"That concludes the entirety of this meeting."
After announcing several new changes to the postwar order, Yamamoto Genryūsai turned his gaze to the left side and called out:
"Captain Hitsugaya, Captain Fūjin!"
"Yes!" Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Fūjin Taichi responded in unison.
"Although the Fifth and Ninth Divisions now have successor captains, the treachery of the criminals Aizen and Tōsen has inflicted irreparable wounds upon those divisions.
Therefore, your most urgent task is to restore morale within your respective divisions. After this captains' meeting concludes, submit a detailed report to me immediately."
"I understand."
Hitsugaya accepted the assignment calmly. After all, he had served as a senior seated officer in the Tenth Division for nearly sixty years and was already well versed in managing division affairs.
"I understand…"
Fūjin Taichi knew that after the "captain betrayal" incident, the Third, Fifth, and Ninth Divisions had fallen into deep discouragement.
The captains they once revered like gods had turned out to be traitors to Soul Society. That single revelation was like a crushing blow to every member of those divisions, leaving behind a swirl of complicated emotions.
Because of their captains' betrayal, division members walked the streets unable to hold their heads high, always feeling as if others were pointing and whispering behind their backs.
Even when confronted face to face, they were often subjected to unfair treatment—at best ignored, at worst insulted. Some troublemakers even went so far as to openly provoke them outside their division barracks.
"Hmph… dismissed!"
With Yamamoto's final word, the captains' meeting came to an end, and the division captains gradually filed out in small groups.
"Hey—Captain Ukitake, Captain Kaien, Tōshirō!" Fūjin Taichi waved toward Jūshirō Ukitake, Kaien Shiba, and Hitsugaya.
"Fūjin! Please… call me Captain Hitsugaya!" Hitsugaya replied irritably.
"We're all adults here—don't sweat the small stuff, Tōshirō!"
Seeing the three stop, Taichi approached with a grin.
"Captains, I have a somewhat immature suggestion I'd like to run by you—"
"Go on… what scheme are you cooking up this time?!" Kaien slapped Taichi on the shoulder, looking displeased.
"Last time I backed you up, it nearly got me killed—Ichimaru almost finished me off with those squinty eyes of his!"
"That was your own fault. Don't blame me."
Taichi rolled his eyes.
"You knew something was off about them and still let yourself be captured. Isn't that just foolish?"
"Tch. I just didn't expect Tōsen to be involved too… Forget it. So what exactly are you getting at, Taichi?" Kaien changed the subject.
"Well, it's a strategic plan titled 'The Ninth Division as a Continuous Talent Supplier for the Seireitei.'"
Raising a finger solemnly, Taichi declared:
"Over the next hundred years, I hope to recommend and dispatch at least 100 Ninth Division members each year—each with over ten years of service—to participate in the comprehensive development of Soul Society."
"Uh… what?"
Kaien looked baffled, instinctively glancing at Ukitake before asking again:
"What do you mean?"
"In simple terms—'transfer'… or 'removal.'"
Hitsugaya's face darkened with anger.
"Fūjin! What exactly are you trying to pull?!"
"You've misunderstood me, Tōshirō."
Taichi shook his head with a smile.
"Division members have always been the Ninth Division's most important and precious 'assets.'
But building a harmonious Soul Society and improving the Seireitei's systems is the shared vision of every Shinigami.
To achieve such a beautiful vision, structural optimization within a division is inevitable. Only then can we send more outstanding elites to every department of the Gotei 13—where they can play irreplaceable roles."
"Taichi… could you just speak like a normal person?!"
Unable to take it anymore, Kaien Shiba shouted bluntly at Fūjin Taichi.
"Whatever plan you've got, I'll agree to it, okay?!"
"Taichi… just say what you need to say. As long as it's something I can do, I won't refuse." Jūshirō Ukitake also stated calmly.
"Tch… I know you're up to no good, but I hate it even more when you ramble on like this!
So hurry up and spit it out! What is it?" Tōshirō Hitsugaya urged impatiently.
"Then thank you, Captains. Drinks are on me next time!"
Fūjin Taichi expressed his gratitude sincerely before continuing:
"As for personnel reform and transfers among the divisions, here's my proposal—"
"??!"
The three captains immediately grew serious, all thinking at the same time about the current state of the Ninth Division.
"First: Ninth Division Vice-Captain Shūhei Hisagi, in recognition of his outstanding performance, will be specially transferred to serve as Vice-Captain of the Thirteenth Division. The current Thirteenth Division Vice-Captain, Shiba Miyako, will be reassigned as Vice-Captain of the Tenth Division.
Second: Fifth Division Vice-Captain Kasumioji Hōko, for personal reasons, will be transferred laterally to the Ninth Division as Vice-Captain. The vacant position will be filled by former Tenth Division Vice-Captain Rangiku Matsumoto.
Finally: Thirteenth Division Fifth Seat Rukia Kuchiki, due to her excellent performance, will receive a special promotion to Fourth Seat of the Ninth Division.
And Thirteenth Division member Saitō Tsukuyomi, because of her exceptional work capability, will be specially promoted to Fifth Seat of the Ninth Division.
So—what do you think?"
"!!!"
Ukitake, Kaien, and Hitsugaya were all stunned. Fūjin Taichi was taking an enormous step—
Yet the more they thought about it, the more the plan seemed to fit their respective divisions' situations perfectly.
Ukitake's poor health naturally required a capable and decisive vice-captain to assist him.
As for Shiba Miyako, while competent, she had to divide her attention between caring for her son Shintarō and being Kaien's wife—so transferring her to the Tenth Division made sense.
Meanwhile, Fifth Division Vice-Captain Kasumioji Hōko remained unconscious and unable to cooperate with Hitsugaya's urgent efforts to rebuild the Fifth Division's morale.
Though Rangiku Matsumoto was often lazy, fond of drinking, shopping, and buying clothes—and not particularly respectful toward superiors—she was still an influential and well-regarded vice-captain.
"Taichi really understands me! Haha, no wonder he's my son's kendo instructor!" Kaien thought happily.
"Hm… what Taichi says does make some sense. But why do I feel like I'm the one losing out here…?" Ukitake pondered, gently rubbing his chin.
"It doesn't seem unreasonable…"
Hitsugaya frowned slightly.
If Vice-Captain Shiba transfers to the Tenth Division… then keeping Matsumoto there wouldn't really be appropriate.
But transferring the unconscious Kasumioji to the Ninth Division… what exactly is Fūjin scheming?
"If none of you captains object to my proposal, please communicate the transfer matters with the individuals involved in advance.
Well then… have a pleasant life. Bye-bye~"
…
Seven days later—
Under the dim glow of the setting sun, Shūhei Hisagi slowly lifted his head from where he sat beside a solitary grave. He gazed at the fading light at the horizon, his dark pupils glistening with unshed tears.
The cool evening breeze stirred his short black hair, but it could not blow away the sorrow on his face—or his remembrance of the departed.
"So this is where you are, Shūhei."
A voice suddenly came from behind. Before long, Sajin Komamura, tall and broad-shouldered, approached the grave and silently looked toward the sunset.
"I'm sorry, Captain Komamura."
Hisagi spoke softly. After a week of despair, his spirit was clearly drained; even his voice carried a sense of powerlessness.
"It's all right, Shūhei. I understand how you feel."
Komamura slowly sat down on the lush green grass and said in a deep voice:
"The one buried before you is Tōsen's dearest friend… the memory he cherished most in life.
The fact that you came here to pay respects to this friend—whose name on the tombstone has already faded—means Tōsen can rest in peace."
"..."
Hisagi said nothing, but the faint trembling of his body betrayed the anguish and unwillingness buried deep within him.
"Oh, and one more thing. That guy Fūjin submitted a joint 'Transfer Proposal' together with Captains Hitsugaya of the Fifth, Shiba of the Tenth, and Ukitake of the Thirteenth. It has already been approved by the Captain-Commander.
You… will transfer to the Thirteenth Division next week as Vice-Captain."
"…Yes. I… understand."
...
Drop some POWERSTONES to push the story forward!
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin