The Weight of Command

In the grand meeting hall.

All the captains of the thirteen court guard squads bustled. In a straight line, twelve figures stood in austere stillness, their presence casting an imposing aura over the assembly hall.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stood at the end of their divided line. Beside him sat his lieutenant, Chōjirō Sasakibe, his expression unreadable.

"We convene to address crucial matters," Yamamoto's voice crackled through the hall, drawing the attention of the other captains. "First, the appointment of a new captain for squad ten."

Eyes flickered towards the youngest figure among them, Tōshirō Hitsugaya. The child prodigy of the Soul Society, with his spiky white hair and piercing turquoise eyes, carried himself with an icy composure that belied his age.

"Captain Hitsugaya," Yamamoto continued, "your skills in zanjutsu, kidō, and strategic acumen, despite your youth, are undeniable. Your service to the thirteen court guard squads has been exemplary. Therefore, it is with great confidence that we accept you as the new captain of squad ten."

A ripple of approval swept through the assembly. Shunsui Kyōraku, captain of squad eight, placed it in his heart that Tōshirō would undoubtedly surpass everyone in a couple hundred years.

The newly appointed captain stepped forward, bowing. "I am honored, head captain." His voice, though young, revealed his determination.

Yamamoto nodded. "Now, the second matter. A grave one." His visage darkened. "For the past several months, disappearances have plagued the lower districts of the Rukongai. Souls have been vanishing without a trace."

A murmur of concern rose from the captains. Such incidents, though rare, intrigued them.

"While the frequency is low," Yamamoto said. "Perhaps only one or two each month; the pattern bears a disturbing resemblance to the disappearances that occurred over eighty years ago."

He was referring to the Hollowfication experiments conducted by Sōsuke Aizen, who was present in the room, that went unnoticed. The hall fell into silence. The veteran captains, those who experienced those troubled times, wore expressions of grim recognition. For the younger ones, like Soi Fon, the tales of vanished souls and whispers of lurking horrors were all but forgotten.

"Captain Unohana," Yamamoto addressed. "Have the victims shown any common injuries, or anomalies?"

Unohana shook her head, her long braid swaying gently. "None, head captain. There are no signs. It is as though they simply ceased to exist."

"An interesting event," murmured Mayuri Kurotsuchi, captain of squad twelve. His voice was sibilant, laced with his usual morbid fascination.

"Indeed." Yamamoto's claimed. "We cannot afford complacency. Each disappearance is a wound upon the Seireitei."

"It must be Hollows!" declared Kenpachi Zaraki, the battle-hungry captain of the notorious squad eleven. His grin was feral, as if he were hungry for the thrill of combat. "Give me the word, and I'll hunt those bastards down!"

"Patience, captain Zaraki." Yamamoto's gaze was stern. "Hollow predations are brazen and leave traces of their spiritual pressure. This is different…"

"Perhaps a new breed of Hollow?" suggested Soi Fon, captain of squad two, and head over the Stealth Force.

"Unlikely," countered Mayuri. "Our squad hasn't detected any unusual spiritual activity in the districts affected."

Yamamoto conceded, saying, "The fact that we have no clues is the most troubling aspect. I urge you all to double your vigilance. Observe any anomalies in your divisions, any unusual occurrences in the Rukongai."

The captains exchanged uneasy glances. It was clear there was a hint of apprehension among them.

"I'll be selecting captains and their subordinates to observe a few of the lower districts," Yamamoto instructed. "Gather information, however insignificant it may seem. We must piece together these disappearances and uncover the force behind them."

One figure had remained conspicuously silent until now. "Head captain," Kaname Tōsen said, the blind captain of squad nine with a staunch belief in justice. "Whatever threat we face, the thirteen court guard squad stands ready to defend the Seireitei and all who reside within it."

His words seemed sincere, but he was likely trying to gain the trust of the other captains since he was still in league with Aizen.

The meeting continued, with details of the investigation and contingencies discussed. But an undercurrent of unease remained, a lingering doubt lurking in the corners of the assembly hall. All of them understood that these random acts of disappearance left more questions than answers.

As the sunlight filtering through the high windows began to fade, the meeting concluded. The twelve captains rose, their figures each preparing to leave the assembly hall.

They dispersed, each returning to their respective divisions, carrying Yamamoto's final orders: "Maintain constant vigilance. The enemy is still unknown."

A heavy silence lingered after the last captain departed. Tōshirō, still adjusting to the weight of his new position, hesitated before approaching his superior. "Head captain, you mentioned disappearances eighty years ago. What exactly happened then?"

Yamamoto's weathered features seemed to age another century. A flicker of something akin to pain flashed beneath his stern facade.

"A time best left buried, captain Hitsugaya."

Tōshirō's curiosity piqued. So he said, "I understand it may be sensitive, sir, but—"

"It's best you not know," Aizen interrupted from behind. The calm smile etched across his face showed safety concerns for the young captain's interests. "The disappearances long ago crippled the thirteen court guard squads. In the end, we were able to bring the perpetrators to justice."

Tōshirō couldn't suppress his shiver. He couldn't imagine the events that took place at that time.

"It was an act of betrayal," Aizen lied.

Hitsugaya leaned forward. Betrayal? Among the captains? The very foundation of the thirteen court guard squads? It was unthinkable.

Yamamoto's grip tightened on his cane as he said, "The details were hidden away to protect the Seireitei's honour."

The three captains stood in silence for a moment until Tōshirō found his voice. "This is why you gave that order: because it could lead to something similar."

"We fear the worst because we've seen the worst," Yamamoto replied. "Whether this is a prelude to another betrayal or an altogether new horror... We cannot afford to be caught off guard."

Yamamto strolled away, leaving the captains to perform their duties. A feeling of speculation plagued Tōshirō's senses. Aizen, seeing this, said, "Captain Hitsugaya, the earlier captains faced this trial and prevailed. Now, it falls to us to do the same."

Tōshirō felt the weight of his new position sink deeper. He wasn't just the captain of a division anymore—he was a guardian of the entire Soul Society, of a home he'd sworn to protect.