"Tenth Division captain?", Hearing Rosse's self introduction, Kurosaki Isshin was stunned and looked to Rangiku for confirmation.
He had considered the possibility that Rosse had a high status, but at most he had imagined him as a noble. He never expected him to be an active, current captain.
And not just any captain, but the one who had succeeded the position Isshin left vacant.
Meaning… in some way, he was half the matchmaker for the two of them?
"That's right. The captain is much more reliable than you ever were. He took office and immediately chopped the Eleventh Division captain into the Fourth twice, and he also settled decades worth of the Eleventh Division's old problems."
Rangiku said this and couldn't help giving Isshin a sideways look.
Only by comparison does one feel the sting. When Isshin was in charge, the Tenth Division was nowhere near as united as it was now.
"Hahaha! There are always better people who come after."
Isshin laughed it off, not minding.
He had always been the type to slack off. He never liked paperwork and never aimed upward.
But he could clearly see Rangiku liked Rosse very much. The two of them being together meant Rangiku had found a good partner.
"Dear, do we have guests?", At that moment, a woman with long orange wavy hair and a bright smile walked over.
The clinic wasn't supposed to have patients today, but she heard the laughter from upstairs, so she came down to look.
"Yo, Masaki, you're here!"
Isshin instantly became a doting husband, pulling out a chair for her and seating her carefully. Then he solemnly introduced her to Rosse and Rangiku:
"This is my wife, Kurosaki Masaki!"
"Masaki, they're friends from the Soul Society."
Isshin didn't describe Rosse and Rangiku's identities in detail. He didn't want to pressure Masaki.
After living with him for years, she did know quite a bit about the Soul Society.
After greeting each other, they stopped talking about Soul Society matters and instead chatted about the living world.
Rangiku mostly asked questions, and the Kurosaki couple answered.
They had lived in the living world for a long time and could give plenty of practical advice.
After about an hour, a light rain began to fall outside. Masaki stood up.
"You all keep talking. It's raining today, so I'll go pick up Ichigo from the dojo."
"Ichigo is my eldest son. He's ten years old this year."
Isshin chuckled and used the moment to introduce him.
"Going to pick someone up? Rangiku, go with Mrs. Kurosaki," Rosse spoke casually, as if offhand.
"No, no, there's no need for guests to come along."
Masaki waved her hands quickly. She didn't want a shinigami walking with her. It felt strange.
"Recently a captain level rogue shinigami escaped into the living world. When we arrived we didn't hide our spiritual pressure. It's better to be cautious," Rosse explained lightly.
"I'll go too then."
Rangiku remembered the matter of Tsuneyashiro Tokikawa. If Rosse hadn't mentioned it, she might have forgotten.
Aizen and Hinamori had been searching all these days and still found nothing.
"In that case, Masaki, go with Rangiku," Isshin also chimed in, and seeing even her husband say so, Masaki nodded.
"All right then."
The two women soon left the clinic.
After they left, Isshin's expression turned serious as he looked to Rosse.
"Captain Rosse, you must have something to tell me."
Rosse had clearly been trying to send Rangiku away earlier, so Isshin assumed he had something important to say and cooperated.
"It's nothing big. I just wanted to ask you, Senior Shiba, what you think of the current captains of the Gotei 13."
Rosse smiled slightly, casually tossing out an excuse.
He sent Rangiku with Masaki simply so the plan could proceed smoothly. If no one notified them, how could the situation escalate properly?
"Hahahaha! From Rangiku's tone you must have been appointed recently. Having trouble getting along with those captains?"
Hearing it was about captains, Isshin relaxed and immediately perked up.
This was a rare moment of old and new captain generations crossing paths. He had fantasized many times about handing over his position, retiring, etc.
Although things hadn't gone exactly as imagined, talking to Rosse about captainly experience felt like compensation for abandoning the Tenth Division.
"Speaking of the captains… there haven't been changes, right?", Isshin checked first.
"No. I'm the newest. Before me, Sui Feng succeeded as captain, probably while you were still there."
"That was a few years before I disappeared. That girl is a hard headed one, only recognizing rules, not people. She's not easy to get along with."
Isshin immediately started complaining, beginning with Sui Feng.
"Speaking of which, you fought Captain Kenpachi?"
He suddenly remembered what Rangiku had said earlier and became very curious.
Back then he always avoided Zaraki, afraid of being targeted.
He wasn't afraid in terms of strength, but being stuck with a battle maniac was a nightmare.
"I fought him. I used three strikes. He went to the Fourth twice. In terms of strength, he's far behind Captain Unohana, Captain Kyoraku, and Head Captain Yamamoto."
Rosse shook his head and gave his evaluation.
Kenpachi at his peak might be strong, but right now with self imposed restraints, he barely had strength left.
Enemies would not wait politely for him to unlock himself. One cut to kill him, there was no "later."
"Haha! Those are all old generation captains. I'm far below them too."
Isshin laughed loudly and also formed his impression of Rosse's power.
Stronger than the average captain, possibly able to exchange blows with the thousand year-era captains.
He might even be stronger than Isshin's normal state back then.
Of course, now Isshin was powerless, unable to move his spiritual pressure.
He relied on his wife to keep the hollows away.
The two of them continued chatting about the captains of the Seireitei.
But right as they were talking happily, Rosse abruptly stood up, sharply turning his head toward a certain direction.
"What's wrong?"
Isshin was confused, but seeing Rosse's expression, a bad premonition surged in his chest.
"Rangiku just erupted with spiritual pressure. There's another one, Mrs. Kurosaki's, but it's rapidly weakening and almost gone. Their enemy… has hollow spiritual pressure. And that massive pressure far surpasses any hollow I have seen," Rosse's expression darkened. Right in front of Isshin, he transformed into spiritual form, taking on his captain attire.
The Tenth Division haori swayed behind him, making Isshin momentarily dazed.
Years ago, he too had worn that same haori.
'No, this is not the time for nostalgia.'
Realizing the danger, Isshin quickly said, "Captain Rosse, take me with you!"
He had no spiritual power now. He could only rely on Rosse to carry him.
Even if he had no fighting ability, he had to go.
His wife and children were there. Masaki might be on the brink of death. How could he sit still as a man?
"All right, come with me!"
Rosse grabbed Isshin's shoulder, and both vanished instantly.
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