Correctness of Revision

He didn't recognize him.

As if!

The man in the white coat noticed Dōsan's gaze at once. He first grinned at Dōsan, then turned, raised his hand, and stepped forward to respectfully greet Mayuri Kurotsuchi before coming before Chōjirō Sasakibe.

"According to the rules, the minimum requirement for this fight should be a Soul Reaper, a Soul Reaper below the rank of Seated Officer, right, Vice-Captain Sasakibe?"

"Of course, 10th Seat Iji Yamada."

Chōjirō Sasakibe frowned slightly, not because of the sudden interruption, but because he was searching his memory for the Soul Reaper's name.

Apart from Dōsan and the others involved, who thought, This is bad, no one else, including Mayuri Kurotsuchi, had any idea what his subordinate was trying to say.

"I want to report a violation!" Yamada's face darkened. He lowered his head slightly, then slowly raised his hand, moved it, and finally pointed at Dōsan Hanyū on the battlefield.

"This kid isn't Jūzaburō Minamoto of the Tenth Division at all. His name is Dōsan Hanyū, and he's a commoner from Rukongai. Forget being a Soul Reaper, he isn't even a student at the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts!"

He practically laughed out the last sentence in hysterics.

To be honest, Yamada and Dōsan didn't seem to have any particular grudge. At least as far as Dōsan was concerned, Yamada had been the one who harmed him.

Dōsan hadn't been the one who gave him a beating that night, either.

But Tachikawa Magaki, the flower of the Twelfth Division, had fallen unconscious because of him and hadn't woken for three days. He had now become a laughingstock.

Rangiku Matsumoto, the goddess in so many Soul Reapers' hearts, had actually attacked him because of a commoner from Rukongai!

This time, he had finally gotten his revenge!

"He isn't even a Soul Reaper..."

"Hey, hey, isn't Nemu Number Seven way too weak?"

"What are you talking about? Didn't you notice that Kidō? Can you cast spells that densely?"

"Who knows? They're just a few low-level Kidō spells."

The ordinary Soul Reapers began discussing it among themselves. Some were sensible, while others were geniuses who thought they were the best under heaven.

In this era, Soul Reapers were still mostly nobles and geniuses from Rukongai.

At this time, fewer than a tenth of Soul Reapers came from Rukongai, and they were all geniuses among geniuses.

Even if their status was lower than that of nobles, these people were superior from birth. After becoming Soul Reapers, they always gained an extra, inexplicable sense of superiority.

That sense of superiority made them arrogant.

The captains, too, became spectators watching the drama unfold.

Dōsan Hanyū?

From the ordinary Soul Reapers' conversation, several captains also gained a rough understanding of Dōsan Hanyū.

The captains attending this event were among those who paid relatively close attention to the affairs of the Thirteenth Division. After hearing a brief account from their subordinates, they connected Dōsan Hanyū with things they remembered.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes at the ordinary Soul Reapers. Quite a few of those test subjects had just called his Nemu Number Seven trash.

His prized creation, Nemu Number Seven, had lost to a kid who wasn't even a Soul Reaper. Kurotsuchi's pride had taken a considerable blow.

Before this, almost every captain had found the name Dōsan Hanyū unfamiliar. The incident with Fifth Seat Tachikawa falling unconscious had caused a huge commotion, but Dōsan, who had started it all, remained little known.

But a boy who could cast mid-level Kidō so effortlessly wasn't even an academy student. This was simply...

Subarashii!

Soi Fon felt delighted at once.

Even if Dōsan Hanyū had been brought here by the Tenth Division, he wasn't in it yet. She glanced at Isshin. Could she really lose out to a lecherous middle-aged man?

Outwardly, Soi Fon remained aloof. Her pretty face, smooth as silk, was always set in a frown, as cold and distant as an iceberg. In truth, there was so much going on in her head every day that it was like she was writing essays.

Never mind Soi Fon—even Kyōraku was tempted. Who wouldn't want an outstanding lieutenant?

Soi Fon sensed Kyōraku's interest immediately. She glanced at him without showing it, feeling no pressure at all and not even wanting to comment further.

She couldn't rush things. She was Captain-level, so she still had to maintain her bearing. She would speak to him in private, in private.

"Dōsan Hanyū, I've heard little Tachikawa mention you. You're very talented in Kaidō. After you graduate from the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts, would you like to join our Fourth Division?

"With your current level of Kaidō, you could become 10th Seat of the Fourth Division as soon as you graduate." Unohana smiled gently, like an understanding older sister.

"Hey, hey, Captain Unohana, that's too much."

Faced with this senior of the Soul Reaper world, a simple protest like that was all Isshin could manage.

Of course, it's not that I, Isshin, am being unreasonable. If you're short of people, I wouldn't hesitate to pack Matsumoto up and send her over.

No, please, you absolutely must take Matsumoto off my hands.

The choice fell to Dōsan. But, to both Isshin and Rangiku's surprise, Dōsan didn't hesitate in the slightest. "Sorry, and thank you for thinking so highly of me, Captain Unohana. But Captain Isshin has taken care of me, and I don't want to join another division."

"Is that so? What a shame." Unohana sighed softly and stepped back.

Also heartbroken was the outwardly icy Soi Fon, whose heart shattered into pieces.

"Dōsan-chan, big sis is so touched." Rangiku wrapped her arms around Dōsan and brought her red lips close to his ear. Her warm breath tickled it as a whisper like a devil's reached him. "You jerk, don't you have a heart?"

"Ah!!!!"

Everyone present treated the matter as nothing more than a farce, but one person's fortunes had completely turned around, and he was so excited he wanted to jump for joy.

"Retsu, you talk too much!"

Ichimonji Tsunayashiro showed no courtesy to Captain Unohana as she spoke amicably with Dōsan. She was just a medical captain, after all, like that research fellow Kurotsuchi.

People without strength were ultimately unworthy of respect.

A "radiant" smile appeared on Captain Unohana's lips, but she didn't confront the head of this Tsunayashiro branch family.

Ichimonji Tokinada looked down at the assembled captains. "Chōjirō Sasakibe, what are you waiting for? This brat isn't even qualified to compete!"

Though he had been scolded by someone younger, Sasakibe's expression didn't change at all. The deep lines covering his face seemed to reflect a lifetime's experience. After formally confirming Dōsan Hanyū's identity, Chōjirō Sasakibe announced in a clear voice:

"I declare Dōsan Hanyū's result invalid. The winner is the Twelfth Division's representative, Nemu Kurotsuchi!"

Ichimonji Tokinada's eyes lit up, flames of desire flickering deep within them.

From this moment on, no one could stop the formation of the Artificial Soul Corps!

And as agreed, the Artificial Soul Corps would answer directly to the Central 46 Chambers. At the same time, he, Ichimonji Tokinada, would become its first corps commander.

Unohana nodded gently. When she looked at Ichimonji, her smile was still as soft as water, like a doctor showing a terminally ill patient one last kindness.

As Mayuri Kurotsuchi passed Tokinada, he even bowed slightly. His movements were so precise and his expression so devout that he looked like a scientist facing a cadaver.

"Welcome back, Gin."

At the Fifth Division Barracks, Aizen gave a faint, gentle smile, one that seemed capable of melting the ice of the coldest winter.

Behind him stood Kaname Tōsen, Captain of the Ninth Division.

Gin narrowed his eyes and spoke in an exaggerated tone. "Dōsan Hanyū is very subarashii. His rate of growth might exceed your expectations, Captain Aizen."

Aizen showed no eagerness to dispute Gin's words. He spoke slowly, as though making sure Gin had finished presenting his foolish point of view, before saying calmly, "Gin, you must always remember that we dwell high in the heavens, looking down upon the world. Nothing will exceed my expectations."

"Yes, Captain Aizen."

Gin drew out the last syllable, sounding like a child acting spoiled with his father. Immediately afterward, he recounted what had happened that day.

When Gin mentioned the name "Tokinada," Kaname Tōsen, standing behind Aizen, seemed to undergo a violent surge of emotion. His body swayed involuntarily, and the Captain-level Spiritual Pressure within him began to spill out of control.

"Everything is going perfectly according to plan."

"Lord Aizen, I still don't understand what makes Dōsan Hanyū worthy of your attention." Though Tōsen was also a captain, he treated Aizen with greater respect than anyone else.

When questioned by the ignorant, Aizen would patiently instruct them. Perhaps this was a kind of compassion on his part.

"I call Dōsan Hanyū's ability 'Correctness of Revision.'"