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Thinking carefully, before he met Ailin, Hibiki Hoshino had been good in every way.

But after meeting Ailin, it seemed that every one of his flaws had been exposed.

His temperament was unstable, arrogant, and unruly...

Ailin, the Shinigami he had happened to misunderstand, seemed to be Hibiki Hoshino's nemesis.

Even Hibiki Hoshino's most powerful ability seemed ineffective against Ailin.

This rebellion launched by Hibiki Hoshino might even need Ailin to resolve it.

Therefore, although the Captain-Commander had clearly stated that it was a "Captain's Meeting," Ginrei Kuchiki still planned to bring Ailin along.

"Oh?"

Hearing Ginrei Kuchiki's invitation, Ailin pondered for a moment before finally nodding and agreeing to attend the meeting with him.

In this era, no one who could become a captain was weak.

Less than a minute after the Captain-Commander decided to convene the Captain's Meeting, everyone except Captain of the Seventh Division Aikawa Love and Captain of the Ninth Division Kensei Muguruma had arrived at the First Division.

The Captain of the Ninth Division had already been confirmed defeated by Hibiki Hoshino. Meanwhile, Hibiki Hoshino's Zanpakuto army had reached the Seventh Division, and Aikawa Love had remained there to hold back their assault.

Although Ailin had come with Ginrei Kuchiki, he was not a captain and could only wait to be summoned in the adjoining hall.

Thud!

Inside the First Division's meeting room, ten captains clad in Captain's Haori stood on either side of Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

Even Shunsui Kyōraku, the free-spirited Captain of the Eighth Division, wore an exceptionally solemn expression at this moment.

Because the man standing before them was Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, hailed as the Strongest Shinigami in the Soul Society.

His invincible reputation had been forged atop the bones of countless souls in the Soul Society.

Just look at the ability of his Zanpakuto's Bankai, Flame Fire 10 Trillion Death Great Burial Array. It could turn the ashes of enemies slain by his blade into a skeleton army that would wage endless slaughter against his foes.

Though the figure "10 trillion" might have been exaggerated, there had to be at least a hundred thousand.

And what about Ailin?

He had been a Shinigami for over thirty years, yet had not killed even three hundred enemies.

Of course, that was also related to the nature of the Second Division.

After all, the Secret Movement was unlike the units that fought Hollows head-on. Most of their enemies were fellow Shinigami.

Whether in swordsmanship, Hakuda, Kido, spiritual pressure, or anything else, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was undoubtedly at the absolute pinnacle among Shinigami.

Before such an existence, who would dare act recklessly?

"Third Seat Hibiki Hoshino of the First Division has launched a rebellion. At present, Captain of the Ninth Division Kensei Muguruma has been confirmed defeated, while Aikawa Love of the Seventh Division is locked in a bitter battle."

"You may be wondering why I have not sent you to reinforce the Seventh Division at a time like this..."

"Captain of the Second Division, explain the results of your investigation to the captains."

"Mm."

Shihoin Yoruichi nodded. Under everyone's gaze, she folded her arms and said, "Hibiki Hoshino possesses Captain-level strength and has already completed Bankai training for his Zanpakuto."

"Oh my, oh my. How frightening."

"As expected of the First Division. Even a Third Seat is this strong?"

Although everyone had known that the rebel possessed at least Captain-level strength after learning of the Ninth Division's defeat, having it confirmed still made them marvel at the First Division's foundations.

If they remembered correctly, the person who had broken into the First Division and attacked Captain-Commander Yamamoto five years ago had been one of the First Division's top three seats, and he had also possessed Captain-level strength.

In other words, five years ago, the First Division had actually possessed four Captain-level powerhouses, comparable to nearly half the Gotei 13.

"Hibiki Hoshino's Zanpakuto has the ability to materialize and control other Shinigami's Zanpakuto. In other words, when facing Hibiki Hoshino, none of you captains can draw your swords, and you must keep your distance."

"Otherwise, Hibiki Hoshino's forces will only grow stronger and stronger."

"What?"

Most of the captains were learning about Hibiki Hoshino's ability for the first time, and they were utterly shocked.

Most of their strength lay in their Zanpakuto. If their Zanpakuto were materialized and controlled, they would be left with, at most, thirty percent of their power.

"Does this ability have no weakness?"

"Based on the intelligence we currently have, it does have one weakness."

Shihoin Yoruichi gave a bright smile. "The Third Seat of my division, Urahara Kisuke, was attacked by Hibiki Hoshino's Zanpakuto. After defeating the materialized Zanpakuto, the controlled Zanpakuto regained its mind. Though we do not know how long a materialized Zanpakuto can remain in existence, during that time, it can also serve as an aid to its master."

"However, whether the recovered Zanpakuto can be controlled by Hibiki Hoshino again remains unknown."

"What a terrifying ability indeed."

After listening to Yoruichi's description, Shunsui Kyōraku, Captain of the Eighth Division, pulled down his straw hat.

Faced with an enemy like this, he really ought to stay away. Otherwise...

The other captains looked at one another as well.

Faced with such an ability, not a single captain dared claim that they could win.

For a time, everyone pondered how they should respond if they encountered Hibiki Hoshino.

Thud!

"Enough. To avoid being affected by Hibiki Hoshino's Zanpakuto ability, one must close off one's heart and fight him without using a Zanpakuto."

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto swept his gaze over the captains under his command. After lingering briefly on his disciples, Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake, he looked toward Ginrei Kuchiki.

"Ginrei, among the captains, only you and I can retain a measure of strength while closing off our hearts. This time, the two of us shall face Hibiki Hoshino."

"This..."

The moment they heard that the Captain-Commander intended to act personally, the captains could no longer remain seated.

Even Retsu Unohana, who always wore a smile, Jushiro Genpachi, who looked utterly indifferent, and the grinning Shunsui Kyōraku suddenly raised their heads and looked toward Captain-Commander Yamamoto.

"Captain-Commander, would it not be too dangerous for you to act personally?"

"That's right, Captain-Commander. It is only a matter of the Zanpakuto being controlled. Didn't Captain Shihoin just say that defeating one's own Zanpakuto directly would allow it to recover? Let me go instead. If I must close off my heart, I believe I can manage it."

The one who said this was none other than Retsu Unohana, Captain of the Fourth Division!

As someone personally defeated by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto a thousand years ago, Retsu Unohana understood the Captain-Commander's strength better than anyone else.

They had great confidence in Captain-Commander Yamamoto. After all, he was the Strongest Shinigami of the past thousand years.

But precisely because they had such confidence in him, they knew just how much destruction it would cause if Captain-Commander Yamamoto's Zanpakuto were controlled by Hibiki Hoshino.

The Soul Society itself might even be completely destroyed.

Cough, cough...

"Captain-Commander, Captain Unohana, it has not yet come to the point where you need to act."

"This time, I brought a Shinigami with me. Hibiki Hoshino's ability seems to have no effect on him."

"How about we call him in first and hear what he has to say?"