XX-level Hokage

He didn't earn the admiration of all the Grim Reapers, nor the respect of the nobles; all he received was the saying that good people are bullied and treated like fools.

It is precisely because he abides by the rules, and has no choice but to abide by them, that he was able to deceive them.

He was clearly the head of the Kuchiki family, one of the five great noble families, and should have been the most powerful one, yet he was the one most easily manipulated and controlled.

He couldn't even do what he wanted to do, and even when he was determined to break the rules, he almost failed to achieve his wishes. After that, Byakuya Kuchiki realized that he knew how to be flexible.

Since he insists on following the rules, and has no choice but to follow them, then fine, we'll just stick to the rules. Everything will be done according to procedure.

Chapter Sixty: A Clumsy Play (Part 1)

Anything not stipulated by law is permissible.

Furthermore, even serious crimes recorded in historical texts remain unresolved as long as the Central Bureau of 46 has not yet issued a final verdict.

A crime has been committed, but the exact duration of the crime is still unclear.

That's why he interrupted Rukia Kuchiki. Even though it was just him and Renji Abarai there, and no one else, he absolutely couldn't let Rukia Kuchiki confess before the verdict was handed down.

Kuchiki Byakuya was aware of what Ukitake Jushiro and Kuchiki Kyoga were doing, but he had no intention of stopping them.

Because they are also following the rules, just being a bit more forceful. Everyone is following the rules, so who is at fault, right?

If Byakuya Kuchiki weren't still so young, a little reserved, and somewhat burdened by his own feelings, he could have easily participated and offered an answer that no one could find fault with, embodying "visible justice."

"So Rukia, all you need to do is wait here for the final result. Don't do anything else."

Don't say anything unnecessary.

"So, that's how it is, right?"

Renji Abarai shrugged and said to Rukia Kuchiki in a seemingly casual tone.

Even Renji Abarai could see that the Central 46 Chambers were so tough, and even with pressure from all sides, it wouldn't end so easily.

Judging from the current situation, Rukia Kuchiki's fate is likely to be that she may escape the death penalty but will not escape punishment. The worst-case scenario is that she will be stripped of her spiritual power and Zanpakuto, banished from the ranks of Shinigami, and forced to live as an ordinary Shinigami.

From a certain perspective, it probably aligns with the expectations of her deceased older sister, Makoto Kuchiki, and Byakuya Kuchiki, who wanted to protect her.

Whether Rukia Kuchiki herself could accept it if things really turned out that way is another question. "Alright, that's why we came here today."

Kuchiki Byakuya nodded slightly, then glanced warily at Abarai Renji, as if to say, "Do you (Abarai Renji) have anything to say?" Abarai Renji scratched his head.

Before he came here, he had a lot to say to Rukia Kuchiki. After all, Rukia Kuchiki had been brought to this place and locked up as soon as she returned, and this was the first time he had ever seen Rukia Kuchiki.

But for some reason, after we met, I couldn't say many things. Perhaps it was because Byakuya Kuchiki was by my side.

After all, even if he had something to say to Rukia Kuchiki, he couldn't keep Byakuya Kuchiki waiting for him outside. Besides, this wasn't the Sixth Division's prison, where one could come and go as they pleased.

Thinking of this, Renji Abarai clicked his tongue slightly and said casually, "I don't have anything else to say. I'll come find you later if I think of anything else, Rukia."

"Oh dear, are you already leaving?"

Just as Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai were about to leave, a fourth voice rang out again.

You could tell who it was just from Qingtao's tone. "Captain Ichimaru!"

Renji Abarai immediately greeted Rei Ichimaru, who was approaching.

Gin Ichimaru casually waved his hand, indicating that Renji and Asan didn't need to be so formal. "We're getting ready to leave now."

Upon seeing Gin Ichimaru, Byakuya Kuchiki's expression softened slightly.

"Thank you so much for taking care of my sister this time." "Not at all, it's nothing, it's my pleasure!"

It was Gin Ichimaru, from the Third Division, who brought Rukia's news back to Soul Society from the human world. Therefore, it was only natural that the Third Division would continue to be responsible for her subsequent imprisonment.

On this side of the iron railing, only Rukia Kuchiki dared not move; the sight of Gin Ichimaru sent chills down her spine.

Seeing him greet Kuchiki Byakuya as always, and seeing Abarai Renji thank him so much, only she felt a sense of understanding that only she could see through.

The true nature of Gin Ichimaru is terrifying.

"However... there's something I need to tell you. You'd better be prepared."

Whether it was her imagination or not, even though Gin Ichimaru was talking to Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai, Rukia Kuchiki felt that he was looking at her. Those eyes, which were always narrowed and whose pupils were invisible, seemed to have slightly cracked open, and a terrifying glint of light spilled from those cracks, falling onto her.

On one's own body.

"It seems the Central Bureau of 46 is being pushed to the limit; they've issued their final order." "What?!"

Renji Abarai couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

Kuchiki Byakuya frowned as well. "What order?"

"It is announced that Rukia Kuchiki has committed a first-degree murder and is sentenced to death, and will be transferred from the Gotei 13 to the Central 46 for execution immediately." Wait, wait a minute, are you kidding me?!

Renji Abarai's eyes widened, and he even forgot to breathe, shouting in disbelief, "Although I usually like to joke around, I never joke about things like this."

Because Gin Ichimaru's tone was so nonchalant, it gave people a sense that it was hard to tell whether it was real or not. Byakuya Kuchiki's brows furrowed even deeper.

"Something's not right. The Central Bureau of 46 is acting a bit too hastily."

We are currently in a tug-of-war phase, meaning that although the atmosphere seems tense, and both sides even seem to want to smash each other's brains.

But in reality, it won't develop that way. In the end, both sides will take a step back and compromise to reach a conclusion that neither side will be satisfied with, but neither side will be completely dissatisfied either.

The tug-of-war and standoff is both a psychological and a power struggle. The loser in this struggle will lose everything. However, if both sides can hold out to the end, the process itself becomes an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of each other's forces and test each other's limits and trump cards.

The Central Bureau of 46's direct announcement of the final order, even demanding the immediate arrest of the person, is quite different from before. It exudes an absurd beauty, as if they've given up and are simply flipping the table.

Unlike the Central 46 that Byakuya Kuchiki knew as both powerful and weak, "I don't know about that."

Gin Ichimaru's calculations were extremely irresponsible.

"That's all I can do. The Central 46 will probably come to pick him up around dawn. Captain Kuchiki and Vice Captain Abarai, why don't you take this opportunity to say a few more words?"

[Urgent Notice!! Urgent Notice!!]

Gin Ichimaru was interrupted by a piercing alarm before he could finish speaking.

[A pilgrim has invaded the Seireitei. All divisions are to mobilize immediately to respond! To reiterate, a pilgrim has invaded the Seireitei. All divisions are to mobilize immediately...]

Mobilize forces to respond!

Both Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai were taken aback, and their expressions turned serious.

"...Oh dear...it seems you're quite lucky, Rukia~" Gin Ichimaru finally looked at Rukia and said softly with an unsettling smile.

"Based on wartime special orders, in order to prevent accidents, even if it is an order from the Central 46, if the prisoners are not transferred immediately, then..."

We can continue only after the danger has passed, which means you can stay as a guest here for a while longer!

"I wonder who exactly this treacherous traveler who invaded the Seireitei is?"

Chapter 61: A Clumsy Play (Part 2)

The moon hung high in the sky, the air was crystal clear, and the sky above the Soul Realm was incredibly beautiful, mysterious, and alluring. So, do we really have to act at this time?

In the darkness, among the group heading towards Seireitei from Rukongai, someone posed this soul-searching question.

"If we can infiltrate with the help of the Shiba family, we can do the same during the day, right? Why do we have to carry out this clandestine operation, making us look like some kind of shady character?"

"We're the kind of people who don't want to be seen in public, we're just smugglers!!" This was immediately met with a rebuttal.

"Uryū, you...you have such a bad temper. It's because your clothes were forcibly changed, isn't it? Didn't you dislike those clothes?" "Stop talking nonsense!! Even if I don't like them, they're still proof of my Quincy status! Damn it, once I'm infiltrated, I'll definitely find a chance to change them back."

Come.

"No, no way, you didn't bring your clothes with you, did you?!" "You two, shut up!"

Finally, a black cat, almost completely blending into the darkness and only slightly inferior to black people, let out a sound of unbearable frustration.

It struck the boy's head hard, causing the 15-year-old to let out a piercing scream. "Why did you only attack me?!"

There could be no one else but Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions, who had sought help from the Shiba family, advancing towards the Seireitei in the darkness. To enter or leave the Seireitei, one must possess a Seireitei Pass, something akin to identification.

Because the Seireitei is directly adjacent to the Rukongai, one can leave from any direction. Therefore, without taking certain measures, it is easy for someone with ulterior motives to sneak into the Seireitei.

Without a pass, anyone approaching the vicinity of the Seireitei would be immediately detected, and depending on the situation, a spirit barrier might even be lowered. Ichigo and his companions, of course, didn't have passes, but they had other methods.

That is to enter directly through the four gates located in the southeast, northwest, and southwest of Seireitei. Only these four gates allow direct entry without a pass.

However, there is a prerequisite: you must first defeat the guards protecting the gate.

Of course, this is all in the usual sense. The fact that Kuroko Yoru led Kurosaki Ichigo and the others to the Shiba family for rescue in a straightforward manner means that there was a simple and convenient channel to go through.

That is the channel of the Shiba family, which is located in Rukongai but still possesses the status of one of the five great noble families.

With the help of the Shiba family and some necessary disguise, it's easy to pass the guards' checks and safely sneak into the Seireitei.

Now, including Ichigo and the others, they have changed into ordinary clothes, or rather, the clothes of ordinary people in Soul Society, and followed Shiba Ganju, who was walking in front, directly to the White Path Gate located in the West Rukongai.

Ichigo is one thing, but he's wearing a Shinigami uniform. Without asking which squad he belongs to, you wouldn't even know he's a wild Shinigami.

The others, however, were out of place. Orihime Inoue and Chad were dressed too modernly, which clashed with the atmosphere of the Tokishin world. Even if there was nothing wrong with them, their unconventional attire alone was enough to attract attention.

Shi Youyulong was even stranger. In the Grim Reaper's main camp, he insisted on wearing the attire of a Fire Master, as if to emphasize his status.

Well, in the Soul Society nowadays, probably not many people still remember what Quincy are, so his outfit is even more embarrassing.

It looks exactly like some kind of cosplay.

Therefore, these three people, like Ichigo Kurosaki, were forced to change their clothes.

Ishida Uryu said he didn't actually like Quincy-style clothes, but he was still very reluctant to change them off. He even carried them with him, planning to find an opportunity to change back after infiltrating the Seireitei.

Even Yoruichi was helpless against him, so she just rolled her eyes and let him do as he pleased.

"Although our Shiba family still has the right to freely enter the Seireitei, the Shiba family's current situation is quite delicate, and we haven't been to the Seireitei for a long time."

A few people were making a ruckus behind them, their hands in their pockets. Suddenly, Shiba Ganju, who was leading the way, spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it was powerful, making it easy to notice.

“Even if we go to Seireitei on our own, it will easily attract the attention of the Shinigami, let alone if we bring you guys with us. That’s why we need to go in when the Shinigami are resting and only the Shinigami on duty are there.”

In other words, during the daytime, with people coming and going, even though Ichigo and his companions had changed into the attire of residents of the Soul Society, they would still attract attention because it was a rare sight to see members of the Shiba family entering the Seireitei.

By using the Shiba family's connections, it was easy to infiltrate the Seireitei, but because of the connection with the Shiba family, it was also easy to gain attention.

This is a double-edged sword with obvious advantages and disadvantages. But things are static, while people are dynamic.

They sneaked in at night when no one was around. As long as they could avoid the Shinigami on duty, no one outside the gate would know they had entered the Seireitei.

It can maximize strengths and minimize weaknesses.

"...But isn't it even more suspicious to insist on going in at night?"

Although Shiba Ganju's words made a lot of sense, Inoue Orihime thought about it and discovered a fatal flaw. She rested her index finger on her chin and spoke as she pondered.