Seireitei was no longer simply stirred — it was unraveling.
In the vaulted silence of the Central 46 chambers, cloaked councilors murmured behind their folding fans and veiled faces. Above them, spiritual communication channels flared with conflicting reports: a skirmish near the eastern wall, unexplained power surges, the disappearance of two high-profile students-in-training.
And everywhere, a single name was whispered in accusation — Akira Lan Yan. And his brother, Sōsuke Aizen.
Central 46 Inner Chamber
"They attacked a noble compound. We have evidence."
"Was it not them who were assaulted first? The timeline is unclear."
"Unclear or inconvenient? The Tsunayashiro House submitted a sworn testimony — corroborated by three seated officers."
"Convenient testimonies. Planted witnesses."
The room fractured with dissent.
The Four Great Houses, led by Tsunayashiro, had seized the initiative. A flood of carefully curated reports, forged visual recordings, and coerced witness statements were deployed overnight. The manipulated incident from Chapter 30 was framed as the brothers' unprovoked attack — a rebellion against order.
The political storm had begun.
First Division Barracks – Captains' Emergency Assembly
Yamamoto stood unmoving, his cane tapping once against the stone floor. Around him, the Captains of the Gotei 13 murmured.
"Official word is they've gone rogue," Suì-Fēng stated coldly.
"But the timeline doesn't hold," Ukitake countered. "The energy readings suggest the brothers were ambushed first."
"And survived," Komamura rumbled. "Which means they are far stronger than anticipated."
Kyoraku sipped from a sake bottle, eyes narrowed beneath his straw hat.
"Seems to me we've got a bigger problem than just missing students. We've got manipulated facts. Political puppeteers."
Yamamoto finally spoke.
"I will not tolerate insubordination — but I also will not be used. Until I am certain of the truth, no Captain will move against them without my direct order."
That bought time — but not peace.
12th Division – Research and Development Headquarters
Urahara Kisuke sat cross-legged amid a swirling sea of holographic data streams.
"Tessai, pull the intercept logs from the patrol beacons. Cross-reference with spiritual density variance from last night."
Tessai raised an eyebrow. "You're not seriously considering taking a side, are you, Kisuke?"
"I'm considering the facts," Urahara replied. "And facts don't lie — but noble houses do."
The screen flickered.
[Analysis complete. Traces of manipulated spiritual pressure signatures consistent with suppression cloaks used by House Tsunayashiro.]
Urahara leaned forward.
"Gotcha."
Kuchiki Manor
Byakuya read the decree twice. Then once more.
Aizen and Akira — labeled as dissidents. Traitors. To be apprehended by any means necessary.
He closed the scroll and exhaled slowly. The memory of Akira's light-speed footwork and effortless Kidō mastery flickered across his mind.
"If they were truly rebels," he murmured, "they would not have run. They would have destroyed."
Unknown Noble Estate – Secret Council
Tokinada Tsunayashiro poured himself a cup of steaming tea, eyes gleaming in the shadowy chamber.
"Our little seeds have sprouted well," he mused. "Now the whole tree of Soul Society must bend — or break."
His fellow conspirators nodded.
"With the brothers branded, Yamamoto will be forced to choose. And in chaos, we reclaim control."
Final Decree – Spiritual Communications Broadcast
The words rang out across the Seireitei:
"By order of Central 46, Akira Lan Yan and Sōsuke Aizen are hereby declared fugitives of Soul Society. They are to be apprehended or neutralized on sight. Any who aid them will share their fate."
The message crackled into silence.
Akira and Aizen — no longer prodigies. No longer students.
Now, fugitives.
The hunt had begun.