Bleach: Stirring Up a Storm

”Aizen’s true target is actually Karakura Town? So, the attack from the very beginning was just a misdirection?”

”Are you sure, Chōzuka?” Hirako looked at Kōe. Usually, saying something like this meant it was a certainty, but the smile on the other’s face actually gave him an ominous premonition. ”No, it couldn’t just be a guess, right?”

”Hehe, nine times out of ten.”

”Could you be a little more serious!” Now even Hirako couldn’t stay calm. These matters were getting bigger one after another, and when asked, it was all just guessing. This feeling of being left hanging was truly unbearable!

”We’re just waiting for Ukitake to make the final confirmation and for the Old Man to officially announce it. You can absolutely treat it as accurate intelligence.”

”Then why did you say it like it was just a nine-out-of-ten guess!”

”Just being rigorous. But even if there’s another outcome, it will definitely be worse than this.” Kōe rubbed his temples, shaking his head in condemnation. ”That guy Aizen really leaves no room for error when doing evil. How hateful!”

*Hateful? What right do you have to say that?* The gazes of the Visoreds instantly gathered on Kōe. When it came to being hateful, he wasn’t far behind, was he? As expected of the candidate Old Man Yama subtly pushed forward to counter Aizen—the two of them were exactly on par!

”Ahem! I...”

”Stop disgusting us and get down to business!”

Kōe wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead. How had he inexplicably incurred public outrage? He couldn’t figure it out.

”Transferring Karakura Town is one of our few options. However, such a large-scale spatial transfer, coupled with the fact that the World of the Living and Soul Society still need to convert Kishi into Reishi, presents some technical difficulties. Preparing the equipment takes time, and hiding people is honestly unnecessary.”

”Besides, with my family here, I couldn’t possibly stay in the Seireitei with peace of mind.” Kōe gave a sheepish smile and even blinked in the direction of his ’family’, making Yoruichi a little embarrassed.

”Eww!”

”Didn’t we tell you to stop disgusting us!”

Hearing this, Yoruichi became unhappy. *How was saying that to her considered disgusting? These guys!*

”All of you, shut up! It’s not like hiding people is the only solution. Can’t we just find that guy before Aizen’s next move?” Yoruichi said aggressively, but after calming down, she realized there was still a problem. She cleared her throat and asked, ”You have a way to find him, right, Dead-Fish Eyes?”

”Of course I do.” Kōe looked entirely confident, but Hirako and the others weren’t buying it.

”It’s not another guess, is it?”

”No, no, no, this time it’s an inference based on a solid foundation.”

”Is there a difference?!”

”Of course there’s a difference! Since it’s an inference, it must be based on evidence. You guys can also try to think about it and see if your answer matches mine.”

Kōe tapped his temple and continued, ”I’ll give you a hint. Pay attention to what I just repeated to you—the words Ichimaru Gin said. He is a very interesting person.”

Far away in Hueco Mundo, Ichimaru Gin suddenly felt an itch in his nose. He rubbed it with his finger before continuing, ”That is the situation, Captain Aizen.”

Sitting upright on the throne above, Aizen did not reply. After a moment of silence, he slowly nodded. ”I understand. Do you have nothing else to say, Gin?”

”Is there anything else to say? Right now, I’d like to go rest. Does that count?”

”Hahaha. Since Grimmjow has also returned safely, it was a close call but no real danger.” Aizen stood up. ”Everyone, go rest. And Tōsen, thank you for your hard work.”

”Wait, Aizen-sama!”

”Hmm? Is there something else?” Aizen stopped and looked at Tōsen, who had suddenly halted him.

”Regarding Grimmjow’s unauthorized actions this time, you have not yet issued a punishment.”

Ichimaru Gin shook his head, not thinking it was anything important. His paused footsteps started moving again. Leaving this kind of boring matter to Tōsen was fine.

”You really just won’t let me go, will you, Tōsen?” Grimmjow couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger.

”What? For prematurely exposing the existence of the Espada, you should be begging for forgiveness, Grimmjow!” Tōsen turned his head. If his eyes weren’t completely blank, they would surely be burning with flames right now.

”Actually, it’s for almost getting you killed that I should beg for forgiveness, Tōsen!”

”You!”

”That is enough.” Aizen intervened just in time to stop the two who were about to fight. He sat back down on his chair and continued, ”Actually, I am not angry. I consider Grimmjow’s actions this time to be a rare display of loyalty.”

”Aizen-sama!”

Aizen raised a hand to stop Tōsen from speaking further. He looked at Grimmjow and asked softly, ”Is that not so, Grimmjow?”

”Exactly!” Grimmjow said, casting a sideways glance at Tōsen before formally requesting, ”May I go rest now, Aizen-sama?”

”You may go.”

”Yes!”

Just as Grimmjow turned to leave, a hand gripped his shoulder tightly. It was Tōsen Kaname, this infuriating guy. ”What else do you want, Tōsen!”

Tōsen didn’t turn to look at him. Instead, he spoke loudly toward Aizen’s direction, ”Please permit me to execute Grimmjow, Aizen-sama!”

”Kaname, I have already told you, I am not angry.”

”Aizen-sama!” Tōsen remained insistent, his grip on Grimmjow’s arm tightening. ”Permit me to execute him!”

”You’re just using your public office to avenge a private grudge, Tōsen!” Grimmjow forcefully threw off Tōsen’s hand and mocked, ”Just because you can’t stand the sight of me, you insist on punishing me. Is it really okay for a commander to act like this?”

”It is not that I cannot stand the sight of you. I simply believe that those who disrupt harmony are unforgivable, nothing more.”

As Tōsen spoke, his right hand quietly grasped his Zanpakutō. Right now, they were preparing to wage war against the Shinigami, yet Grimmjow, as an Espada, had actually gone to the World of the Living out of sheer capriciousness, failing to distinguish what was truly important? No, perhaps in the other’s mind, only that momentary whim to kill was the most important thing.

*What difference was there between a person like this and decayed Shinigami like Zaraki Kenpachi!*

Just as the resentment in Tōsen’s heart grew increasingly vigorous, nearing its peak, a displeased voice rang out, instantly calming him down.

”Tōsen!” If Tōsen could see at this moment, Aizen’s slightly disappointed eyes would surely have left a deep impression on him.

”A slight punishment will suffice.”

Tōsen’s face immediately lit up with joy. He placed his left hand over his chest, just about to offer his suggestion, when Aizen’s voice rang out once more. ”Strip Grimmjow of his status as the Sexta Espada. He is to strictly abide by the prohibition and remain within Las Noches.”

”Aizen-sama...”

”Let us leave it at that.” Aizen stood up, his gaze toward Tōsen somewhat icy. ”This is my final decision. You only need to carry it out, Kaname.”

”Y-Yes. Aizen-sama...”

”Then I leave it to you, Kaname.”

Aizen withdrew his gaze from Tōsen and left the great hall without looking back. *A disrupter of harmony? A person who cannot learn from his failures cannot even compare to someone who acts on their own whims.*

*Nothing but a mediocrity.*