The Captain-Commander's Arrangements

As Asano Kiyoshi's words fell, he grabbed one end of Hozukimaru. From his hand surged an unending Blue Lightning Serpent!

The lightning serpent coiled along Hozukimaru's body, sending violent currents into Ikkaku's body and paralyzing both his fighting spirit and physical functions.

Ikkaku's body trembled, but he did not want to give up so soon. He clenched his teeth so hard that blood seeped from his gums, desperately steadying himself as he tried to continue his attack on Asano Kiyoshi.

But an ink-black longsword was already pressed against his neck. Ikkaku froze. Feeling the blade's icy touch, he followed its pitch-black edge with his gaze toward the one holding it.

When he clearly saw the longsword in Asano Kiyoshi's hand, Ikkaku was stunned. He asked instinctively:

"How is that possible... I clearly saw you throw your sword away!"

Asano Kiyoshi looked at Ikkaku and nodded helplessly. Once he realized Ikkaku had lost most of his will to fight, he removed the ink-black longsword from Ikkaku's neck. Then, with a light squeeze of his hand, the blade instantly dissolved into a mass of Black Reiatsu and scattered away.

Seeing this, Ikkaku's doubts vanished. Then he said bitterly:

"Ah, I didn't think of that! I won't lose to you next time!"

Hearing Ikkaku's words, Asano Kiyoshi smiled slightly. He reached out, brushed the dust from Ikkaku's body, and said:

"I won't let you surpass me either! Let's work hard together!"

Once Mayuri Kurotsuchi saw that the flickering images on the screen no longer held any data value, he immediately pressed the shutdown button without hesitation and muttered:

"I don't understand why these idiots always like saying such meaningless things. What a waste of time."

The captains were already accustomed to Mayuri Kurotsuchi's way of doing things, so none of them said anything. They merely began discussing the battle they had just watched with the captains closest to them.

Naturally, nearly all the discussion centered on Asano Kiyoshi. Ikkaku's performance had been commendable, but even at his very best, he would probably only become an ordinary captain in the future. Though he could leave his name in Soul Society's history, everyone present had already reached that level, so they did not pay him much attention.

But Asano Kiyoshi was different!

Just the fact that he could simultaneously use Double Chanting and Post-Chanting meant he was destined to leave a striking mark on Soul Society's history!

Not to mention his bizarre Shikai and unusual abilities, as well as... the deliberate cultivation of the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society's history!

If nothing unexpected happened, Asano Kiyoshi was highly likely to take the old man's place and become the next Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13!

He might even... inherit the title of the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years!

Byakuya Kuchiki watched Asano Kiyoshi with a thoughtful expression. As the captain of the Sixth Division and the head of the Five Great Noble Clans, it was inevitable that he would need to maintain a good relationship with the important figure of the Captain-Commander.

Moreover, as the clan among the nobles most inclined toward the Gotei 13, the Kuchiki Clan had always been in a somewhat awkward position. In recent years, the relationship between the Gotei 13 and the nobles had not been harmonious. It could even be said that, in some matters, they were opposed to the nobles.

What the Gotei 13 sought to protect was not the nobles, but the entire Seireitei.

As the central point between the two sides, Byakuya Kuchiki had always found this rather troubling.

Faced with Asano Kiyoshi, who might become the next Captain-Commander, he had to make contact early and roughly ascertain Asano Kiyoshi's attitude and views toward the nobles, thereby pointing the way forward for the Kuchiki Clan's future.

However, judging by what Asano Kiyoshi had said to Madarame Ikkaku at the end, he probably was not some utterly vicious person. In that case, what gift should he bring...

Watching the crowd descend into chaos, the Captain-Commander sighed helplessly. Then he put a little force into his arm and struck his cane hard against the ground twice.

As two crisp taps rang out, everyone familiarly stopped talking and turned their attention to the old man seated at the center.

Watching those captains stare at him as though they were elementary school students, Head Captain Yamamoto was somewhat speechless. He had led these fellows for so many years—it truly had not been easy... Ah, forget it. He had founded the Gotei 13 himself; even if he had to cry, he would keep leading them.

Head Captain Yamamoto cleared his throat and said to the captains:

"Today's recording is a top-secret matter of the Gotei 13. No captain is permitted to leak even the slightest word of it! Anything concerning Asano Kiyoshi must receive my approval! Remember! Anything! I do not wish for a future pillar of Soul Society like him to die because of some foolish mistake!"

By the end of his words, the temperature throughout the meeting hall had risen somewhat. Feeling the scorching heat, everyone instinctively looked toward the Captain-Commander and saw that he had opened eyes that had remained shut for many years!

Those were not eyes that a Thousand-Year Old Man should possess!

It was as though a blazing sun was nurtured within them! Scorching! Burning! Terrifying enough to incinerate everything in the world!

Feeling the wave of heat, everyone understood that the Captain-Commander took this matter extremely seriously. They absolutely could not provoke him!

Thus, everyone answered in unison, "Understood!"

Satisfied with their response, the Captain-Commander nodded. After giving a few more instructions, he dismissed everyone, leaving behind only Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Byakuya Kuchiki.

Inside the memory, only the three of them remained. The Captain-Commander looked at the two and slowly said:

"Mayuri Kurotsuchi, use your methods to delete or conceal the records concerning Asano Kiyoshi in the Great Spirit Book Gallery. Do not let certain nobles see them. Can you do it?"

At his words, Mayuri Kurotsuchi revealed a disdainful expression and replied blandly:

"Such a matter is effortless! The Great Spirit Book Gallery may be difficult to infiltrate, but it is only difficult to infiltrate!"

Hearing Mayuri Kurotsuchi's words, the Captain-Commander understood what he meant and nodded in relief.

"After you handle this matter, come to me to collect the Research and Development Department's development funds. I will increase your allocation appropriately."

A smile immediately appeared on Mayuri Kurotsuchi's face. After all, what research project did not need money?

With a wave of his hand, the Captain-Commander sent Mayuri Kurotsuchi away. Looking at the remaining Byakuya Kuchiki, he said earnestly:

"Byakuya, your Kuchiki Clan has always maintained close ties with the Gotei 13. This time, I also hope you can make the right judgment."

Byakuya Kuchiki looked at the old man before him and nodded.

The moonlight was gentle, and the night breeze was still, yet a dangerous curve formed at the corner of Aizen's lips.