We Need to Find Someone to Replace Him

The Seireitei was vast. It wasn't as though it had run out of talent!

But at that moment, the captains saw nothing wrong with it at all!

During the fight just now, Kyōsuke Kuchiki had casually used a special form of Shunpo none of them had ever seen before!

That was to say nothing of Kyōsuke Kuchiki's immeasurable talent.

Perhaps it wasn't apparent yet, but in the future, no one would be better suited to the position of Kenpachi than Kyōsuke Kuchiki.

What Genryūsai Shigekuni and the Grand Kidō Chief valued was clearly Kyōsuke Kuchiki's future!

"Looks like... teacher swore he wouldn't give up until he got his man this time."

Shunsui Kyōraku lowered his voice and leaned over to Ukitake.

Hearing that, Ukitake smiled helplessly.

"It won't do any good for Teacher Genryūsai to keep at it. The Grand Kidō Chief hasn't budged either, has he?"

"They won't get anywhere if they keep arguing."

"Tsk, tsk, not necessarily."

Shunsui Kyōraku shook his head.

"Teacher wants him, all right, but the man himself doesn't want to go!"

"That's true..."

Ukitake couldn't help letting out a soft sigh.

"But who'd want to give up such a promising prospect?"

"If I were in teacher's shoes, I'd want to snatch a genius for the Gotei 13 too!"

"..."

As the two of them were reflecting on the situation, Tessai Tsukabishi suddenly raised his voice!

"Captain-Commander, it seems Lord Kuchiki really isn't interested in a captain's position."

"Besides, I've already discussed it with Ushōda!"

"He happens to need to devote himself to studying Kidō lately, so he's letting Lord Kuchiki take over as Deputy Kidō Chief directly."

"You wouldn't want our former Deputy Kidō Chief to be disappointed, would you?"

"Besides, I'll be retiring in a few years, and Lord Kuchiki can take command of the Kidō Corps then."

Tessai Tsukabishi had gone that far, and Genryūsai Shigekuni paused, suddenly at a loss for words. As for status, Tessai had already said that the moment Kyōsuke joined, he would be the sole candidate to become the next Grand Kidō Chief.

The Kidō Corps was a large organization, yet its only leaders were the Grand Kidō Chief and the Deputy Kidō Chief. Everyone else operated in squads, carrying out different assignments.

In other words, the Grand Kidō Chief was equivalent to the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.

And the Deputy Kidō Chief was equivalent to a division captain!

Moreover, he was the one and only captain in the entire Kidō Corps!

To exaggerate a little, he stood below one man and above ten thousand!

That was far more appealing than being a division captain!

To say nothing of the Grand Kidō Chief, who held all the power in his hands.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto couldn't very well give up his own position as Captain-Commander.

So in that respect, the Gotei 13 couldn't match what the Kidō Corps offered.

As for anything else... Kyōsuke Kuchiki was a noble who lacked neither money nor fame. What else could he say?

He had no choice but to fall silent for the time being.

"I've been a captain for so long..."

"But this is the first time I've ever seen anything like this."

Jūshirō Ukitake stared blankly for several seconds before slowly murmuring his thoughts.

Shunsui Kyōraku was much more straightforward. He looked like he was thoroughly enjoying the show, and his spirits had visibly lifted.

"Heh, now I'm curious which side will win him over."

"..."

Chapter 50: We Need to Find Someone to Replace Him

Shunsui Kyōraku's words reflected what most people were thinking.

Both sides had laid out their terms. Surely the guy had to choose now!

The division members watching weren't even pretending anymore. As one, they turned to look at Kyōsuke Kuchiki!

Their gazes were full of envy, jealousy, and resentment.

He had only just graduated, and the Gotei 13 and the Kidō Corps were already fighting over him, even making offers!

And he got to choose between captain and Deputy Kidō Chief!

What kind of treatment was that? What level was he on?

If they could, they would have jumped at the chance to switch places with Kyōsuke Kuchiki right then and there!

Never mind having both sides fight over them. Even if just one side wanted them, whether as captain or Deputy Kidō Chief, that was a height tens of thousands of Soul Reapers in the Seireitei could never reach in their entire lives!

If he still hesitated over this, could he even call himself a Soul Reaper?!

Sōsuke Aizen's gaze was naturally among those fixed on him.

At that moment, the concern on his face was no disguise. He was genuinely concerned about the outcome of Kyōsuke Kuchiki's choice!

Because he had suddenly realized that if Kyōsuke Kuchiki really chose to join the Gotei 13 and become captain of the 11th Division,

given his personality, he might soon become friendly with Shinji Hirako and the others.

Then Kyōsuke Kuchiki would become an enormous variable in the Gotei 13, where Aizen himself belonged, one even he couldn't predict!

When that happened, could everything really proceed as usual?

At that moment, Sōsuke Aizen actually began to ponder it, and a rare trace of hesitation even arose in his heart!

But there was no use agonizing over it now. After all, the choice was still in Kyōsuke Kuchiki's hands!

Under the crowd's burning gazes, impossible to ignore, Kyōsuke Kuchiki's head was ready to burst!

Tessai Tsukabishi had certainly enjoyed saying his piece, but Kyōsuke was utterly baffled!

What was all this about retiring?

That didn't match the story he remembered at all!

Had Tessai Tsukabishi gotten carried away trying to beat Genryūsai Shigekuni to him and sold out his teammate?

If he agreed without thinking, wouldn't that cause some serious consequences?

At that thought, he couldn't help falling silent for a few seconds.

Seeing this, not only the division members but the captains were getting a little worked up too.

Hurry up!

Fortunately, Kyōsuke Kuchiki wasn't the sort to agonize endlessly. After giving it some thought, he quickly spoke.

"Captain-Commander Genryūsai..."

"I'm very sorry."

"I'm genuinely very interested in Kidō. Compared with the Thirteenth Division, the Kidō Corps might suit me better."

"Most importantly, I've already joined the Kidō Corps, and my position has already been decided."

"It wouldn't be right to change my mind now and join the Gotei 13."

Kyōsuke Kuchiki had put it very tactfully, but anyone could hear what he meant.

Tessai Tsukabishi's expression instantly brightened with excitement.

He stroked the strange little mustache on his face and nodded calmly.

"Captain-Commander, that's how things stand, so please make an exception!"

Hearing that, Genryūsai Shigekuni glanced at him, helplessness in his eyes.

In all his years as Captain-Commander, he had encountered quite a few geniuses.

But Kyōsuke Kuchiki was the most gifted of them all, and he had graduated from the Shin'ō Academy too.

Genryūsai had originally intended to nurture such a promising prospect.

Yet just like that, someone else had snatched him away!

Anyone in his place would have felt somewhat dejected.

Still, Kyōsuke Kuchiki's words did make sense, and continuing to insist wouldn't get him anywhere.

So Genryūsai Shigekuni rapped his cane against the ground once more and spoke in a deep voice.

"...The rules of the 11th Division are clear, Kuchiki. Since you are unwilling,"

"find someone capable of inheriting the name of Kenpachi to take your place!"

By saying that, Genryūsai Shigekuni had already made a considerable concession.

At the same time, it was very crafty!

After all, he hadn't said he objected to Kyōsuke Kuchiki joining the Kidō Corps.

It was just that someone had to inherit the name of Kenpachi. If there wasn't a suitable candidate, sorry, but Kyōsuke would have to step in after all!

Tessai Tsukabishi's face darkened the moment he heard it!

Was this a joke? Was a Kenpachi that easy to find?

Just look at what that name represented!

He gathered his thoughts and was about to speak when Kyōsuke Kuchiki smiled calmly.

"Sure."

"I'll find a suitable candidate."

"..."

Tessai Tsukabishi swallowed back everything he had been about to say.

Genryūsai Shigekuni's expression visibly relaxed, and his tone softened considerably.

"Hmm... in that case, it's settled."

With that, he turned and left, as though afraid Tessai Tsukabishi would speak up and change matters again.

"Dismissed!"

"Unohana, sorry for the trouble, but take stock of the wounded and send them to their respective divisions."

"Ukitake, Kyōraku, assess the damage to the grounds."

"..."

Watching Genryūsai Shigekuni and the others gradually disappear from sight, Tessai Tsukabishi couldn't help sighing.

"Lord Kyōsuke, someone who can inherit the name of Kenpachi is very hard to find."

Yoruichi Shihōin came over as well and agreed:

"He's right. If there were a suitable candidate in the Seireitei, they would surely have challenged Kiganjō long ago."

"You'll have a hard time finding someone on short notice."

At that, a somewhat devious grin appeared on her face, and she continued:

"Here's what we'll do, Kyōsuke. Register with the Kidō Corps right away."

"I happen to have a few assignments outside the Seireitei that I need to hand over to your people."

"Go wander around for half a month before coming back. The old man won't be able to do anything about you then."

"If he asks, just say you're looking, you're looking."