The Enemy of the Soul Society

An emergency meeting…

An emergency meeting.

An emergency meeting!!!

The normally silent Seireitei was now ablaze with lights.

Retsu Unohana sat atop Minazuki. As per protocol, she arrived outside the 1st Division's barracks, dismounted, and released her Zanpakutō's shikai.

"Captain Unohana! This way, please!"

Her escort was Chōjirō Sasakibe.

His experienced and precise manner only further emphasized the unusual urgency of the situation. Unohana typically did not concern herself with the details before a meeting.

But tonight was different.

"Lieutenant Sasakibe, do you know what exactly happened today?"

Leading the way, Chōjirō wore a solemn expression, briefly turning his head before responding in a low voice.

"I do not know the details, only that an unknown individual infiltrated the Seireitei and caused significant disturbances…"

A true veteran.

Given the uncertainty of the situation, his words were cautious and reserved—reliable, but offering little useful insight.

Unohana chose not to press him further, simply nodding in acknowledgment.

She strode swiftly down the vast, solemn corridors.

Around her, members of the 1st Division hurried about, carrying still-warm reports in their hands, discussing matters that would chill most to the bone.

"Structural damage to the streets…"

"Casualty reports…"

"Estimated property losses…"

As previously stated, there was a reason Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni forbade Bankai within the Seireitei.

Even if not directed at anything specific, the mere residual energy from a Bankai could wreak havoc on the environment.

Unohana sighed inwardly, pitying the state of affairs.

But her steps did not falter.

She moved forward, eventually arriving before a familiar room.

Chōjirō had not even opened the door before heated voices erupted from within.

Given the situation, there was no time for courtesy. Lowering his gaze slightly, Chōjirō softly murmured:

"Forgive my intrusion—"

Slide.

The door was pulled open, revealing the scene inside.

Nearly all of the Gotei 13 captains were present.

All except…

Head Captain Yamamoto.

Unohana cradled her sword and prepared to step inside, but her eyes instinctively shifted to a particular figure standing apart from the others.

A fierce expression, a tattered haori—his irritated scowl only deepened the sinister aura surrounding him.

Kenpachi Zaraki.

Just laying eyes on him made Unohana's blood stir.

How long…

How long had she waited for this?

A sharp pang hit her chest as memories of the past flooded her mind—not blurred by time but instead growing clearer and sharper.

To cast aside all distractions.

To abandon reason and simply wield her sword.

To fight without restraint, until only one remained standing.

Had this been a thousand years ago, she might have surrendered to that urge.

But now…

She simply glanced at him, then lowered her gaze, her expression softening back into its usual calm demeanor.

Regret, perhaps.

Expectation, certainly.

But…

Not yet.

Unohana patiently awaited the day she and this man would cross swords.

Suppressing the primal instinct clawing at her mind, Unohana bowed her head slightly, offering a polite greeting before silently taking her place.

Standing beside her, Shunsui Kyōraku flashed a subtle smile before speaking.

"Captain Unohana, sorry for calling you out so late."

As Yamamoto's direct disciple, it was only natural for Kyōraku to handle some of his duties—including extending courtesies to senior captains.

To this, Unohana simply smiled gently and replied in a composed tone.

"No need for apologies. This is part of our duty."

Jūshirō Ukitake, coughing slightly, stood up from his seat and greeted her respectfully.

"Captain Unohana, you've finally arrived…"

There was a trace of relief in his voice.

As the second longest-serving captain after Yamamoto, her presence alone helped ease the tense atmosphere in the room.

"Hmm. So, may I ask—what exactly is the situation?"

Kyōraku and Ukitake exchanged glances, both wearing slightly helpless expressions.

"Words alone wouldn't do it justice. It's best if you see for yourself…"

Raising her gaze, Unohana observed the ongoing arguments.

The shouting she had heard outside originated from this room.

"I'm telling you!"

Love Aikawa's voice boomed, full of frustration.

"That bastard pulled me into some bizarre space! I couldn't see anyone else—just an endless swarm of Hollows!"

Nearby, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi ran a hand through his hair, frowning as he attempted to summarize the situation.

"So… that's why you lost control and ended up attacking your allies?"

His tone was sharp, leaving little room for argument.

"While I have some knowledge of illusions…"

"To manipulate the perception of a captain-level opponent so thoroughly—"

"That's no simple feat."

The implication was clear.

Aikawa pursed his lips into a thin line.

He wanted to defend himself, but he had no solid explanation.

At best, he could only offer a weak protest.

"It was… different somehow…"

From the side, Shinji Hirako—his left arm wrapped in bandages—chuckled lightly.

"Well, can't blame him, can we? We didn't know what we were up against—getting caught off guard was inevitable."

Aikawa had struck Shinji directly, sending him flying.

Though his injuries were severe, he masked them behind a casual demeanor, clearly trying to ease Aikawa's guilt.

However…

Not everyone shared his sentiment.

"As a captain, such incompetence is inexcusable."

Byakuya Kuchiki's voice was cold and cutting.

"Under the influence of so-called 'illusionary techniques,' you failed to discern friend from foe, leading to a failed mission."

His aged yet piercing gaze locked onto Aikawa.

"As a member of the Gotei 13, you have surely encountered similar illusions before. Have you not?"

"I— It's not the same…"

Before Aikawa could finish, Kisuke Urahara—who had been quietly listening—spoke up while wiping his mouth with a handkerchief.

"We probably shouldn't lump everything together. After all, every Zanpakutō ability is unique. And…"

He cast a meaningful glance around the room.

"Judging by your accounts, it seems everyone here experienced something different."

Shinji nodded.

"I saw a warped, twisted landscape… Like someone had knocked over a paint bucket. Just looking at it made me feel sick."

Still seated, his arms now bound in slings, Kenji grumbled.

"I saw nothing. Just darkness. It felt like I was falling endlessly."

Urahara rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"I see… so each person had a unique hallucination."

Turning to Kenpachi, he asked,

"And you, Captain Zaraki? What did you see?"

All eyes shifted toward him.

Kenpachi pondered briefly before replying in a completely flat tone.

"Nothing."

Silence.

"I saw… an endless ocean."

Unlike the others, Kenpachi had not reacted aggressively.

Despite his love for combat, he was not a fool—he had sensed no hostility and had no reason to attack.

He tilted his head, showing his usual disinterest.

"Didn't sense any bloodlust. And since there were others around, I figured there was no need to go overboard."

His reasoning was solid.

No one could argue against it.

But at the same time, it made everything even more confusing.

Four captain-level combatants.

One knocked out, three incapacitated by an unknown ability.

Silence blanketed the room.

Finally, Kyōraku broke the tension.

"Let's all calm down. There's no point in getting worked up over this."

He sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Anyway, did we learn anything useful?"

Turning to Kenji, he asked,

"How exactly were you defeated?"

Kenji hesitated.

Then, looking thoroughly embarrassed, he admitted:

"I… I have no idea what he did."

More silence.

Until—

A sudden burst of laughter.

Yoruichi Shihōin grinned.

"Pfft… Ahaha! So many captains, so much chaos… and yet, we still know nothing?"

She smirked.

"We got played like idiots."

Humiliating, yet impossible to refute.

Then—

The door slid open once more.

Yamamoto stepped inside, Chōjirō at his side.

His eyes swept the room.

And then—

"I have heard enough."

"No further discussion is necessary."

"Declare a warrant. This man…"

"Is now an enemy of the Soul Society."

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