Chapter 98: Rukia Commits a Serious Crime, and Ichigo Kurosaki is Helpless

"They call it living, but it's merely surviving. I truly don't understand what they fight so desperately for," Uehara Shiroha mused lazily, lounging in the hot spring. "Just say what you came to say."

Taking the opening Shiroha provided, Yoruichi Shihoin got straight to the point: "Aizen is about to make his move. What do you intend to do about it?"

"Nothing at all. I'm focusing exclusively on Noble Street for the time being," Uehara Shiroha replied with a faint smile. "I don't particularly care about the Central 46's orders, but Aizen's threat is very real. Would you believe that the moment I step away from Noble Street, Aizen will swoop in to cause trouble? You wouldn't want anything unfortunate to happen to your dear brother, would you?"

Not long ago, the Central 46 had issued an additional decree. According to this order, because the Court Army had only recently established itself in Noble Street and was still unfamiliar with the operation of the area's protective barriers, the Captain-Commander of the Court Army—namely, Uehara Shiroha—was required to remain personally within Noble Street for an extended period and was forbidden from leaving without authorization.

It was obvious to Shiroha that Aizen intended to confine him to Noble Street. Yet he wasn't particularly concerned. Though he possessed numerous methods to depart Noble Street discreetly if he wished, he felt no inclination to meddle in affairs that didn't concern him directly. He would only involve himself in schemes that promised tangible benefits. When no such benefits presented themselves, he was content to observe from the sidelines and witness these momentous events unfold.

"I know you must have some strategy in mind," Yoruichi pressed, "but are you truly confident you can handle Aizen once he obtains the Hōgyoku? At that point, we won't be facing a mere battle—we'll be facing war. Are you certain no unforeseen variables will disrupt your plans?"

Yoruichi still believed their safest course of action would be to join forces against Aizen. Wouldn't it be wiser to eliminate the threat before it fully manifested?

Uehara Shiroha submerged himself deeper in the warm spring water and replied with casual indifference, "For you, it represents danger. For me, the bigger the storm, the more valuable the fish."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Think carefully about this. Aizen is far more dangerous than you seem to believe."

A hundred years ago, Aizen had already proven formidable enough to force Yoruichi and her allies into hiding, too afraid to return to Soul Society. Now, Aizen had reached the peak of his power and possessed countless hidden advantages. To be honest, Yoruichi harbored serious doubts about their ability to defeat him. They were only confronting him now because circumstances forced their hand.

Feeling Yoruichi's firm hands working the tension from his shoulders, Uehara Shiroha decided to reveal a fragment of his knowledge.

"Aizen is indeed exceptional," he acknowledged. "Your strength only reaches the Millennium Captain level because your inherent talent limits you to that threshold. Similarly, Aizen can only reach the Millennium Captain level because that represents the upper boundary for Shinigami. For me, however, the Millennium Captain level is merely the beginning."

"You'd better be right about that," Yoruichi replied, not as easily persuaded as Suì-Fēng might have been. Nevertheless, his words sent ripples of consideration through her mind.

After their pleasurable interlude concluded, Uehara Shiroha completed his daily [Deep Relaxation] task. The system immediately rewarded him: [Spiritual Pressure +1, Shunpō +1]!

Silently, imperceptibly, his power grew stronger. He could feel himself steadily transforming into a transcendent being.

While Aizen orchestrated elaborate schemes merely for a chance to become transcendent—the higher realm that the manipulative captain sought so desperately to break through the Shinigami's limitations—for Shiroha, this ascension came naturally. He needed no extraordinary measures; simple daily accumulation would inevitably make him stronger than anyone else.

This task system far surpassed both the complete Hōgyoku and the Soul King's power combined. Even without special missions, he could become invincible through daily tasks alone. The process might be somewhat slower, but it was considerably safer—he could grow stronger simply by relaxing.

This approach seemed vastly preferable to Aizen's desperate struggle for power.

While lost in these thoughts, Uehara Shiroha's Observation Haki detected two familiar figures departing Soul Society.

"It seems Rukia's situation has been exposed," he thought to himself. "My troublesome little apprentice will soon be brought back to Soul Society for execution. And Aizen will find himself trapped in his own web before long. This truly calls for celebration! And what better way to celebrate than by dismantling the Tsunayashiro family for added amusement?"

---

At dusk, on the streets of Karakura Town, a brilliant white light heralded the appearance of an ancient portal materializing out of thin air.

From this gateway emerged Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain of the 6th Division, accompanied by his Vice Captain, Renji Abarai.

The two had journeyed to the Human World for a single purpose: to apprehend Rukia Kuchiki.

Not long ago, Rukia had committed the grievous offense of transferring her Shinigami powers to a human. The Central 46 had commanded the 13th Division to return her to Soul Society for interrogation.

During the captains' meeting, Byakuya Kuchiki had personally volunteered for this mission. His reasoning appeared sound—with Noble Street no longer requiring the 6th Division's protection, his squad had capacity to handle this assignment.

His justification was flawless and logical. Captain Kyōraku Shunsui had been the first to endorse his request.

None present were fools; they understood Byakuya Kuchiki's true motivations perfectly. The veteran captains recognized that Byakuya sought to ensure Rukia's safety. If other captains were dispatched, they might show less restraint, potentially resulting in Rukia's injury.

Most captains, including the Captain-Commander, willingly allowed Byakuya to retrieve Rukia Kuchiki from the Human World with minimal harm.

Aizen and his conspirators, for their part, sought to secure the Hōgyoku. Should Rukia perish, the Hōgyoku concealed within her soul would be lost to them.

Meanwhile, Kyōraku Shunsui and several other captains were extending professional courtesy to Uehara Shiroha. After all, Rukia was the student of the Court Army's commander, and they understood that no harm must befall her.

---

Before long, on a deserted street, Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai intercepted Rukia Kuchiki.

Facing her childhood friend—now practically a stranger—and her elder brother with his perpetually cold demeanor, Rukia felt profound anxiety.

She had prepared herself to accept the consequences of her actions. Transferring Shinigami powers to humans constituted a serious transgression, and humans who received such powers were equally condemned under Soul Society law.

To protect that stubborn boy, Rukia had severed all ties with Ichigo Kurosaki.

Observing how frail and vulnerable Rukia appeared, Renji Abarai expressed his disappointment.

"You're a member of the Kuchiki family now, favored by Commander Uehara himself. How could you fall so far? To have your Shinigami powers stolen by a human—is this how you honor the Kuchiki family's training? Is this how you repay Lord Uehara's guidance?"

Though his tone sounded arrogant and he spoke reverently of both the Kuchiki family and Uehara Shiroha, his underlying message sought to help Rukia. If she simply redirected blame toward the human who had received her powers, and with the support of both Commander Uehara and Captain Kuchiki, her punishment might be significantly reduced.

From Renji's perspective, Rukia needed only to identify the human who had obtained her Shinigami powers, apologize to Captain Kuchiki, and beg forgiveness.

To protect Ichigo Kurosaki, however, Rukia chose uncompromising defiance.

"Although I've lost most of my power and remain in this gigai, that doesn't mean humans stole my powers," she insisted firmly.

She refused to sacrifice an innocent life to secure her own survival. No matter what happened, she would not betray Ichigo Kurosaki.

"Your life is no longer yours to risk, yet you still protect a mere human? How disappointing!" Renji exclaimed.

Deciding that force might compel Rukia toward the right path, he swung his Zanpakutō at her. Despite the dramatic motion, the attack was more theatrical than dangerous—all flash with minimal impact. In essence, he merely sought to frighten Rukia into compliance.

Setting aside their friendship, he dared not use excessive force given both Captain Kuchiki and Commander Uehara's interest in her well-being.

Throughout this exchange, Byakuya Kuchiki maintained an expressionless countenance, silently observing the interaction between the two. Even when a Quincy arrived to intervene, his demeanor remained unchanged.

Witnessing Uryū Ishida's Heilig Pfeil technique, Renji Abarai expressed astonishment.

"Who are you? A Shinigami protects humans, and now a human defends a Shinigami? Has the world gone mad?"

He could only determine that this unexpected arrival wasn't wielding Shinigami powers. Beyond that, Renji's limited experience prevented him from identifying the stranger's true nature.

Ishida Uryū's casual retort nearly shattered Renji's composure.

Unfortunately for the Quincy, his archery skills couldn't match his sharp tongue. After a brief exchange, Renji knocked him to the ground. In truth, Ishida Uryū possessed considerably more strength than he demonstrated. However, in his effort to "relieve pressure" for Ichigo Kurosaki, he had overexerted his right arm, sustaining serious injuries from which he had yet to recover. This explained his apparent weakness.

Just as Renji was mockingly lecturing the fallen Quincy, a flash of steel and an overwhelming spiritual pressure forced him to retreat.

An orange-haired youth wielding an oversized Zanpakutō materialized before him. Ichigo Kurosaki had arrived!

Confronted by this strange Shinigami in traditional garb with an unusually large Zanpakutō, Renji demanded, "Which division are you from? State your name! And why is your Zanpakutō so abnormally large?"

"I didn't realize it was considered oversized," Ichigo replied, positioning himself protectively in front of Ishida Uryū. "What's a division? I don't understand any of that. By the way, my name is Ichigo Kurosaki—the one who's about to defeat you. I hope you're ready to give me some pointers!"

Renji's temper flared at these words. First, this stranger had the audacity to challenge him directly. Second, it was now obvious that this was the human who had acquired Rukia's Shinigami powers. Unforgivable!

Renji immediately launched an attack against Ichigo Kurosaki. He hadn't risen from Rukongai to become Vice Captain of the prestigious 6th Division without exceptional combat abilities.

However, his strike against Ichigo proved ineffective, and after his boastful declaration, he suffered the indignity of receiving a blow to his chin from his opponent.

Renji's rage intensified. To be injured by a human—a mere pretender to Shinigami powers—was utterly humiliating.

At this point, Byakuya Kuchiki finally broke his silence: "Renji Abarai, you're being careless."

"Captain, I—" Renji began, somewhat defiant. He believed such an opponent didn't warrant serious consideration.

Byakuya's expression remained impassive as he stated coldly, "A few days ago, the Onmitsukidō reported that someone had repelled a Hollow incursion in Karakura Town. It appears we've found our mysterious defender."

"Captain, I can't believe he defeated a Hollow," Renji replied, a calculating gleam in his eyes. "Look at his Zanpakutō—apart from its excessive size, it's entirely unremarkable. A mere showpiece. He's not even at novice level; how could he possibly defeat a Hollow?"

Turning to Ichigo, he asked smugly, "Boy, you don't even know your Zanpakutō's name, do you?"

Ichigo responded with genuine confusion: "My Zanpakutō has a name? Is that necessary? What does that mean?"

Believing he'd established his superiority, Renji declined to explain further and instead activated his Shikai, Zabimaru. Powerful spiritual pressure erupted around him, causing the very air to tremble. With his crimson hair, overwhelming spiritual pressure, and imposing presence, he resembled a Super Saiyan as he wielded Zabimaru's segmented blade. Each strike carried deadly intent.

Confronted by the transformed Zabimaru with its dramatically increased power, Ichigo retreated step by step until he finally collapsed, injured.

The subsequent events unfolded exactly as Uehara Shiroha had anticipated.

Just as Renji savored his victory, Ichigo's spiritual pressure suddenly exploded. With newfound strength, he knocked Renji down decisively.

Then came the iconic moment when the aloof, expressionless Byakuya Kuchiki demonstrated his overwhelming power—first breaking Ichigo's sword with one hand, then defeating him in seconds using Shunpo.

Ichigo, who had yet to master Flash Step, stood no chance against the advanced technique "Senka." In this first encounter, Byakuya Kuchiki definitively established what it meant to be a Shinigami Captain.

This was perhaps Byakuya's most composed and elegant victory. He had reached his peak at his introduction, only to face subsequent setbacks and defeats, particularly during the Thousand-Year Blood War when he nearly faced complete annihilation.

Uehara Shiroha silently observed as Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai departed with Rukia. Meanwhile, Ichigo Kurosaki could only lie motionless on the ground, awaiting death.

In this moment, the orange-haired high school student appeared utterly desperate and defiant, yet simultaneously weak, pitiable, and helpless.

Strangely, through Uehara Shiroha's perceptive observation, he detected three powerful presences secretly watching the helpless teenager.

Clearly, Ichigo Kurosaki would find it difficult to die so easily.

When Kisuke Urahara arrived to retrieve the fallen teenager, Uehara Shiroha withdrew his gaze. An extraordinary drama was about to unfold, but the efforts belonged to others while the entertainment and rewards would be his. Let them labor on his behalf for now.

Taking advantage of this interlude, he decided to seek some amusement and benefits for himself.

With this thought, Uehara Shiroha disregarded subsequent developments. Donning a pair of concealing glasses, he stealthily approached the mansion of Tokinada Tsunayashiro.

Having served his sentence, Tokinada Tsunayashiro had experienced what many called a "return of the King," essentially regaining his freedom. Yet his circumstances remained far from ideal, largely due to that damnable decree.

Originally, the nobles had regarded the emerging Court Army as little more than a joke. After all, in their eyes, both Rukongai and Hueco Mundo were mere wastelands. By extension, the Court Army that managed such territories hardly merited respect.

Who could have anticipated that this supposedly insignificant force would suddenly assume authority over Noble Street?

To the corrupt nobility, this development seemed nothing short of farcical. With both the Tsunayashiro and Kuchiki families opposing them, Uehara Shiroha and the Court Army should never have secured a foothold in Noble Street.

Yet surprisingly, the Tsunayashiro family had remained passive, allowing the Court Army to assume responsibility for Noble Street's defense. The nobles had lost significant core interests in the process, leaving them both outraged and bewildered.

Why had the Tsunayashiro family—historically lawless and arrogant—suddenly become so timid? And what of Byakuya Kuchiki? While others trampled upon his authority, he remained conspicuously silent.

In truth, even now the Tsunayashiro family remained ignorant as to why their sages and judges had issued such an outrageous decree. Uehara Shiroha had repeatedly rejected their recruitment proposals. Since he refused to serve as their subordinate, they naturally classified him as an enemy.

Moreover, his close association with Kyōraku Shunsui—who had caused the Tsunayashiro family considerable trouble over the years—marked him as a potential threat.

The Tsunayashiro family had been contemplating an opportunity to neutralize him, or at minimum, diminish his rising influence. Instead, their own sages had effectively invited this wolf into their home!

Preposterous!

Upon hearing this order, Tokinada Tsunayashiro had been utterly dumbfounded.

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