Restricted Death

Chapter 248 Conquest Plan
Shin pondered repeatedly about the candidates Zero Division proposed for special training at the Spirit King's Palace. Personally, he naturally hoped that more of his close associates would receive this precious opportunity.

Personally speaking, Shin would certainly like to send more people he knows into the bank. However, people like Renji Abarai from the original work are much weaker now than they were later, and he probably hasn't even reached the threshold of Bankai yet, so it's probably not very suitable for him.

The core criterion for selecting members of Squad Zero is "potential".

He examined the talent pool of the Seireitei one by one. Hisagi Shuhei and Kira Izuru were indeed among the best of the ordinary Shinigami, possessing excellent aptitude and a steady, reliable approach. However, when placed on the scales of the Zero Division, their abilities paled in comparison. Compared to those top geniuses who left their mark on history, such as Shiba Kaien or Ichimaru Gin, they ultimately lacked something.

The difference in potential is immediately apparent.

Thoughts lingered in his mind, comparing and weighing, and after a long time, the list gradually took shape in his confidence. It seemed that only Shiba Kaien and Ichimaru Gin could meet that highest requirement.

However, a huge question mark will always hang behind the name Gin Ichimaru. The entire Seireitei leadership is deeply hesitant about whether to send him to the Soul King's Palace, the heart of Soul Society; it is not a decision that can be easily made by just one person.

After the meeting, Hyosube Ichibei led the Zero Division into the passageway of the Soul King Palace, but Shutara Senjumaru remained, awaiting the final decision on the Thirteenth Division's personnel, who would then lead the group to the Soul King Palace. Her very presence was a silent impetus.

At this moment, the captains of the Gotei 13 are gathered in the solemn captain's room, facing two pressing and thorny issues.

Regarding the candidates for sending to the Spirit King Palace mentioned earlier, Hitsugaya Toshiro and Ichimaru Gin are the two.

As for Hitsugaya, the potential of this young genius had already been recognized by all the captains, and no one questioned it. The key question was whether Gin Ichimaru was trustworthy.

This former vice-captain of the Fifth Division had only been arrested recently and was still suspected of conspiring with Aizen Sousuke. The investigation was not yet over, and he remained a "convicted criminal."

Sending such a person to the Soul King's Palace, which symbolizes the pinnacle of power and secrets in the Soul Society, seems too risky and audacious, whether from the perspective of axioms, reason, or standpoint.

The air in the meeting room was heavy as lead. Everyone was mentally replaying two possibilities. The ideal scenario, of course, was what Shin insisted on: Gin Ichimaru was on the side of Soul Society, and his betrayal was a meticulously planned infiltration, just as Shin had strongly argued. If this were the case, Soul Society would truly gain a powerful ally, a win-win situation for everyone.

What if Shin's judgment is wrong? What if Gin Ichimaru truly submits to Aizen...? If the Seireitei sends him up because of his gullibility, and he suddenly turns against them at a crucial juncture that determines the fate of the three worlds, the catastrophic consequences will exceed the entire Soul Society's capacity to bear. This risk is suffocatingly heavy.

Shin clearly sensed this heavy doubt, and he had to reiterate his position. He stepped forward, his gaze piercing through the crowd and landing on Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni at the head of the table. His voice was firm: "Ichimaru Gin may have some shortcomings in his character, but given his situation, he would have been unable to remain an undercover agent for Aizen without doing so. On the matter of Aizen, Ichimaru Gin is absolutely aligned with us. As the saying goes, 'If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them.' At this moment, we don't have much time left to deliberate. Captain-Commander, please make a decision as soon as possible: either execute Ichimaru Gin directly, or choose to trust him!"

Shin paused, then added, "I will keep an eye on him. Even if something happens that we don't want to see, I will personally execute him! I will never let him do anything that harms the Soul Society."

A glint flashed in Yamamoto's eyes, clearly as he weighed the heavy responsibility against the reality described in the letter. A long silence spread through the council chamber, broken only by the faint sound of the wind outside the window.

After pondering for a long time, Kyoraku Shunsui, who was standing to the side, also spoke up: "Yaman, what we are facing now, whether it is Yhwach or Aizen, is a matter of life and death for Soul Society. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary people. The opportunity given by the Zero Division can give us another extremely strong high-end fighter. I think it is acceptable to take on more risks."

Kyoraku's words expressed the sentiments of many captains. Although they had little personal relationship with Gin Ichimaru, Shin's persistence and the imminent crisis made the scales in their hearts tip slightly.

Yamamoto's gaze swept across Kyoraku's face, then stared intently at Shin for a long time before finally letting out a deep, resolute exhale.

"...Then so be it. I hope he can contribute his strength to the Soul Society and the Three Realms."

The three to be sent to the Soul King Palace were thus decided: Shiba Kaien, captain of the Third Division; Hitsugaya Toshiro, third seat of the Tenth Division; and Ichimaru Gin, former vice-captain of the Fifth Division (who was dismissed).

With the first priority resolved, the second matter immediately came to the forefront: should the campaign against the Unknown Empire proceed as originally planned? This matter had been decided previously, but the Zero Division's explicit refusal to participate shook the foundation of the plan, forcing a re-examination.

Aizen Sousuke of Hueco Mundo, this imminent threat, was clearly placed at the center of the agenda.

A new idea began to linger in everyone's minds: if they temporarily set aside the Wandenreich and focused their efforts on dealing with Aizen, they could later secure support from the Zero Division in their battle against the Quincy. This plan seemed incredibly tempting.

The problem of Inozome is like a fishbone stuck in my throat, and the necessity of eliminating him is beyond doubt.

Of course, this also involves some risks. The difficulty of conquering Hueco Mundo is no less than that of the Wandenreich. Historically, the Shinigami have never truly conquered that vast land inhabited by Hollows. Although the Shinigami have a considerable number of high-end combatants, Hueco Mundo is home to countless Hollows, whose sheer numbers constitute an absolute advantage that the limited Shinigami soldiers cannot withstand head-on.

Even more problematic is that once the main force of the Gotei 13 is dispatched to Hueco Mundo, who can guarantee that the lurking Void Empire won't take advantage of the Seireitei's internal weakness to do something unpredictable?

The current situation seems to indicate that death holds the initiative, but in reality, it is a precarious situation where one is walking on thin ice.

On the one hand, they knew they couldn't give the Quincy of the Unknown Empire time; on the other hand, any proactive attack was accompanied by enormous constraints and risks that couldn't be ignored.

During the heated debate at the captains' meeting, various pros and cons were repeatedly analyzed, but no one could come up with a solution that could both eliminate the hidden dangers and ensure the stability of the rear.

Ultimately, in a somber and helpless atmosphere, the dilemma concerning the fate of the three realms—whether to prioritize the conquest of Aizen or the Wandenreich—was temporarily shelved, to be decided at a more opportune time in the future.

Shin then went to the Shihouin family and told Hitsugaya about his special training at the Spirit King Palace.

In the courtyard, the boy and Hyōrinmaru were engaged in intense Bankai training through the physical form condensed by the Tenshin Body. Shin also saw the physical form condensed by Hyōrinmaru through the Tenshin Body. It was a majestic figure with a chilling aura all around, and an imposing presence, truly deserving of the illustrious reputation of "the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō".

It remains to be seen how much of Hyōrinmaru's power will ultimately be able to be unleashed in Hitsugaya's hands.

The letter announced the decision regarding the special training at the Spirit King Palace. Upon hearing this news, Hitsugaya's training posture instantly froze. His still-childish face initially showed astonishment, but that astonishment quickly subsided, replaced by a seriousness far beyond his apparent age.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Give me one more day, and I will be able to master Bankai."

Shin nodded, stepped forward, and gently patted the boy's thin but already responsible shoulder: "You can feel the pressure on your shoulders, can't you? But there's nothing we can do about it. The Soul Society is undergoing a tremendous upheaval, and those with the ability naturally have to stand at the forefront."

Hitsugaya smiled easily upon hearing this: "There's nothing I can do about it, I'm a genius."

He changed the subject, his eyes fixed intently on Xin: "And what about the captain? Does he feel the weight of responsibility on his shoulders?"

Xin was taken aback by the sudden question, then chuckled and repeated, "Well, what can I do? I'm a genius too."

Rukia, who is also diligently training, is progressing slightly slower than Hitsugaya. While the Transcendental Body can greatly accelerate training, it ultimately requires a solid foundation and comprehension; it is not a divine artifact that can be achieved overnight. Urahara Kisuke mastered Bankai in just three days because of his exceptional talent.

Shin also gave Rukia some words of encouragement.

Kisuke Urahara strolled over unnoticed, his expression half-concealed by his signature folding fan. He asked casually, "The Zero Division... they've already been here, haven't they?"

Shin nodded, briefly informing the other party of the results of today's meeting and the Zero Division's attitude. Urahara listened quietly, remaining silent for a long while. He unconsciously unfolded the folding fan in his hand and gently patted his cheek.

"What do you think should be done?" Xin asked.

Urahara paused for a moment, his eyes lifting from the fan as if somewhat dazed, before his usual nonchalant smile quickly returned: "Such an important matter is naturally for the Seireitei to decide; what right do I have to offer any opinions?"

His words sounded somewhat diplomatic and detached. Shin knew that with Urahara's intelligence, if there were a truly feasible solution, Captain-Commander Yamamoto would never ignore it. His silence itself implied a lack of answer or significant uncertainty.

Before Xin could ask any further questions, he brought up a new topic: "I plan to go back to the mortal world. Could you please give my regards to the higher-ups? Also, I need you to accompany me."

Xin was somewhat surprised to hear this: "Has something happened in the real world?"

Urahara waved his fan, his tone ambiguous: "It is precisely because I have stayed in Seireitei for too long and am unclear about the situation in the present world that I need to go back and confirm it."

A sudden thought struck him: was it about the Hogyoku he had hidden in the mortal world? This was indeed a matter of utmost importance.

"Understood," he replied.

After leaving the Shihōin family, Shin went back to the 10th Division barracks and called Matsumoto Rangiku.

"Come with me."

"Where?"

"Go and pick up Gin Ichimaru."

Matsumoto Rangiku's pupils dilated slightly upon hearing this: "Captain... Gintama..."

Shin said, "He's all right now. The Captain-Commander even plans to send him to the Soul King Palace for special training. Hitsugaya and Shiba Kaien from the Third Division will accompany him."

In an instant, overwhelming joy washed away all the worries on Matsumoto Rangiku's face, transforming into a pure, unbelievable radiance. Almost instinctively, she hurriedly bowed deeply to the letter, her long golden hair cascading down.

"Thank you, Captain!" Her voice was filled with sincere gratitude, as if a heavy burden had finally been lifted.

"..."

Shin, who was about to take a step, suddenly stopped. He looked at Matsumoto Rangiku, who was bowing her head respectfully and gratefully, and his eyes flickered with uncertainty, a complex emotion churning within them.

"No need to thank me. I'm not just helping you, I'm doing this for the sake of the entire Three Realms. Gin Ichimaru is indeed a rare and valuable asset. Moreover, I'm someone who knows what he's been doing, so it's only right that I do what I should do."

【Favourability: 70】

After finishing his letter, as if drawn by some emotion, he involuntarily raised his head, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon of Seireitei. In that gaze was a trace of indescribable melancholy and感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing sorrow, regret, and reflection).

Matsumoto Rangiku lowered her head and continued, "I know, Captain."

Looking at her respectful and submissive posture, Xin suddenly grinned and let out a soft, enigmatic laugh. The laugh was gentle, carrying a hint of unfathomable emotion. Then, without another word, he turned and strode away from the barracks.

Inside the dimly lit underground prison.

With a heavy thud as the door opened, Shin waved for the Shinigami who was following him to step back, and then walked inside alone with Matsumoto Rangiku.

Then they saw Gin Ichimaru sitting in a small cell ahead, his hands and feet bound in chains.

"silver!"

Rangiku Matsumoto instinctively gasped and rushed to the iron railing.

Upon hearing the sound, Gin Ichimaru looked up, first glancing at Rangiku Matsumoto, and then at Shin. He still had his eyes narrowed, but his signature smile was gone.

"Yin, it's all over now. The Captain-Commander has ordered your release and even plans to send you to the Spirit King Palace for special training. It was all thanks to our captain's intercession that the Captain-Commander has cleared his suspicions about you. Yin, I know everything you've been doing all this time..."

Hearing Matsumoto Rangiku's words, Ichimaru Gin didn't react much, turning his gaze away and appearing even more silent.

"Any other questions?" Xin asked.

Gin Ichimaru gently shook his head: "No."

Matsumoto Rangiku was somewhat taken aback by his reaction: "Gin..."

Shin took out the prison key, opened the cell door, and then Gin Ichimaru stood up, the chains on his body making a heavy clanging sound.

Matsumoto Rangiku offered to help him up, but Ichimaru Gin remained calm and didn't even say a word to him.

(End of this chapter)