The Seireitei’s Judgment
The world blurred around Harry as he soared through the sky, carried by the Shinigami’s high-speed movement. It felt oddly similar to Apparition, but rather than the gut-wrenching sensation of being squeezed through a tight tube, this was smoother—almost natural.
He focused on the city below. The Rukongai had been sprawling and worn down, but ahead lay something completely different. A massive, walled fortress loomed in the distance, pristine white towers stretching toward the sky. Gates, larger than anything he had ever seen, stood closed, guarded by an enormous man with a wild beard.
“The Seireitei,” Kyōraku said casually, as if sensing his thoughts. “Home of the Gotei 13. You’ll like it—unless, of course, they decide you’re a threat. Then, well… not so much.” He chuckled lightly, but Harry didn’t miss the warning beneath his words.
The gates opened as they approached, and in an instant, they were inside. The contrast to the Rukongai was striking—orderly streets, towering buildings, and an air of authority that reminded Harry of the Ministry of Magic. Shinigami moved in all directions, some stopping to glance at him with curiosity. He noticed their eyes linger on him longer than necessary, as if sensing something off.
His presence wasn’t normal here. And they all knew it.
Before long, they arrived at a massive building, where two large doors were pushed open to reveal a grand hall. Inside, seated on raised platforms, were rows of robed individuals—stern-faced men and women who looked as though they had never smiled a day in their lives.
“The Central 46,” Kyōraku whispered to him. “They’re the ones who make the big decisions around here. Try not to tick them off, yeah?”
Harry barely had time to process that before a voice boomed across the chamber.
“State your name and reason for entering the Soul Society.”
The room fell silent.
Harry stepped forward, feeling the weight of countless gazes upon him. He squared his shoulders. “My name is Harry Potter,” he said evenly. “As for how I got here… I don’t know. I died. And then I woke up in the Rukongai.”
Murmurs broke out among the council members. Some looked skeptical. Others… intrigued.
“You expect us to believe that you simply arrived here, with no guidance, no prior knowledge?”
“I don’t expect you to believe anything,” Harry said, keeping his voice steady. “I’m just telling you what happened.”
Another council member spoke. “You wielded a Zanpakutō—a weapon that should only belong to a trained Shinigami. Explain that.”
Harry hesitated. “I don’t know how I did it. It just… appeared when I needed it.”
More murmurs. He could feel the tension rising.
Then, a new voice cut through the noise—calm but authoritative.
“Enough.”
Harry turned to see an elderly man standing at the head of the room, his long white beard giving him an air of wisdom—and danger. He carried a cane, but Harry had no doubt that he was the most powerful person in the room.
“Captain-Commander Yamamoto,” Kyōraku murmured beside him. “Now you’ve got the big guy’s attention.”
Yamamoto’s gaze burned into Harry, measuring him. “You are not an ordinary soul,” he stated. It wasn’t a question.
Harry nodded. “I don’t think so, either.”
Another long pause. Then—
“You will be placed under observation,” Yamamoto declared. “Until we determine the nature of your existence, you will remain in the Seireitei under the watch of the Gotei 13.” His gaze sharpened. “If you are found to be a threat, you will be eliminated.”
Harry met the old man’s stare. He was no stranger to being tested, to being doubted. He had faced Voldemort, death, and fate itself. He wasn’t about to cower now.
“Understood,” he said simply.
Yamamoto nodded. “Very well. Captain Kyōraku, you will oversee him for now.”
Kyōraku sighed dramatically. “Ah, babysitting duty. And here I thought my week would be peaceful.”
Harry rolled his eyes. He had a feeling this was going to be a long stay.