Southwest Seireitei

[Adonai]

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[From Northeast Seireitei]

Finally back at his Division Taro lets out a sigh. He isn’t tired or really even annoyed, despite the rounds he has been making today he is in a rather good mood. Truth be told, he is bored. Ten long years of what he considers to be stagnation, nothing happening within the Soul Society and nothing happening in Hueco Mundo. Worse still is he has not been able to utilize his Shikai to pass his boredom floating on Kurogane. The mandate to not draw or use Shikai outside of training has been the one thing that has kept him in a chokehold for all this time. He doesn’t wish ill upon the Soul Society in any way, this peace is a good thing, however, he needs something more than just training to keep himself occupied. Speaking of training the ever silent Sameko finally arrives, he glances at her then looks elsewhere.
​

”I suppose I should begin teaching you some proper techniques now. We’ll start with Hakuda and by the end of it you may wind up with multiple broken bones. Unless you manage to mitigate the damage. First we will start with a simple technique, Raiōken (雷王拳, Thunder King Fist), you should be able to-”​

Taro is cut off midsentence by an announcement.
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“All divisions, be advised. Captain Itaku has entered a Hollowfied state. Captain Kagi has engaged. Maintain distance from Outer Perimeter—Grid Seven, Sector Four, and proceed with caution. Captain Kagi is working to maintain containment and assess the remaining consciousness within Captain Itaku. If you arrive on scene, do not engage with aggression unless Captain Kagi issues the order. Again—proceed with caution.” ​

Taro stands silently for a moment, his face unchanged for a while as he lets the information of the message sink into his mind. Kagi is seeking to save the mutated freak? Insanity, he should cut him down while he is in the early stages of Hollowfication. Should Itaku mutate further he could become a high level Adjucha or worse, a Vasto Lorde. For ages Taro has sought to crush the head of Itaku for merely existing, today may finally be the day. If Kagi does manage to save him Taro will certainly capitalize on Itaku’s weakened state and kill him then. If it happens once it’ll happen again, the cracks are already formed and more than likely Itaku won't be able to keep it at bay again.
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”A rare opportunity has presented itself to us, Sameko. We get to put down a liability. I expressed my displeasure of letting the freak roam about to Central Forty-six before but naturally they told me it was none of my concern. How foolish they must feel right now… They probably feel nothing since being foolish is their default nature.”​

Free at Last

Taro grabs his Zanpakuto and draws it slowly and looks at the blade, the detailing on it and his own reflection. What he is about to do next is going to feel very cathartic indeed. A genuine smile of happiness crosses his face as he speaks.
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”Drown the world in truth, Kurogane…”​

Ink coats the sharp edge of the blade followed by eight orbs of ink detaching from said ink, growing in size until they “hatch” into rather large floating ink fish of different varieties. From exotic fish like Koi to average run of the mill gold fish these eight fish swim through the air as if they have been set free into a pond. Five meters in length, two and a half meters in width and two meters in height, these eight fish are designed to consume Taro’s enemies or feast on their limbs one at a time. It has been a long time since he laid eyes on Kurogane and it fills him with true joy to see her once again. Three of the fish surround Sameko, radiating hostility as another floats up to Taro for him to pet it.
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”It’s been too long, Kurogane. Communicating like this is much better than Jinzen, don’t you agree? Now, let's head to the Central Seireitei, there is an abomination we must kill.” ​

Taro hops on the fish he was just petting and immediately lays down, resting his arms behind his head as he gets comfortable. As she rises into the air to “swim” towards Central, Taro gives her another order.
​

”Give Sameko a lift as well and be nice. She’s… Well, you already know. Now, let's go.”​

Once Sameko is seated on a fish the school of eight ink fish rise into the sky and begin swimming towards Central. On lookers from below felt a sense of old dread they haven’t felt in a decade. Seeing those fish is a herald for bad things to come, a herald for the barbarism Taro may instill once he arrives at his destination. While others view this as doom and gloom Taro was in a state of complete relaxation, not the kind that has his guard down but the kind that allows him to enjoy the rushing air around him and the comfort of floating on air itself. Sameko would be seeing the Seireitei from a new angle, an aerial view that many Shinigami have never seen in their life, to say its a treat is a real understatement. When Taro arrives at Central what exactly does he plan on doing? Only time will tell.

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[To Central Seireitei]​

 

[Jushiro Izanagi]

The Captain stood silent while extending Reikaku far and wide. Pinpointing the showdown between the two Captains, Kagi and Itaku didn’t take long. Now locked onto his target, he began building a clearer picture, immersing himself in the developing battle without actually being there. In addition to this, he was looking forward to seeing how well Seimei could follow the events. And as things unfolded, the masked one was searching for the subtle things that Seimei may have missed. Jushiro was relaxed, casual in his approach. He was in no hurry to rush to Kagi’s aid. The only thing worth while to him was having a first hand witness account. Seeing it all with his own eyes could prove to be usual as he collects some much needed data.

Seimei soon broke the silence by giving a condensed version of the events between Kagi and Itaku. The masked man continue the trend of seeking the little things. He did not agree with Seimei’s assertion regarding Kagi’s ability to contain Itaku. It was still very early and no conclusion or assumptions should be made. There is only so much the use of their Reikaku could reveal to them. Without a first hand account, they had no real way of capturing the minor details. Whatever the case, it was rapidly developing into a battle. And there may well be more casualties.

“This is bothersome. It irks me more than you know. I wonder what might have caused this incident to come about? And furthermore..”. ​

The Captain paused for a moment. His senses caught a whiff of something and his eyes confirmed it. Flying or rather swimming through the air was none other than Taro. His mode of transportation was always unique considering that he uses creations from his Zanpakuto to zoom through the skies. These creations were fishes, a mere by-product of his Zanpakuto. Jushiro smiled, figuring more or less that Taro will be heading to Central Seireitei. He would be surprised if that wasn’t the case.

“I wonder what he’ll do when he gets there. Stand and observe or get involved?”.​

Jushiro said aloud, his words not directed at anyone in particular. Before he could go any further, another alert pinged to his Denreishinki. This time it was directed at Izanagi and not one that Seimei was privy to. The message was read by the Captain and was also aware that the Commander was informed.

“This is not how I expected the day to go. Seimei listen up”. ​

He said before taking a breath, having already decided on his next course of action. ​

“We have a potential problem in Naruki City. You may have heard the name Antonio before. He was part of the Arrancar forces which invaded over a decade ago. We’ve been searching for him and that creature and other remnants of their army. Thus far, we have nothing. However, he’s just appeared in Naruki City. And despite orders not to venture into the world of the living. I can’t just sit idly by and let this opportunity slip through our fingers. We’re going to Naruki City. Gather your shit and make your way to the Senkaimon gate. I would very much like to question him and should he prove to be a nuisance, then eliminating the threat is fine by me”. ​

The Captain turned away from Seimei and without any further delay he was gone. Vanished from his position by means of flash step. Time was of the essence and right now. And Jushiro could care less for the commander’s rules about Captains excursions to the world of the living.

[Leaving for Naruki City]​

 

[IshikawaInuzuri]

Seimei Ukitake (浮竹 清明)​

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If anything, this day became more and more eventful as time passed. After Seimei returned from his last patrol rotation in the World of the Living, he had dined as a guest of Toru Tsunayashiro which was interrupted as captain Izanagi requested a report—only for them to spar. And now, there was a rampaging Hollowfied captain rampaging in Seireitei and suddenly Arrancar activity in Naruki which he’d left just some hours ago. And by the looks of it, Seimei was to return to Naruki City alongside his captain.

In the present, he still reached further and further to create a map and a picture as real as he ever could. He used Reikaku at the edge of his ability and used this opportunity to further refine and evolve his skill. He did his best in shaping the most vivid picture of what was happening, and perhaps his initial assessment was wrong. The exchange between Captain Senkō and the now Hollowfied Captain Ōhei was still in early stages, but it seemed that the monstrous Itaku Ōhei had a slight advantage at this stage. Whether this advantage was deliberate on Kagi’s behalf was yet unknown, but the conflict at hand was only seeking its true shape at this point in time. However, whether Kagi’s efforts to contain Itaku Ōhei would fail, it could prove devastating.

He retained his spiritual perception in a lock as he did his best in listening to his captain while he did so. And it seemed that it wouldn’t be long until the bout would receive a third party, he detected the presence of yet another in the very same sector. It was none other than the infamous Taro Date—the captain of the Eleventh Division. And as he’d heard, perhaps the most powerful duelist among the shinigami of the Gotei 13. Perhaps if Captain Senkō failed, Captain Date would ensure that Itaku Ōhei wouldn’t get any further. At least he hoped so.

However, it seemed that more pressing matters emerged. Matters that had Captain Izanagi even go against the orders imposed by the Captain Commander himself. And undoubtedly Seimei would follow suit, acting according to the orders of his captain. He finally felt that they had found a mutual sense of trust.

Respect, even.

But before Seimei could offer as much as a sign of understanding, the captain had already departed for Naruki. It was clearly a matter of great significance. And Seimei did recognize it. He remembered Antonio, much like he remembered most of the Arrancar who invaded the Soul Society a decade ago. And the opportunity at catching one of them was undoubtedly one they shouldn’t miss.
​

”Finally we get to catch that shitstain.”​

His mind was filled with excitement as that thought began to burn in his chest. The thought was sharp and immediate as his hand brushed the hilt of his Zanpakutō. That excitement was quickly overrun by something else however, his rationale and cold, analytic thoughtfulness. Why did Antonio emerge now? Where are the rest of the remnants? Where have they been? Or more specifically, how have they eluded our Shinigami for so long? What exactly occurred in Hueco Mundo in the aftermath of their invasion? All he knew was that Antonio wouldn’t emerge in the World of the Living without a reason.

And as rebellious and freeminded Jushiro Izanagi was, he didn’t strike as someone who acted without reason. Therefore he wouldn’t break orders lightly. This was an opportunity that shouldn’t be squandered. And despite Seimei breaking the orders of Yuichirõ Shihōin as well, the trust he had gained from his captain was something he didn’t take lightly. He needed nothing with him that he already didn’t have. His Reiryōku spiked for a second, a blur.

And he was gone as quickly, leaving behind nothing but empty air as he had long stopped caring about what was happening between Captain Ōhei and Captain Senkō. His mind was already moving to the World of the Living as he used Shunpō, blitzing through Seireitei like a breeze of wind.

And before long, the Senkaimon gate came into his emerald view in all of its towering silence. He slowed to a stop before it as he gathered his posture, as his gaze was filled with determination and even a sense of vengeance. His eyes turned to the guarding shinigami operating the gate, almost in a commanding manner.
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”I am here on Captain Izanagi’s orders. Seimei Ukitake, Fourth Seated Officer of the Tenth Division. Departing for the World of the Living, conducting an operation in Naruki City.”​

He spoke with confidence and strength underneath his breath as the guardians wasted no time in letting him go—the light split the air before him as the familiar hum of the interdimensional corridor as if invited him there. Whatever was waiting for him in Naruki City, he didn’t intend on being late. It was his second time there just within a day, and how different those two visits were to be…
​

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[LEAVING FOR NARUKI CITY]​