Chapter 56: A Major Incident Brews! |
'They noticed...'
Yoruichi sighed helplessly, watching the reactions of the Gotei 13 captains.
From the very beginning, she had been well aware that Neliel's presence would eventually be revealed to the entire Gotei 13.
On one hand, Yeruashi hadn't even attempted to hide her; on the other, concealing such an unusual Reiatsu within the Seireitei was practically impossible without the use of powerful barriers.
"Are you aware of this, Captain Yoruichi?"
Yamamoto Genryusai addressed her as the numerous captains were leaving the First Division's headquarters.
The Captain-Commander had waited to ask until after he'd already ordered the move toward the Second Division's barracks, signifying the gravity of the brewing incident. No matter how she answered now, he would have to investigate personally.
Yoruichi, wearing her white captain's haori, turned and replied calmly, "I am."
"Then why did you not report it to me?"
"I haven't had the chance to report it yet," Yoruichi answered coolly as she walked toward her own squad's headquarters. "Besides, Lieutenant Hatake assured me he would handle the matter."
"..."
Yamamoto cast a dark, somber gaze at her. "I hope you realize what you're doing, Captain of the Second Division."
With that, the Captain-Commander turned away and continued toward the Second Division's barracks.
The other captains followed closely behind, glancing at Yoruichi before exchanging silent looks with one another.
Yoruichi sighed helplessly as she watched the old man march forward, flanked by the rest of the Gotei 13 leadership.
There was going to be massive trouble.
She hadn't been able to help Yeruashi with this earlier simply because she didn't understand what he was trying to achieve.
At this point, there was nothing more she could do.
All she could hope for was that Yeruashi had a suitable explanation for the Captain-Commander.
She still didn't believe Yeruashi was an enemy of the Soul Society.
It was an intuitive feeling developed during all the time they had spent working side by side.
"Captain Shihoin."
A crystal-clear voice reached her ears as she followed the group toward the Second Division's grounds.
Looking back, Yoruichi found Retsu Unohana walking beside her.
The healer stepped forward serenely, her hands tucked into the wide sleeves of her white haori.
The other captains had pulled ahead, leaving the two of them alone for a moment.
"How much do you actually know about Lieutenant Hatake?" Unohana asked softly, her pace steady.
"Not as much as I'd like," Yoruichi whispered as they walked.
"Even though Yeruashi has been my lieutenant for several years now, I still haven't grasped his true thoughts, his intentions, or even the full extent of his strength. But I can say with certainty that he is not an enemy of the Soul Society."
Unohana narrowed her eyes at the claim. "And why are you so sure?"
"Intuition."
Yoruichi met Unohana's gaze.
They stared at each other for a long moment before continuing their walk. "It seems we share the same opinion," Unohana said calmly.
Yoruichi froze in her tracks, staring at the woman's retreating back.
When she finally caught up to ask why Unohana felt that way, the healer glanced up at the sky. "Is Lieutenant Hatake currently at your headquarters?"
"He should be..."
Yoruichi nodded. "I was at his residence less than an hour before the general alarm sounded."
"I see."
Unohana nodded, setting her unfounded conjectures aside as they rejoined the other captains.
Every Shinigami in the Seireitei felt a surge of shock and pressure at the sight of the Gotei 13 captains marching together under Yamamoto's lead.
They all had the same thought, connecting the sight to the recent tremors that had shaken the Soul Society: another major incident was brewing!
Under normal circumstances, if any other lieutenant were associated with a Hollow, Yamamoto wouldn't have investigated personally with the entire captaincy in tow.
A single captain would have sufficed.
But the Captain-Commander had mobilized this force because of Yeruashi's immense Reiatsu.
If a man with the spiritual power of a high-tier captain became an enemy of the Soul Society, it would be a catastrophe.
He had to treat the matter with the utmost vigilance.
...
At the plaza just inside the gates of the Second Division, a large number of Shinigami from the squad and the Onmitsukido had gathered.
When the captains had been summoned to the First Division for the emergency meeting, the rest of the ranks had shifted into full combat readiness.
Soi Fon stood before the ranks, dressed in her sleeveless black uniform.
She scanned the formations, looking through every row, but she couldn't find Yeruashi anywhere.
'He...'
Soi Fon frowned.
Earlier, when she had visited him with Lady Yoruichi, he'd mentioned he would be stepping away from his duties for a while.
But a general alarm had been raised!
No matter what his personal business was, he was obligated to be here now.
Soi Fon had already dispatched Shinigami to search for him, but no reports had come back regarding the lieutenant's whereabouts.
As she ground her teeth in irritation at his blatant negligence, she suddenly froze and turned toward the division's entrance.
Several figures were visible through the wide gates, approaching down the long street.
Despite the distance, the white haoris draped over their shoulders were unmistakable.
Those cloaks symbolized the status of a Gotei 13 captain.
Soon, the group arrived, led by the elderly, bearded Shinigami leaning on a wooden staff.
The Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13—Yamamoto Genryusai!
Soi Fon stood stunned for a second before bowing deeply. "Captain-Commander!" she exclaimed as the leadership entered her division's grounds.
At that moment, a dark, ominous premonition struck her, and it was immediately confirmed.
"Where is Lieutenant Hatake?" Yamamoto asked in a heavy, oppressive voice.
The fact that every captain had come to the Second Division just to ask about Yeruashi spoke volumes.
Soi Fon realized Yeruashi was in deep trouble. She knew the reason had to be that mysterious soul with the strange Reiatsu he had brought back—Neliel Tu Odelschwanck.
It seemed word had reached the Captain-Commander...
This could be the start of something massive.
"I do not know. Lieutenant Hatake has yet to respond to the general alarm," Soi Fon whispered, unable to think straight in the presence of the strongest Shinigami.
"Lead us to his residence," Yamamoto commanded, his gaze sweeping over the headquarters.
"...Yes, sir."
Soi Fon looked up and sighed, glancing at Yoruichi standing behind the old man with the other captains. She turned and began leading the way toward the Second Division's residential zone.
Soon, the captains surrounded the lieutenant's quarters.
"I can't feel Lieutenant Hatake's Reiatsu," Shunsui Kyoraku whispered, perching on the edge of the roof and adjusting his straw hat.
Jushiro Ukitake, standing nearby, looked into the courtyard with a serious expression. "I can't sense him either. However, there is a very strange Reiatsu present... one that doesn't belong to a normal soul."
Crash!
Yamamoto slowly approached the courtyard entrance, leaning on his staff. Suddenly, he released a massive pulse of Reiatsu that tore the wooden gate to splinters.
He stepped into the yard with a thunderous shout: "Everyone inside, come out immediately!"
Thoom!
Along with his shout, a wave of spiritual pressure roughly equal to a lieutenant's flooded out in all directions. It was intended as a warning and intimidation, not to crush or harm.
Then, Yamamoto struck the ground with his staff, cutting off the burst of Reiatsu.
Silence fell over the Second Division lieutenant's residence.
A few seconds later, two pale, trembling figures emerged into the courtyard, drenched in cold sweat—Rukia and Hisana. The sudden burst of Yamamoto's power had clearly overwhelmed them.
Coming out, they found their home surrounded by numerous Shinigami in white captain's cloaks.
Since they had no idea what was happening, their eyes were filled with fear and panic.
Having lived in the Seireitei for several years, they hadn't seen all the captains, but they recognized the white haoris. Every resident knew what those meant.
What was going on?!
Terrified, Hisana pulled a shivering Rukia into a tight embrace.
The sisters were so shaken they didn't know what to say or how to react.
Yamamoto gave them a fleeting glance before turning his focus back to the house, largely ignoring them.
"Do you still refuse to come out?"
The Captain-Commander closed his eyes peacefully. When he opened them a moment later, his gaze was sharp and focused, and the tip of his wooden staff lifted from the ground.