In front of the wrecked Eleventh Division barracks, the air grew heavy with awkward silence.
"I fought this new captain once before. Maybe Captain Zaraki just finds me more to his taste?"
Higashino Shuuichi smiled politely at the surrounding captains, casually affirming Zaraki Kenpachi's claim to the title.
"Well then, for him to choose you means your performance back then wasn't half bad~"
Kyouraku Shunsui lounged on a rooftop beam, tipping his hat back, speaking with that easy tone that never quite revealed what he was thinking.
"Nothing worth boasting about."
Shuuichi had no idea what schemes might be turning behind Kyouraku's smile. As the 8th Division captain, leader of the intelligence corps, and Yamamoto's direct disciple, Kyouraku had surely known of his true power for years.
"Still, as the 4th Division's vice-captain, you've got plenty of duties. If Captain Zaraki needs a vice-captain, the little one always by his side has reiatsu enough. Her asauchi will be delivered to you in time."
Unohana Retsu's words surprised Shuuichi.
By her usual outward style, shouldn't she have deflected the issue back onto him? This time she had simply cut it off—firm, absolute.
"You're refusing me?"
Zaraki's grin widened, blood boiling.
Yachiru had reminded him again and again—their goal this time was only the title of captain.
But surrounded by so many Gotei captains, each radiating strength no weaker than the man he had just slain—his instincts howled.
"Only one kind of person can refuse me—the one who beats me!"
His strike came without warning—the same dreadful swing Shuuichi remembered from Rukongai.
Unohana recalled a long-ago afternoon in Zaraki District, the scar across her chest tingling.
But this time—
"Too weak."
No one saw her move. A short blade slipped from her sleeve, not her zanpakutō, caught neatly in her palm.
Steel met steel, the shockwave flattening buildings in every direction.
"Captain Zaraki!"
As 4th Division's vice-captain, Shuuichi could not simply stand idle like the other captains. His blade rang free.
"Bakudō 30: Shitotsu Sansen!"
Three gleaming points of light shot forward, pinning down Zaraki.
It was clear—Unohana had no desire to fight here. She had passed up countless chances already.
So Shuuichi worried little that she would take offense at his interference.
"Two at once? Even better!"
Zaraki's excitement only climbed. His sword sheared through the three fangs of light as if they were paper, and then he ignored Unohana, turning directly on Shuuichi.
The beast's instinct marked him as the greater threat.
"When I beat you, you'll join my Eleventh Division!"
Perfect—Zaraki wanted their third fight. Twice already Shuuichi had fought him to a draw. Zaraki had thought of nothing else since.
And Shuuichi? He could hardly have asked for a better chance. What better stage to reveal his strength to all of Soul Society?
"Captain! I request permission to release my zanpakutō!"
Forced back step by step under Zaraki's furious strikes, Shuuichi called out coolly to Unohana.
This was no private field, no Kasumiooji cover—full release demanded proper sanction.
"Granted."
Unohana did not hesitate. She had watched carefully and sensed Zaraki's strength weaker than before.
Perhaps Kiganjō had simply not pushed him far enough. She needed proof.
If Shuuichi wished to serve as the test—so be it.
He thrust up a high-level bakudō, the 62nd spell, Hyapporankan, hurling a cascade of glowing rods to force Zaraki back for an instant.
Then his reiatsu erupted.
"Advance, Heisha! Virtuous Heisha—Stratagem!"
The torrent of power crashed outward.
Captains who had not known—including Muguruma Kensei—stared in open shock.
"Shuuichi… his reiatsu… captain-class?!"
Kensei gaped. Of all captains, he dealt most with the prison guard corps and thus with Shuuichi. He thought he knew him well.
But this—this was a revelation.
"Damn it, Shuuichi! I treated you as a brother and you hid this from me?!"
Before his outrage could settle, Shihōin Yoruichi's voice cut like a blade:
"You're only finding out now?"
Kensei: ?
"Shuuichi had captain-level strength twenty years ago. The Head Captain himself confirmed it~"
Kyouraku added with a sly grin.
Kensei: ??
"If not for all the seats being filled, Shuuichi-dono would have long been captain!"
Sui-Feng chimed in innocently.
Kensei: ???
"Wonderful. Everyone knew but me."
Meanwhile, far away in the 5th Division, Aizen—newly promoted to vice-captain—paused over his paperwork, a smile touching his lips as he felt the familiar, unmasked reiatsu surge.
Until now, whenever Shuuichi carried out Kasumiooji business, he had hidden himself with suppressors.
But today—
"The curtain rises."
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