Chapter 5 – The Return to the Seireitei
The trip back to the Seireitei felt longer than it actually was. Each step Nanami Kento took weighed heavily on him, not from the physical wounds he had sustained in the battle, but from the emotional weight of what awaited him upon his return. He had fought many battles, faced countless foes, and endured a life filled with lies before his reincarnation, but nothing could have prepared him for the challenge of facing the Gotei 13 captains with only half the truth.
The body of his fallen comrade—a Shinigami who had died in the battle against the Hollow—was wrapped in a clean white cloth, draped over his shoulder as he passed through the Senkaimon. His expression remained as cold and calm as ever, but beneath the surface, a storm of conflicting emotions churned.
The journey through the Dangai was uneventful, the ever-shifting walls of compressed time swirling around him. Normally, he would have used this time to meditate or think, but today, his thoughts were fixated on what Urahara had told him to report. The story was carefully crafted, with just enough truth to seem plausible while keeping the deeper secrets buried. Still, he knew it would be difficult to convince the captains, especially with the disappearance of Isshin Kurosaki—a captain of the Gotei 13.
When he finally emerged into the Seireitei, the sky was still tinged with the warm hues of morning. The familiar sight of the grand white towers and the endless walls surrounding the sprawling city greeted him, but there was no sense of relief. His mission wasn't over yet.
As he made his way through the city, the weight of the body over his shoulder reminded him of his fallen comrades. The Shinigami who had been patrolling Karakura Town with him had been young, inexperienced, and eager to prove themselves. They hadn't stood a chance against the Hollow that Aizen had released. Nanami clenched his jaw, suppressing the anger that threatened to rise within him. Aizen's machinations were still a secret, and he had no intention of revealing them. Not yet.
Reaching the barracks of the 4th Division, Nanami stopped in front of the gates. Two unseated officers stood guard, their expressions somber as they noticed the body he carried.
"I need this Shinigami's remains properly taken care of," Nanami said, his voice calm and direct.
The guards nodded, and one of them gestured for Nanami to follow as they led him inside. The 4th Division was always the most somber of the divisions, responsible for healing and handling the dead. The air inside was thick with the weight of duty, and even now, the faint scent of medicinal herbs lingered in the halls.
After ensuring the proper rites were initiated for his fallen comrade, Nanami left the 4th Division without another word. There was no time to dwell on the past. His next task was far more dangerous.
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The First Division's barracks loomed before him, the very heart of the Gotei 13. Nanami's footsteps echoed off the stone floors as he entered the grand hall where meetings with the captains were held. The room was vast, its walls lined with banners representing each division, and at its center stood the place where the most powerful captains of the Soul Society would soon gather.
At the far end of the room stood Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, his imposing figure seated with a sense of unyielding authority. The Head Captain's sharp, ancient eyes were closed in meditation, but Nanami could feel the weight of his spiritual pressure even from across the hall.
Nanami approached the center of the room and knelt, his body tensing as he waited. Slowly, the other captains began to arrive, their varied spiritual pressures filling the hall like a rising tide. Captain Jūshirō Ukitake and Captain Shunsui Kyōraku arrived first, followed by the more severe figures of Captains Sōsuke Aizen, Kenpachi Zaraki, and Byakuya Kuchiki. Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi entered last, his eyes gleaming with curiosity as he studied Nanami, as though already dissecting him with his mind.
The room grew quiet as the captains took their positions, their eyes fixed on Nanami, who remained kneeling in the center. Yamamoto's eyes opened, his gaze like a piercing flame.
"State your report," the Captain-Commander said, his voice low and commanding.
Nanami took a deep breath, his mind racing through the script Urahara had given him. He knew he had to tread carefully. The captains were not easily fooled, and the gravity of the situation—Isshin's disappearance—was going to create an uproar no matter how carefully he worded it.
"Captain-Commander," Nanami began, his voice steady and respectful. "I was part of a patrol assigned to Karakura Town. We encountered a Hollow of immense power—stronger than anything I have faced before. The other Shinigami with me were killed, and I was gravely injured."
He paused, glancing around the room at the captains who were listening intently. He continued, choosing his words carefully.
"I was on the verge of death when Captain Isshin Kurosaki arrived. Together, we engaged the Hollow, but its strength was overwhelming. In the midst of the battle, I lost consciousness due to my injuries and exhaustion."
A murmur went through the room, but Nanami ignored it, pressing on. "When I awoke, the Hollow was destroyed, but Captain Isshin Kurosaki was... gone. I do not know what happened to him, only that the Hollow had been defeated. I returned to the Seireitei with the body of one of my fallen comrades, but I have no knowledge of Captain Kurosaki's whereabouts."
The silence that followed was deafening. Nanami could feel the weight of the captains' gazes on him, each one processing the implications of what he had just said. He had followed Urahara's instructions to the letter, but he could see the doubt in their eyes.
Finally, it was Captain Kyōraku who broke the silence. His normally laid-back demeanor was absent, replaced by a rare seriousness. "You're saying Captain Kurosaki just... disappeared?"
Nanami nodded. "Yes, Captain. I have no explanation for it. One moment he was there, and the next, he was gone."
Captain Byakuya Kuchiki's cold voice cut through the air. "A captain of the Gotei 13 does not simply disappear, especially during battle."
Nanami met Byakuya's gaze, his expression unchanging. "I understand, Captain Kuchiki. But I am telling you what I experienced. I was severely wounded and unable to keep track of everything that happened."
Captain-Commander Yamamoto leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. "And you are certain the Hollow was destroyed?"
"Yes, Captain-Commander," Nanami replied firmly. "The Hollow was defeated."
Another silence fell over the room, but this time it was filled with tension. The captains were struggling to make sense of the situation. A powerful Hollow appearing in Karakura Town, the deaths of several Shinigami, and the disappearance of a captain were not events that could be easily brushed aside.
Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi's lips curled into a twisted smile as he stepped forward. "This Hollow you speak of... I would very much like to study its remains. Are they intact?"
Nanami resisted the urge to frown. "There are no remains, Captain Kurotsuchi. The Hollow was destroyed completely."
Mayuri clicked his tongue in annoyance, clearly displeased with the lack of a specimen to examine.
Finally, Captain-Commander Yamamoto spoke again, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "This matter requires further investigation. Captain Isshin Kurosaki's disappearance cannot be ignored. Until we learn more, the Gotei 13 will remain on high alert."
He turned his gaze to Nanami, his eyes burning with intensity. "You are to return to active duty immediately. If you recall any additional details about what happened, report them to me directly."
Nanami bowed his head. "Yes, Captain-Commander."
With that, the meeting was dismissed. The captains began to file out of the room, their spiritual pressures fading one by one. Nanami remained kneeling for a few moments longer, letting out a quiet breath once he was alone in the grand hall.
He had done what Urahara had instructed, but the road ahead was far from clear. The Seireitei was in an uproar, and the disappearance of Isshin Kurosaki would not be forgotten easily. For now, Nanami would follow orders, but he knew that the truth would eventually come to light. The question was whether he would be ready when it did.
With one final glance at the empty hall, Nanami stood and made his way toward the exit, his mind already calculating his next move.