Several days later, in the Seireitei, First Division.
Inside the solemn and imposing council hall, the atmosphere was heavy.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto sat at the head seat, his expression calm and fathomless.
On either side stood several captains connected to the incident, including Tenth Division Captain Isshin Shiba, Fourth Division Captain Retsu Unohana, Sixth Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, Twelfth Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and Yanagawa, the one responsible for the investigation.
Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe stood respectfully to the side.
Yanagawa stood in the center of the hall and reported everything in full: the investigation into the “Twin Hyōrinmaru” incident, the battle with the fully manifested Hyōrinmaru, the information obtained from him, and the final conclusion based on Isshin’s information regarding the Ōin transfer.
He did not dramatize the danger of the battle.
He only stated the facts objectively.
Yet words such as complete Hyōrinmaru, golden energy interference, and Ōin power leakage were enough for everyone present to sense the hidden turbulence and severity of the incident.
Yamamoto listened with his eyes closed.
Only after Yanagawa finished did he slowly open his molten gaze.
His eyes rested on Yanagawa for a moment, then swept over Isshin before he spoke in a deep voice.
“Since the truth has been determined, and this matter was indeed related to an accidental leakage during the Ōin transfer, it was not the fault of Tōshirō Hitsugaya or Sōjirō Kusaka.”
“I will personally explain this to Central 46.
The two are to be released immediately, with their honor and freedom restored.”
The order was concise, powerful, and final.
With the Ōin involved, even Central 46 could no longer insist on its cruel “duel” solution after Yamamoto himself had set the conclusion and the evidence was clear.
“Yes.” Sasakibe bowed and accepted the order.
“As for the leakage of the Ōin’s power,” Yamamoto continued, his voice turning colder and carrying unquestionable authority, “this is classified.
Nothing discussed today is to be leaked.
Is that understood?”
“Yes!” the captains replied in unison, their expressions solemn.
Soon, the order was issued.
In the underground cells of Central 46, where Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Sōjirō Kusaka had been held, the heavy stone doors opened once more.
It was the notice of release.
When the two boys walked out of the dark, cold corridor one after the other, their steps slightly unsteady, and once again bathed in the relatively gentle light of the Seireitei, both felt as though they had stepped into another lifetime.
Hitsugaya’s white hair seemed to have lost a little of its luster, and his young face carried exhaustion.
Yet the sharpness and stubbornness of a genius still remained in his eyes—if anything, the experience had tempered them further.
The first thing he did was search for Momo Hinamori.
When he saw that she was safe, relief flashed through his eyes.
Behind him, Kusaka’s face was even paler.
His long black hair was somewhat disheveled, and beyond exhaustion, there was a faint emptiness and loss that was hard to describe.
Instinctively, he gripped the sword at his waist.
His Zanpakutō was still there.
But when he drew it half an inch from the sheath, the blade was dim and lifeless.
The restrained yet powerful icy spiritual pressure from before was gone.
It was cool to the touch, but only with the temperature of ordinary metal—no different from any unreleased Asauchi.
“Kusaka, your sword…” Hitsugaya noticed and asked quietly.
Kusaka smiled bitterly and slid the blade fully back into its sheath.
His voice was hoarse.
“As expected, Hyōrinmaru is completely gone.
Now it’s just… an Asauchi.”
He paused, then looked toward the Zanpakutō at Hitsugaya’s waist.
The faint chill coming from it was both familiar and unfamiliar, making his gaze even more complicated.
“Maybe this is how it was supposed to be.
I… was never meant to possess Hyōrinmaru.”
Thinking back, that was indeed the truth.
Kusaka’s talent was good, and he was outstanding within Shin’ō Academy.
But compared to Hitsugaya Tōshirō, a once-in-a-century genius born with astonishing ice-type spiritual power, the gap was obvious.
Now that the truth was clear, it had all been an error caused by outside interference.
At that moment, Yanagawa and Isshin appeared at the far end of the corridor.
They had clearly come to handle the aftermath and personally confirm the two boys’ condition.
Seeing Yanagawa, both Hitsugaya and Kusaka straightened instinctively, their eyes filled with gratitude and respect.
From the guards who released them and from Hinamori, they had already roughly learned that it was Yanagawa, the Royal Guard member, who had uncovered the truth, reversed the crisis, and pulled them out of despair.
“Yanagawa-senpai.
Captain Shiba.” Hitsugaya bowed respectfully.
Kusaka quickly followed.
Yanagawa’s gaze swept over the two of them, pausing briefly on the Asauchi at Kusaka’s waist.
“The matter is over,” he said calmly.
“You are free.”
His words were simple, yet they carried a reassuring strength.
“Thank you, senpai!” the two said together.
Yanagawa waved lightly, indicating there was no need for ceremony, then turned and left with Isshin.
As their figures disappeared around the corridor, discussion of the “Twin Hyōrinmaru” incident began spreading through the Seireitei like ripples across still water.
At first, when Yanagawa had been announced as a provisional Royal Guard member and assigned to investigate the matter, there had been shock—but also private doubt.
After all, Yanagawa’s past had been far too low-profile.
Aside from his outstanding results at Shin’ō Academy and his identity as a member of the Kido Corps, he had no famous achievements or widely known influence.
The Royal Guard’s invitation was astonishing, but before the results were proven, some inevitably wondered whether there were other considerations—or whether Yanagawa could truly shoulder such responsibility.
But now, with the incident resolved this way—an affair involving the classified Ōin, direct battle against the complete Hyōrinmaru, successful removal of foreign interference, rescue of both parties, and even forcing Central 46 to change its decision—all former doubts vanished before ironclad facts.
This young Shinigami named Yanagawa did not merely possess the title of provisional Royal Guard member.
Through action, he had proven himself to be actually worthy of it.
What he displayed was not only great strength, but a calm and intelligent mind, as well as profound insight into rules and phenomena.
From then on, the captains and lieutenants of the Gotei 13 looked at Yanagawa in a different light.
“It seems the Royal Palace truly chose well this time huh.” Fourth Division Captain Unohana once said gently in private conversation with Jūshirō Ukitake, a flicker of approval in her eyes.
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