"Academy Student Kaiser."
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stared with wrinkled eyes at Kaiser, who stood before the gathered Captains without the slightest change in expression. His voice sounded slow and heavy.
"Do you know why you've been summoned here?"
His tone carried the weight of reprimand, commanding authority without anger.
Unfortunately, Kaiser was not intimidated.
"It's about the incident during the practical training, right?"
Kaiser answered calmly.
"Correct." A trace of barely noticeable admiration flickered in Yamamoto's eyes before he continued, "We already have a general understanding of the incident, but we still need to hear your account as the person directly involved."
"This incident is of great significance—not only because it concerns the safety of numerous Academy students, but also because it contains many unresolved irregularities."
"And you were not only involved, but turned the tide of the crisis singlehandedly after it began."
"Therefore, report everything you know. We need more detailed information."
Clearly, the anomalies involved in this incident were serious enough to warrant the Gotei 13's full attention—so much so that Kaiser had been summoned, and nearly all the squad Captains had gathered for the occasion.
Kaiser cast a glance at Sōsuke Aizen, who wore his usual gentle expression, then nodded slightly.
"In that case, I'll recount what I know."
With that, Kaiser began explaining what he had experienced during the practical training.
Of course, it was a refined version.
After all, he couldn't exactly admit that he knew the original storyline, or that he had been prepared in advance for the incident.
He portrayed himself as a regular student participating in the training with his classmates. Because one member was absent and couldn't form a team, he volunteered to act alone. He claimed to have carried out his duties properly, hunting simulated Hollows throughout the training grounds, until he noticed the Reiatsu of the sixth-year students had suddenly grown faint, which made him realize something was wrong. Upon investigating, he found the students had been attacked.
As for healing the critically injured sixth-years, Kaiser downplayed it entirely, stating that he had only used a bit of Kidō to stabilize them temporarily before setting off again to locate the source of the anomaly.
He then encountered the massive Hollows attacking Renji Abarai and the others, dealt with them, and subsequently confronted the Adjuchas-class Menos Grande. After defeating the Adjuchas, Division 5 had arrived on the scene and intervened.
In short, Kaiser omitted all traces of foreknowledge, yet was candid about everything else—hiding nothing beyond what needed to be hidden.
Some Captains were uninterested, while others listened attentively. Including Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto himself, none interrupted even once. Only after Kaiser finished recounting the entire event did some furrow their brows or show thoughtful expressions.
"Hollows that can't be sensed by Reiatsu?" Yamamoto said slowly. "Captain Aizen, is Academy Student Kaiser's account accurate?"
"It is indeed accurate." Sōsuke Aizen adjusted his glasses and said, "The Hollows we encountered on the scene also emitted no detectable Reiatsu. It doesn't seem that they lacked Reiatsu, but rather that they possessed some means of concealing it."
As soon as he said this, the Captain wearing the Haori marked with "12" spoke up.
"Now this is truly fascinating."
The speaker had yellow irises and wore a black-and-white mask. His white Haori was layered over a black kimono with a deep purple collar. He wore bizarre headgear, and his hands—visible from his sleeves—were pallid, with an unusually long fingernail on his right middle finger.
"I've never had such a specimen in my lab—Hollows that can conceal their Reiatsu. Were they a newly evolved strain formed by nature, or mutants altered by some unknown factor? This is extremely interesting!"
His shrill voice conveyed sentiments that made others uncomfortable.
There was no concern in his words for casualties or the incident itself—only interest in what he called "specimens."
"Captain of Division 12, Mayuri Kurotsuchi."
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto spoke without even glancing at him.
"Has the Shinigami Research and Development Institute still not detected any anomalies?"
The Institute operated under Division 12 and was responsible for the development of new technologies and spiritual tools. It was essentially the Soul Society's research division, staffed entirely by brilliant minds.
The Institute also included the Communication Technology Research Division and the Radio Wave Measurement Research Division. With these, it possessed the ability to monitor and detect spiritual waves, Reiryoku, and Reiatsu in both the Soul Society and the World of the Living, functioning as the Gotei 13's surveillance system.
During the training, Shin'ō Academy instructors had been monitoring the students through these systems—and yet such a massive incident occurred without any forewarning.
This was clearly a serious oversight on the part of the Institute.
"Nope." Mayuri showed no hint of guilt, tilting his head as he replied, "Both communication and monitoring were cut off during that period. We tried to trace the source, but haven't found a single clue yet."
"I'd like to say it was a coincidence, but saying that would call the Institute's professionalism into question."
"So, while I'm not particularly interested, I will continue tracking the source. Just don't get your hopes up. Whoever did this covered their tracks quite well."
The implication of his words was clear. As Captain of Division 12, head of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, and the Soul Society's foremost expert in research, Mayuri believed this was no accident—it was caused by someone.
He even suspected that the Hollows' ability to hide their Reiatsu was the result of someone's modifications.
But who had the skills and resources to do such a thing?
…Could it be that detestable man?
A certain figure flashed through Mayuri's mind.
"Then, what about Squads 2 and 8?" Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, clearly accustomed to Mayuri's eccentricities, ignored his disturbing tone and quietly asked, "Your investigation results should be ready, yes?"
At this, the Captains wearing the Division 2 and Division 8 Haori both spoke.
"…Our people found signs that the Barrier had been opened from within. The marks don't seem to be from a forced breach. If Hollows had broken in by force, the sixth-year students of the Academy would surely have noticed."
The speaker was Suì-Fēng, Captain of Division 2 and Commander of the Onmitsukidō.
She was a small-framed girl with short bangs, a ringed snake braid, and an exposed-back outfit under her white Haori. White wraps covered her chest, back, and thighs, and her forearms were wrapped in black sleeves.
Despite her adorable appearance, her expression was cold and her voice even colder—giving the impression of someone wholly unapproachable.
"Our Squad also questioned the students carefully," added the Captain of Division 8, Shunsui Kyōraku. "All of them insisted they noticed nothing unusual beforehand—including the sixth-years in the barrier class. None of them knew the barrier had been breached before they were attacked, nor did they have any idea how the Hollows got in."
Shunsui was a laid-back-looking man with medium-length wavy brown hair tied into a ponytail, flower-decorated hairpins, and a pink floral Haori draped over his white Captain's Haori. He also wore a straw hat and had stubble on his chin.
His relaxed tone contrasted sharply with Suì-Fēng's icy one. He didn't seem the type to be in charge of intelligence operations.
But only Kaiser knew the truth—that this seemingly unreliable man was, in fact, one of the top-tier Captains in the Gotei 13. Aside from the Captains of Squads 1 and 4, Kyōraku was among the most experienced and powerful.
Though he was suppressing it, Kaiser could still sense his immense Reiatsu. Conservatively estimated, it was at least Second-Class Spiritual Pressure—perhaps even higher.
Thump!
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto struck the ground hard with his wooden staff, and the spiritual pressure he emitted grew even more oppressive.
"So in other words, not only is this a clear act of sabotage, but the Gotei 13 can't even identify the culprit? We're being toyed with?"
Anger was now evident in his voice.
Immediately, all the Captains bowed their heads and fell silent.
"Continue the investigation," Yamamoto said coldly. "To raise a hand against children—such petty lowlifes are not qualified to challenge the dignity of the Gotei 13."
"Designate this as the highest priority. All squads are to cooperate and locate the perpetrator as quickly as possible."
"Is that understood?"
The Captain Commander had spoken. No one dared to object. Even if they felt differently inside, they all voiced their agreement and accepted the task.
Kaiser listened in silence, saying nothing.
He knew full well who the real culprit was—but even if he said it aloud, it would be meaningless.
After all, that person had more than enough ways to deflect blame. If they weren't capable of operating on this level, they wouldn't have been able to play the entire Gotei 13 like puppets in the future.
Given that, Kaiser would not make any unnecessary moves to avoid arousing suspicion.
However, the gathering of all these Captains clearly wasn't just about the incident.
"Academy Student Kaiser."
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto locked eyes with Kaiser once more and said:
"Your strength has exceeded all our expectations. It is now time we discuss your future."
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Author's Note: 500 stones and I give you 10 extra chapter. THe goal should be achieved by tomorrow or no longer valid!
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