"Well said. When the time comes, my Squad Two will definitely lend a hand."
In the crowd, Yoruichi grinned, revealing flawless white canine teeth that formed a sharp contrast with her wheat-colored skin.
She didn't care what others did; either way, she was definitely standing on Naraku Sora's side.
Leaving aside a certain someone's contributions to the Shihōin Clan, their relationship alone was enough for her to support Naraku Sora without hesitation.
Unohana Retsu said nothing. She simply stepped out from the crowd, slowly walked over to the man who was speaking so passionately, and offered everyone a gentle smile.
Kyōraku Shunsui tucked his hands into his sleeves and shook his head.
"Old Man Yama, this kid seems even more belligerent than you."
Although Ukitake Jūshirō remained silent the entire time, his firm gaze already made his stance clear.
Naraku Sora had saved his life more than once, such as during the Tsunayashiro Clan's conspiracy and his lung surgery.
Therefore.
Even without their bond as fellow disciples, he would never choose to abandon him.
Hirako Shinji bared his teeth, finding the scene before him somewhat familiar.
Before anyone realized it, that reckless brat had already won over so many captains.
His methods of winning people's hearts were truly quite brilliant.
However.
As a fellow Soul Reaper captain, he had no desire to end up like his predecessors—falling into Hell, becoming its puppet, and suffering unbearable torture every single day.
That was not the treatment a captain deserved.
So, even though he wasn't exactly thrilled about it, he would choose to stand on Naraku Sora's side.
*Thud!*
Just as the captains were deep in thought, a dull, heavy thud drew everyone's attention.
Yamamoto leaned on his cane with both hands. A scorching heat quietly spread out with him at the center, and a flash of golden-red fire seemed to dart across the depths of his eyes.
"Since that is the case, the minority shall yield to the majority."
"From this moment on, the Soul Society officially enters a state of combat readiness!"
Meanwhile.
Inside an exclusive laboratory at the Department of Research and Development.
Aizen stared intently at the culture incubator before him, occasionally tapping on the control console.
A specially made Gigai floated inside, completely bare, with various monitoring devices plugged into its body.
This was a captain-class Soul Reaper he had specifically requested from Naraku Sora. Originally a criminal in the Shino Prison, before his incarceration, he had led rogue Soul Reapers in the Rukongai, preaching that only he knew the truth of the world—that the Spirit King was merely a puppet controlled by the Five Great Noble Clans, and the Gotei 13 were nothing more than their lapdogs.
Although it was unknown where this guy had obtained such information, his rhetoric was undoubtedly a provocation against the authority of the Gotei 13.
It didn't take long for Kuchiki Ginrei to personally lead a squad, assisted by Kuchiki Kōga, to crush him completely. He was escorted to the Shino Prison and had been locked up ever since.
If Naraku Sora hadn't taken over, this guy would probably still be locked up.
Of course, his current situation was no better than being in the Shino Prison.
Countless formulas and parameters reflected on Aizen's plain glasses, scrolling rapidly. He occasionally jotted down useful information for his upcoming research.
Ever since he developed the equipment related to the Impure World Reincarnation, he had focused entirely on experimental projects concerning Hell.
To prevent any unnecessary hidden dangers, Aizen had even forcibly interrupted Urahara Kisuke's ongoing research, making him join the Hell experiments as well.
Urahara Kisuke didn't put up much resistance to this.
He was full of curiosity about all things unknown, as long as he wasn't subjected to endless exploitation.
Just recently, they had finally achieved a breakthrough.
Aizen pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose and smiled as he watched the shifting data.
It truly was a beautiful day.
The next second, a voice that would make anyone's blood pressure spike rang out from outside the laboratory—
"Where's Sōsuke? Save me!"
Aizen's smile instantly froze.
Under his exceptionally resistant gaze, a certain someone effortlessly pushed open the laboratory's metal doors, walked straight in, and grinned.
"Kisuke told me you were here, so I came over."
Aizen took a deep breath and said somewhat helplessly,
"Spit it out. What happened this time?"
Naraku Sora briefly summarized the discussion from the Captains' meeting.
In short, the old entity of Hell was up to no good. It had taken a liking to his robust body and wanted to forcefully drag him back to be its personal slave; otherwise, it would destroy the Soul Society.
"So, Sōsuke, do you have any countermeasures against Hell?"
After hearing the explanation, Aizen furrowed his brows tightly.
He had only stopped paying attention for half a day, yet the situation had escalated to such a severe degree.
Previously, only the Zero Division and the Spirit King had their eyes on Naraku Sora, but now Hell had suddenly joined the fray.
Did this guy have some special succubus constitution?
Why was he always provoking such terrifying entities?
Thinking of this, he shook his head and calmly said,
"According to my research, the key to the connection between Hell and the Soul Society lies in the Gates of Hell. It acts much like the Dangai between Hueco Mundo and the World of the Living."
"If we can completely take control of it, the situation might just be reversed."
"The only problem right now is how to capture the Gates of Hell, as well as the specific method to control them."
"Therefore, I need a little time."
Aizen looked up, his expression serious.
He trusted the man before him, just as this guy trusted him in return.
Although he didn't know when things had become like this, the feeling wasn't too bad.
Seeing this, Naraku Sora grinned.
"Understood. No one will disturb you before then. Just leave everything outside to me."
A powerful Reiatsu covered almost the entire Seireitei, weaving into a dense net that formed a communication system capable of unimpeded exchange in complex environments.
Denreishinki—Maximum Alert Status.
With the threat of Hell constantly approaching, the Seireitei directly initiated a Shutara-level alert.
On the crisscrossing streets, Soul Reapers split into small squads and sprinted rapidly. While keeping an eye out for anomalies, they set up traps known as trigger-type Kidō on the exterior walls of various buildings.
This was a special Kidō technique kindly provided by a certain unnamed Soul Reaper.
It could turn buildings into traps, unleashing astonishing destructive power.
In addition, the various squads halted their usual duties and threw themselves into the task of defending the Seireitei.
It was worth mentioning that, aside from the original Gotei 13...
What made things somewhat awkward for the captains was that the Shino Prison had actually produced a New Gotei 13.
Hirako Shinji stood on the roof of a building in the Fifth Squad's district, his contorted facial features looking somewhat ugly.
Normally, this area should have been under the jurisdiction of his Squad Five.
However, because his Zanpakutō's ability was unsuited for full deployment in such a situation, he had been reassigned to another district, along with the Soul Reapers of Squad Five.
And the one responsible for taking over this area was a Soul Reaper named Kuchiki Kōga.
If it were anyone else, he might have been able to understand.
But what right did Kuchiki Kōga have to take his place? Wouldn't that guy's Muramasa affect the other comrades as well?
Although Hirako Shinji had voiced his objections on the spot, Yamamoto had ruthlessly rejected them.
As for the reason, Naraku Sora had highly recommended Kuchiki Kōga, guaranteeing that his performance would be far more outstanding than Hirako Shinji's.
Yamamoto hadn't even thought twice before agreeing immediately.
This also gave Hirako Shinji a strong sense of crisis.
Yamamoto was old, senile, and incompetent. Given time, he would definitely be replaced by that reckless brute, Naraku.
Before that day arrived, he had to do something.
But before that, he needed to survive this current crisis first.
Besides the Fifth District, the Third, Fourth, Sixth, Ninth, and Tenth Districts had also been taken over by the Shino Prison's New Gotei 13.
It could be said that nearly half of the Seireitei was now under the jurisdiction of Naraku Sora's subordinates.
As a result, similar thoughts began to sprout in the minds of many Soul Reapers.
Could it be that, someday in the future, the New Gotei 13 would replace them, the old guard?
Despite their deep confusion, everyone still firmly carried out their respective duties in preparation for the impending war.
Spirit Wave Measurement and Research Division.
A Soul Reaper named Akon was staring nervously at the screen in front of him.
As a rookie promoted by Kurotsuchi Mayuri, this was his first time participating in such a major event.
Whether it was Lord Mayuri's trust or Lord Naraku's attention, both left him feeling deeply flattered.
Akon secretly swore to himself that he would hold his post steadfastly and relay any anomalies to the right Soul Reapers at the very first moment.
He wanted to minimize the casualties in the upcoming war as much as possible.
Just as he was focused on transmitting the intelligence provided by the various squads, a piercing alarm echoed throughout the observation room, accompanied by flashing, intense red lights.
Akon looked at the screen, which displayed a top-down view of the entire Seireitei. High above in the sky, thick clouds had surged forth at some unknown point, heavy and oppressive, as if a violent storm was imminent.
"Enemy attack!"
The next second, the message instantly spread across the entire Seireitei through the Reishi network, reaching the Denreishinki of every commanding seated officer.
The Soul Reapers on the streets raised their heads, looking up at the pitch-black sky in shock.
Massive doors emerged in the gloom. There were no Reiatsu fluctuations whatsoever, as if they didn't even exist.
Yet, the anomalous celestial phenomena gave everyone an indescribable sense of palpitation.
It felt as though a giant hand was squeezing their hearts.
On the doors, red light bloomed from the eyes of two colossal skeletons. Their hard, bony hands flexed, slowly pulling the Gates of Hell open.
An immeasurable amount of phosphorescent miasma poured out like rain, permeating the air.
Under the gaze of countless eyes, figures exuding heavy, oppressive pressure stepped out from the other world.
*Boom!!*
A turbulent Reishi storm instantly erupted. As if doomsday had arrived, a colossal pillar of Reiatsu crashed down from above, slamming ruthlessly into the Seireitei.
The terrifying pressure made the very air turn viscous as howling hurricanes swept through.
Meanwhile, beneath the eaves of a roof.
Naraku Sora looked up at the descending figures, the corners of his mouth curling into a delighted smile.
The war had begun.