"Vermilion Bird"
"Niu Gui"
The masked groups passed each other; one was a trio, the other a group of five. They exchanged a secret signal and then parted ways.
"Uryū, your brain is really sharp! Why did Vermilion Bird just now?"
"The trio facing west is the Vermilion Bird; that's today's code."
"Is the West not the White Tiger?"
"How come even Orihime can't do this? This is a table, from the beginning of the month to the end, and from Monday to Sunday, forming a table. Then, you calculate the codes from three-person teams to five-person teams. Once you remember it, it's very simple."
"Simple? Only someone like you could call that simple," Ichigo retorted, utterly speechless.
This trio consisted of Ichigo, Uryū, and Orihime. Due to the special status of the Second Division, they could wear masks, leaving only their eyes exposed. Therefore, with Soi Fon's help, the three of them were now walking openly on the streets of the Gotei 13.
Due to their unique mission nature, the Second Division can go anywhere under any circumstances, including access to classified locations. Only the Second Division the Punishment Force have the authority to question them.
So this identity is incredibly useful. On the other hand, Soi Fon got Aizen's picture and showed it to the group. Now, the trio's mission is to find Aizen, because Aizen's genjutsu is useless against them; only the trio can find Aizen.
On the other hand, Soi Fon ordered Sado to be transferred from the Tenth Division prison to the Second Division, and then gave the trio another transfer order for Sado. The trio could release Sado at any time if they wanted, but now was not the time.
The three arrived at Central 46. Suddenly, a Punishment Force appeared out of nowhere Uryū showed his badge, and the Punishment Force retreated. The three then entered Central 46.
The body was long gone, and the bloodstains had evaporated, leaving nothing to investigate. However, since the Little Lion said that the reason he was framed that day must have been because Aizen was here at the time, Aizen is now very likely hiding openly in the Central 46.
Furthermore, in terms of location safety, the Central 46 are definitely one of Aizen's best hiding places right now, as is Aizen house. Ultimately, it depends on luck, but there's no other way but to find...
So the three of them started from the first room and searched the last, one room at a time, trying to find Aizen.
On the other side, at the fourth tower of the Confession Palace, Sajin Komamura is now on guard around the clock. He has a very high sense of justice and professional ethics. As the captain of the Seventh Division's inner court patrol, he consciously took on the role of guardian after defeating Ichigo last time.
Although the dog himself wasn't entirely satisfied with the Execution decision for Rukia, he filed a motion for appeal with the Central 46. However, now that the Central 46 had been massacred, the Big Dog was furious.
Because some people are so unruly, even if you're dissatisfied, how can you kill the Central 46? According to the D&D grid, the Big Dog is a Lawful Good, extremely law-abiding and dedicated to maintaining the stability of the rules.
But this time, the people he was facing were not quite right, because three people appeared in front of him.
"Tōshirō Hitsugaya! You massacred the Central 46 because you were with those two!? How disappointing!"
Tōshirō, the Shopkeeper, and Yoruichi appeared together at the fourth tower. However, the Big Dog showed no sign of backing down; his integrity prevented him from retreating. Just as in the original work, when Aizen suddenly appeared, he bravely confronted Aizen, even though he was instantly defeated.
So, there's no way to make this person back down, but the three of them aren't entirely sure and still want to try to persuade them.
"I wasn't the killer! Captain Kashiwamura! The person behind you is someone whose fate is in the hands of Soul Society! You are not capable of protecting her now, please hand her over to us!"
"You weren't the murderer!? Where's the evidence? Talk is cheap!" Kashiwamura said angrily. "As for the matter concerning the survival of Soul Society, how can you just casually utter such a statement? What face do you traitors have to say it concerns the survival of Soul Society!? Don't be ridiculous!! And even if Rukia Kuchiki really does concern the survival of Soul Society, then we definitely can't hand her over to you traitors!"
The Shopkeeper clicked his tongue. "Kashiwamura, it was all Aizen's plan. He's not dead."
However, before the Shopkeeper could finish speaking, the Big Dog became completely enraged, shouting, "You bastards!! You even dare to insult the dead?! Die! You heretics!!"
"Roar, Tenken!"
The Big Dog directly activated its Shikai, Tenken, a simple and brutal Shikai, just like its Big Dog simple and brutal thinking. In reality, the Order of Good and the Chaos of Evil are two sides of the same coin; both are factions that only those with a single-minded approach can stand firm. Generally speaking, they are simply simple-minded.
Therefore, the Big Dog's judgment on matters is simple and crude; he only trusts his own faction, and if it is an opposing faction, he will be completely hostile, regardless of what the enemy says.
Then look at his Zanpakuto, it's simple and brutal to the extreme: gigantification. My energy is high, so my size must be large. Even the release of the Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, is no simpler or more brutal method than this; bigger means stronger.
"Oh dear, this guy's a bit of a mystery," the Shopkeeper chuckled. "You two hold him off, I'll go get Rukia out."
"Understood! Seated atop the Frost Heaven! Hyōrinmaru!" Tōshirō didn't waste any words. Kashiwamura was a formal captain; if he Shikai his Shikai, he had to Shikai, otherwise how could he fight?
Yoruichi had already appeared behind Kashiwamura and struck him on the back of Kashiwamura neck with a palm strike. However, to everyone's dismay, Kashiwamura's incredibly thick protective spiritual Spiritual Power caused Yoruichi's palm strike to hit a metal plate.
Kashiwamura wasn't stupid. His opponent was Yoruichi, the "Flash Goddess," and Kisuke Urahara was a veteran captain. Add to that the super rookie Tōshirō, and Kashiwamura knew he was doomed. So he retreated directly to the fourth tower.
Then he chopped down the road connecting to the fourth tower.
This move completely baffled the trio. The Confession Palace was entirely suspended in mid-air, and with Kashiwamura's strike, the fourth tower was separated from the fifth and sixth towers behind it, leaving no connecting path.
Then, without hesitation, Kashiwamura cleaved himself in two, separating himself from the first and second towers. The Tenken sword appeared from the void, and with another slash, Kashiwamura separated himself from the third tower, leaving the fourth tower an isolated island.
What's even more impressive is that with a few slashes, Kashiwamura cleaved several surrounding towers in half. This makes it incredibly difficult for anyone to even get up there unless they possess an exceptionally powerful Shunpo ability to borrow momentum.
The trio who had retreated to the vicinity of the ninth and tenth towers were truly dumbfounded! The Shopkeeper snapped his fan shut, "This guy is incredibly stubborn, what kind of people are these?"
"I'll go!" Yoruichi exclaimed, a hint of defiance in her voice.
The Shopkeeper quickly stopped Yoruichi, "Let's retreat first. Such a commotion will bring people here soon, and with that terrain and his attack power, you'll be dead in one hit if you don't use your ultimate attack. It's too dangerous. Sigh, it was my poor planning. Let's retreat."
The trio's defeat was truly unexpected; no one could have predicted Kashiwamura's ruthlessness. And this wasn't even the limit yet. If all else fails, Kashiwamura could even destroy the fourth tower. Anyway, he can hold Rukia under control, and then it'll be a game similar to a beach landing.
Taking Rukia away from the Big Dog's guard is going to be incredibly difficult.
Rangiku arrived at the Thirteenth Division and found Vice-Captain Kaien Shiba.
"Kaien ~, Miyako~", Rangiku was very familiar with the couple. Shiba Miyako was also a member of the Women's Soul Reaper Association. The couple was very affectionate; Shiba Miyako the most skilled "dog food" (a term for public displays of affection) deliveryman in the Women's Soul Reaper Association.
"Rangiku! You still dare to run around like this!?" Everyone quickly pulled Rangiku inside.
Rangiku laughed awkwardly, "Haha~, it's alright, I wasn't implicated. Third Division Captain Gin Ichimaru testified for me."
"I see~ You and Captain Ichimaru, Arara?"
Faced with such good-natured teasing, Rangiku shyly admitted it, and Miyako laughed heartily, "Haha, congratulations~, when are you having the wedding banquet?"
"That's not settled yet, Kaien. I've come to tell you some secrets today."
Kaien didn't like to interrupt when the two women were talking, but this time was different. Looking at Rangiku's expression, Kaien realized that things were getting serious. With a wave of her hand, Kidō added...
"It's alright, just say what you want to say. This Kidō allows others to see and hear things differently."
"You're connected to our captain about this too?" Rangiku knew about this Kidō; Gin Ichimaru had told her, and this Kidō was developed by Jun, and currently everyone in the Soul Society is related to Jun.
"Captain Shimizu? I have no direct relation to him, but... my sister and brother are both Captain Shimizu's disciples."
"Ah~ that makes things easier," Rangiku misunderstood Kaien and Jun's relationship, assuming Kaien were also close, so she said directly, "The Soul Society is facing a huge crisis right now, Kaien, please help us!"
"A huge crisis? What Captain Shimizu mentioned?"
"Huh?" Rangiku realized that neither Kaien nor the couple knew anything about this. They both looked confused, but that was alright. She was going to explain things to them anyway. "What I'm about to say is very unbelievable, but you have to believe me, okay?"
Kaien became serious. "Tell me what you think."
"That's a long story. There's something called the Hōgyoku, which can grant people's wishes. It was developed nearly three hundred years ago by Captain Urahara, the then captain of the Twelfth Division."
"Then Captain Urahara conducted many experiments, discovered the power of this thing, and fearing its existence, he put it away. Then, time moved to over a hundred years ago."
"Aizen researched a lot of Hollows and turned many Soul Reaper into Hollows. Everyone experienced that period, so I won't go into details."
"Wait a minute, you mean Aizen? The Captain Aizen who died?"
"Yes! It's him, he's not dead."
Kaien gasped, "This is too amazing! Please continue, I'm listening."