Beginning to Lie Low

The Secret Base was hidden in the middle of a cliff near the Senzaikyū, its entrance completely obscured by collapsed stone pillars and dried vines. Yoruichi led them through a narrow crevice, barely wide enough for one person to pass sideways, and inside opened up into a small but dry stone chamber. Several dusty wooden crates were piled in the corner, and a semi-circular window offered a view of the Senzaikyū.

Orihime Inoue knelt beside Ichigo, the golden light of the Sōten Kisshun enveloping his battered body. Ichigo's breathing was heavy, each rise and fall aggravating the deepest wound in his abdomen, blood seeping from the edges of the bandages, spreading a small dark red patch on the stone slab. His brows were furrowed, his face remaining expressionless even in his unconscious state.

After a long while, his eyelids finally twitched. Inoue whispered "Kurosaki-kun," Ichigo suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils still showing the last frame of the image before he lost consciousness— Kenpachi's golden Reiatsu pressed down like a volcanic eruption, Zangetsu collided with that serrated sword, and then his consciousness was severed.

He propped himself up too quickly, and the wound on his abdomen immediately reopened, blood seeping from the gaps in the bandages. He grimaced in pain, but he didn't care.

"Chad... Chad's Reiatsu..."

He remembered clearly that just before his consciousness faded, just before Kenpachi's blade fell, he sensed Chad's Reiatsu gradually weakening. He had to find Chad! He pushed Inoue's hand off his shoulder, and one leg was already on his knees.

A black cat silently jumped down from the wooden crate, landing squarely on Ichigo's head. The force wasn't great, but the landing was precise—its two front paws slammed onto his forehead, while its hind legs pushed against the back of his head, slamming him back to the ground. Ichigo's head hit the stone slab, and he groaned softly.

"Do you want to die?" The black cat's voice came from above, its golden pupils looking down at him. Strands of cat fur covered Ichigo's face.

"Chad him--"

"He's not dead yet." Yoruichi interrupted him, her tone neither gentle nor dismissive. "Although he was badly injured, he's no longer fighting. The Soul Reaper he encountered wasn't a bad opponent, and his injuries are being treated, so he's safe."

Ichigo struggled to get up, but Yoruichi's claw pressed down another half inch. "What can you do over there now? You're in such a state that you can barely lift a sword, and nearly half of your internal organs have been cut—are you planning to crawl over there to be added to the meal?"

Ichigo gritted his teeth, the veins on his forehead throbbing several times. His clenched fists trembled, because he could do nothing. After a long while, his hands slowly loosened. He lay back down on the ground, and Inoue's Sōten Kisshun enveloped his entire body once more.

Amber knelt against the wall, remaining silent the entire time. Only after Ichigo's breathing had calmed down did he speak, "Why did you go to the Senzaikyū again? Didn't I tell you yesterday that there was still a chance for Rukia's execution?"

Ichigo his face to the side, his voice still hoarse from just waking up from unconsciousness. "The Denreishinki hasn't worked since this morning. No matter what I try, there's no signal."

He reached into his coat and pulled out the machine, now reduced to scrap metal. The screen was black, and several of the buttons on the Denreishinki were worn through.

Hu took it and flipped it over a couple of times—that was a really hard press.

"And," Ichigo took the scrap metal, stared at it in silence for a moment, "When we were lying in wait, we overheard two patrolling soldiers talking. They said a captain who opposed executions had died."

Inoue's hand paused for a moment on the light shield. Uryū looked up from the corner, adjusted his glasses, and said nothing.

"A captain was killed simply for opposing Rukia's execution." Ichigo gripped the Denreishinki tightly, his knuckles turning white. "If Soul Society is willing to kill its own captain to kill Rukia —then I can't wait any longer. I'm bringing Rukia back to the World of the Living directly."

The stone chamber fell silent for a moment. Light streamed in through the window, falling on the black cat's back, and Yoruichi's tail flicked.

"One of the captains died—you're not talking about Aizen, are you?"

Ichigo looked up at her.

Yoruichi's cat face was expressionless, but her voice carried an undisguised, almost mocking certainty. "That man can't possibly die. And he's not the captain who opposes execution—on the contrary, he's the one who most wants Rukia dead."

Inoue's hand twitched on the light shield, and Uryū's pupils contracted for a moment. Ichigo propped himself up and sat up.

"What?"

"Sōsuke Aizen. Fifth Division Captain." As Yoruichi said that name, her tail flicked slowly behind her. "He orchestrated this execution. There was something inside Rukia that he wanted, and the Sōkyoku method of execution was just right to extract that thing."

This is the real reason he pushed for the death penalty; there are no so-called legal provisions involved, it's all because he needed it.

Ichigo gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Uryū pushed up his glasses, his gaze sharpening beneath the lenses. "So that captain who was rumored to 'oppose execution' was actually the one who most wanted the execution to succeed? Then why was there a rumor about him opposing execution?"

"Because he needs this as cover," Yoruichi said briefly, "To make the opponents think he's an ally, and the bystanders think he's a good guy."

That way, when he orchestrated the executions behind the scenes, no one would suspect him.

"But," Inoue recalled what Ko had mentioned earlier, "Wasn't it said that Captain Aizen questioned the execution from the very beginning? Ko and the others even used these questions as evidence to persuade the other captains..."

"Those points of contention are all true," Hu said.

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his silver eyes calm yet sharp. "Every point of contention he raised is true—the improper handling of the Gigai, the shortened grace period, the rejection of all appeals. It's all true, and it's precisely because what he said is true that his image feels so real."

Looking out the window at the Senzaikyū, Amber said, "He used the truth as bait to lure the opponents in the direction he wanted. And now he's feigning death to extricate himself, leaving the opposition in chaos."

Yoruichi looked at Kou, her golden pupils narrowing slightly. "You're not very surprised. Has the Second Division found out anything?"

"The Second Division discovered something amiss, but they haven't made any guesses about the culprit. That Marechiyo Ōmaeda guy was still thinking this morning that Aizen was someone worth trying to win over."

Amber turned her head to look at Yoruichi: "But Instructor Cilian was very wary of Aizen. It was he who stopped Marechiyo Ōmaeda from trying to bring Aizen into the team. I just trusted the instructor's judgment."

Yoruichi's tail paused in mid-air for a moment. Then she let out a very soft, almost sighing laugh. "That Cilian guy, his eyes are as sharp as ever."

She took a step forward and squatted down in front of Ichigo, her tail resting on her paws. "The whole story is too long to tell you all at once right now."

You only need to know one thing: Aizen wants to execute Rukia to obtain something hidden inside her. If the execution fails, his plan will fall through. Therefore, the best way now is to suppress the execution by questioning her. You—"

Before he could finish speaking, a surge of Reiatsu pierced through the morning's haze, cold and heavy, exploding from the direction of the Senzaikyū and pouring into the entire secret chamber through the entrance in the stone crevice.

Ichigo's pupils contracted sharply. "That's Byakuya Kuchiki's Reiatsu!"

He pushed Inoue's hand away, got up from the ground, and the bandage on his abdomen was soaked with blood again. "Ganju and Hanatarō —they're still at the Senzaikyū!" He grabbed the flying device next to Yoruichi's feet and was launched into the air.

"Wait, Kurosaki, I'm going too!" Uryū followed closely behind, grabbing Ichigo's clothes, and the two were dragged out of the door by the flying device.

"Hey!" Yoruichi called out in the direction the two had disappeared, but received no response. She flicked her tail and turned to Koko, "What are you standing there for? We have to go after them."

Then Yoruichi and Amber rushed out side by side. Inoue stood at the entrance of the stone chamber, his hands clasped in front of his chest, watching the direction in which their figures disappeared, and whispered, "Be careful."

When Ichigo and Uryū arrived, Hanatarō was slumped on the ground, his legs as limp as two lumps of mud. Beside him lay Ganju Shiba, covered in blood. One of Ganju's legs was bent at an obviously wrong angle, his face was covered in a mixture of blood and dust, and he was unconscious.

Ahead of them, Byakuya Kuchiki stood in the center of the shattered stone slab. Before him stood a white-haired man— Jūshirō Ukitake. Ukitake held the hand holding Zanpakuto, blocking Ganju's path.

"Ukitake, Ren-kyō is here too?" Byakuya's voice was calm. "Make way."

"I cannot allow it," Ukitake replied calmly. "These people haven't committed a crime deserving of death."

Byakuya remained silent.

Ukitake slightly turned his head, sensing the approaching Reiatsu of a Captain-level being.

Ichigo and Uryū landed from the sky, their gazes sweeping over the two of them without making a sound.

Byakuya also saw them.

"There are two guys? Then..."

"I want this!" Ichigo pulled Zangetsu from behind him, Uryū drew his Spirit Bow —then the two of them simultaneously locked onto Byakuya.

Byakuya watched this scene, slightly turning his head, his gaze sweeping from Ichigo to Uryū, then back. The corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

"I never imagined I'd be chosen by two insects. It's laughable."

His Reiatsu exploded without reservation.

The stone slab cracked into a spiderweb pattern around the sole of his foot, and Hanatarō was knocked to the ground by the pressure, making it difficult for him to even breathe.

Ichigo and Uryū stood before him, one carrying Zangetsu, the other holding the Spirit Bow —unmoved. Byakuya's gaze lingered on the two for a moment.

"So you haven't lost your fighting spirit even in the face of my Reiatsu?" He tilted his head slightly. "It seems you've all grown somewhat."

Ichigo didn't answer. He gripped Zangetsu with both hands and charged straight at Byakuya.

Byakuya drew his sword to meet the attack, and Senbonzakura's blade clashed with Zangetsu, sparks exploding between the two swords. In that instant, Uryū's spirit arrow shot towards Byakuya's face like a meteor. Byakuya turned his head, and the spirit arrow grazed his earlobe, severing a few strands of his black hair, and embedded itself in the stone pillar behind him.

Byakuya Shunpo retreat.

"Surprised that I saw through your actions?" Ichigo put Zangetsu off his shoulder, the tip of the sword pointing at the ground.

"It's us. You can't forget about me." Uryū pushed up his glasses.

Byakuya looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and said, "It was just a lucky coincidence that you blocked it for a moment. Don't get too cocky, you fools."

"Is it just a coincidence? Do you want to try again?" Uryū drew back the Spirit Bow, stringing it taut. Byakuya's figure vanished from his spot, so fast that even his afterimage remained in place before his true form appeared behind Uryū.

Uryū unleashed Hirenkyaku, his body arcing through the air as he dodged the blade while simultaneously spinning in mid-air, unleashing Spirit Bow at Byakuya. The arrows rained down on Byakuya's position.

Byakuya swung his sword repeatedly, and the fragments of Reishi shattered around him, exploding into a cloud of light. In that instant, Ichigo burst in from the side.

Zangetsu's blade, with the force of a whirlwind, slashed towards Byakuya's side. Byakuya once again Shunpo to retreat, the blade grazing past his sleeve.

He stood ten paces away, looked down at the extremely fine crack on his sleeve caused by the blade, then looked up at the orange-haired boy standing there carrying Zangetsu, and at the Quincy had drawn his Spirit Bow again.

"... I see. It seems you are more capable than I imagined." He placed his hand on the hilt of Senbonzakura's sword. "Very well. Then, before you become complacent with your own abilities, I will show you the decisive difference in power between you and me that you could never catch up to even after a thousand years of arduous training."

"Let it scatter--"

Before he could finish speaking, an extremely long bandage shot out silently from the shadows of the Senzaikyū, wrapping around the blade of Senbonzakura just as it was about to Shikai its Shikai, tightening and preventing its release.

Byakuya's gaze followed the bandage back to him— Yoruichi Shihōin was squatting in front of him, the other end of the bandage clutched in her hand.

"Yoruichi Shihōin." When Byakuya called out this name, his tone remained flat, but the knuckles gripping the sword tightened slightly.

The instant he finished speaking, a blue sword emerged from behind him and was placed against the side of his neck.

The sword was burning with a deep purple Haien, which quietly licked the edge of the small Captain's Haori at his collar, illuminating it slightly.

"Yexing Hu." Byakuya didn't turn around.

Ichigo slammed Zangetsu to the ground, panting heavily. "Yoruichi- san—Amber!"

Yoruichi straightened up. Her skin glowed with a healthy sheen in the morning light. She turned to look at Byakuya: "Long time no see, Byakuya- kun."

Byakuya frowned and said, "Former Commander of the Stealth Force and Commander of the First Division, Yoruichi Shihōin."

"Previously, they were unable to recall the Four Great Noble Clans of Soul Society no matter what they did. The first thing they did upon returning to Soul Society was to collude with a new recruit from the Second Division to attack their captain and protect the Ryoka?"

His gaze followed the Phantom Blade across her neck and landed on Amber. "And you, sir. I remember you were Soi Fon's confidant, weren't you? Acting behind Soi Fon's back with the former commander—have you betrayed us?"

"Byakuya, I'm not without a temper either. If you're thinking of taking it out on me, you've come to the wrong person!" Amber stood behind him, her Phantom Blade pressed against Byakuya's neck, unmoving. "I've felt something was off since the beginning of the World of the Living —you seem to be blaming me for everything."

There weren't many good opportunities in the Senkei at the time, so I'll be frank: I was indeed aware of the Regular Contact, but do you really think Rukia's execution was my fault?

"Didn't you notice anything amiss with this execution? Why was our Second Division so passive in the capture of the Ryoka? Don't you have any thoughts on that?" His voice wasn't loud, but each word was enunciated firmly. "When did you become so stubborn!"

Byakuya didn't speak. But his Reiatsu increased another level. Fine cracks appeared on the stone slab beneath his feet. Hanatarō was already lying on the ground, his chest pressed against the ground, his breathing suppressed to an extremely thin and shallow line.

At the same time, Amber's Reiatsu exploded, and a wild and sharp blue beam of light surged from her body, colliding head-on with Byakuya's Reiatsu. The two forces tore at each other in the air, and the entire Senzaikyū trembled slightly.

The Phantom Blade he held against Byakuya's neck remained motionless, while the deep purple flames of the Haien slowly flowed down the spine of the sword, leaving fine scorch marks on the white fabric of Byakuya's collar.

Yoruichi raised her hand, stopping the Reiatsu collision that was about to spiral out of control.

"Alright, we'll talk about your matter later. The Stealth Force is obligated to serve the Shihoin family; it's not simply an organization of the Thirteenth Division —Amber is here on my orders Clan Head the Shihoin family. Secondly—"

Before she could finish speaking, Ichigo stepped forward, carrying Zangetsu: "Yoruichi- san, Amber, you're here to help—but excuse me, please step aside." He glared at Byakuya, his eyes blazing, "This guy must be defeated by my own hands."

"Defeat him?" Yoruichi turned her head to look at him. "You? What an idiot." She raised her hand and pierced Ichigo's waist wound with a single blow, injecting a powerful anesthetic into Ichigo's body. Ichigo's vision went black, and he fell straight forward.

Yoruichi casually grabbed his collar, hoisted him onto her shoulder, and the movement was as smooth as picking up a coat.

At the same time, Amber moved. He stepped back from behind Byakuya and landed a precise punch to Uryū's abdomen with his left hand. The punch was held back, just enough to make Uryū bend over, gasping for breath. "You just had Inoue detoxified, what are you being so stubborn about?"

He reached out and hoisted Uryū onto his shoulder, and almost simultaneously with Yoruichi, they leaped onto the roof of the Senzaikyū.

"Give me three days." Yoruichi stood on the edge of the rooftop, Ichigo on her shoulder, looking down at Byakuya. Her voice wasn't loud, but every word carried firmly in the cold wind of the Senzaikyū. "Within three days, I will make Ichigo stronger than you. Until then, we will call a truce."

She disappeared after she finished speaking, taking Ichigo with her.

Only Amber and Uryū, who was being carried on his shoulder, remained on the rooftop. He carefully hoisted Uryū onto his back and was about to turn around and chase after Yoruichi when he paused.

"Byakuya, Ichigo will definitely ask you the same question I asked you in the Senkei that Ichigo, three days later. I hope you can answer it this time."

He turned around, jumped off the roof, and disappeared.