"Abnormal Reishi fluctuations observed in the 27th District of North Rukongai."
"Spiritual Power Level Nine, black Spirit Ribbons!"
"Is it another Hollow invasion?"
"Where is the patrol squad? Notify them to get into position immediately!"
"Eighth Seat of the Ninth Squad, Tōdō Izaemon, is leading a Soul Reaper detachment to provide reinforcements!"
"Excellent. With Eighth Seat Tōdō taking action, this sudden disturbance should be quelled quickly."
Spiritual Wave Measurement and Research Department, Twelfth Squad.
This department was specifically designed to observe spiritual waves in the World of the Living and the Soul Society. It was developed by Kurotsuchi Mayuri in the Shino Prison and later established as a sub-department within the Twelfth Squad.
It also served as the main control room for the surveillance system.
Right now, a bizarre-looking researcher, resembling some kind of sentient catfish creature, was in charge of monitoring and dispatching notifications.
His name was Hiyosu.
At this moment, he was staring intently at the dense data changes on the screen, his ten fingers dancing rapidly across the keyboard, issuing precise commands from time to time.
Thanks to the surveillance system optimized by Kurotsuchi Mayuri, it could now cover most areas of the first thirty districts of the Rukongai, accurately capturing any abnormal Reiatsu within this range.
"This is bad. Eighth Seat Tōdō doesn't seem to be a match for that Hollow."
"Wait, that's not just one Hollow, it's a group of more than three!"
"We must notify other patrol squads immediately. It would be best if a seated officer from the Eleventh Squad handled this personally!"
As everyone knew, although the Gotei 13 didn't have specific job divisions, their responsibilities varied according to the style of each squad.
Everyone in the Eleventh Squad was a fierce and capable fighter, often charging on the front lines.
"Reporting to Lord Hiyosu, the closest seated officer to the North 27th District is in the West 36th District. They are rushing to the battlefield as quickly as possible."
*Bang!*
Hiyosu slammed his fist heavily onto the console, his face turning ashen.
"By the time that guy gets there, Seated Officer Tōdō will have been eaten clean!"
"This is a failure on our observation department's part. Prepare to apologize to the Captain once this incident is over."
However, just as he finished speaking, he suddenly heard another researcher exclaim:
"Wait, Lord Hiyosu, we've detected a highly concentrated Reiatsu outside the monitoring range."
"It's from the Shino Prison!"
Hearing this, Hiyosu breathed a sigh of relief. "You should have said so earlier. So there are subordinates of Lord Naraku nearby. We can rest easy now."
After years of working together, the Soul Reapers no longer resented the Shino Prison for stealing their credit.
Because as they continuously interacted, they realized that this organization, which was not an official military branch of the Seireitei, was absurdly strong. Any random person pulled from it was ridiculously powerful.
Even their ordinary members were a cut above the regular soldiers of the Gotei 13.
This was no longer a normal organization.
Ever since the Valley of Screams incident, rumors had been circulating within the Seireitei that Naraku Sora, the Prison Warden, was planning to create a new Gotei 13 within the Shino Prison.
The goal was to replace the original one and turn the hierarchy upside down in the process.
Many Soul Reapers firmly believed this.
However, they didn't consider it a rebellious act. After all, subordinates overthrowing their superiors was a classic tradition in the Seireitei since ancient times.
Even today, the Eleventh Squad still maintained the rule that defeating the current Captain would make one the new generation's Kenpachi.
"But..." The subordinate who discovered the highly concentrated Reiatsu hesitated.
"But what?!" Hiyosu glared at him.
"That Reiatsu doesn't seem to belong to a seated officer. It's just a rookie Soul Reaper who recently joined."
"What?!"
North Rukongai, 27th District.
Tōdō Izaemon looked despairingly at the giant lizard beasts in front of him, his body trembling uncontrollably.
It wasn't out of fear, but because he had sustained severe injuries in the previous clash. He was now at the end of his rope.
"Damn it, how could four Hollows of this level appear in such an early district?"
"Is it destined that I, Tōdō, will lose my life here today?"
Despite death looming right before his eyes, Tōdō Izaemon didn't take a single step back. He stood his ground with a resolute gaze, gripping his Zanpakutō tightly with both hands and gathering his Reiatsu.
He planned to take down one or two Hollows before he died, minimizing their casualties as much as possible.
The lizard Hollows seemed somewhat wary of the Soul Reaper's desperate counterattack and hesitated to move forward.
Before evolving into Gillians, their intelligence wasn't low. Some Hollows with special talents were even as smart as humans in the World of the Living.
They were just easily influenced by negative emotions.
A few minutes later, the largest of the lizard Hollows finally couldn't suppress its inner greed and lunged at Tōdō Izaemon, a red light flashing through its pupils.
*This Soul Reaper's soul is mine!*
"Roar!"
A trace of absolute resolve flashed through Tōdō Izaemon's eyes. He erupted with all his Reiatsu, preparing for a fight to the death.
Right at that moment, a voice rang out from behind him—
"Bring down the dusk, Mirokumaru!"
A gust of wind rose from the ground, soaring straight up, instantly transforming into a visible, howling storm that swept forward.
Substantive Reiatsu light filled the fierce winds, turning into countless visible wind blades that instantly swallowed the largest lizard Hollow.
The sound of slicing flesh echoed. In an instant, the enemy that Tōdō Izaemon had to face with his life on the line was finely minced into meat.
Not a speck of meat remained on its bones.
Tōdō Izaemon turned around in shock, only to see a young Soul Reaper girl standing behind him, holding a weapon that resembled a monk's staff.
*This is... a Shikai!*
Without a doubt, reinforcements from another squad had arrived.
But strangely, why wasn't she wearing an armband symbolizing her identity?
While he was puzzled, the girl manipulated the fierce winds, completely shredding the remaining three lizard Hollows. A strong stench of blood filled the air.
"Th-thank you for your help, Senior."
Tōdō Izaemon managed to squeeze out a smile.
"May I ask which squad you belong to? Please let me know so I can personally visit and thank you after the mission is over."
Hearing this, the girl puffed out her chest, a hint of pride flashing across her small face.
"I wouldn't call myself a senior. I'm a newly joined Soul Reaper, a rookie of the Shino Prison, Senna!"
Hearing this introduction, Tōdō Izaemon froze in place.
He had watched very closely when the girl unleashed her divine might just now. That powerful Shikai technique was at least at the Lieutenant level.
Wasn't the Shino Prison being a bit too extravagant?
Could it be that the previous rumors about a new Gotei 13 were all true?
Looking at her back as she cleaned up the battlefield, Tōdō Izaemon couldn't help but fall into deep bewilderment.
"I heard you're putting together a new Gotei 13?"
In the First Squad's tea room, Yamamoto cast a sidelong glance at a certain rebellious disciple who was currently tinkering with Ryūjin Jakka.
"Give me a little more heat."
Naraku Sora familiarly patted the blade.
Ryūjin Jakka, resting in the hearth, vibrated slightly. A small cluster of flames rose, instantly warming up the room. The sweet potatoes on the roasting pan emitted a warm, sweet aroma.
It was winter again, and snow was falling heavily outside.
It was the perfect season for eating roasted sweet potatoes.
"It's not as crazy as it sounds. The subordinates are just playing around."
Handing a roasted sweet potato to Yamamoto, Naraku Sora grinned.
"Teacher, you know me. Playing petty tricks behind people's backs has never been my style. A real man faces things head-on."
Yamamoto snorted in dissatisfaction. He took the sweet potato, peeled the skin, and took a bite, his eyes lighting up slightly.
This bastard boy hadn't learned anything else, but he had mastered his sweet potato roasting technique to perfection.
Even if he ended up on the streets in the future, he wouldn't lack a skill to feed himself.
"Enough nonsense. I have no objections to you forming a new Gotei 13, but it must be approved by Central 46."
Hearing this, Naraku Sora couldn't help but laugh.
"Teacher, you're getting more and more senile."
"With the situation as obvious as it is now, does Central 46 still dare to dictate terms to the Shino Prison?"
"Those old geezers have already been scared out of their wits."
"If you ask me, while you haven't completely succumbed to dementia yet, it would be better to abolish Central 46 early on. That way, you can continue to shine and generate heat for the Soul Society in your remaining years."
Yamamoto's breath hitched, his eyes narrowing as anger burned within him.
After not being disciplined for a few days, this guy's skill at pushing his luck had grown even more refined.
"You bastard, have you lost your mind?"
"What I mean is that the procedures must be legal and compliant, so as not to give people cause for gossip!"
Yamamoto roared, feeling a faint urge to draw his sword and furiously slash this rebellious disciple.
Naraku Sora looked thoughtful.
As the saying goes, having an elder in the house is like having a treasure. In these aspects, the old man was still more thorough.
However, the new Gotei 13 really had nothing to do with him.
He had just casually mentioned it to Komamura Sajin and the others before, but who knew those guys would take it to heart?
Not only did they divide the Shino Prison into thirteen squads, but they even selected new Captains based on their comprehensive abilities.
Recently, he even heard that Kakyo was planning to poach people from other squads.
A perfectly gentle and kind woman had been led astray by this bunch of brutes.
He could only say that it was all Kisuke's fault.
"That's enough idle chatter."
Yamamoto finished the sweet potato in his hand in a few bites and stood up.
He stretched his seemingly aged body. His joints rubbed together, emitting the sound of clashing iron, and his muscles swelled, radiating a scorching heat.
"I've recently gained a new understanding of the Black Flash. I'll test it out on you."
Hearing this, Naraku Sora's eyes lit up.
Sure enough, teaching the old man martial arts was the right move.
As the strongest Soul Reaper in the Soul Society who had lived for thousands of years, he was an absolute authority when it came to combat talent.
Not to mention he had created the top-tier Genryū style.
Whether it was learning aptitude or teaching ability, Yamamoto was among the very best in the Soul Society.
He wondered if Old Man Yama could bring him a little surprise.
Thinking of this, the corners of Naraku Sora's mouth curled up.
"Sure."
At this very moment, his hands were itching, and he was eager for a fight.
Fourth Squad Barracks, Captain's Office.
A figure stood in front of the door, knocking gently and speaking respectfully:
"Captain, the patient list for the Comprehensive Relief Clinic has been compiled. Do you need to look it over?"
However, after waiting for a long time, he received no response.
A hint of confusion inevitably surfaced on the face of the Lieutenant guarding the door, Yamada Seinosuke.
As the person who admired Unohana Retsu the most, he was very familiar with her schedule.
Normally, his Captain should be handling today's squad duties at this time.
Did something happen?
Filled with confusion, Yamada Seinosuke slowly pushed open the door.
The office was completely silent, with no one else inside.
Approaching the window, Yamada Seinosuke saw a letter on the desk. The cover read: "To Seinosuke."
Realizing it was Unohana Retsu's handwriting, he didn't hesitate and immediately tore open the envelope.
A few seconds later, Yamada Seinosuke's pupils shrank drastically.
"..."
"The Captain... she went to her death?!"