Aizen's Big Move to Stir Up Trouble! Kyōsuke Kuchiki's Reaction Was Actually...!

As soon as the words left his mouth, a tremendous crash came from a short distance away in the Rukongai.

Boom!

In an instant, houses collapsed into ruins, and several children came running out, their faces full of panic.

"It's a Hollow!"

"Why would something like that show up in the Rukongai too?!"

"Waaah... Help!"

Hearing their cries, Kensei Muguruma instantly drew the Zanpakuto at his waist.

At the same time, the squad members beside him used Shunpo to rush forward and quickly rescue the children.

But the Hollow suddenly slowed down!

In front of it, a black-haired kid was deliberately slowing down, drawing its attention.

Only after the other children had all been rescued did he hold back his tears and run forward with all his might.

"H-help me—!"

Noticing this, Kensei Muguruma raised an eyebrow.

"Hm? That kid's got some real backbone!"

The next second, he vanished from where he stood. When he reappeared, he was already blocking the Hollow's path.

Chapter 62: Aizen's Big Move to Stir Up Trouble! Kyōsuke Kuchiki's Reaction Was Actually...!

"You've got some nerve, making a scene right in front of me."

"Blow it away! Tachikaze!"

In an instant, his blade lit up with a bright green glow, and a powerful current of air suddenly rose and wrapped around it!

He struck!

The current burst forth, transforming into strands of rushing wind as fine as thread that bound the Menos Grande's body!

Immediately afterward, everything the threads touched exploded!

The Menos Grande, which had been so menacing just moments ago, was reduced to a pile of fragments without the slightest suspense.

As a captain already, Kensei Muguruma naturally didn't so much as change his expression when killing a Hollow of this strength.

"Is anyone hurt?"

"No!"

Hearing his squad members' answer, he looked at the black-haired kid behind him.

The kid had clearly been badly frightened. Even though the danger had passed, he was still crying nonstop.

"Hey, hey, what's there to cry about? You're alive, aren't you?"

"You should be smiling!"

He gave the child a hearty pat on the back and flashed him a beaming smile that looked somewhat fierce.

"What's your name?"

Apparently startled by him, the child froze. Tears and snot covered his face, making him look utterly comical.

Several full seconds passed before he finally spoke.

"I... I'm Shūhei Hisagi..."

"Oh, that's a pretty good name!"

"Now stop crying and hurry home!"

Kensei Muguruma ruffled the child's hair and was just about to say something else when Mashiro Kuna suddenly came over.

"Kensei!"

"Where did you go?"

Kensei Muguruma instinctively looked over.

The next second, he suddenly froze and asked without thinking, "Where did you find those clothes?"

Mashiro Kuna was holding a perfectly clean Soul Reaper uniform.

"I found it in the bushes over there!"

Mashiro Kuna's voice reached his ears. "There are lots more over there!"

"...What?"

Kensei Muguruma froze.

Forgetting the kid beside him, he hurried with a group of squad members to the bushes Mashiro Kuna had mentioned.

They found nine Soul Reaper uniforms there, and with the one Mashiro Kuna was holding...

That matched the ten members of the advance team exactly!

Kensei Muguruma's expression immediately darkened.

"What's wrong, Kensei? Why do you look so serious?"

Mashiro Kuna tilted her head, her face full of innocence.

"Maybe these uniforms just happened to be left here."

"You don't have to make such an exaggerated face."

"...How could that be?"

As Kensei Muguruma slowly spoke, a bad feeling had already begun to form in his heart.

"Look for yourself. The belts haven't even been taken off these uniforms. How could anyone have removed them?"

"The straw sandals are even stranger... They were taken off together with the tabi."

"How could that be possible?!"

It was almost as if... these Soul Reapers had vanished into thin air, leaving their uniforms behind!

When humans in the Soul Society died, they turned into Reishi and disappeared, along with the clothes they were wearing.

But the residents of the Rukongai in this area had previously disappeared for no apparent reason, leaving only their clothes behind.

If they had been killed, their clothes would have disappeared.

This bizarre situation could only be classified as a disappearance.

The Ninth Division had come to investigate these disappearances.

Before, it had been ordinary residents. Now it was Soul Reapers?

Was this a plot, or had some kind of power grown stronger?

The moment that thought flashed through his mind, Kensei Muguruma made his decision.

"Okishima, contact Central immediately!"

"This is the first time Soul Reapers have become victims since the souls in the Rukongai began disappearing!"

"Tōdō, contact the Twelfth Division and have them send someone to investigate immediately!"

"Kasajō, we're camping here tonight. Tell everyone to get ready."

Hearing this, Mashiro Kuna looked reluctant.

"Huh? We're camping here?!"

"Of course."

Kensei Muguruma's expression was more serious than ever.

"If this was done by enemies who have set their sights on Soul Reapers..."

"Their targets will eventually extend to the Seireitei..."

"Before that happens, we'll drag them out and kill them ourselves!"

"Understood?!"

"Understood!"

"..."

It had to be said that, as a veteran captain, Kensei Muguruma handled emergencies decisively.

In just a few minutes, everything had been arranged, and the group successfully set up camp.

Tōdō, who had been sent to contact the Twelfth Division, returned that evening.

"How did it go?"

"Lieutenant Hiyori will come to investigate."

For some reason, Kensei Muguruma felt even more uneasy when he heard that.

"Not Urahara...?"

"Never mind. I hear he's been working on new research lately. Sounds like he's busy."

"Tōdō, go get some rest."

"No need, Captain. It was just a round trip. I'm not tired at all yet."

Tōdō waved a hand.

"You and the lieutenant should rest. We'll count on you for the night watch."

Night was indeed more dangerous, so Kensei Muguruma didn't refuse. He went straight into the tent.

Mashiro Kuna had already lain down inside. She was sleeping soundly, almost drooling.

"Just how thick are this woman's nerves...?"

"She can sleep this soundly even with danger lurking on all sides."

He gave her a speechless look, casually pushed Mashiro Kuna aside, and found an empty spot to sit down and close his eyes for a rest.

Time passed by the minute and second, and soon, night fell.

Having timed it just right, Kensei Muguruma opened his eyes and pulled the tent flap open.

The next second, his eyes flew wide, and his face filled with rage.

"Hey! Tōdō, you bastard!"

"..."

Before Kensei Muguruma, Tōdō stood silently, a Zanpakuto in his hand.

Behind him lay two Ninth Division members, blood pooling across the ground!

Fury surged through Kensei Muguruma's heart. Without the slightest hesitation, he drew his Zanpakuto.

"Blow it away! Tachikaze!"

Kensei Muguruma immediately activated his Shikai. His feet remained still as he prepared to attack.

But just then, an invisible blade seemed to sweep across Tōdō's neck, and blood instantly gushed out.

Thud!

Tōdō fell heavily to the ground. The Zanpakuto in his hand was perfectly clean, showing no sign of having been used to attack.

The sight left Kensei Muguruma frozen in place.

Looking at the three bodies of his squad members on the ground, he felt the ominous feeling in his heart grow stronger.

"Hey! Mashiro, wake up!"

Calling out, he rapidly retreated.

The next second, Kensei Muguruma's heart jolted as he suddenly sensed that something was wrong.

Why...

Why couldn't he move his body?