Once Shihōin Shanqing had returned to his place and stood properly, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto said in a deep voice, "We will now assign missions. Third Division Captain Juji Nanma, accompanied by Lieutenant Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi; Fifth Division Captain Shinji Hirako; Ninth Division Captain Wangyuan Baoren, accompanied by Lieutenant Kensei Muguruma; Tenth Division Captain Kitagawa Guobu, accompanied by Lieutenant Kūkaku Shiba; Eleventh Division Captain Kenpachi Kiganjō!"
As he spoke, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto swept his gaze around the room, then narrowed his eyes. "And add the Second Division's Third Seat, Yoruichi Shihōin!"
"What?!"
Yoruichi Shihōin froze. The other captains were somewhat stunned as well, but none of them spoke up. The reason was obvious: Yoruichi Shihōin possessed Captain-class strength, and there was also Shadow, who surpassed Captain-class.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's calculations were sound. The Soul Society could not command Shadow, but it could command Yoruichi Shihōin, indirectly making Shadow take action. Everyone could see that.
However, neither Shihōin Shanqing nor Yoruichi Shihōin objected to the proposal; they were merely surprised. At this point, Yoruichi Shihōin was powerful in Reiatsu, Shunpo, and Hakuda, and had even mastered Bankai. Yet unlike Kensei Muguruma and the others, she had never experienced battle against the Quincy in the World of the Living. What she needed most, what she alone lacked, was the tempering of bloodshed.
Therefore, even if Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto had not brought it up, Shihōin Shanqing would have made Yoruichi Shihōin take part in this battle no matter what. With Shadow there, he was at ease, and Yoruichi Shihōin clearly understood that as well.
Seeing that both Yoruichi Shihōin and Shihōin Shanqing had agreed, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto finally nodded. The Shihōin were one of the Four Great Noble Families. Even as Captain-Commander, he would not dare send their heir to the battlefield without their consent. After all, the Soul Society was not his alone to rule.
"Since there are no objections, the Third, Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Divisions will serve as the main force and proceed beyond the Boundary Gate to meet the enemy in Hueco Mundo. Fourth Division Captain Unohana will be responsible for logistics and treatment!"
"Sixth Division Captain Ginrei Kuchiki, Seventh Division Captain Love Aikawa, Twelfth Division Captain Kirio Hikifune: your three divisions will maintain order within the court and eliminate enemies who have infiltrated the Soul Society!"
"Eighth Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku, Second Division Captain Shihōin Shanqing, and Thirteenth Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake: your three divisions will guard the Boundary Gate. Should the five divisions in battle be unable to hold, provide immediate support and enter the fight. That is all!"
"Understood!!!"
"Good!"
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto slammed his cane heavily against the ground and shouted, "I expect everyone to prepare with all their strength! Defend the dignity of the Bleach with your lives! Now, captains, return and assemble your troops. Gather before the Boundary Gate at dawn tomorrow. This meeting is adjourned!"
"Yes!"
The next day, Soul Society, Seireitei, plaza.
The wind was strong that day, making the six upright white banners flap loudly. Yet among the neat ranks standing beneath those tall flags marked with different numbers, no one so much as raised their head to look.
At the front of the formation stood the Lieutenants and seated officers, led by Yoruichi Shihōin, Kensei Muguruma, Kūkaku Shiba, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, and the others.
On the platform opposite them stood the five captains led by Shinji Hirako: Juji Nanma, Wangyuan Baoren, Kitagawa Guobu, and Kenpachi Kiganjō, along with Fourth Division Lieutenant Yamada Seinosuke.
His long golden hair shone with a chilling gleam. Beneath his pure white captain's haori, his seemingly slender body appeared incomparably tall. Without his usual playful grin, Shinji Hirako stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with seriousness.
"Everyone should know that Hueco Mundo has attacked the Soul Society. We are standing here today to serve as the vanguard and meet Hueco Mundo in battle. Perhaps from the very next moment, our comrades will die one after another..."
Shinji Hirako's voice was not particularly loud, yet it struck every heart like a heavy hammer.
"But do not forget why they died. They died to protect the homeland behind us, our shared home!"
"Because this is our duty, this is our will. To protect our home, even death is our glory!"
Shinji Hirako paused as he spoke, placing his right hand on the Zanpakutō at his waist. His palm tightened around the hilt, and with a sweep of his arm, a sharp clang rang out as he drew the Zanpakutō from its sheath. Raising the blade high, Shinji Hirako took a deep breath, gathered all his strength in his chest, opened his mouth, and shouted in a voice unlike any he had ever used before.
"Brothers, draw your blades! Drive back Hueco Mundo with our swords! Carve out peace for our homeland, carve out the glory of being Bleach! Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The synchronized sound of blades being drawn became a surging torrent. Countless Zanpakutō were raised high, as though they would pierce heaven and earth. Following Shinji Hirako's cry, the roar was like thunder.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
"Move out!"
"Move out!"
Hueco Mundo was the realm where Hollows lived, a world filled with black and white. Its barren, desert-like ground and towering stone cliffs were strewn everywhere with the dried bones of creatures. There was no water, no light, no life, no color—nothing but a desolate wasteland.
The Expeditionary Force was a newly established regular army composed of Bleach, sent by the Seireitei to suppress Hueco Mundo and prevent it from invading the Soul Society on a large scale. It was currently divided into three legions. Each legion had thirty battalions, each battalion had twelve squads, and the number of members in each squad varied.
Although the Expeditionary Force was said to be composed of Bleach, most of them were students who had just graduated from Shin'ō Academy but had not been accepted into the Gotei 13. A small number were eager to rise through the ranks and hungry for merit, while others had caused trouble, offended nobles, or were Bleach who refused discipline.
It could be said that the so-called Expeditionary Force was merely made up of discarded Bleach. No—some of them could not even be considered Bleach.
Because some of them did not even know their Zanpakutō's names, while others had not awakened a Zanpakutō at all. Such people, to put it bluntly, were nothing more than cannon fodder meant to make one final contribution to the Seireitei before dying.
The arrival of the Seireitei vanguard led by Shinji Hirako and the five captains greatly encouraged the Expeditionary Force members, who had suffered heavy casualties in the previous clashes. The earlier gloom was swept away. After all, people were creatures capable of fear; before death, no one could remain completely calm.
Before you continue