Fate in Bleach: Unlimited Blade Works!

The speaker was Shunsui Kyōraku, the captain of the Eighth Division. While ostensibly reprimanding Kurotsuchi for disrupting the Gotei 13's unity, he was implicitly demanding evidence to support his accusation that Ailin had aided Yhwach in regaining his strength and planning an attack on the Seireitei.

As if reminded by Kyōraku's words, Kurotsuchi stopped and snorted coldly.

"Of course, I wouldn't make such a claim without evidence. Nine hundred and ninety years ago, when Head-Captain Yamamoto defeated and severely injured Yhwach, he was forced to spend nine hundred years regaining his heartbeat, ninety to regain his consciousness.

But even then, we can be certain that he hadn't fully awakened. For Yhwach to truly revive, he required one crucial element—a sacrifice from a living Quincy in the World of the Living, to provide him with the essence of a 'living soul.'

If we had completely eradicated the remaining Quincy over two hundred years ago, then Yhwach, upon reviving, would be incomplete.

But because of Captain Ailin's cooperation agreement with the so-called 'last Quincy,' those in the World of the Living gained a reprieve…"

Kurotsuchi spun his tale, twisting his desire to experiment on Quincy into a noble act of eliminating a potential threat.

"Four years ago, when I discovered signs of the Quincy's resurgence and attempted to eradicate them, Captain Ailin intervened and severely injured me. As expected, within a mere four years, Yhwach has activated Auswählen, absorbing the 'living souls' of three Quincy and gaining the potential to fully recover, even surpassing his former strength. Captain Ailin, I ask you, if this isn't aiding Yhwach, then what is it?"

A "living soul" referred to the soul of a living human.

Both Shinigami and Hollows were essentially "dead." Their souls couldn't be considered "living souls."

A dead soul's potential was fixed. Some were powerful, capable of reaching the limits of a Shinigami. Others lacked even spiritual pressure.

Only the souls of living humans possessed the potential for growth.

However, since most humans, even those with spiritual pressure, couldn't absorb and utilize reishi particles, their souls, from birth to death, only experienced minimal growth. At most, they would possess a certain level of spiritual pressure after arriving in the Soul Society.

Yhwach, through Auswählen, using the sacrifices of Quincy in the World of the Living, had successfully revived and gained the potential to reach even greater heights.

To be honest, even Ailin found Kurotsuchi's argument convincing.

He was the one who had facilitated the agreement between Sōken Ishida and the Shinigami.

He was also the one who had stopped Kurotsuchi from exploiting a loophole in the agreement to kill Sōken Ishida.

Facing Kurotsuchi's accusation, he was momentarily speechless.

"Captain Ailin, what do you have to say for yourself?"

Head-Captain Yamamoto looked at Ailin. While Ailin was a valuable asset, a top-tier fighter, if his loyalties weren't with the Soul Society, he would be a greater threat than any enemy.

"Apologies, Head-Captain." Facing Yamamoto's questioning, Ailin shook his head. "The reason I helped Sōken Ishida and facilitated the agreement was because I had a feeling that he might bring change to the world. I wanted to see what that change would be.

As for my intervention four years ago… I simply couldn't tolerate Kurotsuchi disregarding me, the one who had established the agreement, and attacking a signatory. That's why I took his arm.

As for why there are other Quincy in the World of the Living besides Sōken Ishida, and why they became sacrifices for Yhwach, I have no explanation.

Regarding Kurotsuchi's accusations, if I hadn't personally experienced these events, I would even suspect that I had orchestrated everything myself."

Yamamoto's eyes narrowed slightly. Ailin couldn't refute Kurotsuchi's accusations. It was difficult to determine if his actions had been intentional or unintentional. What was Ailin's true stance in this Quincy incident?

If it were just Yhwach leading the Quincy, he had no doubts that he could defeat him, just as he had done a thousand years ago. But with Ailin as a potential ally…

Age was a cruel mistress.

Even Yamamoto had to admit that his stamina, at over three thousand years old, was no longer what it once was.

While he was still the "Strongest Shinigami," he could no longer endure prolonged battles.

Should he punish Ailin?

As if sensing his hesitation, Soi Fon stepped forward.

"Head-Captain, I can guarantee with my life that Captain Ailin has no intention of aiding the Quincy or threatening the Seireitei. Please don't allow baseless accusations to chill the hearts of those who truly care for the Soul Society. If I am proven wrong, I will uphold my oath and sacrifice my life to stop Captain Ailin!"

With Soi Fon's declaration, Byakuya Kuchiki stood behind her, silently expressing his support.

"Me too," Toshiro Hitsugaya added, joining them. "Head-Captain, if Teacher had any intention of harming the Seireitei, I believe the three of us would be able to stop him."

Seeing three captains supporting Ailin, even Kurotsuchi had to set aside his suspicions and returned to his place, grumbling under his breath.

"Enough, that's enough of this!"

Yamamoto slammed his staff against the floor, ending the discussion.

"However, as you've all heard, the Quincy King, Yhwach, has awakened. He will attack the Seireitei in nine years. I expect you all to use this time to train diligently and increase your strength.

As for the prophecy of the Quincy conquering the world in nine days… It's nothing but a foolish delusion. A thousand years ago, I was able to slay Yhwach once. A thousand years later, I can do it again. And this time, I won't give him another chance to escape!"

Hearing their Head-Captain's declaration, the captains felt a boost of confidence.

Indeed, Yhwach was nothing more than a defeated foe from the past. Head-Captain Yamamoto, the founder of the Gotei 13, the one who had defeated Yhwach a millennium ago, was the "Strongest Shinigami"!

He was an invincible being whose Bankai alone could destroy the entire Soul Society!

Furthermore…

They all looked at Ailin.

The current Kenpachi, the one invited by the Zero Division.

They had yet to witness his full power, but they knew that he possessed strength at least on par with Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's Bankai.

Otherwise, the Zero Division wouldn't have broken tradition and invited him to join their ranks without him having created anything new.

Except for Shunsui Kyōraku, none of them believed that Ailin would actually betray the Seireitei and join forces with the Quincy.

"Yes, Head-Captain!"

"Sigh…"

While he echoed the others' sentiments, voicing his trust in his teacher, Shunsui Kyōraku couldn't help but feel a sense of weariness. He had finally gained some sense of security, believing he could manage the Seireitei's two greatest internal threats—Sōsuke Aizen and Ailin. But now, that security had been shattered.

A new, external enemy had emerged, and a powerful one at that, threatening to invade in nine years…

While the others scoffed at the Quincy prophecy, Kyōraku had a nagging feeling that if the Seireitei were to be weakened by internal strife, Yhwach and his Quincy Empire might actually be able to defeat the Gotei 13 and conquer the world.

After all, based on what Ailin had told him, Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen were both loyal to Sōsuke Aizen.

And based on their actions today, Soi Fon, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Toshiro Hitsugaya seemed to be on Ailin's side.

What comforted Kyōraku was that Ailin had never actively formed factions. While his three disciples respected him, their words had made it clear that their loyalty was to the Seireitei.

If Ailin was on the Seireitei's side, they would support him without question.

But if he became the Seireitei's enemy, they would oppose him, even at the cost of their lives.

Kyōraku deeply admired Ailin for this.

When Ailin taught his disciples, he truly focused on their growth, never attempting to bind them to his will.

His disciples were all individuals with their own thoughts and beliefs.

And Ailin never interfered with their choices.

For instance, while Sōsuke Aizen had repeatedly targeted Ailin, Gin Ichimaru, for reasons unknown, still served under him.