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

Chapter 177, Section 175: A Look in Their Eyes Confirms It – They're Allies, No Mistake
As it turns out, Soul Society's intelligence system remains as inadequate as ever.

Or rather, it applies as long as it involves nobles, especially the five great noble families.

The Soul Society's intelligence system would be hampered, making it impossible for it to exert its full potential.

The only things Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni could tell Higashino Shuichi were the story of Reikotsu Saizo, the first captain of the 13th Division, when he was still a great villain, and the specific effects of his Zanpakuto's abilities.

Among the original 13th Division, there were many villains like Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, who were conquered by force but did not completely submit in their hearts.

They only reluctantly agreed to become captains of the Gotei 13 because of Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's power; in reality, they all harbored ulterior motives.

The most typical example is Retsu Unohana, the captain of the 11th Division of the original 13 Divisions. At that time, his name was Yachiru Unohana.

Even now, Retsu Unohana is merely going through the motions with her work. She only goes through the motions when she's not interested in something, even if the subject might threaten the safety of Soul Society. As long as it doesn't pique her interest, Retsu Unohana will simply stand by and do nothing.

The same applies to Shuichi Higashino in the beginning, as well as to the Kasumi clan's rebellion, Kisuke Urahara's defection, and Barragan's invasion of Seireitei, etc.

Retsu Unohana was involved in these incidents, but not extensively.

This is actually completely inconsistent with her status as captain. Unlike the rebellious Saizo, who challenged Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni again, she sought another opponent. This was Unohana Retsu's last act of kindness.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni was aware of this, which is why Unohana Retsu held the position of captain of the Fourth Division very securely. Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni used this captain's position to keep Unohana Retsu in check, so as to prevent her from returning to the state she was in when she was a great villain and causing trouble for the entire Soul Society.

Originally, it was thought that after sacrificing some of the captains who were considered prone to causing trouble by Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni in order to deal with Yhwach, the King of the Quincy, these problems would disappear completely.

However, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni never expected that these former captains would return to Soul Society in this way.

This matter also exceeded his expectations.

"So it's not that Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni didn't know, but that you didn't tell him the whole truth back then?"

Higashino Shuichi sat in his seat and looked at Kyoraku Shunsui, the captain of the Eighth Division, who had just entered and was sitting with his arms wide open, supporting himself on one hand. He asked him a question.

After returning empty-handed from the First Division, Higashino Shuichi unexpectedly received an invitation from Kuchiki Byakuya, the current head of the Kuchiki family, one of the five great noble families, who asked him to visit the Kuchiki family.

Higashino Shuichi believed that after Kuchiki Ginrin passed away, he had no further contact with the Kuchiki family. Not to mention Kuchiki Byakuya, even his father Kuchiki Sōjun, Higashino Shuichi probably hadn't exchanged more than ten words with him.

The only formal meeting I ever had with Kuchiki Byakuya was probably at Kuchiki Byakuya and Kuchiki Hisana's wedding.

Therefore, Higashino Shuichi concluded that it was definitely not Kuchiki Byakuya who invited him over, but rather someone else behind it.

In the current Soul Society, there aren't many people capable of getting Kuchiki Byakuya to do something like this. Coincidentally, Higashino Shuichi knows of one such person. And judging by the time, it's been almost ten years since Higashino Shuichi returned to Soul Society from that fictional future. It's time for that man to come looking for him.

So, Higashino Shuichi kept his promise.

As Higashino Shuichi had predicted, when he arrived at the room arranged by Kuchiki Byakuya, the man, Kyoraku Shunsui, was already there drinking.

"Is it really that straightforward to just walk in?"

When old friends meet, shouldn't they have a couple of drinks first, and then catch up?

Kyoraku Shunsui looked at Higashino Shuichi and said with a smile.

"An old friend?"
Are you referring to the 8th Division Captain who chased me from Soul Society to Hueco Mundo and almost killed me back then?

Or did you assign me, a traitor to Soul Society, a very dangerous mission that almost made me, the captain of the 8th Division, not return?

Neither of them seems like something an old friend would do, does it?

Higashino Shuichi sat up straight and looked at Kyoraku Shunsui.

"Hmm, on the surface, it is true that I did something wrong in these two matters, but I believe that with your intelligence, Mr. Shuichi, you should have seen through my deeper meaning long ago. Otherwise, you wouldn't have come here today, would you?"

Kyoraku Shunsui remained unfazed by Higashino Shuichi's sarcasm.

"Is that so? Aren't I here today to meet with Kuchiki Byakuya, the head of the Kuchiki family?"
Am I just getting old and my memory is failing?
How did we end up running into the captain of the 8th Division here?

However, Kyoraku Shunsui was unwilling to clarify the matter and instead played coy with Higashino Shuichi, so Higashino Shuichi pretended not to understand.

Anyway, it's definitely Kyoraku Shunsui who's in a hurry.

"Alright, Shuichi, you're not some clueless Shinigami, so let's stop playing coy."

As expected, seeing that Higashino Shuichi was being so unforgiving, Kyoraku Shunsui simply put away his dissolute demeanor, sat up straight, and became serious.

"You should know very well what my intention was back then. I just wanted to see what your stance was in that situation."

And you have now achieved my goal.

"As expected, back then you were paving the way for me to infiltrate the Tsunayo family, weren't you?"
You noticed the nobles' actions, but as the captain of the 8th Division, you were unable to take any further action because the Captain-Commander forbade you from doing so.

And coincidentally, at that time, a Shinigami like me appeared, perfectly matching the selection criteria of those nobles. Even my Hollowfication became an advantage, because only in this way would I have the only option after returning to Soul Society: to attach myself to those nobles.

Because without the support of those nobles, the Captain-Commander would never have allowed a Hollowfied Shinigami like me to appear openly in Soul Society.

In other words, as long as the Captain-General is still in power, I cannot betray those nobles. Otherwise, once they fall, I will be next, right?

When Higashino Shuichi saw that Kyoraku Shunsui had finally admitted to his past guess, he gave a light hum and said.

Furthermore, Higashino Shuichi speculates that Kyoraku Shunsui may have played a role in why Ukitake Jushiro, as the captain of the 13th Division, agreed to let Shiba Kaien go to the human world first.

On the surface, Kyoraku Shunsui's words to him in Hueco Mundo were meant to urge him to return to the human world and consult with Urahara Kisuke, but it's possible that he had already made arrangements for him in the first place.

Regardless of whether Kisuke Urahara involved Shuichi Higashino in the Osaka Prefecture incident, Shunsui Kyoraku was able to spread rumors in Soul Society afterward that Higashino had participated in the incident and protected Kaien Shiba.

This is not difficult to do; you can just ask Shiba Kaien to give false testimony in private.

However, Kyoraku Shunsui probably didn't expect that in that incident, Higashino Shuichi almost single-handedly shouldered the burden.

"I knew it. With your intelligence, Shuichi, you should have seen through my plan long ago."

Kyoraku Shunsui laughed heartily, drank a glass of wine in front of Higashino Shuichi, and then said...

"Back then, long before the Asauchi theft incident, while investigating the Kasumioji family's rebellion, I discovered that the retainers of the Tsunayashiro family were traveling to and from the human world far too frequently. Moreover, for a long period of time, the Tsunayashiro family had been taking away a large number of copies from some documents sealed by the Twelfth Division. However, when I wanted to continue the investigation, the old man stopped me, saying that the Kasumioji family's rebellion had just occurred, and we couldn't provoke those nobles again at such a time, especially the Tsunayashiro family, one of the five great noble families."

Is that ridiculous?
But that's reality.

A bitter expression appeared on Kyoraku Shunsui's face. It was quite unbelievable that such an expression could appear on Kyoraku Shunsui's face, which indirectly showed how much that incident had affected him.

Higashino Shuichi suspected that it was Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's obstruction that made Kyoraku Shunsui determined to secretly carry out this important task without Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's knowledge.

The executor chosen by Kyoraku Shunsui was none other than Higashino Shuichi.

Without continuing to feel sad about the old man's situation, Kyoraku Shunsui said...

"At that time, I had a suspicion: could the failure of the Tsunayo family's rebellion actually be a successful attempt?"

Because those nobles had initially tacitly accepted the current Soul Society system, but during the Kasumioji family incident, the old man's eventual relent made them realize that they could indeed possess their own armed forces. As long as their stance was firm enough and the deed was done, the old man would agree for the sake of the greater good.”

Higashino nodded. Kyoraku Shunsui's idea was actually a consensus between Higashino Shuichi and Aizen.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's biggest mistake was that, during that protracted debate over the Kasumi clan's actions, he chose to back down and compromise for the sake of the bigger picture and the dignity of the nobility.

This was tantamount to opening the door to a new world for those nobles.

"Therefore, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni has truly aged, not only physically but also mentally."

Higashino Shuichi thought to himself.

However, he knew that Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni still had a long road ahead of him, and he would use his life to hold up the last piece of sky for this turbulent Soul Society.

Whether it's Aizen, Yhwach, Tsuna, Yashiro, Tokinada, or any other potential dangers in the future, Yamamoto must die!

He is indeed corrupt, but he is also a mountain that all future challengers to the existing order must overcome.

"So you did the opposite and tried to send someone in to infiltrate their ranks, but at that time you were only suspicious."

Your suspicions about the Tsunayo family, one of the five noble families, can only remain in your heart and cannot be spoken aloud.

Otherwise, once the news gets out, you will become the target of public criticism, and it will become extremely difficult for you to do anything in the future.

Therefore, you could only test me using that method, but dared not tell me openly. I even suspect that until the appearance of this rebellious and hidden figure, you weren't sure if your suspicion was correct.

Higashino Shuichi now understood why Kyoraku Shunsui had chosen to see him now.

Ultimately, it was because Kyoraku Shunsui lacked confidence. He possessed the keen intuition of an intelligence officer, but lacked complete self-assurance.
Except for one member of the Tsunayo family.

Kyoraku Shunsui may have invested excessive confidence in him.

Of course, there is another reason, which may be that Kyoraku Shunsui was not sure whether the person who returned was still the same Higashino Shuichi who had passed his test.

After all, for Higashino Shuichi, he had only been away from the world for a few days, but for Kyoraku Shunsui, Higashino Shuichi had been missing for ten years.

Ten years is enough time for a person to change all their ideas.

This time, when Higashino Shuichi brought the rebellious Saizo to the Gotei 13 to question them, Kyoraku Shunsui was convinced that Higashino Shuichi was still the same Higashino Shuichi as before, except that his strength had become a little too great, and he had not changed in the slightest.

"Hehe. That's right, that's correct."

In fact, there was a survey that I didn't submit to the old man or the Central 46th Bureau.

Seeing that Higashino Shuichi had almost figured out the whole story, Kyoraku Shunsui simply ended their reminiscing about the past.

After laying out their relationship and confirming their status as allies, Kyoraku Shunsui began to serve Higashino Shuichi the main course.

"This is?"

As Higashino Shuichi received the weighty report from Kyoraku Shunsui, he knew that his previous conversation with Kyoraku Shunsui had served two purposes: to clear up any misunderstandings that might have existed in the past and to confirm each other's positions.

Now that everyone has reached a consensus, what Kyoraku Shunsui is about to present must be his true purpose.

As he turned the pages of these investigation reports, Higashino Shuichi finally understood why Kyoraku Shunsui was so certain of his long-held, unconfirmed suspicions.

Although this investigation report appears to contain a great deal of information, it actually only argues for one thing.

That is the relationship between the Zanpakuto in Saizo's hands and the batch of Asauchi that were lost in Soul Society in the past.

Generally speaking, a Shinigami's Zanpakuto is an extension of the Shinigami's spirit, will, and power.

Zanpakuto come in all shapes and sizes, but they have one thing in common: they are different from the Bakuya swords created by the Kasumi clan.

A Zanpakuto is essentially just a vessel for the power of a Shinigami. Therefore, no matter which Asauchi a Shinigami obtained in the first place, the Zanpakuto that it eventually transforms into can only be one and only one.

This explains why Tosen Kaname was able to transform his Asauchi, which he had only stolen from his close friend Utako, into his own Zanpakuto. Similarly, the current captain of the 11th Division, Kenpachi Zaraki, also acquired his Asauchi from a deceased Shinigami. In the original future, this Asauchi was also intended to become Kenpachi Zaraki's own Zanpakuto.

Therefore, what Kyoraku Shunsui wanted to confirm was whether the Zanpakuto in Saizo's possession was transformed from one of the batch of Asauchi that were stolen from Soul Society.

Yes, in the Osaka Prefecture incident that occurred in the present world, the Soul Society found the Shinigami who stole the items, but the batch of Asauchi (a type of Shinigami) was lost forever.

Kyoraku Shunsui's attempt would generally be considered a pipe dream.

Even Kaname Tosen, who was just a commoner back then, was able to steal an Asauchi. How could it be that the Zanpakuto that Saikotsu had was one of the Asauchi that was stolen back then?

However, Kyoraku Shunsui may have been lucky, as all the signs indicated that the prototype of the Zanpakuto in the hands of this rebellious Saizo was one of the Asauchi that were lost from Soul Society.

Higashino Shuichi can understand Kyoraku Shunsui's concerns.

Because in the current Soul Society, including Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, it is generally believed that the words spoken by that rebellious soul hidden in the Dangai were just empty boasting.

A group of death gods who died nearly a thousand years ago, it would be a miracle if even one of them came back, how could there be so many?
However, based on this investigation, Kyoraku Shunsui believed that what Saizo Goku said was definitely not a lie, and even suspected that Saizo Goku's figures might be conservative.

Because the number of shallow-struck swords lost back then was far more than thirteen.
(End of this chapter)