Chapter 287 - 287 The Command!
"Toshiro, do you have anything to say?" Yamamoto Genryusai asked.
"Slander! This is all slander from Ichimaru Gin. Previously, this guy lured Momo here, intending to harm her. If I hadn't arrived in time, Momo might have already been killed. Momo and the 3rd Division's Lieutenant, Kira Izuru, can both testify to this," Toshiro defended himself.
"Is that so? Then have the 3rd Division's Lieutenant Kira Izuru and the 10th Division's Lieutenant Hinamori Momo come forward to explain," Yamamoto decided.
Upon hearing Yamamoto's words, Toshiro called out into the distance.
"Momo, Kira, come here."
Earlier, during Toshiro's battle with Gin, to prevent the two from being caught in the aftermath, Toshiro had told them to leave the battlefield. However, they didn't just leave and they watched the fight from a building in the distance.
Now, hearing Toshiro's call, they immediately rushed over.
"Lieutenant Hinamori, Lieutenant Kira, what exactly happened? Can you please explain?" Yamamoto inquired of the two.
"Yes, Captain-Commander."
Momo stepped forward first. "I was at the 10th Division earlier, doing fine, when I suddenly received a message from Izuru, saying he had something important to tell me. Since Izuru and I are good friends, after receiving his message, I didn't think much and came over."
"But upon arriving, I discovered that besides Izuru, Captain Ichimaru was also here. Sensing something was wrong, I tried to leave. However, I never expected Captain Ichimaru to suddenly try to kill me. So, Kira and I joined forces to resist Captain Ichimaru, and Toshiro arrived in time to save us."
After Momo finished speaking, Izuru stepped forward to add, "Captain-Commander, this matter is indeed my Captain's fault. Today, my Captain ordered me to summon Momo here in the evening, using my own name."
"Although my Captain's order was very strange, I never thought he intended to harm Momo. So, in a moment of weakness, I agreed to this."
Because of this, Momo nearly lost her life, so Kira deeply regretted and felt guilty about his actions.
After hearing Momo and Kira's accounts, Yamamoto questioned Gin, "Ichimaru Gin, what is your explanation for Lieutenant Hinamori and Lieutenant Kira's statements?"
Between Toshiro and Gin, Yamamoto clearly trusted Toshiro more. Not only did they have a very good personal relationship, but Kira's testimony also made Yamamoto suspect Gin.
After all, Kira was Gin's Lieutenant. If even his own Lieutenant came forward to accuse him, it was highly likely Gin was at fault.
"Ara ara, I'm truly a failure as a Captain, aren't I? Even my own Lieutenant comes to slander me," Gin said self-deprecatingly. "However... I believe the so-called testimonies of Izuru and Hinamori Momo cannot be taken seriously," Gin shook his head.
"Why not?" Yamamoto asked.
"Isn't it obvious? Hinamori Momo is from the 10th Division, even the lover of the 10th Division's Captain. Naturally, she would speak for him. As for Kira, although he is my 3rd Division's Lieutenant, his relationship with the 10th Division's Captain is extremely close."
"The two have been very close friends since their Shin'o Academy days. Even now, as the 3rd Division's Lieutenant, Izuru has told me more than once that he wants to transfer to the 10th Division. Even my orders as the 3rd Division's Captain don't carry as much weight as a single word from the 10th Division's Captain."
"Therefore, given Lieutenant Hinamori's and Izuru's close ties to the 10th Division's Captain, I believe their statements cannot be considered evidence at all," Gin stated.
Yamamoto frowned upon hearing this. What Gin said did hold some truth.
"But relying solely on a letter to claim Toshiro wants to destroy the Seireitei and betray the Soul Society seems rather exaggerated," Yamamoto said, shaking his head.
"No, no, no. I believe this is sufficient to indicate a problem. Haven't you all forgotten how Captain Aizen died?" Gin asked, narrowing his eyes.
Then, without waiting for an answer, he continued, "Captain Aizen was killed cleanly, with almost no signs of a struggle at the scene, not even a single sound."
"Keep in mind, Captain Aizen's death occurred at the East Holy Wall, which is very close to the 1st Division. Yet, on the night of the incident, the Captain-Commander stationed at the 1st Division didn't detect any commotion. This suggests Captain Aizen was likely killed instantly by the perpetrator, without even time to call for help."
"But my question is... Who in the entire Soul Society can instantly kill a Captain-level figure?"
"The answer is obvious. Within the entire Soul Society, only the Captain-Commander, and... the Vice-Captain-Commander and 10th Division's Captain, Hitsugaya Toshiro, whose strength rivals the Captain-Commander's, could accomplish this."
"How about it? Am I wrong?" Gin swept his gaze over everyone.
"..."
Even Yamamoto had to admit Gin's words were quite reasonable.
The letter left by Aizen before his 'death', combined with Gin Ichimaru's analysis, made 'Toshiro killed Aizen' appear very plausible.
"Hmph!"
Toshiro let out a sudden cold snort.
"What does any of that prove? Besides Aizen's letter, everything else is just your own conjecture. And even Aizen's letter could potentially be forged. So, relying on just this to claim I killed Aizen is utterly ridiculous."
"Moreover, I could just as easily say you killed Aizen. I recall once, after a Captain's Meeting adjourned, I saw Aizen speaking with you, and his tone was far from friendly," Toshiro retorted.
"Oh? Is that so? I don't remember that at all," Gin played dumb.
"Enough! Both of you, stop arguing for now. I will have someone investigate this matter thoroughly. But until then, both of you will accompany me back to the 1st Division," Yamamoto declared solemnly.
No matter what, one of them, Toshiro and Gin, was certainly lying. Regardless of who was telling the truth, this would be a major case that would shake the entire Soul Society.
Gin was the Captain of the 3rd Division, and Toshiro was not only the Captain of the 10th Division but also the Vice-Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.
If Toshiro's story was true, then this would be a major incident involving the 3rd Division's Captain attempting to murder the 10th Division's Lieutenant, frame the 10th Division's Captain, and the Vice-Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.
If Gin's story was true, then the matter was even more serious. The Vice-Captain-Commander and 10th Division's Captain wanting to destroy the Seireitei and betray the Soul Society would become the most significant case in the history of the Gotei 13.
Therefore, before the investigation was concluded, Yamamoto intended to take both Toshiro and Gin to the 1st Division, where he could personally keep an eye on them.
However, at that moment, something unexpected for Yamamoto occurred once again.
Swish! Swish!
Two figures suddenly appeared on the scene.
"Everyone! We are here under orders to convey a command from the Central 46!"