Chapter 16: Intruders

An emergency order to return to base was issued. There is a squad funeral.

Squad 1 lieutenant Chojiro Sasakibe has passed away.

Listen carefully. I'm going to summarize the current situation. Do not ask any questions. I'm only going to say this once.

Fifty-seven minutes ago, seven unidentified men infiltrated the Squad 1 office.

Fifty-two minutes ago, they withdrew. One officer is dead. The head captain is safe.

At the same time, an unknown intruder was spotted near the Kokuryo Gate, which was being guarded by Squad 1. In a battle lasting 182 seconds, 116 officers were killed.

Lieutenant Sasakibe was critically wounded there, taken to the Squad 1 office by unknown means, and later passed away.

Furthermore, the number of intruders are unknown due to all witnesses being killed. According to the Spiritual Pressure measurements, there is a high probability that there was only one intruder.

Lastly, the paths of entry and withdrawal of these intruders are both unknown. Considering there were no signs of changes to the Soul Shield Membrane that surrounds the Seireitei...

...these intruders are believed to possess a means of safely traveling through our spiritual barriers.

I don't like this... I guess I'll go patrolling.

............

This might be an optimistic view, but...

...the fact they gave Yuki, an ordinary officer, that detailed of a report...

...must mean they knew he was with you.

Put it another way, it may mean they wanted you to know the situation.

You'll probably be called in, in one form or another, sometime in the near future. But at this point, there's nothing we can do.

You already gave Yuki details of the guys you fought. I think all we can do is be on alert.

Huh?

Iiichiigooooo!!!

N-Nel?!

Y-You... We haven't seen each other in a long time and this?!

I-Ichigo... We have a big problem, Ichigo.

Help, Ichigo. Hueco Mundo is... Hueco Mundo is....