Whether my sincerity truly got through to him, Azashiro did not attempt to fuse with the Seireitei in the years that followed.
Instead, he began researching Hollows, and before I knew it, he had joined the 12th Division.
Because he was so brilliant, he adapted instantly and was promoted to 3rd Seat in record time, but the moment he learned how to open a Garganta, he retired immediately.
Kirio Hikifune, who would soon join the Zero Division, found it quite a pity, but from my perspective, it wasn't surprising at all.
Ever since I heard he joined the 12th Division, I realized, 'Ah, he's going there to fuse with Hueco Mundo.'
Of course, Hueco Mundo has someone like Barragan who gnaws through everything—fusions and bullshit alike—so it won't be a walk in the park, but I figure if he slowly expands his territory from the corners, he might eventually be able to swallow Hueco Mundo whole.
If he fails and dies, well, that's just a shame.
'110 years until the start of the original story.'
It's about time for the major events to start unfolding one by one.
140 years have passed since then, and great upheaval has struck the Gotei 13.
First, Kirio Hikifune, who was the captain of the 12th Division, received a summons from the Soul King and ascended to the Zero Division. With a massive reshuffling of the captaincy, several familiar faces have appeared.
Notable figures include the Vizored squad—the future members of the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th Divisions.
Then there's the well-matched combo of Yoruichi and Urahara from the 2nd and 12th Divisions. And….
"Long time no see, shrimp. Did you grow a bit taller?"
There stands Kenpachi Zaraki, the new captain of the 11th Division.
I had just come out to eat dango with Unohana when we bumped into them.
"Hah?"
Hearing my voice, Zaraki glared at me, and naturally, my eyes met with Yachiru Kusajishi, who was hanging off his shoulder.
She's a pink-haired brat who happens to share the same name as the mistress of my house.
I already knew who this brat was, but I had no intention of saying anything.
Upon making eye contact with me, Yachiru's eyes sparkled and she waved her hands vigorously.
"Ah! Eyepatch Mister! Hello~! Nice to see you too, Unohana-san!"
"Fufu, it's nice to see you, little Yachiru."
"Hey pink-haired shrimp, 'Eyepatch Mister'? My bangs are just a bit long. And why do you address Unohana so politely but call me 'Eyepatch Mister'!?"
"Ahahaha! But you do cover your eyes, right? And you never told me your name either! Oh, I've been wondering about this for a while—how do you see with that thing? Isn't it uncomfortable?"
"I don't see with my eyes; I see with my heart. I'm kidding, I can't really see that well. I'm just used to walking around like this."
"Ehh, that's so tacky!"
"Ugh…."
It hurts…! My heart hurts…!
Haruno had told me my bangs were tacky the other day too…!
"I like that style."
"Yachiru…!"
"Hm? Me?"
Not you, shrimp.
If I were calling you, that would be a much bigger problem, kid.
"Yachiru, don't bother dealing with a guy like that. Let's go."
"Ehh, but I was trying to mooch some dango! Ah! Or can you buy some for me, Ken-chan? Dango!"
Zaraki made a blatantly annoyed face as if he hated being in the same spot as me, but as soon as he met the gaze of Yachiru who was staring at him, he groaned and walked over.
"Hey, owner. Here…."
"Why bother spending your own money. Here, Yachiru. Mitarashi dango."
"Score! Nom!"
"Yachiru! Don't just blindly take food from others!"
"But Eyepatch Mister isn't just 'anyone,' right? He was the referee when you fought the previous Kenpachi."
"That is exactly why you call him 'anyone'!"
"Hmm, is that so?"
Just as she said, the 8th Kenpachi, Zaraki Kenpachi, had defeated the former 11th Division Captain, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, in a duel to claim the title of 11th Division Captain and the name 'Kenpachi'.
What happened to the defeated former Kenpachi, you ask? He's alive and well, having joined the Zero Division.
You might wonder how a defeated Kenpachi becomes a member of the Zero Division, but that's because you don't know the situation.
He lost to Zaraki, who had been training and not even wearing an eyepatch after getting pulverized by me hundreds of years ago—and Zaraki didn't even use Shikai, just a single blade. It wasn't death; it was just a defeat.
That alone shows how monstrously strong they are compared to most ordinary Shinigami.
At this level, there's no need to even talk about Shikai or Bankai.
Anyway, Kuruyashiki, who ascended to the Zero Division, wasn't selected for inventing or developing something like the other Four Guardians; he was chosen solely for his pure strength, so he didn't receive one of the Four Guardians' titles or a dedicated Zero Division palace.
Instead, he was given the title of 'Ghost God General' (Kishin-sho), responsible for guarding the entrance to the inner palace and the approach.
So, shouldn't Zaraki, who defeated that Kuruyashiki, be the one going to the Zero Division?
Well.
I'm sure the Soul King has his own reasons for not choosing Zaraki.
"Tch."
Yeah. Like that. Exactly that.
An adult greets you, and you click your tongue while making it obvious you're annoyed?
"Why do you keep getting less polite the older you get?"
"I don't recall owing you any courtesy."
"Haha, you brat. I was worried you'd just eat sword-gruel for a living, but I guess you ate some etiquette too. Then again, saying you only grew up on sword-gruel—you sure did grow up a lot."
"Kuh, if you're dissatisfied, speak with your strength. Just like the old days."
"What a shitty attitude."
Anyone could see he's itching to test just how far he's come, but as if I'd let him get away with it that easily.
I smirked and patted the shoulder of the fiercely grinning Zaraki.
"No thanks, kid. Because you're weak, that's why."
I threw out the taunt half-jokingly, and Unohana poked my side.
"You're being unbecoming of an adult. Didn't Haruno scold you for arguing like that on the street last time?"
"Alright, alright. I'll refrain."
He falls for it the moment I poke him; his reactions are so good I can't help but mess with him every time we meet.
They say men remain kids no matter how old they get, but I never imagined I wouldn't grow out of it even after living for over a million years.
Maybe it's because I'm healthy. If I were like other people, aging and losing energy, maybe I would have just chuckled and let it go.
…Considering Yamamoto occasionally pulls out Ryujin Jakka because he wants to make a cup of tea, I guess it's all the same regardless of age.
"If you want to have a go, come find me anytime. My dojo is always open."
"…Tch. Let's go, Yachiru."
"Ah! I want to eat one more dango!"
Eat one more?
Wait a minute, when did this kid get down from his shoulder?
I swiveled my head and saw Yachiru next to Unohana, stuffing her face with dango, red bean paste all over her mouth.
"What, you brat! When did you finish that!"
"Mmphmrmmm!!"
With her mouth stuffed, Yachiru scampered off with one dango in each hand.
Zaraki watched her go, sighing as he reached for his wallet.
"Forget it. Just think of it as feeding a snack to my granddaughter. It's fine, just go. Weren't you on your way somewhere?"
"…Tch."
That kid really has zero charm to the very end.
No, wait, is that actually better? Thinking about that giant bastard trying to say 'thank you' to me….
Ugh, gross.
"I should order a few more dango."
"Fufu, I expected as much, so I ordered them in advance. Matcha, right?"
"Anything is fine. For me, it matters less what I'm eating, and more who I'm eating it with."
"You really…."
As I sat next to Unohana, billing and cooing, a blonde-haired man with a sloppy gait approached from the distance.
It was Shinji Hirako, who had taken office as the captain of the 5th Division 10 years ago.
"Hoo, it smells sweet. I was wonderin' where that smell was comin' from, turns out it's the sweetness from you and Unohana-san, boss."
"What, it was you, Hirako?"
"Geez, a cute disciple comes all this way to find ya, so why ya pullin' that long face?"
I chuckled at his cheeky smile.
The reason Hirako calls me 'Boss' is simple. Shinji Hirako was once my student at the dojo.
Of course, he attended when I was at my busiest, so we were just familiar faces to each other, but thanks to his characteristic slick nature, we've gotten along well.
"Oh, Hirako-san. It's been a while."
"Oh, please, no need for the honorifics for a greenhorn like me. Just call me Hirako, Shinji—whatever's comfortable for ya."
"What 'greenhorn', a new 12th Division captain has arrived, you're in the senior line now, kid."
"My heart still feels like a greenhorn, though, ya know?"
Hirako snickered, sat down next to us, and was about to order tea and dango.
But before he could even order, the shop owner brought them over first.
"Here you go. Same as usual, right?"
"Ay, don't do that, now everyone's gonna know I come here every day! My lieutenant is already like a stray dog poppin' up everywhere lookin' for me, givin' me a headache—if everyone finds out this is my regular spot, where am I supposed to hide!"
"So you were indeed playing hooky. You're a full-fledged captain now, think of your subordinates who are out there looking for you and ease up a bit, kid."
As I joked and laughed, a man with brown hair and glasses appeared on the path Hirako had just come from.
"It is as you say, Boss. And, Captain Hirako, I believe I requested that even if you were to skip work, you should at least sign off on today's paperwork first."
"K-ek, Sosuke!"
A dangerous character, rivaling Urahara in trouble-making.
"Yes. It is I."
The arrival of Sosuke Aizen.