Seireitei was shaken to its core.
All stationed captains were urgently summoned to the First Division barracks for an ergency captain eting.
A Vasto Lorde–class Hollow had appeared in the World of the Living. Half of Shiba City City was reduced to ruins—its skyline torn apart, the urban order completely obliterated.
The Twelfth Division was imdiately dispatched to handle the aftermath: rebuilding order, restoring human mories, and reconstructing collapsed structures. The workload of the Gotei 13 multiplied severalfold overnight, with enormous resources redirected to the Twelfth Division's laboratories.
---
First Division
Inside the First Division's barracks, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stood before the assembled captains, his expression as grave as stone.
"Yesterday, a Vasto Lorde–class Hollow appeared in the World of the Living—specifically in Shiba City. Or more precisely… a King of Hollows."
The room fell silent. The captains exchanged glances, their faces taut with disbelief.
"He called himself Baraggan Louisenbairn, the so-called Emperor of Hueco Mundo, ruler of all Hollows.
The Fourth Division's lieutenant, Kyōraku Shimo, engaged him in battle within the Human World.
The result was the complete destruction of half the city."
Yamamoto paused, his gaze briefly softening.
"Thanks to Rukia Kuchiki, Fifth Seat of the Thirteenth Division, the civilians were safely evacuated in ti—avoiding catastrophic human casualties.
However, regarding the chaos in the Human World, I believe Lieutenant Kyōraku bears responsibility for maintaining order there for an extended period."
He closed his eyes, awaiting comnt.
"Now, now, old man Yamamoto, don't be so stern."
With his usual lazy grin, Shunsui broke the silence. As Yamamoto's most cherished student, he had long since discarded any need for formalities in such etings.
"If Shimo can keep the Human World stable, let him stay there a while longer.
Of course, you should raise his pay while you're at it."
Yamamoto gave a curt nod.
"Naturally."
From the Fourth Division's seats, Unohana smiled gently.
"Don't worry, I'll have Isane help manage his workload in the anti."
In truth, Yamamoto's reprimand was little more than procedure.
Even the blind could see—quite literally in Kana Tōsen's case—that both Lieutenant Kyōraku Shimo and Captain Kyōraku Shunsui shared the sa family trait: chronic laziness.
Shimo himself had once jokingly called it "a refined art of leisure."
If sothing could be handled by a Third Seat officer, the lieutenant would never lift a finger. Yet, given his unmatched strength and pedigree, no one dared to object.
And so, the matter was settled.
Little did Shimo know, back in the Human World, that he had just been sold out by his senior Shunsui—at quite a handso price.
...
The captain eting continued with new task allocations.
Twelfth Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi received an elevated directive: to develop instrunts capable of detecting concealed Hollow spiritual pressure.
Second Division Captain Soi Fon was ordered to dedicate all efforts to intelligence gathering regarding Hueco Mundo's activity.
The appearance of a Vasto Lorde-level Hollow was no trivial event.
Had Baraggan descended upon Rukongai instead of the Human World, the damage would have been catastrophic beyond asure.
While so captains quietly doubted that a lieutenant could truly defeat such a being, Mayuri's testimony—supporting Shimo—silenced most dissent.
Moreover, everyone still rembered Shimo's duel with Kenpachi Zaraki.
The result of that fight spoke for itself.
---
In the Fifth Division Barracks
Within the quiet of the captain's office, Aizen worked thodically beneath the light spilling from the window.
Among all captains, he was one of the most diligent, perfectly executing every duty.
Without lifting his gaze from the parchnt, he spoke softly:
"Gin, what's your opinion on all this?"
Outside, the cherry blossoms swayed in the breeze. Shinigami passed by, the courtyard peaceful and picturesque.
From the shadows, a faint voice replied with a sly drawl.
"Oh my, asking my opinion? That's rare."
Gin Ichimaru, wrapped in a concealing cloak, stepped into the light, his ever-present smile narrowing his eyes to silver slits.
"Hmm… difficult to say.
But as far as Kyōraku Shimo's strength goes—there's really nothing left to test, is there?
The No. 2 Espada, Baraggan Louisenbairn, fell by his hand."
Gin trailed off, his tone turning faintly amused. The fact spoke for itself.
"What about you, Tosen?" Aizen asked next, turning his gaze behind Gin.
From the other end of the office, Tōsen erged.
"Kyōraku Shimo's power already surpasses that of an ordinary captain.
If we were to target him directly, we risk exposing our entire plan."
Aizen's glasses glinted faintly.
"Tosen… your heart wavers."
Tōsen's hand stiffened at his side.
"The death of Kakyo—your friend—is tied to Shimo, isn't it?
That's why you avoid speaking of him."
Aizen's insight cut deep, as always.
"Like a piece on a shogi board, Shimo stands above most others.
But he's still a piece, not yet the player."
His confidence in Kyōka Suigetsu—his Zanpakutō of complete hypnosis—was absolute, though never blind.
"What matters most," Aizen continued, his tone smooth and analytical,
"is that from every word and action of Kyōraku Shimo, one thing is clear—he is not a man bound by the rules of the world."
A faint smile curved his lips.
"In a way, he's just like us."
Gin's smile faltered slightly, surprise flashing through his narrowed eyes.
Aizen's evaluation was astonishingly high—he had never spoken of another soul as an equal.
"Captain Aizen sure seems fond of him," Gin said, his voice edged with teasing curiosity.
Aizen's gaze drifted to him, that mild smile never wavering.
"Gin… your vision is too narrow. Like Tosen, you see only what lies before you and overlook what lies beyond."
Tōsen remained silent, but his brow furrowed, clearly puzzled by Aizen's aning.
"I've reviewed the records," Aizen continued.
"Before enrolling in the Shin'ō Academy, Shimo barely trained at all.
Which ans his current beyond-captain-class strength was achieved in just a few short years."
The sunlight glinted off his glasses, obscuring his expression.
Gin and Tōsen both froze, shock flashing across their faces.
"Given ti," Aizen said, his voice calm but heavy with implication,
"Kyōraku Shimo may well beco the next Genryūsai Yamamoto… or perhaps soone who stands just shy of that dinsion."
---
Shiba City — The Human World
Shimo sighed, arms crossed, watching the scientist before him.
"Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi, this is your so-called 'good news'?
I'm to stay stationed here until the Hollow disturbances end?"
Mayuri spread his hands, his grin stretched unnaturally wide.
"Orders from the Head-Captain. Nothing I can do, I'm afraid. Besides, I ca here for another reason."
Shimo's brow arched.
"Baraggan's skeletal hand, right?"
Mayuri nodded, his eyes gleaming behind that twisted face paint.
"The special containnt vessel that held it was crafted from a fragnt of the Dangai—the space between worlds.
Even within that barrier, the hand continues to emit aging energy.
According to my data, the container will collapse within a month."
Shimo folded his arms, unimpressed.
"And what does that have to do with ?
If you can't preserve it, that's your lack of scientific skill."
He spoke without restraint. Ever since he'd learned to handle Mayuri's temperant, he'd stopped bothering with politeness.
"Kekeke… Shimo-kun, you wound .
I know you have a way to preserve it. That's why I'm here."
"And what are you offering in exchange?" Shimo countered imdiately.
Mayuri blinked.
"Exchange?"
"You already got what you wanted when I covered up the Shiba City incident.
Your containnt failure is your problem, not mine.
If you want my help again, I expect compensation."
Mayuri scratched at his neck until thin scratches appeared.
"Fine. What do you want?"
Shimo's smile deepened faintly.
"All research data related to Baraggan's hand."
For a brief second, Mayuri froze—then burst into a crooked grin.
"Deal."
He handed over the Dangai container.
Shimo could feel it imdiately—the warped density of ti within, unmistakable after a year spent studying it.
Opening the seal, he calmly extended his right hand into the container. Under Mayuri's astonished stare, his fingertip touched the skeletal remains.
"Done."
He resealed the vessel and returned it.
"You're saying this will work?"
"It will," Shimo replied lightly.
"That hand—the one that once wielded such power—is saturated with Baraggan's inner essence. But aging isn't limitless."
Mayuri's grin faltered.
"What do you an?"
"Simple. The power will exhaust itself.
In three months, the residual energy will completely dissipate, and it'll revert to reishi, dispersing into the world."
"You an… I'll only have three months to study it before it vanishes?"
"Exactly," Shimo said. "You know as well as I do—you can't stop reishi diffusion."
Mayuri went silent. Slowly, his face twisted into a grimace.
He realized he had been played. Badly.
Still, as Shimo waved a hand and turned to leave, the scientist's expression morphed again—into that familiar, manic smile.
"Three months, hmm? That's plenty of ti."
He lifted the container close to his face, pupils dilating with excitent.
"Kyōraku Shimo… your power will finally yield its secrets."
As the Senkaimon gate opened behind him, Mayuri stepped back toward Soul Society, trembling with anticipation.
Monts later, Shimo's silhouette flickered back into view, standing where Mayuri had been.
"Let's hope your research doesn't make you any more deranged than you already are," he murmured with a faint smirk.
"And more importantly… I hope your results are worth reading."
---------------------///
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