Sister Hua, we're not rebels

Looking at the giant spear, Destruction King, which stood opposite the execution rack on the Sōkyoku Hill Platform, Shazo suddenly remembered the scene not long after that when Ichigo Kurosaki- handedly blocked the attack.

He's really handsome.

He laughed, "The power of a million Zanpakuto... what terrifying power that is!"

"Sister Hua, have you seen this before?"

Retsu Unohana nodded. "Of course I've seen it, but the statement about a million Zanpakuto is incorrect."

Shazo asked to confirm, "So you were really just bragging?"

Retsu Unohana replied, "Of course he's bragging."

"Shikai, Seireitei can destroy a house with a single Zanpakuto; the entire Seireitei doesn't even have ten thousand houses."

"If the Destruction King truly possessed the power of a million Zanpakuto, he could wipe out the Seireitei with just one activation."

Shazo chuckled and asked, "Heh heh, you really were exaggerating about its power. What about the limitation of only punishing the most heinous criminals?"

The older sister rolled her eyes, a rare occurrence for her. "Why did everyone slack off during this invading Ryoka? We caught the Ryoka but didn't kill them; we even treated them properly! Isn't it because everyone thinks Rukia didn't commit any crime?!"

"I initially thought the nobles were acting foolishly, but it turns out they were being controlled."

Retsu Unohana glanced in the direction of Central 46 and said softly, "They should all be dead by now—"

Shazo asked, "Sister Hua, aren't you planning to expose Aizen ahead of schedule this time?"

Unohana was quite pleased to be called "Hana-nee" (older Sister Hua), and said haughtily, "Hmph, although I don't remember, I definitely did it in my dream, but still no one killed Aizen. There's no need to do useless things anymore."

"They're all useless, even Old Man Yamamoto is useless, so—this time I'll personally come to kill him."

Shazo:

Okay, now he's genuinely starting to worry about Aizen. If Sister Hua were to kill him with a single blow, would his story end there?

What?

The Quincy lurking in the shadows and their Wandenreich?

It's still a long way from when that thing will actually appear.

Besides, if the Gotei 13 hadn't suffered heavy losses fighting the Menos Grande of Hueco Mundo, what would the Wandenreich, hidden for a thousand years, have amounted to?

To think that hiding in the shadows and never seeing the light of day can accumulate the strength to overthrow the Soul Society is, like the Shanghai Green Gang's use of force to overthrow warlords, utterly delusional.

Unless this warlord is crippled by another warlord.

Alternatively, like Yhwach learned from Aizen, one could Hueco Mundo, a haven for looters, to strengthen one's own power before launching an attack on the Soul Society.

Well, in the end, it's the Soul Society's inaction that led to Hueco Mundo's existence being allowed to continue, letting the enemy grow stronger in this wilderness.

Well, perhaps it's not that they don't want to manage Hueco Mundo, but rather that the Soul Society is truly incompetent, and the Five Great Noble Clans and their derivative families are incompetent.

The Third Division is only barely able to control the Soul Society and the World of the Living. To conquer Hueco Mundo, more Death God are needed, and the number of divisions needs to be further expanded.

However, the number of Death God that the nobles support with all their might is limited. It takes the prestige and power accumulated over thousands of years to control the Gotei 13.

This is already the limit of the power of the nobility.

Over the past millennium, the proportion of Death God from Rukongai in the Thirteenth Division has been steadily increasing, while the number of Death God from noble families has been steadily decreasing.

Especially after Kaien Shiba's death, the Shiba Clan collapsed and disintegrated, ending up in Rukongai, and a large part of the noble family's power crumbled.

Apart from the Kuchiki Clan firmly controlling the Sixth Division, and the Shihoin family indirectly controlling the Second Division through Soi Fon, a fan of Yoruichi, the Five Great Noble Clans no longer possess direct military power.

Moreover, only a thousand years have passed, and Aizen has already emerged from the Thirteenth Division, severely retaliating against the Central 46.

What about the 18th Division? Or the 26th Division?

Shazo thought for a moment, and figured someone would probably write "The whole city is covered in golden armor" on the walls of the Soul King Palace.

No, maybe it's a group of squads teaming up to pull off a tactic of underdogs overthrowing their superiors.

After all, the culture of the Soul Society is more inclined towards Little Japanese, and their traditional crafts are different from those of the East University.

Upon hearing Shazo's guess, the two-thousand-year-old elder sister said, "What you said makes a lot of sense. How come I didn't think of that before?"

"Thinking about it that way, it's quite interesting. Imagine wielding a knife, storming into a nobleman's mansion, killing one person with a single blow, letting the blood of the 'nobles' flow across the ground, forming streams—"

That would be very interesting.

Shazo swallowed hard and reminded her, "Sister Hua."

An excited Unohana turned her head. "Hmm?"

Shazo clasped his hands together, creating a mirror with his spiritual power. "Your current appearance could scare Vice-Captain Isane Kotetsu to death."

But to his surprise, the instant the mirror appeared, the gloomy, crazed, and bloodthirsty Egg Flower Retsu instantly transformed into Yamato, serene, dignified, and elegant Yamato Nadeshiko, smiling with unparalleled tenderness.

"Oh dear, I'm still very gentle, aren't I?"

Shazo swore that he sensed a chilling murderous intent beneath Sister Hua's gentle smile.

He quickly dropped the mirror he was holding and laughed awkwardly, "Haha, yes, yes!"

Shazo and Retsu Unohana chatted casually, concealing their auras and Spiritual Pressure as they awaited the time for their execution.

Soon, the executioners brought Rukia to the execution platform.

Rukia the white robes of a sinner, with shackles around her hands and neck representing Death-Row Convict, her furrowed brows revealing her inner sorrow.

Rukia wasn't afraid of death, but rather because she had heard that her companions had smuggled themselves from the World of the Living to Soul Society to save her, and even infiltrated the Soul Society, only to be captured as Ryoka.

She was worried about her companions, and concerned about their uncertain fate.

Thankfully, Ichigo Kurosaki wasn't captured, otherwise she would have been even more worried.

The Sōkyoku Execution is a major event for the Soul Society, no less important than the Grand Tournament of the Thirteenth Division.

Logically, all the captains and vice-captains should have been present, but when Old Man Yamamoto looked around, he only saw a handful of people.

The old man was so angry his beard bristled, and he slammed his cane on the ground. "Hmph, they don't even follow the most basic etiquette anymore! The Death God's standards are getting lower and lower!"

Soi Fon, usually quiet and reserved, chimed in, "It's time to really crack down on discipline."

"Only the First Division, Second Division, Eighth Division, Tenth Division, and Thirteenth Division have all their captains and vice-captains present; that's less than half."

"Captain Kuchiki took leave to avoid suspicion, Captain Ukitake, despite being ill, still arrived on time. What are the other captains doing?"

Shunsui Kyōraku said with a smile, "There's nothing we can do about the Fifth Division's situation, and Captain Zaraki of the Eleventh Division is probably lost again."

"Huh? Captain Unohana of the Fourth Division isn't here either?"

Isane Kotetsu replied somewhat nervously, "Captain Unohana left early this morning, but she said she'll arrive before the final execution."

Just then, Captain Sajin Komamura of the Seventh Division arrived in a hurry, accompanied by Vice Captain Tetsuzaemon Iba.

Sajin Komamura strode up to the Captain-Commander, bowed, and apologized, "I'm sorry, Captain-Commander, I'm late."

Yamamoto was very forgiving of Sajin Komamura, explaining on his behalf, "I know you encountered an emergency. It's not your fault you're late. Go back to your place."

"Yes, thank you for your magnanimity!" Sajin Komamura and bowed to the other captains, apologizing, "I'm sorry for causing you all trouble."

After saying that, he and his mustachioed vice-captain took their places in the Seventh Division.

Just then, Byakuya Kuchiki, the captain of the Sixth Division, slowly walked over.

Rukia saw his eyes widen and his lips move several times before he managed to say, "Brother... brother----"

Byakuya Kuchiki's expression was cold and stern, as if he hadn't heard Rukia's voice. He walked to his seat as if the person being held on the Execution Platform wasn't his sister-in-law, but a complete stranger.

Rukia's eyes were filled with desolation. She lowered her head deeply, closed her eyes, and said nothing more.

Seeing Byakuya Kuchiki's expression, Soi Fon's heart tightened, and she asked in a low voice, "Didn't Captain Kuchiki ask for leave to avoid suspicion and not come?"

Ōmaeda, always eager for drama, exclaimed, "Captain Kuchiki did indeed take leave, but he might have changed his mind and come specifically to storm the execution ground!"

"Shut up, you Karasu!" Soi Fon elbowed Ōmaeda in Ōmaeda liver, stopping his rambling. "Keep an eye on him! Don't let him cause trouble!"

"It hurts, it hurts so much!"

Byakuya Kuchiki's aura was so powerful and imposing that no one noticed that Renji Abarai, the vice-captain of the Sixth Division who was supposed to be with them, was absent.

But Retsu Unohana and Shazo, who were hiding in the shadows, discovered them.

They exchanged a glance, Retsu Unohana immediately understood that there was a story behind it, while Shazo also knew that Sister Hua was unaware of the details.

He then took the initiative to recount the relationship between Renji Abarai and Rukia, as well as the battle between Renji Abarai and Byakuya Kuchiki.

Retsu Unohana Retsu's eyes sparkled. "Renji Abarai has also mastered Bankai. He's really composed."

"However, Byakuya Kuchiki was even more unexpected. Not only was he able to defeat Renji Abarai, but he was also able to control his Spiritual Pressure during the battle to a level that no one could detect."

"This expressionless noble lad is much stronger than I expected."

Shazo nodded repeatedly. This guy could be compared to Uchiha Itachi from the Naruto World. He might not be the strongest, but his prestige was unmatched.

They always have a trump card in battle, and are invincible except when facing the protagonist.

At this moment, Yamamoto asked, "Rukia Kuchiki, do you have any last words?"

Rukia slowly opened her eyes and said, "Yes, there's only one thing. If possible, could you release those Ryoka back into the World of the Living after my execution? They trespassed into Soul Society because of me."

Yamamoto considered for a moment and said, "Then so be it. After the executions, let those Ryoka return home safely."

"Thank you so much"

That Old Man Yamamoto is really something, he's crying his eyes out.

He was too soft-hearted. Even though he had already decided to exterminate the Ryoka, he still verbally agreed to Rukia's request so that she could Rukia in peace.

This could definitely be considered merciful, though not much.

However, for Yamamoto, the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, to actually possess even a sliver of compassion is not a good sign.

This does not mean that those in power within armed violent groups are absolutely devoid of any compassion.

The old saying goes that a kind heart cannot command an army, and righteousness cannot manage finances; it only means that one must be ruthless in critical moments, not that one must be cold-hearted at all times.

If that were the case, morale would have collapsed long ago, and the team would be impossible to lead.

The 101st, who once shouted "I don't care about casualty figures, I just want Tashan," is a model of extreme care for its soldiers.

Even in commanding battles, he would rack his brains to reduce the risks to his soldiers, sometimes even appearing overly indecisive.

The problem is that Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto wasn't originally like that; he was a truly cold-hearted and ruthless man with blood on his hands.

Now that I'm old, I've developed a kindness in my heart that I'm not even aware of.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto is no longer the iron-fisted leader he once was!

Such a change is the most dangerous, as it will cause the old man to hesitate at crucial moments.

Hesitation leads to defeat.

Hearing Shazo's almost defamatory evaluation, Retsu Unohana frowned deeply. "You're right, Old Man Yamamoto is indeed getting old, it's time to change the Captain-Commander position."

Shazo asked, "Sister Hua, would you like to sit down for a while?"

Retsu Unohana glanced at him. "Shazo, do you think I'm an idiot Sister Hua -nee?"

Shazo chuckled awkwardly, "Hmm, doesn't seem like it."

Retsu Unohana: "That's it then. I need to think about who to get to take the blame."

Shazo immediately suggested, based on his memory. "Sister Hua, I suggest we let Shunsui Kyōraku perform."

Retsu Unohana's eyes lit up. "Great idea! Shunsui Kyōraku is the old man's disciple, and Jūshirō Ukitake is his classmate. He was the first principal of the Central Spirit Arts Academy, and most of the Death God are his disciples and grand-disciples."

"He is more than capable, has excellent management skills, and cares deeply about his subordinates."

99

"You know what, Shunsui really is suited to be the Captain-Commander. Hmm, Shazo, you saw this from the future, didn't you?"

Shazo nodded in agreement. "Hehe, yes, and there's an even more crucial reason."

Retsu Unohana asked curiously, "What else?"

Shazo replied, "Captain Shunsui Kyōraku has a great personality. He's particularly good at processing negative emotions and almost never experiences real emotional fluctuations; even when he does, they're always positive."

Retsu Unohana nodded. "That's right, that's a great advantage."

After thinking for a few seconds with her head down, Sister Hua suddenly raised her head and announced Haki, "I've decided, we'll let Shunsui Kyōraku go on stage!"

Shazo nodded in agreement, then shook his head. "The two of us discussing the Captain-Commander's fate here seem more like traitors than Aizen."

The usually Haki Sister Hua suddenly froze, then burst out laughing, "Nonsense, we're not rebels, we're doing this for the Captain-Commander's sake."

Shazo Zuo quickly corrected himself, saying, "Yes, we're thinking of the Captain-Commander. He's fought for Soul Society and the Soul Society his whole life, and it's time for him to retire and get some rest."