"Ah, it's Captain Tsugikuni of the Ninth Division! Make way, make way!"
While Yoriichi Tsugikuni stood outside the Thirteenth Division, judging how far the internal challenge had progressed, some Shinigami noticed his appearance and quickly made way for him.
Seeing this, Yoriichi felt a bit helpless.
He paused for a moment, but ultimately walked in, finding the scene bustling with activity.
It felt like a graduation ceremony to him, with all the division members, Seat Officers, Vice-Captains, and Captains present.
"You're here."
Inside the inner court, Jūshirō Ukitake saw Yoriichi Tsugikuni's arrival and nodded slightly at him.
Beside him was Kyōraku Shunsui, wearing a straw hat and with his brows lowered.
Kyōraku Shunsui seemed unconcerned about the challenge, his demeanor relaxed.
Hearing the greeting, he slowly raised his head and looked at Yoriichi Tsugikuni as well.
In that instant, he suddenly remembered something, and a flicker of thought crossed his eyes.
As Yoriichi approached, Kyōraku Shunsui leaned in and asked, "Yoriichi, what do you think of Nemu's challenge?"
"It seems that Third Seat Mayuri Kurotsuchi has a conflict with Captain Urahara.
It is this conflict that led to today's incident."
"Without a doubt, Ukitake will lose, because that child has learned your sword techniques. After he loses, it will be my turn…"
"So you also think you'll lose?"
Yoriichi Tsugikuni's words left Kyōraku Shunsui speechless for a moment.
He slightly parted his lips, but couldn't utter a word for a long time.
After a long pause, he let out a heavy sigh, his expression helpless: "Of course. My Zanjutsu is on par with Ukitake's; it has been that way since our student days."
"Although you are still ahead of me, I don't believe Mayuri Kurotsuchi will let Nemu Kurotsuchi challenge you."
"His goal for this trip is to prove the strength of artificial Shinigami, not to let them lose, even if there's a slight risk, it's impossible."
"Nemu, that child, following Mayuri, she really has it hard."
Kyōraku Shunsui lowered his straw hat and asked Yoriichi Tsugikuni in an extremely subtle voice, "About this, Yoriichi, what are your thoughts?"
Yoriichi was silent. What thoughts could he have? If Nemu was in danger, he would naturally intervene to save her.
But, now, listening to Kyōraku Shunsui's words…
Was he suggesting that he should take Nemu Kurotsuchi's guardianship from Mayuri Kurotsuchi?
It was just one challenge, was it necessary to go to such an extent?
Mayuri Kurotsuchi would probably be furious, as in his eyes, Nemu Kurotsuchi was his property.
Even if Kisuke Urahara had instilled some independent thoughts in her.
But as long as Mayuri Kurotsuchi was still her nominal father, Nemu Kurotsuchi would always be unable to live independently of him.
Thinking of this, Yoriichi Tsugikuni lowered his gaze slightly, lost in thought.
A moment later, he snapped out of his contemplation and did not directly answer Kyōraku Shunsui's question.
Instead, he crossed his arms, his tone calm, his gaze fixed on the stage ahead, and said frankly: "We'll see. As long as Nemu is happy and willing, nothing else matters."
"In my opinion, there's no need to prove strength or weakness. Whether she loses or wins, as long as she's not hurt, challenging anyone is fine."
"Of course, if she gets hurt, that's a different story."
"She's only seventeen."
Seventeen, the age when some children in the Human World are just starting high school.
If Yoriichi Tsugikuni could tolerate a child of this age being harmed due to parental coercion, then he wouldn't need to be Captain anymore.
One must know.
He was also a parent, and Nemu Kurotsuchi's adoptive father.
Hearing this, Kyōraku Shunsui nodded slightly, a subtle smile unconsciously appearing at the corner of his mouth.
He probably understood the meaning behind Yoriichi Tsugikuni's words.
If Mayuri Kurotsuchi conducted the battle normally, it would be fine.
But if his personality was extreme…
Then… Kyōraku Shunsui could only say sorry. A Shinigami capable of defeating Captains should not be controlled by a madman.
This was the same principle as not allowing a madman to handle controlled weapons.
As their conversation ended and their voices gradually faded, the sparring match between Jūshirō Ukitake and Nemu Kurotsuchi quickly began.
On the stage, there was a clanging sound.
Below the stage, it was bustling.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi deliberately extended the preparation time to ensure more people knew about the event.
He stood below the stage, his eyes fixed on Nemu Kurotsuchi above. Seeing her subtly gaining the upper hand against Jūshirō Ukitake, a triumphant smile appeared on his face.
The more people gathered around, the more excited he became.
Unfortunately, Kisuke Urahara was not present.
However, from another perspective, it was fortunate he wasn't there.
Every previous encounter had ended in his defeat. Although this time might be different, if something unexpected happened, his publicity plan would be ruined.
Therefore, he must not be disturbed by anyone. Direct humiliation was less reliable than indirect humiliation.
As long as Nemu Kurotsuchi won.
No matter how clever Kisuke Urahara's methods were, he couldn't change the already established outcome of the victory.
Then, as long as he leveraged people's love for gossip.
The fact that Kisuke Urahara was inferior to him would spread like wind through the streets and alleys of the Soul Society.
That would be his moment of triumph.
"Heheheh."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi chuckled softly, his laughter like a devil's sneer, sending shivers down one's spine. He could already envision his exalted future.
Not long after, Nemu Kurotsuchi's anticipated victory further inflated his confidence.
No injuries… excellent. A bit tired, but that's harmless.
Jūshirō Ukitake was nothing special after all!
Mayuri Kurotsuchi was already impatient.
Without waiting for Nemu Kurotsuchi to rest, he immediately dragged her, panting and sweating profusely, towards the Eleventh Division.
He kept urging, "Hurry up! Don't waste my time! There are many more Captains waiting for you to challenge!"
"Yes, Mayuri-sama!"
Listening to their conversation, a strange glint flashed in Yoriichi's eyes.
...
Eleventh Division.
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki was slightly surprised for a few seconds when he learned someone wanted to challenge him.
Initially, he thought someone was trying to claim his Captain position.
Based on previous lessons, he had prepared to go all out.
But to his surprise, when he stepped out, he saw a girl...
Oh no, his eyes were playing tricks on him.
Isn't that Nemu?
Is Nemu challenging him?
Cocoon rubbed his eyes, growing even more surprised.
Previously, he had spent some time with Nemu Kurotsuchi, so he knew her skill level inside and out.
On a technical level, Nemu Kurotsuchi might be stronger than some Captains.
But in terms of true strength, she still couldn't compare to them, after all, she didn't even have a Zanpakuto.
The normal boosts from Blut Vene and Blut Arterie were far inferior to Bankai.
If she were a few years older and had mastered the Vollständig technique that Yoriichi Tsugikuni brought back from the Wandenreich, the situation might be different.
Unfortunately, Nemu was too young.
"Nemu, who sent you here? At such a young age, this is truly improper."
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki never hit women, let alone bullied the weak.
Even two hundred years ago, when some Menos Grande invaded the Soul Society, because the enemy was too weak and female, and because they were being controlled, he merely defeated them and threw them back into Hueco Mundo.
Hearing this, Mayuri Kurotsuchi chuckled from the side. He was clearly right there, yet Cocoon still asked who brought her. This was clearly an accusation against him.
However.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi didn't care; he had his own plans.
At this moment, many Shinigami had already gathered outside the Eleventh Division, their murmurs reaching his ears.
Listening to these sounds, Mayuri Kurotsuchi wore a meaningful smile.
Facing Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, whose expression was subtly changing, he chuckled lowly, "I never would have thought, I never would have thought, that the mighty Kenpachi would also judge by appearances."
"You must not underestimate Nemu; she is no longer the same person she was six years ago."
"I imagine, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, you are probably unaware of what has happened outside."
"Just now, Nemu defeated the Captain of the Thirteenth Division, Jūshirō Ukitake."
"It is precisely because of this that I brought her to challenge you."
"If you only see her as a child who hasn't grown up yet, you will suffer a great loss in the future."
"Ukitake lost?" Kenpachi Kuruyashiki didn't pay attention to Mayuri Kurotsuchi's last remark.
Combined with his tone, only one thought remained in his mind.
That was, this child wasn't going to challenge all the Captains one by one, was she?
This was truly insane.
Of course.
He wasn't saying Nemu Kurotsuchi was insane, but Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
Nemu was too young to have such a bizarre desire to win; it could only be Mayuri Kurotsuchi pushing her.
His sharp gaze fixed on Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
The latter seemed to pay no mind, his eyes darting around.
His expression seemed distracted, yet also as if reminding Kenpachi Kuruyashiki.
With so many spectators outside, don't back down and spoil the Captain's image in their eyes.
The noisy sounds constantly entered his ears, and Kenpachi Kuruyashiki found himself in a dilemma.
He knew in his heart that if he didn't accept the challenge, he would likely be criticized by everyone.
But if he did accept, facing such a young Nemu, he really couldn't bring himself to fight her.
At this moment.
Due to the immersive experience, a sense of déjà vu suddenly welled up in his heart.
Just now, did Jūshirō Ukitake also hesitate like him?
If so… Kenpachi Kuruyashiki seemed to realize the truth behind Jūshirō Ukitake's potential defeat…
He nodded slightly.
So that's how it is…
...
"I accept Nemu's challenge. When does it start, and what are the rules?"
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki took a deep breath and asked Mayuri Kurotsuchi, a hint of helplessness in his tone.
Seeing Cocoon agree, Mayuri Kurotsuchi's face instantly broke into a triumphant smile, as if everything was under his control: "Today, now, the sooner the better."
"The rule is that there are no rules. Aside from releasing Zanpakuto, any means can be used."
"I am also aware of Nemu's young age."
If he was aware of her young age, why would he make such a decision?
Truly an unqualified father, a disgrace to humanity, who would even exploit a child for fame and fortune.
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki was deeply displeased in his heart.
Of course, he did not voice these thoughts.
This was their family matter.
He couldn't interfere.
At this moment, he could only do his best to go easy, allowing Nemu Kurotsuchi to win subtly and avoid injury.
—Jūshirō Ukitake must have done the same.
With his gentle nature.
He could do it.
He could do it too.
...
Time flew by.
Nemu Kurotsuchi's second round of challenges was about to begin.
She was a little nervous.
Not because of the opponent's strength, but because she was worried about performing poorly and thus being punished by Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
Although she had mastered the techniques of many Captains and could apply them in actual combat.
However, there's still a difference between actual combat and sparring.
Some Captains might still be hiding trump cards, and these trump cards could often lead to defeat.
Furthermore, the sword techniques she used, Yoriichi Tsugikuni's, though incredibly powerful, were ultimately created by a mortal.
Just now, in the battle against Jūshirō Ukitake, she vaguely had this feeling.
Jūshirō Ukitake's moves were extremely seasoned.
The moment she attacked, he could always, at the most opportune moment, either launch a swift assault or block perfectly.
She once thought she would lose.
Unexpectedly.
The final outcome was reversed.
Very suddenly.
Taking a deep breath, Nemu Kurotsuchi tried to gather her thoughts, her gaze fixed intently on what was ahead.
And directly opposite her was a pensive Kenpachi Kuruyashiki.
He watched Yoriichi Tsugikuni in the crowd, muttering to himself:
"Has Captain Tsugikuni also arrived?"
"I wonder what he thinks of Mayuri's actions… An adopted father isn't the same as a biological father, but the feelings should be similar."
"If it were me, this twisted father-daughter relationship should just be broken."
His mind was filled with thoughts, and he let out a sigh of emotion.
Of course, emotion is emotion.
It's hard for an upright official to judge domestic disputes.
Before Mayuri Kurotsuchi truly did anything excessive to Nemu, this father-daughter relationship was always legitimate.
It's just that, on a moral level, it's truly hard to agree with.
Cocoon sighed.
The second round of battles officially began.
Below the stage was Jūshirō Ukitake, who had rushed over.
He stood beside Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
"…You're here, Jūshirō, you held back just now, didn't you? If I'm not mistaken, your Zanjutsu shouldn't be so wide and open."
Yoriichi slightly turned his eyes and said, "Although I didn't ask you to, thank you anyway."
"Not at all." Jūshirō Ukitake smiled faintly, his smile gentle and humble.
After smiling, he lowered his head and exchanged whispers in a voice only they could hear:
"Actually, it wasn't really holding back. I did my best, but to let her see her own flaws, I deliberately adjusted my Zanjutsu style."
"You were below the stage, you should have seen it clearly: she hesitated slightly every time she made a move."
"In my opinion, this is probably due to her mastering too many sword styles."
"It's like a processor; once it has too much memory, it will inevitably experience lag."
"Her memory is both her strength and her weakness."
"Indeed." Yoriichi nodded in agreement. There are no perfect people in the world, and naturally, no perfect artificial Shinigami.
As early as seventeen years ago, when he heard that Nemu Kurotsuchi could retain memories for fifty years.
He vaguely had this feeling.
Fifty years, what does that mean?
Hard drives don't even last that long.
If she doesn't regularly clear her memory, her combat will inevitably be affected, and now, this drawback has already become apparent.
Of course, in Yoriichi's eyes, there was another possibility, which was that Nemu Kurotsuchi couldn't bear to harm her opponents.
That's why she deliberated over her moves, judging which technique wouldn't cause severe harm to her opponent.
Two truths, two possibilities. Yoriichi hoped for the latter.
That way, when he rescued her from Mayuri's demonic lair, he wouldn't feel guilty.
How can an angel coexist with a devil?
"Where's Kyoraku Shunsui?"
Yoriichi Tsugikuni suddenly remembered something.
He looked around in the crowd and found that Kyōraku Shunsui, who had previously been with Jūshirō Ukitake, was gone.
Jūshirō Ukitake sighed and explained:
"He went to find Captain Urahara, after all, what Mayuri did today was truly out of line."
"If it weren't for our teacher encouraging Shinigami to challenge each other, to prevent a decline in strength due to task laxity caused by too many people."
"As soon as Mayuri Kurotsuchi challenged me, she would have been temporarily detained."
"You also know her special nature. The reason she was safe before was because our teacher didn't publicly disclose the existence of artificial Shinigami."
"Now… basically all Shinigami currently in the Seireitei know about it."
"…"
Yoriichi Tsugikuni fell silent. Thinking about it carefully, what Mayuri Kurotsuchi did was truly unethical.
To prove himself, he even disregarded the unwritten rules established back then.
The Captain-Commander didn't appear, probably dealing with the members of the Forty-Six Chambers.
After all, no matter what, whether Nemu Kurotsuchi's existence was against the rules or not, she was his adopted daughter.
If an incident of her being detained truly occurred, and further processing, such as destruction, was involved… the entire Seireitei would fall into chaos.
No one in the world understood their students better than their teacher. For the balance of the Three Realms and the stability of the Soul Society.
Yamamoto Genryusai could only personally intervene.
Yoriichi sighed: "That's truly tough."
Unsure who Yoriichi was referring to when he said "tough," Jūshirō Ukitake thought Yoriichi meant Kyōraku Shunsui. He nodded:
"Yes, at such an old age, he still has to run around for the younger generation."
"I hope Captain Urahara can bring good news."
"I heard that Mayuri Kurotsuchi has never won against Captain Urahara in related matters; I hope it's the same this time."
Yoriichi did not express his stance on the intellectual prowess of the two.
He calmly watched the battle between the two on the stage.
Seeing that Kenpachi Kuruyashiki also seemed to be holding back, he felt a slight sense of calm while his thoughts unconsciously drifted far away.
Soon, as Kisuke Urahara rushed back from the Human World, the battle between Nemu Kurotsuchi and Kenpachi Kuruyashiki gradually approached its end.
Nemu Kurotsuchi noticed something was a little off, but she didn't vocalize it. Instead, she felt a slight relief at Kenpachi Kuruyashiki's act of holding back.
They were all good people; this aligned with the knowledge she had learned from books.
The Shinigami who could become Captains were, without exception, people of noble character.
As for her father… alas, Nemu Kurotsuchi truly didn't want to comment further.
Having lived in the Twelfth Division for so long, she was aware of some of the criticisms the Squad members had of Nemu Kurotsuchi.
It was precisely because she was aware that she understood that as long as Kisuke Urahara was in the Twelfth Division, Mayuri Kurotsuchi would never be able to become Captain.
His character and intelligence were inferior to Kisuke Urahara's; only his scholarship could barely compare…
Even though she believed in Mayuri Kurotsuchi, she could see how arduous the effort required to bridge this obvious gap would be.
Unless he used underhanded tactics, but what she disdained most were underhanded tactics. This was what her adopted father told her: a person must act honorably.
Clang!
A crisp metallic clang suddenly rang out on the arena.
This sound pulled Nemu Kurotsuchi's thoughts back.
Then, looking up, she saw Kenpachi Kuruyashiki's sword break in half due to the use of Blood Manipulation.
A broken sword meant defeat.
Her bewildered eyes blinked, and before she could react, the second round of confrontation ended just like that.
Below the stage, Yoriichi came back to his senses and nodded gently.
—Well done.
Although Kenpachi Kuruyashiki was suspected of holding back, being able to fight like this was not in vain of her efforts over the years.
And this further strengthened Yoriichi's determination to pull Nemu Kurotsuchi out of the demonic lair.
Because… after Nemu Kurotsuchi defeated Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, Mayuri once again impatiently stepped forward.
The smile on his face was irrepressible as he directly asked about her physical condition and whether she could handle the upcoming battle…
—So unqualified.
As a father.
…
Some time ago, Forty-Six Chambers.
As Yoriichi Tsugikuni had imagined.
Because of Nemu Kurotsuchi's appearance in the Human World, the internal discussions became a chaotic mess, with everyone debating how to deal with this artificial Shinigami.
Previously, they were completely unaware of this matter, because back then, Yamamoto Genryusai had single-handedly concealed it.
Upon learning of it, they were angry but also found it somewhat laughable.
They had never expected that within the Seireitei, where they held sway, something could be hidden from them for seventeen years.
Such a long time caused some younger nobles to become restless.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Execute her! She must be executed!"
Some old men were red-faced with anger, pounding the table, their mustaches bristling, their fury unconcealed.
"Yamamoto, that junior, is going too far!"
"It's bad enough that he secretly conducted forbidden experiments, but to brazenly expose it at a time like this, what is he trying to do? Is he trying to rebel?!"
"I propose that his Captain-Commander position also be stripped from him!"
"Her creator, Mayuri, should be thrown into Muken!"
"All other followers should have their Shinigami status revoked and be exiled to the Dangai!"
"That's my proposal! What do you all think?"
These words were too direct, leaving some unsure how to respond.
Because the war with the Quincy was imminent.
If Yamamoto Genryusai's Captain-Commander position were stripped, who could take on such a heavy responsibility?
This was directly related to their lives.
Although a young noble was displeased with Yamamoto Genryusai's actions, given the reality, after hesitating for two seconds, he could only reluctantly respond:
"There's something I must remind you all: to my knowledge, Nemu Kurotsuchi is not without backing."
"So what if she has backing? Is that backing more significant than our entire Forty-Six Chambers? Is it Yamamoto Genryusai? Hmph, he himself is in deep trouble!"
It was still that old man, his tone quite displeased,
"He violated the rules first, so our punishment is well-founded!"
As soon as these words were spoken, amidst the clamorous debate, the large doors of the Forty-Six Chambers slowly pushed open.
The heavy sound disrupted their rhythm. Looking over, including the old man, they were about to question who dared to disturb them at such a time.
Unexpectedly, the person who appeared next made their faces turn pale.
A majestic spiritual pressure, like heavy seawater, instantly permeated the entire Forty-Six Chambers.
Thump-thump.
Yamamoto Genryusai walked in calmly, his piercing gaze carrying immense pressure as he looked at everyone, his tone solemn:
"Who said this old man is in deep trouble?"
"It seems, gentlemen, that you are quite displeased with this old man's existence."
Thud.
He heavily struck his cane, the sound seemingly striking everyone's hearts.
His gaze continued to sweep around.
"If you have any displeasure, speak it out. This old man specializes in curing all kinds of displeasure."
As soon as these words were spoken, as if a mute button had been pressed, the entire Forty-Six Chambers instantly fell silent.