Aftermath

Several days later, Seireitei, First Division.

The atmosphere in the solemn, imposing council chamber was heavy.

Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto sat at the head of the room, his expression as still and unfathomable as a deep abyss.

Several captains connected to the incident were seated on either side, including Tenth Division Captain Isshin Shiba, 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana, Sixth Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, Squad 12 Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and Liu Chuan, who was responsible for investigating the incident.

Vice-Captain Chōjirō Sasakibe stood attentively at one side.

Liu Chuan stood in the middle of the hall and gave a thorough, orderly report to the Captain-Commander and the assembled captains: the investigation into the "Twin Hyorinmaru" incident, his battle with Complete Hyōrinmaru, and the information he had obtained from it.

He also laid out the conclusions he had drawn from the Royal Seal transfer intelligence provided by Isshin Shiba.

He did not embellish the intensity or danger of the battle, merely stating the facts objectively.

Yet terms such as Complete Hyōrinmaru, the interference of golden power, and the leakage of the Royal Seal's power were enough for everyone to sense the turbulent undercurrents and gravity of this matter, far beyond that of an ordinary incident.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto listened with his eyes closed throughout. Only after Liu Chuan had finished did he slowly open those eyes that seemed to contain molten lava.

His gaze lingered on Liu Chuan for a moment, then swept over Isshin Shiba before he spoke in a deep voice:

"Since the truth of this matter has been uncovered, and it was indeed related to an accidental leak during the transfer of the Royal Seal, neither Toshiro Hitsugaya nor Sojiro Kusaka is at fault. I will personally explain matters to the Central 46 Chambers. Release them immediately and restore their reputations and freedom."

The order was concise and forceful, settling the matter with a single blow. Since it involved the Royal Seal, even the Central 46 Chambers could no longer insist on their cruel "duel" proposal when the Captain-Commander had personally made his ruling and the evidence was so clear.

"Yes." Chōjirō Sasakibe bowed and accepted the order.

"As for the leakage of the Royal Seal's power," Captain-Commander Yamamoto said, his tone turning cold with unquestionable authority,

"this is top secret. Nothing discussed here today is to be leaked. Do you understand?"

"Yes!" the captains answered in unison, their expressions solemn.

The orders were swiftly issued. The heavy stone doors of the Central 46 Chambers' underground prison, where Toshiro Hitsugaya and Sojiro Kusaka had been held, opened once more.

This time, it was not for another oppressive interrogation, but to inform them that their confinement had been lifted.

When the two boys stepped out of the dark, freezing corridor one after the other, their footsteps slightly unsteady, and once again bathed in Seireitei's comparatively gentle light, both felt as though a lifetime had passed.

Toshiro Hitsugaya's white hair seemed to have lost some of its luster, and his youthful face was marked with exhaustion. Yet the sharpness and stubbornness belonging to a genius remained unbroken in his eyes, tempered further by this experience.

He immediately searched for Momo Hinamori. When he saw that his friend was safe and sound, relief flashed through his eyes.

Sojiro Kusaka, walking behind him, looked even paler. His long black hair was somewhat disheveled, and besides exhaustion, there was an indescribable emptiness and loss in his expression.

He subconsciously clenched his hand around his waist—his Zanpakuto still hung there.

However, when he drew it half an inch from its sheath, the blade was dull and lifeless. The restrained yet powerful icy Spiritual Pressure that had once flowed across it was gone. It felt cold to the touch, but it was merely the coldness of ordinary metal, no different from any unawakened Asauchi.

"Kusaka, your sword..." Toshiro Hitsugaya noticed his friend's movement and asked quietly.

Sojiro Kusaka smiled bitterly and fully sheathed the blade, his voice hoarse. "As expected, Hyōrinmaru has completely disappeared. Now, it... is only an Asauchi."

He paused and looked at the Zanpakuto at Hitsugaya's waist. The faint chill emanating from it, both familiar and strange to him, made his gaze grow even more complicated.

"Perhaps this is what it was supposed to be from the start. I... was never meant to possess Hyōrinmaru."

Looking back, that was indeed the case.

Though Sojiro Kusaka was talented and considered one of the best at Shin'ō Academy, the gap between him and Toshiro Hitsugaya—a once-in-a-century genius born with astonishingly powerful ice-type Spiritual Power—was obvious.

For the two of them to have "simultaneously" awakened the Zanpakuto known as the strongest of the ice type had been the greatest inconsistency from the start.

Now that the truth had been revealed, it had all been a mistake born from outside interference.

At that moment, Liu Chuan and Isshin Shiba appeared at the other end of the corridor.

They had clearly come to handle the aftermath and personally confirm the two boys' condition.

Upon seeing Liu Chuan, both Toshiro Hitsugaya and Sojiro Kusaka unconsciously straightened, their eyes filled with gratitude and respect.

From the prison guards in charge of releasing them and from the arriving Momo Hinamori, they had already learned roughly that it was this senior Liu Chuan of Zero Division who had uncovered the truth, turned the tide, and saved them from despair.

"Senior Liu Chuan, Captain Shiba." Toshiro Hitsugaya bowed respectfully. Sojiro Kusaka hurriedly followed suit.

Liu Chuan's gaze passed over them, pausing briefly on the Asauchi at Sojiro Kusaka's waist before he said calmly:

"It is over. You are free."

His words were simple, yet they carried a reassuring strength.

"Thank you, Senior!" the two said in unison.

Liu Chuan waved a hand to indicate that no formalities were necessary, then turned and left with Isshin Shiba.

As Liu Chuan and Isshin Shiba disappeared around the corridor's bend, discussions of the "Twin Hyorinmaru" incident spread through Seireitei like ripples from a stone dropped into still water.

At first, when Liu Chuan had been announced as a Zero Division reserve member and assigned to investigate the matter, there had been shock, but also no shortage of private doubts and wait-and-see attitudes.

After all, Liu Chuan had been too "low-profile" in the past. Apart from his excellent performance at Shin'ō Academy and his position in the Kido Corps, he had no remarkable achievements or widely known influence.

Zero Division's invitation was certainly astonishing, but before results were proven, there would always be those who wondered whether there were other considerations involved, or whether Liu Chuan could truly bear such a heavy responsibility.

However, when the incident ended in this manner—one involving the Royal Seal's highest secrets, a direct battle against Complete Hyōrinmaru, the successful dispersal of foreign power, the rescue of the two involved, and even forcing the Central 46 Chambers to reverse their decision—

all previous doubts and hesitation vanished before the ironclad facts.

This young Soul Reaper named Liu Chuan not only possessed the prestigious status of a Zero Division reserve member, but had also proven through his actions that he deserved the honor.

What he displayed was not merely overwhelming strength, but also a calm, wise mind and profound insight into rules and phenomena.

When the captains and vice-captains of the Gotei 13 looked at Liu Chuan now, their gazes were completely different from before.

"It seems the Soul King Palace truly chose the right person this time," 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana had once remarked gently during a private conversation with Jushiro Ukitake, approval in her eyes.

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