Nemu placed one hand against her lower abdomen. Her broken arm had not yet recovered. Her face was expressionless, but a faint trace of sadness lingered in her eyes. There was no hatred in her gaze as she kept looking at Yuta.
"In truth, I have always thought that even if Kurotsuchi-sama did not die at the hands of the great kido chief, he would eventually die at the hands of Ishida Uryū," she said quietly.
"After all, it was Kurotsuchi-sama who killed Ishida Uryū's grandfather and subjected him to torture until death. I witnessed that tragedy with my own eyes."
"If not today, then someday in the future," she continued.
"Perhaps at the hands of a young Quincy girl. It wouldn't take great power-just the hatred in her heart and a dagger would be enough."
"Or perhaps at the hands of a member of the Twelfth Division itself, with no reason other than that Kurotsuchi-sama had used them as living bombs."
"Maybe it was Kurotsuchi-sama's fortune to die in the hands of a formidable opponent such as that hollow priest."
"But… I hope that Lord Yuta will assume the position of Captain of the Twelfth Division and take on the responsibility of the Gotei that Kurotsuchi-sama failed to maintain. I will devote myself to assisting Lord Yuta and will obey his orders completely."
"In this way, the blade in Lord Yuta's hand will not only sever Kurotsuchi-sama's sins, but also return clarity to the Gotei."
"This coincides with the purpose of the Zanpakutō carried by every shinigami."
She lifted her eyes slightly. "What do you think, Lord Yuta?"
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's gaze shifted toward Yuta, who remained standing, composed and without a trace of hesitation. The old captain coughed before speaking. "Yuta, if you are willing to serve as the Captain of the Twelfth Division, then Kurotsuchi's death will not be pursued further. What do you say?"
Yuta replied, "Becoming the captain of the Twelfth Division would mean overseeing surveillance across the world, preparing reports, and conducting constant analyses. Just thinking about it already seems exhausting."
The other captains stiffened at his bluntness.
He sounded as though he was dismissing the position before even accepting it.
Several vice-captains clenched their fists discreetly, displeased at how casual he was about a role they considered the peak of achievement. Their faces revealed their irritation, but none spoke out.
Yuta seemed to consider a different direction and then offered, "Here is a compromise. I will serve as a nominal captain, but I will delegate the operations of the division to Shutara Senjumaru from the Royal Guard. Senjumaru will oversee the daily affairs of the Twelfth Division. I will reserve my involvement for major decisions and overall direction."
Nemu stared at him with a steady gaze. "Lord Yuta simply wants to be a captain in name only, a hands-off leader."
Yuta smiled faintly. "You could say it that way. But understand that a small amount of thought from me is worth more than a lifetime of effort in dissection and torture by others."
Nemu's tone remained neutral. "So you mean to say your research surpasses that of Kurotsuchi-sama?"
Yuta spread his hands slightly. "Yes, you can understand it that way."
The room fell tense. Many vice-captains considered his words arrogant. Even Captain Suì-Fēng of the Second Division rolled her eyes at him, visibly displeased.
Kyōraku Shunsui adjusted his straw hat and muttered, "Yuta, your idea sounds convenient, but Squad Zero does not descend from the Soul King's Palace under normal circumstances."
Yuta snapped his fingers, his tone confident. "That will not be a problem."
Several captains exchanged uncertain looks. Some did not even know about the Soul King's Palace being situated in the sky, though a few did. Among them, Unohana Retsu's eyes rested on Yuta, as though curious about what solution he might present.
Shunsui remained cautious, uncertain what sort of method Yuta could possibly mean-one that would reach even the Royal Guard.
Yamamoto coughed again and stated, "If that is the case, then prove it. Should you truly bring Shutara Senjumaru down from the Soul King's Palace to Seireitei, I will allow your proposal. If not, then you will take responsibility as the proper Captain of the Twelfth Division, and there will be no idleness."
The old commander assumed Yuta's condition could not be met; to summon a member of the Royal Guard was no simple task. But he did not yet understand the depth of Yuta's capabilities.
-Soul King's Palace.
Shutara Senjumaru sat before her loom, her six skeletal arms weaving brightly colored fabrics with impossible skill. Threads of red, blue, yellow, and purple shimmered as delicate flowers and intricate designs emerged seamlessly from her work. Her slender figure was adorned in an immaculate black shihakushō and white haori tailored without a single visible seam. Pale skin, long lashes framing narrow red eyes, and a golden headdress marked her presence with elegance.
The rapid rhythm of weaving suddenly halted. The needle snapped under pressure. Her hands stilled as she lifted her gaze toward the endless clouds below, her expression sharp. Something had disturbed the balance.
-Twelfth Division Barracks.
Nemu extended her hand toward the division's compound. "This is the Twelfth Division, Lord Yuta."
At that moment, members of the division had already gathered, with Akon standing among them. Hundreds of shinigami waited at the entrance.
Nemu stood upright before them, her short skirt and formal stance giving her the appearance of a secretary introducing an executive. She spoke clearly. "This is our new captain."
She emphasized the word captain deliberately.
Yuta looked toward the Twelfth Division building, expression steady. Even from where he stood, the heavy presence of lingering spiritual energy from unethical experiments pressed faintly against him.
It would require change.
Yuta raised his right hand, activating spiritual control in full for the first time.
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