Fate in Bleach: Unlimited Blade Works!

It was as if everyone in the Seireitei was preparing to face the Quincy invasion in two years. However, Shunsui Kyoraku sensed that this calm was merely the lull before the storm.

If only they could resolve the internal conflicts within the Gotei 13 before the Quincy arrived! He didn't want to be distracted by internal strife while battling the enemy on the front lines.

He imagined that the others felt the same way.

"Nanao-chan, let's go!"

Shunsui tucked his hands into his sleeves and, with Nanao Ise by his side, headed towards the First Division barracks.

…

"The show is about to begin."

Ailin looked up at the sky as the captain summons echoed through the Seireitei.

Ichibei Hyosube was still residing in the Soul King Palace, unconcerned with the affairs of the lower realms. As long as the balance of the three worlds remained intact, everything else was inconsequential to him.

He was the only one who truly inherited the Soul King's will.

If Yhwach hadn't sought to absorb the Soul King and reshape the world, or if he, like Aizen, Urahara, or Tokinada Tsunayashiro, had created a "Soul King Candidate," perhaps Hyosube wouldn't have even bothered to stop Yhwach from invading the Soul King Palace.

"Haruko, I'm heading to the First Division barracks for a meeting. Alice, the house is in your care."

"Yes, Master Ailin."

A young woman with golden hair, clad in golden armor, materialized beside him.

Alice was a Zanpakutō Ailin had forged over a hundred years ago, entrusted to Haruko Kuchiki for her protection. Back then, his power hadn't been sufficient to manifest his creations as physical entities. He hadn't wanted others to discover his abilities.

But now, even if others knew Alice was a Zanpakutō, it didn't matter. After all, Ōetsu Nimaiya, as the creator of Zanpakutō, could also imbue them with physical forms. The servants within his palace in the Soul King Palace were all Zanpakutō spirits.

However, Ailin's method differed from Nimaiya's. While Nimaiya directly forged Zanpakutō spirits with physical bodies, Ailin used the power of his Zanpakutō, Muramasa, to grant them physical forms.

Both methods had their advantages and disadvantages.

For Ailin, Muramasa's ability was more suitable. Even Nimaiya, as the creator of Zanpakutō, couldn't see through Ailin's secret. After all, Muramasa controlled Zanpakutō by amplifying their resentment towards their wielders, twisting their desires.

Ailin, however, was the master of all Zanpakutō. He didn't need to manipulate their will.

In a sense, Ailin's army of Zanpakutō resembled Ōko Yushima's "Soul Soldier Project."

Besides Alice, Ailin had stationed another, even more powerful Zanpakutō to protect his home.

The true "wildcard" of the Soul Society was about to arrive. The ensuing chaos would undoubtedly shake the Seireitei.

Ailin didn't want Haruko to be caught in the crossfire.

With a flicker of Shunpo, he vanished from the courtyard.

…

Clank!

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto struck the floor with his staff.

"Captains, a most egregious incident has occurred within the Seireitei."

As Yamamoto spoke, the captains turned their gazes to Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Kurotsuchi was indeed quite capable. In recent years, many of the Seireitei's incidents had been discovered by him.

"Captain Kurotsuchi," Yamamoto continued, "please enlighten us."

"Hmph, hmph…"

Kurotsuchi stepped forward with a smug grin on his face.

"Captains, moments ago, my division detected a Gillian class Hollow invading the World of the Living. We then discovered that Shino Madarame of the Thirteenth Division, stationed in Karakura Town, had practically no spiritual pressure.

Furthermore, we observed a human soul, clad in a shihakushō, wielding a Zanpakutō, repelling the Gillian… Now, I believe you all understand what transpired."

"What?!"

The captains gasped in shock. Kurotsuchi had laid everything bare. Shino Madarame had transferred her spiritual power to a human with spiritual pressure, creating a human Shinigami!

Several of the newer captains were confused, but the veterans' faces hardened.

Hundreds of years ago, a human with spiritual pressure had appeared in the World of the Living. Unlike Ichigo Kurosaki, that human's power wasn't derived from a Shinigami, but from a fragment of the Soul King's power - Fullbring.

After a series of discussions, the Gotei 13 captains had decided to give that human a chance.

Sadly, due to a misunderstanding, he had turned against the Seireitei.

That human was Kugo Ginjo, the first Substitute Shinigami.

Ginjo's appearance had caused quite a stir among the Seireitei's nobles. They had wanted to eliminate him to ensure that "spiritual power" remained exclusive to Shinigami.

This new human Shinigami wouldn't be as fortunate as Ginjo. Moreover, Ginjo's spiritual power had been his own, while this human's power was clearly from Shino Madarame!

"Head-Captain."

Byakuya Kuchiki stepped forward.

"Based on the current situation, this Shinigami, Shino Madarame, has likely violated the Seireitei decree, transferring her spiritual power to a human without authorization.

To uphold the Seireitei's authority and prevent this incident from escalating, I request permission to dispatch the Sixth Division to the World of the Living. We will investigate and apprehend those involved."

The Sixth Division, besides handling noble affairs, was also responsible for apprehending those who violated noble decrees.

"Very well, Captain Kuchiki. This matter is in your hands."

Byakuya, after leaving the meeting chamber, wasted no time. He summoned his lieutenant, Renji Abarai, and they headed towards the Sixth Division barracks, using their Senkaimon to travel to the World of the Living.

"Hum…"

Two massive wooden doors materialized before them, swinging open to reveal a white, swirling portal.

Without hesitation, they stepped through.

Just as the portal was about to close, a black shadow darted in, disappearing into the white void.

…

In the World of the Living, Renji Abarai and Byakuya Kuchiki emerged from the Senkaimon. Just as the portal closed, a black shadow shot out, startling Renji.

"Whoa! What was that?!"

He leaped back while his hand rested on his Zanpakutō as he watched the shadow speeding away. It was a black cat.

"A cat? But how can there be a cat in the Dangai?"

Renji was confused. The Dangai, the dimensional void between worlds, was used by Shinigami to travel to and from the World of the Living. It should be devoid of any life. After all, the Kōtotsu, monstrous creatures that patrolled the void, devoured anything they encountered.

Those without spiritual pressure might be unharmed, but anything with spiritual energy would be decomposed by the Kōtotsu's unique ability.

But Renji had seen the black cat emerge from the Senkaimon right behind them.

What Renji had seen, Byakuya Kuchiki couldn't possibly miss.

Moreover, unlike Renji, who was clueless about the cat's identity, Byakuya knew exactly who it was.

She had once been his rival.

However, since his uncle, Ailin, had joined the Kuchiki Clan, Byakuya's personality had undergone a significant transformation.

Yoruichi Shihōin was no longer worthy of being his rival.

But while he no longer saw her as an enemy, he couldn't ignore the man behind her: Kisuke Urahara, the former captain of the Twelfth Division.

Byakuya remembered his uncle once telling him about the Gotei 13 captains he considered worthy adversaries. Urahara was one of them.

Could this incident be connected to that man?

"It's just a cat, Renji. There's no need to waste time on it. Our priority is finding the Shinigami who broke the Seireitei decree and the human teenager who received her powers."

"Yes, Captain Kuchiki."

Renji bowed, then leaped into the air, closing his eyes as he focused his senses, attempting to detect spiritual pressure within Karakura Town.

"There!"

While he wasn't particularly adept at sensing spiritual pressure, even Renji couldn't miss the beacon shining brightly within Karakura Town.

Ichigo Kurosaki's spiritual pressure, after repelling the Gillian, had increased even further. But his control over it was nonexistent. To those who could use "Reikaku," spiritual sense, Ichigo's presence was more conspicuous than a lighthouse in the night.