Seireitei, 1st Division Headquarters.
A solemn atmosphere filled the air.
"In the presence of myself, Captain Masatsuki Aozaki, and Captain Yoruichi Shihōin, it is hereby confirmed that Kisuke Urahara, former 3rd Seat of the 12th Division, has successfully mastered Bankai and has passed the captain's assessment, with Captain Isshin Shiba serving as the examiner."
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto slowly stood, his cane striking the ground with a heavy thud. A deep, resonant sound echoed through the room, making the very walls seem to tremble.
The meeting hall was thick with tension.
Everyone held their breath, not daring to show the slightest sign of carelessness.
...
Masatsuki Aozaki felt an intense gaze upon him.
The moment his eyes met those of Third Division Captain Sōsuke Aizen, he experienced a strange sensation—an overwhelming pull, as if drawn in by an irresistible force, unable to break free.
That gaze… it was invasive, predatory.
But unlike before, Masatsuki no longer felt the fear he once had toward Aizen.
With his own strength continuously growing, his confidence had solidified.
If they were to truly clash, he knew the odds were against him—but at the very least, he wouldn't go down disgracefully.
After all, it was common knowledge—Aizen's intelligence was unparalleled, but his direct combat ability was far from invincible.
Masatsuki's Reiatsu might not match his, but he wasn't affected by Kyōka Suigetsu, and his raw destructive power was on an entirely different level.
Right now, if not the entire world, he was certain he could annihilate at least half of Seireitei if he wanted to.
...
Steadying himself, Masatsuki turned his attention back to Yamamoto, who stood before the assembled captains.
Only the old man and his cane could bring him a true sense of security.
Not even his two senior brothers or Unohana could give him that.
...
Yamamoto swept his gaze across the room, his voice steady and commanding.
"Effective immediately, Kisuke Urahara is appointed as Captain of the 12th Division. His official decree will be delivered to the 12th Division barracks."
The moment his words fell, the room fell into absolute silence.
Then, with his usual finality, Yamamoto added:
"That is all."
With that, the meeting concluded.
One by one, the captains rose from their seats and began making their way out of the hall.
...
Masatsuki Aozaki, however, remained seated.
He knew.
There was still unfinished business waiting for him.
And sure enough—
Once the last of the captains had exited, Yamamoto turned his gaze directly onto him.
"Masatsuki Aozaki, stay."
His voice was calm, but firm.
Masatsuki let out a helpless sigh, but obediently stood and stepped forward.
...
The two of them made their way toward the 1st Division Training Grounds.
"Old man, I really can't keep going. Let's take a break," Masatsuki Aozaki said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"It's only been a few seconds. Have you even learned the technique yet? And you're already thinking about resting?"
Yamamoto spoke impatiently, his katana—charred black as if scorched by flames—returning to its normal appearance.
"Are you kidding? Do you not realize the difference in our Reiatsu?"
"At this close range, and without my Zanpakutō, I'd be roasted alive in just a few minutes!"
"Besides, you already know my talent. After watching such a simple move so many times—especially with how clearly you explained it—I'll just practice on my own."
Masatsuki Aozaki rolled his eyes without hesitation, his tone arrogant. Unsurprisingly, Yamamoto responded by landing a punch right on his head.
This old geezer is seriously underestimating me!
The so-called four great techniques of Zanka no Tachi were, at their core, nothing more than skillful applications of its abilities.
For him… for the Ryūjin Jakka in his heart, this was nothing. A few observations were all he needed to grasp the essence of it.
"Hey, old man, let me tell you something."
Seeing that Yamamoto had calmed down, Masatsuki Aozaki ran his fingers through his long, silky hair, grinning as he waved his hand.
Yamamoto leisurely sipped his tea before replying in a low voice, "Oh? What now?"
"Heh heh heh, I'm planning to release someone from the Nest of Maggots and have him join our 12th Division. I already talked it over with Kisuke."
A smug grin spread across Masatsuki Aozaki's face.
Back when he was the 3rd Seat of the 2nd Division, the Nest of Maggots had been completely destroyed during his battle with Kenpachi Kiganjō.
But it was just a prison—nothing the wealthy nobles couldn't afford to rebuild. At the order of the Central 46 Compound, it had been reconstructed in just a month.
"Release someone?" Yamamoto frowned.
That place was full of dangerous criminals. If they were let out carelessly, it could throw Seireitei into chaos.
After all, every individual imprisoned there had been deemed a potential threat under Seireitei's existing regulations.
Releasing one of them wouldn't be simple—it would require the approval of the Central 46.
Yamamoto snorted. "What do you mean 'our 12th Division'? You make it sound like you're part of it."
Masatsuki Aozaki didn't take it to heart. Instead, he responded matter-of-factly,
"I'm a special advisor to the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. That makes me practically family with the 12th Division."
Yamamoto furrowed his brows and scoffed, "Hmph! If anything, you're more like family to Kirio Hikifune."
With that, he shut his eyes in irritation. But despite himself, an image surfaced in his mind—Kirio Hikifune, "ascending to the heavens and stepping into the Soul King Palace."
It had been exactly seven days ago—the day of Kirio Hikifune's "ascension" to the Royal Palace.
No one could have predicted this fool's actions, yet somehow, he managed to get Kirio Hikifune to kiss him in front of everyone before leaving—parting with the words, "I'll wait for you at the Soul King Palace."
The captains had been thrown into an uproar, acting like a bunch of monkeys on a sugar high—bouncing around, hollering in disbelief.
Even Ginrei Kuchiki, known for his composure, wasn't spared. He had completely lost his usual dignified demeanor, left wide-eyed and speechless for so long that he couldn't snap out of it. That alone was enough to show how shocking the whole thing had been.
That was a Royal Guard member!
Everyone had no choice but to acknowledge the sheer audacity of the young captain—daring to stir up trouble with the Royal Guard of all people.
And it probably wasn't just one of them.
Because when Senjumaru Shutara left, she had cast more than a few lingering glances at this so-called "clothes rack."
Yamamoto had kept his expression indifferent at the time, but internally, his mind was in turmoil. Still, he chose to say nothing.
After all, forming a good relationship with the Zero Division wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
The Zero Division had only five members, including Kirio Hikifune, but their strength far surpassed the entire Gotei 13.
Even he—hailed as the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years—had to admit that he wasn't a match for the Zero Division's leader, the "Monk Who Calls the Real Name," Ichibē Hyōsube.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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