"Hmph… Aizen!"
The temperature in the room seemed to rise several degrees.
Even before Isshin arrived, Yamamoto had already learned from Urahara and Hirako about Aizen's actions over the years. Now, hearing the full account directly from Isshin, he finally realized just how long Aizen had been plotting.
No one in the room dared to speak.
No one dared to move.
Everyone knew Yamamoto was furious—and no one wanted to provoke him.
Except Tsuna.
His gaze had already shifted… from Sasakibe to Yamamoto's cane.
Ryūjin Jakka-roasted sweet potatoes really do smell amazing…
Tsuna stroked his chin, practically drooling.
"Sawada Tsunayoshi. Do you have something to say?"
Yamamoto's tone sharpened slightly. He had clearly noticed Tsuna's suspicious expression.
"Huh?"
Tsuna hadn't expected to be called out so suddenly. Aren't we talking about Aizen? What does that have to do with me?
Still, out of courtesy, he wiped the corner of his mouth and sat up straight.
"How about you all continue discussing Aizen? I just need a word with Chōjirō Sasakibe," Tsuna said, flashing an innocent smile.
Sasakibe's body stiffened.
He knew Tsuna was here for him.
Before witnessing Tsuna's strength, he had been confident. Now… he just wanted to further refine his Bankai before ever facing Tsuna again.
His gaze instinctively shifted toward Yamamoto.
After over a thousand years of service, Yamamoto's will was his will.
Please… Captain-Commander, handle this…
Yamamoto looked directly at Tsuna.
"Do not think Aizen's matter has nothing to do with you. You agreed to my conditions—so why did you allow Aizen to leave?"
"Oh, come on, old man, digging up old debts isn't fair," Tsuna replied, annoyed. "You said success or failure didn't matter. I did my part. I took down one of his top fighters—you can't deny that."
"That is not the issue!" Yamamoto's voice rose slightly. "At the final moment, you had the opportunity to attack Aizen. Why—why—did it turn into roasting sweet potatoes?!"
"…Do you have some kind of secret deal with him?"
So that was it.
It wasn't that Tsuna hadn't acted—it was that he had handed Aizen a roasted sweet potato made with Ryūjin Jakka's flames.
Yamamoto… felt his dignity had taken a hit.
"There was a deal," Tsuna said plainly. "At Sōkyoku Hill, I wouldn't attack him—and in return, he wouldn't touch the Human World."
"Just like how the Gotei 13 exists to protect Soul Society—if Aizen doesn't target the Human World, then honestly, I don't have much conflict with him."
Yamamoto's narrowed eyes opened slightly.
That statement… surprised him.
An outsider who understood the purpose of the Gotei 13 so clearly—it was unexpected.
Nearby, Hirako showed a knowing expression. He had once invited Tsuna to help take revenge—but after Tsuna asked whether it was his revenge or the Visored's, they made their choice.
Since then, the Visored had thrown themselves into intense training—only then gaining the strength to barely contend with Aizen at Sōkyoku Hill.
Everyone present understood:
Tsuna had no personal desire to fight Aizen.
Still, Ukitake couldn't help but ask, "Tsuna… if the time comes, would you help us deal with Aizen?"
"I'm actually curious," Tsuna said, pointing upward. "You already know his goal, right? It's up there. He's not trying to destroy Soul Society."
"So… do you really need to stop him?"
"Tsuna-kun, it's not that simple," Kyōraku interjected. "Aizen has already committed countless crimes—and he slaughtered the Central 46. As the Gotei 13, it's our duty to apprehend him."
"Yeah, he's definitely done a lot of messed-up things," Tsuna nodded, glancing at the "big three" beside him. "But killing the Central 46? Honestly… isn't that a good thing?"
Silence.
Complete silence.
To those raised within Soul Society, that statement was nothing short of heretical.
"Tsuna… the Central 46 is still important. They oversee judicial matters in Soul Society—" Ukitake began.
Tsuna waved him off.
"Then if they're so important, why haven't we heard anything about rebuilding them in the past two days?"
He turned, smiling faintly at Yamamoto.
In the original course of events, the Central 46 would be rebuilt—returning as the same corrupt institution serving noble interests.
But now… that process had been delayed.
And there was only one person capable of doing that:
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
Following Tsuna's gaze, Ukitake seemed to realize something.
"…Sensei. About the Central 46…"
Yamamoto remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Inside, however, he sighed.
This was precisely the difference between Ukitake and Kyōraku.
Aside from his health, Ukitake's overly gentle nature made him less suited as a successor.
After the Sōkyoku Hill incident, Yamamoto had used post-war reconstruction as a reason to delay the reestablishment of Central 46.
But the nobles wouldn't stay quiet.
Over the past two days, they had been lobbying Ukitake—hoping to use him as a bridge to push their agenda forward.
Kyōraku, sharp as ever, had avoided getting involved.
Ukitake… had unknowingly stepped right into it.
Seeing Yamamoto's silence, Tsuna let out a faint chuckle.
"Captain Ukitake—does the Gotei 13, as the highest military force in Soul Society, really need to obey every ruling of the Central 46?"
"Or… is an institution that prioritizes noble interests even necessary?"
"But—" Ukitake started, only to pause.
He had caught onto something.
"The Central 46 isn't truly impartial," Tsuna continued. "They prioritize noble interests above all else. Truth doesn't matter to them."
He gestured beside him.
"Aren't these three… all victims of their rulings?"
"And not just that," Tsuna added. "Remember Tōsen Kaname? He genuinely followed Aizen."
"Tell me—when Tsunayashiro Tokinada killed Kakyo… if Captain Kyōraku hadn't exposed it, would there have even been punishment?"
Ukitake fell silent.
He had investigated that case himself.
Without Kyōraku… Tokinada would have walked free.
"Let me ask you something," Tsuna said.
"Does the Gotei 13 protect Soul Society—or the Seireitei?"
The question struck like thunder.
Protecting the Seireitei… meant protecting the nobles within it.
For the first time, Ukitake began to question everything he had been taught.
"Now, now, Tsuna-kun," Kyōraku stepped in smoothly. "The Gotei 13 has always protected Soul Society—and by extension, the balance of the Three Realms."
Ukitake's eyes gradually steadied.
Yamamoto's lips curved ever so slightly.
As expected of the successor he had chosen.
Lazy, perhaps—but his understanding was sound.
"So," Tsuna continued, "aside from dealing with Aizen… what are you planning to do about the Central 46?"
"…Just curious, of course. This is Soul Society's internal matter."
To his surprise, Yamamoto didn't avoid the question.
Everyone present… was someone he trusted.
"The Gotei 13 is, at its core, a military force—a blade," Yamamoto said slowly.
"A blade requires a sheath."
"But not one driven by selfish interests."
"The new sheath will exist for the safety of Soul Society—for the protection of its people."
"Blade and sheath… must function as one."
The more he spoke, the more shocked Tsuna became.
What is this?
Since when was Yamamoto capable of reform?
"To consign the old noble system to history," Yamamoto concluded.
"The new Gotei 13 will fully uphold its duty—to protect."
That settled it.
He truly intended to rebuild the Central 46.
Tsuna quickly scanned the room.
No major noble representatives were present.
The Shihōin family? Absent.
The Kuchiki family? Also absent.
Among those present, only Kyōraku and Ukitake were nobles—but minor ones, with little influence—and both were Yamamoto's disciples.
What the hell?
Where did the old, rigid Yamamoto go?
Tsuna felt his entire perception being overturned.
Even Kyōraku, who had guessed part of the plan, was stunned.
This… was far bigger than expected.
His mind raced.
The Central 46 had been wiped out.
Shihōin Yoruichi was gone.
The next heir lacked influence.
The Onmitsukidō held little political power.
That left only the Kuchiki family.
And Kuchiki Byakuya… wasn't entirely inflexible.
After all, he had married a woman from Rukongai.
With the right push, even he could become a reformist.
As for the rest of the Gotei 13?
Yamamoto, Unohana, Komamura, Hitsugaya, Zaraki Kenpachi, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Ukitake…
Most of them were of common origin.
Even among the defectors—Aizen, Gin, and others—many came from the Shin'ō Academy.
Kyōraku's pupils shrank.
Don't tell me…
Did Yamamoto start planning this… from the moment the Academy was established?
Replacing noble Shinigami with common-born ones.
Gradually weakening noble control.
Even his leniency toward Shihōin Yoruichi and Shiba Isshin now made sense.
Better to let them remain in the Human World… than return and reinforce noble authority through Central 46.
In that case—
Only the Kuchiki family remained.
Alone.
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