeruashi and began to leave the Second Division's headquarters. "Soi Fon, Omaeda, I'm leaving the division's internal affairs to you."
"Understood!"
Soi Fon and Omaeda replied in unison.
Yoruichi looked at Lilith, who was standing behind Yeruashi. "Lilith, your presence is required for this report as well."
Every instance of a Bankai being achieved held a special place in the long history of the Soul Society, and in light of recent events, it was even more significant.
Yeruashi and Lilith would likely fill the vacant captain positions, provided nothing unexpected occurred.
In that case, their side would continue to play a major role in the Gotei 13, both in terms of combat power and political influence, despite the loss of Kisuke Urahara and the others.
...
A short while later.
The Captain-Commander's office.
Yamamoto Genryusai closed his eyes and leaned his hands on his wooden cane, listening to Yoruichi's report.
Soon, when the commander of the Second Division finished her mission report, the Captain-Commander opened his eyes and said calmly, "Have you already heard about the hollowification incident involving the captains and lieutenants?"
"Yes, sir."
Yoruichi nodded impassively.
Yamamoto Genryusai stared at her for a moment, then asked quietly, "Do you have anything to report regarding this incident?"
Yoruichi shook her head. "No, sir. I know nothing about what happened."
The Captain-Commander didn't press her further.
He knew perfectly well that Yoruichi had close ties to Urahara, but it didn't matter now; she couldn't have participated in the hollowification incident since she had been on a mission with Yeruashi.
Moreover, Yoruichi was the head of one of the Soul Society's Great Noble Houses, so her status and influence were not to be underestimated.
The Great Noble Houses didn't sit at the absolute peak of the Soul Society's aristocracy for no reason. They carried the heavy responsibility of managing the Rukongai and held representation—albeit small—within the Central 46.
After a moment, Yamamoto Genryusai said calmly, "I've noted the details. You did well. Return to your division for now, and send a more detailed report to the First Division later."
"As for you..."
Yamamoto Genryusai sighed, looking at Lilith and Yeruashi standing behind Yoruichi. "Lieutenant Hatake and Sixth Seat Hatake, I would advise you to get some good rest in the coming days. Due to the recent hollowification incident, you will likely be called upon to serve as acting captains."
Becoming an official captain of the Gotei 13 required passing through many formalities and tests, but the Captain-Commander had the authority to appoint an acting captain if a position was vacant and no official candidate was ready.
The Gotei 13 had lost ten captains and lieutenants at once, so the Captain-Commander was forced to fill at least some of the vacancies as quickly as possible to stabilize the situation.
Yeruashi met all the requirements for an official captaincy, and while Lilith was still quite young, her achievement of Bankai meant she could serve as an acting captain based on raw strength.
"It seems congratulations on your promotions are already in order."
Yoruichi said, crossing her arms and looking at Yeruashi and Lilith.
Yeruashi remarked nonchalantly, "Being a captain is too much trouble and hassle, so I think I'll decline the acting captain position."
"..."
Yoruichi patted his shoulder, the corners of her mouth twitching as she said solemnly, "I certainly don't want to lose such a useful and reliable lieutenant, but right now the entire Gotei 13—no, the entire Soul Society—needs you! Don't you dare give in to laziness at such a difficult time, Lieutenant Hatake!"
Yoruichi really didn't want to let Yeruashi go, but the current situation demanded he take up a captaincy. If the secret mastermind was allowed to continue their schemes unchecked, the situation could spiral completely out of their control.
Yeruashi rolled his eyes. "Why does that sound like I'm just a useful tool to you... Ah, how could I leave such a caring and generous captain just for a career advancement?"
Yamamoto Genryusai turned his gaze to Lilith, showing no reaction to Yeruashi’s refusal. "And you?"
Lilith replied impassively, without a hint of hesitation. "I decline as well."
The Captain-Commander looked away and said calmly, "I see. You may go. You should rest after your difficult mission."
Such a blunt refusal from both Yeruashi and Lilith was not what the Captain-Commander had expected, but he had nothing to say in return. Shinigami were forbidden from leaving the Gotei 13, but they had every right to refuse a promotion. While rare, it wasn't unheard of; there were even cases in the Gotei 13's history where captains refused transfers to the Zero Division.
The fact that Yeruashi and Lilith remained lieutenants and officers didn't change the fact that they were captain-level combatants. They could still play a vital role in stabilizing the situation while remaining in the Second Division.
Yoruichi shot frowning glances at Yeruashi from time to time, but she didn't speak until they had left the Captain-Commander's office. "Why did you turn down the acting captain position? Don't tell me you don't understand the situation! The mastermind who framed Kisuke and the others is hiding in the Seireitei. In terms of authority and power, captains are second only to the Central 46. Becoming a captain is an honor and a mark of glory for any Shinigami!"
Yeruashi turned his head and looked silently into Yoruichi's eyes for a moment. Then, he gave a mysterious smile and said casually as he continued walking, "...You'll understand it all later."
Lilith followed Yeruashi in silence.
Yoruichi's face darkened, and the corners of her mouth twitched as she watched Yeruashi walk away. What did 'you'll understand it all later' mean?! Even with the best will in the world, she couldn't fathom why he had rejected such a promotion.
Had Yeruashi turned down the captaincy just to stay in her division?
Could he... be interested in her?
Strong, handsome, noble... Yeruashi certainly fit all the criteria of an ideal man.
No.
Stop.
Forget that for now.
The problem was that Yeruashi clearly didn't care about the rank of captain at all, rather than refusing it for some other reason.
It was perfectly clear from his behavior.
"That guy..."
She thought she had fully pierced the veil of mystery surrounding Yeruashi when she learned of his true strength, but it turned out that was only a temporary illusion.
She still hadn't figured this mysterious man out!
In fact, she even had a vague premonition that Yeruashi knew exactly who the shadow manipulator was, yet he refused to reveal the identity even to his own captain.
If her intuition wasn't deceiving her...
What was Yeruashi after?
What was his goal?