Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero

Deep within the Seireitei, in a hidden room shrouded by multiple layers of isolation barriers.

The room was dimly lit, and three figures sat around an old-fashioned stone table.

Seated in the center is Aizen Sousuke, the captain of the Fifth Division.

He had already removed the gentle and refined smiling mask he wore during the day, and his eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses were deep and calm.

Like an unfathomable, icy pool, fingers unconsciously traced patterns on the smooth surface of the stone table, as if deducing an invisible chess game.

On the left, the Third Division Captain, Gin Ichimaru, still wore that foxy smile that seemed to be forever on his face, his narrowed eyes occasionally flashing with a sharp glint in the dim light.

He leaned back in his chair with a relaxed posture, one hand supporting his chin and the other fiddling with the hilt of the spear at his waist.

On the right, the captain of the Ninth Division, Kaname Tosen, stood upright. Although he was blind, the swastika earring trembled slightly, indicating that he was perceiving everything around him in a way that transcended sight.

"...The Royal Seal." Aizen spoke slowly, breaking the silence.

His voice wasn't loud, but it possessed a unique magnetism, echoing clearly in the enclosed space; each word seemed to have been carefully considered.

"The power of the royal seal is indeed not to be underestimated."

Gintoki Ichimaru let out a soft, ambiguous laugh:

"Oh dear, that sounds dangerous~ If that power hadn't landed on Hyōrinmaru, but instead on some unlucky guy in Seireitei, or... if some scheming person had 'just happened' to catch it, that would have been a real mess, wouldn't it, Captain Aizen?"

His words were loaded with meaning, and he narrowed his eyes as he looked at Aizen.

Aizen remained noncommittal, simply stating, "There may be those who are willing, but to catch and control that level of power is no easy task."

It's clear that Aizen wasn't actually that interested in the royal seal.

He paused, then shifted the topic to another key figure in the incident: "As for that newly promoted Zero Squad trainee, Yanagawa... Gin, what do you think?"

Gin Ichimaru stopped toying with the tsuba (handguard) of his sword. His smile remained, but the flippancy in his tone lessened slightly:

"Yanagawa-kun, what an unexpected guy. He's been unknown in the Kido Clan for ten years, yet he's stirred up such a huge storm with just one move."

However, Tosen Kaname, who was sitting to Aizen's right, did not respond immediately, nor did he express his compliance with silence or a brief affirmation as usual.

He lowered his head, lost in some deeper thoughts.

Song Kuang.

That name, like a pebble that had been lying dormant at the bottom of a cold lake for many years, surfaced in his dark "vision".

That gentle, kind woman who firmly believed in the duties of a Shinigami and the order of the Soul Society, was his most important friend and also an indelible wound in his heart.

She died in the line of duty, killed in a Hollow attack—this is the official record, the cold and simplistic conclusion given by the Seireitei.

But he knew the truth was far more complex and dark than that.

What killed Kagura was some deep-rooted corruption and injustice within the Seireitei, disguised as "rules" and "privileges."

What punishment did the real culprit who caused Kagaku's death, the man from the prestigious Tsunayo family, one of the five great noble families, ultimately receive?

There were no serious crimes, no fair trials, and even public accountability was rare.

Simply because he was a member of the Tsunayoshiro family, his crimes were lightly covered up and downplayed, and ultimately went unpunished.

So-called "justice" and "law" appear so pale and powerless, so hypocritical, in the face of aristocratic privilege.

Do these 46 rooms truly represent "justice"?

Is the "order" and "rules" they keep talking about truly for the stability of Soul Society, or are they for protecting their own vested interests and privileged status, as well as those of the privileged class behind them?

This problem, like a poisonous thorn, has been buried deep in Tosen Kaname's heart for many years.

The "Twin Hyōrinmaru" incident serves as a mirror, once again reflecting the disgusting face of the 46th Chamber.

In order to eliminate anomalies and maintain stability, they can decide without hesitation to put two innocent and highly promising young Grim Reapers into a life-or-death duel.

The winners survive, the losers are utterly annihilated.

If it weren't for the sudden appearance of Yanagawa, a variable with the identity of the Zero Squad, who forcibly intervened.

The fates of Hitsugaya Toshiro and Kusakabe Sojiro are predictable.

Liu Chuan's interference disrupted the established script of Room 46.

He not only saved the two boys, but also, in a sense, mocked the seemingly irrefutable rules and authority of Room 46 through his actions.

Although Yanagawa himself may not have had this intention, his actions and their consequences undeniably cast a significant weight on the scales of justice and injustice in Tosen Kaname's mind.

Yanagawa's actions, to some extent, touched a nerve in Tosen Kaname's heart regarding "resisting injustice."

Although their methods, stances, and purposes were completely different, their courage to confront authority and break the established injustice resonated with the justice that Tosen Kaname longed for deep in his heart.

"Tosen?" Aizen's calm voice rang out, seemingly noticing Tosen's unusual silence.

Kaname Tosen was startled from his reverie, raised his head again, and faced Aizen, even though Aizen couldn't see him.

"Yes, Lord Aizen, Yanagawa's actions this time were indeed unexpected."

Aizen gave Tosen Kaname a deep look, his gaze behind his glasses seeming to see through something, yet he didn't reveal it.