"This is troublesome."
"Six vacant captain positions and three vacant vice-captain positions..."
Deep in the Soul Society, a bald, hunched Shinigami who looked like a dying old man spoke slowly.
"Hollowfication..."
"It seems someone else can't stand the quiet."
"They want to touch the power of forbidden techniques..."
At his side, Vice-Captain Chojiro Sasakibe lowered his head.
"Head Captain Yamamoto..."
"This incident is highly unusual."
"Urahara and Shinji Hirako may not have been involved..."
"There could be more to it."
"Besides..."
Chojiro Sasakibe paused.
"Though Yoruichi is usually rather flippant,"
"she isn't the sort to act recklessly..."
As one of the Four Great Noble Clans, the Shihouin had a certain foundation of reputation and prestige.
Chojiro Sasakibe, the vice-captain who had weathered countless trials alongside Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, was undoubtedly familiar with the Shihouin.
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the Soul Society's living fossil and strongest Shinigami, spoke slowly.
"Enough."
"Chōjirō."
"Rules are rules..."
"Besides..."
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto opened his eyes. He gave off no aura, and his gaze was cloudy, like that of a dying old man.
Yet a terrifying pressure filled the room at once.
"Central 46 has already made its decision,"
"and determined that they all betrayed the Soul Society."
"That is now an established fact."
Chojiro Sasakibe understood. This was Head Captain Yamamoto's usual way of doing things: he made no exceptions and enforced the rules strictly.
Under the rules, Head Captain Yamamoto showed no mercy.
Even family and disciples were no exception. They all had to endure Head Captain Yamamoto's iron fist.
"No matter what..."
"As long as I'm here, the Soul Society won't descend into chaos."
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto delivered his final word on the matter. Whatever the truth, anyone who had taken part in such experiments had crossed a line and touched forbidden power.
And