Starting with Kengan beating up the Pirate King

Chapter 208 Aizen Arrested
thump -- thump -- thump --

As the ringing bells echoed through Seireitei, no matter where one was in the Seireitei, all the Shinigami looked towards the direction of the First Division barracks, each with a different expression.

"W-What happened? What's that sound?" asked a young Grim Reaper, bewildered.

A veteran Shinigami explained, "That sounds like... the bell that summons all the captains! What happened? The First Division's bell hasn't rung for decades, has it?!"

"Does the Captains' Meeting mean... gathering all the captains who are in charge of different areas of Soul Society?!"

In the Fifth Division barracks, Hinamori Momo, though still relatively inexperienced, reacted immediately upon hearing the bell. Her wooden clogs clattered in the corridor as she rushed towards Aizen's room.

"Captain Aizen..."

"Ah, I heard you, Hinamori."

Wearing elegant glasses, Aizen stepped out of the room with a reassuring smile on his face, comforting Hinamori Momo: "The last time the captains were summoned was when Captain Hitsugaya was promoted to captain, so don't be nervous, Hinamori."

Although I haven't heard of any recent departures or even missing captains, something similar might happen. Don't worry, everything will be alright.

That gentle voice always calmed Hinamori Momoko's mind. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I was making a fuss over nothing. I'm sorry, Captain Aizen. Please hurry over there and don't be late."

"It's alright. If anything happens while I'm away, I'll leave the Fifth Division to you," Aizen said.

"Uh, yes!"

Watching Aizen walk out of the barracks, Hinamori Momo vaguely felt that Aizen's last words were a bit strange, and for some reason, she felt inexplicably uneasy. She walked to the entrance of the barracks and looked around.

Instead of seeing Aizen's back, an unexpected person walked over quickly.

"Peach, what are you doing at the door?"

"Nanao-nee?" Hinamori Momo exclaimed in surprise.

Holding a book, Ise Nanao smiled and took Hinamori Momo's hand, saying, "Perfect timing! I've found a really good book. Let's go, Momo, let's go to the library and take a look."

"...Huh?" Hinamori Momo exclaimed in surprise, "Now? But now... Doesn't Nanao-nee need to worry about the Eighth Division?"

"Oh right, the captain is calling a meeting." Ise Nanao slapped her forehead, as if she had just remembered, and said, "Something happened in the human world. Our Kyoraku captain went to the human world a couple of days ago and should have dealt with it pretty well, which is why we have this captain's meeting."

"Don't worry about it, let's go read first. By the time we're done reading, the team leaders should be back."

"Is that how it is? But..."

Hinamori Momo wanted to say more, but Ise Nanao had already pulled her away. The two were very close friends and book lovers. Hinamori Momo had a very gentle personality, and when Ise Nanao became assertive, she had no idea how to refuse.

Unbeknownst to Hinamori Momo, Ise Nanao quietly sighed.

'Is it really going to develop into the worst-case scenario, just as the captain predicted? Captain Aizen… he doesn't seem like that kind of person at all.'

……

"Captain Aizen!"

"Captain Aizen..."

On the other side, on the way to the First Division barracks, almost every Shinigami who encountered Aizen would greet him respectfully.

Aizen would always nod gently and slowly in response to their greetings.

Among the Gotei 13, if we were to name the captain most admired by ordinary members, perhaps only the genius boy Toshiro Hitsugaya could rival Aizen. Aizen was known for his diligence, politeness, and was also the Shinigami captain who most frequently taught young Shinigami at the Shinigami Academy.

It's unknown how many young Shinigami learned the name of their Zanpakuto when Aizen demonstrated his Shikai to them, and it's also unknown how many Shinigami received his kindness and help during their student days. Calling him a mentor is not an exaggeration.

How could such indigo dyeing not be popular?

"Captain Aizen, is it really okay to be so calm and unhurried?" As they were walking, a clear, youthful voice suddenly rang out from behind Aizen.

Aizen smiled and turned around: "It's Captain Hitsugaya. Yes, you may not know this, but the bells that summon captains can be fast or slow. The kind that rings more than nine times and is very urgent is an emergency summons by the captain. In all these hundreds of years, I've only encountered it twice."

"This is just a normal captain's meeting. We just need to get to the First Squad's barracks within half an hour; there's no need to rush."

"I see." Toshiro Hitsugaya glanced at Aizen's composed expression and frowned slightly. "How's Momoko doing lately?"

"Vice Captain Hinamori? Of course, she has always been my most capable assistant."

Hitsugaya nodded and said nothing more.

He walked alongside Aizen to the First Division barracks, both to guard against any unusual activity from Aizen and to observe him closely. However, Aizen's consistently calm and composed demeanor made him somewhat uneasy.

Finally, we arrived at the First Division barracks.

After taking off their shoes in the designated spot, the two pushed open the heavy door of the assembly room and found that almost all the captains had already arrived.

They stood in two rows according to their squad order, with the Captain-Commander standing in the center to the side. The strongest captains of Soul Society gathered together, and even without anyone releasing their spiritual pressure, their powerful aura was palpable.

"Captain."

After exchanging greetings, the two entered the queue.

Aizen turned to observe, then sighed with relief, saying, "Captain Kyoraku and Captain Zaraki haven't arrived yet? I almost thought Captain Hitsugaya and I were the last two." "No," the Captain-Commander, standing at the head of the table, said in a deep voice, "Kyoraku and Kenpachi have other missions. The summons for today is complete! Sparrow Club!"

As he finished speaking, the First Division Vice-Captain Sasakibe Chojiro pushed in a projector from outside. Aizen looked at the projector in surprise—the Captain-Commander was rather conservative and never really liked new things that appeared in the world.

The next moment, he seemed to realize that everyone's eyes were focused on him. He appropriately showed a hint of doubt, raised his hand to push up his glasses, and tidied the hair in front of his forehead.

Soon, the videotape began to play.

All the captains had seen it, but only Aizen's emotions were affected by the recording.

"This is... Hueco Mundo?"

"Why would Xu..."

Until the very end of the video, when Ulquiorra uttered the words "Lord Aizen," he suddenly showed a look of shock and disbelief.

"I?!"

"No, is it just a shared name or..."

His gaze swept over the captains, a mixture of realization and disbelief in his eyes. "You've all seen this footage already? Are you now suspecting Aizen?! ​​Captain-Commander, can I know where this video came from, or who's accusing me?! Why is this happening...?"

His tone was unusually agitated, but the agitation was just right—the kind of emotion one feels when wronged and doubted by colleagues.

Even though the Grim Reapers present were all experienced beings who had lived for hundreds of years, they couldn't find a single problem with his performance.

Seeing his expression, Mayuri Kurotsuchi seemed indifferent and eager to end things quickly, while Gin Ichimaru wore a half-smile. Sajin Kashiwamura stared intently at the details of Aizen's emotions, while Jushiro Ukitake frowned slightly in deep thought.

"Commander-in-Chief, everyone! I..."

thump—

The Captain-Commander tapped his cane on the ground, interrupting Aizen's 'argument,' and said in a deep voice, "So, you don't agree with this accusation, Aizen?"

"How...how could I possibly agree to this..."

The Captain-Commander nodded: "This accusation appeared half a month ago. And today, Byakuya Kuchiki and Kenpachi Zaraki entered Hueco Mundo and received a new accusation—Sousuke Aizen! Gin Ichimaru! Kaname Tōsen! The three of them colluded with Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin, who defected a hundred years ago and have been hiding in the human world, to conduct experiments on Visoreds and Arrancars, secretly control Hueco Mundo, and plot treason!"

As soon as the words were spoken, all the captains, except for Byakuya Kuchiki who brought back the information, showed surprise.

Their gazes shifted from Aizen to Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen.

Gin Ichimaru's fox-like smile vanished, and he scratched his head in annoyance: "Hey, I was watching a show, how did I end up seeing myself in it?"

Tosen Kaname's expression was blank, as if it were none of his business, showing no sign of guilt.

Baicun Zuozhen stared at him intently for a moment, trusting his friend, then turned and said, "Commander-in-Chief."

The captain raised his hand, interrupting Kashiwamura Sajin, and said, "This accusation is merely the result of Aizen Sousuke's baseless accusations in an attempt to clear his name. You need not take it to heart!"

"!!!"

These words implied that while the Captain-Commander did not doubt Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen, he had almost certainly condemned Aizen to guilt.

But right now, besides this video, we don't have any other evidence, do we?
Is it just in case?

In order to maintain stability?

Or is it for the purpose of a follow-up investigation?!

But this is so unfair to Aizen!

As expected, Aizen said excitedly, "Captain-Commander! I... I've almost never been to Hueco Mundo. You can't just rely on such an unknown document..."

"Aizen Sousuke, do you plead guilty?!"

"I……"

"Aizen Sousuke, do you plead guilty?!"

After the Captain-Commander repeated himself twice, Aizen seemed to understand that the Captain-Commander had made the decision of 'better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free.' He paused for a moment and said, 'Captain-Commander, I am sorry that Aizen cannot admit to such a crime. But I am willing to accept investigation, and even temporary detention.'

He gave a bitter smile, cupped his hands to the captains, and said, "I hope you will investigate this matter thoroughly as soon as possible and clear Aizen's name. Captain Hitsugaya, the affairs of my Fifth Division may be beyond the capacity of Vice-Captain Hinamori to handle alone. Please take good care of me."

Hitsugaya Toshiro frowned inwardly.

The others also felt wavering.

But just as someone was about to speak up and persuade the chief, the chief once again used his cane to support himself on the ground and made his decision.

"Satsube, seal Aizen's spiritual pressure and send him to the second level of the Central Prison!"

Is it only the second floor? That's alright.

Amidst the chaotic emotions of the captains, Aizen was taken away by Sasakibe without resistance.

(End of this chapter)