Secret Pact

The scent of ink in the Captain-Commander's study had long since dissipated.

Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai sat in the main seat, his hands clasped together, leaning on a cane that had been transformed from Ryūjin Jakka.

Cilian stood before him, her wounds already treated by Unohana, but the scorch marks from the Captain-Commander's Reiatsu remained on her Shihakusho, like dried-up riverbeds.

Retsu Unohana stood to one side of the stone, her hands folded in front of her, her fingertips still bearing fragments of Reishi from the dissection.

"From Aizen joining the team to his feigned death and escape today," Captain-Commander Yamamoto's voice was as deep as an ancient bell, "Piece together all the clues you've found. I want to see a complete picture."

Cilian bowed slightly:

"Yes!

My subordinates started investigating after the Bamboo Creek Plain Battle. What initially aroused suspicion was the silence of Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara after hearing about the reversal of the verdict—they clearly knew something but were unwilling to tell their subordinates.

And the number of people who can silence both the former Second Division Captain and the former captain of the Twelfth Division is extremely limited in the entire Soul Society...

He recounted his investigation, which began after the Bamboo Creek Plain Battle, point by point...

"According to my investigation, from the initial ordinary souls to the residents of Rukongai, to the lower-level Soul Reaper, and then to the captain's Hollowfication Incident more than a hundred years ago—his experiments have never stopped."

The core technology of the Completed Form units discovered during the Bamboo Creek Plain Battle matches the remnants of the Hollowfication Incident from over a century ago.

"And then there's his Zanpakuto," Unohana continued, "Aizen calls Kyōka Suigetsu Water-Type Zanpakuto, which uses the chaotic reflections of mist and water to confuse the enemy."

However, the Shikai abilities he demonstrated in any public setting were merely visual effects such as reflections on the water's surface and phantom refractions.

If he needs to show everyone his 'Shikai' in this way...

"If my speculation is correct," Cilian raised her head, her gaze calm, "The activation condition of its ability is most likely to be that the opponent sees the moment of its Shikai, which is a typical characteristic of illusion-type Zanpakuto."

That's why he unusually showed his Zanpakuto to everyone—even at the cost of having Zanpakuto jokingly called a 'teaching tool'—to ensure that everyone who might become a threat was hypnotized.

The Captain-Commander remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, "If this conjecture is true, then there is probably no one currently within the Seireitei who is capable of fighting Aizen and is immune to Kyōka Suigetsu."

Cilian raised her head. "No. There are two."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto's gaze fell upon him.

"Yexing Hu from my Second Division," Cilian said. "He was trained by the Fon Clan before enrolling, exempting him from most courses. Shortly after enrolling, he was assigned to an internship in the World of the Living, rarely staying at the academy. He happened to be absent Shikai the day Aizen demonstrated his Shikai in the Advanced Class because of his internship." He paused. "The other one is Ichigo Kurosaki. Ryoka, he only entered Soul Society a few days ago and also never had any contact with Aizen."

"Yexing Hu..." Captain-Commander Yamamoto recalled the young man in the academy courtyard, clumsy yet unusually focused, using a sweet potato as a prop.

The sensation of the slash from below Sōkyoku Hill still lingered on his fingertips.

As for Ichigo Kurosaki and that Ryoka, he didn't know much about them yet, but both of them were newcomers who had only been Soul Reaper for a few months.

"They might indeed be immune," Captain-Commander Yamamoto's voice deepened, "but that's precisely why they can't be pushed in front of Aizen. To send two greenhorns to deal with an enemy of this caliber would be a complete disgrace to the Gotei 13." He turned to Cilian, "How much of Still Water's reserves are left?"

Cilian took out a small, dark gold sphere from her bosom and presented it with both hands. "This is the last one. It was created using almost all of my Reiatsu. When crushed, it is enough to break through Mental Interference at Aizen's level for a short time. If the Captain-Commander carries it with him, he can also detect Aizen when he appears."

How long will it take to manufacture the next one?

"If supplies are sufficient, two can be made in three days. However, I have been expending Reiatsu to create Still Water for several days in a row, and in my current state, I'm afraid we won't be able to make any more in the short term."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto nodded. "This one is for me. If Aizen shows himself before me, I will arrest him on the spot." He took Still Water and held it in his palm.

The small sphere lay in the calloused lines of his palm, gleaming with a faint, dark golden light. For centuries, Captain-Commander Yamamoto had never relied on external objects; Ryūjin Jakka was his only weapon. But now, he had to admit—new talents emerge in every generation. His fingers slowly closed, gripping Still Water tightly.

"The execution must proceed as scheduled," Yamamoto said, his voice low but each word like a red-hot nail. "However, the execution can be stopped at the last minute, forcing Aizen to intervene. If he insists on obtaining the Hōgyoku, once the execution is halted, he will have to take action himself before it begins. That will be the only opportunity to capture him. As for how to stop the execution..."

"Cilian, you should be able to get things done, right? And let's get the Ryoka's side to put in a little more effort too."

"But the only price..." Unohana's voice was gentle, with a hint of helplessness in her eyes, "Was Rukia Kuchiki. When Aizen forcibly seized the Hōgyoku, no one could guarantee her life wouldn't be affected."

Yamamoto paused for a moment, then said, "This is a necessary sacrifice."

Cilian suddenly spoke up, "Captain-Commander, Captain Unohana, that's not necessarily true." He raised his head, "The intelligence I've received indicates that Aizen has devised a plan to extract the Hōgyoku without killing the host. Although I don't know the extent of the damage this plan will inflict on the host, it's still possible to avoid sacrifice."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto looked at Cilian: "Cilian, you've set up your intelligence channels very well..."

The candlelight flickered on his bronze face, highlighting the deep wrinkles that etched there. Cilian remained silent.

"... I understand." He tucked Still Water into his robes. "From now on, I will no longer pursue the actions of your Second Division. Go ahead and do as you please, Captain Unohana— "

"The Fourth Division will be prepared for any casualties that may occur on the day of the execution. All members with advanced Kaidō abilities will be urgently recalled, and first-aid supplies will be prepared." Unohana nodded slightly. "Furthermore, I will be there in person."

Yamamoto closed his eyes, and after a moment he opened them. In his pupils, which had been tempered by a thousand years of time, only the purest determination remained. "Then the day of execution will be the final reckoning."

On the other side

In Yoruichi's Secret Base, Ichigo had already woken up. Uryū leaned against the wall, his left arm wrapped in a freshly changed bandage, while Inoue knelt in the corner, organizing his first-aid kit.

Ichigo was lying face down on the ground, his forehead pressed against the stone slab, his fists pounding the ground repeatedly.

Each blow carried a dull, suppressed echo. Ganju and Hanatarō were still at the Senzaikyū. He had seen Ganju lying on the ground covered in blood, while Byakuya Kuchiki was standing there. Yet, he was Yoruichi once again.

"Calm down a bit." Yoruichi squatted on the wooden crate, her tail resting on her paws. "With Jūshirō Ukitake here, Ganju and Hanatarō will be fine. He's also a captain who strongly opposes Rukia's execution. He won't just stand by and watch them die."

Ichigo's fist hovered in mid-air, then slowly relaxed. But then he remembered the look Byakuya had Rukia —those eyes held no worry for his sister, no resentment at the execution, not even anger, only an almost heartless indifference.

"What's wrong with Byakuya Kuchiki?" Ichigo propped himself up on the ground, leaning against the wall, his voice hoarse. "The way he looked at Rukia... it wasn't like he was looking at his sister at all. Is that how a brother should act?"

"Indeed." Yoruichi flicked her tail. "That kid's acting a bit strange."

Even if he grows up and becomes more mature, I don't think he will become such a cold person.

When he brought Rukia back to the Kuchiki Clan, he defied all opposition; almost all the elders of the Kuchiki Clan were against it, and he shouldered all the pressure alone.

Afterwards, he Rukia from engaging in dangerous work. The Kuchiki Clan was the head of the nobility, and rules were more important than life itself. He violated family rules to marry Hisana, and then violated family rules to adopt Rukia. He should be a deeply affectionate person. But today, I could even see a trace of resentment in his eyes."

"If that's the case, then that guy is definitely acting a bit strange." Amber leaned against the wall, her fingers unconsciously tapping the hilt of Jiku'a's sword. "I initially thought he was just blaming me for Rukia- senpai's situation. But if he also harbors resentment towards Rukia-senpai herself—then there's something wrong here."

Ichigo stood up, brushing the rubble off his clothes. "Guessing here is useless. I have to ask him myself." He turned to Yoruichi, his eyes no longer filled with the powerless anger of before, but with a suppressed, burning determination. "Yoruichi- san, didn't you say you'd make me stronger than him within three days? Then let's do it!"

"You're quite energetic, aren't you?" Yoruichi tilted her head, seemingly quite pleased with his demeanor.

However, Amber poured cold water on the idea. "But you probably won't have much of a chance to fight him. According to Marechiyo Ōmaeda's calculations, there are quite a few Lieutenant who oppose the execution now."

Several squads have already volunteered last night. There's a high chance the execution verdict will be overturned. Once the conflict is resolved, you'll have no reason to fight him anymore.

Ichigo stood there, stunned. "This..."

"No." Yoruichi's voice was soft, yet it cut like a thin blade between them, "The execution will definitely take place."

"Why?" Ichigo and Koko asked almost simultaneously.

Yoruichi's pupils narrowed slightly. She hesitated for a long time—as if considering something she shouldn't say.

Rewind to the day the Ryoka invaded.

"Alala~ Isn't this the little wildcat?"

Yoruichi and Gin stood on either side of the roof. Gin had his hands tucked into his sleeves, and a smile that was always unfathomable played on his lips.

"Don't be nervous, I have something to say." He spread his hands to indicate that he wasn't carrying any weapons.

A while later...

A person and a cat appeared in a dead end.

"So you're saying you followed Aizen because of the other Hōgyoku in his possession?" Yoruichi asked, staring into Gin's eyes.

Yin's smile remained unchanged, but his pupils flickered slightly. "It's not the Hōgyoku, it's the material used to make Hōgyoku. That thing doesn't belong to him, and I must get it back."

Yoruichi scrutinized Gin for a while, sensing his seriousness. After a moment of silence, she sighed and said:

"You're really persistent. But let me tell you beforehand— Urahara once tried to break Hōgyoku, but it all ended in failure."

Once Hōgyoku) is formed, it's virtually impossible to disassemble it into raw materials. Even if you obtained his portion of Hōgyoku, you might not be able to extract it.

"You guys aren't up to par." Gin tilted his head, moonlight shimmering in his smiling eyes. "But Koko might be different. His Zanpakuto is special."

Yoruichi flicked her tail, recalling Cilian's assessment of Koko—that she was comparable to Captain-Commander Ryūjin Jakka. She remembered Urahara saying that Koko's ability was a "conceptual" existence.

She recalled the expression on Urahara's face when the young man neatly cut the space apart.

Everyone's saying that kid's knife is special. Is the concept of separation really that special? Now's not the time to think about that.

"If you're after Aizen's Hōgyoku, you and he will inevitably fall out sooner or later." Yoruichi stared at Gin. "Until then, what do you plan to do?"

"That depends on you guys." Gin held out his hand. "Give me the method to safely remove the Hōgyoku from Rukia's body. If Rukia dies, I won't have the face to ask Koko for help."

Yoruichi's pupils contracted sharply. Almost instinctively, all the muscles in her body tensed. "How did you know that?"

"Is that hard to guess?" Gin's tone was as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary. "Urahara a man of conscience. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stopped researching the Hōgyoku."

This person is different from Aizen —no matter how cunning he is, he would never harm an innocent person. Therefore, there must be a safe way to extract the Hōgyoku from Rukia's body; even if there wasn't originally, there must be now."

Yoruichi fell silent. Then she let out a very soft, almost sighing laugh. "I'm really fed up with you all. How are you all so brainless?"

She crouched down, her tail resting on her paws. "There is a method, but I've hidden it now."

Where is it hidden?

"The large library managed by the Tsunayashiro Clan, along with Urahara's several banned papers."

Silver's smile finally froze for a moment. "... How did you hide it there?"

"If we put it anywhere else, Aizen will easily become suspicious," Yoruichi said. "Urahara said that he will only believe and use it if it's hidden in a place he has to go to great lengths to get into. The Tsunayashiro Clan's Great Archives isn't a place just anyone can enter—not even Aizen."

"Alright~ alright~" Gin put his hands back in his sleeves, resuming his usual relaxed tone. He turned to leave, when Yoruichi's voice came from behind him. "Ichimaru, are you really determined to go with Aizen?"

Gin stopped in his tracks without turning around. "Yes. Otherwise, my goal might never be achieved. Aizen isn't the kind of person who would spill everything if caught."

"In that case, we will still be enemies."

"Of course." Silver turned his head, the light outlining a faint curve in the profile of his face. "I'm only an ally of yours in rescuing Rukia, nothing more."

Let's go back to the present.

Yoruichi considered it for a long time, but ultimately did not tell them about her conversation with Gin.

"With Aizen the strings behind the scenes, the execution is inevitable. Marechiyo Ōmaeda tries, he can't stop it." Yoruichi's gaze swept over everyone.

"But once the execution begins, that's when the real show starts. Most of the captains, because they oppose the execution, might react passively. That's our chance!"

So we still need to keep working on Marechiyo Ōmaeda's side—and you all need to prepare in the meantime. Whether we can save Rukia depends on the day of the execution."

Ichigo looked at her. Sōkyoku Hill, Aizen, execution—he was no longer just facing Byakuya Kuchiki. The enemies were more numerous than he had imagined, and the battles were more difficult than he had anticipated, but there was only one goal before him.

He stood up, hoisted Zangetsu onto his shoulder, and said, "Let's begin. Three days, and I'll surpass Byakuya Kuchiki."

Yoruichi watched his retreating figure, a smile curving her lips. "Good for you. Just don't regret it later."

"There's nothing to regret." Ichigo turned around, his brown eyes burning with a silent yet intense fire. "Rukia is still waiting."