“Relying solely on the statements of the two parties isn’t enough to uncover the root of this phenomenon,” Kaito Yanagawa said slowly, his voice carrying with distinct clarity through the stillness.
“We need more information.”
He paused, turning his gaze toward Isshin Shiba at his side.
“Captain Shiba, if I recall correctly, there is a place within the Seireitei that holds records of nearly every historical event in the Soul Society since its inception.”
Hearing this, Isshin slowed his pace slightly.
An expression of ‘I knew it’ flickered across his face before turning somber.
Lowering his voice, he asked, “You mean the Great Spirit Book Gallery?”
“Precisely,” Yanagawa nodded.
“Now that is one serious place…”
Isshin clicked his tongue, launching into a detailed explanation.
“The Great Spirit Book Gallery is located in the deepest depths of the underground assembly chambers of Central 46.
It’s essentially the ultimate repository and clearinghouse for all information in the Soul Society.”
“It’s managed and controlled by the Tsunayashiro clan, one of the Five Great Noble Families.
That family is notorious for being rigid control freaks with an obsessive desire to hoard knowledge and secrets.”
As they walked, Isshin rattled off details with familiar ease.
“That place archives everything—the entire chronicle of the Soul Society’s history, ancient secrets, and records of major events from antiquity to the present day.”
“The conditions for entry are absurdly strict,” Isshin continued, his tone turning serious.
“The use of spiritual pressure is completely forbidden inside.
Anyone who enters must surrender their Zanpakuto to specialized guards for safekeeping.”
“Even captain-class Soul Reapers are strictly barred from setting foot inside without official authorization.”
He glanced at the white haori draped over Yanagawa’s shoulders, his tone lightening with anticipation and mischief.
“However, my boy Yanagawa, you’re a member of Squad 0 now.
Even if you’re technically only a reserve member, the name ‘Squad 0’ is the highest-level security pass in the entire Soul Society.”
“In theory, under the pretext of investigating an ‘anomaly concerning the fundamental laws of Zanpakuto,’ you have every right to demand entry into the Great Spirit Book Gallery to consult the archives.”
“No matter how stubborn the Tsunayashiro clan is, or how much those old fossils in Central 46 grumble, they’ll have to think twice before defying the will of the Soul King Palace.
That carries way more weight than my reputation as the Captain of Squad 10!”
Yanagawa listened quietly to Isshin’s briefing, forming a clearer picture of the archives in his mind.
It was undeniably a treasure trove fraught with taboo and opportunity.
His objective in going there extended far beyond merely digging up clues about the ‘Twin Hyōrinmaru.’
The complete historical chronicle, dark secrets, and vital records from antiquity preserved in the Great Spirit Book Gallery held an irresistible allure for him in their own right.
Since this investigation into the Twin Hyōrinmaru incident provided a legitimate, irrefutable reason to enter a forbidden sanctuary ordinary people could never step foot in, he had no intention of letting the chance slip by.
“In that case, Captain Shiba, I must trouble you to accompany me.”
“Haha!
I’d love nothing more!” Isshin slapped Yanagawa hard on the shoulder, a grin of eager anticipation spreading across his face.
“I’ve been dying of curiosity about that damn place for ages!
I never had an excuse to go in before, but thanks to you, I can finally broaden my horizons!
Let’s see just how many shameful secrets the Tsunayashiro clan has been hiding!
Let’s move!”
Without another moment’s hesitation, the two retraced their steps, heading back toward the central complex of Central 46.
This time, their destination was no longer the holding cells, but the true core of memory beneath all of the Soul Society’s power and secrecy.
The interior of the Great Spirit Book Gallery was unlike any ordinary library stacked with wooden bookshelves.
Before them stretched a seemingly endless, gently sloping corridor flanked by towering walls reaching all the way to the vaulted ceiling, constructed from what looked like radiant, polished jade.
Set into the walls were not standard shelves, but countless square alcoves of varying sizes, each holding scrolls and jade slips floating midair, emitting a faint luminescence.
The air was thick and stagnant, steeped in the scent of dust and the quiet accumulation of ancient knowledge.
“Whoa…” Isshin couldn’t suppress a low murmur of awe.
Even though he kept his voice down, it rang out startlingly loud in the absolute silence.
He gazed around at the luminescent shelves stretching endlessly up, down, left, and right, clicking his tongue.
“This place is way bigger than I imagined.”
Yanagawa did not answer immediately, absorbing the sight himself.
He began moving with purposeful strides, scanning the labels inscribed in ancient spiritual script outside each compartment.
*General History of the Soul Society*, *Genealogy and Origin of Zanpakuto*, *Treatise on Spiritual Power Evolution*, *Compendium of Major Events*…
the categorization was meticulous.
He first approached the section marked *General History of the Soul Society*, rapidly filtering and perusing the contents.
A thousand years ago, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto defeated the Father of the Quincy, Yhwach, and subsequently founded the Gotei 13, establishing the fundamental framework and duties of the Soul Reaper organization…
Yanagawa was already familiar with the broad strokes of this grand narrative, but the details preserved here were far more granular.
They included harrowing accounts of that brutal war, the initial chaos surrounding the Gotei 13’s inception, and the ruthless, iron-fisted methods Head Captain Yamamoto had used to unite the disparate factions through sheer force and unbending will.
Suddenly, a familiar name caught his eye, causing his browsing to hitch.
*Founding of the Gotei 13: First Captain of Squad 11, Retsu Unohana.*
*Retsu Unohana?* The very same Captain of Squad 4 who always wore a gentle smile, exuding an aura as serene as still water?
She was the first captain of Squad 11—the founder of the squad that reveled in bloodshed and slaughter?
The image of Captain Unohana smiling placidly during the earlier Captains’ Meeting immediately surfaced in Yanagawa’s mind.
It was truly difficult to reconcile that gentle healer with the blood-drenched title of the First Kenpachi.
The contrast was staggering.
*You really can’t judge a book by its cover…*
A ripple of surprise passed through Yanagawa, though he wasn’t entirely shocked.
Throughout the vast span of the Soul Society’s history, shifts in identity and role were not unprecedented.
Still, the sheer dissonance in Captain Unohana’s past was fascinating.
Committing the knowledge to memory, he read on.
The historical records regarding Squad 11 seemed exceptionally “colorful”—or rather, populated by an absurd parade of eccentrics.
His attention was soon captured by an entry detailing the Seventh Kenpachi.
*Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, the Seventh Kenpachi.
Notable Feat: Slain a Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande single-handedly.
Zanpakuto: Gagaku Kairō.
Biological type, capable of materializing and summoning massive creatures into a devouring domain.
Once declined an invitation to join Squad 0.*
*Declined an invitation to Squad 0?* In the Soul Society, an offer from Squad 0 was virtually the pinnacle of honor and recognition.
Who would actually turn it down?
Then Yanagawa reflected on his own situation—if he were told he had to reside permanently in the Soul King Palace from now on, he’d probably decline as well.
Furthermore, this man was undeniably a monster in combat, capable of felling a Vasto Lorde alone, with an exceptionally bizarre Zanpakuto ability to boot.
For someone like that to…
The record continued: *Subsequently defeated and killed in a duel of captain succession by the Eighth Kenpachi, Sōya Azashiro.*
*He was defeated?* Yanagawa immediately searched for the records concerning the Eighth Kenpachi, Sōya Azashiro.
*Sōya Azashiro, the Eighth Kenpachi.
Zanpakuto: Urozakuro.
Ability: Fuses his own spirit particles with any external matter containing reishi, allowing him to manipulate it at will.*
*Conducted a covert operation known as the ‘Rukongai Soul Modification Project,’ intending to transform ordinary souls into living weapons of war to subjugate Hueco Mundo.*
*Following the exposure of the plot, he surrendered voluntarily to Central 46.
Sentence: Permanent imprisonment in the lowest level of the underground prison, Muken.*
“…” Yanagawa fell silent for a moment.
*Fusing his own reishi with everything around him to manipulate it?*
An ability like that was practically tailored for large-scale warfare and total infiltration.
Even more startling was the fact that he had secretly conducted such horrifying modification experiments, all with the aim of conquering Hueco Mundo.
Yet his eventual surrender seemed utterly baffling.
Clearly, there was more to that story than met the eye.
“These Squad 11 captains,” Yanagawa couldn’t help but whisper to Isshin, whose expression while browsing had grown thoroughly priceless, “seem to be a rather unusual bunch.”
From the first captain, Retsu Unohana, to Kenpachi Kuruyashiki who turned down Squad 0, to Sōya Azashiro who attempted to modify the souls of Rukongai—the succession of Squad 11 captains was practically an encyclopedia of unhinged monsters.
“Unusual doesn’t even begin to cover it!” Isshin whispered back, his face twisting into a strange grimace.
“It’s an asylum for lunatics!
Thank goodness the current guy, Kenpachi Zaraki, even though he’s a total battle maniac, is at least…
er, at least a bit simpler?”
He trailed off, sounding completely unsure of his own words.
Yanagawa shook his head, shelving these shocking revelations regarding the past Kenpachis for the moment.
He turned his attention back to the rest of the historical archives, focusing particularly on records tied to Squad 0 and technological development.
Before long, another familiar name entered his field of vision.
*Captain of Squad 12, Kirio Hikifune.
Achievement: Established the foundational theory of ‘Artificial Souls,’ and upon this foundation developed the conceptual framework for ‘Gigai.’ Promoted to Squad 0 in recognition of her groundbreaking contributions.*
*Before long, I’ll probably be seeing this senior in the Soul King Palace,* Yanagawa noted silently.