Chapter 24 - Separate Paths
Land of Fire - Valley of the End
Hashirama stood with his arms crossed, overlooking the valley with Mito by his side. His long black hair billowed in the wind, as angry storm clouds brewed in the skies above. The air was thick with moisture, clinging to his skin with an irritating clamminess. It made him feel stifled underneath his armor. Beneath his feet was the newly erected statue of himself, face set in false serenity as it stood opposing a similar statue of Madara Uchiha. Each of their left hands rested on the hilt of a katana half their bodies in length, respectively, and their right hands were each raised in one half of a ram seal.
Madara's statue was nearing completion, though some lines still lacked the crisp definition present in his own. Even as the sun rose behind his back, the faint shadow of the moon was fading behind the Uchiha's likeness.
The blurriness of Madara's statue perfectly encapsulated his own perception of the man. The time had been when he could have sworn that he understood the Uchiha; a time when they had truly bared their guts to each other. He knew, because he remembered. But he was no longer certain exactly how long ago that time was, or specifically when things had changed. Just like the features on Madara's statue, the mind of the man was also no longer clear to him. Hashirama clenched his fists. His old friend and rival's statue would likely not be finished for some time, now, if ever.
"Forget him, dear…" Mito whispered soothingly. "You risked your life defending him from the Shinigami, and he repays you by mocking your ideals… And threatening all that we have strived to build. How could you still bear to call such a man 'friend?'"
Hashirama grimaced. "It's not that simple, Mito," he sighed. "Madara and I share the same ultimate dream; of that I have no doubt. He but mocks my methodology for attaining this dream." He pinched the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes shut as he shook his head sadly. "Regardless, it does not matter - not anymore. We can no longer hide behind the ignorant innocence of youth. If Madara tries to take the Kyuubi from you by force, or threatens our united Shinobi world, then I will be forced to kill him again. It's that simple."
"It's not like you to be so overconfident."
Hashirama chuckled, despite himself. "Madara is able to subjugate the tailed beasts with his ocular jutsu, but even during his attack on Konoha, believe me when I say that he was never seriously a threat. He had the Kyuubi clad in his perfect susanoo, and I still had no problem stripping away its armor and sealing it. That was without opening any of the chakra gates, and without my new mitotic regeneration, too."
Mito placed her hand on her stomach. The tailed beast within her did not appreciate Hashirama's casual dismissal of its power. She frowned, then, lending an ear to the Nine-Tails before voicing its concern to her husband. "The Kyuubi says that the Ten-Tails is on a completely different level of power, and that becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki will essentially ascend Madara to the level of the Rikudo Sennin."
Hashirama nodded. "I'm aware of that. All that means is we need to capture the tailed beasts first, and have them under our control before he returns for them. Then, if Madara wants to revive the Ten-Tails, he'll have to go through me before he can obtain any Jinchuriki. No matter how strong Madara may have become, fighting me as he is now is not going to end favorably for him."
A flash of lightning split the sky, followed by the deep rumble of rolling thunder. Hashirama paused, observing the clouds that were darkening even as he spoke. "He knows that, so as long as Madara does not obtain the Ten-Tails, he cannot defeat me - and to obtain the Ten-Tails, he must defeat me. As long as we can get to the tailed beasts first, there is no way forward for him. You see, Mito? We are safe." He wrapped an arm around Mito's waist as he saw the worry still wrought on his wife's face. "Don't worry. I will protect our Shinobi world. I swear it upon my life."
The two paused in their exchange as Hiruzen bounded up the cliff face and knelt behind Hashirama. "Lord Hokage. The preparations are in order, and the demands have been sent to the Hidden Cloud. Should we wait for their response, or…" The young Sarutobi trailed off.
Hashirama steeled his gaze. "No. I have it on reliable intelligence that the Two-Tails also wanders the Land of Lightning. We'll kill two birds with one stone by heading there first. Give the green light to march at noon."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!" Hiruzen said, and swiftly made his way back to the village.
"So soon, Hashirama? Why not give yourself some time to breathe and recover after your recent battle?" Mito asked.
Hashirama let out a heavy sigh, before turning to his wife. "We can't afford to wait. It will take a few months at least to reach every major nation on foot, and that's not accounting for the amount of time it will take to move each nation's populace."
"Move each nation's populace?" Mito asked, confused.
Hashirama smiled. "Yes," he said as he drew a map of the Elemental Nations out from the folds of his armor. "We take the Land of Lightning first, and then march west to the Land of Earth." He marked out the path with his nail. "Then we can move south, to the Land of Wind. Once we've secured the One-Tail from the Hidden Sand and their Kazekage, we will send emissaries to the remaining Kage, and to the minor nations before circling back home." His finger traced a path back to Konohagakure, in the Land of Fire.
Mito raised an eyebrow. "That's only half the Elemental Nations."
Hashirama facepalmed. "Yes, but based on what Isshin's told us, our child will be due in five months or so, give or take. I want the first half of this campaign to be over in three, before you become too heavy with child. If the stars align for us, the other nations will join our allied Shinobi forces once they learn about Madara's plan. If we can control the strongest nations, there should be no reason for the smaller ones to resist, anyway."
Mito smiled tenderly, placing a hand on her stomach. "I'm glad…" She wrapped her arms up around the back of Hashirama's neck, before leaning in and planting a kiss upon his lips. Hashirama held her by the waist, their lips remaining locked for a moment before he broke away. "What for?"
"That you don't see the child as a burden. Isshin told me that fatherhood can change a man. I guess he was right," Mito said bashfully.
Hashirama chuckled, and Mito continued; "What do you intend to do about the Shinigami?"
"Isshin and Ichigo said th-"
"Not them. The Shinigami up there," Mito repeated, pointing a finger upward.
Hashirama's expression darkened. "I don't know, yet. Right now, lets focus on the Elemental Nations, and leave them to Madara. Regardless of whether or not our ideals align concerning the Elemental Nations, I believe that he is an honorable and dependable man. If I understand him even half as well as I think I do, he won't initiate this Infinite Tsukuyomi of his until business is taken care of with the Shinigami." He turned his gaze upward toward the cloudy dawn sky, silently praying that he was right in his assumption. "The Infinite Tsukuyomi is his end goal, because the moment he initiates the genjutsu also marks the end of his own conscious life."
He was interrupted again, as the skies lit up with streaks of lightning. "He owes them pain more so than any of us, and he'll pay it back with interest on behalf of us all, before his eyes close for the final time."
As he finished, thunderclaps sounded out around them, and rain began to fall.
Dangai - Precipice World
"You're sure you aren't letting your emotions rule your words, Madara?" Harribel pressed. She had taken an instant liking to Hashirama, and seeing the two old friends part the way they did did not sit well with her. The Hokage had also helped her understand nature energy, and though she had yet to try it in battle, the potential of 'Sage Mode' was immense. "Why not ask Hashirama to help us with this Soul King business before driving him away with this talk of permanent dreams? As things stand, we have failed Lord Aizen's plan to recruit Hashirama."
Madara looked at her with an unreadable expression. Surprisingly, it was Orihime who answered Harribel. "I think… I think Madara wanted to keep Hashirama away from all of this. He's about to have a family, right? He can't be out waging supernatural wars against the Capital "G" God."
Nel laughed, her tender, high-pitched chortles echoing off the walls of the Dangai. "Is Madara really that considerate of a person?"
Orihime joined her laughter to Nel's as she replied. "Yeah! He saved us from Nnoitra, and he's saved me before, as well." Even Orihime was accustomed enough to this place to no longer mind the skeletal remains strewn around them.
Madara cleared his throat. "I am right here, you know?" He paused briefly, before smiling sadly at Orihime. "You think too highly of me. Mito and her future offspring hold no bearing in my decisions. I would want nothing more than to have Hashirama at my side when I storm the Seireitei, but..."
Orihime's smile fell immediately, and she grew serious. "You intend to attack the Seireitei?"
Madara chuckled. "How else am I going to wring the truth out of Yamamoto? Make an appointment?"
"I could help you arrange that," she offered, eliciting a loud bark of laughter from Madara.
"I'm done trusting anything arranged with the Shinigami. I will confront them on my own terms, and we will be prepared for any tricks they may have hidden up their sleeves," Madara spat.
Orihime frowned, however; "There are people in the Seireitei who haven't hurt you, though. Plus all the innocent people in the outer districts… You're not going to hurt them, right?"
Madara scoffed. "I'm aware of that, but any confrontation with the Seireitei will ultimately lead to a fight between Yamamoto and his Captains. I can't afford to be thinking about collateral damage when dealing with the Gotei 13. Yamamoto did not think twice before massacring the Leaf with his unrestrained reiatsu."
Orihime's expression grew somber. "...Why do people always have to fight?"
Nel gently placed a hand on Orihime's shoulder. "There are times when there can be no compromise, and conversation becomes meaningless. I don't like fighting, either, but for people with strength, what choice do we have? Hollows must feed on souls, and the Shinigami kill Hollows to protect souls. Yes, they call it 'purification' and 'reincarnation', but for the Hollow that is purified, their life, as they know it, is over."
Orihime pursed her lips at Nel's explanation. She understood, of course, but it didn't mean she liked it.
"So what can we do, but forcibly resist their 'purification'?" Nel asked, rhetorically. "The souls we consume as Hollows, we do so because of an instinctive compulsion. They too, have a life that ends when they are devoured by a Hollow. So who has the moral high ground here? The Hollows? Or the Shinigami?"
"But this is not about Hollows or Shinigami. This is about Madara's revenge for his village and himself," Orihime countered, turning to Madara. "You can break that cycle by not fighting, Madara. By choosing diplomacy instead of violence."
Madara shook his head. "You're wrong. I chose peace with Hashirama. I told you, when we were at Harribel's estate, remember? Look where that has led us."
"Because you changed your mind and decided to drive him away!" Orihime raised her voice, taking Madara aback.
Harribel walked up between them, then, gently placing a hand on Orihime's shoulder. "For as long as there are differences in opinion, there will be conflict," Harribel added. "When considering the cycle of our existence through those lens, Madara's 'Infinite Tsukuyomi' plan does hold significant merit."
Madara nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, Harribel. Do you understand, now, Orihime? Such is the reality of our pitiful existence. The innocent souls I spare today will become mighty warriors of tomorrow that perpetuate this cycle of hatred. They will grow up being indoctrinated by the Shinigami, and their prejudice against Hollows will be passed down to the next generation. That is the brutal truth of realit-"
"You're wrong!" The petite, orange-haired teenager was in the presence of three spiritual titans, any of which could have ended her with a thought, but the forcefulness of her words locked all three into stunned silence.
"My world is different. We haven't seen a large-scale war in three generations. There is no cycle of hatred. Nobody even knows about Hollows and Shinigami and what not… If you want to put everybody into an endless dream where their living bodies will eventually starve to death, then…" Orihime steeled her gaze, clenching her fists by her sides. "I will stand against you."
The silence between the group stretched on a moment longer, as Madara considered his next words. "Orihime. You are too young to understand-"
"If I walk away right now, back to Ichigo, what will you do?" She challenged.
"Just yesterday you said that because you were my fraccion, my business was yours. Are you so quick to renege on your word, Orihime?" Madara shot back.
"...Your justification is too backwards, and I've learned that you are a far more bitter man than I thought. I want no part of your Infinite Tsukuyomi, and I don't need the protection of a murderer. I'm heading back-"
Harribel opened her mouth to speak, but Madara beat her to it. "You will not, Orihime. Hashirama is my enemy. I cannot allow him to gain an asset as useful as you," Madara said calmly, his voice devoid of all emotion, but the threat was clear to all to hear.
Orihime did not back down. "I'm going back... To Ichigo," she whispered quietly, turning her back to the others and slowly walking back the way they came.
"You will stay your ground, girl." Madara's voice was dangerously low, as he increased his reiatsu.
The auburn-haired girl did not respond as she continued walking. There was a slight trembling of her legs with every step, but no flames incinerated her, and nothing obstructed her path as she drew further away. Madara, Harribel and Nel did not move as Orihime slowly faded from view.
"I'll go with her," Nel said, leaving no room for argument as she took off in the same direction.
Harribel turned toward Madara. "We didn't recruit Hashirama, and now you've let Orihime go… Lord Aizen is-"
"Shut up," Madara snarled shortly. Harribel recoiled at the brusqueness of his command, but obliged.
"...Sorry." Madara sighed as he relented. "I will not initiate the Infinite Tsukuyomi until I have the truth about the Soul King. If Aizen wants to maintain my allegiance, he will accept what has happened, and give me the answers I seek regardless."
"If you're not going to go through with your Infinite Tsukuyomi until after, why not work with Hashirama for now against the Shinigami? We can still go back-" Harribel was cut off by a wave of Madara's hand.
"No. The Infinite Tsukuyomi is… Look, I have my reasons for doing what I do." He sighed again, shoulders slumping forward slightly. "Please… Just let me have some peace and quiet. I need to gather my thoughts." With that, the duo set off again down their initial path. Madara was spaced out at the front, setting an uncharacteristically slow pace as Harribel considered all the recent developments with a concerned expression. She had learned more in the last few weeks than she knew what to do with.
When Madara showed her his past, she thought she had found a kindred spirit within the Uchiha. Now, however, she found that there was more depth to the man than she had thought. She didn't know whether she should try to delve to the bottom, and perhaps help him work through his thoughts, or if she would be drowned by the weight of his burdens.
She did, however, know there was certainly a lot more to Madara than he had revealed. To have accumulated such a bleak outlook on life in just a few decades… Just what kind of life has he led? She thought to herself as they walked. Maybe he could get along with Ulquiorra. I should introduce them properly.
"Are you sure it's not just pride talking, Madara? Sure that you're not going to regret all of this, later?" Harribel asked after some time walking in silence.
Madara glared at her, but did not answer. She took the hint, and the two continued their unspoken pact of silence until the walls of the Dangai began to echo with a distant screech.
"Madara-" Harribel began, but the Uchiha had already stopped, and assumed a battle stance. "I hear it. It's that Kotetsu thing again, isn't it?" He asked, glancing back toward her.
The Tres Espada nodded. "Quickly, we can't afford to waste any more time here. The exit isn't too far away." She dashed past him as she spoke.
Madara nodded, picking up his pace as well, before pausing and speaking. "We have a problem."
Harribel started. "What's the matter?" She asked, but her question was answered as she saw a glimmer of light directly ahead. "Why is it coming from that direction?" In the linear chamber of the Dangai, it was difficult to pinpoint the exact direction a sound was coming from, but they could not mistake the headlight mounted atop the Kotetsu.
"It's blocking our path," Madara stated. "If we touch it, we'll get thrown to a different point in time, is that correct?"
"Yes. Lord Aizen has cautioned all the Espada to avoid physical contact with the Kotetsu when traveling via Garganta."
Madara frowned, activating his Rinnegan. Two copies of himself materialized before him, darting forward toward the Kotetsu. As they approached, they seemed to flicker and disappear.
Madara scowled. "Wood style: Deep Forest Emergence!" He declared, summoning forth a mass of roots to ensnare the Kotetsu. To Harribel's - and his own - surprise, the cleaner of the Dangai was stopped in its tracks, straining against Madara's wood style but unable to break free.
The Uchiha crossed his arms, a pleased smirk on his face. "That thing wasn't so tough."
Harribel eyebrows shot up. "The Kotetsu should be immune to Shinigami and Hollow reiatsu…"
Madara shrugged, "Well, it's not looking very immune at the moment. Let's go," he said, as they weaved their way in between the roots of Madara's wood style, taking care not to make contact with the cleaner.
Soul Society - Rukongai
Captain Commander Yamamoto was old; he was the playful subject of many jokes related to aging in the Seireitei, and had been for centuries. Even those who knew him before the formation of the Gotei 13 remembered him as a balding man growing long in years - and that was over a millennia ago.
At first glance, people who were not acquainted with the Captain Commander could be forgiven for underestimating his mental capacity. Despite his age, however, Yamamoto was no fool. He had remained the Captain Commander of the Gotei 13 for the simple reason that he was still the most powerful Shinigami outside the Royal Guard, and his instincts were razor sharp from over two thousand years of military experience.
The Seireitei ran extensive background checks on all their seated members, especially those promoted to Vice Captain or Captain status. The oversight with Aizen was only due to his Kyoka Suigetsu's yet unknown shikai ability of complete hypnosis. Since his betrayal, all known associates of the traitors had been placed under covert surveillance by the stealth force.
Rangiku Matsumoto was no Aizen, and she had only made a token effort in concealing her grief at Gin's betrayal. Her century-long history with Gin had led to Yamamoto flagging her as a potential person of interest, and Soi-Fon's respect for the Head Captain only increased as she lay silently atop the snowy roof of a decrepit Rukongai shack. Rangiku had just walked into it, after looking around for anybody tailing her. The Squad 10 Vice Captain had checked over her shoulder more than a few times on her way to the Rukongai, and Soi-Fon was on high alert as a result. Whatever the Squad 10 Vice Captain was doing here, she did not want anybody knowing. It was unfortunate that she was unaware of the Stealth Force's fundamental rule - always be above the target you're tailing, as people almost never look directly up.
It was only through decades of grueling training that the Squad 2 Captain remained absolutely silent, even as she heard the unmistakable sound of a Garganta screech into existence in the rustic shack beneath her. She pressed her ears close to the roof, very carefully extending her reiatsu downward, taking the utmost care not to give herself away.
"Gin," Rangiku's voice called out, and Soi-Fon felt her heartbeat pick up in tempo. That one word, spoken with a mixture of sorrow and longing, was confirmation enough for her to arrest Rangiku. She had snuck off to meet with the traitor, and seemingly had no intention to report it. Could I defeat both Gin and Rangiku? She thought to herself. It would be easy to kill them, but I have to incapacitate them instead. They must have valuable information… Damn it. I should have requested reinforcements. She silently fished out her soul pager and sent a message to Omaeda. She doubted the oaf could even track her out here, but it was worth letting him know what she was up to, lest something happen to her.
"Thanks for coming, Rangiku," Gin said. "As much as I'd like to stay and chat, I'm gonna have to keep this short; Aizen's cooked up an idea to train his Espada, and Madara's awakened an even stronger power than he had before."
"Why did you call me here?" Rangiku said. "I'm sure there are more direct ways you could get this information to the Head Captain. Izuru, for one."
"...Dunno. I guess I just wanted to see ya?" Gin said, after a brief pause.
"Drop the childish act." Her voice was firmer, now. "You caught me by surprise last time, so I forgot to ask, but when you left with Aizen and Tosen, you told me 'I'm sorry.' What did you mean by that?"
The pause was longer this time, until Gin finally spoke, so softly that Soi-Fon could barely make out the words. "I was sorry that I had to leave again. It always annoyed you when we were little, so I just thought I'd apologize."
"Then why? Why did you leave, Gin?" Rangiku's voice was pleading.
A dozen lies instinctively danced around the tip of his tongue; he had readied many explanations and excuses for Yamamoto, for his Lieutenant Kira, and for the other Captains, but he held his tongue. Of all the people he had ever known, Rangiku was the only person he had never outright lied to. Yes, he had hidden many things from her, but he had purposefully never answered a direct question of hers falsely. He was not about to start now. "So I can make Aizen pay... For what he stole from you that day."
"Aizen... stole something from me? What day? When? What are you talking about, Gin? Can you please stop being so cryptic and mysterious for once and just talk straight?!"
Soi-Fon was frustrated that she couldn't see their facial expressions. Words alone were only a small part of communication, after all, but the inflection in Rangiku's voice and the wavering of her reiatsu indicated that she was genuinely confused. Soi-Fon frowned. Is this supposed to mean that Gin was never actually on Aizen's side?
"Don't worry about it, Rangiku," Gin said. "I'm already a traitor to the Seireitei. No use dwelling on the past that we can't change, right?"
"Why are you so averse to just speaking your mind, Gin? What are you afraid of-"
"Madara has become an Arrancar." The former Squad 3 Captain continued, cutting her off. "As things stand right now, I would place him close to the top of the Espada in power."
"That's impossible... I overheard captain Kyoraku saying that Madara had been neutralized."
Gin shook his head. "It appears he's been misinformed."
Soi-Fon was not a specialist in interrogation, but she had learned to identify the fluctuations in an individual's reiatsu when they were lying. Gin's was showed none of the tell-tale signs of deceit. In fact, what she could feel from his reiatsu had all the indicators of... fear? She frowned again. She was one of the only Captains who had yet to personally witness Madara in battle. On one hand, her training and upbringing told her that it was impossible that a mere Hollow could genuinely warrant the amount of caution Yamamoto was giving it. On the other hand, however, she had been one of the first people to rush to Yoruichi's bedside when she'd heard she had been injured by the Hollow. It had also defeated Captain Komomura in single combat.
She clenched her teeth as she recalled the comatose state her former Captain and liege had been reduced to, and silently renewed her vow to kill Madara Uchiha. It didn't matter how powerful the Hollow was - two stings from Suzumibachi, and he would be but a distant, unpleasant memory. With a start, Soi-Fon realized her reiatsu was rising. She caught herself and suppressed it as quickly as he could, thanking the Soul King as he heard Gin continue talking. It seemed like her momentary lapse of control had gone undetected.
"I'm going to be leading four of the lower ranked Espada for a skirmish here as part of a training exercise," Gin was saying. "I'll bring them right here in another two days' time, so inform the old man and make sure the Captains are ready to engage immediately when the time comes."
"Training exercise?" Rangiku asked.
"Aizen wants them to have some experience fighting Captains, while he trains the stronger ones himself." There was a slight pause, and then his voice sounded out again. "I believe we can use this opportunity to rid ourselves of some of Aizen's most valuable subordinates… Don't you think, Captain Soi-Fon? Shinso."
As Gin spoke the name of his zanpakuto, the God Killing Spear shot upward, piercing the roof of the shack directly next to Soi-Fon's face. To her credit, the Squad 2 Captain did not give any indication of surprise. She reacted instantly, righting herself and drawing Suzumebachi. Almost as quickly, Gin carved out a neat, cylindrical hole in the ceiling, before jumping through it with a shunpo. Contrary to Soi-Fon, he did not assume any guard. Rangiku followed shortly behind him.
"C-Captain Soi-Fon?" The auburn-haired lieutenant asked, incredulously. "How…"
"Did you think you could fool the Captain Commander, Vice Captain Matsumoto?" Soi-Fon asked with a smirk. A thin film of sweat had formed along her forehead, despite the freezing weather they were in. In this part of the Rukongai, snow fell almost year round. "He tasked me with tailing you since the unsanctioned Senkaimon was opened in the Squad 3 barracks. A gag order regarding the event was placed on all who reported it. We figured it would be him." She spat as she turned back toward Gin. "So you're a double agent, working for us all along. Is that what you expect me to believe?"
Gin chuckled. "Believe whatever you want to. Everything you just heard is the truth. Your only job now is to deliver the information to Yamamoto like a good dog. Have two Captains per Espada, and you will be able to deal with them without trouble… Maybe three if you're one of them."
Rangiku clucked her tongue in annoyance as Soi-Fon's expression hardened. "Gin…" Rangiku sighed; "Must you be so… abrasive all the time?"
The Squad 3 Captain shrugged. "Run along, now, Captain Soi-Fon." He leaned forward, making a shooing motion with his left hand.
Soi-Fon laughed. "You think I'm going to let you get away after you so brazenly turned up here? Whether or not I believe your words is irrelevant. The Captain Commander will be the one to decide that once you've been delivered to him, beaten sufficiently-" She was cut off abruptly and Rangiku stiffened, drawing in a sharp breath. Soi-Fon saw a glint in the middle of her vision. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she shifted, and realized that the razor thin tip of Shinso was mere inches away from the bridge of her nose. So fast…! She thought to herself, leaping up with a shunpo.
"Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi!" She declared, then cried out in alarm as pain erupted in her right shoulder. In her vision, the long blade of Shinso flashed briefly before swiftly retracting behind her. She looked over her shoulder, in time to see Gin disappear. Damn it… I need more time to activate my shunko, she thought, her mind racing to find a way out of her predicament.
The former Squad 3 Captain appeared behind her with a flash step, before expertly placing her into a rear naked choke. "Rangiku… Please escort Captain Soi-Fon safely back to the Seireitei. She does still have a report to make, after all."
"Why, you-" Soi-Fon began, before being silenced as Gin applied more pressure to her neck.
"Gin… Just what are you trying to do?" Rangiku pleaded as she approached the two. "Let her go, and come back with us. If you explain things properly-"
A pained expression flicked across the former Squad 3 Captain's features, before he turned away. "Sorry Rangiku; nothing short of delivering Aizen's head to the Head Captain has any chance of absolving me of punishment." He released Soi-Fon cautiously, opening up a Garganta in the air before them as he did so.
"Don't try to come after me. You've probably realized by now, but the tendons in your right shoulder have been severed. You're useless right now," Gin warned as he turned to leave. Walking by Rangiku, he placed a cold palm upon her chest, pressing a crumpled bit of paper into her cleavage before stepping through the Garganta. Rangiku blushed, but did not say another word as she retrieved the note and read it.
Hueco Mundo - Las Noches
Madara and Harribel stood before the throne of Las Noches. The air was thick with tension as Sosuke Aizen gazed down upon them, radiating killing intent.
"Welcome back." Aizen spoke first, his voice laced with ice. "I expected there to be a few more with you."
Madara scowled. "Hashirama will not be joining us. Forget about him; he's grown soft at the idea of becoming a father."
Aizen raised his eyebrows slightly, before narrowing his eyes. "I see. What about Orihime and Nelliel?"
Harribel stepped forward, bending down to one knee and bowing her head. "Lord Aizen. Orihime did not approve of the constant fighting-"
"So you let her go?" Aizen's voice was calm, but dangerously low. As his spiritual pressure increased, Harribel found herself fighting for breath.
"N-Nelliel is with her. She is going to try and convince her to-"
"Nelliel... The former Tres Espada who, despite still drawing breath, chose not to return to Las Noches-"
"Lord Aizen!" Harribel stood despite the spiritual pressure bearing down on her. "She was attacked by Nnoitra in this very castle; she-"
"I am perfectly aware of that. But she lived, did she not? Yet she decided to remain in hiding, like a coward. Are you saying you agree with her actions, Harribel?" Aizen said as he slowly stood.
Harribel's eyes widened. "You knew?" She breathed; "Then why didn't you punish Nnoitra?!" She cried, stepping forward and instinctively reaching for the hilt of Tiburon. In an instant, Aizen was before her, gripping her sword arm tightly and forcing her to her knees. Harribel cried out in pain, and Madara's eyes widened at Aizen's speed.
"Do not speak to me in such a tone, Tier Harribel. You have failed your mission, and you have leaked vital information to the Shinigami about our Espada. For these transgressions, I hereby sentence you to-"
Aizen was interrupted as Madara's hand shot out, closing around his wrist just as Aizen had done to Harribel. "Letting Orihime go was my choice," Madara said. "And I have a few questions for you, that you will answer."
Aizen pulled against Madara's grip, narrowing his eyes when the Uchiha did not budge. The three of them remained still for a few tense seconds, before the Lord of Hueco mundo released Harribel and broke into laughter. Madara released him, too, before planting his feet squarely into the ground, facing Aizen directly. "I want to know about the Soul King, Aizen. What is he, and why do you want to kill him if it's going to destabilize all of existence?" He steadily increased his own spiritual pressure as he spoke.
Aizen shook his head slowly as his laughter subsided. "Tread carefully, Madara Uchiha. You may be my ally, but do not make the mistake of believing you can threaten me with such pitiful reiatsu."
Madara scowled, as Aizen continued; "Where, pray tell, did you learn about this particular piece of information regarding the Soul King?"
"Isshin Kurosaki."
Aizen raised his eyebrows. "Isshin Kurosaki? How did you happen to come across that man…?"
"Answer my questions, Aizen; what will happen to my people once the Soul King is gone?" Madara pressed.
"Tell me what Isshin has said-"
"And allow you to spin your story however you like?" Madara scoffed, "No. You will be honest with me, and I am going to ask the same of Yamamoto. If your explanations do not align, there will be hell to pay. You do not want to suffer my wrath if I were to uncover any attempt at deception."
The Lord of Hueco Mundo locked eyes with Madara briefly, and a flash of fear darted across Harribel's features as she thought the two were about to come to blows.
But then Aizen relented. "Very well, Madara Uchiha. I shall tell you about the Soul King. However…" He frowned, glancing toward her as he spoke. "I would appreciate you both addressing me with some modicum of respect. You are under my roof, in the presence of my constituents, after all."
Madara crossed his arms. "You can earn my respect with your honesty."
Aizen again shook his head lightly, before sighing. "At some indeterminate point in history, eons ago, the Soul King was likely a man, not unlike you or I. He possessed immeasurable reiatsu, such that to this day I still cannot fathom how he was defeated."
Madara frowned deeply. "Defeated?"
Aizen nodded. "He is not the ruler of Soul Society, as Isshin or Yamamoto might have you believe. A mere husk, dismembered and sealed, the current Soul King exists as a battery bank, farmed for eternity by the Zero Division that purports to be his 'royal guard.'" Aizen's voice grew bitter as he continued to speak. "That is the true nature of the thing in the sky that presides over all of existence. Its power, immeasurably potent as it is, is nonetheless stagnant, exploited against its will to force us all into the endless carousel of this cycle of physical and spiritual - life, death and rebirth."
Aizen held out a palm before them, forming two glowing orbs of reishi that slowly swirled around each other, leaving a thin trail of blue in their wake. "We live, we die, and we are reborn to live again absent the cherished memories we had formed. It is a truly depressing existence, is it not?"
Madara contemplated Aizen's words. Nothing he had said so far had contradicted Isshin. In fact, both of them referred to the Soul King as some form of power source. "You say he was dismembered, and sealed…? If this 'Soul King' is so powerful, who - or what - reduced him to such a state?"
Aizen released the orbs swirling in his palm, lowering his arms to his side as he looked up to the ceiling of Las Noches. "Your guess is as good as mine. I would hypothesize that it certainly wasn't any individual. Most likely some ancient organization, whose existence is now lost to the passage of time."
"...How pitiful," Madara mused, crossing his arms, before turning a suspicious look at Aizen. "So what role does Karakura town play in all this?"
The Lord of Hueco Mundo looked amused at the question. "The Soul King's palace can only be accessed by one who holds an 'Oken;' a 'King's Key.' To create one, I require the aid of 100,000 souls. Karakura town shall serve me those souls."
And with that admission, Madara suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for Ichigo and Orihime. They were not dissimilar to himself and the other young shinobi of the warring states, fighting for the sake of their own town. "Your path to peace is paved with blood," he remarked, though Aizen scoffed at the accusation.
"Blood? The sacrifice of a mere hundred thousand souls will lead to the liberation of billions. Karakura is but a small town; it will be forgotten before long." Aizen's gaze fell upon Harribel, who quickly averted her eyes. She was not quick enough, however, to hide the distaste evident within them.
Aizen considered commenting on her apparent disapproval, but then decided it was not worth his time, as Madara spoke again.
"One hundred thousand is a small town?" The Uchiha asked, incredulous.
"Yes. There are megacities with populations that number in the tens of millions in the world of the living," Aizen replied smoothly. "Every single one of them is an oblivious soul that I will set free from the shackles of the Soul King. How many people live in the towns in your Elemental Nations, Madara?"
"A few thousand, at most."
Aizen looked toward Harribel, who nodded to affirm Madara's words, and he decided to entertain her qualms after all. "Does it pain you, Harribel, that innocent souls must be sacrificed for the Oken?"
The Tres Espada nodded slightly.
"Then mold that pain into anger, and direct your anger toward the Soul King. Without him, there would be no need to create the Oken - no need for such needless sacrifice of souls. I but walk the path laid out by the Soul King. The entrance to his palace is impenetrable to those who do not possess an Oken. That is an immutable law that even I must follow."
"Suppose you get your wish, Aizen. You become the new Soul King, exterminate the Shinigami, turn all Hollows into Arrancar, and create your perfect world here in Hueco Mundo," Madara began. "Where does that leave my world, the Elemental Nations? Does the Soul King's influence extend there, as well?"
Aizen thought for a moment, before saying, "I honestly don't know, but If you want your Elemental Nations untouched, then it shall be so. I'm sure with the omnipotent power of the Soul King, I would be able to spare whatever I desire."
Before Madara could respond, another voice rang across the room. "Oh, am I interrupting?" Gin said nonchalantly as he strolled into the room. He did not wait for a response before continuing. "The preparations are in order, Captain Aizen. We can move at your command."
"New plan, Gin. Madara will go with you. He has a few questions for Yamamoto, and his power should come in handy. Bring Starrk as well, in case you need the extra firepower," Aizen ordered.
The silver-haired man turned toward Madara, his head cocked at a slight angle, before shrugging and saying, "You're the boss, Captain Aizen. Let me go find Starrk. When do you want us to leave?"
"Nightfall. Catch them by surprise. There is now a primary objective for this training exercise. Madara has allowed Orihime to escape." He paused, as if inviting Madara to challenge the assertion, but continued when the Uchiha remained silent. "Begin by searching the Seireitei. If she cannot be located, ascertain her whereabouts, but do not engage any Captains in battle unless you are certain you can kill them."
Gin's head remained cocked, and he made an inquisitive expression, prompting Aizen to elaborate.
"We have to be careful that any wounded are not brought to Orihime to be healed, but should still take advantage of any opportunities to weaken the Seireitei's forces. Gather the invading force in this throne room in 12 hours' time. I will brief you all on the mission, then."
Gin nodded, accepting the explanation before walking away.
"You were planning your own attack on the Seireitei so soon?" Madara asked, surprised. "I had thought you would at least wait until we returned before making plans to that end."
Aizen waved a hand in dismissal. "This is only a brief skirmish; a training exercise to gauge the effectiveness of my Espada, if you may, as well as keep the fear fresh within the Seireitei. In the week since you dispatched our former Quinta Espada, it has occurred to me that the Espada rankings require a review. It is only by chance that now Orihime has almost certainly fallen into the hands of the enemy, and needs to be retrieved with haste."
"The week? Does time pass differently here in Hueco Mundo? The fight with Nnoitra was only yesterday. In fact we've barely been gone for two days." He looked toward Harribel for confirmation, and she nodded.
Aizen raised his eyebrows. "No, time flows equally across all realms, to my knowledge, except in the Dangai… Did you come into contact with the Kotetsu?"
Understanding dawned upon Madara's face, then. "We did. It blocked our way back here, so I restrained it and we took care not to make contact with it as we made our way past."
Aizen's moderately surprised face morphed into outright disbelief, now. "You restrained the Cleaner of the Dangai? The Kotetsu should be immune to any Shinigami or Hollow interference… Does that mean he has become a transcendent being…?" Aizen trailed off, lost in thought.
"A transcendent being?" Madara asked.
"Forgive me, I was thinking out loud." Aizen laughed it off. "You likely experienced some mild time dilation while in close proximity to the Kotetsu. I would advise against doing anything like that again in the future. If the Kotetesu ever blocks your way again, open a Garganta to exit the Dangai, then re-enter at a different point to skirt around it. I should have informed you of this before you left."
"I'll keep that in mind." Madara nodded, though he was still confused regarding the time dilation phenomenon.
"Go, rest and recover. Bide your time until tonight. Harribel, stay. I have some questions for you," Aizen ordered as he dismissed Madara.
Madara shared a confused glance with Harribel, before shrugging and leaving the throne room, though he remained just outside the entrance of Las Noches. He felt oddly protective of the Tres Espada. She was one of the first people he had met since becoming a Hollow, and though their initial run in was quite violent, they had been through enough that he could comfortably call her a 'friend.'
As he ruminated in his thoughts, he suddenly noticed another presence nearby.
"Come out, Gin. I know you're there," Madara demanded, folding his arms across his chest.
The former Squad 3 Captain emerged from the shadows, letting out an exaggerated hum of approval. "Very perceptive, Madara Uchiha."
"What do you want, Gin, and why sneak up on me like this?" Madara demanded, drawing his zanpakuto.
Gin held up his palms in a gesture of surrender. "I just wanted to catch up, is all. You got no objections to joining our little excursion to Soul Society?"
Madara narrowed his eyes. "Should I?"
"That's not for me to decide. I'm just a little worried you might attract too much attention-"
"Save your breath, Gin. I'm going, one way or another. Alone if I have to." Something about the silver haired man irked him. His aura reeked of deception. The less time spent talking to him, the better, as far as Madara was concerned. He turned his back and began to walk away, but Gin cut in front of him.
"Do you believe in Aizen's goal, Madara?" He asked, keeping his voice low.
"Oh?" Madara uncrossed his arms, letting his left hand drift to the hilt of his zanpakuto in warning. "And what if I don't?"
Gin smiled, backing away slightly. "Relax, I just wanted to know where ya stand in Aizen's plan, is all," he said, before vanishing with a shunpo.
Madara frowned. I need to keep my guard up around this man, he thought, as he waited for Harribel.
Soul Society - Seireitei, Squad 1 Barracks
"You are certain of this?" Head Captain Yamamoto growled as he listened to Isshin's report. The former Squad 10 Captain had just finished recounting Madara's plan to put his entire world's populace under an illusion, and none of the Captains present - save Zaraki Kenpachi - appeared to be in high spirits.
"Yes. Madara is not one to mince his words. He says what he means, and he means what he says," Ichigo added. Standing beside the Kurosaki's were none other than Orihime and the former Espada, Nel. They had convinced her to join the meeting with Yamamoto to learn more about the Soul King, and she had helped corroborate the details of Madara's recent evolution to an Arrancar, as well as his subsequent revelation of his Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Shunsui Kyoraku let out a soft whistle. "Hey, old man… I think now is a good time to tell you, but about Yoruichi and Urahara's coma… They actually left for the Soul Palace three days ago to petition the Zero Division for aid. The bodies in the Squad 4 Barracks are gigai."
The Captain Commander turned his head slightly toward Kyoraku, who kept his eyes glued to the floor. "Kisuke Urahara…" Yamamoto began slowly, "...Was correct in his decision to contact the Zero Division."
Captain Kyoraku's eyes snapped up to meet his old mentors in surprise.
"If Madara has grown as powerful as you say, and both he and Aizen are aligned in obtaining the Soul King's power for themselves, the Zero Division must be warned of this," Yamamoto continued. "His quick thinking may save us all."
"Urahara's 'quick thinking' has made you all mortal enemies of not just Madara, but Hashirama. We tried to talk him into joining this conference, but he could not be swayed. The grievances he has sustained from the Shinigami are deep, and that man is not to be underestimated," Isshin said darkly. "The Elemental Nations is no more than a large island. It will not take long before he unites it. When he does, he will turn his attention elsewhere, and I would not believe for a single, naive moment that he has forgotten about us."
"Yeah," Ichigo agreed. "He understands that not everybody in the Seireitei or Soul Society is evil, but from his point of view… Let's just say he doesn't mind if you all died. At least that's what he said to Madara before they parted ways."
Yamamoto grunted. "Let us focus on the matter at hand. We should consider ourselves fortunate that Hashirama did not join with Madara and Aizen. Captain Soi-Fon."
At the Captain Commander's behest, the Squad 2 Captain stepped forward. "Earlier today I tailed Vice-Captain Rangiku Matsumoto of Squad 10 as she left the Seireitei. She entered into the outer districts of the Rukongai, where she rendezvoused with former Captain Gin Ichimaru." Hitsugaya grimaced. He had already been informed, of course, but it didn't make it any easier to hear the words spoken out loud. His own lieutenant, who he had grown up with and considered one of his closest friends, had not trusted him enough to tell him about her plans. She chose to associate with that traitor over reporting his attempt at contact to him, her captain.
"Former Captain Ichimaru revealed plans to lead four lower ranked Espada to a skirmish in the Seireitei; he claimed that Aizen wanted his Espada to have some experience fighting captains." Soi-Fon paused as a drone of murmurs wafted throughout the room.
"Let them come. Nozarashi thirsts." Kenpachi's particularly distinctive voice cut through the din.
The murmurs quieted down as Yamamoto tapped his cane against the floor, and Soi-Fon continued; "After a short exchange of blows with Gin, he escaped. I then apprehended Rangiku with the help of my Lieutenant Omaeda, and a thorough search of Lieutenant Matsumoto's person revealed a piece of paper, which our analysts have confirmed bears Gin's handwriting."
She fished the strip of paper from her shihakusho, and read out loud: "If you can, there is a grove not far from the roadside where we met. Find me there after sunset tonight."
The room was silent, until Zaraki Kenpachi sniggered, before bursting into laughter. "He's bringing the Espada to the Rukongai? How considerate of him. Maybe there I can properly let loose without worrying about paying for property damage."
"More important," Byakuya spoke up, "Is whether or not Gin is on our side? Why leak this information to Lieutenant Matsumoto? And how did you escape him?" He addressed that last part to Soi-Fon.
The Squad 2 Captain narrowed her eyes. "You believe me incapable of dealing with that snake?"
"You and I were both trained by Yoruichi. I know exactly what your capabilities are, Captain," Byakuya said bluntly. "I just find it strange that you either escaped or fought him off after losing use of your sword arm."
Captain Ukitake motioned for Byakura to step back as he spoke. "Despite Captain Kuchiki's tactless delivery, his concerns hold merit. Gin allowed you and Rangiku to live. There is no arguing that. The real question here is 'why?'"
"Should we allow Rangiku to meet Gin at the location outlined in his note, then?" Captain Kyoraku asked.
"No," Yamamoto declared firmly. "Captain Kurotsuchi. Interrogate Lieutenant Matsumoto. You have until sundown to extract the location of this 'grove' Gin is referring to by any means necessary. Once you find it, inform me immediately. I will deal with that rascal personally."
"...Any means necessary?! Wait-" Orihime began, but Yamamoto spoke over her. "This is now a matter of internal affairs for the Gotei 13. It does not concern you." And with that, the video conference was cut.
Soul Society - Rukongai Outskirts
With each passing minute, the anticipation in Gin's chest rose, until he could hear his heartbeat hammering in his head. He was in his reiatsu concealing cloak, camouflaged within some bushes. It was just like a hundred years ago, when he saw Aizen and his men steal that part of Rangiku's soul, permanently stunting her potential as a Shinigami.
Things were going south, extremely quickly. There had been a sweep of Stealth Force members that he had barely evaded in time, and Rangiku was late. He had originally intended to lay bare his feelings to her, but now with the inclusion of Madara and Starrk in the attack, the 'skirmish' has turned into an all-out assault. Two Captains, or even three, weren't going to cut it for the likes of those two. He needed to get Rangiku out of here, and quickly.
A part of him found it amusing how little he cared for the Gotei 13. His first experience with Shinigami had been witnessing Aizen's goons razing the Rukongai in search of soul fragments, after all. At that point of his life, the Gotei 13, and the rest of the Shinigami could all die, for all he cared.
He was older, now, and much more powerful, but at heart, he felt like nothing had changed at all. From the moment he laid eyes on that fragment of Rangiku's soul, he had been captivated by her beauty. Time and time again, he snuck off to train on his own, so that one day he might have the strength to take back what was stolen from her. He hid his training from her, because he didn't want Rangiku to ask what he was training for. He was not ready to tell her at the time, lest he failed.
As the decades rolled on, he had himself convinced that he could be content just observing her from afar. He had intentionally distanced himself from her and denied her visits as he grew closer to Aizen as a means to protect her, though her excruciating proximity had almost broken his resolve on many occasions. Somewhere, however, from the depths of his soul, he knew that he could not face her honestly without first seeing to Aizen's death. Despite his relentless training, and despite mastering all he could of the Shinigami arts, such a task just seemed to grow further and further from him. Now more so than ever before.
So here he was, Gin Ichimaru. The snake, the dreamer… The traitor... The failure? Or was he the hopeless romantic? Nobody knew who he really was. Not even Rangiku. Even he himself had worn his masks for so long that he had forgotten his true identity.
The Gin Ichumaru that the Gotei 13 thought they knew had never existed in the first place. It was all just an elaborate facade designed for the single purpose of tricking Aizen into dropping his guard. But now, even if he could kill Aizen, what was he meant to do about Madara? Tosen was fodder, and he would wager on himself in a duel against any espada up until Harribel. Barragan, however, he had no answer for, and he had absolutely no idea what Starrk's powers or abilities even were, save that he was stronger than Barragan, somehow. Though I wouldn't put it past Aizen to place Starrk above Barragan simply out of spite. Maybe Starrk is secretly just lazy and weak? Gin thought to himself, but he could not take that chance. He had to assume that Starrk was the Primera for a better reason than that.
His heart skipped a beat, then, as he felt a familiar reiatsu. It was not the woman he was waiting for. Yamamoto? Immediately upon sensing the Head Captain's reiatsu nearby, his mind raced to analyze what could have happened. He extended his senses outward, but still could not detect Rangiku's reiatsu anywhere. His bottom lip began to quiver, until he bit down on it hard enough to draw blood. I guess… That's her answer. Gin thought to himself, slowly bringing a hang to clutch at his chest.
There was an intense, burning discomfort welling up from within him that he had never felt before. He wanted nothing more than to lash out at anything and everything around him, but he fought the urge. He clenched his fists hard enough that every knuckle cracked, and even then, the pain within him continued to surge, until he doubled over, gasping silently into the cold, night air. His squeezed his eyes shut, and blinked away the burning sensation in his eyes. He had been forsaken. The woman he had dedicated his everything to had forsaken him, and he had no one to blame but himself. Silently opening a Garganta, he dove through it before any of the Shinigami could respond, and screamed into the void of the Dangai.
No. He suddenly realized. Aizen was to blame. His life until now had only one purpose - to make Aizen pay for harming the soul of the beautiful girl he'd saved on the roadside that day. That had not changed. He had cast aside his own humanity, and donned a facade just so he could one day foil Aizen. He was still alive, which meant that day may still come. With those calming thoughts in his mind, Gin took a few steadying breaths before he made his way back to Hueco Mundo. The briefing was soon. Don't worry, Rangiku. Things will be better for you, soon. You'll never need to cry again.
Seireiei - Squad 12 Barracks - Basement
In the bowels of the 12th Division's research and development ward, cuffed to a torture table, and lying in a pool of her own sweat, Rangiku Matsumoto screamed. Her tears had run dry from the hours of 'enhanced interrogation' she'd endured at Mayuri's hands, and it was all for naught as the Squad 12 Captain had somehow managed to rip the information he wanted directly from her mind.
She had managed to swallow the first of Gin's two notes before Soi-Fon had apprehended her, so the Captains only had the second note to go off of. The only thing Mayuri wanted was the location of the 'grove' Gin referred to, but she would never forgive herself for being unable to meet Gin at his designated time. She knew how fragile his mind could be at times; the genius whose own overactive thoughts were often his greatest enemy. One final tear fell as she closed her eyes, imagining the anguish he must feel at the thought that she had betrayed his trust.
She had only glimpsed them briefly, but the words he had written for her had been forever etched into her mind. In the first of two notes: "If tomorrow I turned into a snake, and began devouring humans, but from the same mouth I devoured humans, I cried out to you 'I love you,' would you still be able to say 'I love you' the same way you did all those years ago?"
Her mind had been violated by Mayuri's thaumaturgical devices, used to forcibly extract the location Gin had alluded to, but nothing could change the feelings she had for her childhood friend. The Gin in her mind was her hero. The knight in shining armor who saved her life when she had collapsed, dying from starvation.
Even now, the memory was as vivid as if it had only been yesterday. Despite the metallic taste of dried blood in her mouth, she could still recall the sweetness of the first persimmon that Gin had handed her. They had grown up together, entered the academy together, and though she thought he had lost his way in pursuit of power, everything he had done had been for her sake.
Gin… You'd better get out of there in one piece. My answer to you is yes, damn it. Just stay alive and we'll get through this. I have so, so many questions for you.
AN - Sorry it's been over 3 weeks since the last update - been finding it hard to tie the plot threads in a way that I'm happy with. Hopefully things make sense at the moment! Next chapter on is going to be all action for a while. Also! 10k word chapter! Woooo
General review response/response to PMS: thanks for all the feedback and support guys. As I've mentioned in previous chapters I will definitely finish this. Updates will be more frequent for the next few chapters at least, 100%.
Will do more individual review responses at the end of next chapter
