Chapter 25:
-The next day-
Toshiro let out a heavy sigh as he stood atop of Sokyoku Hill. Smoke could be seen covering majority of the divisions and most of the building either burning or completely gone. The ones that weren't destroyed were used to heal the injured and multiple shinigami could be seen running in and out with wounds of their own. He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice when Rangiku appeared next to him. She had a bandage wrapped around her head and a cast wrapped tightly around her left arm.
"Everyone who isn't injured is at the Thirteenth waiting for you." She said what a small smile. But it was completely missed as Toshiro's attention was glued to her fairly minor injuries. He knew that she was alright but he still hated to see her hurt in anyway.
"Hai." Was his only response after a long stare before he and his lieutenant headed towards the meeting.
-Thirteenth Division Main Office-
The room was filled up with every captain and lieutenant besides Byakuya and Ash. Tensions were very high and everyone repeatedly glanced at Hitsugaya and Urahara for either on to come up with some kind of plan. But it seemed that they were waiting for a certain raven haired man to arrive, and he did.
Ash walked into the room with his usual expression but had a few minor injuries himself. His neck and left arm were covered in several rings of very deep burns and his haori was once again missing it's left arm. Most of his right arm's bandages were burnt away as well.
His calm eyes scanned around the room and he quickly noticed several things. The first begin that Kisuke had one of his arms in a sling and his visible torso were covered in bandages. The other thing being that Soifon had her stinging insignia in the dead center of her forehead, giving the illusion of an eternal scowl.
"So. What's the plan?" Ash questioned as he closed his eyes. He heard someone gulp but ignore it as Toshiro began talking.
"Well due to Kisuke's reiatsu sensors and cameras, we know that the rogue zanpaktous have to be hiding somewhere in between the Seireitei and the Fifth Rukongai district. We have sent several teams of third seats to investigate but each one came back empty handed." Toshiro said as he cleared his throat. There were several murmurs that arose.
"The reason they never find anything is because they're dealing with an enemy that can't be caught. Think about it, they can change back into swords at any moment." Ash added.
"Yes but from the information we've gotten from Haineko, they're leader is apparently named Muramasa. His plans and reasons are currently unknown." Toshiro said as he unconsciously touched the empty shell that was Hyorinmaru. The room once again went completely quiet with only the sound of fire crackling begin heard from a distance.
"I have a plan." Kisuke said with a nervous expression. "It involves Ash." Aforementioned man raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Ash we need you to lay low for a while." His words caused everyone's eyes to go wide.
"Why?" Ukitake quickly questioned. "We need him on the front lines."
"Hear me out. Kuro Enkei has the ability to neutralize any zanpaktou, right? So maybe we can use that to our advantage." Kisuke said with a smirk hidden by his fan.
"Ha! Kisuke, I thought of that and it won't work." Ash said with a dry chuckle.
"It will. A zanpaktou is a true representation of one's soul. We know you Ash. Even some of your abilities and powers. So if she is basically you... we should know what to do." Soifon whispered out. Ash didn't respond, he just hung his head in shame. Everyone stared at Ash in slight shock. Toshiro noticed his brother's discomfort and cleared his throat rather loudly.
"Besides any of that, we really do need Ash to stay here Kisuke. I really don't know what we could or should do." Toshiro said as everyone felt an unknown presence on top of Sokyoku Hill and wasted no time in getting there.
-Sokyoku Hill-
The one called Muramasa stood across from most of the Gotei 13 and had a smug smirk on his features all the while.
"I presume you're Muramasa?" Toshiro said in a tone that showed that he already knew the answer. The spirit just smirked and snapped his fingers and shocked the captains with the sudden appearances of their zanpaktou spirits. Only one was absent however.
"Why hello Gotei. I see that you already know my name." The leader of the rebellion spoke.
"Why are you doing this?" Rangiku wasted no time in asking.
Almost instantly the smirk feel off of Muramasa's face and got replaced with a nasty glare which seem to be directed towards the younger of the Shiro-chans. "You people use us as tools of war and destruction. Never once thinking of the consequences of abusing our power. You say you train only the strongest...but punish those who grow too powerful. But not anymore. We zanpaktou will rule a world without war but first we must eliminate the source." The brown-haired soul finished his speech with a glare straight into Ash's eyes. Ash remained completely cold the whole time and even began to chuckle.
"You fool. Do you even know what hell you just released?! Darkness is not something you control...its something you live with. Either you live with it or it consumes you." Ash had begun to release large amounts of reiatsu around himself like a pulse. "And you...just released the consumer." He finished as he lunged towards the group of zanpaktous with a flaming fist aimed for the leader's head. It was blocked by a certain icy dragon. Hyorinmaru and Ash stood in the middle of both parties until Ash smirked, which caused the ice elemental raies a brow.
The captain ducked and allowed god brother to fly over his head with a kick aimed at his sword's face. It was dodged and countered by a very power punch by Hyorinmaru that ; even though it missed its target, destroyed everything in its path. Ash took this opening to try and end the war before it began by killing Muramasa right there. He jumped towards the brown haired man with a blackened fist.
Only to stop midway when he and everyone else felt an explosion of reiatsu coming from behind the group of captains. The reiatsu felt incredibly familiar and even had the same density as the red eyed captain. They all heard a deranged female laughter and felt an awful amount of killing intent. A tan woman, dressed in all black appeared between both 'armies'.
"Everyone fall into darkness!" Kuro exclaimed as she was surrounded by a large pillar of black fire. Her murderous laugher being the last thing anyone heard before being enveloped by the flames.
Or so they thought...before Ash intervened. He held up one hand and shot forth his own black fire. The fire touched and instantly made a very large fireball that almost completely covered the skies above the Soul Society. By the time the fire had cleared and the dust had settled, the zanpaktous were no where to be seen or sensed.
"Everyone...keep an eye out for Kuro. If she is seen, do not intercept, do not attempt to talk to, do one thing and one thing only. Guys lets go home." Ash paused and began to walk away.
"Wait! What should we do if we see her?!" Yoruichi asked in desperation. Ash stopped and looked at all the Captain's faces out the corner of his eye.
"Run."