Fate in Bleach: Unlimited Blade Works!

That night, Kaien Shiba had lost his beloved wife. Of course, if not for Captain Ailin's arrival, they might have all ended up crippled, even if they had survived.

Kukaku's severed arm and head injury were evidence of the brutality of the attack. Therefore, Kaien was genuinely grateful to Ailin and Rukia Kuchiki.

However, because of that incident, both Kukaku and Ganju had developed a deep resentment towards Shinigami.

Over the years, Kukaku had chosen to teach Ganju their family's secret techniques herself, refusing to let him enter the Seireitei and become a Shinigami. Kaien couldn't bring himself to force his younger siblings.

After all, he, too, had lost faith in the Seireitei and the Shinigami.

He finally understood why his family had dedicated their lives to exposing the truth of a million years ago.

The Seireitei, built upon a foundation of sin, had remained unchanged for a million years.

While it might appear peaceful on the surface, darkness lurked beneath its pristine facade.

Even Head-Captain Yamamoto, a millennium ago, had only managed to tear a hole in that darkness and established the Gotei 13 to protect the Soul King. He hadn't eradicated the nobles' wickedness, merely driving it deeper into the shadows.

While Kaien wouldn't give Shunsui Kyōraku the time of day, he nodded politely to Nanao Ise.

He had learned from Rukia that Nanao, decades ago, had nearly been adopted by Captain Ailin.

While they hadn't become father and daughter, Nanao still maintained a close relationship with Ailin's family.

Furthermore, Kaien knew that Ailin, to seek justice for Rukia's attack, had moved out of the Kuchiki estate. If Rukia hadn't persuaded him, all the nobles of the Seireitei would have faced his wrath.

Undeniably, if the Shiba Clan wanted to expose the five great noble clans' sins, Ailin would be a powerful ally.

Of course, these were just Kaien's thoughts for now.

Without sufficient strength, revealing those secrets would be a death sentence.

Even though he was on the verge of mastering Bankai, he didn't believe he could withstand the nobles' retaliation.

More importantly, he had to consider his siblings.

If he could rely on Captain Ailin, Kukaku and Ganju would be safe!

…

Ailin attended the captains' meeting. However, he hadn't brought his vice-captain, Zaraki, but his Fourth Seat, Yachiru Kusajishi.

Forcing Zaraki to attend those boring meetings, sitting idly alongside the other vice-captains, would be cruel.

Yachiru, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.

Her adorable appearance and lively personality had made her the darling of the vice-captains, especially the female ones. They had practically spoiled her rotten.

They had even pulled her into the Shinigami Women's Association as president, granting her every request, as long as it wasn't too outrageous.

After entering the meeting chamber and greeting the captains he was acquainted with, Ailin took his designated seat.

Bang!

Head-Captain Yamamoto's staff struck the floor, signaling the meeting's commencement.

"Captains, Mayuri Kurotsuchi discovered something in the World of the Living yesterday. I believe we need to discuss its implications."

"Captain Kurotsuchi."

"Yes, Head-Captain."

Kurotsuchi stepped forward, facing the captains.

"Captains, yesterday, my division detected three strange pillars of spiritual energy in Karakura Town, a Heavy Spiritual Ground in the World of the Living. After a night of analysis, we have reached a conclusion. These pillars bear a striking resemblance to the 'Auswählen' ability used by Yhwach, the progenitor of the Quincy, a millennium ago.

But as far as I know, Yhwach, after leading his Quincy army to attack the Seireitei, was slain by Head-Captain Yamamoto. How could he still activate Auswählen?"

"I requested access to the Great Spirit Book Gallery to investigate. There, I found a prophecy regarding Yhwach.

'The King will regain his heartbeat in nine hundred years. He will regain his consciousness in ninety. He will regain his strength in nine. And he will conquer the world in nine days!'

I calculated the time carefully. While we claim that Yamamoto defeated Yhwach a thousand years ago, it has actually been nine hundred and ninety years.

According to this prophecy, Yhwach has already regained his heartbeat, his consciousness, and he is currently regaining his strength! Those three pillars of light are evidence of this.

The records state that Yhwach can use Auswählen to reclaim the power of all Quincy, merging it with his own.

This prophecy claims that he will regain his full strength in nine years and launch another attack on the Seireitei."

"What?!"

Most of the captains gasped in shock. The reason it wasn't "all" of them was because some weren't familiar with the Quincy, nor did they fully grasp the severity of the war between the Soul Society and the Quincy Empire a millennium ago.

Toshiro Hitsugaya, a captain for only a few years, was one of them.

He stepped forward. "Captain Kurotsuchi, if I'm not mistaken, only one Quincy remains. Furthermore, he has signed a cooperation agreement with the Seireitei. How could the Quincy progenitor attack us under such circumstances?"

"Captain Hitsugaya, while the Soul Society defeated Yhwach and his Quincy Empire nine hundred and ninety years ago, we didn't completely exterminate all Quincy."

It wasn't Kurotsuchi who answered, but Retsu Unohana, the captain of the Fourth Division.

Indeed, aside from Head-Captain Yamamoto, only Unohana, a captain from the first generation of the Gotei 13, could provide a more accurate answer.

"Some of the Quincy from the Quincy Empire escaped the Seireitei through unknown means after their leader, Yhwach, was defeated by Yamamoto. I believe Captain Kurotsuchi's claim that Yhwach will regain his strength in nine years refers not only to his own revival but also to the restoration of the Quincy Empire."

"Correct!" Kurotsuchi snapped his fingers, confirming Unohana's response.

"Over nine hundred years ago, the Quincy Empire was crushed by Head-Captain Yamamoto and the first generation of the Gotei 13. To launch another attack, Yhwach needs not only to surpass his strength from nine hundred and ninety years ago but also to restore the Quincy Empire to its former glory.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to defeat the Gotei 13 in nine days and fulfill the prophecy of 'conquering the world in nine days.'"

"Captain Ailin, do you have anything to say about this?"

"Me?" Ailin was taken aback by the sudden question. He shook his head.

"I have nothing to say. For me, whether it's Yhwach or anyone else, it's just another battle. To be honest, I'm curious to see how strong Yhwach has become after a thousand years, if he's even worthy of my full power."

Hearing Ailin's words, the captains breathed a collective sigh of relief.

While Yhwach might be stronger than he was a millennium ago, the current Seireitei was also far stronger than it had been back then. Setting aside everything else, consider their strongest fighters.

A thousand years ago, only Head-Captain Yamamoto stood at the pinnacle.

Now, they had Captain Ailin, whose strength was comparable to Yamamoto's.

With those two as their pillars, they couldn't imagine how the Seireitei could possibly lose.

"Hohoho, as expected of the 'Strongest Shinigami.' You certainly have confidence, Captain Ailin. But tell me, is this why you helped the Quincy King regain his strength?"

"What?!"

Kurotsuchi's words were like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, sending shockwaves through the room. The captains were stunned.

"Captain Kurotsuchi, do you even realize what you're saying?"

Soi Fon, the captain of the Second Division, was the first to react. After Yoruichi Shihōin had abandoned her and fled the Seireitei with Kisuke Urahara, Ailin, to a certain extent, had filled the void Yoruichi had left in her heart.

Hearing Kurotsuchi's accusation against Ailin filled her with rage.

Gin Ichimaru of the Third Division, Byakuya Kuchiki of the Sixth Division, and Toshiro Hitsugaya of the Tenth Division glared at Kurotsuchi with fury in their eyes, as if they were about to incinerate him.

Even Kurotsuchi, a captain-level Shinigami, couldn't help but take a few steps back, intimidated by their combined aura.

"Indeed, Captain Kurotsuchi, Captain Ailin is a member of the Gotei 13. If you accuse him without evidence, I'm afraid…"