Bleach: Soul Society Domination Through Check-ins

"Mr. Kasahara?!"

Soifon exclaimed in genuine surprise.

Shigure raised an eyebrow, immediately grasping the situation.

So this was the commanding captain of the Kinyuen Corps—formerly the Fourth Seat of the 1st Division.

The news of this Hollow outbreak in Death Valley had been reported to Yamamoto Genryusai by this very man.

"Heh heh... It's been decades since we last met, Captain Zaraki, and you're still exactly the same..."

Kasahara Shinichi's voice emerged deep and gravelly, weathered by years.

Upon hearing this, Kenpachi Zaraki tilted his chin upward slightly. "So you've become this pathetic, have you, Kasahara."

Though Kasahara Shinichi had only been Fourth Seat of the 1st Division, he'd been responsible for coordinating troop deployments throughout all of Seireitei during his tenure.

Naturally, Kenpachi Zaraki and the other captains knew him well.

Hearing Kenpachi's cutting remark, Kasahara Shinichi lowered his head with a bitter chuckle.

"Heh heh... It seems even just a few decades in Death Valley is enough to completely transform a person..."

With that, he turned toward Soifon.

"Captain Soifon... you haven't changed one bit."

Soifon's expression remained stern. "Mr. Kasahara, let's skip the pleasantries... Why is it that we've been here this long without encountering a single member of the Kinyuen Corps?"

"The only three people we met... launched an immediate attack against us."

Hearing Soifon's words, the surrounding squad members exchanged confused glances.

Only then did they recall Soifon mentioning being trapped by a "barrier" earlier.

But thinking it through—barriers were advanced kidō techniques far beyond any Hollow's capabilities.

This was undeniably... the work of Soul Reapers.

"I see... so you encountered them—Kazuko, Mitsuhashi, and Nakai."

Kasahara Shinichi's weathered face darkened with gravity.

Shigure's eyes sharpened immediately.

Those three names belonged to the rebels—so Kasahara Shinichi was indeed aware of their betrayal.

But just then, a rough voice cut through their exchange.

"All this damn chattering... what the hell are you people going on about?!"

Kenpachi Zaraki scowled with obvious irritation. "If this keeps up, Segawa... our fight's never gonna happen, damn it!"

Before Shigure could respond, Kasahara Shinichi turned toward Kenpachi, his eyes narrowing.

"Captain Zaraki, are you absolutely certain... you want to continue fighting him?"

Kenpachi's glare intensified. "What kind of stupid question is that?!"

"But Captain Zaraki, you experienced it firsthand just now—this Vice-Captain's spiritual pressure that obliterated an entire Hollow swarm..."

Kasahara cast a meaningful glance at Shigure before continuing:

"Your blade couldn't penetrate that density of spiritual pressure... Which means if you truly wish to continue this battle, you'd have to..."

"Remove your eyepatch, wouldn't you?"

"But haven't you noticed? From start to finish, this Vice-Captain's eyes have shown not even a flicker of battle lust."

"Even knowing that, do you still intend to unleash your full power against him?"

Kasahara Shinichi's piercing gaze cut through Kenpachi like a blade.

Kenpachi Zaraki's eyepatch had been specially designed by the Department of Research and Development.

His spiritual power control was abysmal—once unleashed, it invariably brought catastrophic destruction.

The eyepatch continuously drained his spiritual energy, suppressing his spiritual pressure to manageable levels.

This was Seireitei's solution for containing his power, though Zaraki had never objected.

After all, only with these restraints could he savor the pleasure of evenly matched combat.

However, Kasahara Shinichi's pointed words stirred something within Kenpachi's mind.

He studied Shigure, noting the man's serene expression—as though their recent clash had caused him no emotional disturbance whatsoever.

Finally, Zaraki turned back to Kasahara, his voice dripping with disdain: "Tch... You bastard, still as irritating as ever... I couldn't stand you back in Seireitei either."

With that declaration, he pivoted and hefted his sword across his shoulder.

His gravelly voice carried one final warning:

"Segawa... don't think I'm giving up here. Next time, I will force you into a real battle!"

Shigure smiled serenely. "I'll be ready whenever you are."

Kasahara Shinichi then focused on Shigure. "Speaking of which, I haven't paid attention to the 13th Division for nearly forty years. I never imagined..."

"Such a prodigiously talented genius would emerge in so short a time!"

His voice carried genuine admiration.

Forty years was indeed brief from the perspective of someone centuries old.

Yet Soifon's eyes glinted with private knowledge.

She knew that from Shigure's first display of spiritual pressure until now, barely over a month had passed...

"Now then... tell me your name, annihilator of Hollow swarms."

Kasahara Shinichi spoke with ceremonial gravity.

Shigure smiled with quiet dignity. "13th Division Vice-Captain, Segawa Shigure."

"Segawa?" Kasahara Shinichi blinked in surprise, then broke into a rueful grin. "It seems I truly am growing old—my instincts are failing me. I was absolutely convinced... you must be from one of the Four Great Noble Houses."

Upon first seeing Shigure, he'd been struck by the young man's unshakeable composure, every gesture radiating refined elegance.

Combined with such formidable power at his age, Kasahara had naturally assumed noble lineage.

He shook his head with self-deprecating humor. "Well then, I won't waste more time with speculation."

Turning back to Soifon, his expression grew grave. "Mitsuhashi and his accomplices have been actively rebelling against my Kinyuen Corps from the moment of their demotion here."

"During this Hollow outbreak, Mitsuhashi used his Zanpakutō's devastating abilities... and slaughtered half my corps."

"What?!" Soifon recoiled in shock.

Kasahara Shinichi continued grimly: "Initially, I assumed it was simply due to the Hollow outbreak. After leading my surviving men to safety, I sent an emergency request to Vice-Captain Sasaki."

"That's when your teams were dispatched here."

"I remained ignorant of the true situation until... Segawa instantaneously annihilated that Hollow swarm, prompting me to venture into Death Valley myself."

He paused, clearly still processing the magnitude of what he'd witnessed.

"Near the battlefield, I discovered Kazuko bound by Bakudō."

"Only then did the truth dawn on me—the Hollow swarm that had attacked us earlier was also Mitsuhashi's orchestration."

Soifon nodded grimly, the pieces falling into place.

Both the Kinyuen Corps and the Gotei 13 had become targets of these traitors.

Kasahara Shinichi released a weary sigh.

"Sigh... My failure to detect their rebellion in time led to this catastrophe."

"If any of you had been harmed during this mission, I could never face the Captain-Commander..."

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