"Alright, Sui-Feng. Where exactly is Muramasa and the others' hiding place?" Toshiro asked.
Hearing Toshiro's words, Sui-Feng stopped being cryptic.
"Earlier, I followed the trail and finally discovered their hideout in a desolate, remote cave in the northwestern part of the Seireitei. If it weren't for following that escaped Zanpakuto this time, even with a grid search, it would have taken several days to find their hiding place." Sui-Feng said somewhat thankfully.
The Seireitei's scope was, in fact, vast. Apart from the areas where the Central 46, the Gotei 13, and other departments lived and worked, as well as the noble residential areas, most other places were uninhabited wilderness. The range of these areas was extremely wide. Even if the Gotei 13 conducted a large-scale search, it would take several days.
"By the way, Captain Sui-Feng, when you found Muramasa and the others' hiding place, were you discovered?" Shunsui Kyoraku asked.
Sui-Feng thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Probably not. I tracked them to that cave, confirmed it was their hideout, and then returned to report. To avoid alarming them, I didn't enter the cave but observed from a distance."
"That's good. If Muramasa and the others had noticed, they might have moved again, making them harder to catch."
Kyoraku nodded.
"Don't worry, Shunsui. Even if they did sense Sui-Feng and realize we've found their hideout, they might not necessarily move again." Toshiro said meaningfully.
"Oh? Why? Given the strength of Muramasa and those rebelling Zanpakuto, a direct fight shouldn't be a match for our Shinigami side, right? If their hideout is discovered and they don't flee, won't they be completely wiped out?" Kyoraku asked, puzzled.
"Shunsui, if I could think of tracking a returning Zanpakuto to find their hideout, wouldn't Muramasa have considered that possibility too?"
"And if Muramasa considered it, yet still allowed those Zanpakuto to attack Shinigami, what could his purpose be?"
"So, if things are as I suspect, it means Muramasa's goal is to actively lure us over." Toshiro said with a knowing expression.
"Actively lure us over!? Why!?" Kyoraku was even more confused.
"Shunsui, do you remember when we asked about Genryusai-sensei's condition, how did Muramasa answer?" Toshiro asked instead of answering.
"Old Man Yama? I recall Muramasa said Ryujin Jakka refused to be their companion, so he had my Katen Kyokotsu, Ukitake's Sogyo no Kotowari, and Unohana-san's Minazuki seal him together. Is there something wrong with that?" Shunsui Kyoraku asked.
"'Something wrong'? There certainly is, Shunsui. Besides me and Genryusai-sensei, you, Jushiro, and Captain Unohana are arguably the three strongest among the Gotei 13' Captains, and the three with the longest tenure as Captains. However..."
"Do you really think the three of you working together could defeat Genryusai-sensei?" Toshiro stared intently at Shunsui Kyoraku.
"Well... um... probably, maybe, possibly... not a match for Old Man Yama." Shunsui Kyoraku said weakly.
Kyoraku and Ukitake were the first graduates of the Shin'o Academy to become Captains, and also the first two disciples accepted by Yamamoto. So they had some understanding of his strength.
If Yamamoto was only in his Shikai state, Kyoraku thought he and Ukitake working together might be able to hold their own for a while. But if Yamamoto went all out, Kyoraku felt that even if he and Ukitake worked together, plus an Unohana who was even stronger than them, they might still not be a match for him.
Hearing Kyoraku's answer, Toshiro said, "Shunsui, you think even you, Jushiro, and Captain Unohana working together are no match for Genryusai-sensei. So could Katen Kyokotsu, Sogyo no Kotowari, and Minazuki, who are roughly as strong as you three, working together seal Genryusai-sensei?"
Kyoraku was startled. "You mean..."
"That's right. I suspect Genryusai-sensei wasn't sealed by Katen Kyokotsu, Sogyo no Kotowari, and Minazuki!" Toshiro said seriously.
"Then if Genryusai-sensei wasn't sealed, why hasn't he appeared yet?" Jushiro Ukitake asked.
"I only said Genryusai-sensei wasn't sealed by them, not that he wasn't sealed at all." Toshiro smiled.
"But if not them, who in the entire Soul Society has the power to seal Genryusai-sensei? Probably only you could do it. But you wouldn't do such a thing, would you?" Ukitake frowned.
"No, there is someone else besides me." Toshiro said affirmatively.
"Who!?" x3
Kyoraku, Ukitake, and Sui-Feng asked simultaneously.
"It's Genryusai-sensei himself." Toshiro uttered an answer that shocked the three.
"Old Man Yama himself?! How... how is that possible? Why would Old Man Yama seal himself?" Kyoraku asked incredulously.
Toshiro said, "Probably because he was afraid Ryujin Jakka would be brainwashed or corrupted by Muramasa. After all, Ryujin Jakka is the Strongest Fire-type Zanpakuto. If it joined Muramasa's side, the entire Seireitei would likely be plunged into a tremendous disaster. Even if Hyorinmaru and I could handle Ryujin Jakka, the aftermath of the battle would affect the entire Seireitei and even the Soul Society."
Of course, Toshiro knew that besides avoiding Ryujin Jakka being controlled, the main reason Yamamoto sealed himself was to prevent Muramasa from invading his Inner World and discovering the location of Koga's seal and the method to release it.
"Well, of course, this is just my personal speculation. We'll find out the truth when the time comes." Toshiro added.
"Hmm... I actually think Toshiro's guess makes a lot of sense." Ukitake agreed.
"Alright, everyone. We'll find out the truth soon enough. But now that we've found Muramasa and the others' hideout, we need to prepare and resolve this Zanpakuto rebellion once and for all!!" Toshiro slammed the table, speaking seriously.
Then, as it was getting late and preparations were needed, Toshiro decided to move out at dawn the next day to wipe out the Zanpakuto rebellion!
…
The next day.
4th Division.
A gathering of forces.
Of course, the so-called 'forces' weren't actually that many people.
Besides the Captains, Lieutenants, and some elite seated officers from each division, there was only an elite unit of a few dozen from the Kido Corps.
The Kido Corps didn't dare to defy Toshiro's orders after all and had dispatched an elite unit to participate in this decisive battle with the Zanpakuto.
'Honestly, we're almost ready to leave. Why haven't that Zaraki and Ashido returned yet?' Toshiro complained inwardly.
He had intended for Zaraki and Ashido to play a bigger role in the fight against the Zanpakuto, but from the time he received the news yesterday until now, they still hadn't shown up.
'Well, if they really can't make it in time, so be it.' Toshiro believed that as long as he and Hyorinmaru were there, even without Zaraki and Ashido, it wouldn't matter much.
"All troops, listen up..."
Bam!
Just as Toshiro was about to give the order to move out, the gate of the 4th Division's barracks was suddenly kicked open, and Zaraki, Yachiru, and Ashido burst in.
"Hahaha... You can't have a fight without me, Toshiro!" Zaraki laughed loudly.