Bleach: No cheat codes, he joined Aizen's side.

Chapter 176, Section 174: Gin Ichimaru's Scheme
Cherry blossoms fall on the streets of the Seireitei in Soul Society.

Pedestrians walk on it, creating a colorful and romantic scene.

Inside the First Division's barracks, however, the scene was quite different.

Most of the captains of the Gotei 13 were gathered here at this moment, and standing opposite them was the chief sword hunter of the Sword Hunters.

There's a lot to say. For Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, the captain-commander of the Gotei 13, the guy that Higashino Shuichi brought back from the Dankai is far more than a few words can explain.

But now, all the team leaders face another problem.

That is, Higashino Shuichi was attacked by Ichimaru Gin again.

Why say it again?

Decades ago, Higashino Shuichi claimed that he was attacked by Ichimaru Gin. At that time, Ichimaru Gin, who was the third seat of the Fifth Division, had a perfect alibi.

This time, it was also Higashino Shuichi who claimed that he was attacked by Ichimaru Gin and the Arrancar. However, this time, Ichimaru Gin, who was already the captain of the Third Division of Soul Society, still had a perfect alibi.

At least three captains can testify that Gin Ichimaru was participating in a calligraphy event with them at the time of the incident.

"How is this possible? I saw it with my own eyes both times! Even Gin Ichimaru used his signature divine spear to attack me. The power of this Zanpakuto can't be faked, can it?"

Higashino Shuichi stood in front of the captains, indignantly, and questioned them.

"If you want to ask this question, Commander Xiuyi, I think you can take a look at this report."

Kyoraku Shunsui tossed a report to Higashino Shuichi, who caught it in mid-air, only catching a glimpse of the words "Arrancar Aronello Investigation Report" written on it.

Why are you showing me this report?

Instead of opening the report, Higashino Shuichi directly asked Kyoraku Shunsui a question.

"This is the investigation and sampling I conducted based on the body of Aronilo that you captured this time. After my rough research, I found that Aronilo not only inherited the characteristics of Atedis, but also incorporated a special structure that targets the Grim Reaper."

If the research direction is correct, this part of the structure can help Aaroniero absorb the Death God's spiritual power and grant him the right to use that absorbed power.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi explained to Shuichi Higashino.

Given Mayuri Kurotsuchi's current relationship with Shuichi Higashino, she had naturally already discussed this part with him. However, from an outsider's perspective, their relationship wasn't anything special, so in this situation, Mayuri still needed to explain it to Higashino again.

"What do you mean? Are you saying that the person I met, Gin Ichimaru, was actually just a special Arrancar?"

Higashino Shuichi snorted coldly.

"That's possible. After all, based on our investigation and research into that part of Arronello's structure, we infer that Arronello is not a complete individual, but a complex."

You should know what this means. It means that the technologies used on Aaroniero are likely composed of multiple technologies pieced together. That means that in Hueco Mundo, there may also exist special Hollows that individually mimic the spiritual power of Shinigami.

Kyoraku Shunsui explained to Higashino Shuichi.

"So, in the end, your Gotei 13 still can't produce a single crucial piece of evidence to prove that the person who attacked me wasn't Gin Ichimaru, can't you?"

Let me ask you a question: Why are you so certain that what I saw was a fake, while the one you saw was definitely real?

Higashino Shuichi posed a soul-searching question to Kyoraku Shunsui and the other captains.

"The reason is very simple. In the battle, it is easy to make you, the Great Slayer, misunderstand. All that the Arrancar needs to do is to make his spiritual power and abilities look like mine."

Since you're all in a fight, you simply don't have time to carefully observe the details, so it's very easy to confuse the issue.

However, it wouldn't work if we were with other Grim Reapers, because the Arrancar couldn't possibly imitate our habits, speech, and tone of voice perfectly. If we spent even a little more time together, they would definitely give themselves away.

"Didn't you, Commander Xiuyidao, notice anything unusual during the battle?"

The one who answered Higashino Shuichi's question was Ichimaru Gin himself.

Clearly, as the planner, Gin Ichimaru needed to personally take charge and guide the entire process.

"Abnormal behavior?"

Higashino Shuichi knew very well what Ichimaru Gin wanted him to say, and he also knew very well that Ichimaru Gin was absolutely capable of thinking of this with his intelligence.

After all, it was a trap that Gin Ichimaru had specially designed based on his assessment of Shuichi Higashino's intelligence, just waiting for Shuichi Higashino to jump into it willingly.

However, Higashino Shuichi also knew very well that, from his perspective, he had to put on a brave face at this time, as it was in line with his current state of mind.

Therefore, he simply lowered his head slightly and remained silent.

Higashino Shuichi's reaction was exactly what Ichimaru Gin had expected.

Gin Ichimaru knew that his plan was more than half successful. At this moment, Higashino Shuichi must have noticed the unusual things he had deliberately revealed, thanks to his reminder.

If Higashino Shuichi doesn't want to talk about it, then he'll just point it out for him.

"I have read the report that you, Chief of the Hidden Blade, submitted to the Central 46 after the Day Moon Class assessment incident. The report clearly mentions that the 'Ichimaru Gin' you mentioned deliberately provoked you with radical remarks, and after being struck by your slash, he fled in panic."

However, while he was escaping, Hideaki Kakeru was simultaneously facing an attack from three Espada representing the highest fighting power in Hueco Mundo.

If he truly intended to reveal his identity and kill Hideaki-ichi, the Great Sword Master, in that space from the very beginning, why would he give up the opportunity to surround and attack him?
Even though you, Hideaki Kakeru, bear the infamy of killing the former Hueco Mundo Lord Barragan, the Arrancar still dispatched such a powerful lineup to deal with you, which is enough to show that they had long been prepared to have a decisive battle with you, Hideaki Kakeru.

However, in the end, due to Gin Ichimaru's desertion, they only managed to hastily leave behind one of the Espada, Aaroniero, before fleeing back to Hueco Mundo.
I want to ask, is this reasonable?

Gin Ichimaru analyzed the situation with righteous indignation.

"That sounds a bit unreasonable."

After listening, Komamura Sajin, the captain of the 7th Division, muttered to himself.

This surprised Shuichi Higashino. When did Komamura Sajin, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, start learning to be a straight man?
"The only explanation I can think of is that this is just a show, the purpose of which is to deepen the misunderstanding between you, Commander Hideaki, and our Gotei 13, or even me. After all, your story is not uncommon in Soul Society, and many people know about it."

"And you insist that it was me and Captain Tosen of the Ninth Division who framed you back then. Quite a few people in Soul Society know this. If some Arrancar in Hueco Mundo want to use this as an excuse, it's not impossible."

Gin Ichimaru continued.

If Higashino Shuichi hadn't already known what kind of person Gin Ichimaru was, judging solely from Gin's methods this time, he felt he might have actually been fooled by Gin.

Because Gin Ichimaru learned the essence of it.

The more something is discovered through one's own thinking and effort, the more people tend to believe in it.

Therefore, Gin Ichimaru wouldn't design a scenario where Shuichi Higashino witnesses firsthand that the Arrancar possesses the ability to mimic the Grim Reaper. Instead, he would design a scenario where Higashino, through rational thought and analysis, concludes that the Arrancar might be capable of such an act.

The final results of these two approaches are completely different.

Higashino Shuichi was actually curious to see what kind of expression Gin Ichimaru would have if he were in that situation and still stubbornly refused to back down. At least the faint smile on his face would disappear now, right?
However, he knew he couldn't do that, as it would undoubtedly be inconsistent with his current public image.

His ability to maintain sufficient rationality is one of the reasons why he was valued by Tsunayoshiro Shinbara, Kyoraku Shunsui, and Tsunayoshiro Tokinada. Stubborn old man is not his label.

"So, from beginning to end, there was actually a strategist in Hueco Mundo who was planning all of this?"

Higashino Shuichi's attitude began to soften.

And this is exactly what Kyoraku Shunsui hoped to see.

According to Kyoraku Shunsui, the inexplicable issues surrounding Ichimaru Gin, Tosen Kaname, and Aizen Sosuke during that incident were the core reason preventing Soul Society from accepting Higashino Shuichi and other Shinigami into the regular Gotei 13 system.

If Kyoraku Shunsui can resolve the inner conflicts in the hearts of those Shinigami who were banished to the mortal world, then Soul Society can regain a large number of powerful combatants.

This would undoubtedly be a shot in the arm for the Soul Society, which seems to be facing enormous challenges again.

However, Kyoraku Shunsui turned his head to look at the Central Commander-in-Chief, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, his teacher, whose face showed no emotion.

As a typical representative of conservatives, he probably still wouldn't accept the existence of a Hollowfied Grim Reaper like Shuichi Higashino.

Even though Higashino Shuichi has helped Soul Society successfully kill Barragan, it will not change Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's attitude towards Higashino Shuichi as a true Shinigami.

"Based on our speculation, Koyatai Stark is very likely the mastermind behind all of this. He may even have been behind Barragan's attack on Soul Society, with the aim of removing Barragan from his position as Lord of Hueco Mundo so that he could take over for himself."

However, Stark probably never imagined that Barragan would ultimately die by Shuichi's hand.

Kyoraku Shunsui explained to Higashino Shuichi.

Seeing the two of them working together in perfect harmony, Higashino Shuichi had no doubt that before he launched his attack, Ichimaru Gin had probably already contacted Kyoraku Shunsui, and the two had reached some kind of agreement in private.

Gin Ichimaru wants to clear his name, while Shunsui Kyoraku wants to help the exiled Shinigami of the past resolve their inner conflicts and reintegrate them into the Soul Society system.

The two hit it off immediately.

Therefore, Kyoraku Shunsui did not delve into the deeper reasons for this incident, but instead helped Ichimaru Gin to put a final conclusion on it.

In a sense, Kyoraku Shunsui was indeed more suitable to be the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 than Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, but unfortunately...
Higashino Hideichi glanced at Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, who was seated at the head of the table.
"So, this incident targeting our Day Moon Class Grim Reapers wasn't an accident at all, but a premeditated act. Their target was me, right?"

Kyoraku Shunsui nodded; at least, that's what he thought.

"Then can any of you tell me what the first captain in the Broken Realm was all about? And what is the relationship between that rebellious Saizo and that Stark?"

Higashino Shuichi knew that the discussion about his own affairs had to end here. Continuing it would only result in some pointless arguments. His main purpose in coming here today was not for his own sake.

He had actually asked the same question to Tsunayoshiro Shinbara before, but the answer he received was evasive and irrelevant.

This made Higashino Shuichi seriously doubt whether what Tsunayoshiro Kanbara had said before was true.

It was for this reason that he went to find Aizen again, and under Aizen's guidance, Higashino Shuichi realized that he had made a mistake.

He was trapped in his own information cocoon.

Since returning from that fictional future, the information he has been receiving has been that the Fullbringers in the present world were too arrogant, so they broke up with the Tsunayo family, who were in charge of the matter in Soul Society. Then the two groups simply went their separate ways, with the group in the present world going to the western border and never seeing each other again.

Meanwhile, the Tsunayo family is actively searching for a new representative in Soul Society.

In addition, the urgent attitude of the Tsuna Yayo family at the time did not seem like a show to Higashino Shuichi, so he has always firmly believed in this.

But now, with the sudden appearance of Nigu Cai Cang, everything has become unpredictable again.

"Has the Tsunayo family truly severed all ties with those people from the present world?"

Aizen's words enlightened Higashino Shuichi.

Because Higashino Shuichi discovered that, regarding that matter in the real world, he seemed to have never gathered information from another perspective.

All his knowledge came from Tsunayoshiro Shinbara and Tsunayoshiro Tokinada.

Therefore, this is why Higashino Shuichi did not hand over the rebellious Saizo to the Tsuna-Yayo family this time, but instead directly handed it over to the Gotei 13.

That's why Higashino Shuichi is standing here now, asking Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni his question.

At the same time, it was impossible for Higashino Shuichi's blatant behavior to escape the notice of Tsunayoshiro Kanbara.

"That Higashino Shuichi secretly went to the Gotei 13, could he not have...?"

"A man hiding in the shadows said."

Only Tsunayoshiro Kanbara could be seen in the room.
"He won't. As long as Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni remains in the position of Captain-Commander, he can't possibly be with those Shinigami of the Gotei 13. It's just that I didn't answer his questions before, and he wanted to use Rebellious Bones Saizo to get the truth from that old guy Yamamoto."

Tsunayoshiro Shinbara shook his head, firmly believing that Higashino Shuichi had no choice in who he would end up with.

(End of this chapter)