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"As you've all noticed, several of our captains are absent."
After the other captains had assembled, Yamamoto addressed the room.
"Come on, old man, don't beat around the bush. Just spit it out," Kyōraku Shunsui said to Yamamoto.
"..." Yamamoto shot him a single glance, and Kyōraku immediately offered an awkward smile, falling silent.
"Shinji Hirako, Hiyori Sarugaki, Lisa Yadōmaru, Hachigen Ushōda, Kensei Muguruma, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, Love Aikawa, and Mashiro Kuna have dabbled in the power of Hollows and have now fled to escape punishment. The captain of the 12th Division, Kisuke Urahara, and the Grand Kidō Chief, Tessai Tsukabishi, are their accomplices."
"HUH? There must be some kind of misunderstanding," Kyōraku immediately protested.
There had to be a mistake. Why would they ever seek the power of a Hollow?
"They have already escaped. That is a fact," Yamamoto stated flatly.
"This is a directive from Central 46. Go to the World of the Living and bring them back."
Yamamoto then produced a document. Kyōraku's brow furrowed. He was on good terms with some of those captains, but now, he was in no position to speak for them.
"Captain Shin, Captain Kiganjō, you two will be responsible for bringing them back."
Yamamoto assigned the mission to Shin and Kenpachi Kiganjō.
Kiganjō was the tenth Kenpachi and the tenth captain of the 11th Division. His strength was considerable, though he would later be defeated by Kenpachi Zaraki, who would then take his place as captain.
"Just the two of us? I think you're underestimating them, Head-Captain," Shin said, looking at Yamamoto.
Yamamoto considered this for a moment and agreed. Although he knew Shin was powerful, he had no idea of the true extent of his strength.
Shin had never truly revealed his power, not even to Retsu Unohana. There simply hadn't been an opponent worthy of his full strength.
"In that case, Kyōraku Shunsui will go with you. Furthermore, the 5th Division's Vice-Captain, Sōsuke Aizen, will now serve as captain. The 3rd Division's Vice-Captain, Gin Ichimaru, will serve as the captain of the 3rd Division."
Hearing this, Shin glanced at Gin Ichimaru. That was a quick promotion. He had only just become a vice-captain, and now he was lucky enough to be made a captain.
The same went for the 9th Division's former vice-captain, Kaname Tōsen. With the defection of the 9th Division's captain, Kensei Muguruma, he too had become a captain.
The Seireitei was undergoing a massive shift in its leadership. Such a major change was usually only seen during a war with Hueco Mundo.
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"You know, I have a feeling there's more to this story." After leaving the First Division barracks, Kyōraku said to Shin.
"You must have noticed it too... There's definitely something wrong here."
"I haven't noticed anything, and don't ask me. The matter is settled. And you should be careful from now on."
Shin said to Kyōraku.
"What do you mean?" Kyōraku didn't understand what Shin was implying.
In truth, Shin was warning him because he was under the influence of Kyōka Suigetsu. Aizen had previously demonstrated his Zanpakutō's ability, placing everyone except Shin under its complete hypnosis. It wasn't that Aizen didn't want to hypnotize Shin—it was that he couldn't.
"Let's go. To the World of the Living," Shin said to Kyōraku and Kiganjō.
"Are you giving me orders?" Kiganjō grinned at Shin.
Shin stopped, turning to look at Kiganjō with a blank expression. "If you don't want to go, then get lost. Don't stand here trying to provoke me, or I'll twist your head right off."
Shin's icy words grated on Kiganjō, who was currently riding a wave of self-satisfaction. Not long ago, he had defeated the previous Kenpachi to claim the title for himself. His pride was at its peak. Of course, that pride wouldn't last long—soon enough, Kenpachi Zaraki would come along and cut him down.
"We're all captains of the Gotei 13. Let's try to get along," Kyōraku quickly interjected.
He knew Shin meant what he said. The last thing they needed was a fight among themselves before they even reached the World of the Living. And if a fight did break out, Kiganjō would undoubtedly be the one to die.
Even though it had been a long time since he'd seen Shin in action, Kyōraku was well aware of his true strength. Kiganjō was no match for him... If he actually fought Shin, he would be slaughtered!
Kyōraku was trying to save Kiganjō, but the man didn't appreciate it at all. He continued to glare fiercely at Shin.
Without a backward glance, Shin walked into the Senkaimon, having already passed a death sentence on Kiganjō in his mind.
Kyōraku and Kiganjō followed him through. When they emerged, only Shin and Kyōraku remained. Kiganjō was gone...
"Where's Kiganjō?" Kyōraku asked, stunned.
"Maybe the Senkaimon had a malfunction. He probably ran into some trouble," Shin said to Kyōraku.
"..." Kyōraku looked at Shin, suspecting he had something to do with it, but he had no proof.
"Sigh."
Kyōraku sighed, knowing that with Shin's personality, saying anything now would be useless. If Shin was truly responsible, then Kiganjō's fate was likely sealed.
'Oh well. It's not like I was close to him anyway.' There was no need to pick a fight with Shin over it.
"So how do we find Hirako and the others now?" Kyōraku asked.
"Are you really planning to drag them back?"
Shin was just here for a vacation. He had no intention of actually capturing Hirako and his group.
"Honestly, I think this whole thing is strange. What's really going on?"
Kyōraku asked Shin.
"Why ask me? You think I'd know? I have no idea, so don't bother asking."
Shin shook his head, refusing to tell Kyōraku the truth. He would let Aizen stay hidden for now. After all, he was counting on Aizen to create the Hōgyoku. He wouldn't sabotage him now. Let Aizen follow his original path—what if the Hōgyoku wasn't created otherwise?
"My gut tells me you know something," Kyōraku said, looking at Shin.
"Don't be ridiculous. Come on, let's go find a place to have some fun."
Shin walked off, leaving Kyōraku behind. Kyōraku watched him for a moment before catching up.
"I say, Shin, are you really not going to do the mission? How are we going to explain this to the old man?" Kyōraku asked as he ran up to him.
"It's simple. I have a way. It won't be a problem, just trust me," Shin said, patting Kyōraku's shoulder.
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