XX-level Hokage

Of course, it needs to be clarified that although it was a complete mess, it was not a disorderly chaos, but rather a chaotic yet orderly situation.

That's just how the Ninth Division is. Or rather, all work related to the editorial department is similar. What's giving Hisagi Shuhei a headache isn't the chaotic situation before him.

Instead, he was troubled by the situation that, literally, "someone saw Rukia Kuchiki at the Ninth Division's base."

Rukia Kuchiki mysteriously disappeared from the Third Division's prison, and her whereabouts remain unknown. Not only has she not been seen, but her body has also been missing.

Based on the current situation, there are two possibilities: they were taken away by a traveler or abducted by a mysterious third party.

Shuhei Sasaki believes that Rukia Kuchiki is a key figure and a crucial clue in resolving the current situation.

But he really didn't expect that this key figure would appear in the Ninth Division's barracks and be spotted by the Ninth Division's members.

Although he said he wanted the soldier who discovered Rukia Kuchiki to repeatedly recount the process of discovering Rukia Kuchiki, he used this almost exhausting interrogation method to repeatedly confirm all the details and force him to recall all the circumstances.

The truest truth is determined by comparing multiple records.

But before that, Shuhei Sasaki already believed that he had indeed seen Rukia Kuchiki.

Indeed, for 99% of the Gotei 13 members, no one knew who Rukia Kuchiki was before this incident.

Even though she is said to be a noblewoman of the Kuchiki family, she is ultimately just an ordinary member of the 13th Division. People outside the 13th Division may have heard of her name, but they have never actually seen her.

But don't forget what the Ninth Division is, and what duties it holds.

A keen grasp of information details and a sharp sense of situation are essential basic abilities for them. All of Rukia Kuchiki's characteristics, including her short, upturned hair like a swallowtail, her petite figure, and her deep purple eyes—information that might not even be taken seriously by other squad leaders even if distributed elsewhere—were firmly memorized by the members of the Ninth Division.

Once Rukia Kuchiki actually appears, they will immediately connect the dots. But it is precisely because of this that the current situation becomes so difficult to understand.

"What does Rukia Kuchiki's reappearance mean? Has she escaped from that mysterious third party?"

If that's the case, then why is Rukia Kuchiki, who finally escaped, not going to the 13th Division, the 1st Division, the 6th Division, or even the Kuchiki family, but instead wandering around the 9th Division?

Just because they're in charge of editing and publishing *Seireitei News*, they think they can get her on the front page? But the next issue of *Seireitei News* won't be out for another two weeks! Even if you didn't come, you'd still be making the absolute headline next time!

To be more serious, was Rukia Kuchiki actually hidden somewhere around the 9th Division? Or even inside the 9th Division?

But that's not right either. Even though we don't know you personally, we're practically from the same unit. Now that you're in trouble, in the Ninth Division, you can directly...

Why are you asking us for help?

Or was it that the person who captured her was actually someone from within the Gotei 13? Perhaps from the 9th Division? Is that why she couldn't be trusted? Or was she never controlled from the beginning, but rather part of a cooperative relationship? That's why she was able to move freely.

This would explain many questions about the previous statement, but the biggest question remains: what is Rukia Kuchiki's motive? Is it because she feels resentful and unfairly treated by the Central 46 and wants to rebel in this way?

But if she really did that, what would become of all those who had worked tirelessly for her? Compared to transferring power to humanity, betraying the Seireitei and the Tokishin world would be the greatest crime, wouldn't it?

And this is not even the final conclusion, but rather two possibilities that Hisagi Shuhei casually thought about, along with a host of questions that arose with these two possibilities.

Rukia Kuchiki's mysterious disappearance has brought about numerous problems and serious consequences.

Rukia Kuchiki's sudden appearance not only failed to solve the problem but also brought more problems.

It's also possible that Hisagi Shuhei overanalyzed things due to his professional habits. However, we can't rule out that possibility.

This is also why Hisagi Shuhei wanted Tosen to return and take charge. He could manage the investigation, which only aimed to control the situation and prevent any trouble.

If the investigation continues and measures are taken, Shuhei Sasaki lacks the confidence to handle the situation effectively. "That's true..."

Saki Shuhei let out a painful and helpless sigh. "There's nothing I can do if the captain doesn't come back..."

Even though it's painful, even though I lack confidence, even though I feel helpless, I have no choice but to grit my teeth and take this path now.

It's like having a deadline fast approaching but still not receiving the manuscript; you have no choice but to bite the bullet and figure out how to fill in the blank pages.

Chapter 115: Trouble (Part 1)

"I was there because my shift was about to start, and because I got the time wrong, I was going to be late, so I was the only one there."

We took a roundabout route that only a few of us knew about.

"Yes, I was the only one there at the time."

"I didn't talk to her, but I saw her face. Her features were exactly the same as Rukia Kuchiki in the intelligence report." "I was stunned for a moment, but I immediately reacted and chased after her using Shunpo."

"Yes, I couldn't catch up. By the time I arrived, she had already disappeared. I searched the surrounding area but couldn't find any trace of her, so I immediately reported it."

"I'm pretty sure that's Rukia Kuchiki."

Apart from a table and chair, there was nothing else, and the space wasn't large. This was the interrogation room of the Ninth Division.

The squad member who discovered Rukia Kuchiki's whereabouts is now undergoing his seventeenth interrogation, and extreme fatigue is evident on his face.

It's even gotten to the point where they know what questions are going to be asked before the person asking them, and they proactively answer them. "...That's enough, Vice Captain. There's no point in continuing to ask."

The side of the interrogation room utilizes a one-way glass provided by the 12th Division, allowing only those on the other side to see into the observation room, while those on the other side cannot see into this room.

One of the replaced recorders said to Hisagi Shuhei, who was standing with his arms crossed, with some reluctance. Hisagi Shuhei thought for a moment and nodded slightly.

Indeed, just as the recorder said, when you're this exhausted, there's no point in continuing to ask questions.

The recorder, having received permission, immediately left the observation room. A short while later, the door opposite could be seen opening. After the order was relayed, regardless of the current situation...

Both the field recorder and the team member being questioned breathed a long sigh of relief.

The team member, who was in a way even incredibly unlucky, immediately collapsed onto the table, unwilling to move.

By asking questions about a matter in a disordered order, sometimes focusing on details and sometimes on the overall picture, and repeatedly recording these questions, it becomes a form of interrogation.

This approach helps to uncover details and logical inconsistencies in the lies a suspect deliberately fabricates to conceal the truth, thereby deduce the truth. While the question here isn't about suspecting him of anything, the same interrogation method was employed to scrutinize every detail.

However, since they weren't criminals and were all on his side, he cooperated quite well, which is probably why he's so exhausted. Hisagi Shuhei guarded his gaze, focusing his attention on the records of the first sixteen attempts that were already laid out to the side.

Because the matter is very simple, it's just a matter of eyewitness accounts. Even with different methods of questioning, there won't be much to record or explore. Having reviewed all the records, some details and logical errors can be found, but that's to be expected, since unless...

Every detail was taken into account from beginning to end. A lie fabricated in advance could not possibly be without any errors.

Therefore, preparing too perfectly beforehand to deal with this type of interrogation is itself a mistake.

When it comes to this particular team member, most of the errors in details and logic were due to vague memory mistakes, while some had developed into self-doubt, where he questioned whether what he had said was actually correct.

The matter is simple: the squad member took a shortcut and found Rukia Kuchiki on the road. Although he immediately called out to her and came closer, she had already disappeared by the time he got close.

Looking at the whole story of this extremely simple matter, the problem wasn't with the squad member, but with Rukia Kuchiki herself.

If you only see a person's back, there's still room for discussion. But if you see their facial features, there's very little room for argument.

However, we can't rule out the possibility that someone might be impersonating Rukia Kuchiki. But the same question remains.

Why? "Vice Captain."

There was a knocking sound and calls at the door of the observation room.

"Enter."

Shuhei Saki put down his notes and turned to look at the door.

"I brought some people back, but probably not as many as I expected. The First Division won't release them." "I understand."

As expected, Shuhei Sasaki nodded.

This wasn't the same soldier who had shouted "Go to the First Division and get the captain!" before, but another soldier who had been reluctantly assigned to the role and was subsequently dispatched to the First Division by Hisagi Shuhei.

This soldier's mission was to bring back the Ninth Division soldiers who had been transferred from the First Division. The First Division had now completely become the wartime intelligence exchange center within the Seireitei.

The sources and transmission of information mainly rely on the Hell Butterfly, the Inner Garden Team, and the Technology Development Bureau. However, the processing of this intelligence is mostly done by the members of the Ninth Division.

Or rather, the members of the editorial department of Seireitei News.

Hisagi Shuhei never expected this. He was usually grateful for Leng Qing's support and cooperation with their "Seireitei Newsletter," and she never caused any trouble such as missing deadlines. But he never expected that this was what was waiting for him.

They had already taken a liking to these editors' information processing abilities, and the moment the situation occurred, they directly issued an order through Tosen to transfer everyone away.

In other words, the core of the current Ninth Division is missing.

The trouble started with the Ninth Division, whose personnel were indispensable, so they had to go to the First Division to request more people.

However, before that, Hisagi Shuhei realized that it would probably be difficult, and that the situation of the First Division was definitely more important than the situation of the Ninth Division.

Bringing back even a portion of the people is already a pleasant surprise. Perhaps it's because Tosen is going to be overseeing things there. "Vice Captain..."

Just before the soldier was about to leave, he looked conflicted. Under Hisagi Shuhei's furrowed brow, he decided to speak.

"There's some very strange information." "What information?"

"It seems Rukia Kuchiki has appeared in more than just our Ninth Division's barracks." "What?"

“The Third Division, the Fifth Division, the Seventh Division, the Tenth Division, and our Ninth Division all have reports of witnessing Rukia Kuchiki appearing.”

Saki Shuhei's brows furrowed even deeper.

"So, it's not just a problem for our squad? Is the situation similar to ours?" "Basically the same."

"What on earth is going on?"

A slightly painful groan escaped Hisagi Shuhei's lips.

"Go to the First Division and get information. We need the exact time when Rukia Kuchiki appeared in these divisions to deduce her movement route." This was a logical and obvious line of thinking.

Hisagi Shuhei believed that the Ninth Division members on the First Division side had already done it. However, since the same information was coming over, processing it again on his side might reveal something.

However, the team member's expression became even stranger. "What's wrong?"

Hisagi Shuhei's expression darkened as he realized there was a problem. "Could it be that they think this is important information and are unwilling to share it with us?"

That would be going too far. Using people from the Ninth Division, yet keeping their information secret from them—what does that mean? "No, it's not like that."

The negative answer eased Hisagi Shuhei's expression slightly. But his expression immediately tightened again.

"There's no way to analyze it." What did you say?

There's no way to analyze it because Rukia Kuchiki didn't appear in different squads sequentially along a single movement path. According to reports from each squad, while there were slight time differences, they were all within the acceptable range. In other words, the current conclusion is that Rukia Kuchiki appeared simultaneously in all the aforementioned squads.

"What on earth is going on?"

Chapter 116: Trouble (Part 2)

Simply because I didn't know what else to say besides that sentence.

"...What should we do, Vice Captain?!"

Hisagi Shuhei, suppressing the urge to take on the task, steeled himself as always and said, "We can only consider other things after we've dealt with our own situation. We have to take it one step at a time. Let's go to the site according to the original plan and see if we can find any useful clues."

Rukia Kuchiki didn't just appear in the 9th Division; she appeared in multiple divisions, including the 9th Division.

This kind of intelligence is inherently absurd; not only can it not yield any useful information, but it also raises more questions.

They were confused and couldn't figure out the direction of the investigation.