Chapter 29

In the dreadful silence of a sparsely decorated wooden room, a cane thumped against the floorboards and created an audible bang that gathered everyone's attention.

The room itself was noticeably damaged, splintered wood and cracked walls letting in small rays of sunlight that shone over a somber mood.

"If everything is in order, then let this meeting commence."

Yamamoto stared with his eyes towards the two rows of Captains that stood before him, his expression hard to read.

The Seireitei had had a major upheaval, and the effects of it was something that Yamamoto predicted would last for several generations. More so when he considered the number of Shinigami that were either injured, killed, or lost their moral. It was like a decisive blow that aimed at the gut. Not enough to kill, but more than enough to hamper.

The old days were gone, it was now a time of change.

Yamamoto closed his eyes, and when he opened them once more, a furry like none before seemed to settle upon him.

Every Captain before him visibly flinched, Shunsui tipping his straw hat further over his face while none of the other Captains dared meet Yamamoto's gaze.

Of the Captains present, four were missing. Aizen Sousuke, Gin Ichimaru, Kaname Tousen, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi. In the case of Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Yamamoto had already received a report that explicitly explained that the man was in the process of recovering from a life-saving liquifying drug. Therefore, Mayuri had a reason for his absence, but the others were what truly angered him.

They had betrayed the Soul Society.

The grip Yamamoto had on his cane tightened until the knuckles of his hands grew white.

"Shameful!"

A strong shout, one able to vibrate within one's chest.

It was both admonishment and disappointment towards both the Captains in front of him and the Captains absent.

"Those three traitors aside, were the lot of you so weak that you could not even hamper the enemy's movements? Where has all your training gone?" Yamamoto criticized.

No Captain answered in rebuke.

The times had been peaceful and the majority of the hollows that invaded the Soul Society were near zero. Never before had an invasion by hollows ever occurred since the founding of the Seireitei. As such, the blades of the Shinigami had grown brittle and dull in Yamamoto's eyes. For his was a time where there was no such safety as the Seireitei. Instead, it was a time rife with violence and blood.

Yhwach, monarch of the Wandenreich, Father of the Quincy.

And the Vasto Lordes of Hueco Mundo.

The enemies that threatened to annihilate the Seireitei's very existence,

All now lacking in the current era of peace that Yamamoto and those with him had ushered in.

"War, many of you have yet to experience it," Yamamoto began quietly, his head angling up. "The battles of myself and the Seireitei's forefathers that established the Seireitei for what it is today, a realm of tranquility, peace, and order. Admittedly though, mistakes were made."

The silence that stretched across the room was only echoed by the blank expressions on the other Captains faces. They knew that as Captains, they had failed to live up to their duties in the face of an enemy attack, and this was evident by the staggering number of injured or dead. None dared speak.

The silence that followed was stifling.

"While we bided our time taking pride in our victory in the war, it has become evidently clear that the Vasto Lordes of Hueco Mundo have far surpassed us in their tenacity to grow stronger." Yamamoto's expression became further inscrutable as he then turned his attention towards Unohana who sighed.

"Head-Captain," Unohana bowed her head.

Yamamoto nodded before once more opening his mouth to speak.

"You were still young then Unohana, but do you recall the number of Vasto Lordes present in the past era?" Yamamoto spoke loud enough for all Captains to hear his voice.

Subsequently, all gazes shifted towards Unohana who didn't seem to show a reaction other than a dourness in her presence.

Her mouth opened, a tiny whisper exiting past her lips, and the nearest Captains sucked in a breath of cold air.

"Four," Unohana whispered again, this time loud enough for her voice to carry across the room, causing all Captain to visibly tense.

"Indeed," Yamamoto acknowledged. "Four Great Vasto Lordes that ruled the hollows beneath them like sovereigns. It was from them alone that the Seireitei was able to document and ascertain that the combat capabilities of a Vasto Lorde are greater than those of the captains of the Court-Guard Squads."

Yamamoto once again fell silent before his gaze lowered to the floor.

"And now, one Vasto Lorde alone had a power that equaled or surpassed all four of those Great Vasto Lordes combined."

Yamamoto's admission was spoken after careful deliberation on the matter. Each of those past four Great Vasto Lordes held a power similar to a fourth of his own at his peak. After having faced the Vasto of White, Yamamoto was already certain of the danger that that hollow represented. For that hollow's power was near Yamamoto's own not solely because of spiritual energy, but because of capability.

The swords that appeared in the sky on that day would never be forgotten by any Shinigami who had seen it. Nor would they forget the hollow who stood at the front of a charge to pierce a line directly through the Seireitei.

"The Vasto of White," Byakuya said in disbelief. "Is he really that strong?"

Unlike most of the Captains present, Byakuya hadn't fought in the battle with the hollows and had instead confronted Aizen with nothing to show for it other than more injuries. Even now, beneath his Haori were several bands of wrapped bandages and a splint to help mend broken bones.

Yamamoto lifted his head and stared at Byakuya, causing the man to reign in his momentary outburst.

Incidentally, Yamamoto wasn't the one to answer Byakuya's question, but Toshiro Hitsugaya instead.

"More than you'd know," Toshiro answered, the action aggravating his injuries and causing him to flinch.

Rangiku who was supporting Toshiro immediately frowned as the hand she had around Toshiro grew damp, the white cotton wrapping his chest steadily shifting red.

"It's alright Rangiku," Toshiro said through gritted teeth after noticing Rangiku's expression. "I can stand on my own."

As Rangiku was about to protest, she stopped after seeing the stubbornness in her Captains actions. Any protest may lead to an outburst that may harm him further. Therefore, she closed her mouth and slowly made her way to stand with the other Lieutenants of the Court-Guard Squads.

Taking a moment to glance at Yamamoto to see if he could speak, Toshiro received a small nod for his efforts, allowing him to speak his mind.

"I fought him," Toshiro said while grimacing from the pain racking through his body. "It's not only his spiritual energy, but the abilities he has at his disposal. Even now I'm being affected by it. This wound that won't heal."

Unohana had informed Toshiro that no matter what she did, the wound itself wouldn't close regardless of the type of healing Kido used. It was something she described as a curse, some foul energy clinging to the wound that forced away any type of healing energy. Unohana had become somewhat distressed as a result but was still able to staunch the bleeding in time to save Toshiro's life. If the wound itself would heal properly, only time would tell. For other than healing naturally, Unohana was out of options.

"The weapons he used," Toshiro said slowly to Byakuya. "They were Zanpakuto, some even our own."

Byakuya's neutral expression faltered, his lips thinning as his eyes widened.

Impossible,

Was the first word that came to mind, but looking at everyone's somber attitudes, that conclusion was unlikely. Thus, there was only one question to ask.

"How?"

Zanapkuto were extensions of Shinigami's soul. For a hollow to possess one, it was simply too hard to believe.

Toshiro's mouth opened and closed, he himself being unsure with how to answer like many of the others in the room. Instead, every captain subconsciously shifted their attention towards the one deemed the most knowledgeable.

Yamamoto Genryusai.

"His eyes," were the first words Yamamoto spoke while placing both hands over his cane. "Before those weapons and our very own Zanpakuto appeared, the pupils of his eyes would immediately dilate and contract upon sighting our swords."

This was an observation only Yamamoto had been able to make due to his prows and experience as the Head-Captain able to catch the smallest of details.

"Thereafter, our Zanpakuto were created from out of thin air," Yamamoto said seriously.

"Then they must have been fakes?" Byakuya reasoned.

Yamamoto and those present at that scene at the time shook their heads despondently, Soifon grimacing.

"Fakes they may be, Captain Kuchiki, but the connections we felt from them couldn't be faked. At that time, those truly were our Zanpakuto," Toshiro said, face paling from the effort of both forcing himself to stand on ceremony and speaking fluently. "I fear that so long as we use our Zanpakuto against the Vasto of White, he has the ability to undoubtedly copy them. Captain Zaraki should be the best example of this."

Singled out by Toshiro, Zaraki Kenpachi didn't even seem to react as the man himself was lost in contemplation. The shock of seeing the power of his own Zanpakuto astounded him, but at the same time it made him realize that for once, it may not be so bad to learn its name.

Seeing that Zaraki wasn't going to help in his explanation, Toshiro could only frown and do nothing else.

Still, Byakuya understood Toshiro's point and wordlessly acknowledged Toshiro's words with a nod. However, none of the two could understand the implications of Toshiro's words better than Yamamoto.

"Those remaining Captain who have not yet faced the Vasto of White, by my orders, do not reveal your Zanpakuto in his presence lightly," Yamamoto said. "We do not know the extent of this copying ability of his, but it's for certain that giving him more power to use is out of the question. A hollow like the Vasto of White who is not only strong, but versatile will be the greatest enemy the Soul Society will ever face. And don't forget, the Vasto of White isn't the only Vasto Lorde we have to deal with. Seven others have already been confirmed, which is three more than the previous four Vasto Lordes of the past era."

Saying that, a weariness seemed to exude from Yamamoto that shouldn't have had appeared on an old man of his age.

This was a problem for the newest generation of Shinigami, but the old just couldn't stand idle either.

"We do not know what the hollows will do now, but I hope you take this previous battle as a lesson and increase the intensity of your training. Our enemies will only grow stronger, and to remain as you are now, is to stagnate."

Yamamoto thumped his cane against the ground, creating a dull noise that caused Jushiro Ukitake out of his daze from brooding.

"This matter aside, there is another matter of concern. Aizen Sousuke, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tousen."

Rangiku's body shuddered for a moment when Yamamoto spoke of Gin's name, but she hid it well from those around her.

Byakuya on the other hand tensed as a murderous intent flickered through his eyes.

"They are traitors without a doubt," Byakuya said coldly.

Yamamoto inwardly agreed with Byakuya's statement but didn't bother showing any outward response. It was more imperative for him to find out what those three's motives were.

And at that time, the doors to the Captain's meeting room creaked open, a purple-haired woman in an orange over shirt with two white straps entering the room. Around her waist was a large beige sash that was tied neatly around her. She sauntered in without a care for the hard gaze Yamamoto was glaring at her with, and leaned her back against a wall, her arms crossing beneath her chest.

"Yo, Head-Captain," she greeted, a smirk rising over her face.

"Yoruichi Shihoin," Yamamoto said irritably. "We are in a state of urgency, and if not for this, you wouldn't be able to do as you please after unceremoniously leaving your post as a Captain."

Yoruichi shrugged.

"Then by all means, go ahead and continue," she said, gesturing with a hand. "But please Head-Captain, I know you understand me well enough to know that I wouldn't risk coming into your presence for no reason at all?"

Yamamoto deliberated for a moment before ultimately coming to a decision.

"Speak," he said.

Yoruichi nodded, and at the next moment, any airs of nonchalance she once had disappeared to be replaced by a growing solemnity.

"Well then Head-Captain, how much do you know of Aizen Sousuke?" She asked.