That being said, as the leader of the Intelligence Division, Kyoraku couldn't claim to be completely unaware.
The eerie atmosphere in the Seireitei over the past few days had all stemmed from Captain Kuchiki of the 6th Division recommending his son-in-law, Kuchiki Koga, for the Captain Assessment.
For ordinary Shinigami, taking the Captain Assessment was straightforward: pass and become a Captain, fail and be rejected.
But with someone like Koga, it was neither explicitly approved, by convening a Captain's Meeting to recognize his capability to become a Captain… nor explicitly rejected, by telling him to go back and train for a few more years.
He was just left hanging, with no explanation or clarification.
In such a situation, who wouldn't be confused?
More importantly, as a candidate for Captain, Koga had been imprisoned for three days without anyone so much as checking on him.
Since joining the Kuchiki Clan and becoming its heir apparent, when had Koga ever suffered such humiliation?
Not to mention, the noble who framed Koga was bailed out without even setting foot in prison...
Who wouldn't feel resentful about that?
However, Kyoraku was also aware of Koga's Zanpakuto's Abilities and could understand Ginrei and Yamamoto's perspective.
But understanding did not mean acceptance!
So, lately, Kyoraku had rarely ventured out, preferring to stay holed up in the 8th Division.
Yet now, the Reiatsu Clash erupting in the Seireitei filled Kyoraku with doubt.
"How did Captain Kyoya get involved in this?"
Regarding Kyoya, Kyoraku still had some reservations.
Kyoya had been involved in the Kasumioji Clan's Bakkoto incident.
After reviewing the Hollowfication Incident from a few years ago, Kyoraku noticed from Kyoya's movements that he seemed to deliberately avoid certain areas.
For example, Kyoya had never set foot in the 5th Division's territory.
It was as if there was something in the 5th Division that Kyoya feared.
Because of this, Kyoraku had secretly investigated the 5th Division's territory multiple times but found nothing.
Yet, this only heightened Kyoraku's attention.
As the head of the Seireitei's intelligence division, how could Kyoraku not understand the principle that 'water too clear has no fish'?
Even the areas managed by the 1st Division had their share of hidden filth.
If Kyoraku couldn't find anything in the 5th Division, there were only two possibilities.
One: the security within the 5th Division's territory was indeed as impeccable as his investigation suggested, and the Shinigami of the 5th Division were able to nip all evil in the bud before it could emerge.
Two: someone had such absolute control over the 5th Division's territory that even the 8th Division's intelligence personnel were completely outmatched in terms of information. What he saw was only what the other party wanted him to see, and what they didn't want him to see, he couldn't learn a thing about.
Well, actually, these two could come to one answer. Anyone who could keep Kyoraku from finding anything was no simple existence.
It was only because Yamamoto was still around as a stabilizing force that Kyoraku merely kept an eye on the situation without launching a thorough investigation.
In Kyoraku's view, as long as the other party hadn't posed a threat to the Seireitei, there was no need for a large-scale, detailed investigation of the 5th Division's territory.
However, Kyoraku did have contingency plans in mind for when these unknown threats eventually erupted.
As for Kyoya, Kyoraku handled him the same way.
Just like during the Hollowfication Incident, it was acceptable to suspect him and, within reasonable limits, assign him tasks that might expose his true nature to determine whether he was truly a villain destabilizing the Seireitei.
But until there was solid evidence, Kyoya remained the Captain of the 11th Division!
"What a headache..."
With a sigh, Kyoraku leaped from the window of his captain's office, blending into the moonlight like a black bat under the night sky.
…
Every time Kyoya's Ama no Murakumo clashed with Yamamoto's Zanpakuto, intense shockwaves erupted, destroying everything around them.
The area where Kyoya and Yamamoto were fighting had already been reduced to ruins by the aftershocks of their battle.
Everywhere was pockmarked with craters like those from meteor impacts, and deep gashes scarred the ground from powerful slashes.
Kyoya's wild laughter filled the entire battlefield.
The swordsmanship granted by his title as the World's Greatest Swordsman gave Kyoya the upper hand in his battle against Yamamoto.
Coupled with the fact that Yamamoto's physical stamina was no longer at its peak due to his age, he couldn't sustain such intense combat for long.
At the beginning, it was manageable. Even though Yamamoto was slightly inferior to Kyoya in swordsmanship, his thousands of years of combat experience allowed him to hold his ground despite being at a disadvantage.
But as the battle progressed, Yamamoto's body could no longer endure such fierce exchanges, and he gradually became overwhelmed by Kyoya's onslaught.
Even his Shihakusho had been slashed multiple times by Kyoya's Ama no Murakumo, with some tears stained dark brown from dried blood clinging to his body.
"Captain-Commander..."
Ginrei grew anxious seeing Yamamoto being suppressed by Kyoya.
Although Yamamoto had sealed his heart due to Koga's presence and couldn't use his Zanpakuto's abilities, Ginrei never expected Kyoya to be this powerful-
That even Yamamoto in his base state was no match for him.
After all, Yamamoto was, by all accounts, a being whose Reiatsu had reached the limit of what a Shinigami could achieve.
Ordinary Captain-level fighters, even after achieving Bankai, still couldn't match Yamamoto's base Reiryoku, let alone compete with him in combat.
A hundred years later, the Reigai of Kyoraku and Ukitake, both possessing 1st-Class Reiryoku, were virtually powerless against Yamamoto.
If it weren't for Unohana's Reigai healing them, their Reigai wouldn't have lasted more than a few minutes against Yamamoto.
Ginrei sighed.
'If I had known earlier that Captain Kyoya would stand up for Koga, I would never have taken these actions because of Koga's Zanpakuto's abilities.'
To put it bluntly, whether it was Ginrei or Yamamoto, their fear of Koga's Zanpakuto ability stemmed from the concern that if one day Koga became dissatisfied with the Seireitei and sought to overthrow it, he could cause unprecedented damage.
But if Kyoya were keeping him in check, it seemed Koga wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble.
However, now that things had progressed to this stage, even if Ginrei regretted his initial decision, there was no changing it.
After all, judging from Koga's actions earlier, he clearly held significant resentment toward him, Yamamoto, and even the entire Seireitei.
Even if Koga were to approach Ginrei now and claim he bore no grudges, wanting to continue as the heir of the Kuchiki Clan and candidate for Captain of the 6th Division, Ginrei wouldn't dare believe him.
They could only see this path through to the end.
Either seal Koga away completely to eliminate this latent threat-
Or, as Kyoya suggested, have Koga join the 11th Division as the leader of its Rukongai's branch, never to set foot in the Seireitei again.
This would, in a way, neutralize the threat Koga posed to the Shinigami within the Seireitei.
Compared to having to monitor Koga's psychological state around the clock, simply instructing the guards of the four main gates to ensure he didn't enter the Seireitei was much simpler.
"Captain Kyoya is truly impressive, so strong!"
Unlike Ginrei, Koga was in a much better mood.
When trouble arose, Kyoya genuinely had his back!
Even Yamamoto was being suppressed by Kyoya, wasn't he?
Looking at the torn Shihakusho on Yamamoto and the completely uninjured Kyoya, Koga felt that agreeing to serve under Kyoya was the wisest decision he had ever made.
However, Koga didn't let any extra emotion show on his face.
As the former heir of the Kuchiki Clan, he had undergone expression training.
As a noble, one must possess the ability to remain unflappable even if the world were to be destroyed the next moment.
No matter what one was thinking internally, others must not be able to discern it from their face.
Nobility and composure were the essence of aristocracy.
As the head of the Kuchiki Clan, the foremost of the four great noble houses, it was especially crucial to maintain one's 'noble demeanor' at all times.
Suddenly, Koga's gaze swept around, and he placed his right hand on the hilt of his Zanpakuto.
Several figures landed with soft whooshes, Captains wearing the Haori arriving from various directions.
"My, my, even Captain-Commander is being suppressed by Captain Kyoya?"
Unohana watched the battle between Kyoya and Yamamoto ahead, covering her mouth with her right hand in surprise.
Her left hand unconsciously drifted to the hilt of the Zanpakuto at her waist.
As the first-generation [Kenpachi] of the Gotei 13, Unohana had mastered all sword styles in the Soul Society, making her the true [Greatest Swordsman] in the Bleach World.
If anyone were most likely to break through to the realm of Master Swordsman after discerning Kyoya's swordsmanship, Unohana would undoubtedly be the top candidate.
As for Yamamoto, he had also made significant breakthroughs in swordsmanship over the years due to Kyoya's influence, but Kyoya could sense that Yamamoto had only just reached the peak of [Great Swordsman].
However, his immense Reiatsu allowed each of his attacks to rival the power of a Master Swordsman's strikes.
This was why Yamamoto could remain undefeated in his battle against Kyoya.
That said, after this fight with Kyoya, given Yamamoto's prowess in swordsmanship, it likely wouldn't be long before he broke through from Great Swordsman to Master Swordsman.
Once that happened, Yamamoto's strength would undoubtedly reach new heights.
"Captain Unohana."
Koga gave a slight bow to Unohana.
He thought he saw a flash of red light in Unohana's eyes, and for a moment, he felt as if he were surrounded by mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
So, in front of Unohana, Koga didn't dare to be disrespectful.
At the same time, however, he used the bowing motion to subtly position himself in front of Unohana, lest she interfere in the battle between Kyoya and Yamamoto.
From the killing intent Unohana had just released, Koga could tell that she wasn't solely skilled in healing Kaido.
'Perhaps few Captains could match Captain Unohana in combat prowess.'
'If Captain Unohana joined the fight, Captain Kyoya would be in danger.'
From his current position, Koga could immediately use his Bankai to control Unohana's Zanpakuto if she attempted to intervene!
Sensing Koga's movement, Unohana's gaze swept over him, causing him to tense up.
"Third seat Kuchiki, could you tell me why Captain Kyoya and Captain-Commander are fighting?"
"And who is this gentleman?"
Although Unohana typically didn't concern herself with other matters in the Seireitei, the fact that the Captain-Commander himself had taken action piqued her curiosity.
Similarly, Borsalino, standing beside Koga with Reiatsu somewhat similar to Kyoya's, also caught Unohana's attention.
Previously, she hadn't noticed anything unusual about Borsalino's Reiatsu.
But up close, she could detect subtle differences.
This Reiatsu somewhat resembled that of a Shinigami.
Yet it wasn't purely a Shinigami's Reiatsu.
It felt somewhat familiar.
'Could such a thing exist within the Seireitei?'
Fortunately, Unohana wasn't from the 12th Division.
Otherwise, if they discovered Borsalino's existence, they might have launched several experiments to study him!
"Well..."
Koga hesitated, unsure how to respond.
If he hadn't sensed Unohana's aura, he might have felt comfortable explaining his situation to her.
But after glimpsing a fraction of Unohana's strength, Koga hesitated.
He worried that his words might give Unohana a reason to interfere in Kyoya's battle.
"Yare yare, beautiful lady, my name is Borsalino."
"I am Captain Kyoya's Zanpakuto!"
While Koga was reluctant to speak, Borsalino had no such reservations.
After all, Kyoya had no intention of revealing the details of Koga's Zanpakuto's Abilities.