After discussing Hollow research with Urahara Kisuke
The atmosphere inside Urahara Shop had grown noticeably heavy.
Gosuke Shigure was the first to break it.
"…Let's leave that topic here."
His tone relaxed slightly.
"Instead—let's talk about the recent Konsō (Soul Burial) field exercise."
Urahara raised his eyes with interest.
"Oh?"
Even Yoruichi
Who had been quietly listening in her black cat form
Lifted her head.
"What about it, sensei?"
Gosuke Shigure smiled faintly.
"Among the students involved this time…"
"…there are quite a few promising ones."
That answer
Immediately caught Yoruichi's attention.
It wasn't skepticism.
It was curiosity.
Because she knew
Better than most
Just how accurate Gosuke Shigure's judgment was.
Back when Kirio Hikifune had been promoted to the Royal Guard
And the position of Captain of the Twelfth Division became vacant
Many candidates had been proposed.
At that time
Gosuke Shigure had recommended someone unexpected.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri.
A criminal imprisoned in the Maggot's Nest (Nesting Ground).
Yoruichi had doubted that decision.
But later
After Urahara Kisuke became captain
He personally brought Mayuri out and made him his subordinate.
And after Kisuke's exile
Mayuri succeeded him as Captain of the Twelfth Division.
That alone
Was enough to prove the sharpness of Gosuke Shigure's insight.
So now
When he spoke again of "promising seedlings"
It naturally drew attention.
Gosuke did not elaborate much.
"Just intuition."
Then he added calmly:
"Kira Izuru."
"Abarai Renji."
"Hinamori Momo."
"These three…"
"…have the potential to become lieutenants."
Yoruichi's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That's quite a high evaluation."
She understood exactly what that meant.
In Soul Society
Even becoming a seated officer was already considered exceptional.
Lieutenant
Was an entirely different level.
As for captains
They were rare existences even across centuries.
Gosuke nodded.
"Captain-class potential is harder to determine."
"But those three…"
"…are very close to that threshold."
Of the three
Abarai Renji possessed the greatest latent growth.
Though still rough around the edges
His combat instincts
And future Bankai potential
Placed him firmly on the path toward captain-class strength.
Yoruichi let out a soft sigh.
"…Interesting."
After a short while
Gosuke Shigure did not remain in the World of the Living any longer.
Having replenished supplies from Urahara Shop
He returned to Soul Society.
Meanwhile
The impact of the Konsō incident continued to ripple outward.
Students from the Shin'ō Academy
Encountering a Hollow attack during field training
Was no small matter.
It highlighted a troubling truth:
Hueco Mundo had grown increasingly unstable.
Fortunately
The Gotei 13 had already recovered from its earlier period of weakness.
With stronger captains now in place
The solution was clear:
Increase surveillance in the World of the Living
And eliminate Hollows more aggressively.
Gradually
The incident faded from broader attention.
But for those who had experienced it firsthand
The impact remained.
For Kira Izuru and Abarai Renji
The memory of helplessness
Facing a powerful Hollow
Burned deeply into them.
It became motivation.
From that day forward
Both began training with far greater intensity.
Their talents
Already above average
Began to sharpen rapidly.
As for Hinamori Momo
Her path took a different turn.
After learning that the one who saved her
Captain Aizen Sōsuke of the Fifth Division
Also served as an instructor at the Shin'ō Academy
She immediately enrolled in his classes.
Her admiration
Quickly deepened into unwavering trust.
And a goal formed in her heart:
To one day join the Fifth Division.
Time passed.
Before long
The students involved in that incident
Graduated one after another.
As expected
Kira Izuru, Abarai Renji, and Hinamori Momo
All chose to enter the Fifth Division.
Not out of coincidence
But intention.
They were following Aizen.
Unaware
Of what that path truly meant.
Meanwhile
There was another graduate
Whose situation was far more complicated.
Kuchiki Rukia.
Unlike the others
She did not have the freedom to choose.
Because now
She bore the name
Kuchiki.
Under normal circumstances
A member of the Kuchiki family
Would be assigned to the Sixth Division.
The division of nobles.
But Byakuya Kuchiki
Had no intention of placing her there.
Because he understood something clearly:
Rukia
Was still, in essence
A commoner.
Even if she carried the Kuchiki name
The nobles would not accept her.
In fact
They would look down on her.
If her talent were exceptional
Perhaps there would be less resistance.
But in truth
Rukia's abilities at that time
Were merely average.
Placing her in the Sixth Division
Would not protect her.
It would isolate her.
Even worse
Subject her to quiet hostility.
Byakuya had seen such things before.
Even Kuchiki Ginrei's adopted son-in-law, Kuchiki Sōjun
Had faced pressure within the noble structure.
Let alone Rukia.
And as captain
Byakuya could not protect her at all times.
So
He made a different choice.
He personally approached
Shiba Kaien, Lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division.
Requesting that Rukia be accepted into the Thirteenth Division.
Though the Shiba family had fallen from noble status
Their influence had not completely vanished.
With both Shiba Kaien and Shiba Isshinserving in the Gotei 13
Their standing remained significant.
Kaien
After considering the request
Agreed.
Thus
Rukia Kuchiki was assigned to the Thirteenth Division.
As an ordinary, unseated Shinigami.
This
Was deliberate.
Byakuya did not want her to become a seated officer.
Because seated officers
Were frontline combatants.
With higher status
Came greater danger.
He chose instead
A quieter path for her.
Safety over prestige.
Of course
He never told Rukia any of this.
Everything
Was done silently.
Behind the scenes.
And it is worth noting
That this arrangement
Was made with the tacit approval of Captain Ukitake Jūshirō.
Although Ukitake was the official captain
His frail health meant
He often delegated responsibilities.
Especially after Kaien became lieutenant
Most division matters
Were handled by him.
Which is why
When Byakuya made his request
He went directly to Kaien.
And so
Without fully understanding why
Rukia Kuchiki
Entered the Thirteenth Division.
A decision
That would one day
Change the fate of the entire world.
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