In the past month, Lingyong's "Soul-Body Medical Kidō" not only cured Ika, but also cured hundreds of Soul Reaper with various intractable diseases, and his reputation spread throughout Seireitei.
Every day, more and more people come to the 11th Division for help, but Zero is only one person and can't handle it all, so he chooses to open a class and teach the 'Medical Kidō' to the Fourth Division.
Unohana teased Zero for wanting to cause trouble, but she was still very happy, and the importance of the Fourth Division was greatly increased as a result.
Zero's reputation was limited to the Seireitei, and the hype quickly faded. This was intentional on the part of the higher-ups, who had also informed him of the reasons.
Because Kenpachi's main role is killing, Zero can't be allowed to portray Kenpachi as a savior or a great benefactor, otherwise the title's prestige will be lost. Zero expressed his understanding...
The 'Medical Kidō' was simplified to the 'Healing Way', becoming the fourth branch under the Kidō; thus, the Hadō is for attacking, the Bakudō is for defending and restricting, the Kaido is for healing battle wounds, and the Healing Way is for curing diseases afflicting the soul.
This groundbreaking achievement reached the Soul King Palace and gained the Soul King's approval. It ushered in a new era in the Soul Society, greatly reducing the mortality rate of souls afflicted with disease.
Given his exceptional abilities, the Royal Guard Zero Division has sent him a letter inviting him to become a member of the Zero Division.
A century later, this is the second person, after Kuruyashiki, to be invited to join the Zero Division as Captain-level figure, and both are Kenpachi.
At this moment, Zero slowly walked into the First Division Captain-Commander's office. Currently, only the Captain-Commander was present; even Chōjirō Sasakibe entered, unwilling to eavesdrop on their conversation.
However, at the door, Kyōraku came over. He seemed to have sensed something and, through a few words with the Sasakibe, deduced why Yama-jii had summoned Zero.
Facing the large window and gazing at the Seireitei, Yama-jii- no-Kara said without turning his head, "This is an invitation from the Zero Division. Take a look! You have the right to choose. Think it over and come back to answer me."
Zero glanced at a piece of paper on the mahogany desk next to him. It contained only a few lines praising the merits of establishing the Healing Way and the name of the Soul King, and then told Zero that he could go to the Soul King Palace to receive his title on a chosen day.
Zero didn't even take the paper, and said bluntly, "No, it doesn't list any benefits. I heard from Kuruyashiki that once you go up there, you'll never be able to come down to play again, so I refuse."
As soon as Yama-jii opened his eyes, he turned around and angrily cursed, "Kid, giving you a promotion is already a benefit, what other benefits do you want?"
He didn't say anything about serving the royal family being an honor or anything like that. Even Yama-jii himself didn't believe in such nonsense, so Zero's choice was perfectly reasonable.
"Then why aren't you promoted? You founded the Gotei 13, and you've been acknowledged by the Soul King!"
Zero countered with a question about Yama-jii, saying that the old man was still serving as the Captain-Commander, implying that he had also declined the invitation, or perhaps the unit was short-staffed and didn't want Yama-jii to join Zero Division.
"Hmph, you glib brat," Yama-jii snorted coldly, not answering Zero's question, but slowly explaining, "There is one benefit: members of the Zero Division will be granted power by the Soul King and will live forever with Soul King. The price is that they are not allowed to leave the Soul King Palace and can only guard the Soul King there."
"No, you go instead! I'll manage the Gotei 13!"
'Does this old man want me to go to the Soul King Palace so I can be bound?'
On the surface, Ling was all smiles, but in reality, he was wondering what Yama-jii's purpose was in wanting to send him to the Soul King Palace.
"Kid, stop joking. With your skills, you might catch up to me in another thousand years. Then come back and see this chair."
A slight smile appeared at the corner of Yama-jii's mouth beneath his white beard. As he spoke, he walked towards his office chair and finally plopped down in front of Zero.
"Step aside! I have no time for idle chatter with you."
Zero, who had originally intended to grumble about "you can't possibly live another thousand years," was immediately kicked out and left.
As the zero vanished in an instant, Yama-jii's smile gradually subsided, and the office became eerily quiet. Among the stack of reports next to the invitation, Yama-jii pulled out one of them.
The above: Over the years, Nangong Kenpachi has frequently visited Hueco Mundo during his vacations, and it is speculated that he also went to Hueco Mundo on his earlier vacations, but the purpose is unknown!
The report was submitted two months ago, before Zero had even developed the 'Healing Way'.
"I don't know what your purpose is. If it's just to eliminate Hollows, there's no need to be so secretive. Your refusal to join the Zero Division makes me even more wary of you!"
Yama-jii stared at the letter, deep in thought. It was a report from the Second Division, tasked with monitoring dangerous Soul Reaper within the Seireitei —one of the Second Division's duties.
Yama-jii admired Nangong Ling's ambition; at least he genuinely wanted to be the Captain-Commander, unlike Kyōraku was so irresponsible, or Ukitake who was willing but unable.
However, judging from the current situation, Nangong Ling may not be suitable to be the Captain-Commander. Even Yama-jii has noticed that he poses a certain danger, at least in terms of ideology, which may not align with the current interests of the Seireitei.
Therefore, Yama-jii hoped that Zero would choose to go to the Soul King Palace, because once he went there, his bones would inevitably be modified by the Soul King's Power, commonly known as the 'Ōken', and Zero's fate would then be tied to the Soul King Palace.
As long as the Soul King is still alive, the Soul King Palace will not collapse, and the Monks of the Zero Division will not die. If the Monks do not die, the members of the Zero Division can keep Resurrection. At that time, Zero will probably only be able to defend the Soul King to the death, with no possibility of resistance!
"Hey, Captain Nangong, wait a minute! Don't run so fast!"
"What are you doing, Captain Kyōraku? I'm on my way to continue my lecture; I don't have time for nonsense."
"You've treated so many people, have you forgotten about that one critically ill patient you forgot to treat? Hehe..."
"Oh? Brother Ukitake, who has kidney deficiency."
"Hey, hey, hey, don't talk nonsense!"
With Kyōraku's help, Zero, who finally had some free time, accompanied him to the Thirteenth Division. Upon hearing the story of their arrival, Ukitake was pleased that Kyōraku had thought of him, but then he sighed.
"I don't have lungs anymore, how can I get treatment?"
"No lungs? Ukitake, what happened? You've never told me about this in all these years!"
Upon hearing Ukitake's words, Zero only paused for a moment, while the usually frivolous Kyōraku blurted out, "No lungs? How is this person supposed to live?"
"Haha, don't make a fuss. That's precisely why, even though I'm physically weak, I've lived for hundreds of years, haven't I?"
Seeing Ukitake's strained appearance, Kyōraku felt a pang of pain in his heart. This was not something that could be resolved with a few silly laughs.
Ukitake then Shikai the reason: when he was a child, his lungs were Sacrifice to a powerful deity in the Soul Society to save his life. Now he is alive, but he often suffers from lung problems.
Ukitake only gave a simple explanation, and Rei hadn't been of much help until the trip was over; it was mostly the two brothers chatting. Occasionally, when they mentioned Rei, he would simply say, "Ah, yes, yes, you're right..."
It was another day off for the team. Before heading to Hueco Mundo, Zero was personally invited by Seigen to his home. This time, however, things weren't so simple, as Ika, who had recovered, was also there.
During their conversation, the topic inevitably turned to the emergency situation back then. Ika didn't say much, but Seigen talked on and on.
Zero seems to have forgotten his identity as the unsung leader of Hueco Mundo, and continues to develop various ties with the leadership of Soul Society.