If possible, no Shinigami in the entire Gotei 13 would be willing to face Ryūjin Jakka.
Hikifune Kirio was no different.
But Yadomaru Lisa and the others were imprisoned just for saving her, so she couldn't simply pretend that nothing had happened.
"Principal, don't act like a warrior."
"Put your Ryūjin Jakka away."
"Captain Kirio just called out to me."
Just as Hikifune Kirio was about to endure the heat of Ryūjin Jakka, Aiyan placed his hand on his Zanpakutō.
"Yeah?"
"Captain Kirio."
Aiyan looked at Hikifune Kirio and winked.
"Yes."
Both her soul and memory had been altered. In Hikifune Kirio's eyes, Aiyan was the benefactor who had saved her from dire straits twice, the most trustworthy Shinigami to whom she could entrust everything.
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded and followed his words.
Clang
After hearing this, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni sheathed his Zanpakutō, then walked away without a word, his expression as dark as an active volcano ready to erupt at any moment.
"Captain Kirio, this matter cannot be rushed."
"I don't want to see Lisa and the others imprisoned either."
"But you also saw that Central 46 was destroyed by Urahara Kisuke. Old Man Yama is furious right now. If Captain Aiyan hadn't cured the Hollowfication of the two of you, Jūshirō and I probably wouldn't have been spared either."
Kyōraku Shunsui came over and spoke in a low voice.
"Kensei, Lisa and the others aren't in immediate danger."
"Yamamoto-sensei is not unreasonable. After all, you were both victims of Urahara Kisuke's actions, and now your Hollowfication has been cured. Even if punishment is inevitable, it won't be overly harsh."
"Otherwise, Sensei would have convicted Lisa and Kensei together on the spot instead of temporarily confining them in the Senzaikyū."
"If you want to speak on their behalf, wait a few days until Sensei's anger cools."
Jūshirō Ukitake also joined in to persuade her.
Hearing this, Hikifune Kirio calmed down.
"Captain Aiyan, do you have anything to say?"
Shutara Senjumaru noticed Aiyan's composed and confident demeanor and couldn't help but ask.
After this battle, along with her restored soul and memories, she felt not only gratitude toward Aiyan but also recognition of his skill in handling situations.
Figuring out Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni was, in her mind, merely a matter of minutes for him.
Hearing this, everyone else also turned to listen.
"Is it noble to crush someone to death from the highest seat of power?"
Aiyan glanced around at everyone, and that one sentence made Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru beam with joy.
"Wonderful!"
Hikifune Kirio felt relieved and smiled.
That smile, like a blooming flower, brought a sense of beauty and life to the battlefield after the execution grounds had fallen silent.
"High, truly high!"
At some point, Shutara Senjumaru had recreated her six skeletal arms.
Now, those silver arms clapped in applause.
She was ready to leave the Gotei 13 and did not wish to owe Yadomaru Lisa, Muguruma Kensei, and the others any debt.
With this, not only would her path to the Royal Guard remain unhindered, but she could also repay some of the favors she owed. This pleased her greatly.
"If nothing comes up, it's better to stay away from the First Division for now."
Kyōraku Shunsui and Jūshirō Ukitake exchanged bitter smiles.
They could already imagine Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's expression when, after Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru ascended to the Royal Guard, an order came down from the Soul King's Palace.
At that time, the two of them would surely become his punching bags.
As both his disciples and those who had caused trouble during the battle at the execution grounds, there was no way they'd escape.
Would Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni really not cut them down with Ryūjin Jakka? Unlikely.
However—
Some things cannot be avoided simply because one wishes to avoid them.
In the battle at the execution grounds, aside from Captain Shiba of the 10th Division—who had been patrolling the World of the Living and thus avoided the war by sheer accident—everyone from the Gotei 13, Central 46, and the Kidō Corps had been involved.
Captains, Lieutenants, Kidō chiefs, Kidō vice-chiefs, and even Sages and judges had all been dragged into the fight.
Even the highest judicial authority of Soul Society, Central 46, had been annihilated.
Whether it was stabilizing the situation, post-war reconstruction, or any number of follow-up matters, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni was bound to be at the center of it all.
And so—
On the seventh day after the war, he summoned all the captains of the Gotei 13 to the First Division's meeting hall.
"I've called you here to discuss personnel changes among the captains and Lieutenants of the Gotei 13."
"Muguruma Kensei, Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, Aikawa Love, Yadomaru Lisa, Kuna Mashiro, Tsukabishi Tomioka, and Hachigen Ushōda are all guilty of dereliction of duty and insubordination. I have decided, in my capacity as Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, to strip them of their positions as Shinigami. Their final judgment will be decided once Central 46 is rebuilt."
"As for Captain Hikifune Kirio of the 12th Division and Lieutenant Shutara Senjumaru, they will be transferred to the Royal Guard in the near future."
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni looked at the remnants of the once-complete Gotei 13—now reduced to single digits—and found the sight utterly displeasing.
"The position of captain is of great importance and cannot be left vacant."
"If you have suitable candidates, you may recommend them, provided they meet the selection standards of a Gotei captain."
"We'll begin with the 12th Division."
For the normal functioning of Soul Society—and for appearances—he would not allow the captain and Lieutenant positions to remain empty.
"I recommend Kurotsuchi Mayuri."
"He is one of the few Shinigami in Soul Society who has mastered Bankai and possesses a scientific mind."
"After I leave, he will be the most suitable candidate to take over the 12th Division."
Hikifune Kirio glanced at Aiyan before putting Kurotsuchi Mayuri's name forward.
Her primary reason for choosing him was, of course, Aiyan's recommendation. She had tested Mayuri herself and found his thinking extreme and dangerous, but his talent was undeniable.
If it had been before, she never would have agreed. But considering the pressure Aiyan now exerted over the Gotei 13, even if Mayuri were a dragon, he could only coil obediently. This gave her peace of mind.
"Kurotsuchi Mayuri?"
"That's the Lieutenant of the 5th Division, isn't it?"
"Captain Aiyan, would you be willing to let him go?"
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni naturally knew who Mayuri was—not because of his fame, but because he was Aiyan's Lieutenant.
"I've long intended to send Kurotsuchi Mayuri to the 12th Division."
"With his talent, keeping him in the 5th Division is a waste. The 12th Division, especially after Captain Kirio—who pioneered the creation of artificial souls—and Lieutenant Shutara—who invented the Shihakushō—leaves, will lack scientific expertise. Mayuri is talented but arrogant and difficult to work with, so I've kept him under my watch until now."
"Now that Captain Kirio is willing to acknowledge him, I'm happy to see him take the position."
Aiyan nodded.
As Urahara Kisuke once said, this was a dramatic shift in the balance of power within the Gotei 13—planned, scripted, directed, and performed by Aiyan himself. Naturally, he would not keep Mayuri by his side.
"Besides Kurotsuchi Mayuri, the 3rd, 7th, and 9th Divisions are also without captains."
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni hadn't finished speaking before someone made another recommendation.
Clearly, he intended to fill all the vacant captaincies in one go.
He didn't seem to notice that, starting with Kurotsuchi Mayuri, the authority within the Gotei 13 was quietly shifting into new hands.
...
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