"I'm back in the Seireitei."
In Urahara Kisuke's underground base, Ailin stepped out of a blue spatial vortex between two pillars.
Without making any effort to conceal his spiritual pressure, Ailin headed for the Kuchiki Clan.
After all, Ailin was a captain dismissed by the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. His Zanpakuto had already been confiscated by the Gotei 13. Officially, without a Zanpakuto, Ailin could not enter Soul Society through the Kuchiki Clan's Senkaimon.
Of course, those in the know knew. Ailin's ability was "Sword Forging." As long as Ailin returned a Zanpakuto, no one would truly inspect whether that blade had been made by Ailin or was Ailin's real Zanpakuto.
Even if they wanted to inspect it, without the abilities of "Sword God Nimaiya Ōetsu" or Ichibei Hyosube, they could never learn a Zanpakuto's name.
Still, officially, Ailin had to give the Captain-Commander some face.
"Uncle-in-law Ailin."
After sensing Ailin's spiritual pressure approaching, Byakuya Kuchiki left Ginrei Kuchiki's bedside and came to greet Ailin at the gate.
"Mm. Byakuya, how is Father-in-law doing?"
Seeing Byakuya as he was now, Ailin was briefly dazed.
Another six years had passed. Byakuya had grown up!
The Byakuya Kuchiki standing before Ailin now was almost identical to the noble model in Ailin's memories, aside from the Captain's Haori.
"Captain Unohana said Grandfather's time has come."
Ailin's heart sank.
When someone's time had come, whether in the Human World or Soul Society, it was never good news.
Ginrei Kuchiki possessed Captain-level spiritual pressure and had a lifespan of five hundred years.
Now, Ginrei Kuchiki was nearing the end of his life.
"Byakuya, based on what we observed before we left last time, Grandfather should have had another ten years to live."
"How could he be unable to hold on after only six years?"