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Though Shiraha had managed to resolve the crisis—for now—it did little to change the reality of what he was up against, and the unspoken question loomed larger than ever: what about next time?

He stood alone, elevated above the rank of vice-captain within Seireitei, yet surrounded by shadows and illusions. Nearly every seated officer at lieutenant level or higher had already succumbed to Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu, ensnared in a web of perfect hypnosis so flawless even the Captain-Commander himself was likely compromised. If Aizen truly intended to strike again, Shiraha harbored no illusions—his current power simply wouldn't be enough to resist. The Fujitora Smiles template had climbed to 98%, painfully close to completion, but "close" wasn't enough—not when the enemy was Aizen Sōsuke, and the gap between survival and oblivion could be thinner than a strand of white hair.

"You've heard the truth. Stay vigilant from now on," Yamamoto Genryuzai intoned, his voice heavy with weight and warning, the ancient captain's expression grave and resolute. For a man who rarely revealed his cards or offered trust freely, his decision to share such secrets made one thing clear—he saw something worth protecting in Shiraha. This wasn't just about using a prodigy as bait; this was about preserving a genius whose brilliance came once in a thousand years, shielding a spark of rare potential before it could be extinguished prematurely. Among the Gotei 13, the number of those privy to this buried threat could be counted on one hand: Kuchiki Ginrei, Kyoraku Shunsui, Unohana Retsu, and the Captain-Commander himself. Trust, even among captains, had grown scarce.

"I understand, Captain-Commander," Shiraha replied with calm courtesy, offering a respectful smile that masked the war behind his eyes. Even if he exposed Aizen now—named him as the shadow lurking within Soul Society—it would achieve nothing. The hypnosis had already taken root too deeply; the elders were blind to the truth, and without evidence, his words would dissolve into suspicion or mockery. What mattered now wasn't exposure—it was power. Shiraha needed more. He needed to reach 100%.

"Captain Unohana will relay the ruling to all of Seireitei shortly on behalf of Central 46," Yamamoto said. "During your ten-year deployment to the Human World, you are strictly forbidden from returning to Soul Society without official authorization. In the meantime, Lieutenant Komamura Sajin will serve as acting captain of the Seventh Division." Shiraha gave a simple nod. "Understood." Yamamoto met his gaze, then turned toward Unohana. "Captain Unohana, I leave the announcement to you." Her smile was gentle, but behind it lay unshakable resolve. "Yes, sir."

With nothing further to say, Yamamoto and Unohana strode from the chamber, leaving Shiraha with Kyoraku Shunsui, who stepped beside him and clapped a hand lightly on his shoulder. "You know, the old man thinks pretty highly of you," he said with an easy grin. "Not many people get to hear those kinds of secrets... Seems like once you master Bankai, you'll be my superior."

"You're exaggerating," Shiraha answered, tone light with amusement, though both knew there was truth buried in Kyoraku's teasing. "Not at all. That's just fact," Kyoraku replied, eyes narrowing in mock seriousness before softening again. "You're headed to the Human World tomorrow, right? How about one last drink with me at the Eighth Division? Once you're over there, you won't find sake this good." He mimed savoring a cup of vintage sake, face tilting toward the heavens in mock bliss.

Shiraha smiled, but shook his head. "Thank you, Captain, but I plan to return home tonight. I want to see my grandfather before I leave."

"Hah, just like your brother—so serious it hurts," Kyoraku muttered, half-amused and half-exasperated, stretching his arms behind his head as he turned away. "Well then, Shiraha, good luck out there." "Take care, Captain Kyoraku." Shiraha's gaze followed him briefly, then turned as a familiar pulse rippled through his consciousness.

System Notification: Sign-in Task Generated.

Objective: Travel to the Human World and defeat a member of the Visored Legion.

Reward: Template Progress +2%

"Visored Legion, huh?" Shiraha murmured, a slow grin forming as he processed the words. With his progress already at 98%, this mission would push him to 100%, granting him complete access to the full power of the Fujitora Smiles template. Gravity manipulation at its peak—even without invoking meteor summoning—would allow him to suppress most captain-level combatants through sheer Reiatsu control alone, perhaps even rivaling Byakuya Kuchiki directly. And with 100% mastery came the long-awaited reward: the opening of the second template. If fate allowed him to draw a powerful template, his strength could skyrocket exponentially.

The task's vagueness worked in his favor. It named no specific opponent, only that he defeat one member of the Visoreds. That gave him options—Mashiro Kuna, Rose Otoribashi, Love Aikawa, or even the living benchmark himself, Muguruma Kensei. "I wonder how many 'boxers' my strength equates to now," Shiraha mused dryly, the corner of his mouth tugging upward in quiet confidence.

Stepping from the sealed chamber, he found Byakuya Kuchiki waiting where he had left him—silent, stoic, composed. "Brother," Shiraha said, his voice even as he approached. "Let's head home." Byakuya didn't respond verbally, only nodded once, though the tension in his posture and the storm buried behind his eyes said enough. He'd already heard the ruling from Kyoraku.

Together, they moved through the winding corridor that led from the rear of the First Division. Then, without warning, a heavy Reiatsu surged through the air like a tremor rippling through silk. From above, Unohana Retsu's calm, unwavering voice cascaded across Seireitei, carried by a high-level Bakudō spell that allowed her to speak directly to every soul of rank and standing.

Bakudō #77: Tenteikūra — Heavenly Rickshaws in Silken Air.

"To all captains, lieutenants, and noble clans, this is Fourth Division Captain Unohana Retsu relaying the final ruling of Central 46 regarding Captain Shiraha."

The entire Soul Society paused. Squad members froze mid-training, paperwork halted, and noble gatherings turned silent. Heads tilted upward, attention sharpened, all waiting for her next words.

"Today, all prisoners within the Nest of Maggots were found dead.

After a thorough investigation by the Executive Militia, the cause of death has been attributed to an uncontrolled surge of Reiatsu from Captain Kuchiki Shiraha within the facility.

This surge is believed to have triggered mass psychological instability, leading to a cascade of madness and violence among the inmates, which ultimately resulted in their deaths."

A fabrication—but one Yamamoto had calculated carefully, a lie to protect the greater truth and shield Shiraha from deeper suspicion.

"As ruled by Central 46, Captain Kuchiki Shiraha is to be exiled to the Human World for ten years.

During this time, he is forbidden from returning to Soul Society without explicit authorization.

The position of captain of the Seventh Division will be temporarily assumed by Lieutenant Komamura Sajin.

This ruling takes effect immediately—Captain Shiraha is to depart at dawn tomorrow."

As the spell dissolved and the great web of communication collapsed, stillness returned to the air.

Far from the First Division, hidden in the quiet corridor of the Fifth Division, a fox-faced man leaned lazily against a wall, arms crossed and smile ever-present. "Looks like your plan didn't go exactly as expected, Captain Aizen," Ichimaru Gin said with a chuckle.

Not far away, Aizen Sōsuke stood before the window, polished glasses flashing faintly in the light. He adjusted them with a single finger, then turned his head slightly. "It doesn't matter, Gin. Kuchiki Shiraha has been removed from Seireitei. That's all that matters." His voice was calm, unshaken, his words carried with chilling certainty. "The stage has been set."

Gin tilted his head, voice low and laced with admiration. "Captain Aizen is always one step ahead."

Aizen didn't respond.

He simply smiled.

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