However, when the Shinigami turned to face the speaker, they instantly became as quiet as quail and lowered their heads. They were afraid that even a single glance at the man would be met with punishment.
It was Gin Ichimaru, the captain of the Third Division!
Almost everyone in the Seireitei knew that Gin Ichimaru and Sōsuke Aizen, the captain of the Fifth Division, were at odds. Now, with Captain Aizen killed by the Ryoka, there was nothing they could do about Gin's mocking remarks.
The gap in strength and status was simply too vast.
However, this disparity didn't deter a certain enraged young woman.
Hearing Gin's mockery, Momo Hinamori looked up with her tear-filled eyes fixed on him with fury.
"It was you! You killed Captain Aizen, didn't you?!"
Gin narrowed his eyes, revealing a sliver of cold light that made Momo's heart skip a beat with fear. But Gin's action only reinforced Momo's belief that he was the one who had killed Captain Aizen.
"I'm going to kill you! I'll avenge Captain Aizen!"
Consumed by hatred, Momo lost all reason. She drew her Zanpakutō and charged towards Gin.
Clang!
Sparks flew as their blades clashed. Gin's expression remained unchanged. Momo's Zanpakutō hadn't even touched Gin when Izuru Kira, the Third Division's lieutenant, blocked it.
"Calm down, Momo!"
Kira pushed Momo's Zanpakutō back and spoke in a low voice. "Momo, Captain Aizen's death is suspicious. Don't be so impulsive until we've investigated the cause of his death."
Momo's earlier action had nearly scared Kira to death. The captains of the Gotei 13 weren't just symbols of status and authority. They were also embodiments of strength. Momo attacking Gin was a grave offense.
Even if Gin killed her on the spot, no one would find it unreasonable.
Thankfully, he had been right behind Gin, which allowed him to draw his Zanpakutō and stop Momo before she could strike.
"Get out of my way, Kira!"
Blinded by rage, Momo couldn't comprehend Kira's good intentions. All she knew was that Kira had prevented her from avenging Captain Aizen.
"Or I'll kill you too!"
"I'm sorry, Momo."
Kira lowered his head. He knew that Momo had been consumed by hatred. Nothing he said would change her mind. Only by defeating her and stopping her from attacking Gin could he save her.
Otherwise, once she angered Gin, without Captain Aizen's protection, Momo would undoubtedly face dire consequences.
"As the lieutenant of the Third Division, allowing my captain to be attacked in my presence is a disgrace. Give up, Momo. You'll never reach Captain Gin unless I fall."
"Then I'll kill you too!"
Momo had lost all reason. To avenge Captain Aizen, she wouldn't hesitate to kill even her friend.
"Bloom, Tobiume!"
Momo's spiritual pressure exploded outwards. Her Zanpakutō transformed into a slender straight sword with two tridents branching out from its sides. However, the two tridents weren't of equal height.
After releasing her Shikai, Momo's spiritual pressure boomed. Kira didn't dare to underestimate her.
"Raise your head, Wabisuke!"
A wave of blue spiritual pressure erupted from Kira's body, and his Zanpakutō transformed into a strange, hook-like blade.
Momo and Kira's released Zanpakutō whipped the surrounding air into a frenzy, causing Gin's clothes to flutter.
Even though Momo and Kira were fighting less than two meters away, Gin remained impassive.
Boom! Boom!
Momo swung her sword. Two basketball-sized fireballs shot from the tridents, hurtling towards Kira.
Kira raised his Zanpakutō, meeting both Momo's sword and the fireballs.
Clang!
A blast of icy wind spread outwards. The Shinigami observing the battle shivered.
"Such a powerful chill…"
Gin opened his eyes slightly, observing the situation before him. Momo Hinamori, the lieutenant of the Fifth Division, had her Zanpakutō pinned beneath Toshiro Hitsugaya's foot.
Izuru Kira, the lieutenant of the Third Division, had his Zanpakutō clutched in Toshiro's hand.
The temperature around Toshiro had dropped significantly simply by his spiritual pressure. Even Tobiume, beneath his foot, and Wabisuke, within his grasp, were beginning to freeze.
Even without releasing his Zanpakutō, Toshiro's spiritual pressure was strong enough to condense the moisture in the air.
"Do you two want to die?"
Toshiro's low voice resonated with a chilling killing intent that enveloped Momo and Kira.
"If you want to die, I can send you on your way right now."
Clank!
Momo and Kira trembled under Toshiro's killing intent. Their Zanpakutō slipped from their grasp to the ground.
"Rangiku, escort them to the Ninth Division. Ask Captain Komamura to detain them and keep them under strict surveillance."
"Yes, Captain Hitsugaya."
As Toshiro finished speaking, a woman with long, golden, wavy hair appeared behind him. It was Rangiku Matsumoto, the lieutenant of the Tenth Division!
"Bakudō #4: Hainawa!"
The moment she appeared, Rangiku unleashed a Bakudō, binding Momo and Kira's hands. While they were good friends, Rangiku knew that imprisoning them was the best way to protect them.
However, even though her Zanpakutō had fallen and her hands were bound, Momo continued to glare at Gin. Rangiku pulled on the rope, but Momo wouldn't budge. Rangiku moved behind Momo and chopped at the back of her neck.
Thump!
Momo's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed into Rangiku's arms.
After Rangiku escorted Momo and Kira away, Toshiro turned his gaze to Gin. While they were both disciples of Ailin, their interactions had been limited.
"Captain Ichimaru, Momo Hinamori claimed that you killed Captain Aizen. Is that true?"
"Captain Hitsugaya, you overestimate me."
A smirk appeared on Gin's lips, making his face resemble a fox's.
"Captain Aizen's strength is among the top in the Seireitei. I'm no match for him."
Gin's words made Toshiro frown. To be honest, Toshiro didn't believe a word of it. As Ailin's disciple, Toshiro knew some of Gin's secrets. Ailin had once told him that Gin's talent was no less than his own.
Toshiro believed his teacher without question. Gin had been training far longer than he had. Toshiro didn't believe Gin was weaker.
Toshiro believed his own strength was at least average among the thirteen captains.
Head-Captain Yamamoto and his teacher, Ailin, were in a league of their own.
Below them, Captain Kyōraku, Captain Ukitake, and Captain Unohana were in the second tier.
He, Captain Kuchiki, and Captain Ichimaru were in the third tier.
Captain Soi Fon, Captain Aizen, Captain Komamura, Captain Tōsen, and Captain Kurotsuchi were in the fourth tier.
Toshiro hadn't seen Gin's Bankai, but he had heard his teacher's assessment of Gin's Zanpakutō. It, too, possessed the title of "strongest."
While Toshiro's Hyōrinmaru was known as the "strongest ice-type Zanpakutō," Gin's Shinsō could be considered the "fastest Zanpakutō."
Aizen's Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu, could create a mist that disoriented enemies, making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe.
However, if Gin used his Bankai to launch a sneak attack before Aizen released his Zanpakutō, it was indeed possible to kill him instantly, before he could even call for help.
As for the Shinigami who claimed that the Ryoka might have killed Aizen, anyone with even a modicum of strength wouldn't believe such a thing. While the Ryoka invaders were undeniably powerful, having defeated Ikkaku Madarame, a captain-level Shinigami, and injured Captain Kurotsuchi, their strength wasn't enough to kill Captain Aizen silently.
In Toshiro's view, besides Gin Ichimaru, who wielded Shinsō, only Ailin could silently kill a captain.
Not even Head-Captain Yamamoto could do it.
It wasn't that Yamamoto couldn't kill a captain instantly, but his spiritual pressure was too violent. The moment he acted, everyone in the Seireitei would sense it.
Therefore, while Gin denied having the strength to kill Captain Aizen, Toshiro didn't believe him. If he didn't suspect Gin, then who should he suspect? His teacher, Ailin?
"I hope that's true."
Toshiro instructed his Tenth Division subordinates to secure the scene and stood behind Gin.
"However, Captain Ichimaru… If I find evidence that you were involved, I won't show any mercy!"
"Hahaha… Such a bold statement, Captain Hitsugaya. But unfortunately, you've chosen the wrong target from the very start…"
With those words, Gin narrowed his eyes, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and walked away.
…
The previous night, Orihime Inoue had fled the battle between Uryu Ishida and Mayuri Kurotsuchi, running towards the Palace of Penitence. She had found a place to hide, hoping to wait for Uryu's arrival.
However, she had sensed Uryu's spiritual pressure weaken. She waited the entire night, but he didn't come.
She was worried.
Thankfully, in the latter half of the night, she had sensed both Yasutora Sado and Uryu Ishida's spiritual pressures. And their spiritual pressures seemed to be together. It seemed both Chad and Uryu were safe.
"But now… It's just me…"
Orihime emerged from her hiding place. She looked at the direction of Uryu and Chad's spiritual pressures, then at the Palace of Penitence, which was almost within reach. She clenched her fists.
"With Chad and Uryu captured, can I save Shino?"
Orihime didn't have much confidence in her strength. When it came to healing others, she believed she was second to none. But saving Shino from the Palace of Penitence would require more than just healing.
"Orihime, you can do it!"
"You're the best!"
"Only you can help Ichigo."
"Come on!"
After a pep talk, Orihime took a deep breath and began running towards the Palace of Penitence.
She hadn't run far when a white light flashed on a wall beside her. A square meter of the wall transformed into yellow sand, crumbling to the ground.
A young man in light green hemp clothing emerged from the hole.
"Orihime?"
"Ganju?"
Ganju Shiba, who had just emerged, nearly bumped into Orihime. Thankfully, she hadn't been running fast and managed to stop.
Seeing a familiar face, both Orihime and Ganju were delighted.
Of course, they were happy for different reasons.
Ganju hadn't entered the Seireitei to help Ichigo and the others rescue Shino Madarame. He was there to find his brother.
Over twenty years ago, the Shiba Clan had been attacked by nobles from the Seireitei. That night, Miyako Shiba, his beloved sister-in-law, had been killed.
And since that day, his brother, Kaien Shiba, hadn't returned home.
His elder sister, Kukaku, had told him that Kaien wanted to avenge his wife.
He wouldn't return to the Shiba Clan until he had killed all the nobles who had attacked their home.
Two nights ago, Ganju had slipped away from Ichigo and discreetly inquired about the Thirteenth Division's location. He had found his brother.