Chapter 285 - 285 False Accusation!
"Rangiku..." Hearing Rangiku's words, Toshiro hesitated momentarily.
"Captain, you needn't worry about me. Right now, the person here is just the Lieutenant of the 10th Division, not the Matsumoto Rangiku who knows Gin Ichimaru."
With that, Rangiku drew her Zanpakuto and walked towards Gin.
Seeing the approaching Rangiku, Gin couldn't help but call out sadly, "Rangiku..."
"Captain Ichimaru, you shouldn't have angered Captain." Rangiku forced down her emotional turmoil, her expression blank.
"Captain Ichimaru, huh?" Gin's tone carried some disappointment.
"Well, whatever. Being able to die by your hand might be a fortunate thing..."
"Do it, Rangiku." Gin closed his eyes.
"Then, farewell, Captain Ichimaru!" Rangiku hardened her heart.
Swish! Rangiku swung her sword at Gin.
"Halt!" A loud shout suddenly came from afar.
Sensing someone's arrival, Toshiro instinctively tightened his grip on his Zanpakuto but hesitated and ultimately didn't stop the newcomer.
Before the shout faded, the newcomer appeared beside Rangiku, easily grabbing her Zanpakuto with his right hand.
"You are… Captain-Commander?!" Rangiku exclaimed in shock.
"Lieutenant Matsumoto, as a Lieutenant, why are you attacking the Captain of the 3rd Division?" Yamamoto asked.
"I..." Rangiku was momentarily at a loss.
"Don't trouble Rangiku, Captain-Commander. I ordered her to act." Toshiro stepped forward.
Hearing this, Yamamoto frowned.
"Why? Why fight Captain Ichimaru, even to the point of killing him?" Before arriving, Yamamoto sensed Toshiro and Gin fighting but didn't expect it to be so serious. From the scene, Toshiro clearly intended to kill Gin.
Initially, although sensing their clash, Yamamoto thought it was just a dispute, at most a fight. He came to understand the situation and mediate.
But now, it was clearly more than that. If he hadn't arrived in time, Gin would be dead.
Captain-level weren't common. With Aizen just 'dead', losing Gin would severely weaken the Soul Society's strength. So, even with Toshiro's status, without a proper explanation, he'd face punishment.
"Captain-Commander—"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Before Toshiro could explain, figures appeared one after another… Captains who had hurried over upon sensing Toshiro and Gin's clash.
Sui-Feng, Unohana, Byakuya, Komamura, Kyoraku, Tosen, Zaraki, Mayuri, Ukitake… all looked at the scene with confusion.
"What happened? What's going on, Old Man Yama, Toshiro?" Kyoraku asked.
Ukitake: "Genryusai-sensei..."
Unohana: "Captain-Commander, Vice-Captain-Commander Hitsugaya, could you explain what exactly happened?"
The remaining Captains, though silent, all looked at Toshiro, Yamamoto, and Gin.
Seeing everyone's confusion, Toshiro spoke up, "Captain-Commander, and all Captains, here's what happened. Earlier, Captain Ichimaru Gin used deceit to lure my division's Hinamori Momo here, then brazenly attacked, attempting to harm her—"
"Ara ara, Captain Hitsugaya, is it really okay for you to falsely accuse me like this?" Gin suddenly said.
"What?" Toshiro frowned.
"I said… you are falsely accusing me, Captain Hitsugaya." Gin said, narrowing his eyes.
"What's going on?" Yamamoto asked gravely.
"Captain-Commander, and all Captains, I wish to report that the Vice-Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Captain of the 10th Division, Hitsugaya Toshiro, intends to destroy the Seireitei and betray the Soul Society!" Gin stated solemnly.
"What?!"
"How is that possible?!" Everyone exclaimed. Gin's words were like a heavy bomb, stunning them all.
Toshiro's face darkened.
"Do you know what you're saying, Ichimaru Gin?" Toshiro's tone was icy, his eyes fixed on Gin.
"Of course I know what I'm saying, Captain Hitsugaya." Gin looked at Toshiro fearlessly.
"Gin, Toshiro is the Vice-Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. Do you know the penalty for falsely accusing him?" Yamamoto's tone was unfriendly.
Clearly, compared to Gin, Yamamoto trusted Toshiro more.
After all, Toshiro wasn't only the Vice-Captain-Commander, ranking above Gin, but also had excellent personal relations with Yamamoto.
Yamamoto had always groomed Toshiro as his successor, diligently teaching him swordsmanship and more. Even the Vice-Captain-Commander position was created by Yamamoto for Toshiro. Yamamoto wholeheartedly nurtured Toshiro, hoping he would one day succeed him in protecting the Soul Society.
So now, with Gin suddenly claiming Toshiro wanted to destroy the Seireitei and betray the Soul Society, Yamamoto instinctively thought Gin was spouting nonsense.
"Captain-Commander, what I say is true. The reason Captain Hitsugaya wants to kill me is because I discovered his secret of betraying the Soul Society. He fears I'll expose his hypocritical true face, so he wants to silence me." Gin Ichimaru said righteously.
However, both Yamamoto and the other Captains watched him expressionlessly, unmoved by his words.
Toshiro betraying the Soul Society? What a joke! Toshiro was the Vice-Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, the next Captain-Commander, second only to one, above tens of thousands.
Moreover, Yamamoto might pass the position to Toshiro anytime. Then, Toshiro would be the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, the true ruler of the Soul Society. No one believed Toshiro would betray the Soul Society.
"Ara ara, it seems none of you believe me. How troubling." Gin Ichimaru smiled.
"But I have evidence!" A glint flashed in Gin's eyes.
Hearing this, Toshiro felt a sense of foreboding.
"What evidence?" Yamamoto asked.
"The evidence is—"