In Gin's opinion Kurotsuchi's plan was insane, but no one asked him, or they had, but they assumed his answer was based more on his own personal cowardice than any real reason. They might have been right, but he didn't think not wanting to be dead was cowardice so much as common sense. Obviously this wasn't a concern people like Kuchiki Byakuya and Zaraki Kenpachi had, but sane people, people whose life goals did not include going out in a blaze of glory, liked to consider their chances of coming back from a mission. Of course, Kurotsuchi wasn't concerned either, but Gin figured he probably had seven or eight backup copies of himself stored away somewhere in RD.
"What about Karakura?" he suggested somewhat desperately.
"What about it?" the scientist demanded suspiciously.
"There are sure to be some Arrancar running around there sooner or later; there always are," Gin said. "What with it being the center of everything, and I'm sure Aizen will want to send someone to check on Ichigo eventually. We can just pick up whoever he sends; don't have to bother with Hueco Mundo at all."
"We cannot depend on a random appearance by an unknown Arrancar in an area as large as Karakura," Kurotsuchi protested.
"You're pretty certain Aizen has a special interest in Ichigo," Kyoraku said. "But it was you he sent poor Rukia-chan to."
Gin shrugged. He supposed his betrayal could have distracted Aizen from his obsession with Isshin's son, but it seemed unlikely. For one thing, he doubted Aizen considered him a real threat. Unlike Tosen, he had been aware from the very beginning that Aizen considered them nothing more than useful servants. He had always seen himself of capable of rising to far greater heights than they could possibly reach. Gin believed that even now Aizen considered only Yamamoto as a possible equal, an equal to be beaten with the power of the HÅgyoku. But for reasons Gin had never completely understood, Aizen saw Ichigo as holding the potential to reach as high as he himself might. So, yes, he believed Aizen's obsession would continue. "I doubt he'll send me another visitor. He's made his point. Next time I hear from him will probably be my ending so I'm definitely in no hurry for that."
"Why are we considering such a small mission anyway?" Toshiro demanded. "It seems to me like every day we don't act is another day for Aizen to use the Hogyoku to increase his strength and his army. Why aren't we going on the offensive? We have eleven captains here and as many more captain class shinigami to fight with us. Shouldn't we attack now, before he's fully prepared? Taking the fight to Hueco Mundo would also enable us to keep the battle away from civilian populations both here and in the World of the Living. Acting now sounds to me like our best possible option. I don't understand why everyone else seems so determined to take things as slowly as possible."
"The young are always in a hurry," Yamamoto said, shaking his head.
"Young Captain Ichimaru makes a good point," Komamura said. "Aizen will grow stronger and when Captain Ukitake is recovered we will be at the peak of our strength. Too much delay will be far more beneficial to Aizen than to us."
"If only we knew what we were dealing with," Kyoraku said. "I'd like to take a crack at Kisuke. He doesn't much like sharing what he knows, and he's probably more than a little peeved at us for letting someone get ahold of Yoruichi, but maybe if I paid him a friendly little visit--"
"Don't drink so much you can't remember what you talked about," Soifon suggested.
"Hum, yes," Kyoraku agreed. "Will have to watch myself, not much point in going in the first place otherwise."
"I'm sure Lieutenant Ise would be willing to prevent you from overindulging," Kuchiki said dryly.
"She would; it's true," Kyoraku agreed. "But I'm not sure I'm comfortable bringing her to Karakura if there's a chance of running into an Arrancar. If Gin-kun's right Karakura could turn into a dangerous place. Perhaps we should send someone to keep an eye on it, someone both Kisuke and Ichigo would be comfortable working with."
"Oh, send Shiba," Gin suggested with a grin. "His family's been giving him all sorts of trouble. We really should give him a chance to go give Isshin a piece of his mind--and, you know, Ichigo and crew stayed with him while they were here, and he's been visiting Urahara for Ukitake for the past decade or two so he is a good choice--but I really would love to be there when he tells Isshin off for disappearing and sticking him with the responsibility for the entire Shiba family. He's got to be furious about it. You should have seen his face when I told him Ichigo was Isshin's son! It was priceless!"
"Be hard not to be a little annoyed," Kyoraku had to agree. "I'd like to hear the whole story from Isshin myself, but I suppose there are more important things to deal with at the moment. I suppose Kaien wouldn't be an awful choice; can't really think of anyone else. Ichigo spent his time with the lieutenants mostly, but they're all pretty busy at the moment, but if we're dealing with Arrancar anything less than captain class would be pretty pointless anyway. We might as well send Kaien if Ukitake can spare him."
"Lieutenant Shiba is one of our strongest lieutenants," Yamamoto said, nodding thoughtfully. "He should be adequate for the protection of Karakura, and neither Urahara nor Ichigo should have any objections to working with him. If there are any Shiba family issues that the Lieutenant needs to work out with his cousin that would not be an issue of discussion for the Gotei."
Gin did not even try to look abashed at the General's obvious rebuke. "Well, I, for one, would much rather go with Shiba than on Kurotsuchi's Arrancar hunt to Hueco Mundo, but if we are going, I think Shiro's right, and sooner is better than later."
"Once we have adequate information it may indeed be the case that we should force Aizen's hand," Yamamoto said. "Our next move will be determined by the information Kisuke is willing to share and whatever Kurotsuchi is able to learn once an Arrancar has been successfully captured for his examination. Until then it would be rash to take any major action. We do not know enough to make a wise choice."
Gin sighed, accepting that he wasn't going to be able to change their decision, at least not during this meeting. He obviously would have to come up with something later. He was not about to go to Hueco Mundo.