The Captain-Commander had given this decision considerable thought. Whether he assigned Yoru Machi to the Eleventh Division or the Fourth Division, it would displease both Unohana Retsu and Kenpachi Zaraki, perhaps causing more unnecessary trouble.
For the sake of caution, assigning Yoru Machi to another division was the best option.
As for why he had chosen Kyoraku Shunsui, one reason was that the man had enjoyed the spectacle more than anyone else just now, grinning so widely his teeth nearly reached his cheeks.
The other reason was that the Captain-Commander trusted Kyoraku Shunsui's strength. If Unohana Retsu or Kenpachi Zaraki came looking for trouble, there truly were not many captains here who could withstand them.
The other captains also saw through the Captain-Commander's intentions, so they all offered Kyoraku Shunsui their blessings.
"Congratulations, congratulations. Any rookie Soul Reaper who can make Captain Unohana and Captain Kenpachi fight so fiercely must be quite extraordinary."
"Congratulations to Captain Kyoraku. The Eighth Division has gained another formidable warrior."
"What a pity. I was just about to ask for him myself, but... since it is the Captain-Commander's order, there is nothing to be done."
Watching the division captains beside him kick him while he was down and spout such insincere words, Kyoraku Shunsui's face nearly twisted out of shape.
Then he looked at Yoru Machi again, and his heart became even more unbalanced. If Yoru Machi had been a beauty, Kyoraku Shunsui would not have minded taking him in, even if it brought some trouble.
But the point was that this Yoru Machi was not a beauty—he was an absurdly handsome man. His looks were so good that even Kyoraku Shunsui had to concede defeat, so how was Kyoraku Shunsui supposed to flirt with girls in the future if he brought him back to the Eighth Division?
He did not know what had happened in recent years, but young girls had started liking handsome oppas. Back then, melancholy middle-aged men like him had clearly been much more popular.
"Captain-Commander, our Eighth Division is already at full capacity and does not need any newcomers for the time being.
A while ago, when I was drinking with Jushiro, he mentioned that his Thirteenth Division was short on personnel. How about sending this Soul Reaper to the Thirteenth Division instead?"
Hearing Kyoraku Shunsui's words, the Captain-Commander glanced at the banner at the Eighth Division's recruitment booth in the Main Hall.
It currently read: 'Eighth Division recruiting new members. Urgently seeking a large number of talents skilled in gathering intelligence. Meals and lodging provided, excellent benefits, low risk factor, young female Soul Reapers preferred.'
"Cough, cough. Captain-Commander, since the Eighth Division is unable to take in this Soul Reaper, then let him come to our Thirteenth Division.
Just as Shunsui said, our Thirteenth Division is indeed facing a shortage of manpower. If he is willing to join our Thirteenth Division, it would truly be a great help."
Upon hearing Ukitake's words, Kyoraku Shunsui immediately wore a satisfied expression and casually draped an arm around the shoulders of the continuously coughing Ukitake.
He had known all along that his best friend Ukitake would help him take this hot potato. Although this Soul Reaper named Yoru Machi would be a hot potato to any division, he would not be one to Ukitake.
Everyone knew that Ukitake Jushiro was the nicest man in all of Soul Society. Not only was he the first captain since the founding of Shino Academy, but he was also exceptionally well-liked. Coupled with his frail and sickly condition, even Unohana Retsu and Kenpachi Zaraki would not trouble Ukitake no matter whose trouble they went looking for.
"Since that is the case, this Soul Reaper named Yoru Machi will be incorporated into the Thirteenth Division. As for the punishment of the captains of the Fourth Division and the Eleventh Division, it will be carried out immediately."
Both Ukitake Jushiro and Kyoraku Shunsui were the Captain-Commander's students, and he had long understood their personalities.
Ukitake was highly popular and extremely responsible in his work. Entrusting this matter to him did make the Captain-Commander feel more at ease.
It was only because Kyoraku Shunsui had laughed far too gleefully earlier, and because Ukitake was weak and sickly, that the Captain-Commander had not wanted to make things too difficult for Ukitake.
Thus, the farce came to an end. Yoru Machi had never expected that he had merely wanted to join a division where he could coast into retirement, only for it to cause such a huge uproar.
Fortunately, although he had failed to join his most desired Fourth Division, he had ultimately entered his second choice, the Thirteenth Division, as he had wished.
Ukitake Jushiro, the captain of the Thirteenth Division, was among the strongest of the captains and was also a genuinely kind man. His division had originally been one of Yoru Machi's preferred choices.
Although he would not be able to spend time near Sister Hana, and the Thirteenth Division had far fewer girls than the Fourth Division, he did not seem to have much room to choose under those circumstances.
"You are Yoru Machi, right? ...Cough, cough. Come back to the Thirteenth Division barracks with me. From now on, you are a member of our Thirteenth Division.
Our Thirteenth Division is also called the Purification Squad. Our duty is to purify souls in Rukongai that have undergone Hollowfication due to corruption, cough, cough..."
According to the setting of the Soul Reaper World, after people died, they appeared in the form of Spirit Bodies, with a chain emerging from their chests. Once they experienced intense emotional fluctuations or remained in the Human World for too long, they became what were known as Hollows.
There were many wandering souls in Rukongai, so souls that had undergone "Hollowfication" sometimes appeared there. Every day, large numbers of ordinary people also died in the Human World, and performing Soul Burial for the souls there was the duty of their Thirteenth Division.
Ukitake Jushiro walked ahead, coughing with every sentence in such a frail state that Yoru Machi feared he might suddenly collapse to the ground while walking.
But it could not be denied that Ukitake Jushiro's strength truly ranked among the best in Soul Society. Not only did he possess one of Soul Society's only three paired Zanpakuto Shikai, but his true identity was even the incarnation of the Soul King's right arm!
"Captain, you're back? How was the situation at the Spirit Training Academy? Did a Vastolorde from Hueco Mundo invade?"
Before they reached the Thirteenth Division barracks, a black-haired man with deep smoky-blue eyes, long lower eyelashes, and tattoos on his bare shoulders approached them upon seeing Ukitake and Yoru Machi.
Hollows in Hueco Mundo were divided into four ranks: low-level Hollows, Menos Grande Gillians, Adjuchas, and Vastolordes. Among them, Vastolorde-class Menos Grandes were said to possess combat strength comparable to captains of the Gotei 13. In fact, ordinary captains were sometimes no match for Vastolordes.
After all, Vastolordes were nearly the pinnacle of Hollows. They not only had distinctive Ceros, but also exceptionally tough Steel Skin and High-Speed Regeneration.
The spiritual pressure that had erupted from the Shino Academy earlier had undoubtedly reached captain level. The only possibility Shiba Kaien could think of was that a Menos Grande of Tohshirou's level had invaded the Seireitei.
"Actually, Captain Unohana of the Fourth Division and Captain Kenpachi of the Eleventh Division had a slight conflict, cough, cough. I will explain it to you in detail when I have time.
And this is Yoru Machi, a newcomer who has joined our division. Explain the duties of our Thirteenth Division to him, along with some matters requiring attention."
Before you continue