"Who are you planning to release?" Yamamoto asked, his expression unreadable.
Masatsuki Aozaki answered without hesitation. "Mayuri Kurotsuchi."
"The former 12th Division member who researched the Quincy?" A flicker of surprise flashed through Yamamoto's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Very well. I'll report it to the Central 46 Compound."
Masatsuki Aozaki was caught off guard by how readily Yamamoto agreed.
He had expected some resistance—after all, Mayuri Kurotsuchi's actions had stirred quite a bit of controversy at the time.
In truth, Yamamoto had been aware of Mayuri's name since the early days of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, having learned about him from Kirio Hikifune. He had even looked into him extensively.
To Yamamoto, Mayuri being imprisoned for his Quincy research was not a major issue.
But since Seireitei's upper echelon had deemed such research dangerous, his arrest had been a reasonable course of action.
Still, Yamamoto had no intention of refusing his disciple's request.
He understood that, as the future Captain-Commander, Masatsuki Aozaki would need his own forces and loyal subordinates.
Just like the original Gotei 13—after its formation, it answered to no one but him, disregarding even the will of the nobles. It was that absolute control that allowed him to lead the Gotei 13 until now.
But Masatsuki only had Kyōraku and Ukitake by his side—that alone wouldn't be enough.
Though he had strong personal connections with Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi Shihōin, and others, such relationships were purely personal. Whether they would provide unwavering support in crucial moments was still uncertain.
That was why building his own core team was essential.
With that thought, Yamamoto nodded slightly to himself.
Masatsuki Aozaki's decision to secure a solid and reliable foundation for himself in advance was commendable.
It only reaffirmed that Yamamoto had made the right choice in choosing him as his successor.
"This is perfect! Nemu Kurotsuchi won't be far from me now!"
Masatsuki Aozaki rejoiced inwardly, already imagining a future filled with endless training sessions. Completely oblivious to how much effort his kindhearted Master had put in for him, he could no longer suppress his excitement. A broad grin spread across his face as he cheerfully said,
"Master, actually, I have a small favor to ask! It's about Rangiku—I was hoping to get some time off for her."
At the mention of "Rangiku," Yamamoto's stern face instantly softened, and a rare, warm smile tugged at his lips.
Even though this girl shared quite a few similarities with Masatsuki Aozaki—
Always looking for clever ways to shirk responsibility, never showing proper respect for her elders, frequently frustrating Chōjirō, and even sneaking drinks during work hours…
The fact that she still took a liking to this hopeless disciple of his proved that she had a kind and generous heart.
Watching the old man's expression shift so drastically, Masatsuki Aozaki immediately understood—this old geezer was applying a double standard yet again.
No doubt, he was probably disparaging Masatsuki in his mind while showering Rangiku with endless praise.
This was just how the old man was—he doted on Rangiku endlessly, yet when it came to Masatsuki, all he ever received were punches and kicks.
How could anyone be this blatantly biased?
Masatsuki Aozaki sighed heavily, his face full of exaggerated grief, shaking his head as if burdened by the weight of the world.
He lifted his teacup, drinking as though it were fine sake, hoping to wash away his frustrations.
Yamamoto, long accustomed to his disciple's dramatic antics, remained utterly unfazed—his heart as still as a calm sea.
He spoke with a calm expression.
"You're asking for leave again? Didn't you say before that you wanted to contribute to the future of Soul Society? You already took an entire month off for that."
"But I haven't seen any sign of that so-called contribution. How long do you plan to take off this time? At the very least, you should have a reason."
Masatsuki Aozaki answered seriously.
"It's not that we don't want to contribute—we've already tried our best."
"But as you know, Shinigami have unique constitutions. It's not something that can be achieved so easily."
His expression grew more solemn. Leaning in slightly, he lowered his voice.
"But this time, we really do have something important to handle. I want to help Rangiku grow stronger—assist her in achieving Bankai."
Yamamoto raised an eyebrow at that and asked,
"Rangiku's Zanpakutō hasn't even materialized yet. Are you planning to use that Bankai training tool—the Tenshintai?"
As a staunch traditionalist, Yamamoto had never been fond of such shortcuts.
After all, what takes ordinary people decades—sometimes centuries—to master, this method accomplishes in just three days. Who knows what kind of hidden dangers it might bring?
Fortunately, his disciple hadn't disappointed him. Masatsuki had achieved Bankai through sheer effort and training. Otherwise, he would have received a harsh reprimand.
"You've seen Kisuke's situation—so far, no issues have appeared," Masatsuki Aozaki said. "Using the Tenshintai requires exceptional natural talent as a Shinigami, but I believe Rangiku can handle it."
Yamamoto gave a slight nod. He hadn't noticed any problems with Kisuke Urahara's Bankai.
"Very well. That child Rangiku has been stuck at the Third Rank for years now."
"If you're confident, then go ahead and try. Just make sure to stay safe."
...
As the sun dipped below the horizon, its golden afterglow bathed the walls of the 1st Division's barracks, casting a warm sheen over the entire building.
Masatsuki Aozaki walked briskly out of the dojo, searching for Rangiku Matsumoto.
At last, he found her in a secluded corner, buried under a pile of paperwork.
He quickly stepped forward, gently patting her shoulder before explaining the entire situation in detail.
The moment he finished, Rangiku's eyes lit up. She sprang to her feet, practically glowing with excitement.
"This is amazing! Finally, I get some time off! That means I can dump all my work on Lieutenant Chōjirō again!"
Her joy was unmistakable, her eyes sparkling.
The surrounding squad members immediately sensed the shift in atmosphere and, almost instinctively, turned their gazes toward Chōjirō Sasakibe.
His face had already darkened considerably. But before he could explode, several team members quickly rushed in, grabbing him by the arms and dragging him away.
At that moment, Masatsuki Aozaki and Rangiku Matsumoto paid no attention to Chōjirō's predicament. Completely caught up in their excitement, they exchanged a look filled with mutual understanding before embracing.
Rangiku sighed dramatically. "Training for Bankai… it sounds impossible."
Masatsuki Aozaki, however, remained unconcerned.
He knew that Rangiku Matsumoto possessed incredible talent—so much so that even Kisuke Urahara couldn't compare.
"Don't worry. If Kisuke could do it, so can you."
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake