Chapter 57: Arrest |
Two figures slowly emerged from the shadows of the residence belonging to the Lieutenant of the Second Division.
One of the figures, dressed in a white silk shirt and a short white skirt, possessed delicate and refined features, emphasized by her long, snow-white hair and large crimson eyes that gleamed like precious diamonds.
The other figure, clad in a kimono patterned with sakura petals, boasted a voluptuous figure that strained the fabric across her waist and chest.
'What is going on?'
Lilith, her porcelain-white feet padding softly across the clean wooden floor of the hallway, addressed Yamamoto Genryusai with cool indifference as he stood firmly in the center of the residence's inner courtyard.
Lilith remained completely composed and unruffled, despite being surrounded by every Captain of the Gotei 13.
"Tell me the whereabouts of Lieutenant Yeruashi Hatake and Third Seat Hatake," the Captain-Commander stated calmly, leaning the end of his wooden staff into the ground.
Upon achieving Bankai, Lilith had become the Third Seat of the Second Division, a rank second only to Yeruashi and Yoruichi, even slightly surpassing Soi Fon's status before she reached Bankai.
In the Soul Society, Bankai has long served as a symbol of Captain-level status, regardless of an individual's personal merits or age.
Yeruashi had not kept Lilith informed of his latest movements, but as his only daughter, she understood perfectly well where her father was and what he was doing.
She naturally felt no need to disclose her father's private affairs to the Captain-Commander.
The gathered Captains of the Gotei 13 fell into a stunned silence upon hearing Lilith's cold and unyielding response—especially since she looked at the Captain-Commander as if he were an insignificant afterthought.
Shunsui Kyoraku involuntarily adjusted his straw hat, the corners of his mouth twitching nervously.
When...
When was the last time a soul had been brave enough to speak to the old man in such a tone?!
Yamamoto Genryusai, still leaning on his wooden staff, remained calm and restrained.
The strongest Shinigami stared intently at the composed and unperturbed Lilith for a moment before turning his gaze toward Nelliel, who stood nearby. "While I cannot say that the nature of your Reiatsu belongs entirely to a Hollow, it possesses extremely strange properties. Yeruashi Hatake did this to you, didn't he?"
In his reference to Yeruashi, the Captain-Commander no longer used his title as the Lieutenant of the Second Division; he already possessed more than enough evidence to declare Yeruashi an enemy of the Soul Society.
The gazes of all the present Gotei 13 Captains were fixed on Nelliel.
Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake watched the proceedings with somber expressions, while Mayuri Kurotsuchi rubbed his hands together in excitement.
Sosuke Aizen, standing calmly among the Captains, carefully adjusted his glasses. He made it appear as though he were merely observing Nelliel, but in reality, a multitude of thoughts were racing through his mind.
'Her Reiatsu...'
As someone who had conducted in-depth research into erasing the boundaries between the powers of Shinigami and Hollows, Aizen immediately concluded upon first contact with Nelliel's energy that she possessed the traits of both.
Nelliel was either a Shinigami who had acquired the power of a Hollow, or a Hollow who had gained the power of a Shinigami.
Furthermore, her close connection to Yeruashi indicated that he was an incredibly complex and mysterious individual, just as Aizen had initially suspected.
Besides himself and Kisuke Urahara, there was another person conducting profound research into the phenomenon of Hollowfication!
Moreover...
Judging by the stability of her Reiatsu and her physical appearance, Aizen realized that Yeruashi had progressed much further in his research than either he or Urahara.
Aizen felt a surge of excitement and shock at this realization, though he had begun to suspect as much some time ago.
Now, only one question plagued him.
For what purpose had Yeruashi allowed Nelliel's existence to be revealed?
From Aizen's perspective, the entire process of the Gotei 13 Captains discovering Nelliel looked more like a poorly directed children's play than a real investigation.
This incident certainly could not have been the result of negligence or oversight on Yeruashi's part.
Therefore, Aizen reached the logical conclusion that this situation had been intentionally orchestrated by Yeruashi himself.
Or perhaps...
Yeruashi simply had no intention of hiding Nelliel anymore.
As for the true nature of what was happening, Aizen could only watch closely, hoping to grasp Yeruashi's actual motivation and goal.
Regardless of the underlying truth, this incident did not directly affect Aizen's plans. It was far more important to observe everything related to Nelliel to deepen his own understanding of Hollowfication.
While all the Gotei 13 Captains, including Aizen, kept their eyes fixed on Nelliel, she calmly answered Yamamoto Genryusai. "This power was indeed granted to me by Lord Yeruashi."
Nelliel's quiet words elicited a turbulent and varied reaction from the Captains.
Yoruichi and Soi Fon's expressions darkened significantly. The same short thought flashed through both their minds—this was bad.
Nelliel's Reiatsu, which blended the natures of both Hollow and Shinigami, bore a striking resemblance to the changes that had occurred in the energies of the Captains and Lieutenants during the recent Hollowfication incident.
This fell under the category of an unbreakable taboo.
It no longer mattered how Yeruashi might justify himself or what his true intentions were. Conducting such an experiment was a flagrant violation of the laws and customs of the Seireitei.
"I see."
Having received the expected answer, the Captain-Commander tilted his head slightly and fell silent. Then, he spoke sternly, his wrinkled hands gripping his wooden staff. "I order the immediate removal of Yeruashi Hatake from the post of Lieutenant of the Second Division, and Lilith Hatake from the post of Third Seat of the Second Division."
"I order the arrest and transfer to Central 46 of everyone involved in this incident, including Yeruashi Hatake and Lilith Hatake. The investigation into this matter shall be placed under the full jurisdiction of Central 46."
"Execute this order... at once!"
Yamamoto Genryusai's stern voice thundered through the courtyard of the Second Division's residence.
Grim-faced and heavy-hearted, Soi Fon and Yoruichi exchanged glances.
Yoruichi had initially anticipated the possibility of such a development, but Yeruashi had reacted to her warnings with such calm indifference that he had made it seem as though the situation was under his total control.
But now, Yoruichi realized...
That was not the case at all!
Even if Yamamoto Genryusai had tried to look into the matter instead of passing judgment so hastily, this problem would still have been incredibly difficult to resolve.
Yeruashi was absent at such a vital and critical moment, thereby robbing himself of the chance to defend his actions before the Captain-Commander.
Hollowfication...
In this moment, it was hard for Yoruichi not to think of what had happened to Urahara and the others a short while ago.
Yet even now, Yoruichi could not believe that Yeruashi was the true mastermind behind the Hollowfication incident that had so cruelly framed Urahara and the rest. After all, during that incident, Yeruashi had been fighting side by side with her and Soi Fon against the Panther Clan outside the Rukongai.
If her intuition was correct and Yeruashi wasn't behind the Hollowfication, then was everything happening now part of a new plot by a secret manipulator?
"...Damn it," Yoruichi clenched her fists and whispered in a voice only she could hear.
Soi Fon shared similar thoughts but felt weak and helpless in the face of the unfolding situation. Not only did she fail to grasp the true essence of what was happening, but even if she did, it was practically impossible to exonerate Yeruashi under these circumstances.
"Act now."
Yamamoto Genryusai stood silently for a moment before speaking slowly, his gaze sweeping over the gathered Captains of the Gotei 13.
Shunsui Kyoraku lazily drew his Zanpakuto and let out a helpless sigh as he looked at Nelliel and Lilith. "Ah, well... since your involvement in such a crime has been confirmed, it is our duty to take you into custody."
"Old man, perhaps there has been a mistake or some misunderstanding..." Jushiro Ukitake cast a hesitant look at Yamamoto Genryusai.
The Captain-Commander spoke harshly, eyeing his wavering and soft-hearted student. "What misunderstanding could there be with such compelling evidence?!"
Boom!
With those words, Yamamoto Genryusai unleashed his Reiatsu.
Even without releasing his Shikai, this burst of spiritual pressure was so intense that it caused the surrounding Reishi to tremble violently.
Under the influence of the Captain-Commander's fierce and imposing Reiatsu, the Gotei 13 Captains finally began to move.
Every Captain, with the exception of Yoruichi, drew their own Zanpakuto and released their Reiatsu to shield themselves from the Commander's raging power.
Thrum!
Yamamoto Genryusai, Yoruichi Shihoin, Retsu Unohana, Sosuke Aizen, Ginrei Kuchiki, Sajin Komamura, Kaname Tosen, Shunsui Kyoraku, Isshin Shiba, Kenpachi Kiganjo, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and Jushiro Ukitake—all twelve acting Captains of the Gotei 13 released their Reiatsu simultaneously.
The erupting flash of more than ten Captain-level energies caused the sky above the small courtyard to shake and distort. The surrounding Reishi buckled and warped with such force that the small garden felt like a tiny, solitary boat caught in the middle of a terrifying storm.
In the sky above the Second Division's headquarters, a massive vortex of dark clouds gathered, with arcs of lightning intertwining and crackling within the center.
The Shinigami present on the Second Division's grounds began to involuntarily retreat, some even collapsing to the ground under the weight of this horrifying surge of power.
Then, numerous Shinigami stationed in other divisions turned their heads in unison toward the Second Division's barracks.
Every Shinigami in the Gotei 13, including many of the Lieutenants, found it difficult to remain calm as they felt the terrifying shockwaves of energy radiating from the Second Division.
"That's Captain Kyoraku's Reiatsu, Captain Aizen's, and..."
"Even the Captain-Commander's power is there..."
"What... what the hell is going on over there?!"