Just as Fang Mo was studying module linkage, things had completely fallen into chaos at the Soul Society.
Due to Fang Mo's consecutive defeats of Captains Kenpachi Zaraki and Byakuya Kuchiki, the Soul Society had entered its highest level of alert.
However, just at this time, Jūshirō Ukitake discovered the words carved on the Sekkiseki.
It was something that Fang Mo had deliberately written: "Long live Yhwach, glory to the Quincies." Clearly, this was a declaration of war left by the enemy. Ukitake had no reservations and immediately reported this to the Head Captain.
After hearing these words, Head Captain Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was truly stunned.
Others might not recognize Yhwach, but how could he not?
A thousand years ago, Yhwach led the Quincy army to declare war against the Soul Society. Back then, it was Yamamoto himself who had taken up his sword to confront them. Although they were defeated, Yhwach was not an easy opponent, and the Quincies were no match for the Gotei 13.
But Yhwach was special in terms of his abilities and identity.
Even Yamamoto couldn't kill him completely.
In the end, Yhwach only lost his heartbeat, consciousness, and power.
Not long after, his body disappeared.
At that time, Yamamoto led the Gotei 13 to search the Human World extensively but found no trace of them, as if Yhwach and his army had vanished into thin air.
Although many Quincies still existed in the world, they didn't even know Yhwach or participate in that battle.
Though Yamamoto never spoke of it, that battle a thousand years ago was indeed fierce. He thought the threat from the Quincies had completely disappeared, but the words on the Sekkiseki made him vigilant again. He had not expected this to still involve those Quincies.
So, he ordered the entire Soul Society to enter a state of readiness for war.
Any captain—even those like Kyōraku, whose Bankai could be dangerous and harm allies—was allowed to use their Bankai at any time against enemies. No matter the means used, as long as the enemy was defeated, there would be no blame.
And after hearing the message from the Head Captain, truth be told, many Soul Reapers were quite tense.
After all, they had been at peace for a thousand years. This new generation of Soul Reapers had never witnessed the cruelty of war. Among them, Hinamori Momo, the lieutenant of Squad 5, was the most nervous. For some reason, she felt like something significant was about to happen, and she couldn't even sleep well at night.
Fortunately, her much-admired Captain Aizen comforted her gently, putting her slightly at ease.
After waking up, Hinamori Momo found that she had overslept. She wondered why the captain hadn't woken her up and quickly jogged towards the barracks.
But just a few steps out, she saw something that horrified her.
The Captain Aizen she had admired was dead.
His body was pierced through by her own Zanpakutō, nailed to a white wall, his face full of shock, eyes wide open in death.
Blood had flowed from his body, staining the white wall with dried blood marks.
Hinamori Momo screamed like a madwoman, attracting many Shinigami. They were also shocked and started discussing who the killer could be, especially since a curfew had recently been ordered. Many suspected it was the work of the Quincies.
At that moment, Gin Ichimaru, the captain of the Third Division, walked over cheerfully. Instead of being alarmed, he smiled as if enjoying a show.
Seeing this, Hinamori Momo realized something.
Yes, her good friend Toshiro Hitsugaya was also a captain. He had told her that Aizen and Ichimaru had an altercation near the Repentance Palace, suspecting that Ichimaru was colluding with the Quincies.
She looked at Ichimaru fiercely, "It was you! You killed Captain Aizen! It wasn't the Quincies...you ambushed him!"
As she said this, she charged at him with her Zanpakutō.
Ichimaru didn't move, just smiling at the spectacle.
Instead, his vice-captain, Kira Izuru, blocked her attack.
"Calm down, Momo!" Kira pleaded, "The captain is not the killer!"
"Get out of my way!"
Momo couldn't calm down; she felt as if her world had collapsed.
"Sorry, whatever the reason, I won't let anyone draw a blade against my captain," Kira frowned. "Momo, calm down."
"I said move!"
"No."
"Unleash, Tobiume!"
She unleashed her Shikai, a burst of flame followed by an explosion, enveloping Kira in smoke.
Kira also activated his Shikai, not out of anger but to stop her.
Before they could really start fighting, a figure descended from the sky: Toshiro Hitsugaya, stopping both of their attacks.
"Ah...Toshiro?"
Seeing him, Momo hesitated and then cried, "Captain Aizen is dead…"
"I already know."
Toshiro then ordered, "Seize these two Shinigami who are fighting amongst themselves!"
"What?"
Momo was stunned. Before she could say anything, her friend Matsumoto Rangiku understood and dragged her away.
On the other side, Kira was also taken away by another vice-captain.
"Well, well," Gin Ichimaru chuckled, "I apologize for my vice-captain causing trouble, Toshiro."
Toshiro turned to Ichimaru, "You just...had killing intent towards Momo, didn't you?"
"Hm? Did I?"
Ichimaru tilted his head and smiled, "You might be overthinking, Toshiro. I am a good captain, you know."
"I will get to the bottom of this."
Hitsugaya Toshiro furrowed his brow. He did indeed find something off about Gin Ichimaru, be it Aizen's death or the earlier incident where Gin let Yhwach go.
As Aizen said, if Yhwach was so powerful, why wasn't Gin injured at all?
Keep in mind, Komamura Sajin and Tosen Kaname, who also encountered Yhwach, were severely injured. The same went for Zaraki Kenpachi and Kuchiki Byakuya. Everyone who encountered Yhwach was injured, yet you, Gin Ichimaru, are bouncing around? Any sane person would be suspicious, right?
Did you say Gin was injured?
He was indeed hurt by the rebound from Steve's armor, but who would know if Gin himself doesn't say?
After all, Gin deliberately acted suspiciously, which was part of Aizen's plan too.
"If anything happens to Momo, I won't let you off," Hitsugaya coldly warned, unaware of these details. He simply suspected Gin.
"Hehehe, Captain Hitsugaya, you're quite frightening," Gin grinned. "But you should be careful too. Yhwach is too powerful; don't let him get close to Lieutenant Hinamori..."
After saying this, Gin left on his own.
Hitsugaya stared at Gin's retreating figure, unconsciously gripping his Zanpakuto.
The assassination of the 5th Division's Captain, Aizen Sousuke, had rapidly spread throughout the Seireitei. All the captains received the news, causing an uproar among the Shinigami.
This was a captain-level loss.
Unbelievably, Seireitei had already lost a captain.
War clouds loomed over the entire Seireitei. Even Yamamoto Genryuusai couldn't sit still and planned to interrogate Yhwach personally.
Yes, now that Fang Mo had intervened, the Gotei 13 was taking things seriously. Previously, they were lenient because Rukia Kuchiki was to be executed. But not anymore.
Almost instantly, the protagonist group was crushed.
Chad, Uryu, Orihime, Ganju—everyone was captured. Fortunately, Ichigo Kurosaki and Yoruichi were hiding in a cave, narrowly avoiding capture.
Among them, Uryu had it worst.
Upon hearing of Aizen's death, Head Captain Yamamoto decided to interrogate Quincy personally.
"You better not lie to me, boy," Yamamoto said to the imprisoned Uryu. "You were already criminals for entering Soul Society. Now, you've committed a grave sin by killing Captain Aizen of the Gotei 13."
"We came to rescue Rukia..."
Uryu, who had defeated Mayuri Kurotsuchi, lost his Quincy powers and could hardly resist Yamamoto's spiritual pressure. "We could never kill your people."
"Fact is fact; there's no use arguing," Yamamoto calmly said. "Are you a pure-blood Quincy? If you disclose your accomplices, I can make it quick for you. Otherwise, Captain Mayuri will be the next to interrogate you."
"I won't betray my friends."
Uryu clenched his teeth. "Ichigo Kurosaki and I have an agreement. We will rescue Rukia."
"I'm not talking about Ichigo Kurosaki!"
Yamamoto, growing frustrated, opened his eyes wide. His spiritual pressure, accompanied by a murderous intent, rushed towards Uryu like a tidal wave. "I'm talking about your pure-blood Quincy companion! Where is he!?"
"What?"
Uryu was entirely pressed to the ground, his face full of astonishment.
"Still playing dumb? Scum from Yhwach's lineage..."
Yamamoto coldly said, "As long as I sit in Seireitei, all your tricks are in vain. I killed Yhwach once a thousand years ago, and I can do it again. How dare a Quincy speak of honor in the Seireitei!"
"???"
Uryu was completely dumbfounded.
Under the dual stimulation of Yamamoto's spiritual pressure and killing intent, his consciousness began to blur. Yet, one question revolved in his mind.
Yhwach... who the hell is he?
~~~
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