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7:30 AM – Sōkyoku Hill
Under the towering, gate-shaped execution scaffold, Genryūsai Yamamoto stood tall, leaning on his cane as he scanned the assembled captains with narrowed eyes.
Standing in line were: Soifon of Division 2, Retsu Unohana of Division 4, Byakuya Kuchiki of Division 6, Shunsui Kyōraku of Division 8, and Toshiro Hitsugaya of Division 10—along with their respective lieutenants.
Yamamoto let out a harsh snort and struck the ground with his cane.
"Less than half of the captains showed up to an all-hands summons. Outrageous."
It was unprecedented in Soul Society history—this many captains absent when a threat was looming.
No wonder Yamamoto was fuming.
Shunsui, seeing the old man's rising anger, tilted his straw hat and tried to calm the mood.
"Ayaya~ Can't be helped, old man. You know Ukitake's condition. He's not exactly in fighting shape."
Yamamoto raised a brow, but he knew Ukitake's health issues well enough. As his own disciple, he let it slide.
But for the rest? He couldn't overlook it.
"Where are Tosen Kaname, Sajin Komamura, Kenpachi Zaraki, and Gin Ichimaru?"
Soifon, head of the stealth force, the Onmitsukidō, stepped forward and answered swiftly.
"Fifteen minutes ago, Captain Zaraki forcibly left Division 4's medical ward with the Ryoka. Captains Tosen and Komamura are moving to intercept."
"As for Captain Gin Ichimaru… his whereabouts are currently unknown."
Yamamoto's breathing grew visibly heavier.
"That brat Zaraki… causing chaos even now."
He didn't believe for a second that Zaraki had sided with the Ryoka. More likely, that battle-hungry maniac was being manipulated.
Then his expression darkened.
"Why was the Ryoka in Division 4's care to begin with?"
Shunsui lowered his hat awkwardly.
"Ah, that's probably my fault. I beat him half-dead yesterday and had him sent over."
Yamamoto glared at him with a cold grunt.
"Foolish."
The message was clear: You should've just killed him.
Shunsui could only laugh awkwardly. "My bad…"
Yamamoto diverted his gaze, shut his eyes, and spoke again.
"Have the Stealth Force search for Gin Ichimaru immediately. I want to know what he's up to."
Hitsugaya's frown deepened. Things were spiraling. Fast.
Ichimaru's blatant disappearance screamed "last stage of the plan" to him.
...
And Yamamoto… felt it too. Something was wrong.
A deep sense of unease was gnawing at Yamamoto. Could Ichimaru already be dead?
Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Sōsuke Aizen… and now Gin Ichimaru missing too?
Yamamoto cracked open an eye. Bloodlust simmered beneath.
He held it back and spoke with steel in his voice: "Bring forth the prisoner—Rukia Kuchiki."
Everyone present stood solemnly at attention.
Except Byakuya Kuchiki, who remained stone-faced, frowning.
Not long after, Rukia appeared—escorted by two guards in white. Shackles on her wrists, a plain white kimono draped over her thin frame, her expression calm but tired.
Byakuya's breathing hitched slightly. Shunsui lowered his hat once more.
"…It's starting," Unohana murmured.
Beside her, Hitsugaya stood silent, heart heavy.
He had a feeling Sōkyoku Hill was about to witness a clash between Yamamoto Genryūsai … and Ryo Yagami.
"Maybe he won't show," Rangiku Matsumoto whispered half-jokingly, trying to mask her nerves.
"Maybe," Unohana replied with her usual smile—serene, unreadable.
"He's coming," Hitsugaya said firmly.
A man who strutted into a murder scene like he owned the place… a man who looked down on three captains like they were insects… that guy wasn't about to back down now.
Hitsugaya's instincts screamed it.
"No way…" Rangiku muttered, her anxiety growing.
This was the same Ryoka who'd already killed two captains! For all she knew, he had six arms and a thirst for blood.
If a real fight broke out, maybe the captains would survive, but her? She wasn't so sure.
. . .
By then, Rukia had been brought beneath the execution platform. The blocky spiritual shackles were locked around her wrists.
Hum—
The giant halberd known as Sōkyoku shimmered with energy beneath the platform.
A moment later, Rukia's body began floating upward, cruciform, slowly ascending toward the execution point.
Yamamoto didn't bother with pleasantries. His voice was low and grim:
"Rukia Kuchiki. Any last words?"
Rukia pressed her lips together, conflicted, then finally said: "After I'm gone… could you please spare the other Ryoka?"
Her words caused a stir—several captains turned to look at Yamamoto.
He was silent for a moment before responding:
"...Other than Ryo Yagami, the main culprit, the rest may be spared."
"...??"
Rukia blinked, caught off guard by the response.
Then she smiled faintly.
She didn't know whether Ryo would live… but if the others had a chance, then her death wouldn't be in vain.
She turned her eyes to the ground below and softly whispered: "Brother Byakuya… I'm sorry for disgracing the family."
Byakuya's eyes flickered, but he said nothing.
"Thank you for everything. After I'm gone, please bury me next to Sister."
Hummm—
Suddenly, Byakuya's Reiatsu flared wildly. In that instant, every captain could feel it—the air turned sharp, almost hostile.
Soifon and Hitsugaya instinctively grabbed their swords. The lieutenants? Many of them could barely breathe.
For a moment, it looked like Byakuya was about to disrupt the execution himself.
"What are you doing, Captain Kuchiki?" Yamamoto asked, still facing away, voice calm but authoritative.
Byakuya stood silently for a few seconds, then replied with his usual composure:
"Nothing."
Yamamoto turned slightly to give him a cold glance, then looked back up at Rukia.
"Any other last words?"
Rukia hesitated—unsure whether to speak—but in the end, she took a deep breath and said:
"Please… be careful of Kisuke Urahara."
The name dropped like a bomb.
Everyone's expression changed.
Hitsugaya looked puzzled. Soifon, on the other hand, didn't hide the flash of killing intent in her eyes.
"Kisuke Urahara…" Unohana murmured, eyebrows arching in suspicion.
Could he be the mastermind behind this Ryoka uprising?
Had he been stockpiling power ever since his exile a hundred years ago, waiting for this moment to strike back at Soul Society?
If that was true… and if the other captains who fled with him were involved…
Then this wasn't just a rebellion.
It was a full-blown crisis.
Byakuya's voice cut through the tension like a blade: "I understand. I'll send Kisuke Urahara to join you soon."
To him, it was clear—Urahara was the one who had led Rukia to this fate.
Yamamoto's brow furrowed. He seemed to be lost in thought.
Minutes passed in heavy silence.
Then— "It's time."
FWOOSH—
Flames erupted from Sōkyoku, engulfing the massive halberd in searing crimson light. The sky lit up like a blazing sunset.
In the fire, a colossal phoenix began to form, wings spread wide, its cold eyes locked onto Rukia.
The Reiatsu was suffocating—every lieutenant held their breath.
"So that's Sōkyoku…" Rangiku murmured, stunned. "Said to hold the power of a million zanpakutō…"
And then, she noticed something strange.
The captains' auras were shifting.
Above, Rukia calmly watched the fiery bird form. She closed her eyes.
Just as the phoenix was about to strike—
"Yo. Giving up already?"
A laid-back voice whispered in her ear.
Rukia's eyes shot open in shock.
Standing beside her, one hand in his pocket, was that all-too-familiar Ishida figure:
"Ryo?!"
.
.
.