Captain Appointment

Ailin's desire to become a captain of the Gotei 13 was something Shihoin Yoruichi understood.

Not everyone was like her childhood friend—possessing great strength yet having no desire to pursue a higher status.

Ailin possessed captain-level spiritual pressure and had also achieved Bankai with his Zanpakuto. He was indeed qualified to serve as a captain of the Gotei 13.

However, under normal circumstances, Ailin had no chance of becoming the captain of the Second Division.

Both Ailin and Shihoin Yoruichi understood this clearly.

Unless Ailin challenged Shihoin Yoruichi before more than two hundred Shinigami and succeeded in defeating her.

Now, Ginrei Kuchiki, captain of the Sixth Division, had extended an olive branch to Ailin, giving him a new option.

"Mm, then let me congratulate you in advance."

"I imagine that before long, we'll be colleagues once more."

"Thank you, Captain Yoruichi."

After bowing to Yoruichi in thanks, Ailin removed the armband representing his position as Vice-Captain of the Second Division from his left arm, gently placed it on the table, and left the captain's office of the Second Division.

After stepping out through the gates of the Second Division, Ailin looked back at the place where he had spent over thirty years. Then, he headed toward the Kuchiki Clan.

"Hey..."

He had only taken a few steps when a breeze swept past, lifting several strands of Ailin's hair. A girl's clear voice rang out behind him.

"Ailin, are you really leaving the Second Division?"

Ailin stopped. He wanted to turn around, but in the end, he merely gave a wry smile and lightly waved to the girl behind him.

"Isn't that obvious?"

"Little Soifon, the next time we meet, perhaps you should call me Captain Ailin."

Ailin knew well that he and Sui-Feng were different.

Sui-Feng was the next head of the Fon Family, a lower noble house, and the successor to the position of captain of the Second Division after Shihoin Yoruichi's defection from the Seireitei.

A Shinigami like Ailin, who had risen from the Rukon District, could not possibly become the captain of a special division like the Second Division.

If Ailin wished to go any further, leaving the Second Division was inevitable.

The girl opened her mouth, yet did not know what to say. She could only watch Ailin's back disappear around the corner, remaining there for a long time without leaving.

The next day, news came from the Kuchiki Clan: Ailin, formerly Vice-Captain of the Second Division, had become engaged to Haruko Kuchiki, the eldest daughter of the Kuchiki Clan, becoming the Kuchiki Clan's son-in-law.

At the same time, Ailin would take up the post of Vice-Captain of the Sixth Division.

A year later, Ginrei Kuchiki officially retired, and Ailin succeeded him as captain of the Sixth Division.

Ginjiro, formerly the Third Seat, was promoted to Vice-Captain of the Sixth Division.

"Haah!"

"Yah!"

Beneath the cherry blossom tree in the Kuchiki Clan's backyard, a handsome young boy was diligently practicing swordsmanship.

Not far away, Ginrei Kuchiki narrowed his eyes, greatly satisfied with the boy's performance.

After stepping down as captain of the Sixth Division, Ginrei Kuchiki devoted all his energy to his grandson, Byakuya Kuchiki.

Whenever he had time, he would supervise Byakuya's training.

And Byakuya Kuchiki's talent had exceeded Ginrei Kuchiki's expectations.

In just five short years, fourteen-year-old Byakuya already possessed strength comparable to that of an ordinary Shinigami.

However, perhaps because Ginrei Kuchiki placed too much emphasis on Byakuya Kuchiki's strength training, Byakuya had developed an extremely lively temperament, far removed from the Kuchiki Clan's "noble demeanor."

This gave Ginrei Kuchiki quite a headache as well.

Suddenly, Ginrei Kuchiki raised his head.

"Byakuya, you have a guest."

"A guest?"

Byakuya Kuchiki was still puzzled as he practiced his swordsmanship when, the next moment, he felt someone seize his head and ram his face straight into their chest.

"Hahahaha, hahahaha..."

"Little brother Byakuya, it's been so long. Did you miss me?"

In the span of three seconds, Byakuya Kuchiki's expression changed from bewilderment, to confusion, to a dark scowl, and finally to fury.

"You!"

Byakuya Kuchiki's eyelid twitched. The wooden sword in his hand showed no mercy as it slashed toward Yoruichi.

But how could a teenage Byakuya possibly hit Yoruichi?

Not only did Byakuya Kuchiki's attack fail, Yoruichi even casually untied the red string binding his hair.

"Hahahaha..."

Seeing Yoruichi wave the red string in her hand, Byakuya Kuchiki immediately flew into a rage.

"Stand there obediently and don't move, you cat demon!"

"Now, let me show you my Shunpo."

"I'll let you know that my Shunpo has long surpassed yours, Shihoin Yoruichi!"

"Oh?"

Hearing Byakuya Kuchiki's words, Yoruichi could not help but laugh.

He was just too adorable!

"Little brother Byakuya, you can't even catch me, and you still have the nerve to claim your Shunpo is better than mine?"

"Damn it!"

The veins on Byakuya Kuchiki's forehead bulged from Yoruichi's taunting. He swung his Asauchi as though he wanted to hack Shihoin Yoruichi into pieces.

"Enough, Captain Yoruichi. Byakuya is still a child. Does your conscience not hurt from teasing him like this?"

Just as Byakuya Kuchiki raged helplessly, a voice sounded beside everyone's ears.

Then, Byakuya felt his body grow light. In the next instant, he appeared beside his grandfather.

A hand had appeared on his shoulder.

Looking up, Byakuya saw a handsome young man.

The long hair on the left side of his head was bound behind him by two Star-tethering hairpins. A dark red Windflower gauze was wrapped around his neck, and over his black Shinigami uniform, he wore the white haori representing a captain of the Gotei 13.

This man was the Kuchiki Clan's son-in-law and the current captain of the Sixth Division, Ailin!

"Uncle."

"Mm, good boy, Byakuya."

That single "Uncle" made Ailin's eyes crinkle with a smile. He reached out and rubbed Byakuya's head several times.

Young Byakuya was simply too adorable.

No wonder Yoruichi came to tease him so often.

Especially since the image of the grown-up Byakuya Kuchiki's expressionless face often surfaced in Ailin's mind. The more he rubbed Byakuya's head and watched the humiliated, furious expression on his face, the more enthusiastic he became.

"Father-in-law."

After nodding to Ginrei Kuchiki in greeting, Ailin finally turned his gaze toward Yoruichi.

After Ailin became the Kuchiki Clan's son-in-law, the relationship between the Shihoin Family and the Kuchiki Clan grew much closer.

In Ginrei Kuchiki's eyes, Shihoin Yoruichi's willingness to let Ailin go showed that the Shihoin Family harbored no covetous heart toward the Kuchiki Clan.

At least, not during Shihoin Yoruichi's time as head of the family.

Thus, Ginrei Kuchiki also responded to Shihoin Yoruichi's friendliness.

Over the years, Shihoin Yoruichi frequently came and went from the Kuchiki Clan, teasing Byakuya Kuchiki while also, without realizing it, teaching him more advanced Shunpo.

Overall, this generation of the Kuchiki Clan and the Shihoin Family was enjoying an unprecedented "honeymoon period."

"Lord Yoruichi, did you contact me this time because something happened?"

As captain of the Sixth Division, Ailin would normally spend his days stationed in the Sixth Division.

He had only rushed back from the Sixth Division to the Kuchiki Clan today after suddenly receiving Yoruichi's message.