https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1086-The-Fourth-Ninja-World-War-Comes-to-an-End/13463633/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1088-Yecheng-Another-Mission-to-the-World-of-the-Living-/13463638/
Chapter 1087: Prelude to the Thousand-Year Blood War
Chapter 1087: Prelude to the Thousand-Year Blood War
In Soul Society, at the Research and Development Institute of the Twelfth Division.
Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi of the Twelfth Division discovered through his instruments that the reactions of Hollows in the World of the Living were suddenly disappearing in large numbers, causing him to frown deeply.
Although Hollows are enemies of the Shinigami, they play a crucial role in maintaining the balance between Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and the World of the Living. The number of Hollows in the World of the Living and the souls in Soul Society must remain constant to keep the barrier between the two worlds stable. This barrier is known as the Seireitei.
Generally, when Shinigami slay Hollows, they do so through "Purification", which maintains the balance of souls between the World of the Living and Soul Society. However, the instruments in the Research and Development Institute detected that the Hollows whose reactions had disappeared were not being purified but were being completely eradicated!
This eradication was so thorough that even the souls and spiritual particles were entirely gone, a true and complete annihilation.
If the number of Hollows disappearing was small, it wouldn't be a significant issue, as the souls in Soul Society's Rukongai also experience occasional accidental deaths. However, the large-scale disappearance of Hollows in the World of the Living, if it continues to spread, will inevitably cause the barrier between Soul Society and the World of the Living to collapse.
This would disrupt the delicate balance between the World of the Living, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo, leading to chaos in the entire world.
After discovering this unexpected event, Mayuri Kurotsuchi immediately went to the First Division and reported the incident to the Captain-Commander.
"I suspect this incident is related to the Quincy. The locations where Hollows are disappearing in large numbers are mainly concentrated in Karakura Town in the World of the Living, and the last known Quincy happens to live there."
Upon hearing Mayuri mention the Quincy, the Captain-Commander's expression became noticeably more serious.
After a moment of silence, he turned to Mayuri and asked, "Are you certain that the Quincy are responsible for this?"
"Based on the spiritual pressure reactions from the Hollows that disappeared, it's highly likely. Only the Quincy can completely eradicate Hollows without leaving any trace. Captain-Commander, you seem to know something about this. For example, were all the Quincy truly eradicated in the battle a thousand years ago between the Shinigami and the Quincy?"
Mayuri's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the Captain-Commander's back, his tone taking on a slightly confrontational edge.
Before reporting to the First Division, Mayuri had investigated the records of the battle between the Shinigami and the Quincy that took place a thousand years ago. The Shinigami leader who led the battle against the Quincy was none other than the current Captain-Commander, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
Mayuri had fought against Uryū Ishida, and although he disliked the boy, he believed he had a reasonable understanding of him. Uryū, despite his youth, was not capable of causing this incident. Even if he were capable, Mayuri did not think it was his doing.
Since it wasn't Uryū, the "last Quincy", it meant there were other Quincy in the world.
However, there were very few Shinigami left who had experienced the battle a thousand years ago, and the only way for Mayuri to get answers was to extract information from the Captain-Commander.
"A thousand years ago, I did not kill the Quincy leader, Yhwach. However, I did deprive him of his heart, consciousness, and power. Over the years, the Quincy have long since disappeared from history."
About a thousand years ago, Yhwach led the Quincy forces in battle against the Gotei 13, commanded by Yamamoto. The Captain-Commander indeed used his Bankai to defeat Yhwach, but for some unknown reason, he did not kill him.
"So, you're saying, Captain-Commander, that you can't determine whether Yhwach is truly dead or not?"
In the face of the Captain-Commander's silence, Mayuri Kurotsuchi had already obtained the answer he sought. Irritated, he turned and chose to leave.
The disappearance of Hollows in the World of the Living has now led to a crisis of soul imbalance between the Living World and Soul Society.
Previously, Mayuri only suspected that the Quincy might be behind this, but the Captain-Commander's silence just now confirmed his suspicions.
Through the extensive data he had gathered, Mayuri discovered that the Captain-Commander had the capability to kill Yhwach back then but chose instead to merely seal his powers.
If this situation could be resolved easily, it would be one thing, but if it spirals out of control, the Captain-Commander would be the one to blame for everything.
After Mayuri left, the Captain-Commander summoned the Third Seat of the First Division, Genryūsai Yamamoto, and ordered him to go to the Fifth Division's barracks to deliver a command to the current Fifth Division Captain, Yoruichi Yecheng, to investigate the cause of the Hollows' disappearance in Karakura Town.
Yecheng was chosen for this mission for two reasons: first, because Yecheng was familiar with the World of the Living, and second, because of Yecheng's formidable combat strength.
If the events in the Living World turned out to be a trap, sending Yecheng would be much safer than sending anyone else.
When the Third Seat of the First Division, Genryūsai Yamamoto, arrived at the Fifth Division's barracks, he did not find Captain Yecheng as expected. Instead, he met the Fifth Division's Vice-Captain, Momo Hinamori, who was helping Yecheng with divisional affairs.
"Vice-Captain Hinamori, it should still be working hours for the Fifth Division, right? Where is Captain Yecheng? I have a command from the Captain-Commander that needs to be delivered personally."
Though Genryūsai Yamamoto was only the Third Seat of the First Division, his status and position were no less than that of other division's Vice-Captains due to the unique nature of the First Division.
This was evident from the distinct haori worn by the First Division's Vice-Captain, Chōjirō Sasakibe, which differed from those of other Vice-Captains.
Genryūsai Yamamoto, like Chōjirō Sasakibe, was a long-standing veteran and a trusted aide to the Captain-Commander, with extensive experience as a Shinigami.
Thus, when faced with Genryūsai Yamamoto's questioning, Momo Hinamori felt a wave of unease.
If she told the truth and said that Yecheng, along with Rangiku Matsumoto and Captain Izuru Kira, had gone out drinking, Yecheng would likely face another scolding from the Captain-Commander.
But if she didn't tell the truth and the Captain-Commander had urgent orders to give...
Just as Momo was trying to figure out how to cover for Yecheng, two figures, arm in arm, reeking of alcohol and swaying unsteadily, suddenly walked into the Fifth Division's barracks.
These two thoroughly drunk individuals were none other than the current Fifth Division Captain, Yoruichi Yecheng, and the Tenth Division's Vice-Captain, Rangiku Matsumoto.
Izuru Kira, who had been drinking with them, had been pulled back by his current Vice-Captain, Izuru Kira, halfway through.
As for why Rangiku didn't return to her own division, the reason was simple: she knew that going back in her current state would inevitably result in a scolding from her young captain, so she chose to seek refuge with her friend in the Fifth Division.
(End of Chapter)
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