Chapter 464 - 464: Traveler, What Is Your Purpose?

Fourth Division.

Unohana listened to the Shinigami's report, then nodded.

"Has it been confirmed?"

"No, Captain. But these are the Captain-Commander's orders. Please be ready to move immediately."

"I understand."

Unohana asked nothing more.

The messenger bowed and hurried away.

She picked up her Zanpakutō, glanced toward the ward, then walked over.

Inside, Gin Ichimaru and Zaraki Kenpachi were staring at each other in awkward silence.

Gin had no desire to share a room with Kenpachi, but he was still far from recovered.

Kenpachi simply stared back without saying a word.

Unohana's arrival broke the stalemate.

"Your injuries aren't too serious."

She stopped beside Kenpachi with her usual gentle smile.

"With your constitution, you should recover quickly. We may need you soon, so be prepared."

"Because of that guy?"

Kenpachi might have been reckless, but his instincts were often sharp.

Unohana's words immediately made him think of Cyrus.

"Perhaps."

She smiled.

"Or perhaps nothing will happen at all."

Then she turned toward Gin.

"As for you, your injuries are still severe. You won't be moving anytime soon, so stay here and recover."

Gin nodded without asking questions.

Inside, however, his heart sank.

Once he learned Kenpachi had been injured by Cyrus, he had already figured out who the mysterious newcomer really was.

And now, with Soul Society preparing for something…

After Unohana left, Gin frowned.

'What am I supposed to do next?'

…

The other captains received similar orders.

If anything unexpected happened, they were to act immediately.

Byakuya had only just returned when the messenger arrived. After watching him leave, he turned toward Rukia.

"Go home."

His expression remained calm.

"Okay."

At this point, Rukia still held considerable awe toward her adoptive brother and obeyed without question.

Byakuya departed soon afterward, while Rukia headed back toward the Kuchiki estate.

Elsewhere, Tosen received his own instructions and moved alone.

A tall masked figure rapidly approached from behind.

"Looks like you got the message too."

Tosen stopped and turned toward him.

"Yes. Probably the same one you did."

He remained composed.

Komamura Sajin sighed.

"This sounds troublesome."

"Perhaps."

Tosen's expression didn't change.

"But nothing may happen. We're only taking precautions."

"Then shall we go together?"

Komamura asked.

"No."

Tosen shook his head.

"I have another assignment. Probably not the same as yours."

"Understood."

Komamura didn't question him further and continued on.

Only after he disappeared did Tosen slowly turn away.

His destination was the Kuchiki estate.

…

"Quite the turnout."

When Shunsui slowed ahead of them, Cyrus suddenly commented.

"Hm?"

Shunsui glanced back curiously.

"Nothing."

Cyrus smiled and looked ahead.

Before them stood an old wooden complex that resembled a low palace. It spread across a large area without rising very high, almost as though the entire structure hugged the ground.

Even so, it carried an unmistakable weight.

"You seem rather eager to meet the Captain-Commander."

Shunsui dropped back a few steps until he was walking beside Cyrus.

"Of course."

Cyrus nodded.

"He's a legendary figure in Soul Society."

"That's true."

Shunsui smiled.

"Though plenty of younger Shinigami barely know his history anymore. You haven't been here long, yet you already seem familiar with him."

"I heard his name a long time ago."

Cyrus lightly tightened his grip around the sheath in his left hand.

"I never expected I'd actually get the chance to meet him."

Back in the One Piece world, several of the techniques Cyrus had used while first developing the Flame-Flame Fruit had been inspired by Yamamoto.

Later, once his mastery of fire deepened, he no longer needed to rely on borrowed techniques.

"A long time ago?"

Shunsui repeated thoughtfully.

"You only arrived in Soul Society recently, didn't you? So what exactly does 'a long time ago' mean?"

Cyrus smiled at him.

"You sure you want to ask that here?"

He nodded toward the building ahead.

"Wouldn't want to keep your teacher waiting."

Shunsui's expression froze.

His pupils narrowed slightly.

Yamamoto's reputation was hardly secret. The man had founded the Gotei 13 itself.

But the fact that Shunsui had personally studied under him was far less commonly discussed.

Shunsui glanced toward Aizen.

Aizen's face remained perfectly calm, revealing nothing.

"What else do you know?"

A voice came from ahead before Shunsui could ask another question.

Then came the steady tap of a cane against the floor.

An elderly man with a long beard emerged in a loose Shihakushō.

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.

He was tall, though the robes made him look somewhat lean. Beneath the sleeves, however, his exposed arms were still corded with dense muscle.

His eyes passed briefly over Aizen before settling on Cyrus.

One glance was enough.

Yamamoto straightened.

The atmosphere around him changed instantly.

"Who exactly are you?"

There was no need for further testing.

This was the instinct of someone who had spent centuries standing at the top.

The young man before him felt more dangerous than anyone Yamamoto had encountered in his entire life.

And beneath Cyrus's skin, he could sense an immense reservoir of power.

Something almost like a sun.

"If I had to put a label on it…"

Cyrus considered the question.

"I suppose I'm a traveler."

He studied Yamamoto in return.

"A traveler?"

Yamamoto, Shunsui, and Aizen all focused on that word.

"Someone who goes from one place to another."

Cyrus smiled.

"And before arriving, has no connection to that place whatsoever."

Yamamoto gave a low chuckle.

"If that is truly the case, then Seireitei has no reason to reject such a traveler."

His eyes remained fixed on Cyrus.

"But tell me, traveler…"

"What is your purpose?"