The door to the Captain's office in Squad 10 slid open with a quiet shhh. Isshin Shiba was leaning back in his chair, sandels propped on the desk, a lazy grin on his face that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Kurozume! Back in one piece, I see," Isshin boomed, dropping his feet to the floor with a thud. "Rangiku-chan just dropped off the official report to me. You faced and killed four Shikai-wielding assassins, protected the Hiro heir, and even awakened your own Shikai. You don't do things by halves, do you?"
Akio stepped inside and gave a shallow, respectful bow. "Captain. The mission was… eventful."
"Eventful." Isshin barked a laugh. "That's one word for it. Sit. Tell me the version that isn't written down."
Akio took the offered seat, his posture relaxed but alert. He recounted the ambush, the coordinated Shikai, and his own forced revelation of Kagegari. He described the abilities he'd demonstrated—the shadow markers, the teleportation, the enhanced perception—framing them as the tools he used to turn the assassins' teamwork against them. He was clinical, precise, and omitted only his private theories about Tokinada and the mysterious patron.
Isshin listened, his chin resting on his knuckles. When Akio finished, he let out a low whistle. "So, the kid I pulled out of the Rukongai dust is now a Shikai-wielding, assassin-slaying badass. I knew you had spirit, but this?" He shook his head, a genuine note of pride in his voice. "The Hino clan is singing your praises. You've made us look good, kid."
Isshin's tone changed, "You've got guts, kid. But guts get noticed — and not always by the right people"
"I know, Captain," Akio replied evenly.
"True enough," Isshin conceded, his expression turning serious for a moment. "I went to the Old Man and told him about this incident a while ago. Though the official report should be reaching to him now."
"And?"
"He said it was time for you to be promoted. I thought the same too. So you are promoted to Ninth Seat."
Isshin laughed again, slapping the desk. "You did great out there. Alright, Ninth Seat Kurozume. Get out of my office. The ceremony's in an hour. Don't be late, or I'll demote you back to gate duty."
In the serene, spartan office of the First Division, the air was still. Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni had just finished reading the same report. Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe stood before him, having returned from his own discreet inquiries.
"The Hino guards confirm the details, Captain-Commander," Sasakibe stated, his voice crisp and formal. "Kurozume's account is accurate. He identified the threat, neutralized four competent opponents while achieving Shikai, and protected the heir with zero collateral damage. His tactical analysis mid-battle, as reported by the head guard Hiro, was… unnervingly precise."
Yamamoto's eyes were closed, as if in deep meditation. "His growth is unnatural, Sasakibe."
"It is accelerated, sir. But not, I believe, unearned. The foundation I helped him build was one of control and precision. He applied those principles, albeit with a unique and potent power. The shadow-based Zanpakutō is a significant variable."
"And the source of the assassins?" Yamamoto's voice was a low rumble.
Sasakibe's lips tightened slightly. "The evidence is circumstantial, but the pattern aligns with the previous attempt. The Ōshiro incident was a clean cover-up. This was a more brazen, but equally deniable, strike. The logical conclusion points to a high-level noble faction seeking to remove a perceived threat and destabilize the Shiba's influence."
Yamamoto opened his eyes, their intensity making the dim room feel brighter. "He knows."
"Sir?"
"Kurozume. He knows who is behind this. He came to me for guardianship not out of childish fear, but as a strategic move in a game he already understood was being played. He used my authority as a shield, knowing his accusers wouldn't be able to harm him directly."
Sasakibe absorbed this. "Do we intervene? A direct warning to the—"
"No." The word was final, like a gavel strike. "He asked for my support, not my interference. To coddle him now would hinder the very growth he seeks. He has chosen his path, a razor's edge between power and politics. If he falters, he will fall. If he survives, he will become a pillar of this Gotei unlike any we have seen."
Yamamoto's gaze drifted to the single, ancient scroll hanging on his wall. "And even if I wished to meddle further… I cannot. Because 'he' is involved. This matter has ascended beyond a simple noble squabble. We watch, Sasakibe. That is all."
Sasakibe bowed deeply. "Understood, Captain-Commander."
Back in the Squad 10 courtyard, the promotion ceremony was a lively, informal affair. The entire squad was gathered, and Captain Isshin stood on a small dais, his voice carrying easily.
"—and for displaying exceptional bravery, tactical genius, and the power to back it all up, I am proud to promote Akio Kurozume to the rank of Ninth Seat of Squad 10!"
A round of applause and cheers erupted, notably loud from the unseated officers who had patrolled with him. Isshin pinned the new insignia to Akio's kosode. As he did, Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto sidled up, a playful smirk on her lips.
"Ninth Seat, huh?" she purred, her voice a low whisper meant only for him. "Moving up in the world. Maybe now you'll have an office big enough for… private briefings."
Akio didn't flinch. He turned his head just slightly, meeting her gaze with a faint, knowing smile. "I'm afraid my schedule is quite full, Lieutenant. I'm sure you understand. All those… paperwork drills you threatened me with."
Rangiku's eyes widened a fraction, then she let out a delightful laugh, swatting his arm playfully. "You're no fun, Akio-kun. Here I am, trying to welcome you properly, and you're already acting like a stuffy seated officer."
"Someone has to maintain the squad's dignity, Rangiku-san," he replied dryly, the ghost of a tease in his eyes. "It clearly won't be you or the Captain."
Isshin, overhearing, guffawed. "He's got you there, Rangiku-chan!"
The ceremony dissolved into a casual mingling. Officers came to offer their personal congratulations. Ikkaku and Yumichika appeared at the edge of the crowd, Ikkaku giving a sharp, approving nod and Yumichika offering an elegant incline of his head. The message was clear: their little circle was still intact, rank be damned.
[A/N: Hey guys, I'm back! Sorry for the long break — I was unsure if I should continue this fanfic, but your comments really pushed me to keep going. Thanks for sticking with me and waiting!]