Kyoraku Shunsui's simple hope ultimately never received a response.
Over the next two years, Kirinji came down once from the Royal Palace, hoping to treat Head Captain Yamamoto.
But the results of that treatment were also far from ideal, and Head Captain Yamamoto still showed no signs of waking up.
Because of this, Head Captain Yamamoto was transferred to the Eighth Division, where Kyoraku Shunsui alone took responsibility for caring for him.
Rosse still held the position of Acting Head Captain. Before, it had been an unspoken consensus, but now it was placed openly on the table.
As for this outcome, most of the captains chose to acquiesce.
The main reason was that Rosse had given them too much.
Even Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who cared only about research, felt that Rosse was a better choice for Head Captain than anyone else, let alone the others.
Central 46 spent half a year completing its reconstruction, but under the pressure of Rosse and the other captains, it became a leisurely organization that only managed noble affairs.
In name, Central 46 still held the function of the Shinigami court, but in reality, when something actually happened, it was basically handled autonomously by each division, and it would never be taken to Central 46.
If nothing else, asking Rosse to step in was better than making a fuss there.
The Second Division also welcomed a new captain, with Toshiro Hitsugaya, nominated by Rosse, taking the position, and the vice-captain post being held by Shiba Kukaku.
This was the first time that the Second Division's captain was not a member of the Shihoin line.
It was also the first case of someone transferring from another division to become the Second Division's captain.
Likewise, it was the first case of nobles from the other Five Great Noble Families serving as vice-captain in the Second Division.
But with the overall trend of Soul Society firmly in Rosse's grasp, the Second Division and the Shihoin family naturally raised no objections.
Those who voiced opposition disappeared the very next day.
Anyone who survived was at least someone who showed support on the surface.
Under these circumstances, the situation in Soul Society gradually stabilized and began slowly accumulating strength.
No one had forgotten why Head Captain Yamamoto was still in a deep sleep.
With a great enemy ahead, everything was focused on strength. No one could point out any problem with that.
What's more, after Rosse became Acting Head Captain, the status of the entire Gotei 13 rose sharply.
Rukongai was brought under the management of the Gotei 13. For tangible benefits, the former thugs and hooligans were completely swept away.
Merchants and residents converted the tributes they once paid to nobles and thugs into rent and taxes, which they handed over to the Gotei 13.
And the Gotei 13 set up temporary division outposts in every district, providing security for each area.
After land was replanned, the middlemen who profited from price differences were removed, and the average income of Gotei 13 Shinigami increased by more than tenfold.
As for the portion the nobles lost, naturally no one cared.
Even the Kuchiki family had taken the lead in giving up profits. Whoever dared to defy this would be standing against the entire Soul Society.
This period of stability lasted until Kurosaki Ichigo turned sixteen, the day he entered his first year of high school.
———
[Kurosaki Clinic]
"Old Man, I'm heading to school."
The orange-haired boy said goodbye to his family and left the house with his usual lazy stride.
As he walked down the street, the boy's gaze subconsciously swept left and right, as if observing something.
His name was Kurosaki Ichigo, an ordinary high school student living in Karakura Town.
But in truth, he had never been ordinary.
From the day his mother died, he awakened an ability that allowed him to see souls.
It was also at that time that he realized people really did have souls after death.
And after a period of time, those souls would disappear. Maybe they went to the world of the dead, or maybe they were reborn directly.
When he realized he had this ability, his first reaction was regret.
If only he could have held on a little longer back then, if he hadn't fainted that day, he would have been able to say goodbye to his mother.
His memories of that day were very hazy. He only remembered that in his blurred consciousness, he saw his mother suddenly convulse and collapse while saving a little girl who had jumped into the river.
After that, he remembered nothing at all.
At that time, he was still far too young. His mind was too weak. Seeing his mother fall into the water threw him into a panic, and he actually fainted on the spot.
Every time he thought about this, Kurosaki Ichigo felt his heart constantly tightening.
If he hadn't fainted that day, would the outcome have been different?
"Sigh!"
Kurosaki Ichigo let out a wistful sigh. Looking at the middle-aged soul blocking his path ahead, he subconsciously swung his arm, trying to brush him aside.
Although he could see souls, he couldn't actually harm them. He could only sweep them away, causing no damage at all.
The reason for making that brushing motion was simply so he wouldn't walk face-first into them.
But this time, he miscalculated.
Feeling his arm suddenly freeze in midair, as if it had hit an iron plate, Kurosaki Ichigo's face stiffened, "Mister, are you alive?"
"Boy, what gave you the feeling that I'm not alive?"
The man gently lowered Kurosaki Ichigo's hand, a warm smile on his face.
"Ah! Sorry! Sorry! I really had no idea. I was kind of half-asleep just now!"
Kurosaki Ichigo hurriedly pressed his palms together in apology, his tone extremely sincere.
This kind of mistake happened often when he had first gained his ability, and it caused quite a few awkward incidents.
But after he became familiar with the difference between souls and living people, he had never made a mistake again.
'Wait...'
Thinking of this, Kurosaki Ichigo suddenly froze.
He abruptly raised his head and carefully examined the man in front of him, then said in a slightly frightened voice:
"Mister! You're not alive at all, are you? You don't even have a shadow! Hey, wait, if you're a soul, then why can I still touch you?"
"Calling me 'mister' over and over is a bit impolite. I'm not that old. Just call me Aizen," Aizen smiled gently, his expression not the least bit impatient.
"My name is Kurosaki Ichigo! Mister Aizen, what do you want with me?"
Kurosaki Ichigo wasn't actually an idiot. Hearing the other party introduce himself, he knew he had come specifically to find him.
In an instant, his mind filled with scenes of his special ability being discovered and then being targeted by some special organization.
'Isn't that how it always goes in manga?'
Those kids who have special powers from a young age, on some day during high school, a guide appears, knocks on their door, and then leads them into a brand-new world.
"So your name is Kurosaki Ichigo... a nice name. Then, Ichigo! Do you want to see the truth of this world and enter the real world?", Aizen lightly adjusted his glasses, his expression turning serious.
'It's here! It's here!'
Kurosaki Ichigo screamed wildly in his heart, 'This is it, this is the scene. This is exactly it!'
The plot of manga, at this very moment, had shone into reality.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.