All high-ranking seated officers, including captains and lieutenants, are required to carry their Zanpakutō at all times and are permitted to fully release them in combat.
Following the emergency captains' meeting, these two special wartime orders were relayed one-on-one to the lieutenants and seated officers of every squad. In just a single day, the Ryoka had caused quite a massive uproar.
"Please stay on high alert, everyone. After all, the enemy has defeated Lieutenant Abarai and... The Ryoka's objective remains unclear, but it is highly likely they will attack the squad barracks. Lieutenant Hinamori, please be careful as well!"
'The one most affected by this is probably Teacher Chōzuka,' Hinamori Momo thought, her head bowed. The squad member who delivered the message had left a long time ago, yet she remained sitting quietly in the empty reception room, lost in thought.
'Abarai, and Teacher Chōzuka... One broke the rules and is now severely injured and unconscious, with Captain Kuchiki even planning to strip him of his lieutenant status. The other followed the rules and is also severely injured and unconscious. If Teacher Chōzuka had brought his Zanpakutō, the outcome would definitely have been completely different.'
'Such a fate is just too tragic for both of them.' Beyond that, Hinamori's mind was a mess. These Ryoka had been hiding and fleeing ever since they invaded. Was there any possibility of peace between the two sides?
She couldn't voice these thoughts aloud. Fighting Hollows was one thing, but the idea of applying the ruthless tactics Teacher Chōzuka had taught her against actual people was incredibly hard to accept. How could such methods be used on human beings?
'I really don't want to fight, but right now, it seems maintaining peace is just too difficult.'
And then there was what Tōshirō had told her: *"Be careful of Squad 3, especially Ichimaru Gin."*
She didn't know exactly what to be careful of, nor did she understand why she needed to be careful. Perhaps even Tōshirō himself was still unsure.
'It's already hard enough for everyone to just live together. This peace was bought with countless sacrifices. So why? Why is there always someone who wants to shatter it all?'
*"I don't pray to break through every obstacle, but at the very least, you must have the heart to fight for survival. Even if you're a stray dog, whether you rob or cheat to survive! Even digging through the trash is a form of resistance!"*
Ichigo staggered forward through the underground waterways, Renji's final words echoing endlessly in his mind: *"To think I'm not even as good as a stray dog. I should have realized it sooner, but it's too late now."*
Covered in blood and speaking words of desperate pleading, Renji hadn't seemed weak to Ichigo at all. If anything, the wounded Renji was even more worthy of respect.
*"Kurosaki, I know I'm a disgrace, but I still want to beg you! Please, you have to save Rukia! You definitely aren't lying to me, lying to a weakling like me..."*
'Of course. I'm definitely going to save Rukia,' Ichigo thought as he moved with great difficulty. 'And Ishida... I didn't see him when I woke up. I need to find him.'
"Mr. Ichigo, you still need to rest! Mr. Ichigo!" Yamada Hanatarō tried his best to persuade him, but his efforts seemed largely ineffective.
"He's in no condition to move, right?"
"Yes, he needs to rest right now, Mr. Gan—ju!" Seeing Shiba Ganju casually knock Ichigo out with a single punch, Hanatarō was so frightened he nearly fainted. Was this any way to treat a patient?!
"You're way too rough, Mr. Ganju!"
"Isn't this the simplest method?!" Ganju retorted, pointing at the unconscious Ichigo. "Look at this guy's face. He's out cold, and he still has that stubborn look. Expecting him to rest obediently is impossible."
It was true. Hanatarō looked at Ichigo's tightly knit brow, realizing that many people would likely be unable to sleep peacefully tonight.
"She's already fallen asleep, Captain Aizen." Ichimaru Gin carefully pulled the blanket over the peacefully sleeping Hinamori Momo, murmuring in admiration, "She was clearly burdened with worries when she arrived, but after just a few words from you, it's as if none of it ever existed. Truly impressive."
Hinamori Momo could never have imagined that the Captain Aizen who had just been gently comforting her would now look so cold and indifferent. Even less could she have imagined that he would be meeting with Ichimaru Gin at this time, in this very place.
"Let us continue our previous topic, Gin," Aizen said.
"Right, right, right. Where were we?" Ichimaru Gin tapped his head in thought. Aizen didn't prompt him, nor did he show any signs of impatience; his attention remained fixed on the documents on the desk.
"Ah, I remember now. Shiba Kūkaku has already been secretly contacting the guards of the four gates. It should be in preparation to extract Rukia."
"I do not believe Urahara Kisuke harbors any genuine intention of breaking Rukia out of the Seireitei. He must have other plans."
Ichimaru Gin nodded. "Tōsen has also been keeping a close eye on the perimeter of the Senzaikyū. He hasn't found any trace of Urahara or Yoruichi. Those brats are purely being used as a distraction."
Aizen closed the file in his hands. The candlelight danced across his glasses, obscuring his expression.
"How do you think we should respond, Gin?"
"Business as usual!" Ichimaru Gin answered without a second thought, spreading his hands as if it were obvious. "Rukia is still a condemned prisoner; nothing has changed. Besides, even if they manage to stop the execution, it only ruins our initial plan. You already have a new countermeasure, don't you, Captain Aizen?"
Compared to the soul disappearance incident a hundred years ago, Aizen and Urahara's positions were now completely reversed. Aizen was in the light, while Urahara was in the dark.
Using the Sōkyoku to extract the Hōgyoku still carried too many uncertain variables. Scenarios such as Rukia being rescued early, or worse, Rukia simply being killed—any of these outcomes would be enough to reduce Aizen's plans to ashes.
Because of this, a backup plan was absolutely essential. The dynamic of light and dark could be completely inverted; it all depended on the execution.
"I really should have realized it sooner. Urahara's core research records are undoubtedly archived within Central 46. The Great Spirit Book Gallery is, after all, the private property of the Tsunayashiro clan."
Was that answer a confirmation? Just as Ichimaru Gin said this, Aizen suddenly added, "However, my initial plan has already been disrupted. You failed to consider this point, Gin."
"Oh?" Ichimaru Gin's eyes shifted, and he replied with a smile, "You mean Kōe Shihouin?"
"I originally intended to invite him to Central 46 to make the final preparations with me. Now, it seems he prefers to stay in the Seireitei."
"You seem quite disappointed?"
"I can generally guess what he would say," Aizen said, folding the document on the desk and tucking it into his robes. "Disappointment and regret are separated by a thin line. If one hesitates to discard things, how can they ever grasp what they truly desire?"
"So, should we restrict him now?"
"Restrict? No, no, no, you are mistaken, Gin!" Aizen stood up, taking his captain's haori from the coat rack. "This is a reminder. A reminder that since he has committed an intolerable act, he shouldn't think about hiding it anymore."
"There are some sights that they are only fit to look up at!"