Three years ago, Aizen had suggested transferring Tōshirō Hitsugaya to the Thirteenth Division, but perhaps he was a procrastinator—Tōshirō was still in the Fifth.
Now he'd already reached 3rd Seat rank in the Fifth; next would be Lieutenant.
Of course, the Fifth didn't have that slot open, so he could move to the Thirteenth, where the lieutenant seat was vacant.
Ever since Shiba Kaien's death, the Thirteenth Division's lieutenant position had remained unfilled.
Currently the Thirteenth had two 3rd Seats, and ultimately needed a lieutenant to cover the gap.
So, proposing the transfer once Hitsugaya became a 3rd Seat was indeed a fine choice.
If Hitsugaya became the Thirteenth's captain someday, wouldn't Rukia be his subordinate?
At that thought, Yoshio found it a bit odd.
Would the two ice-type Zanpakutō users in the story end up in the same squad?
He clicked his tongue and returned to the Fifth with Hitsugaya.
…
Back in the office, Yoshio found a stack of documents on his desk.
"Where's Hinamori?"
He rubbed his temples—he didn't want to handle that much paperwork. Too tedious.
"Don't even think about Hinamori helping you. She just received an assignment to the Human World."
Hitsugaya walked in, and from Yoshio's expression, he could tell exactly what the man was thinking.
"Huh? Hinamori's stationed in the Human World?" Yoshio sighed, then brightened with expectation. "Tōshirō, I'll leave it to you."
Seireitei's jurisdiction was Japan in the Human World. In theory, Japan alone had seven to eight hundred cities, which meant under normal circumstances as many as a fifth of all Gotei 13 Shinigami might need to be stationed in the Human World.
Altogether, counting Shinigami and Shin'ō Academy's first- through sixth-year students, there were over six thousand people. That averaged only a few hundred per squad.
So, a single squad should not be solely responsible for Human World duty. In the original, only the Thirteenth and Tenth Divisions were shown stationed there because the plot covered only two or three cities.
The remaining cities couldn't be left unguarded, of course.
The Fifth Division would also have Shinigami stationed in the Human World—though normally not high-ranking officers.
"Drop that idea!" Hitsugaya scoffed. "You're a lieutenant—you've got to do some work for the squad!"
"Unfair treatment," Yoshio lamented.
In the original, wasn't Rangiku's work all done by this kid? Why was it different now? What a traitor—abandoning righteousness for beauty.
Helplessly, Yoshio flipped through the reports and asked, "So? You didn't come just to watch me work, did you?"
"Captain Aizen said the higher-ups plan to transfer me to the Thirteenth Division," Hitsugaya murmured.
"…" Yoshio looked up with feigned surprise at the boy genius before him. "You're going to the Thirteenth?!"
"Lieutenant Shiba has been missing for a long time—long enough to be presumed dead," Hitsugaya said gravely. "So the Thirteenth's lieutenant seat is vacant."
"Captain Ukitake's health hasn't been good. Handing the entire squad to him isn't good for his condition, which is why the higher-ups decided this."
"…" Yoshio was silent for a moment, then said: "Good. You've already mastered Bankai, haven't you? Forget lieutenant—you could be captain. The Fifth really has no room left for your growth…"
"Besides…"
He smiled. "Captain Ukitake himself likes you, right?"
Perhaps because they shared hair color, Jūshirō Ukitake was very fond of Hitsugaya and valued him highly—their relationship was quite good.
"Don't worry," Yoshio continued with a smile. "I may have brought you into Seireitei, but I won't hold back your advancement. With your talent and strength, just being a 3rd Seat is a waste."
Seeing Tōshirō's faintly gloomy expression, Yoshio added, "Don't act like this is goodbye forever—you're just switching squads, not disappearing."
"Renji and Kira transferred too—do I see them less now?"
"…Thanks," Tōshirō said quietly.
"No need for that," Yoshio coughed. "If you really want to thank me, help me finish the paperwork."
Tōshirō glanced at him, then took the stack from his desk. "After I leave, take good care of Hinamori. She's too soft…"
"Are you an idiot? Our Fifth Seats don't get bullied."
Yoshio watched Tōshirō leave, then shook his head, hoping the impending war wouldn't affect these new sprouts.
When it was about time to clock out, Yoshio headed to his usual Damo House.
Kyōraku Shunsui and Rangiku were drinking together today, asking about Tōshirō's transfer as they sipped.
Apparently even Kyōraku wasn't fully informed.
Yoshio mentioned casually that Hitsugaya would likely be the Thirteenth's lieutenant; Rangiku couldn't help saying, "He really is a genius. If Yoshio hadn't snatched him up, I'd have brought him to the Tenth!"
"…" Kyōraku stayed silent.
As Jūshirō Ukitake's close friend, he knew some of his old friend's thoughts.
If Tōshirō performed outstandingly in the Tenth, his old friend might gladly hand the captaincy over to him someday.
Meaning the kid wasn't headed for a lieutenant's seat, but for a future captain's chair.
A captain that young… it seemed these old-timers really were reaching retirement age.
He drank a bit more. Not fully drunk, but dulled by the alcohol.
After the three parted ways, Kyōraku was on his way home when he suddenly saw Ukitake.
"Ukitake, what are you doing here?"
"I heard you were drinking here, so I came to check on you," Ukitake smiled. "Are you done?"
"You're late," Kyōraku said. "Oh, right—I heard that little prodigy is joining your squad?"
"You mean Hitsugaya-kun…" Ukitake said. "Yes. Since Kaien left, the Thirteenth really does need a lieutenant."
As they spoke, the distance between them closed.
Then—
Ukitake thrust in an instant!