On the third day after Yūshirō Shihōin returned from the Dangai to Soul Society, he officially succeeded Yoruichi as Captain of the Gotei 13's 2nd Division.
"You finally came back! The Captain ran off without a word, left me to clean up all this mess—I can't handle it alone!"
That was Ōmaeda Hishigen, the current Vice-Captain of Squad Two. A man with the trademark looks of the Ōmaeda family—(the men of the Ōmaeda bloodline tended to inherit the family features more than the women)—he had been considered a reliable deputy by Yoruichi herself, diligently supporting her throughout her tenure.
"Uncle Jin, what are you saying? While I'm in charge, I'll still be relying on you."
Yūshirō smiled faintly, his simple words carrying a promise—that the Ōmaeda family would continue to enjoy special protection and prestige within Squad Two during his leadership.
"Ah… forget it. Since Lady Yoruichi has already left Soul Society, it's about time I stepped down anyway. Ever since I became Vice-Captain, I've neglected my household. My wife's been complaining, and the kids are still young."
Hishigen waved his hands quickly. Yūshirō's reassurance was enough; he had no desire to keep clinging to the position. He understood well: a new ruler, new ministers.
"Is that so? I recall that Hichiyo isn't so young anymore. He ought to come train with Squad Two sometime."
Yūshirō added.
"True… but that boy… sigh, he's useless. A disgrace to the Ōmaeda name."
"I'll speak with him myself."
Hishigen gave a small nod, clearly burdened by the incompetence of his heir.
"Well then, allow me to congratulate you on your retirement in advance."
Arms folded across his chest, Yūshirō smiled easily as he sat before him.
"Thank you. But you've just been promoted to Captain of Squad Two—you must be busy. Go on, focus on your duties. Don't worry about me."
Hishigen bowed his head repeatedly.
"Haha… then I'll excuse myself. No need to see me out."
Yūshirō nodded and rose, leaving through the Ōmaeda estate gates. Hishigen escorted him out with a few polite exchanges, then returned inside.
The moment he stepped back into his home, Hishigen couldn't help but laugh aloud. He knew now: under the Shihōin family's shelter, the Ōmaeda would continue to thrive. That was enough.
—
Once Yūshirō fully assumed the mantle of Squad Two Captain, he enacted sweeping reforms.
First, with Hishigen's consent, all vice-captain duties were reassigned to Marechiyo Ōmaeda's younger cousin, Suzumebachi Ayame. Hishigen remained only in name, already preparing for official retirement.
Next came a total reshuffling of the seated officers, from Captain down through Seventh Seat.
Squad Two now stood as:
Captain: Yūshirō Shihōin
Vice-Captain: Suzumebachi Ayame
Third Seat: Kurotsuki (alias of Kuruyashiki Kenpachi)
Fourth Seat: Lilynette Gingerbuck
Fifth Seat: Tier Harribel
Sixth Seat: Szayelaporro Granz
Seventh Seat: Tsunayashiro Tokinada
Within the Stealth Force (Onmitsukidō), the reorganizations were just as radical:
Yūshirō, as Captain, was also Supreme Commander of the Stealth Force.
Ayame, as Vice-Captain, led the Patrol Corps (2nd Division of the Onmitsukidō).
Kuruyashiki (Third Seat) commanded the Covert Ops unit.
Harribel (Fifth Seat) led the Assassination Corps.
Tokinada (Seventh Seat) oversaw the Penal Force.
Together, Squad Two and the Onmitsukidō became an unbreakable fortress of steel, stronger than anyone dared imagine.
—
Meanwhile, beneath Central 46 in the Great Spirit Book Hall, Tsunayashiro Tokinada scowled.
He had searched every record related to Shihōin Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke—yet found nothing. Impossible. The Book Hall forcibly recorded all events in Soul Society. For gaps to exist meant only one thing: tampering.
"Head of House… are you certain no one else entered here during the Hollowfication Incident?"
Tokinada pressed his clan leader.
"…No one. Yet the records bear signs of alteration. And only members of the Tsunayashiro possess the ability to rewrite them. Which means…"
The clan head's face darkened.
"I may have been… controlled."
Tokinada's eyes widened. "What?"
Though frail in appearance, his clan head was still a master on par with Kuchiki Ginrei's generation. For someone of that level to be manipulated—it was chilling.
"Psychological suggestion, kidō, bizarre Zanpakutō abilities… the means are endless. Denial is meaningless. What matters is uncovering the truth."
"Then… what about Aizen Sōsuke?" Tokinada asked.
The head's eyes flickered strangely at the name.
"…He was seen in Urahara's old lab after the incident. Searching for something. It seemed natural enough—he and Urahara are cut from the same cloth."
"I see." Tokinada bowed slightly and withdrew, thoughts racing. His lord's words could no longer be trusted. The enemy was everywhere. He would uncover the true hand behind it all—for Yūshirō's sake.
—
For a month, Soul Society remained unusually quiet. Yūshirō's radical shakeup had left many factions unsettled. They lay low, waiting.
Until—
Yūshirō submitted an application to Central 46.
The judges groaned as they read it.
"Don't tell me this is… about his sister again?"
"If only. This has nothing to do with Yoruichi."
Sweat trickled down their foreheads.
The sages read the application. One choked on his tea.
"What… utter nonsense!"
"Impossible! A Shihōin heir submitting such a ridiculous demand!"
But there it was, in black and white:
"For the health and well-being of all shinigami, I hereby propose an eight-hour workday, adoption of holidays equivalent to the human world, and a two-day weekend."
The chambers erupted in outrage.
Yet the application could not be ignored. It bore the seal of the 2nd Division Captain, Supreme Commander of the Onmitsukidō, and heir of the Shihōin family.
Kyōraku Shunsui roared with laughter. "Hahaha! I thought he was rallying us to overturn Yoruichi's exile. Turns out he just wants paid leave!"
Aizen smiled faintly, bemused. "Yūshirō Shihōin… your mind is impossible to predict. To demand holidays for shinigami—only you could think of such a thing."
The news spread across Seireitei like wildfire. Even the rebel shinigami hiding in the Rukongai heard it.
Their leader read the message and went pale.
"If this is true… then our revolution is already over."
For they had risen in rebellion against Soul Society's endless oppression—its relentless work without rest. Now, of all people, a scion of the Five Great Noble Houses had stood up and demanded reform.
Meanwhile, in the Captain's office, Yūshirō hurled a stack of paperwork aside.
"What kind of joke is this? I'm a noble! Why should I work? I'm already invincible—my only duty should be to play, play, and play!"
At last, the truth was clear.
Yūshirō Shihōin didn't want justice. He didn't want revenge.
He just didn't want to work.