Chapter 158: A Flowing Water-Type Zanpakuto (That's Not Right)
Given how deeply conservative the Kuchiki clan's noble traditions ran, it was genuinely hard to imagine what kind of upbringing could produce someone like that.
Whatever it was, Ginrei almost certainly had no idea.
If he ever found out, he would probably break Byakuya's legs himself.
"My grandson rarely leaves the estate, so there is much he hasn't been exposed to. Since I will step back eventually, better to make preparations sooner rather than later... I... cough, cough cough..."
Watching Ginrei's frail form, Matsushita Yusuke couldn't help the thought rising in him.
People really can't be compared.
You haven't even accumulated that many years, and you're already this worn down. Meanwhile, Unohana is somewhere around a thousand years old and looks exactly the same. What kind of logic is that?
"I understand. I'll do my best to help where I can."
"Thank you..."
With that exchange done, Matsushita Yusuke raised a hand and scratched the back of his head, expression going thoughtful.
What if Rukia gets taken in as Byakuya's adopted sister too early?
She might adapt to the internship phase ahead of schedule and head into the living world for field work early. Which would mean she could miss Ichigo entirely. If she never crosses paths with him, how does he unlock his powers? And what if he ends up in the Quincy faction instead?
Setting aside the missing achievement rewards for a moment.
From a pure results standpoint, could that lead to us going head-to-head with the most overpowered stat monster in all three realms?
That would be completely unhinged...
The thought brought him back around. He smiled and asked:
"By the way, Byakuya-dono, you look pretty young. Still single?"
The out-of-nowhere question caught the person in question entirely off guard.
"Wh... ah, I... I... yes, there's no one in particular right now."
"Then you'd better choose carefully! Someone who suits the Kuchiki family's standards, right, sir?"
Ginrei, whose expression had been nothing but serious since the moment they arrived, actually smiled at that. The wrinkles on his face smoothed out with it.
"Byakuya. Listen to what you're being told!"
As pressure on Byakuya went, this was fairly unsolicited. But Matsushita Yusuke didn't feel guilty about it.
Because the whole defining trait of this ultimate rebel was that pressure didn't work on him anyway. Adding to his burdens right now wasn't going to stop this man from eventually doing exactly what he intended.
Let things unfold naturally.
Squad 7: the captain right now wasn't the big dog.
Matsushita Yusuke had asked around beforehand. Apparently the background character who had taken a chant-free Kurohitsugi to the face and screamed had already joined the squad, but was still at the newcomer tier. Officially stepping into the position would probably take a few more years.
Honestly, Matsushita Yusuke had a fairly good impression of Komamura Sajin. The big dog had a likable personality. He was also a contributor to iconic moments. The subject of the theoretical paper: "How to Instantly Kill a Captain with a Chant-Free Kurohitsugi."
Maybe there was even a defeat cutscene to unlock, and some bonus rewards to go with it.
Big dog, you're a lucky charm.
Next along: Squad 9.
Seeing the familiar figure standing not far off, Matsushita Yusuke felt a mix of warmth and quiet satisfaction, but kept his expression completely neutral. The two of them had no visible history of interaction to anyone watching. Suddenly acting like old friends would look off.
Can't smile. Absolutely cannot smile.
But when they went out drinking with the boss later, there'd be room to relax.
Hold it together, Tosen.
Tosen reached out in silence. They shook hands with the quiet understanding of people who didn't need to say anything.
Moved past that group.
Tosen's blindness, combined with his general tendency to avoid social interaction, gave his promotion a fittingly understated quality.
After that, the mild surprise was Squad 10.
No captain had been selected at all. After everything happened, the vice-captain had also declined to take it on, and the seated officers below all felt their abilities weren't sufficient, so they had been quietly deferring to each other ever since. Result: "temporarily vacant."
Situations like this were genuinely rare. But forcing a bad fit purely to fill the gap would be its own kind of mistake.
This squad had a bit of a special quality to it. Matsushita Yusuke made a note to keep an eye on it. Unless something unexpected came up, the next captain was going to be Isshin Shiba, and when that time came, there would be things to sort out.
Squad 12 was its own category: a position that came bundled with heading the Research and Development Department. The new captain was again someone Matsushita Yusuke didn't recognize. Wore glasses. Speech was halting and uneven. He had clearly prepared remarks, but didn't appear to use any of them. Very typical research-personality profile. Given the unique nature of that department, Matsushita Yusuke found it entirely understandable.
That was the full circuit.
Quick review: of this entire batch of new captains, at least half would be replaced within a hundred years.
Being appointed captain wasn't the finish line. Soul Society didn't operate a bottom-ranking elimination system per se, but if someone genuinely lacked the ability, the old man would find a way to move them along eventually.
The sound of approaching footsteps. Matsushita Yusuke stepped back to the Squad 11 position and waited quietly alongside the others.
Click.
The door opened, and Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni entered alongside Sasakibe Chojiro.
The two walked side by side to the head of the room and took their positions. Yamamoto's gaze swept the assembled faces, then settled.
"Everyone is present. Let us begin."
The induction ceremony.
Matsushita Yusuke wasn't unfamiliar with the procedure; he had gone through it himself when he took the post. This time it was simply a group ceremony, consolidating the steps and saving resources. After the standard oaths and declarations, the new captains were officially in their positions.
"May each of you uphold your responsibilities and defend peace with everything you have."
With that done, it should have been free time.
But.
Aizen Sosuke stepped forward.
"If everyone could stay just a moment..."
With all eyes turning to him, Aizen smiled.
"Since we are all colleagues, perhaps we ought to mutually disclose a portion of our abilities? Each of you is formidable, but situations requiring cooperation may arise... with that in mind, sharing what we know with each other seems like a fairly important thing to do."
The room exchanged glances.
"Aizen. What exactly are you getting at?"
Aizen smiled, raised his right hand, lifted his index finger, and gave it a slow, gentle wag.
"Simply that cooperation matters... so I am willing to openly disclose my own abilities."
Matsushita Yusuke, who had been half-dozing at the edge of the proceedings, heard this and couldn't help flinching awake.
Well, well, well. He's playing that card.
Is the flowing water-type Zanpakuto about to make an appearance? Now? Here?
Day one as captain and already planning to poison the whole room.
Truly, as expected from Aizen.
****
70+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces