Yeah, the situation was already as bad as it could possibly get.
Since there was no worse outcome left, no matter what they did now, it would count as a gain.
"Shinji's right."
Kyoraku Shunsui took a deep breath and lifted his head again. The exhaustion in his eyes hadn't faded, but there was now a trace of resolve.
"Since there's nothing left to lose, let's go all in."
"Then…", Ukitake looked at the two of them, "Given the current situation, where do we start? The Gotei 13 is solid as a rock right now. It won't be easy to tear open a gap."
"I have an idea."
"So do I."
Kyoraku Shunsui and Kirinji Tenjiro spoke almost at the same time.
The two exchanged a glance, each catching a fleeting sharp glint in the other's eyes.
"Since we both have ideas, I'll let you go first, junior," Kirinji leaned back against his chair, "Go on."
Kyoraku Shunsui didn't refuse. He pressed down the brim of his hat and said in a low voice, "The nobles! Although the Kyoraku family has been purged, I know not all nobles are completely wiped out. The old noble factions that survived, even if they don't dare oppose Rosse openly, must be itching to devour him alive. Most of them are currently taking shelter under the Kuchiki family, barely surviving within the Sixth Division."
"You mean?", Ukitake's eyes lit up.
"Turn the Kuchiki family," Kyoraku Shunsui's tone was firm, "Although Kuchiki Byakuya's stance is unclear, we can try contacting the previous head of the family. Kuchiki Ginrei might not be willing to just sit by and watch the traditions of the Shinigami be overturned. Even if we can't fully win them over, as long as we can stir up chaos among the old nobles, it'll cause Rosse some trouble."
"Not bad."
Kirinji nodded, "Even if the nobles are just toothless tigers now, they can still take a bite under that guy's nose."
"And you? Kirinji-dono?", Kyoraku asked.
"Me?", Kirinji let out a cold laugh, his fingers tapping heavily on the armrest, "I haven't been wasting my time in the First Division these past few days. Do you really think Rosse has the Gotei 13 running perfectly? Don't be ridiculous. That's just an illusion forced down by his overwhelming pressure."
He stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the peaceful Seireitei, his tone turning grim.
"Let's start with the Thirteenth Division. Captain Kurosaki Ichigo and Third Division Captain Ichimaru Gin don't get along. As far as I know, the Thirteenth Division members often go looking for trouble with the Third Division. The conflict is already on the verge of erupting."
"And then there's the Eleventh Division. That bunch of battle maniacs only respect Zaraki Kenpachi. They've offended pretty much every other division. You could say that aside from themselves, no one likes them."
"As for the Fourth Division…", Kirinji grinned, "in everyone else's eyes, they're just weaklings used as healers and logistics. On top of that, they're mostly women, so they've been taking crap from the combat divisions for a long time. Especially those barbarians from the Eleventh Division, they've never treated them like people."
At this point, he turned to look at everyone.
"And then the Seventh and Ninth Divisions. Their captains' obsession with justice and rules has reached a pathological level. Not only do other divisions find them annoying, even their own members are full of complaints."
"And the First Division where I'm currently staying, because of Chojiro and old man Yamamoto, most of the members are pretty conservative, and they're also looked down on by the other divisions."
A cruel smile curled at the corner of Kirinji's lips.
"With just a little push, even if Rosse is the Captain-Commander, he won't be able to suppress so many divisions fighting each other in a short time. Once chaos breaks out, we'll have our chance."
"I see!"
Kyoraku Shunsui and Ukitake exchanged a glance and both nodded.
"And not only that," Kyoraku added, "the Eighth Division currently has no captain, but I led them for many years. Even if I'm labeled a traitor now, some of my old confidants are still there. Causing a bit of trouble won't be hard."
"The Thirteenth Division too," Ukitake added.
The plan was decided in just a few simple exchanges.
Even though it was a crazy plan.
Even though they knew this was most likely a final struggle in despair, possibly still within Rosse and Aizen's calculations.
At least, this stagnant pool was finally going to be stirred.
"Then let's do it."
Kirinji slammed the table and stood up, a sharp killing intent erupting from him for the first time in a long while.
"Let's show that bastard Rosse not everyone is willing to be his pawn!"
———
[Half a Month Later, Tenth Division Barracks]
Sunlight filtered lazily through the exquisite shoji screens, spilling across the tatami. The air carried a faint fragrance of tea and flowers.
Completely different from the tense, undercurrent-filled situation outside, this place was so quiet it felt like another world.
Matsumoto Rangiku stood gracefully in the center of the room, holding a data tablet in her hands.
Aizen Sosuke sat at a tea table to one side, elegantly brewing a fresh pot of tea. Steam curled upward, blurring his ever-smiling face.
On the other side of the room, Unohana Retsu held a pair of scissors, trimming the flowers in a vase.
Her expression was focused. From time to time, a gentle glow of healing spiritual energy flickered at her fingertips, causing branches that had begun to wither to bloom brightly again.
Shiba Kuukaku lay sideways on a cushion nearby with no regard for posture, propping up her head lazily while tossing a firework shell in her other hand.
As for Kurotsuchi Mayuri, he was curled up in the darkest corner. Although he had been dragged here, he clearly had no interest in socializing, muttering over a pile of data in his hands, his eyes feverish and unhinged.
Lastly, Hikifune Kirio.
The former member of Squad Zero now sat cross-legged in a guest seat, her gaze sweeping over the group of utterly mismatched monsters in the room, clicking her tongue in amazement.
"This should be your core group, right? Never thought a traitor like me would get to attend a gathering at this level."
Hikifune Kirio knew very well that the only reason she could sit here was because of her falling out with Kirinji half a month ago.
From that moment on, no matter the truth, in the eyes of the outside world she had completely cut ties with Squad Zero and become Rosse's most loyal hound.
Thinking of that, she looked toward the man seated at the head, who was smiling as he accepted the teacup Aizen handed him, and couldn't help asking, "Aren't you afraid that my conflict with Kirinji was fake? What if I'm just pretending to defect?"
"Doesn't matter."
Rosse gently blew at the tea leaves floating on the surface, his expression calm.
"What we're discussing today is related to Kirinji and the others anyway. Whether you listen or not won't affect the outcome."
That confidence and composure coming from his very core left Hikifune Kirio momentarily speechless.
But she had to admit, Rosse had the right to be like this.
In the half month she had spent in the Twelfth Division, she had seen too many unbelievable things.
Not long ago, for the sake of advancing an experiment, she had conducted a forced fusion test between spirit particles and physical particles. The scene still lingered vividly in her memory.
Even she couldn't forcibly combine the two, so she had asked Rosse for help.
She had assumed Rosse would act personally, but instead he casually sent Aizen.
And then she watched with her own eyes as Aizen, simply by releasing his spiritual pressure, forcibly compressed spirit particles and physical particles together with that terrifying pressure that felt like it could crush the heavens.
That was power beyond dimensions.
At that moment, she understood, let alone one Kirinji, even if that old monk Ichibe came down in person, facing Rosse and Aizen working together, it would probably take more than effort.
Kirinji and the others' schemes were like children's tricks in the face of absolute power.
It was even possible that Aizen's spiritual pressure alone could drag the Soul King Palace down.
"Begin, Rangiku."
Rosse took a sip of tea and gestured for Matsumoto Rangiku to start her report.
Matsumoto Rangiku smiled lazily, brushing aside a strand of hair, and spoke crisply, "Captain, as expected, Kirinji and the others haven't been quiet these past few days. Using his temporary position in the First Division, he's been frequently promoting the achievements of the Soul King and Squad Zero within the division and even to other divisions."
"His core argument is that the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 must have legitimacy. According to him, although you are deeply supported by the people, to be truly legitimate, you must go to the Soul King Palace and receive the Soul King's personal appointment. He's even been spreading word that the Soul King is already prepared and waiting for you up there."
"Heh, what's he trying to do?"
Hikifune Kirio frowned, "Lure you up there to kill you? Or use righteousness as leverage to force your hand? Isn't that a bit too old-fashioned?"
Honestly, she thought Kirinji was just asking for death.
If Rosse actually went, things would get ugly for everyone.
"Old-fashioned, but effective. He's betting I won't dare openly refuse the appointment and tear off the mask at this stage. He wants to create a flaw in my righteousness."
Rosse let out a light chuckle. He didn't dislike this kind of open scheme.
"So what are you going to do?", Hikifune Kirio asked curiously, "Actually go? I don't think they can do anything to you, but it is a trap."
She was genuinely curious about Rosse's way of thinking.
In her eyes, his perspective had already surpassed ordinary power struggles, even reaching beyond that wedge-like existence known as the Soul King.
"Let him stir things up."
Rosse set down his teacup with a crisp sound.
"I'll do what I think is right. He'll do what he thinks is right. As for going to the Soul King Palace, I will go someday. But not for an appointment. For an ending."
He turned his head, looking at the false sky outside the window, his voice growing distant.
"I want this world to remain, and I've given them a choice. But I'm not certain whether I must go that far, or whether any of this has meaning."
"If even the beings of this world don't want it to continue, if they would rather sink into a false old dream than face the cruel truth, then why should I force myself to save those who are determined to die?"
Rosse shrugged lightly, his tone cold to the point of indifference.
"Tch! Doesn't 'the gods love all people' mean loving everyone?", Hikifune Kirio couldn't help teasing.
"Gods love all people because they don't care," Rosse replied with a smile, "But I'm not a god. I'm just a passerby. If someone can be swayed by such a low-level lie, it just shows their limits. Saving them would be a waste of resources."
"What else? Any other movements?"
"The Eighth Division is already out of control."
Matsumoto Rangiku nodded and continued.
"Intelligence from our informants says that Yoruichi has been acting suspiciously lately. Almost every day, she takes her vice-captain Omaeda and some Shinigami loyal to the Shihoin family, sneaking into districts of the Rukongai under the Eighth Division's jurisdiction. We don't know what they're doing."
"Do Shinigami always act this directly?", Rosse pressed a hand to his forehead and couldn't help laughing, "A bait this obvious, are they afraid we won't notice?"
Laughter spread through the room. Everyone present was sharp; it was easy to see how crude this tactic was.
Unohana paused her scissors, looking at the overly vivid flowers in the vase, and said with a soft smile, "That's how Captain-Commander Yamamoto used to be. His style was rough and straightforward. He didn't care what others thought, only what he believed."
"You can't expect people without meticulous thinking to come up with flawless plans," Shiba Kuukaku said with a curl of her lip, shifting her position, "They're too rough. Kirinji thinks he's playing chess, but he's just making a mess."
"Since we're talking about making a mess…"
Aizen interjected with a smile.
"Let's think differently. Since they're deliberately showing this movement, making us believe this is their trump card, then where are their real fangs hidden?"
"Which division has been the quietest lately?", Rosse asked with a smile.
It was a simple line of reasoning. For the two of them, it barely required thought.
"The Sixth Division! The Thirteenth Division!"
Matsumoto Rangiku answered almost without hesitation.
"The Sixth Division has been undergoing a completely closed-off internal restructuring under Captain Kuchiki Byakuya. Officially, it's in response to your call, studying etiquette and improving cultural refinement across the whole division."
"As for the Thirteenth Division, Kurosaki Ichigo used to pick fights with Captain Ichimaru Gin every day, but recently he's suddenly gone quiet. Only the lower members still have occasional conflicts."
"Silence often signals the coming of a storm."
Aizen chuckled softly, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes.
"Both could be bait, or both could be their real targets in a desperate gamble."
He slowly raised two fingers, analyzing calmly, "If nothing unexpected happens, Kyoraku Shunsui has likely contacted the former head of the Kuchiki family, Kuchiki Ginrei. Kuchiki Byakuya is proud and may not trust these traitors directly, but he places great importance on family honor and his elders. As long as they win over Ginrei, they can influence Byakuya through the will of the family, and in turn pry open the entire Sixth Division."
"As for the Thirteenth Division…"
The smile on Aizen's lips deepened.
"Kurosaki Ichigo is still hesitating. He hasn't come to me, his teacher, for answers, nor has he exploded as he usually does. This hesitation is precisely because his heart has already been shaken by Kirinji and the others' words. But he doesn't want to believe we are the villains, so he's struggling, waiting for a trigger to erupt."
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