Chapter 7

"Congratulations on becoming members of the Gotei 13. From this day forward..." The graying headmaster stood onstage, giving a speech. Off to the side, Miyako Amamiya, an invited guest, chatted with Aizen.

"You really are remarkable, Amamiya-kun," Aizen said gently, wearing glasses. "You became an upper Seated Officer of the Thirteenth Division only a year after graduating."

"You flatter me, Captain Aizen." It was impossible for Miyako Amamiya not to be nervous, but he was not overly panicked. From what Miyako Amamiya knew, the current Aizen was indeed excellent at keeping up appearances, putting people at ease, so all he had to do was talk normally.

"No, Amamiya-kun, you really are too modest. The geniuses who graduate early in Soul Society are few and far between. As one of them, you could afford to be a little prouder," Aizen praised him in his magnetic voice.

"No, I still have a long way to go. My goal is to be like former Lieutenant Kaien, so I can't afford to be too proud." Miyako Amamiya spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face.

"Kaien? Ah, Kaien truly was remarkable, but unfortunately..." Aizen looked deeply regretful.

What are you regretting? Wasn't that your doing? Miyako Amamiya had to admire Aizen's ability to speak against his conscience. Perhaps, in Aizen's eyes, it really was no great matter.

"Next, please welcome the current Fifth Division Captain, Captain Sōsuke Aizen, to say a few words."

"Then I'll go on ahead, Amamiya-kun," Aizen said with a smile.

Aizen walked forward unhurriedly, and a clamor arose from the audience. After all, quite a few people at Shin'ō Academy had attended his calligraphy classes, and many of them had become his fans.

Once onstage, Aizen merely waved a hand, and the clamor below abruptly died away. His personal charisma was clearly immense.

"...As Shinigami who maintain the balance of the world, you must not slack off after graduation. You must actively train yourselves. The Shinigami's signature skills—swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, movement, and Kidō—must not be neglected..." Aizen continued his speech onstage.

"As you know, your Zanpakuto is your most important ability as a Shinigami, and you must awaken it yourselves. If you can truly learn the name of the Asauchi in your hands, it will transform into a true Zanpakuto."

"Since this is a rare opportunity, I will demonstrate a Zanpakuto's Shikai here so that you can gain a better understanding of it."

Just as I thought. Miyako Amamiya had guessed correctly. Aizen had begun "demonstrating" his Zanpakuto again. He called it a demonstration, but he was actually activating the true ability of his Zanpakuto, Kyōka Suigetsu: Complete Hypnosis.

"Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu." With a shattering sound, a mist appeared, blurring the surroundings.

"My Zanpakuto, Kyōka Suigetsu, is a water-type Zanpakuto. It can confuse enemies through the irregular reflection of mist and flowing water, causing them to kill one another," Aizen said with a smile. Shortly afterward, he sealed his Zanpakuto again.

Miyako Amamiya did not dare make any move at all. Like everyone else, he stared at Aizen. He had also noticed Aizen glancing at him from time to time.

I've been hypnotized. Although he had realized it and had predicted it long ago, Miyako Amamiya's heart still sank. Being hypnotized by Kyōka Suigetsu meant he was now completely outmatched by Aizen. I can't take him on head-on. Miyako Amamiya committed that to memory.

Aizen came over to Miyako Amamiya and smiled at him. "Amamiya-kun, you're next."

"Thank you, Captain Aizen. Your Zanpakuto's Shikai was a real eye-opener. This is my first time seeing a Zanpakuto released, and it was incredible." Miyako Amamiya put his ability to say whatever suited his audience to use.

"With your abilities, Amamiya-kun, I believe you'll be able to achieve it before long," Aizen said gently.

After finishing his speech, Amamiya-kun headed back to the barracks. Having witnessed Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu, he desired strength even more. But he had decided long ago: no matter who it was, no one could stop him from gaining power, power that surpassed everything. Clenching his fists, Amamiya walked with heavy but determined steps.

"Well, well, you actually went all the way to Shin'ō Academy's graduation ceremony just to use your Zanpakuto. You certainly have time on your hands, Captain Aizen," a silver-haired man with narrowed eyes teased Aizen from the shadows of a room in the Fifth Division Barracks.

"Because I discovered a rare talent, Gin, just like you," Aizen said with a smile. He pushed up his glasses, seemingly unconcerned.

"I'd love to meet someone Captain Aizen would call talented." Gin Ichimaru's expression was like a venomous snake's, showing his eagerness for prey.

"Then again, perhaps not. A talent who has yet to mature can hardly be compared to you." Without looking back, Aizen picked up a brush and practiced the calligraphy he knew better than anything. "But for now, let's wait and see."

The Fifth Division Barracks grew quiet again, with only the sound of Aizen writing with his brush.

"Fifth Seat Amamiya." Ukitake called Miyako Amamiya's name solemnly. All the upper Seated Officers of the Thirteenth Division were gathered in the open training ground behind the barracks.

"Yes, sir." Miyako Amamiya stepped forward and dropped to one knee.

"I appoint you the Shinigami stationed in Ukigi City in the World of the Living. I hope you'll perform well there."

"Yes, Captain Ukitake." Hearing the name, Miyako Amamiya immediately felt a rush of relief. Ukigi City was next to Karakura Town and not too far away, so going there when the time came would not be too much trouble. Besides, Ukigi City was not a Spiritually Dense Area, so there should not be too many Hollows there, and purifying them should not take too much effort.

That would leave Miyako Amamiya plenty of time to train. All of this, however, depended on whether he could persuade Ryūken Ishida to teach him. Still, Miyako Amamiya already knew what he needed to do first upon reaching the World of the Living.

"Fourth Seat Chōtarō..." Ukitake continued assigning them one by one.

Not every Seated Officer was assigned to the World of the Living. Those who had gone during the previous rotation stayed in Soul Society this time to deal with emergencies.

A Shinigami in the World of the Living had once called for help and received no prompt response, so the Thirteenth Division had devised countermeasures.

"...That concludes the list of Shinigami who will soon be stationed in the World of the Living. I hope you will all perform well there. Gather tomorrow morning, and we will pass through the Senkaimon together and officially depart for the World of the Living."

That night, Miyako Amamiya did not continue communicating with his Zanpakuto as usual. He simply lay in bed. Going to the World of the Living was the most important part of his plan, but the first thing he needed to do was establish the time and confirm whether he had really died from Auswählen, as he suspected. Although the Quincy power in his body was already enough to nearly confirm it, Miyako Amamiya would not be at ease until he checked for himself.

Miyako Amamiya lay in bed and raised one hand. Whether it's Quincy power or Shinigami power, I'll keep both firmly in my grasp. He clenched that hand suddenly.

The next day, Miyako Amamiya woke early. The excitement, nervousness, and unease of his imminent departure for the World of the Living kept him from sleeping. Before he knew it, he had walked to the Thirteenth Division's training ground. There was still plenty of time before the gathering, so he thought he would train a little longer. Suddenly, a voice came from behind him.

"You're about to leave for the World of the Living, and you're still training here?" Rukia's helpless voice rang out.

Miyako Amamiya turned around. "Isn't this my junior, Rukia? Up early to train again, I see." He spoke with feeling. Lately, Miyako Amamiya and Rukia Kuchiki had both been getting up early to train and spar without planning it.

"Junior? Captain Ukitake has already given me permission to challenge 6th Seat Murata. If Fourth Seat Chōtarō weren't being stationed in the World of the Living, I might have challenged him already. Then we'd see who the junior is." Rukia tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"It seems you're very confident, my 'junior' Rukia. Good for you," Amamiya-kun teased.

"Confident... yes. I believe I'll succeed. All the effort I've put in won't let me down. Most importantly..." Rukia Kuchiki's voice grew quieter.

"Most importantly?" Miyako Amamiya asked.

"Ahem, it's nothing." Rukia Kuchiki was a little embarrassed to say it. Was she supposed to admit to Miyako Amamiya that he had given her the most confidence? If she did, he would probably tease her again.

"Well, there's still some time before we gather. Would you care to give your senior some pointers, junior Rukia?" Miyako Amamiya asked with a smile.

"Then let's see what you've got," Rukia replied with a smile, drawing her sword.

The two swung at each other at the same time, but neither used their full strength. Before long, Rukia Kuchiki stopped.

"Let's leave it there. You still have to go to the World of the Living, so don't waste too much Reiryoku here. Spiritual energy is very sparse there," Rukia said, stepping back.

"Is that so? Then let's stop." Their fight had barely begun, but Rukia Kuchiki had a point.

"Then goodbye, Rukia." Miyako Amamiya looked at the other division members gradually gathering there and Ukitake approaching from nearby, and bid her farewell.

"Amamiya-kun." Rukia Kuchiki called him back. "By the time you return, I might have surpassed you." Rukia smiled, and Miyako Amamiya sensed her determination in that smile.

"Call me Miyako," Miyako Amamiya said. "I'll look forward to it. But I won't be standing still." He walked toward the group ahead without looking back.

Senior Miyako... huh. Rukia thought again of the female Shinigami she had once respected most. That name had given her strength in the past, and it still did now.

"I'll surpass you, and former Lieutenant Kaien too, Miyako-kun," Rukia Kuchiki said softly.

Before long, Ukitake led the Thirteenth Division members to the Senkaimon. After collecting the equipment needed for their postings,

Miyako Amamiya looked at the towering temple-gate-like structure before him and the two square wooden pillars beside it that rose into the clouds, and could not help gripping the Asauchi at his waist.

Here I come, World of the Living. The Shinigami ahead disappeared into the Senkaimon one by one. When his turn came, Miyako Amamiya looked back at Soul Society from the gate. He knew this was only a temporary farewell; this ancient world, full of hidden dangers, would come looking for him again sooner or later.

Miyako Amamiya stepped into the light-filled Senkaimon, and the world spun around him as he lost his sight. After a moment of disorientation, he found himself standing on an unfamiliar street.

"I'm back, World of the Living," Miyako Amamiya said softly.

After arriving in the World of the Living, Miyako Amamiya did not rush to neighboring Karakura Town to find Ryūken Ishida. Finding him would be simple enough: he only had to search the hospitals in Karakura Town one by one, and sooner or later he would see Ryūken Ishida's name.

What Miyako Amamiya most needed to confirm now was the cause of his death—or rather, he needed to find a list of people who had died at the same time as him four years ago.

So Miyako Amamiya went to the hospitals in Ukigi City and searched for death records from five years ago.

That night, Miyako Amamiya examined the information he had gathered.

June 17, 200x. Deceased: xxx. Cause of death unknown. The deceased's expression before death was extremely contorted, as though they had suffered some terrible injury...

Deceased: xxx. Cause of death unknown. Condition before death...

Four years ago, quite a few people had died with the same symptoms, and the cause remained unknown. Looking at the information in his hands, Miyako Amamiya clasped them together. He was now almost certain that all these people had died five years ago from Yhwach's Auswählen.

I still need to find time to visit the hospitals in Karakura Town and Naruki City, Miyako Amamiya thought. Naruki City also bordered Karakura Town, and Xcution's headquarters were now located there.

Fortunately, Kūgo Ginjō and his associates had not made any major moves against the Shinigami for the time being. If Miyako Amamiya only went to the hospitals to investigate, he probably would not come into contact with them.

During his time in Ukigi City, Miyako Amamiya had not been too busy. Just as he had guessed, although it was next to Karakura Town, the number of Hollows and wandering souls was indeed fairly low, so he was not run off his feet dealing with them and had time to investigate a few things.

Then I'll put in some extra work, Miyako Amamiya thought. Over the next few days, he planned to find as many wandering souls as possible and send them to Soul Society through Konsō. Then he would temporarily leave Ukigi City and investigate Naruki City and Karakura Town. As for the Hollows, he would have to conduct a thorough sweep for them.

"Ah, when I put it that way, it's quite a hassle," Miyako Amamiya sighed,

At the hospitals in Naruki City, Miyako Amamiya found the lists of people who had died on June 17, 200x with practiced ease. Sure enough, the death records were exactly the same as those he had found in Ukigi City.

After finding the information he wanted, Miyako Amamiya left immediately. As someone who had died in the World of the Living, he used his common knowledge, along with maps and other tools, to quickly find the hospitals, get the information, and leave. He did not want the local stationed Shinigami to notice him.

That leaves one last place. Miyako Amamiya gazed into the distance, toward Karakura Town, where he had died. Even now, he could clearly recall the heart-pounding sensation of dying. Although the body's original owner was dead, that memory remained vivid to Miyako Amamiya.

Several days passed, but Miyako Amamiya still did not enter Karakura Town to investigate. The Shinigami stationed there was Fourth Seat Zennosuke Kurumadani, and Miyako Amamiya often sensed his Reiatsu near the edge of Ukigi City as he fought other Hollows. But every fight ended in Fourth Seat Zennosuke Kurumadani's victory, so Miyako Amamiya did not know how to enter with a reasonable excuse and avoid being questioned.

Just as Miyako Amamiya was at a loss, powerful fluctuations of Reiatsu suddenly erupted in the distance. One belonged to Fourth Seat Zennosuke Kurumadani, and the other to an unknown Hollow. Moreover, from what Miyako Amamiya could sense, the Hollow's Reiatsu seemed stronger than Fourth Seat Zennosuke Kurumadani's. He seemed to be at a disadvantage.

Here's my chance. Miyako Amamiya did not dare delay and immediately rushed toward the battle.

On an unnamed mountain in Karakura Town, Zennosuke Kurumadani was fighting a strange Hollow. During his routine patrol, he had seen a black-haired girl in a white robe and thought she was a wandering soul. He had intended to approach her and perform Konsō.

But when he crouched down in front of the little girl, a beast-shaped Hollow with birdlike feet suddenly appeared behind her. Only then did Zennosuke Kurumadani realize he had been tricked, and he was immediately attacked by the Hollow's extended tentacles.

Zennosuke Kurumadani retreated quickly, blocking the incoming tentacles with his sword. Looking at the hole in his shoulder, he began to grow agitated. He had never heard of a Hollow this strong, and it even had a way to disguise itself.

"Oh, you dodged so quickly. I thought I'd be able to kill you outright, Shinigami," the white-robed girl in front of the Hollow said regretfully.

"Shameless Hollow, taking on a human form." Zennosuke Kurumadani clutched his shoulder, intending to continue fighting.

"A human? Oh, you mean this form. Yes, when I look like this and pretend to be a little helpless, all sorts of people come up to talk to me." The white-robed girl's face began to change. Her human skin gradually peeled away, revealing her true appearance: a gruesome skull mask. A long tentacle extended from the mask, connecting it to the beast's head behind her.

"Thanks to it, I've tasted so many delicious souls," the beast said with a laugh. "And you, Shinigami, get in the way of my meals. You should disappear as soon as possible."

"So it's you," Zennosuke Kurumadani said in surprise. He had recognized the Hollow's true identity. Its designation was Grand Fisher, and there were records of it in Soul Society. It was known for using a mimetic lure on its head to disguise itself as a human and prey on people with high concentrations of spiritual energy who fell for it. This Hollow was also extremely cunning and escaped the Shinigami every time.

This is bad. Zennosuke Kurumadani's heart sank. If he had not been injured, he might not have been able to exterminate the Hollow, but he could at least have defeated him. In his current condition, things were rather bad.

By the time Miyako Amamiya arrived, Zennosuke Kurumadani was struggling to hold on, and the fight seemed one-sided. Miyako Amamiya did not dare let his guard down. A Hollow capable of overwhelming a Fourth Seat was no minor threat.

"Sovereign, mask of flesh and blood, all things, take flight and bear the name of humanity, truth and temperance, stand upon the wall of sinless dreams with only your fangs and claws." Miyako Amamiya completed the incantation and pointed his hand at the Hollow. "Hadō #33: Sōkatsui!" A burst of flame roared from his hand and flew toward the Hollow.

"What?" The Hollow was startled. Absorbed in his fight to slaughter the Shinigami, he had not noticed a new Reiatsu nearby, and by the time he reacted, Sōkatsui was already hurtling toward him.

"Aaaah!" Grand Fisher screamed as Sōkatsui struck one side of him, reducing a quarter of his body to ash.

"Damn Shinigami, attacking me by surprise!" Grand Fisher quickly pulled away from Fourth Seat Zennosuke Kurumadani and roared at Miyako Amamiya.

Damn it, I was just about to kill this Shinigami, and another one showed up. I'd better get out of here while I can. Grand Fisher did not dare continue fighting and turned to flee.

"Stop!" Miyako Amamiya used Shunpo to pursue him, but Zennosuke Kurumadani suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. Miyako Amamiya had no choice but to stop. He ran to Fourth Seat Zennosuke Kurumadani's side and used basic Kaidō to heal his body.

"You really saved me, Fifth Seat Amamiya," Zennosuke Kurumadani said with a wry smile.

"I'm glad you're all right, Fourth Seat Chōtarō. It's a shame I let that Hollow escape." Miyako Amamiya continued using Kaidō, but he was not proficient in it and could only provide rough treatment.

"That Hollow was called Grand Fisher. Soul Society has records of him. He's extremely cunning, and even I fell for his trick and was seriously injured. He's wounded now, so he probably won't show up again for a while," Zennosuke Kurumadani explained.

So it was him. Miyako Amamiya was surprised. He had not expected it to be that famous Hollow.

"But with injuries this serious, guarding Karakura Town will be a problem," Zennosuke Kurumadani said with a wry smile.

Hearing that, Miyako Amamiya had a sudden idea. He had not expected a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to actually appear.

"Fourth Seat Chōtarō, if you don't mind, let me take over guarding Karakura Town for the time being," Miyako Amamiya said.

"I conducted a large-scale search of Ukigi City, which I'm responsible for, not long ago. The numbers of both Hollows and wandering souls have dropped considerably. Besides, Ukigi City and Karakura Town are neighbors, so traveling between them won't be much trouble," Miyako Amamiya suggested to him.

"Well... there's no strict rule against it, but wouldn't that be too much trouble? Shouldn't I request support from Soul Society instead?" Zennosuke Kurumadani asked.

"No need, no need. Leave this to me. I'll take care of it while you recover, Fourth Seat Chōtarō." Miyako Amamiya hurriedly refused. That would not do. If Kurumadani called someone else, Miyako Amamiya would not be able to accomplish his goal.

Zennosuke Kurumadani considered it and ultimately agreed. "All right. With your Kaidō treatment, I don't think it will take me long to recover. Calling for support now would be a little embarrassing." He shook his head helplessly.

"Then leave it to me. Please recover as soon as you can, Fourth Seat Chōtarō." Miyako Amamiya was delighted. He had finally made some progress.