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

Chapter 96, Section 95: A Battle I Will Never Regret

The daily life of Soul Society is rarely changed because of any particular individual.

Shuichi Higashino is clearly not an exception.

His return caused some reactions among the Fourth Division and those who knew him well in the past, but everything proceeded as usual.

Well, except for the Eleventh Division.

Because a certain captain who had been eyeing Higashino Shuichi for a very long time, upon learning that Higashino Shuichi had finally regained his freedom, without saying a word, forcibly dragged Higashino Shuichi from his home in the second district of Rukongai to the Eleventh Division barracks, and then publicly announced the new personnel appointments.

Shuichi Higashino was appointed as the vice-captain of the 11th Division, while Yachiru Kusajishi, the original vice-captain of the 11th Division, was given the sinecure of assistant captain.

It's hard to say whether Kusajishi Yachiru contributed to the establishment of the position of Ise Nanao in the future.

Alright, I just escaped from one Kenpachi, and now I've fallen into the pocket of another Kenpachi.

Then I thought about how I trained with a Kenpachi in Hell.

He might have had a connection with the word "Kenpachi" in his previous life.

However, for Higashino Shuichi, who is about to begin his plans, becoming the vice-captain of the 11th Division is also a good thing.

At least then he'll have a stronger reason to "recklessly" make a move.

After all, this is a fine tradition of the 11th Division, and it's normal for him, as the vice-captain, to catch it.

Then, Higashino Shuichi's life changed from teaching the team members to sorting medicinal herbs to simply chopping and chopping.

Chop the captain, chop the presiding officer, chop the team members.

In any case, under the leadership of Captain Kenpachi Zaraki, the entire 11th Division's style of doing things has become so simple and mindless.

Then, after get off work each day, Higashino Shuichi would visit Kabuto Masayako again, tell her stories, and occasionally use his healing powers to see if he could speed up her recovery.

Occasionally, he would give Kisaragi Shusuke some pointers on his sword-fighting and ghost-walking skills. When he got home, he would become Matsumoto Rangiku's drinking buddy, and every day he would listen to Matsumoto Rangiku complain to him about all the strange things she encountered at work during the day.

This fulfilling life lasted for almost a month.

Finally, Aizen, as an instructor at the Shinigami Academy, led the students of the Shinigami Academy to the human world for an internship.

Captain of the 10th Division of the Gotei 13 and Captain of the 4th Division, Retsu Unohana, were temporarily dispatched to Hueco Mundo to provide support in response to the Hueco Mundo riots.

Meanwhile, the captain of the 13th Division, Jushiro Ukitake, was also dealing with his team members' work errors in the real world during the day.

The peaceful Soul Society was finally shattered by several incidents of Shinigami Hollowfication witnessed by ordinary people in Rukongai.

"Another blurring effect?"

Looking at Kenpachi Zaraki, who had just returned from the captains' meeting at the First Division barracks, Shuichi Higashino feigned surprise.

"Yes, at the same time, Shinigami have appeared in various regions in the east, west, north, and south. The old man ordered Shinigami of the vice-captain level and above to investigate. What do you think, Shuichi, shall we go and take a look?"

Kenpachi Zaraki extended an invitation to Shuichi Higashino.

“Of course, Captain Zaraki!” Higashino Hideaki glanced at Kenpachi Zaraki and said thoughtfully, “But are we the only ones going to investigate?”

"Of course not. The captains of the Ninth Division, Kensei Muguruma, the captain of the Third Division, Rojuro Otorihashi, and the captain of the Fifth Division, Shinji Hirako, each of us captains is responsible for one direction. The remaining captains will stay behind at Seireitei, just in case."

As for which vice-captain they will choose to bring along, I have no idea.

Kenpachi Zaraki explained.

After listening, Higashino Shuichi became even more convinced of something.

"Then let's set off now!"

Seemingly impatient, Higashino Shuichi urged Kenpachi Zaraki to hurry up and leave.

With their superb Instant Step skills, the two quickly passed through the north gate of Seireitei and arrived at District 51 of North Rukongai.

He stopped abruptly when he found a deserted area.

"Why did it suddenly stop? Shuichi? The Hollowfied Shinigami in the North Ward was witnessed in Ward 62."

Kenpachi Zaraki asked in confusion.

But in response, Higashino Shuichi turned away indifferently and suddenly released a surge of spiritual pressure.

"Although I don't know how you did it, or who you are, you shouldn't be Captain Zaraki, right?"

Upon hearing this, Kenpachi Zaraki chuckled, "How did you find out?"

"Aside from when Captain Zaraki stays with the Eleventh Division to fight the members and when Captain Zaraki is fighting, Kusajiro would never leave Captain Zaraki's shoulder for even a moment, let alone accompany Captain Zaraki to the captain's meeting."

But there's no little deer on your shoulder.

Higashino Shuichi stared coldly at Kenpachi Zaraki in front of him and spoke slowly.

He knew perfectly well who this Kenpachi Zaraki was; it was either Kaname Tosen or Gin Ichimaru, with Gin Ichimaru being the more likely candidate.

Because Aizen loves seeing this kind of infighting.

"It's also possible that Kusajishi Yachiru was called over to help by another captain, since he was originally a vice-captain."

Kenpachi Zaraki revealed a sinister smile.

"But if it were Captain Zaraki, he wouldn't explain so much to me. If it were him, he would just ask me if I wanted to come along. If I did, I would come along; if not, I would stay in the Eleventh Division. Talking so much nonsense is not Captain Zaraki's style." This is also not Higashino Shuichi's style. According to Higashino Shuichi's normal approach, he would probably have already taken action by now.

It's just that now Higashino Shuichi needs to time the other captains' defeats and Urahara Kisuke's arrival to provide support.

The battle cannot end too early or too late.

If it's too early, he might not be able to hold out until Kisuke Urahara arrives; if it's too late, it would be awkward if he hadn't been Hollowfied by the time Urahara arrives.

Therefore, for Shuichi Higashino, the simplest and most effective method is to use nonsense to buy time.

As for which number of times Kisuke Urahara will save him, without a doubt, it will be the last one.

Because of Aizen's shrewd move, no one will likely realize for a while that Higashino Shuichi has already followed the fake "Kenpachi Zaraki" to provide support.

"As expected of Lord Shuichi, there are very few people in the entire Soul Society who can surpass your keen insight."

Having been exposed by Higashino Shuichi, Kenpachi Zaraki simply stopped hiding himself, and the illusion of a mirage dissipated, revealing his true form.

It was Gin Ichimaru with silver hair.

???

Looking at Gin Ichimaru, who had completely dispelled the illusion, Shuichi Higashino was full of questions.

He wasn't doubting that this fake Kenpachi Zaraki was actually Gin Ichimaru in disguise.

Instead, they were wondering why the illusion of a mirage was so conveniently dispelled.

Aizen, dare you say you didn't spy on me again?!
Higashino Shuichi felt a chill run down his spine.

You just like watching these melodramatic plots, right?

However, Higashino Shuichi only dared to curse silently in his heart; on the surface, he was supposed to cooperate with the performance and put on a good show.

"Silver?! Why you?!"

Hideno Higashino shouted loudly towards Ichimaru Gin.

His heaving chest spoke volumes about his excitement.

"Because of Shuichi, you shouldn't have become the vice-captain of the 11th Division. If you were still the vice-captain of the 4th Division, perhaps we wouldn't have met in this way so soon."

Gin Ichimaru's face was as sinister as ever.

In her heart, however, she was apologizing to Matsumoto Rangiku and Higashino Shuichi.

He had his own unspeakable sorrows.

If that man hadn't been so powerful, if his strength hadn't been so devastating, he would never have done it.

He must have killed that man long ago and then fled.

Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs." When he saw that man with his own eyes that day, with his boundless spiritual pressure like the bright sun, he knew that what he was about to do would come at a great cost.

Because that man is a god, not a human.

"Is that so? I won't comment on other people's choices, but Gin Ichimaru, have you thought about it? Do you even have the right to stand before me?"

Shuichi Higashino drew his Zanpakuto, which was still wrapped in bandages.

"Lord Shuichi, you've been missing for five years, so you probably don't know how much a Shinigami can change in five years. Not to mention, you're currently unable to unleash your Zanpakuto."

Gin Ichimaru drew his Zanpakuto.

He didn't want to kill Higashino Shuichi in this way, but unfortunately he had no choice.

"If you find out everything later, I will not beg for your forgiveness, Rangiku."

Looking at Higashino Shuichi across from him, Gin Ichimaru seemed to see that face he had never forgotten for a moment.

He knew about Matsumoto Rangiku's complicated feelings for Higashino Shuichi.

The latter is a teacher, a father, and a friend.

It was because of Shuichi Higashino that Rangiku Matsumoto was able to survive.

It can be said that the significance of Shuichi Higashino to Rangiku Matsumoto is the most complex and irreplaceable.

And this very person, who held such profound significance for Matsumoto Rangiku, would die at his hands today.

"Shoot him! Sharpshooter!"

The Zanpakuto in his hand instantly extended.

Gin Ichimaru has no regrets about his decision today.

Seeing that Gin Ichimaru had finally made his move, Shuichi Higashino, knowing that the battle could not be delayed any longer, also made his move at almost the same time.

"Fuzhao!"

The spiritual pressure swept across, and the entire earth trembled as a result of the collision.

(End of this chapter)