Soul Society, Kanyashiro Clan Head Hall – Seireitei
"Still can't reach Higashi Shuuichi?"
Kanmiya Jinbara's face darkened as he glared down at the kneeling Shinigami below.
"N-no, Lord Kanmiya," the trembling man replied. "We've tried multiple channels, but we've lost contact with the Grand Blade Hunter…"
Sweat poured from his face. Higashi was known to appear the moment his name was uttered. That he was unreachable today—of all days—was terrifying.
Kanmiya's fist smashed the desk beside him.
"He better not be…"
The room fell silent. Jinbara had just learned that Shiba Kaien, heir to one of the Five Great Noble Houses, was reported in grave danger in the World of the Living. Details were scarce—but the fact that Captain-Commander Yamamoto had not only dispatched Ukitake Jūshirō, but immediately followed up with four more Captains, told Jinbara everything.
This wasn't some minor Hollow disturbance.
This was catastrophic.
Under such conditions, Jinbara—and by extension, Higashi Shuuichi, his unofficial personal assassin and enforcer—knew the smartest play was inaction.
Too much involvement, and someone might pin the blame on them if this exploded.
But at that exact moment, the very man in question, Higashi Shuuichi, was not in the World of the Living.
He'd just finished recruiting Tier Harribel, and now stood at the edge of Las Noches, ready to stir up trouble with Baraggan.
He still thought this was just another petty skirmish orchestrated by Aizen—something to swipe back at with his own brand of flash and spite.
But when he arrived at Las Noches, he saw a gaping Garganta overhead.
Not just any rift—this was one birthed by immense power, a rift wide enough to consume cities.
Through it, he saw Arrancar after Arrancar flying toward the breach.
Among them, unmistakable: Baraggan's old laugh, echoing like thunder.
Shuuichi paused.
What the hell is Aizen doing?
He hadn't deployed this many troops since that noble culling incident decades ago…
His tone shifted.
"Don't tell me you're trying to flip the table for real."
He forgot Baraggan. He wasn't wasting his time on a washed-up fossil.
With a few curt words to Harribel, he opened a private line—an encrypted, one-use method Kurotsuchi Mayuri had given him.
"Emergency. Gate me back."
In moments, he stepped through.
And the Seireitei he returned to… wasn't the same.
Fires still burned. Rubble scattered the path like old bones.
It reminded him of the Kasajirō Uprising—but on a smaller scale.
These Arrancar had only attacked specific noble territories, plus a few adjacent squad barracks.
He recognized the zone.
His expression hardened.
A few hours earlier – The World of the Living
Ukitake Jūshirō had arrived.
He found Kaien, barely alive, barely holding on.
Zanpakutō shattered. Bankai unawakened. Blood pooling beneath his broken frame.
Too late?
No.
Too perfect.
Because around him, waiting, were Arrancar—a dozen or more—surrounding him like a trap sprung tight.
Kaien was the bait.
They weren't here for the heir.
They were here for whoever came to save him.
"Encirclement and reinforcement bait," Ukitake said calmly, surveying them. "I didn't expect Hollows to use battlefield tactics."
Maybe he should've done a divination before leaving.
But it wouldn't have changed anything. He wouldn't abandon his Lieutenant.
Not because Kaien was a noble.
Because he was Ukitake's man.
A low voice answered.
Starrk, Primera Espada.
"You're alone. A bit underwhelming for Soul Society."
Ukitake smiled faintly, ignoring the blood trickling from his mouth.
"Is that so? From where I'm standing, you seem a bit… outnumbered."
Weak words.
Sharp edge.
Starrk didn't reply immediately.
Aizen had ordered restraint.
Don't go overboard. No killing unless necessary.
A ruined Soul Society would be of no use to him.
Most Captains could become assets in his new world.
Those who couldn't… could still serve as raw material.
That's why Kaien was alive.
That's why Starrk didn't command an immediate assault.
Instead, he left a deliberate opening.
"Gantenbainne Mosqueda, he's yours."
The No.7 Espada stepped forward.
Orange afro, a star on his forehead, steel jaw hidden beneath his Hollow mask.
Big. Muscled. Cocky.
"Single combat?" Ukitake muttered, noticing the others back off.
Strange.
But he'd take it.
One-on-one was his best shot.
Otherwise, he didn't know if his lungs—or his body—could survive it.
He raised his hand and chanted.
"**Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, bearer of human name! On the wall of blue flame, inscribe twin lotus. Await the crimson inferno from afar—
Hadō #73: Sōren Sōkatsui!**"
Twin streams of blue fire streaked across the sky.
"Fire? You think that can burn someone blessed by the Lord?!"
Gantenbainne sneered.
"Ryūha Ken!"
He charged forward, fists swinging like war drums.
He smashed through the flames with sheer force.
But he didn't see Ukitake, who followed the flames in their wake.
Zanpakutō drawn.
Cloth Slash!
A technique learned from Yamamoto himself.
He'd never mastered it, but for a feint—it would do.
Gantenbainne struck again.
"Ryūhō Ken!"
A hammering double-fist blow.
Steel-on-steel.
Ukitake slid back, coughing blood, but not retreating.
"Bakudō #75: Gochūtekkan!"
Five glowing pillars slammed from above.
"Do you think cheap tricks will work on me ?!"
Gantenbainne roared.
"Ryūshō Ken!"
He clapped his palms, summoning a golden Cero-like blast, obliterating the kido.
Ukitake didn't flinch.
He'd seen enough.
"I understand now."
He raised his Zanpakutō.
Two fins, linked by chain.
Five talismans dangling from the center.
"Sōgyo no Kotowari."
"Finally releasing it? That's more like it!" Gantenbainne grinned and vanished with Sonído.
He reappeared in front of Ukitake with a roar.
"Ryūha Ken!"
Blow after blow—but Ukitake deflected each with his left blade.
"You may think your fists are weapons," Ukitake said coldly, "but all your damage comes from that Reiryoku coating around them. It's not that different from a Zanpakutō's edge."
"And in that case…"
His right blade pulsed, discharging the energy it had absorbed through the left.
The five talismans between them activated.
They shaped the blast.
Into a dragon.
A Reiryoku serpent coiled mid-air and bit down on Gantenbainne's waist.
"Impossible! The Lord said… I couldn't lose!"
Panicked, Gantenbainne grabbed the construct, infused spiritual power—and broke it apart with a Cero.
He clasped his hands again.
"Forgive us, Lord—Ryūshō Ken!"
A massive golden beam blasted forward—pure wrath.
Ukitake met it.
Not with power.
But with precision.
His left blade grazed the beam.
And it vanished.
Gone.
Not a spark left.
"Lord… what is this…?"
Gantenbainne's mind couldn't process it.
But Ukitake wasn't waiting for understanding.
The beam he'd just nullified?
He'd reversed it.
The dragon re-formed.
This time, it tore through him.
As his vision faded, Gantenbainne smiled faintly.
"So this is… forgiveness…"
From above, Starrk watched.
Unmoved.
He felt nothing.
Gantenbainne was made from one of Aizen's half-finished Hōgyoku experiments.
Not a comrade.
Just an expendable tool.
As he moved to send in another, the sky ripped open.
The Senkaimon flared.
And from it stepped four Captains in white haori.
"Looks like this got messy," drawled Kyōraku Shunsui, adjusting his straw hat. "You Arrancar moving here permanently or what?"
Ukitake smiled.
He knew that tone.
Shunsui's eyes, however, showed barely restrained fury.
Starrk sidestepped the incoming Kido slash, calmly replying:
"Is this the welcome all Captains offer?"
He was surprised Shunsui immediately pinpointed him as the leader.
Not that he cared.
"Are you the one attacking our people?" barked Komamura Sajin, spiritual pressure bursting as he drew his blade.
Sui-Feng, silent as a shadow, vanished in a flash step.
In the blink of an eye, she was beside Kaien, guarding him.
And then, of course, there was—
"KENPACHI!!!"
Zaraki Kenpachi dropped like a bomb from the sky, blade raised, laughter booming.
"No need for greetings—just fight me already!"
Starrk exhaled, drawing his twin pistols with a shrug.
"Well then…"
"Let's play."