Inside Ugendō, within the Thirteenth Division barracks.
Jushiro Ukitake had been troubled lately.
His subordinate, Rukia Kuchiki, had gone to the Human World to hunt a Hollow, but it seemed she had caused quite a problem there.
Because Rukia had illegally transferred her Shinigami powers to a human, Central 46 had already ordered the Gotei 13 to retrieve her from the Human World.
This time, they had even sent Byakuya Kuchiki, captain of the Sixth Division, to personally bring Rukia back.
With that charge hanging over her head, those rigid sages and judges of Central 46 might very well sentence Rukia Kuchiki to death.
He had to do something for his subordinate.
Ukitake coughed softly and took out a piece of paper, preparing to write a petition on Rukia's behalf.
But in the next instant, a spiritual pressure appeared.
His expression changed, and he immediately looked outside.
At the same time, the one-eyed god residing within his body, the manifestation of the Soul King's right arm, began to stir violently.
Mimihagi had sensed a tremendous threat.
And fear.
"Hello, Captain Ukitake. And hello to you too, Soul King's right arm."
Brook seemed to cross space and appear directly in front of Ukitake's desk, smiling at the white-haired man.
This man was a disciple of Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, and one of the most talented students to ever become a captain after graduating from the Shin'ō Academy.
"Who are you?"
Jushiro Ukitake instantly drew his Zanpakutō, Sōgyo no Kotowari, staring warily at the stranger who had appeared without warning.
What kind of terrifying being could make the Soul King's right arm feel fear?
"Shh. Making noise would be troublesome."
[Five Gods: Time Stop]
Brook froze Jushiro Ukitake in place.
Even though the Soul King's right arm struggled wildly inside him, it could not move at all.
Then Brook slowly pulled Ukitake into his own cosmos.
The two vanished from Ugendō without a trace.
Meanwhile, in the Soul King Palace, the Soul King's eyelids twitched slightly.
But in the end, he still did not open his eyes.
The only outcome was death.
No matter how much resistance was offered, it would be useless.
Within Brook's microcosm, Jushiro Ukitake immediately entered Shikai.
"Sōgyo no Kotowari!"
His blade split into two, forming a pair of shark-fin-shaped swords connected at the hilts by a cord.
"This level of power isn't enough. Let the Soul King's right arm come out. I'm actually in a hurry."
Brook had no grudge against Jushiro Ukitake.
This man was also a pitiful person.
Unfortunately, the Soul King's right arm was inside his body.
No matter what, Brook had to take the Soul King's right arm.
Without that power, this frail and sickly captain would die as well.
Unless Brook chose to save him.
"Are you one of Yhwach's people?"
Jushiro Ukitake spoke in a grave voice.
Not many people knew that the Soul King's right arm resided inside him, but he had heard a little about Yhwach from Yamamoto.
"No. He is also one of my prey."
[Shinra Tensei]
[Banshō Ten'in]
Brook's black eyes transformed into nine-tomoe golden Rinnegan.
With a casual flick, he sent Ukitake flying away, then pulled Sōgyo no Kotowari straight into his hand.
"A weapon forged from the soul, able to evolve all kinds of abilities. This is one of the unique powers of this world."
Brook completely ignored the Zanpakutō struggling in his hand. He glanced at it casually and found nothing particularly remarkable.
The power of Zanpakutō was somewhat similar to Devil Fruits in the One Piece world.
Both were products of their respective worlds, carrying a unique law or power.
As a novice god, Brook could easily forge a Zanpakutō and infuse it with his own powerful abilities.
A Zanpakutō of repulsion and gravity.
A Zanpakutō of space.
A Zanpakutō of sealing.
He could make one at any time.
"Give Sōgyo no Kotowari back!"
Ukitake spat out a mouthful of blood, his voice filled with urgency.
At the same time, eye-like markings began to appear across his body.
"Interested in becoming my subordinate? I can save your life once."
Brook spoke casually.
It would not be bad to have a few subordinates in this world.
But compared to Shinigami, he preferred the Arrancar of Hueco Mundo.
They believed in power.
Once defeated, they would be much more obedient.
"Impossible! I will never betray Soul Society!"
More eye markings appeared on Jushiro Ukitake's body. His aura surged, as if he was prepared to perish together with Brook.
"What a pity."
The Devouring Aura of the Five Gods surged from Brook and completely swallowed Sōgyo no Kotowari.
The next moment, the terrified screams of two children echoed out.
"No!"
Seeing his beloved sword being devoured, Ukitake's eyes widened in fury. Blood spilled from his mouth as he charged at Brook like a madman.
"Some choices cannot be taken back once they're made."
[A World in the Dead of Winter]
Brook stared expressionlessly at the charging Jushiro Ukitake.
His nine-tomoe golden Rinnegan flashed, and Ukitake was instantly turned into an ice sculpture.
Even the power of the Soul King's right arm could not break free.
"Soul King's right arm, your power of stillness is too weak. It has no effect on me."
"Become my food."
A devouring force erupted from Brook and swallowed the ice sculpture of Jushiro Ukitake.
Then Brook's aura strengthened again.
He merged the stillness ability of the Soul King's right arm into his own Time Stop.
"With the current Time Stop, it should be able to freeze Yhwach and Ichibei Hyosube, right?"
Brook chuckled softly, then left his cosmos and returned to Ugendō in the Seireitei.
With Jushiro Ukitake's memories, Brook's movements in the Seireitei would now be much easier.
The Soul King's left hand and heart were both inside Yhwach's Sternritter.
And that invisible empire was hidden within the shadows of the Seireitei.
"Sosuke Aizen has a half-finished Hōgyoku in his possession. It seems to have been made from one of the Soul King's special fingertips."
Brook glanced toward the core area of the Seireitei.
By now, Sosuke Aizen, that master of deception, should have followed the other captains to join the commotion at the Seiryūmon.
That man had been plotting to obtain the other half-finished Hōgyoku in Kisuke Urahara's possession.
His move against Rukia Kuchiki this time was also for that Hōgyoku.
Brook wondered if Aizen had already killed the sages and judges of Central 46.
After all, his goal was to use Central 46's authority to capture Rukia Kuchiki and sentence her to death.
Otherwise, taking Rukia from under the protection of Byakuya Kuchiki, Jushiro Ukitake, and Kisuke Urahara would be quite difficult.
Aizen enjoyed planning every step, manipulating people's fates little by little, and making them unable to resist.
That was how a smart man did things.
But Brook did not care what Sosuke Aizen was plotting.
Nor did he care how powerful Kyōka Suigetsu was.
They were all Brook's prey anyway.
An ambitious man like Aizen would never submit.
So Brook might as well kill him.
------------
Brook was making his way toward Central 46.
However, he soon noticed that the entire Seireitei had fallen into even greater chaos, so he simply followed the flow of a group of Shinigami.
From the conversations around him, he learned that Byakuya Kuchiki, captain of the Sixth Division, had already captured his adopted sister, Rukia Kuchiki, in the Human World and was now bringing her to Central 46 for judgment.
It seemed several captains would also be present.
Brook's eyes lit up when he heard that.
Didn't that mean Rukia Kuchiki and Sosuke Aizen, the two hosts of the unfinished Hōgyoku pieces, would both be there?
Brook smiled and disappeared around a street corner.
The next moment, he reappeared as Captain Jushiro Ukitake of the Thirteenth Division, carrying the same aura and the same Zanpakutō.
"As Rukia Kuchiki's superior, it shouldn't be strange for me to take my subordinate away first, right?"
In any case, whoever tried to stop him would die.
Not even Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto could stop him.
"I'm taking the Hōgyoku."
Brook murmured to himself, then openly strode toward Central 46.
Along the way, many Shinigami greeted the well-loved "Jushiro Ukitake."
However, some of them looked at him with strange, sympathetic gazes.
After all, Rukia Kuchiki was a member of his division.
Would this captain, famous for caring deeply for his subordinates, really oppose Central 46 for the sake of one squad member?
Brook followed the crowd of Shinigami toward Central 46.
On the way, he soon saw Rukia Kuchiki and Byakuya Kuchiki. Behind them followed Renji Abarai, lieutenant of the Sixth Division.
That man was Rukia's childhood friend and future husband.
More importantly, Brook also saw the gentle-looking Sosuke Aizen watching from the side.
Good.
Everyone was here.
"Hey, my squad member should be handled by me first, shouldn't she?"
Holding Sōgyo no Kotowari, "Jushiro Ukitake" spoke in his usual gentle tone, yet his expression carried rare displeasure. This surprised many captains.
After all, Jushiro Ukitake was one of the few captains with more than two hundred years of experience.
Compared to most of the current captains, he was practically an elder.
Sosuke Aizen had less than a hundred and ten years of seniority, to say nothing of newer captains like Toshiro Hitsugaya of the Tenth Division.
"What do you mean?"
Byakuya Kuchiki asked expressionlessly.
As a descendant of the most noble family in Soul Society, he had always obeyed the laws and rules of the Seireitei.
"Just leave her to me. There is something I need to take."
Ignoring Byakuya's cold gaze, "Jushiro Ukitake" casually walked forward, took Rukia Kuchiki by the hand, and started walking back.
Byakuya's expression grew even colder.
Renji Abarai, however, thought Captain Ukitake intended to save Rukia, so he chose not to stop him.
Besides, he was only a lieutenant. He had no right to interfere in a captain's actions.
"Do you intend to disobey the orders of Central 46?"
Byakuya's voice was icy.
If anyone else had done this, he would already have drawn his sword.
But Jushiro Ukitake was one of the oldest captains, as well as a disciple of Captain-Commander Yamamoto, so Byakuya did not act immediately.
"Your mission is complete. Go back to the Sixth Division and drink some tea."
"Jushiro Ukitake" prepared to take Rukia back to the Thirteenth Division barracks, completely ignoring everyone's stares.
Even Rukia herself was a little dazed.
"Captain Ukitake, aren't you afraid of being punished by the Captain-Commander?"
At that moment, Sosuke Aizen, who looked refined and gentle, spoke with a soft smile like a spring breeze.
But in the next instant...
Bang!
Dust exploded across the ground.
Brook appeared beside Sosuke Aizen in a flash, pinning him straight into the earth as countless golden seals spread across his body.
Everyone froze.
Even the usually calm Byakuya Kuchiki widened his eyes in disbelief.
Gin Ichimaru, captain of the Third Division, and Kaname Tosen, captain of the Ninth Division, both stood beside Aizen, staring in shock as the unbelievably powerful man was taken down in an instant.
Aizen himself was stunned.
He had been pinned down before he could even react.
When he tried to counterattack, he discovered that he could not use his spiritual pressure at all.
Even Kyōka Suigetsu had no effect.
For the first time, even the wise and composed Aizen felt a hint of panic.
How could Jushiro Ukitake possibly possess this ability?
And how could he possibly be this strong?
"Your smile really annoys me, Aizen."
"I'm taking her away today. Let's see who dares to stop me."
In full view of everyone, Brook threw Fifth Division Captain Sosuke Aizen into a black alternate dimension.
Kaname Tosen immediately drew his Zanpakutō, Suzumushi, and slashed at Brook.
Gin Ichimaru hesitated for a moment and did not attack right away.
The situation was still unclear.
If Jushiro Ukitake could defeat Sosuke Aizen, that would be even better for him. He would definitely find a chance to kill Aizen and take back what had been stolen from Rangiku Matsumoto.
"So noisy."
Brook casually waved his hand.
A powerful repulsive force blasted Kaname Tosen away.
Then he casually threw Rukia Kuchiki into his cosmos as well.
With this, neither of the two unfinished Hōgyoku pieces could escape.
At the same time, Brook could already sense a scorching, overwhelming spiritual pressure approaching.
That should be the old man, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
His strongest fire-type Zanpakutō was indeed powerful.
Brook wondered how it compared to his own eye technique, the little sun known as Never-Setting Sun.
The captains of the other divisions gradually surrounded him, quietly forming an encirclement around "Jushiro Ukitake."
Kidnapping a criminal, injuring a captain, and imprisoning a captain.
Any one of those crimes was severe in Soul Society.
And Brook had just committed all three.
.....
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
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