"You might be taking things a bit too to the extreme."
Naraku Sora muttered as he looked at Aizen, seriously suspecting that the man had been corrupted by Kuchiki Kōga and had his brain infected.
He had always maintained the persona of a refined and easygoing gentleman, so why was he suddenly resorting to murder and violence?
Umino Unpei was doing perfectly fine. As a Captain, he was diligent, always followed the rules, and never did anything illegal or undisciplined.
He had an excellent reputation within the Gotei 13, his squad members praised him endlessly, and many Soul Reapers even saw him as an idol. How did it come to the point where he absolutely had to die?
"Do you remember the details of the previous Zanpakutō rebellion?"
Aizen glanced at him and calmly explained, "I am not referring to the second rebellion initiated by you and Kuchiki Kōga, but the first one caused by Enrakyōten copying and imitating Muramasa."
"Aside from Squad 3 and Squad 6, neither Squad 10 nor Squad 11 experienced large-scale Zanpakutō betrayals."
"You already know what happened next. Gosuke followed Tsunayashiro Taketori to Squad 13 with the intention of seizing the right hand of the Spirit King hidden within Ukitake Jūshirō's body."
At this point, Aizen paused.
The intelligence regarding the Spirit King's right hand was actually told to him by Naraku Sora.
If not for that, he wouldn't have been so eager to head to the Great Spirit Book Gallery to search for related clues and information.
Hearing this, Naraku Sora stroked his chin.
"Are you saying that Umino Unpei is also a high-ranking agent of the Tsunayashiro family?"
"If that's the case, it really is a bit troublesome. Who knows what kind of dirty tricks that old bastard might pull behind our backs."
"If he is willing to make an enemy of the Gotei 13 for the sake of his masters, it would indeed cause quite a disaster."
"However, we don't have any concrete evidence. It's almost impossible to bring Umino Unpei down through official channels."
Although Old Man Yama treated him quite well, trying to convict a Soul Reaper Captain based on just a few words would be far too childish.
Not to mention that Yamamoto wouldn't agree; even if he did, it would cause a massive uproar within the Gotei 13.
If handled carelessly, centuries of order would be destroyed in an instant.
Aizen looked at him with a hint of surprise.
He hadn't expected this guy to immediately grasp the crucial point.
Indeed, it was absolutely impossible to convict Umino Unpei based solely on the deductions he made from the few clues obtained in the Great Spirit Book Gallery.
Even if he spoke of it, it would only be treated as an absurd fairy tale.
But leaving such a guy in the Gotei 13 inevitably felt like a constant thorn in his side.
Not to mention that the Tsunayashiro family currently had a lowest-ranking branch member on the run. If those two were to connect again, the consequences would be extremely severe.
"Therefore, just in case, the best course of action is to find a suitable opportunity and eliminate Umino Unpei."
Aizen concluded.
Naraku Sora threw his hands up. "So here comes the problem: how do we kill that guy without alerting the other Soul Reapers?"
Hearing this, Aizen pondered for a few seconds before raising his gaze.
"It's actually quite simple. We just need to do this."
Squad 10 Barracks, Captain's Office.
"Captain?"
"Come in."
After knocking and receiving a response, the Lieutenant of Squad 10 pushed the door open and entered.
Upon entering, he saw the familiar figure sitting at the desk, organizing and processing paperwork and files.
"The squad duties that have piled up in Squad 10 these past few days couldn't be handled in time due to the Zanpakutō rebellion, so it's taking a bit more time."
Facing the Lieutenant's questioning gaze, Umino Unpei explained softly.
As a Captain with an excellent reputation in the Gotei 13, Umino Unpei was exceptionally handsome, and the natural righteousness between his brows gave people a rare sense of trust.
"I see."
A look of realization appeared on the Lieutenant's face, and he immediately handed over the document in his hand.
"Captain, I actually came here because I have a very important report to give you."
"It's this."
Umino Unpei took the document and began to read it carefully, while the Lieutenant added from the side:
"Following the last Captains' meeting, the main members of the Tsunayashiro family have been branded as rebels. Although the vast majority were dealt with in the Noble Realm."
"There are still a very few members who have fled and remain at large."
"Rumor has it that they hold many of the Tsunayashiro family's secrets, and even the Shihōin family has issued a related wanted poster for them."
"And just recently, members of Squad 10 discovered the whereabouts of a Tsunayashiro family member in District 64 of the West Rukongai. The leader appears to be the lowest-ranking member of the branch family, Tsunayashiro Tokinada."
Umino Unpei's expression did not change at all; he merely calmly compared the contents of the document word by word.
However, in a place the Lieutenant couldn't see, his left hand under the desk was clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh, his knuckles turning white.
"District 64 of the West Rukongai... that really is quite far."
"But in order to protect this hard-won peace, it's best that I make a trip."
Umino Unpei took a deep breath and stood up from his seat.
"Ah, Captain, are you planning to head to the Rukongai to investigate?"
"Yes, we cannot allow those restless elements to affect our work."
Umino Unpei took down his Zanpakutō hanging on the wall, fastened it to his waist, and said without looking back:
"In order not to alert the enemy, I will handle this operation alone."
"Aoki, I'll leave today's work to you."
"Yes, Captain!"
District 64, West Rukongai.
A figure draped in a white haori sprinted hurriedly, the character for "Ten" on his back particularly striking as it fluttered in the wind.
At this moment, Umino Unpei's expression was no longer as calm and collected as before.
His originally handsome features had become exceptionally twisted, his eyes filled with resentment and indignation.
"Those useless fools who can't accomplish anything but ruin everything! To think they'd actually be discovered by some low-level Soul Reapers. Couldn't they just obediently get the hell out of the Soul Society?"
"Now I have to come and clean up your mess!"
Umino Unpei rapidly traversed through District 64 using Flash Step, searching for the Tsunayashiro family member mentioned in the document.
He went all the way to the Outskirts District, where, beneath a massive tree several meters in diameter, he spotted the familiar noble attire and that unmistakable family crest.
Umino Unpei's eyes widened, immediately confirming the accuracy of the intelligence in the document.
It was indeed a member of the Tsunayashiro family.
Without concealing his Reiatsu, he activated Flash Step and chased after them. However, just as he was about to get close, the figure seemed startled and immediately fled in the opposite direction.
"Hmph, trying to escape?"
Umino Unpei cursed in a low voice, instantly bursting forth with even more astonishing speed as he pursued the figure.
Across the wilderness, one fled and the other pursued, creating a dramatic scene.
"Just who exactly are you?"
"To actually dare impersonate a member of the Tsunayashiro family and lure this Captain out."
Opposite him, the figure completely covered in the light of Kidō spoke indifferently:
"If Captain Umino didn't have a guilty conscience, why would you lose your composure the moment you heard news of the Tsunayashiro family?"
Hearing this, Umino Unpei's heart skipped a beat. A trace of panic surged from the bottom of his heart as his deep voice rang out:
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
Under the cover of the light-bending Kidō, Aizen sighed and calmly narrated:
"The night before the squad that eradicated the rebel Soul Reapers returned to the Seireitei, you personally went to the Tsunayashiro estate in the Noble Realm and had a detailed, all-night discussion with Tsunayashiro Taketori in his study."
"The next day, on the inevitable path of Kuchiki Kōga and the others, a Kidō barrier was set up. Hiding in the shadows, Tsunayashiro Taketori activated Enrakyōten, inducing the Zanpakutō rebellion."
"And you, Captain Umino, appeared at the perfect time to force the blame for the Zanpakutō rebellion onto Kuchiki Kōga."
"Unfortunately, Kuchiki Kōga's performance was something you completely failed to anticipate."
"Not only did he not suspect Muramasa because of it, but he also resolved the rebelling Zanpakutō at top speed, saving the other Soul Reapers."
"This also caused a deviation in your subsequent plans."
Aizen compiled the intelligence he had gathered and, adding his own speculations, deduced the final answer.
After hearing this narration, Umino Unpei's expression had darkened to the extreme, like dark clouds right before a storm.
"In the end, this is nothing more than your conjecture."
"There is absolutely no evidence to prove that I have any connection with the Tsunayashiro family."
Astonishing waves of air exploded outward layer by layer, the aftermath surging as visible shockwaves spread into the distance.
A heavy and undisguised Reiatsu crashed down upon Umino Unpei like a tidal wave. The ground cracked open with hideous fissures, as if an earthquake had struck.
Sensing the aura of this Reiatsu, Umino Unpei's pupils shrank drastically, and a look of absolute fury appeared on his face:
"It's you, Naraku Sora!"
"Bingo, you guessed it right, Captain Umino. How about I reward you with a Rhino Strike?"
The Kidō light covering Naraku Sora's face dissipated, revealing a face that made Umino Unpei gnash his teeth in hatred.
It could be said that eighty percent of the reason the Tsunayashiro family's plan fell short of success was due to the guy standing right in front of him.
If it weren't for him, perhaps he wouldn't have to be on edge right now, worrying all day about the truth being exposed.
The moment his voice fell, Reiatsu erupted without any restraint. A massive pillar of light shot straight into the sky, then abruptly condensed, landing on the blade in Naraku Sora's hand.
First Secret Sword・Rhino Strike!
Umino Unpei had absolutely no time to react before the berserk impact crashed down majestically like the collapsing heavens.
The moment the blades clashed, he even heard the echoing sound of shattering.
His entire body felt as if it had been hit head-on by a galloping rhino. He was instantly sent flying backward, plowing a deep trench into the ground.
Having finally managed to steady his body, Umino Unpei's face was pale, and horror flashed through his eyes.
Looking down, he was shocked to see that the Zanpakutō in his hand was completely covered in cracks, as if it had failed the quenching process.
The exaggerated gap in their strength left Umino Unpei's gaze somewhat dazed.
No wonder Tsunayashiro Taketori had fallen at the hands of this guy; he was actually this terrifying.
Thinking of this, Umino Unpei instead calmed down. He looked coldly at his opponent, his deep voice echoing within the barrier:
"It seems that unless I kill all of you, I won't be able to leave here."
"Since that's the case, then I'll bring out my full strength."
Naraku Sora grinned. "Hurry up and serve up your Bankai."
Hearing this, Umino Unpei sneered disdainfully:
"Bankai?"
"Are you misunderstanding something?"
He was seen pressing a single hand against his face. A tyrannical Reiatsu instantly erupted, and a purple pillar of light expanded wildly outward with Umino Unpei at its center.
A hurricane rose from the ground, howling recklessly within the barrier, sweeping up countless weeds and dust.
Naraku Sora revealed a somewhat surprised look, staring unexpectedly at the figure engulfed by the tyrannical Reiatsu, as if he had just realized something:
"Hollowfication?"