Yoru Machi: I'm a New Grim Reaper Too!

After the captain's meeting ended, Ukitake Jushiro returned to the barracks and explained the situation to Kaien. Things unfolded exactly as Yoru Machi knew they would—a special unit led by Hirako Shinji and his group was dispatched to the incident site for investigation.

The lineup of three captains and three vice-captains led everyone, including the Captain-Commander, to believe this investigation was a sure thing.

Yet reality proved that without significant external interference, the plot barely changed. Hirako Shinji and his team still got taken down, framed as traitors by Aizen's scheme.

Because Soul Society's sharpest mind, Urahara Kisuke, sensed something wrong ahead of time and used the Hogyoku to save Hirako Shinji's group. But he and Shihoin Yoruichi were framed alongside them, both forced to flee to the Human World.

The Hollowfied Hirako Shinji and his crew formed the so-called "Visoreds," while the Gotei 13 entered its weakest period in history.

The Visoreds took four captains and vice-captains with them, plus Shihoin Yoruichi of the Second Division and Urahara Kisuke of the Twelfth. Later, Shiba Isshin of the Tenth Division—later known as Kurosaki Isshin—would also be stationed in the Human World.

In other words, under Aizen's scheme, the Gotei 13 lost over half its combat strength from its thirteen captains.

With Urahara and the others fleeing to the Human World, the sudden vacancies in many captain positions were quickly filled by fresh blood from various divisions.

The Second Division was taken over by Flat Chest girl Soi Fon, the Fifth Division saw Hair Gel Boss step into his desired role, and the Twelfth Division's Development 01 Bureau was handed to its former deputy director, Kurotsuchi Mayuri.

As for the remaining divisions, because Ichimaru Gin, Tousen Kaname, and Kanemura Sajin lacked sufficient seniority, they couldn't directly take over captain positions yet.

Inside the Thirteenth Division's barracks, Uchidan Hall, Ukitake Jushiro and Yoru Machi sat facing each other.

Two years had passed. Though Ukitake stayed home most of the time due to his physical condition, usually leaving division affairs to Kaien, he wasn't completely oblivious to what went on. He'd seen Yoru Machi's performance and growth over these two years.

Leaving aside combat ability, Yoru Machi's people skills and work efficiency didn't seem like those of a Rookie Soul Reaper fresh out of the Spirit Training Academy.

Kaien was a genius—upon joining the Thirteenth Division, he'd immediately become its Third Seat. Yoru Machi wasn't on that level, but in two years, he'd climbed to the Fifth Seat of the Thirteenth Division.

He could have risen higher, but Yoru Machi repeatedly refused.

His excuse was that the Third and Fourth Seats in their division were cute girls, and he didn't want to take what they had. In truth, Yoru Machi felt the Fifth Seat status already matched his current position well enough.

Too high a rank made you a test subject for certain big shots' attention, but too low a rank turned you into cannon fodder. So in Yoru Machi's view, the Fifth Seat was just right.

"Yoru Machi, I'm sure you've heard about what's been happening in the Gotei 13 lately. The Third, Fifth, Seventh, and Ninth Divisions all have major personnel gaps now. Leaving captain positions aside, when the Captain-Commander asked if other divisions had suitable candidates to serve as vice-captains or seated officers in those divisions, I thought of you. What are your thoughts?"

"To become a vice-captain, you at least need to master 'Shikai' and have a certain level of Reiatsu. But from what I know, you should have met both standards long ago, right? You and Kaien often go to Carp Mountain in West Rukongai to spar and train."

Hearing Captain Fujitora's words, Yoru Machi finally understood why he'd called him in for a serious talk today—he was planning to recommend him as a vice-captain in another division!

The Seventh Division aside, the Third, Fifth, and Ninth—were those divisions somewhere you could just waltz into?

"Captain, I only want to stay in the Thirteenth Division. That's my wish. And I don't think my current strength is enough to handle a vice-captain's position."

Come on, Yoru Machi kept a low profile precisely to avoid catching the boss squad's attention. And now Ukitake wanted to shove him somewhere else—was he trying to force him to switch sides?

Hair Gel Boss had charisma, sure, and great rhetoric. His treatment of subordinates wasn't exactly warm, but it wasn't cruel either.

The real problem was his opponent—the infamous cheat, Ichigo, who carried the bloodlines of Soul Reaper, Hollow, and Quincy all in one. When he couldn't win, he'd just unlock a power-up. As the world's favorite son, he couldn't be judged by common sense.

"If you became a vice-captain, the treatment would be worlds apart from a seated officer. And with your talent, you might even become a captain someday. Switching divisions in the Gotei 13 isn't easy. If not for this special situation, you might never get another chance like this. Are you sure you want to give it up?"

Looking at the handsome, good-natured Yoru Machi in front of him, Ukitake was genuinely puzzled. Most Soul Reapers joining the Gotei 13 aimed to climb the ranks toward vice-captain and captain.

But here was Yoru Machi, with a vice-captain opportunity practically handed to him, making every excuse to refuse.

Kaien had been the same way—if Ukitake hadn't personally invited him to be vice-captain, he'd probably still be training hard at Carp Mountain in West Rukongai.

Was the Thirteenth Division destined to produce slackers? He, as captain, was already a hands-off boss due to his health, setting a bad example for the whole division. Now no one had any ambition—they all just wanted to lie flat forever?

"Well then, let's table this for now. But there's another matter I need you to handle. According to intel, a city in the Human World called Ukiyo Town has seen a surge in souls recently. The Development 01 Bureau detected through Reiatsu readings that a Hollow might have devoured enough souls to evolve into a Menos Grande—a Gillian. I need you to go deal with it."

Yoru Machi knew about this—he was the Fifth Seat of the Thirteenth Division, after all. But as far as he knew, someone was already handling it, so he spoke up: "Wasn't the Ukiyo Town matter being handled by Third Seat Reikawa? Why..."

"Reikawa Seki's strength is decent, but he has no experience fighting a Menos Grande. I think sending you would be safer. Ideally, I'd send Kaien, but Seireitei regulations state that anyone vice-captain rank or above has their Reiatsu sealed to one-fifth strength when passing through the Senkaimon, to avoid causing too much destruction in the Human World."

Hearing Ukitake's words, Yoru Machi felt speechless. He understood why Kaien, as vice-captain, couldn't just go to the Human World. But if their Third Seat had no experience with Menos Grande, did he?

He'd only graduated from the Spirit Training Academy two years ago! He was a genuine rookie, damn it!