No one knew what Yama-jii and Central 46 had discussed in secret, but afterward, Central 46 replaced seven sages, while the rest began conducting their duties honestly and impartially.
They knew Yama-jii supported Central 46. Many captains who had grievances against Central 46 had forcibly suppressed their discontent because of him.
That even someone who supported them had spoken to them that way made Central 46 realize they had gone too far in handling certain matters. They could only make a few adjustments, though no one knew how many years this would last...
After the battle, Rei returned to the Eleventh Division Barracks and fell straight to sleep. Fighting a Bankai with his Shikai, he had released too much Reiatsu; if he had continued, he would have exhausted himself and died.
No matter how strong a Soul Reaper was, their Reiryoku and Reiatsu had limits... It was like a rooftop water tower holding three cubic meters: if two faucets were opened all the way and water flowed out faster than it could be replenished, the tower would soon run dry.
A Soul Reaper's body worked much the same way. The Hakusui and Saketsu produced Reiryoku, the body stored it, and the all-important wrists released it.
The wrists were like faucet valves. With one gone, the Reiatsu released would naturally drop by more than half...
In the original timeline of the Soul Reaper world, many people probably didn't understand why Yama-jii became so weak after losing an arm. Even at his worst, he shouldn't have been killed instantly by Yhwach.
The reason was that he had lost an arm. The Reiatsu he released was no longer strong enough, and his strength had fallen below half its peak...
As Rei slept, he seemed to feel someone groping him. He opened his eyes and saw that he had been changed into a different set of clothes. Two female medical Soul Reapers from the Fourth Division were beside him. They giggled at him behind their hands before leaving.
Boss, they were handling you just now, and I really wanted to speak up and stop them, but then I thought I shouldn't reveal myself.
Yanis, you made the right choice. Next time, just don't say anything...
Yanis had fallen from humanity and regained his human reason. What bad intentions could he possibly have? He only wanted to spoil Rei's fun.
"You've been out for two hours. How do you feel?"
Kuruyashiki came in. They were in the 11th Division's Squad Barracks, and Rei was lying in Kuruyashiki's office.
"Not bad, just a little drained!"
Rei only felt a little uncomfortable. He had never suffered from exhaustion again since his fight with Kenpachi Zaraki.
"The Captain-Commander wants to see you. Once you've rested here, head over!"
Kuruyashiki relayed the message directly. He was to take Rei to see the Captain-Commander.
"Then let's wait a while!"
After saying that, Rei lay back down and went to sleep again. Keeping his Shikai fully released and forcibly casting a number ninety Kidō had drained his Reiryoku, and he felt very tired.
Half a day later, Rei once again came before Yama-jii in the same dōjō as always.
This time, Yama-jii wasn't alone. Among the captains, Kyōraku, Ukitake, Ginrei Kuchiki, and a fellow with dog ears were also present. Counting Kuruyashiki, half of the current twelve captains were there.
"Greetings, Captain-Commander!"
After sweeping his gaze over the captains present, Rei merely nodded to Yama-jii. The other captains also turned their attention to Rei.
"Mm!"
After a quiet grunt of acknowledgment, Yama-jii opened his eyes and studied the brat before him. He couldn't quite understand it. In less than a year, Rei could already cast a number ninety Kidō. How could he have grown so quickly?
Putting the thought aside, Yama-jii said in a deep voice, "Nangong Ling!"
"Here."
"Captain Kyōraku has told me how this incident began and unfolded. Central 46 has just conducted a thorough investigation of the Tsunayashiro Clan, and your subordinates have been released."
"Thank you, Captain-Commander!"
On hearing that his subordinates had been released, Rei showed neither joy nor sorrow and thanked him in a normal tone. Rei knew Yama-jii must have said something to Central 46 for them to be released.
"I called you here this time mainly to give you an order."
Yama-jii paused at that point and looked at Rei and Kuruyashiki.
"What order? Please instruct me, Captain-Commander."
Rei was puzzled. Was there some important task at a time like this? He couldn't figure it out.
"The order is as follows: Nangong Ling, lieutenant of the 11th Division, has demonstrated outstanding strength and is hereby forbidden from engaging in further duels with other captains for one hundred years, so as to avoid losses to the Seireitei's fighting strength... That is all!"
Rei had a smile on his face when he heard the first two parts of the order, but then it instantly froze...
"Oh, my! The first lieutenant forbidden from challenging Captain-level fighters!"
"I suppose that's an honor in its own right!"
"Defeating Captain Tsunayashiro with your Shikai was more than enough to prove your strength..."
As soon as Yama-jii finished giving the order, Kyōraku began teasing Rei, followed by Ukitake and the dog-eared captain. All of them showed some measure of respect.
The fact that Rei had been expressly forbidden from challenging captains again meant that his strength had been fully recognized and that he was even a candidate for captain.
The captains reckoned that he would only need to learn Bankai and temper his character to become an outstanding captain. As for where he would serve, that went without saying: most likely the Ninth Division.
"Wait, Captain-Commander! Doesn't that mean I can't duel Rei for a hundred years? We had an agreement..."
"No! Whether you challenge him or he challenges you, it is not permitted. Understood?"
Kuruyashiki's protest was cut short by Yama-jii, and he could only fall silent in disappointment.
In fact, the order had come not from Yama-jii but from Central 46. Central 46 had said they were a little afraid of Rei. He had even killed a great noble. Wouldn't a normal person have been afraid of retaliation and hesitated to kill him?
Although the Captain-Commander's subordinate had been an influence, ninety-nine percent of people hadn't expected Rei to actually raise his hand and finish him off.
Central 46 believed someone so unrestrained should be constrained a little and properly tempered by the Gotei 13 before becoming a captain. Otherwise, he would lose control sooner or later.
Thus, even though Rei had defeated Hideaki Tsunayashiro, Yama-jii had said nothing about making him a captain and had strictly forbidden him from challenging other captains. For now, he could only leave Rei hanging.
When the meeting ended, Rei met another captain: the burly man with Shiba Inu ears, Komamura Tarō, the current captain of the Seventh Division.
Only after asking Kyōraku did Rei learn that Komamura Tarō's ears weren't dog ears but wolf ears... He came from the cursed werewolf clan.
Meanwhile, the Tsunayashiro Clan's troubles were far from over. Hideaki Tsunayashiro's death had brought down their pillar of support, and the branch family members who had committed offenses in the past were rounded up and imprisoned again.
As for people like Tokinada Tsunayashiro, who were still considered members of the main family, they were only placed under temporary house arrest. They had to wait for the turmoil to pass.
The council of elders was fairly wise, having the clan gradually withdraw from the sight of ordinary Soul Reapers and continue managing the Great Spirit Book Gallery, without provoking Captain-level fighters or defying Central 46 any further.
The Tsunayashiro Clan's only Captain-level fighter was dead. Among the five great noble clans, apart from the one living in seclusion, the Tsunayashiro Clan was now the weakest.
The Shiba Clan controlled the Tenth Division, the Kuchiki Clan controlled the Sixth Division, and the Shihoin Clan's hold on the Second Division was almost hereditary. Then there was the Ninth Division, controlled by the Tsunayashiro Clan.
But now the Tsunayashiro Clan's strongest member had died at Rei's hands, and they could no longer find anyone strong enough to take over as captain.
Moreover, even if they did find someone, that person would probably have to face Nangong Ling before becoming captain. That would be no ordinary challenge...
Word that Lieutenant Nangong had been forbidden from challenging other captains had long since spread. Many guessed Rei was going to become captain of the Ninth Division and was only waiting for the transfer order.
Yet another half a year passed in the blink of an eye, and no transfer order came. Rei was still a lieutenant, and the Ninth Division's captaincy remained vacant.
By then, Rei could finally no longer stand the boredom and wanted to take leave to go devour to his heart's content in Hueco Mundo. There, his strength would advance more quickly.
"How long? Ten years? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
The moment Kuruyashiki heard that Rei wanted ten years' leave, he jumped up in protest.
"Captain Kuruyashiki, ten years isn't that long! For us Soul Reapers, it passes in the blink of an eye."
Rei was half-reclining in a grand armchair he had commissioned a craftsman to make, rocking as he tried to persuade Kuruyashiki.
"You can train your Bankai just as well in Soul Society! You could even find someone to guide you."
Kuruyashiki thought that if Rei left, there would be no one to deal with all the trivial matters.
"But it's boring here. All I do all day is handle one task after another. There aren't even any Gillians. Hueco Mundo is more exciting..."
"If you're worried about there being too many little things, you can have Gosuke handle them! That newcomer, Kensei Muguruma, is pretty good too. He's very resolute. Even though he's only the Fifth Seat, he's strong enough to handle a lot of things."
Rei had long since seen through Kuruyashiki's thoughts; he too was afraid of being bothered by too many trivial matters. Kensei Muguruma was a newcomer who had joined the 11th Division the previous year, while Rei was still in Hueco Mundo.
Several others had graduated alongside Kensei. Although they hadn't become Seated Officers as soon as they graduated like Hirako, they had finally become Seated Officers through their own strength.
"Uh... mm, all right! In that case, I'll approve your leave."
Caught out, Kuruyashiki blushed, then agreed to Rei's request. After all, the 11th Division wasn't particularly short of people at the moment.
Back home, Rei said goodbye to his subordinates. Some insisted on coming with him, but after Rei gave them a scolding, they could only stay home obediently.
He was somewhat speechless as he looked at the three large bundles before him. Each one was at least a meter tall.
The bundles were filled with all kinds of snacks and seasonings, as well as pots and bowls, and things like clothes and tents.
All of it was a token of his subordinates' care, so Rei used his Zanpakuto's scabbard as a carrying pole and hoisted all three large bundles onto his back at once.
With a tearing sound, space split as Rei opened a Garganta on his own. Then he quickly shouldered his luggage and jumped into it.