Kōe nodded, affirming Yoruichi's words. Looking at Kaien's joyful expression, he knew it was somewhat inappropriate, but he still asked, "Going back to the Seireitei... do you really not feel any discomfort in your heart? Not even a trace of hatred?"
"Hey! Kaien just wants to go back and become a Shinigami..." Yoruichi's words were cut off by Kōe.
"I know. And I have absolutely no doubt that Kaien will become an outstanding Shinigami in the future—someone people can rely on and respect."
Having dispelled Yoruichi's concerns, Kōe looked at Kaien and continued, "This is just a personal question of mine. After all, the Seireitei has been far too cold toward your family. Of course, you don't have to answer."
"I'm a little upset, sure, but I wouldn't go so far as to say I hate them."
"Honestly, for me, Kūkaku, and Ganju, coming here hasn't been much different from before, except that our house is a bit smaller." Kaien thought for a moment, looking at the scattered ordinary people around them before continuing, "In fact, it's precisely because we came here that I truly understand the greatness of the Shiba name. It makes me want to become a Shinigami like my uncle even more."
Compared to the luxurious Seireitei, the outer Rukongai could truly be considered a desolate backwater. But without the Shinigami inside, some of the people here would have likely been devoured by Hollows back in the World of the Living long ago. Without Shinigami, Soul Society would undoubtedly be a land of dead silence.
"Even if they no longer consider the Shiba name to be great?"
"My uncle didn't think you were a good person either, but is that really the truth? I thought you would have understood such a simple logic by now." Kaien looked at Kōe with a look of disdain, then his eyes turned resolute. "Once they get to know the real me, they'll slowly change their minds."
"That... never mind." Kōe smiled and shook his head, deciding not to voice his thoughts. Meeting Kaien's confused gaze, he changed his tune. "You're right. When the time comes, they'll slowly change their minds."
Kaien didn't understand what the Seireitei truly represented in Kōe's mouth, but Kōe heard it clearly: to Kaien, the Seireitei was merely a home for the Shinigami. The most important thing was every individual Shinigami inside. As long as they still dedicated themselves to protecting the World of the Living and Soul Society, then the Seireitei wasn't too bad.
What a straightforward and pure way of thinking. Although Kōe found this mindset somewhat naive, he couldn't bear to shatter such a beautiful, childlike innocence.
"Do you really think so?" Kōe's head-shaking and sudden change of tune left Kaien completely baffled.
"Does it matter if I think so?" Kōe mimicked Kaien's earlier expression, turning his face away in mock disdain. "I thought you would have understood such a simple logic by now. Turns out you were just all talk, brat!"
"I'm not just all talk! You..." Before Kaien could finish, he spotted Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko walking toward them with the two little ones in tow. He hurriedly whispered to Kōe and Yoruichi, "I don't want Kūkaku and the others to know about this yet. Keep it a secret!"
Just as he finished speaking, Kūkaku arrived at their side, pouting in displeasure. "That fireworks master actually said these were the best fireworks. How disappointing."
"Then what kind of fireworks do you want to see?"
Facing Kaien's question, Kūkaku stretched out her arms to make a massive gesture. "Bigger and brighter than these! I want them to light up the entire Rukongai!"
"But that guy said it was completely impossible! I'm so mad!" Kūkaku put her hands on her hips, puffing her cheeks in anger. "One day, I'm going to build fireworks like that and show him!"
"Then you can ask Yoruichi for advice. She has a lot of experience in that area."
"Kōe Shihouin!!!"
Watching Kōe and Yoruichi tussle with each other, everyone present burst into laughter. Paired with the second round of fireworks slowly rising into the sky, this place felt much more like a New Year's celebration than the Seireitei ever did.
...
Two months later. Inside the Onmitsukidō's Executive Militia headquarters, which operated under the Shihouin clan, the entirety of the militia had gathered—a rare occurrence. They were all waiting for the appearance of their new Corps Commander, the twenty-second head of the Shihouin clan, Yoruichi Shihōin.
Soon, Yoruichi stepped into their line of sight, wearing a cloak embroidered with magnificent patterns and bearing the Shihouin clan crest on the back.
Among the crowd was a young girl with only the upper half of her face exposed. As she watched Yoruichi walk past her, despite her rigorous training, her heart pounded so hard it felt like it was going to burst.
"Shaolin, do you see her? That is the princess of the Shihouin clan. Sooner or later, she will become the Commander of the Executive Militia. In the future, you will become her subordinate and dedicate your life to her."
Those were the words her father had spoken to her when she first saw Yoruichi as a young child. Back then, she could only look up from afar at the god-like figure. Now, that very person was walking right past her.
However, this esteemed figure was frowning and seemed rather unhappy. Was it because of the portrait in her hand? She seemed to be gripping it incredibly tight.
Yoruichi quickly displayed the portrait to the gathered troops. Pointing at the figure wearing a white mask that obscured his face, she declared, "This old man is named Ao, and he kidnapped my husband! He is your first target. Find him and notify me immediately. I'm going to drag him back here myself!!"
Compared to the solemn and dignified Executive Militia, Squad 11 currently seemed shrouded in an invisible, gloomy cloud. The usually energetic squad members were all listless, looking as if they had lost their souls.
Today was supposed to be the inauguration ceremony for the new Captain of Squad 11. They had waited two whole years since lining up to welcome him, only to receive an order stating the new Captain would take office in a year.
Then, due to the total annihilation of Squad 10, the ceremony was postponed yet again. This drove the squad members—who were itching to go wild under the leadership of the new Kenpachi—absolutely crazy.
Fortunately, the delay wasn't too long; they only had to wait one more year. They had already endured three years, so what was one more?
But now, their new Captain, Kōe Shihouin, had left a letter at Squad 1 stating that he was accompanying his master on a training journey with an undetermined return date—and then he completely vanished!
Even though Squad 11 nominally had a new Captain now, the squad members felt an empty void in their hearts. *'Couldn't you have at least attended your own inauguration ceremony before leaving?!'*
What these squad members didn't know was that Kōe hadn't just skipped his inauguration ceremony—he hadn't even attended his own wedding!
District 80 of the West Rukongai. This was the place where Kōe had fought Azashiro Sōya. Even after nearly five years, the area remained a scorched, blackened wasteland, as if no life could ever bloom here again.
Deep underground, Kōe picked up the torn Squad 11 Captain's haori resting beside the Senkaimon. For some reason, he had left this haori—which had endured through two generations of Kenpachi—down here.
"You were actually right. It really is a dead city that hasn't changed in a thousand years, and it fills me with absolute despair. I have to admit, you were right," Kōe muttered to himself with a bitter smile. "But what you didn't understand is that if I hadn't come to this world, what would it matter to me even if the heavens collapsed and the earth shattered? But since I'm here, if this dead city falls, then this world truly dies—and that includes me."
During this time, the words of two people had constantly echoed in his mind. One was Kurotsuchi Mayuri, and the other was the deceased Azashiro Sōya.
"I can't change it in the short term, nor can I stand by and do nothing while waiting for the day of change to arrive, even though I know that day will inevitably come. So, it's time to step out and bring my ideas to fruition without any interference."
"And if it weren't for Old Man Yama, Yoruichi, and all the people I've met, I might have actually put this on and left, never to return. Then again, it's hard to say. Without them, I probably wouldn't have the skills I do now. Before I even realized it, I've become a player on the board."
Kōe sighed, shook out the haori in his hand, and placed it back beside the Senkaimon. As his left hand secured the white mask over his face, his right hand pressed against the pillar of the Senkaimon, activating the gate that had already been locked onto its destination.
The moment the light flared, Kōe's figure vanished from the spot. Who knew how many years would pass in Soul Society before he returned.
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