"Captain Aiyan, please wait a moment."
After the meeting to appoint Gotei 13 captains ended, Aiyan was stopped by a voice behind him as soon as he left the conference room.
"Is something wrong, Sister Hana?"
After Aiyan heard this, he turned around and looked at Unohana Retsu, who was walking toward him.
"Have you forgotten the agreement between us?"
Unohana Retsu didn't care that Kotetsu Isane and Matsumoto Rangiku were around him.
She walked up to Aiyan with dignified steps, tiptoed lightly, barely reached Aiyan's shoulder, and whispered:
"When we were in the barrier, we agreed that I would help you cover up the Kaidō · Blessing of Both Hands incident, and you would please me for three days."
No way.
Unohana Retsu is only 1.59 meters tall, while Aiyan is 1.81 meters tall.
If someone whispers something in your ear, she can only stand on tiptoe.
When the Gotei 13 captains who came out from behind the door saw this scene and saw the two looking as intimate as a couple, they were only surprised and didn't think much about it.
After all, with the exception of Aiyan, every Gotei 13 captain up to that point was a Shinigami who had lived for hundreds or even thousands of years.
No one had any secrets from each other.
Especially considering that not long ago, Aiyan had shown a Kaidō surpassing even Unohana Retsu, it was normal for him to attract the attention of the captain of the Fourth Division.
"Of course I haven't forgotten what we agreed on."
"I just don't know when, Sister Hana, you want to cash in?"
Aiyan nodded.
It was true that Blessing of both hands were Kaidō, but when it came to modifying the soul, the best in the field was still the Shinigami who was about to become a member of the Royal Guard.
Without the endorsement of Unohana Retsu, a powerful First Generation Kenpachi, there was no way to avoid Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni thinking of Hollow experiments—something that could even arouse the suspicion of Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru, whose memories had been modified.
As for hiding from Unohana Retsu? There was no need at all.
If he wanted to hide something, he wouldn't have chosen Unohana Retsu.
"Tonight."
Unohana Retsu raised her head and looked directly at Aiyan. The fighting spirit deep in her eyes was like a volcano about to erupt, ready to burst out at any time.
Since the day of the battle at Seireitei's execution ground, she had wanted Aiyan to 'please' her.
Therefore, when Aiyan invited her to enter the barrier, she agreed without hesitation.
Seven days after the war—
Unohana Retsu had been looking forward to, longing for, and preparing for it every moment.
Today—
She could no longer suppress the bloodlust and fighting spirit in her heart.
No, as soon as the meeting ended, she couldn't wait to find Aiyan—just to be sure of one thing.
Do you want to make a date for fencing tonight?
"Good."
Faced with the invitation from Unohana Retsu, Aiyan naturally accepted. He himself was a little itchy.
The previous battle at the execution ground—facing the siege of many captains, Lieutenants, the Kidō Chief and Vice-Chief—seemed thrilling, but in fact was just mowing grass.
As for the subsequent fight with Urahara Kisuke, he had crushed him unilaterally without Reiatsu without even going all out.
Looking at Soul Society today, apart from Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni and Ōetsu, the only ones who could really compete with him were Unohana Retsu and Kyōraku Shunsui.
Others—even Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru—were not qualified.
Only after going to the Royal Guard, rebuilding the skeleton with the power of the Soul King, and breaking the boundaries of Shinigami could one be qualified to fight him.
And this was still Aiyan before breaking the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow.
"I'm waiting for you."
Seeing her goal achieved, Unohana Retsu clearly showed a gentle smile like a spring breeze on her face—but the ferocity and fighting spirit in her eyes made people shudder.
"First Generation Kenpachi."
Aiyan looked at Unohana Retsu's back, and a smile flashed in his eyes under the framed glasses.
Gotei 13—he already accounted for seven.
Not anymore.
The eighth one was waving to him.
"Captain Aiyan, do you have time to chat?"
At this time, Shutara Senjumaru came over, followed by Hikifune Kirio.
"Certainly."
Seeing the two of them together, Aiyan naturally knew the purpose of their visit.
"Captain Aiyan, do I need to step aside?"
Matsumoto Rangiku keenly sensed the difference between Unohana Retsu, Hikifune Kirio, and Shutara Senjumaru coming to find Aiyan—there were many unknown secrets involved.
"Have you ever seen anyone chop off their right wrist before chatting?"
Aiyan asked instead of answering.
"I understand, Captain Aiyan."
Matsumoto spoke lightly and raised the corners of her lips.
With her upright and informal character, Aiyan wouldn't be unhappy even if she took the initiative to avoid the conversation.
However, wherever Aiyan went, he never forgot to pull her along. She followed him like a shadow, truly his right arm—sharing secrets with him. Naturally, this made Matsumoto Rangiku like him even more.
"No wonder."
"The Head Captain wants to recruit for the Gotei 13, but it's harder than reaching the sky. When it comes to Captain Aiyan, those geniuses who are rare in a century rush to join the Fifth Division one by one."
"It would be the same if I were Rangiku."
After listening to Aiyan's words, Hikifune Kirio couldn't help but chuckle.
"In your opinion, is this a good thing or a bad thing?"
Aiyan asked thoughtfully.
"Captain Aiyan, if it were a bad thing, do you think I'd still appear here?"
Shutara Senjumaru covered her mouth and chuckled.
As soon as she finished speaking, the four of them disappeared at the same time.
When their Shunpo stopped, they had arrived at the reconstructed execution ground.
"Sōkyoku, ah…"
"I was so close to death in your hands."
Shutara Senjumaru put her hand on the sealed Sōkyoku and gently stroked the spear, but her voice gradually became colder, causing the surrounding air temperature to drop.
"It wasn't the Sōkyoku that nearly killed you, but the person holding it."
Aiyan corrected.
"So, I choose to support you."
"Oh, right—"
"I forgot to tell Captain Aiyan."
When Shutara Senjumaru heard this, a cold light appeared in her slanted red phoenix eyes—but when she turned around, it had disappeared again:
"Congratulations. You have become the uncrowned captain of Seireitei and the absolute authority of Soul Society."
She was filled with happiness, and a slight smile curled her lips.
Yes.
Shutara Senjumaru had seen clearly that after this battle, the authority of the Gotei 13 had changed hands.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni was just a false captain.
Aiyan Sōsuke was the real captain.
However, not many people knew this.
In her opinion, only she and Hikifune Kirio knew it.
After hearing this, Matsumoto Rangiku's expression remained unchanged, as if she hadn't heard anything, but her right hand under her sleeve quietly reached toward her Zanpakutō.
"Don't be nervous."
"We both agree with Captain Aiyan taking over the Gotei 13."
"In other words, little Rangiku, we are on the same side as you and your Captain Aiyan."
Hikifune Kirio put her hand on Matsumoto Rangiku's shoulder.
Two Shinigami holding the No. 1 and No. 2 positions in Soul Society stood together, instantly creating a breathtaking scene in the desolate and cold execution ground.
"So fast!"
Matsumoto Rangiku's delicate body tensed, and a look of surprise flashed deep in her beautiful eyes.
She had thought that, having achieved Bankai and reached Reiatsu equivalent to Fifteen Level, she could easily kill a Menos Grande—and that her strength would not be inferior to a Gotei 13 captain's.
Unexpectedly, facing the Shunpo shown by Hikifune Kirio, she was still a little overwhelmed.
"Captain Kirio, didn't you want to talk to me?"
"Why did you put me aside and start chatting with Rangiku here instead?"
A hand quietly fell on Hikifune Kirio's shoulder.
Facing Aiyan's Shunpo, her reaction was just like Matsumoto Rangiku's—tense, and instinctively on guard.
"Is this really Shinigami's Shunpo?"
Not only Hikifune Kirio, but also Shutara Senjumaru—watching from nearby—was moved when she saw it.
...
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