In Gosuke Shigure's original era, the Gotei 13 had not yet been formed.
While Shinigami did exist back then, they were nothing like the organized, honorable defenders of order they were now.
Back then, Shinigami were warlords in black robes—wielders of Zanpakutō who sought power for its own sake.
They didn't just slay Hollows. They killed one another. They murdered souls. They conquered territories. Survival wasn't about justice. It was about whose blade was sharper.
Power was everything.
After adjusting his Shihakushō and sorting out the tangled memories in his head, Gosuke Shigure stepped out of the Eleventh Division barracks.
Though his body hadn't suffered any wounds in battle, collapsing under Kenpachi Tokiyashiki's Reiatsu had drawn some attention. Still, it wasn't a real injury, and it didn't feel right to linger in the barracks pretending otherwise.
"Gosuke, you're finally awake."
A loud, husky female voice cut through the still air. Turning to the side, Gosuke Shigure saw a tall woman walking toward him. She had dark skin, a jagged scar that slashed across her once-beautiful face, and—most notably—only one arm. Her right sleeve hung limp and empty, swaying behind her with each purposeful step.
"Yumi."
He recognized her almost instantly. Her full name was Gomisawa Yumi, the Ninth Seat of the Eleventh Division. Though female, she was as brash and aggressive as any man in the squad, earning her rank through raw grit and battlefield experience.
It wasn't strange at all for a woman to hold a seat in the Eleventh Division—not in this era. In fact, the current Eleventh Division had earned a nickname in Seireitei:
"The Flower Samurai Corps."
That was thanks to Kenpachi Tokiyashiki, who had favored the inclusion of strong female Shinigami. He believed strength knew no gender—and as long as they could fight, he welcomed them.
It was a stark contrast to what would come later.
In the timeline Gosuke remembered, the Eleventh Division's feminine presence would be obliterated during the era of a future Kenpachi—Onikirimaru of Ghost Rock City.
Under Onikirimaru's reign, the Division transformed into a den of rowdy, vulgar bandits. Women were driven out or cut down. By the time Zaraki Kenpachi arrived and slew Onikirimaru, only Kusajishi Yachiru remained as the lone female officer.
That memory still grated at Gosuke. Seeing this version of the Eleventh Division—still vibrant, still balanced—was bittersweet. It wasn't perfect, but it had spirit.
"Gosuke, you're such a disappointment sometimes!" Yumi snapped, crossing her arms. "To collapse from the captain's spiritual pressure? Are you really training seriously? How are you gonna be a vice-captain like that?"
Her tone was teasing, but not cruel. Gomisawa Yumi was known for being straightforward, even to friends.
And she was a friend.
Part of it came from familiarity—Gosuke's name had a "Go" in it, and hers had a "Go" too. They'd bonded over that in their early days. But more importantly, Gosuke Shigure had earned the respect of the Division over time.
Despite his lack of raw strength, he'd accompanied Kenpachi Tokiyashiki longer than most.
In a Division of brawlers and blade-swingers, internal operations were usually neglected. But Gosuke had filled that gap. He was excellent at logistics, organization, and dealing with the bureaucratic tasks most in the Eleventh avoided.
So when the vice-captain seat opened, most of the Division backed him. Not because he was the strongest—but because he kept the Division running.
That kind of promotion would never happen in most squads. But the Eleventh was different.
They loved battle. Loved chaos. Loved the sword. Few in the Division wanted the responsibility of vice-captain. To them, it was a burden—a job full of paperwork and order.
Besides, the most ambitious warriors didn't want to be vice-captain.
They wanted to challenge the captain. To take the title of Kenpachi by force.
But no one—not even the boldest—had dared to challenge Tokiyashiki Kenpachi.
No one, until Soya Mojo.
Gomisawa Yumi's face tensed for a moment, the memory clearly souring her thoughts.
Even if Mojo had abided by the Eleventh Division's rules and defeated Tokiyashiki in a fair duel, the timing felt wrong. The Captain had just finished fighting off a horde of Menos Grande when Mojo issued his challenge.
But fairness wasn't the question. The rules were clear.
If you beat the Kenpachi in a head-on fight, you earned the title.
No one could dispute that.
After a heavy pause, Yumi exhaled and looked back at Gosuke.
"Anyway, you're up at the right time," she said. "Come with me to the captain's quarters. They're making announcements."
Gosuke Shigure's eyes flickered with unreadable emotion, but he gave a small nod and fell into step beside her.
As they walked, Yumi glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Gosuke, I know how much the captain's death hurts you. We all feel it. But like it or not, that guy beat the captain in combat."
"He's our new Kenpachi now."
"…I understand," Gosuke replied quietly. The words felt like lead in his throat.
When they arrived at the captain's quarters, the place was already packed.
Fortunately, the Eleventh Division's barracks included a large training courtyard in front of the captain's chambers. It was built to hold hundreds of people—and today, it needed every inch of that space.
Every seated officer, every squad member, stood solemnly in rows.
Even though Tokiyashiki Kenpachi had died in battle—a death honorable by the Eleventh Division's standards—the loss still weighed on them all.
But they had no choice. Orders had come from First Division to gather.
Then, from the far end of the courtyard, he appeared.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. The founder of the organization. The strongest Shinigami in all of Seireitei.
He had come in person to oversee the transition of power.
Unlike other squads, the Eleventh Division didn't hold their captain's promotion in the grand hall before all other captains and lieutenants.
Their succession was decided here—before the members of the Eleventh alone.
That was tradition.
Yamamoto's deep, gravelly voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Soya Mojo has defeated Tokiyashiki Kenpachi in single combat."
"The battle was witnessed by Kyoraku Shunsui, Captain of the Eighth Division."
"After verification from Central 46 and the Gotei 13, his succession has been approved."
"From this moment forward, Soya Mojo shall bear the title of Kenpachi—the Eighth Generation—and serve as the new Captain of the Eleventh Division."
The courtyard remained silent.
Then, from behind Yamamoto, a young man stepped forward.
He wore the sleeveless white haori of a captain draped over his uniform. His face was calm—too calm. Noble-like, detached, eyes unreadable. He had no Zanpakutō at his hip, though everyone knew that meant nothing.
Power clung to him like mist.
This was Soya Mojo.
He stopped at the front of the courtyard, scanned the gathered Division members, and gave a slight nod.
As if to say:
"You may not like me, but I am your Kenpachi now."