That was because Senju Tobirama was worried that their patriarch, Uehara Naraku, might suffer some unforeseeable harm in this unprecedented war that was about to erupt. If anything went wrong, it could lead to the extinction of the single-lineage Uehara Race.
In recent years, Uehara Naraku has indeed frequently encountered dangers, even with the close protection of Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito as officers; it was inevitable that Aizen Sousuke would find an opportunity.
Uehara Naraku's absence before the arrival of this great war was understandable.
Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni also fully agreed with Senju Tobirama's opinion, as Uehara Naraku's existence was the foundation of the integration between Quiet Spirit Court and the Uehara Race.
5th Squad headquarters.
The headquarters is now empty.
The Shinigami guards were no longer there.
In the Captain's room.
The current Captain of Squad 5, Uehara Naraku, leisurely drank a glass of juice, sitting in his seat, and flipped through a book at hand with interest.
The Vice Captain of the 5th Squad, Hinamori Momo, felt somewhat restless, her fingers slowly intertwined, and she nervously opened her mouth to ask, "Um... Naraku... Captain... all the Squad Captains of the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads have already gathered... can we really not join the battle?"
"It's not time yet."
Uehara Naraku shook his head, closed the book on the table, and looked up at Hinamori Momo: "I'm sorry, Hinamori, don't blame me for keeping you here too... Sending someone who respects Captain Aizen into a war against him is too cruel."
"No, that's not the issue..."
Hinamori Momo shook her head, quickly explained: "I know... Captain... Actually, we're all the same, we all want Captain Aizen to return! I'm just thinking, will Captain Aizen..."
She was worried that Aizen Sousuke would die in the war.
Because looking at the forces mobilized by the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads, Hinamori Momo didn't think any power could rival them, even the Aizen Sousuke she respected...
"Don't worry."
Uehara Naraku smiled slightly, seriously said: "No one knows the course of this war; perhaps we won't be sitting here for much longer..."
At this point, Uehara Naraku slowly stretched: "Hmm, the time should be almost up... in the time of finishing a glass of juice, the thing I wanted should be almost here?"
"Ah?"
Hinamori Momo looked puzzled.
The young girl still did not understand the meaning of Uehara Naraku's words.
Just at this moment, a space-time vortex appeared beside Uehara Naraku, and a hand reached out from the vortex, placing a white finger bone on the table.
"This is..."
Hinamori Momo's face was full of panic.
Why would there be a finger bone here?
"King's Key."
Uehara Naraku picked up the finger bone from the table, a smile creeping at the corner of his mouth, he explained with a low laugh: "The King's Key is the key to entering the Soul King Palace, made only from the bones of the Zero Squad members of the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads.
To eliminate the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads, one must kill the Spirit King and the Zero Squad.
To kill the Spirit King and the Zero Squad, one must enter the Soul King Palace.
To enter the Soul King Palace, one needs the King's Key.
For thousands of years, Quiet Spirit Court has feared the Uehara Race discovering the secret of entering the Soul King Palace and eliminating the Spirit King and Zero Squad. They have concealed the secret in various ways, so much so that even ordinary Shinigami captains can hardly access information about the Soul King Palace, only the Four Great Noble Clans know of it."
"..."
Hinamori Momo's expression changed subtly.
At this moment, she felt something was amiss with Uehara Naraku in front of her. While Quiet Spirit Court hid these secrets, Uehara Naraku discovered them and even obtained the key to the Soul King Palace...
No...
Something is very wrong!
Even though Hinamori Momo hadn't heard of the Soul King Palace's secret, as a Vice Captain, she had heard of the Zero Squad's reputation, the supposed strongest trump card of Quiet Spirit Court!
The Zero Squad...
Said to be stronger than the entire Guardian Court Thirteen Squads!
"Want to take a look?"
Uehara Naraku's lips still carried a faint smile, speaking as if nothing was amiss: "The highest combat power of the Uehara Race, the four lieutenants, against the highest combat power of Quiet Spirit Court, the Zero Squad. Aren't you curious who will win?"
"..."
Hinamori Momo's vision darkened slightly.
Wait...
Why would the four lieutenants of the Uehara Race fight against the Zero Squad?
Clearly, in the central plaza of Quiet Spirit Court, the forces of the Uehara Race and the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads have already gathered to jointly face Captain Aizen's Hollow World army, right?
"Naraku..."
Hinamori Momo slowly clenched her fist, gritting her teeth, and said in a deep voice: "Tell me what's really going on? Why are the four lieutenants of the Uehara Race fighting against the Zero Squad?"
She was still unwilling to believe the truth.
Another possibility arose in Hinamori Momo's heart, her voice fragile, "Did they... did they defect?"
At this moment...
Hinamori Momo desperately hoped it was the four lieutenants defecting, not Uehara Naraku's betrayal.
"They're not defecting..."
Uehara Naraku casually said: "They are merely following my order to annihilate the Zero Squad..."
"..."
Hinamori Momo's expression changed drastically.
The young girl nearly fainted!
In this moment, the girl finally felt the world's malevolence; she felt an unprecedented strangeness from her long-time friend and superior, Uehara Naraku.
No...
Or rather...
It was a peculiar familiarity.
That feeling was just like when Hinamori Momo saw Aizen Sousuke defect.
Now, her former friend and most trusted Captain, Uehara Naraku, was he also defecting like Aizen Sousuke?
Why does this world always toy with people... Aizen Sousuke, such a gentle person, defected from the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads... Uehara Naraku, such a kind person... did he defect too?
"You all..."
Hinamori Momo's eyes instantly reddened, and tears uncontrollably fell: "You all... why do you always... plot... deceive..."
"No, it's not a plot..."
Uehara Naraku raised a finger and shook it, smiling as he comforted the girl's emotions: "What I possess has never been a plot, just a very long story..."
"Then tell me..."
Hinamori Momo's face was full of pain and struggle, she intently stared at her friend in front of her, a glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes, as if seeking a reason to defend Uehara Naraku.
Even if she knew of Uehara Naraku's betrayal, Hinamori Momo didn't want to believe it.
Now, Hinamori Momo even sought a reason to persuade Uehara Naraku to turn back: "Tell me... what is that story... what exactly do you want to do now... everything can still be salvaged... Naraku."
"I can't tell you that..."
Uehara Naraku slowly shook his head, and let out a soft laugh: "If you're asking why... it's just that having only you as an audience would be a waste of my story."
Uehara Naraku slowly stood up, looking down at the red-eyed girl, smiling as he continued: "This is a story I've painstakingly prepared for thousands of years... Hinamori... you aren't even worthy to be a line in this story."
Uehara Naraku reached out his hand, placing it on Hinamori Momo's hair, gently tousling her head, and spoke softly: "As a price for deceiving you, I'll bring Captain Aizen back after this war..."