Soul Society, Seireitei.
The late summer cicadas chirped hoarsely, as if desperately clinging to the final moments of their lives, turning the normally solemn, white-walled courtyards upside down with their noise.
Yet, no matter how deafening the cicadas were, they could not drown out the whispers permeating every street and alley of the Seireitei.
Lately, only one matter had been causing such an uproar—
The young lady of the Kuchiki Family, one of the Five Noble Families, Rukia Kuchiki, was about to be executed.
Her crime: unauthorized transfer of Soul Reaper powers to a human.
It was indeed a crime. According to the laws of the Soul Society, stripping her of her Soul Reaper powers, exile, or imprisonment would all be reasonable sentences.
However, the reaction of Central 46 this time was so extreme that it baffled everyone.
Not only did they swiftly convict her, but they also repeatedly escalated the severity of the punishment, ultimately deciding to use the legendary Sokyoku for the execution.
That was an execution ground possessing the destructive power of a million Zanpakuto, typically reserved only for the most heinous traitors.
To use such an extreme measure for this kind of crime... was truly incomprehensible.
The news sprouted wings, spreading from the corridors of the First Division barracks to the training grounds of the Thirteenth Division, and all the way to the most remote corners of the Rukongai.
Whether they were squad members, nobles, or common laborers from the Rukongai, everyone was discussing it in private.
"I heard they're going to use the Sokyoku... That's an execution tool capable of obliterating even a Captain."
"Captain Kuchiki is a noble, yet he hasn't said a single word in his sister's defense..."
"The crime doesn't warrant death, does it? She just lent her power to a human in the World of the Living to act as a Substitute Soul Reaper..."
"Shh! Don't speak nonsense. Central 46 has already issued an order: anyone who dares to plead for leniency on her behalf will be punished alongside her."
Shinobu Kocho listened to these whispers, but her purple eyes remained calm and undisturbed.
Eighteen years had passed since that mission in Fuyuki City.
The passage of eighteen years had left no trace on her face. She still maintained her maiden-like appearance, her lips forever curved into her signature gentle smile.
Carrying her small medical box as usual, she walked with light steps up the stone stairs leading to the Senzaikyu.
Today was the final physical examination she would perform on Rukia before the girl's absolute confinement.
"This is way too reckless..."
Hanataro Yamada muttered with a bitter expression while nervously checking the gazes of the surrounding guards. "Even though Miss Rukia can be a bit impulsive, she's a good person... Why do they have to use something like the Sokyoku..."
"Hanataro, what are you muttering about?"
A soft yet somewhat authoritative voice came from in front of him.
If anything had changed over the past eighteen years, it was that Shinobu's aura had grown increasingly commanding.
As the leader of the 14th Advanced Relief Squad, she had now been promoted to the Fourth Seat.
In truth, if she hadn't refused the position of Adjutant, the Third Seat, Yasochika Iemura, would have gladly given up his spot for her.
After all, over the years, whether in the development of her Zanpakuto or her combat achievements, Miss Kocho far surpassed ordinary medical personnel like them.
It was just that...
She seemed overly eager to take on missions in the World of the Living, to the point where she was rarely seen in the Seireitei for long periods.
"Ah! Squad Leader Kocho! I... I'm sorry!!" Hanataro scrambled to keep up with Shinobu's pace.
Shinobu sighed softly, still patiently reminding him, "Do not casually discuss the decisions of our superiors, Hanataro. As they say, walls have ears, especially during such sensitive times..."
"Yes... But, Squad Leader, today is the last time we'll be examining Miss Rukia, right?" Hanataro looked up, his eyes full of worry. "Is... is she doing okay?"
The security measures set by Central 46 were extraordinarily strict. As a result, even though Hanataro accompanied Shinobu every time, he was only allowed to wait outside the Senzaikyu.
Shinobu's gaze flickered slightly.
"Her physical condition is stable, but her Spiritual Pressure is constantly suppressed by the Sekkiseki walls. The mental strain on her is immense."
She adjusted the grip on her medical box and stood calmly before the gates of the Senzaikyu. "Wait for me here, and don't say anything foolish."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Shinobu looked up at the towering white spire of the Senzaikyu, as well as the glaringly conspicuous Sokyoku Hill beside it.
The blinding sunlight caused her to slightly narrow her purple eyes.
Her fingers subconsciously brushed against her waist, tracing the Zanpakuto named Tsumugi.
'Asuka, you once said that this world is even more dangerous than a world overrun by demons...'
'Looking at it now, you really weren't wrong at all.'
Senzaikyu, deep within the prison.
There wasn't even a bed here, only cold stone walls and a narrow window.
Rukia sat by the cell window, gazing outside with a pale face.
Ever since she was dragged back from the World of the Living by her brother, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Vice Captain Renji Abarai, she had been locked up here.
The image of the boy named Ichigo Kurosaki being severely wounded by her brother replayed in her nightmares every single night.
"Ichigo, please don't do anything stupid..."
Suddenly, she heard footsteps and turned her head.
"Sister Shinobu, you're here again."
"How are you feeling today? Is your body doing any better?"
Shinobu expertly opened her medical box, took out silver needles and an instrument for detecting Spirit Ribbons, and crouched down in front of her.
"I'm alright..." Rukia looked down at her own powerless wrists. "Thank you for coming to talk to me all these days. If it weren't for you, I probably would have broken down by now."
Shinobu gently lifted her arm and pierced Rukia's wrist with a silver needle.
Reishi slowly seeped in along the tip of the needle, monitoring the remaining Spiritual Pressure circuits within her body.
In truth, she didn't know what the point of doing this was.
According to her judgment, given Rukia's current condition, she would be fine as long as she left the Senzaikyu and rested properly for a while.
Doing more check-ups here held no real value.
In the end, it would all be...
"Sister Shinobu..." Rukia suddenly spoke up.
She seemed to have hesitated for a long time, as if making a difficult decision. "Do you... have any way to contact the World of the Living?"
"Why do you ask?" Shinobu withdrew the silver needle and thoughtfully applied a cotton pad to the area.
Rukia's gaze darted away, a reaction keenly caught by Shinobu, who simply spoke on her behalf. "Is it for that boy in the World of the Living?"
These days, the deeds of the Kuchiki Family's young lady were already known to everyone; it was hardly a secret.
She nodded and whispered, "I want to beg you to pass a message to Ichigo Kurosaki for me... Tell him absolutely not to come to the Soul Society!"
"He's a complete and utter hot-blooded idiot! If he finds out I'm going to be executed, he'll recklessly barge in here no matter what!"
"If he does that... he'll die..."
Rukia became somewhat emotional, tears beginning to well up in her eyes.
Shinobu looked at her quietly, neither interrupting nor scolding her, simply taking out the next examination tool. "What a touching bond."
"So, you want me to help you tell that boy named Ichigo to give up on saving you and live a good life?"
"..." Rukia lowered her head. "And Orihime, Uryu, Chad... they are all wonderful people..."
"They were dragged into the world of Soul Reapers because of me. They shouldn't be pulled into even more trouble on my account..."
Shinobu sighed softly. "But Rukia, why do you think I would help you contact humans in the World of the Living?"
"Your crime is no small matter; they're even deploying the Sokyoku." She covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, trying to ease Rukia's tension with a joke.
Rukia lifted her head, staring at Shinobu with burning eyes.
"Because... Sister Shinobu, you..."
"...don't seem surprised about Ichigo at all."