But this time, before Akira could even voice his thoughts, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni directly overruled him.
"There is no need to locate the entrance. We are short on time, and we cannot afford to gamble on stopping Ganryū of Ryūdōji Temple!"
"Why not?" Zaraki Kenpachi scoffed. "I'll just cut him down."
Yamamoto's expression remained stern. "First, we have no way of knowing the full extent of the Ryūdōji family's legacy.
"Second, according to our intelligence, Ganryū of Ryūdōji Temple commands a vast number of lingering souls, forming an army of countless revenants.
"With Gotei 13's current state of weakened combat strength, it's uncertain whether we can even break through their forces."
Yamamoto's cautious stance was unsurprising to Akira.
Even if he had not been involved, back in Gotei 13's prime, Yamamoto had once judged that deploying their full forces against such an opponent carried a high risk of failure.
And now? With so few captain-class fighters available?
"Captain! Please reconsider!"
Soi Fon spoke urgently. "Seireitei cannot withstand another catastrophe. The casualties would be immeasurable!"
Indeed, unlike the original course of history, Seireitei was now in a state of near-total defenselessness.
Yamamoto fell silent, the weight of the decision pressing upon him.
After a long pause, he spoke gravely: "Compared to the destruction of the world, this is a sacrifice we must make."
A heavy silence filled the room.
"Tch… If you ask me, we should prioritize Seireitei's survival."
Akira's sudden words shattered the tense quiet.
"Not only would countless Shinigami be caught in the crossfire, but further destruction of Seireitei would only increase my workload."
After all, Akira was currently overseeing the reconstruction efforts of Seireitei.
"So in my opinion, we should abandon the Kidō Cannon and confront Ganryū of Ryūdōji Temple directly."
"If we retrieve the Lost Rosary Bead, the revenant army will naturally disperse, and the lost souls will vanish along with them."
Kurotsuchi Mayuri nodded. "Hō… that is indeed a viable approach."
"No." Yamamoto's rejection was immediate. "I already said—we cannot take that risk."
Akira's gaze sharpened. "I have fought Ganryū of Ryūdōji Temple before. I can tell you with absolute certainty—he is incapable of stopping the Gotei 13."
But Yamamoto, as stubborn as ever, responded with forceful resolve. "This concerns the safety of the entire world. How can I rely solely on your judgment?"
"This is no longer a matter for discussion. I am issuing an order as the Supreme Commander—immediately prepare the Kidō Cannon to obliterate Ryūdōji Temple!"
Akira narrowed his eyes, his tone turning cold.
"And what if I refuse?"
The tension in the room became palpable.
A confrontation was imminent.
The captains looked on, stunned.
No one had expected Akira to challenge the Head Captain so openly.
But given his history, those who knew him understood—Akira feared neither gods nor kings.
"Akira, do you truly insist on this course of action?"
Yamamoto gripped his staff tightly.
Akira met his gaze without a hint of hesitation.
"That's right."
Time in the conference hall seemed to have frozen, the air heavy as condensed lead.
After what felt like an eternity, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni finally looked away.
"Very well. But the Gotei 13 must prepare for both contingencies. You will be responsible for the incursion into the valley, while the others will focus on gathering enough spiritual energy for the Kidō Cannon."
His eyes sharpened.
"If the time comes and you have not succeeded, whether you are still inside or not, I will fire the Kidō Cannon."
The weight of his words sent a chill through the room.
It was as if he was telling Akira outright: Your presence is irrelevant. The mission takes priority.
Yet, the implication behind it made everyone's eyes widen.
What did they just hear?
The Commander-in-Chief… had actually compromised?
He had yielded to Akira?!
This was unheard of.
"Does Captain Yamamoto truly think so highly of Captain Akira…?"
Hitsugaya Tōshirō stood in stunned silence. He understood perfectly—Yamamoto Genryūsai simply did not wish to turn Akira into an enemy.
Since the founding of the Gotei 13, no one had ever commanded such deference from the old man.
"Don't worry. I'll settle this quickly."
Akira flicked his sleeve, brushing past Captain Ukitake, and strode out of the hall.
"Tsk, this kind of opportunity always falls to him. So damn sneaky."
Zaraki Kenpachi snorted, arms crossed, while the other captains watched Akira's back with unreadable expressions.
"Captain Akira… please, you must succeed."
Unohana Retsu closed her eyes and prayed in silence.
Not long after, Akira stepped into the Human World and found the entrance known as Garganta, hidden beside an ancient bridge.
Without hesitation, he leapt.
One swift motion—a perfect infiltration.
Within the valley, Senna hung suspended in the air, trapped by Ganryū's secret art. Her body was forcefully merging with countless spirits, their essence fusing into her own.
"AAAAH!"
She screamed as an unbearable force ripped through her being.
"Let go of me!!"
With each soul that merged, her already-fragmented memories began to blur.
She could feel it—her sense of self fading.
If this continued, she would lose everything.
Her identity.
Her existence.
"No… No! I don't want to disappear!"
Even if she had no recollection of her past, her present consciousness was intact. The impending loss of self-awareness filled her with pure terror.
"It's over… someone… help me…!"
Her vision swam as darkness crept into her mind.
And then, a face surfaced in her fading thoughts—
That man.
The one she had encountered in the cemetery.
The one who had effortlessly crushed Kurosaki Ichigo after he achieved Bankai.
The one who had obliterated the entire Ryūdoji Clan without breaking a sweat.
The strongest being she had ever witnessed.
If anyone could save her…
Could it be him?
No… even if he could… would he even bother…?
Then—
A voice.
Someone approaching.
Ganryū tensed.
"Someone's coming?!"
Senna fought to lift her head.
Her vision cleared just enough to see him—
A figure wreathed in power, radiating sheer invincibility.
He had come.
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