Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero

The atmosphere was heavy in a relatively secluded courtyard near the Fifth Division's barracks.

Hinamori Momo had clearly been waiting there for a long time. She kept twisting her fingers, and her usually gentle and bright eyes were now filled with obvious anxiety and helplessness, with her eyes even a little red.

Several figures gradually gathered in front of her.

Renji Abarai rushed over first, his brows furrowed tightly: "Hinamori! What happened? There's a huge rumor going around, is Shiro really...?"

Next was Kira Izuru, whose expression was as cautious as ever, but with a hint of worry in his eyes. He nodded to Hinamori Momo and stood quietly to the side.

Next was Hisagi Shuhei, the commander of the Ninth Division. His demeanor was calm and serious. Upon arrival, he first nodded to everyone, then his gaze fell upon Hinamori Momo, who was clearly distracted, and he asked in a deep voice:

"Hinamori, did you summon us here because there's some concrete news from Hitsugaya?"

The arrival of the last two added a subtle twist to the already somewhat oppressive atmosphere.

Yanagawa arrived slowly. After receiving a brief message from Hinamori Momo through the Kido Clan's emergency communication system, he canceled his afternoon plans.

Almost simultaneously, another figure appeared at the entrance to the courtyard; it was Rukia Kuchiki.

Her appearance surprised everyone, since she had joined the Kuchiki family and had much less interaction with her former companions.

Rukia bowed slightly to everyone, and only when her gaze met Hinamori Momo's worried eyes did she reveal a hint of genuine concern.

"I'm sorry to have bothered everyone to come all this way." Hinamori Momo's voice was a little hoarse. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

"It's about Shiro... Toshiro Hitsugaya, and Soujiro Kusakabe. The rumors outside are true."

"Both of them have indeed shown the call and characteristics of 'Hyourinmaru' and have been taken away by the Central 46 for isolation and observation."

Despite being mentally prepared, everyone's hearts sank when they heard it from Hinamori Momo—Hitsugaya's closest childhood friend.

Kira Izuru said in a low voice, "This matter is indeed unbelievable."

"So what's the situation now? What did those old men in the Central 46 say? Where's the Captain-Commander?" Renji asked anxiously.

Hinamori Momo shook her head, her face showing even greater worry:

"Specific handling opinions have not yet been issued." His voice trembled slightly.

"Where is Captain Aizen?" Hisagi Shuhei asked calmly. "The Fifth Division should have received the relevant report, right? What are his thoughts or instructions?"

As the vice-captain, he was more accustomed to thinking about problems from the perspective of the squad's duties and superiors' orders.

Mentioning Aizen Sousuke, Hinamori Momo's eyes dimmed, and her fingers clenched tighter: "I reported to Captain Aizen this morning, I'm very worried about Shiro. The captain...

She paused, recalling the scene, "The captain just gently comforted me, saying it was a rare miracle and that I didn't need to worry too much, and that the commander-in-chief would handle it properly."

"They also said that Hitsugaya-kun is an excellent Shinigami prospect, and the Gotei 13 will keep an eye on his development."

Yanagawa listened quietly. Aizen Sousuke... the captain of the Fifth Division, known for his gentle wisdom and the deep affection of his team members.

His reaction sounded exactly like that of a kind and steady leader: calming down his agitated subordinates, expressing his trust in the system, and showing concern for his juniors.

To outsiders, there was nothing wrong with it.

However, considering that Hinamori Momo is Toshiro Hitsugaya's closest person, and given the unprecedented upheaval and potential for this incident, is such a standard form of consolation too bland?

Captain Aizen doesn't seem to care much about his subordinates.

Yanagawa made a note of this minor point of doubt for the time being; what was more important at the moment was Hinamori Momo's condition and Hitsugaya's predicament.

"In other words, the higher-ups are still debating and there is no conclusion yet, while Hitsugaya and Kusaka are currently in a state of isolation and protection, or rather, under surveillance."

"Hinamori, did you contact us hoping we'd do something? Or rather, what do you think we can do right now?"

Hinamori Momo raised her head, looked at Yanagawa, then at her other classmates, her eyes filled with hope and confusion:

"I...I don't know. I'm just scared, scared that Xiaobai will be treated unfairly because of this inexplicable thing, or that she will be involved in some danger."

"Captain Aizen reassured me, but I really can't calm down... So, I thought I'd at least discuss it with everyone, maybe we can come up with a solution, or at least, learn more about the situation?"

Her helplessness and worry touched everyone present. Renji slammed his fist down in frustration: "Damn it! Are we just supposed to sit here and wait?"

Kira Izuru pondered, "It's impossible to directly intervene in the decisions of the Shinigami Academy or its higher-ups. However, perhaps we can try to find out the situation from the sidelines."

"I'll try to hear some relevant information from the Third Division. Captain Ichimaru... sometimes knows some special news."

He put it rather subtly, but Gin Ichimaru, as the captain of the Third Division, was known for his excellent information network.

Hisagi Shuhei pondered for a moment and said, "The Ninth Division is in charge of communications and intelligence gathering. Perhaps some clues can be gleaned from the subsequent reports. I will keep an eye out for them."

Rukia Kuchiki, who had been standing quietly a short distance away, spoke softly, her voice clear and calm:

"The specific handling by the Shinigami Academy is beyond the scope of outsiders' control, but regarding the situation during the quarantine period... perhaps I can try asking my elder brother."

She was referring to Byakuya Kuchiki. "The Sixth Division is responsible for matters concerning nobles. Although this matter doesn't directly involve nobles, given the unusual nature of the incident, as the captain, my elder brother should be aware of some of the details. However…"

She sighed softly, "My elder brother might not reveal it, and besides, it requires the right timing."

This was already the most practical help she could offer. For someone in her current position to proactively inquire about such a sensitive matter required courage, and it also demonstrated her concern for her former comrade.

"I understand... Thank you, thank you everyone." Hinamori Momo nodded vigorously.