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Fate In Bleach (299)
🕑 Added 2024-09-21 17:00:02 +0000 UTCChapter 299 - Assault
“Hey, Ichigo!”
“Huh?”
Hearing Yoruichi Shihōin's voice, Ichigo Kurosaki backed away after blocking Quincy Zangetsu's attack. Zangetsu didn’t pursue. After all, both White Zangetsu and Quincy Zangetsu existed to protect Ichigo.
Even if Ichigo’s current goal of mastering Bankai to obtain greater power went against Quincy Zangetsu’s wishes, as long as Ichigo needed it, he would grant it.
“What is it, Yoruichi?” Ichigo asked. “I’m busy right now.”
“Yes, I see. But…” Yoruichi held up the Hell Butterfly and said, “I’ve received information about the Central 46’s verdict regarding Shino Madarame. They’ve sentenced her to death.
She’ll be executed at Sōkyoku Hill in three days. And it’s already been a day since the verdict was issued. In other words, Ichigo…
You have less than two days to master Bankai. If you don’t succeed within two days, not only will your materialized Zanpakutō go berserk, but you’ll also lose your last chance to save Shino.”
Ichigo’s expression hardened as he listened to Yoruichi’s words.
“Two days? That’s more than enough!”
With those words, he ignored Yoruichi, gripped his Zanpakutō, and attacked Quincy Zangetsu.
…
The Seireitei remained on high alert. It was rumored that four of the Ryoka invaders had been captured, and only one remained at large. However, this last Ryoka was said to be the strongest among them, possessing captain-level strength.
The captains had issued orders: To avoid unnecessary casualties, Shinigami encountering this Ryoka were permitted to flee without engaging.
All they had to do was relay the Ryoka’s location before escaping, allowing the captains to apprehend him.
On the surface, the Seireitei appeared calm.
However, a sense of unease lingered in the air.
Especially after learning from the Fourth Division members that these Ryoka had invaded the Seireitei to rescue Shino Madarame, the scales of justice began to tip in the Shinigami’s hearts.
It was true that Shino Madarame had violated the Seireitei decree by transferring her spiritual power to a human.
If the Central 46 had initially sentenced her to death, while the Shinigami might have found it harsh, they wouldn’t have questioned its validity.
After all, she had committed a grave sin and had to be punished.
However, the Central 46’s repeated changes to her verdict made it seem like they were simply flexing their authority.
Look! Everything in the Seireitei is under our control!
We decide who is guilty and what their punishment will be!
Many Shinigami, who had been bullied or had even witnessed their friends and family harmed by the nobles, turned their hatred towards them.
One or two wouldn’t make a difference.
But aside from the true prodigies, how many commoner Shinigami hadn't experienced the nobles’ cruelty?
The Central 46, as the Seireitei's highest authority, had failed them.
Commoner Shinigami and nobles, even if they committed the same crime, the commoner would receive a harsher punishment, while the noble, even if they killed someone, would go unpunished.
This was the “consensus” that had formed over millions of years in the Seireitei.
However, the nobles had forgotten one crucial detail.
A thousand years ago, there were few commoner Shinigami, and their strength was limited. Even if they were bullied, they couldn't fight back.
But now, because of the Gotei 13, the number of commoner Shinigami far surpassed the number of nobles.
Even among the Gotei 13 captains, almost half were from Rukongai.
They, too, were commoners.
The combined strength of these Shinigami, who had suffered under the nobles’ tyranny, was enough to shake the Seireitei to its core.
Perhaps even Head-Captain Yamamoto and Shunsui Kyōraku, who claimed to understand the Gotei 13 better than anyone, had no idea how much resentment had been brewing under their noses.
On the surface, the Shinigami were diligently carrying out their patrol duties. However, in their hearts, the scales of “justice” had tipped.
Perhaps, when they encountered the Ryoka, they wouldn't stop them.
They might even help them.
It could be said that Ichigo and his companions’ actions had planted a seed of “rebellion” within the hearts of most commoner Shinigami.
A group of ordinary humans, who had only recently gained their powers, had dared to invade the Seireitei to rescue their friend, who had been unjustly imprisoned.
What courage!
No one would reject a friend who would fight for them.
Furthermore, if these Ryoka successfully rescued Shino Madarame…
No one would think themselves inferior to mere humans…
…
Within the Ninth Division’s detention center, Momo Hinamori huddled in a corner of her cell with her head buried in her arms.
Sōsuke Aizen’s death had devastated her.
It could be said that Aizen had played a more significant role in her life than her parents. After all, Momo had only lived with her parents for a little over ten years.
But she had been with Aizen for at least forty years since joining the Fifth Division.
Aizen had a remarkable talent for understanding the human heart.
Perhaps it was this “trait” that had allowed him to manifest Kyōka Suigetsu, the “strongest illusion-type Zanpakutō.”
Within the Seireitei, Aizen was known as a “good guy,” a kind, gentle, and amiable man.
Even Ailin, during his time replacing Aizen, couldn’t replicate those qualities.
“Momo.”
As Momo grieved, a gentle voice called out to her.
She looked up with tear-filled eyes and saw Rangiku Matsumoto looking at her with concern. While Rangiku and Shūhei Hisagi were from the same class, technically Momo’s seniors, she was a social butterfly who could drink with both Captain Kyōraku and academy students.
There were few Shinigami in the Gotei 13 who weren't familiar with her.
Even those who hadn’t met her knew of her reputation as a friendly, sociable Shinigami who loved to drink.
“Rangiku…”
“Captain Aizen… Captain Aizen… He…”
“Waaaah…”
Seeing a familiar, kind face, Momo couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. She burst into tears.
“Sigh…”
Rangiku sighed and patted Momo’s head through the bars.
“It must be hard for you, Momo.”
Losing the person she admired most was a devastating blow. After comforting her for a while, Rangiku pulled an envelope from her pocket.
“I’m sorry, Momo. I came here because I found this letter on Captain Aizen’s desk. Judging by the handwriting, it seems he wrote it himself. He even wrote your name on the envelope. I believe it’s something he wanted to leave for you.”
“This…”
Momo’s hand trembled as she took the envelope. She started to cry even harder.
“I… I should have realized… He’s been acting strange since last week.
Now, I finally understand. He must have known something was going to happen. He’s been saying goodbye to me all week…”
Momo clutched the envelope and sobbed uncontrollably. Her cries drew the attention of the Ninth Division Shinigami guarding the detention center.
However, when they saw it was Momo Hinamori and Rangiku Matsumoto, they pretended they hadn’t seen anything and quickly returned to their patrol duties.
They were just ordinary Shinigami.
And the ones causing the commotion were the lieutenant of the Fifth Division and the lieutenant of the Tenth Division.
Even seated officers were considered important figures to them, let alone lieutenants!
Didn’t they see that the cell holding the Fifth Division lieutenant wasn't even locked?
“Momo, the situation in the Seireitei isn’t good…”
Rangiku sighed and explained the current events.
“The Gotei 13 seems… different. The captains… They’re all acting strangely. I have a feeling that Captain Aizen’s death is just the beginning.
I hope you can pull yourself together soon. The Fifth Division has lost Captain Aizen. If you don’t regain your composure, things will only get worse. I’m leaving now. Once you’ve calmed down, you can come out.”
With those words, Rangiku patted Momo on the shoulder and turned to leave.
While she wanted to stay and comfort Momo, as she had said, the situation in the Seireitei was unsettling.
Not just the captains, but even the Shinigami were acting strangely.
She couldn’t control the other divisions. But she hoped the Tenth Division wouldn't be caught up in the chaos.
Momo cried for a while, then opened the envelope with trembling hands.
“Momo, I hope this letter finds you well… When you read this, I’ll probably be dead…”
“Aaaaargh!”
A short while later, the Ninth Division members heard Momo Hinamori’s scream. When they rushed to her cell, they found the door open and Momo gone…
…
Whoosh…
Under the moonlight, a figure with a bun hairstyle leaped across the Seireitei’s rooftops. Drops of water dripped from the air she passed.
A few minutes later, Momo Hinamori arrived at a secluded courtyard.
She looked at the courtyard with hesitation. Then, her hesitation was replaced by hatred.
“Bloom, Tobiume!”
She drew her Zanpakutō, calling upon its name and releasing its Shikai.
Boom!
Her explosive spiritual pressure enveloped her in a blue light. She raised Tobiume high above her head and swung it towards the courtyard.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
Red light emanated from her Zanpakutō. It flowed along the tridents and transformed into two basketball-sized fireballs, hurtling towards the courtyard.
“Who’s there?!”
A shout echoed in the night. Golden light blazed, and countless golden osmanthus blades materialized before the two fireballs, forming a barrier.
Boom!
The fireballs exploded and illuminated the darkness. In the brief illumination, Momo saw a young woman in golden armor standing on the courtyard wall.
“This is Lord Ailin’s residence! How dare you attack it?!”
After blocking the explosion, the golden osmanthus barrier scattered and flew towards the armored woman, coalescing into a golden straight sword in her hand.
This was the Zanpakutō Ailin had left with Haruko Kuchiki for her protection—the Golden Osmanthus Sword, Alice, from Sword Art Online!
“Captain Ailin?”
Within the Seireitei, Ailin was a figure to be avoided. The captains knew his strength and wouldn’t provoke him.
And the Shinigami, aware of the vast difference in power between them and a captain, wouldn’t dare to challenge one.
Normally, upon learning they had attacked Ailin’s residence, a Shinigami would apologize and seek his forgiveness.
However, Momo’s next action made Alice’s expression harden.
“Heh heh, that’s right! The one I want to kill… is Captain Ailin!”
With a shout, Momo channeled all her spiritual pressure into her Zanpakutō. Fiery flames engulfed Tobiume.
Comments
Remy
👍
Gerardo Hernández Sánchez
Poor momo, aizen send her to die
