Several days later, in Squad 1 of Seireitei.
Inside the solemn and majestic meeting hall, the atmosphere was heavy.
Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto sat at the head of the table, his expression as calm as an abyss.
On both sides, several captains involved in the incident were seated, including Squad 10 Captain Isshin Shiba, Squad 4 Captain Retsu Unohana, Squad 6 Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, Squad 12 Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and Yanagawa, who was in charge of the investigation.
Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe stood to the side.
Standing in the center of the hall, Yanagawa presented a detailed and complete report to the Captain-Commander and the captains present, covering the investigation process of the “Twin Hyōrinmaru” incident, the battle against the complete Hyōrinmaru, the information obtained from it, and the final conclusion derived from the intelligence regarding the transfer of the King’s Seal provided by Isshin Shiba.
He did not exaggerate the intensity and danger of the battle, but merely stated the facts objectively.
However, just from keywords such as the complete Hyōrinmaru, the interference of golden power, and the leakage of the King’s Seal’s power, everyone could sense the hidden turbulence and the severity of the matter, which far exceeded ordinary incidents.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto listened with his eyes closed the entire time, and only after Yanagawa finished his report did he slowly open those eyes that seemed to contain molten lava.
His gaze lingered on Yanagawa for a moment, then swept over Isshin, before finally speaking in a deep voice:
“Since the cause of this matter has been clarified and it is indeed related to the accidental leakage during the transfer of the King’s Seal, it is not the fault of Tōshirō Hitsugaya or Sōjirō Kusaka.
I will explain this to Central 46 personally.
Release them immediately and restore their honor and freedom.”
The order was concise and powerful, settling the matter once and for all.
Given that it involved the King’s Seal, even Central 46, with the Captain-Commander setting the tone personally and the evidence clearly pointing in one direction, had no power to insist on their cruel “duel” plan.
“Yes.”
Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe bowed and accepted the order.
“As for the leakage of the King’s Seal’s power,” Captain-Commander Yamamoto’s tone turned cold, carrying unquestionable majesty, “this is top secret.
The content discussed today must not be leaked.
Do you all understand?”
“Yes!”
The captains present responded in unison, their expressions solemn.
Soon, the order was issued.
The heavy stone door of the Central 46 underground prison, where Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Sōjirō Kusaka were being held, opened once again.
When the two youths walked out of that dark and cold corridor one after the other, their steps slightly unsteady, and bathed in the relatively soft light of Seireitei again, they both felt as if they had been away for a lifetime.
Tōshirō’s white hair seemed to have lost a bit of its luster, and his youthful face bore signs of fatigue, but the sharpness and stubbornness of a genius in his eyes had not been extinguished; rather, they had deepened somewhat due to this experience.
He immediately searched for Momo Hinamori, and seeing that his friend was safe and sound, a look of relief flashed in his eyes.
Walking behind him, Sōjirō Kusaka looked even paler, his long black hair somewhat disheveled.
Apart from fatigue, there was a hint of indescribable emptiness and loss.
He subconsciously gripped his waist—where his Zanpakutō was still hanging.
However, when he drew the blade half an inch, the blade was dull and lusterless, no longer possessing the restrained yet powerful cold spiritual pressure flowing through it as before.
It felt cold to the touch, but it was just the temperature of ordinary metal, no different from any unawakened Asauchi.
“Kusaka, your blade…” Tōshirō noticed his friend’s action and asked in a low voice.
Sōjirō smiled bitterly and sheathed the blade completely, his voice somewhat hoarse:
“As expected, Hyōrinmaru has completely disappeared.
Now it…
is just an Asauchi.”
He paused, looked at the Zanpakutō at Tōshirō’s waist, and the faint chill emanating from it—which felt both familiar and strange to him—made his eyes even more complex.
“Perhaps this is how it was meant to be.
I…
was never meant to possess Hyōrinmaru.”
Thinking back on it, that was indeed the case.
Although Sōjirō’s aptitude was good, and he was considered a top student at Shin’ō Academy, compared to a once-in-a-century genius like Tōshirō Hitsugaya, whose natural ice-type spiritual power was astonishingly strong, the gap was obvious.
The fact that both of them could “simultaneously” awaken the Zanpakutō known as the strongest ice-type was the greatest absurdity from the start.
Now that the truth was out, everything was merely a mistake caused by external interference.
Just then, the figures of Yanagawa and Isshin Shiba appeared at the other end of the corridor. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
They were clearly there to handle the aftermath and personally confirm the condition of the two.
Seeing Yanagawa, Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Sōjirō Kusaka subconsciously straightened up, their eyes filled with gratitude and respect.
From the jailer responsible for their release and the arrival of Momo Hinamori, they already knew roughly that it was this Senior Yanagawa from the Zero Division who had uncovered the truth, turned the tide, and saved them from a desperate situation.
“Senior Yanagawa, Captain Shiba.”
Tōshirō bowed respectfully.
Sōjirō quickly followed suit.
Yanagawa’s gaze swept over the two, lingering for a moment on the Asauchi at Sōjirō’s waist, and he said calmly:
“The matter is settled.
You are free.”
His words were concise but carried a reassuring power.
“Thank you, Senior!”
The two thanked him in unison.
Yanagawa waved his hand, signaling that there was no need for formalities, and turned to leave with Isshin.
As the figures of Yanagawa and Isshin disappeared around the corner of the corridor, discussions about the “Twin Hyōrinmaru” incident spread through Seireitei like a stone thrown into still water.
At first, when Yanagawa was announced as a Zero Division reserve member and took over the investigation, although there was shock, there were not a few voices of doubt and skepticism in private.
After all, Yanagawa had been too “low-key” in the past; apart from his excellent grades at Shin’ō Academy and his status in the Kidō Corps, he did not have many illustrious battle records or widely known influence.
The invitation from the Zero Division was certainly astonishing, but before the results were proven, there were always people who would doubt whether there were other considerations involved, or whether Yanagawa could really shoulder such a heavy responsibility.
However, when the incident concluded in such a manner—involving top secrets like the King’s Seal, engaging in a direct battle with the complete Hyōrinmaru, successfully dispelling the external power, saving the two parties involved, and forcing Central 46 to change their decision—all previous doubts and skepticism vanished in the face of ironclad facts.
This young Shinigami named Yanagawa not only possessed the halo of being a Zero Division reserve member, but he also proved with his actual actions that he was worthy of this honor.
What he displayed was not just powerful strength, but also a calm and wise mind, and a profound insight into rules and phenomena.
When the captains and lieutenants of the Gotei 13 looked at Yanagawa again, their gazes were completely different from before.
“It seems the Soul King Palace really chose the right person this time.”
Squad 4 Captain Retsu Unohana had once commented in such a gentle tone when speaking privately with Jūshirō Ukitake, her eyes filled with approval.