Thirteenth Division.
"Really?"
"Is he really that strong?"
"So, how does he compare to you, Captain?"
Kiyone Kotetsu looked at Jūshirō Ukitake, her curiosity growing, and she couldn't help but ask.
Jūshirō Ukitake smiled, "What is there to compare between him and me? I'm over seven hundred years old. Even if I were to compare, what would I gain by winning?"
"Besides, he is currently only a Seat Officer. Although he has reishi, his experience is insufficient. Perhaps only when he becomes a Captain can we truly compete."
"It will probably be some time until then..."
"Kiyone, compose yourself. If there's nothing else, you can go back for now."
"I'll call you if I need anything."
As he spoke, he sensed something was amiss and actively stopped the conversation.
"Yes." Kiyone Kotetsu saluted and took her leave.
After she departed, a gentle breeze ruffled the lake's surface, creating ripples.
Jūshirō Ukitake watched quietly.
His heart was very peaceful.
Suddenly.
He looked up.
Cherry blossoms drifted down.
On the pavilion.
A middle-aged man, wearing a cherry blossom-colored kimono, with a bamboo hat on his back and a sparse beard on his chin, was lying on his side there, at some unknown point.
He held a cup of sake, aiming it at the lake, his expression content and relaxed.
"Cough cough... Kyōraku, you're here."
Jūshirō Ukitake raised his eyes, covering his mouth with his sleeve and lightly coughing twice, "How is the Head Captain?"
"Everything is well." Kyōraku Shunsui raised his cup and drank, his tone nonchalant,
"It's just that the Forty-Six Chambers are a bit troublesome. A group of noble lords are clamouring to sanction the Head Captain."
"Don't they ever get tired?"
As he said this, some cherry blossoms drifted onto his shoulder.
He gently picked up a blossom, his voice gradually becoming wistful,
"But fortunately, the Shihouin Clan and the Kuchiki Clan seem to be on the Head Captain's side, which is why the situation hasn't spiralled out of control."
"A single Zanpakuto causing such a huge commotion, I think this is the second time in the Seireitei, isn't it?"
"Last time, I remember it was Kenpachi Kuruyashiki's Bankai..."
Listening quietly to Kyōraku Shunsui's words, Jūshirō Ukitake suddenly asked, "What about the Shiba Clan?"
"Shiba?" Kyōraku Shunsui thought for two seconds, then shook his head,
"I'm not sure, they probably didn't take anyone's side, but that's normal."
"The current head of the family has not yet matured and is not even a Vice-Captain. And the head of the branch family cannot represent the entire Shiba Family. At this time, remaining inactive is the most correct course of action."
He suddenly remembered something.
He put down his sake cup.
A smile played on his lips:
"Speaking of which, it's quite strange. That kid was assigned to the Tenth Division right after graduation. Isn't that a coincidence?"
"Jūshirō, do you think the Head Captain had anything to do with this?"
"If he truly appreciates him, why not just take him as a disciple? So far, Genryu only has the two of us as successors; it's a bit too boring."
"I wish I had a junior disciple."
"What a pity... what a pity."
Kyōraku Shunsui sighed repeatedly, the refreshing reishi sake fermenting in his mouth, finding it somewhat difficult to understand his master's thoughts.
If he wasn't a disciple, then why treat him this way, even rejecting the orders of those noble lords from the Forty-Six Chambers?
Some Captains don't even get this kind of treatment, do they?
"...Don't speak ill of the Head Captain."
Jūshirō Ukitake caught his breath, looked at Kyōraku Shunsui, and slowly said:
"Perhaps he has his considerations. Maybe it's a test."
"Who can say for sure about becoming a disciple?"
"Maybe one day, the two of us will have a junior disciple. Let's wait and see."
"As for the Shiba Family, I'll trouble you, Senior Brother, to look into it."
"Eh, no trouble at all." Kyōraku Shunsui waved his hand,
"However, the terms 'Senior Brother' and 'Junior Brother' sound awkward to me. How many years has it been since we called each other that? Let's change it back."
"Even if you don't say anything, I'll still keep an eye on the Shiba Family, after all, they are one of the Five Great Noble Clans."
"If they were to stand against the Head Captain, then our little junior disciple might be out of luck, so we need to pay attention to the impact..."
"Jūshirō, will you go or will I?"
"...You go." Jūshirō Ukitake thought for a moment, his gaze on Kyōraku Shunsui gradually becoming firm,
"I remember, you should have a cousin working in the Tenth Division, right?"
...
"What, looking for me?"
Suddenly learning that the Captain of the Second Division wanted to see him, Tsugikuni Yoriichi's brow furrowed slightly.
Second Division...
Who?
He looked at Kisuke Urahara.
He didn't understand when his relationship with him had become so familiar.
"That's right, she's looking for you."
Kisuke Urahara put his arm around Yoriichi's shoulder, "You scared us half to death when you disappeared in the Dangai. I thought you were gone for good."
"And here I was, wanting to be friends with you."
"Now that you've finally returned, our Captain heard about your deeds and wants to meet you. You wouldn't refuse her, would you?"
He raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips, an expression that said, "You can try."
Seeing this.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi stopped his unimportant work, faced the door, and said helplessly, "Lead the way."
Kisuke Urahara's eyes showed a smile.
He pushed the hat on his head.
And nodded, "That's more like it."
"You should know that our Captain is one of the Five Great Noble Clans of the Seireitei, the head of the Shihouin Family, known as the 'God of Flash'."
"Even Captain Shiba is not her equal in status and strength."
"If you refused, it would be really difficult for me to handle. I'd have to tie you up and drag you there..."
"..."
Tsugikuni Yoriichi wasn't interested in anything about the God of Flash. He only cared what the Shihouin Family wanted with him.
When he inquired.
Kisuke Urahara smiled and opened the fan in his hand.
—*Clap!*
"Good news."
It was as if he had said nothing, making Tsugikuni Yoriichi even more helpless.
Finally.
When he entered the Second Division barracks and saw the rumoured Yoruichi Shihouin, his confusion deepened.
Was the head of the family a woman?
Soul Society and the Warring States period.
The difference was indeed vast.
"Hey, hey, your eyes tell me you're thinking something bad."
"Are you looking down on me?"
How keen was Yoruichi Shihouin's perception? Even a tiny hint of emotion was caught by her.
She looked at Tsugikuni Yoriichi, marvelling, "It's no big deal if you look down on me."
"You must be wondering why I, a mere woman, can become the head of the family, right?"
"It's because my parents were useless; they didn't give me a younger brother. It's nothing."
"Captain Retsu Unohana of the Fourth Division is also a woman, isn't she?"
"These are all normal occurrences in the Soul Society, Third Seat Tsugikuni. Look at it openly. Sooner or later, you'll encounter it too."
"...What do you mean?" Tsugikuni Yoriichi instinctively frowned.
"What? You don't seem to understand?" Yoruichi Shihouin chuckled softly, noticing the bewildered expression on Yoriichi's face, and decided to explain further.
"Didn't Kisuke tell you beforehand?"
"..."
"Oh, never mind." Seeing Tsugikuni Yoriichi still confused, she waved her hand, "Then I'll make it clearer."
Yoruichi Shihouin's eyes suddenly became serious, but her tone remained relaxed and casual:
"Third Seat Tsugikuni, your talent is outstanding, and you'll likely surpass most Captains in the future."
"Because of this, our Shihouin Family values you greatly."
"We are willing to invest in you early..."
At this point, she paused slightly, her gaze fixed on Yoriichi's reaction:
"Are you interested in becoming a part of the Shihouin Family?"