Central Council Tower, the second-tallest building in Seireitei.
The Soul Reaper guards beneath the tower suddenly felt an immense spiritual pressure bearing down from high above, so tangible it seemed to have weight.
It was like watching a thousand-pound boulder come crashing down on them. Every guard lost the strength to move. Their nerves and cells trembled soundlessly, helpless and fragile as they braced for death.
Fortunately, the terrifying spiritual pressure appeared for only an instant before vanishing, as if it had never been there.
"What was that just now? Was it the Captain-Commander's spiritual pressure?"
"That scared me to death! I felt like the ocean had swallowed me. I was about to drown..."
"The Captain-Commander is the only one up there meeting with Central 46. It must have been him..."
Several Soul Reapers were discussing it in hushed, shaken voices when footsteps suddenly sounded behind them.
"Even a simple duty like standing guard is too much for you to do without slacking off?" Captain-Commander Yamamoto had appeared behind them without their noticing.
"Th-this..." Seeing the Captain-Commander standing before them, the Soul Reapers panicked.
Yamamoto didn't scold them as he usually would. Instead, he turned and walked away, leaving them with a cryptic remark: "Enjoy your time in peace while you can..."
With one hand on his scabbard, he walked forward slowly but firmly. In his heart, he silently finished the rest of what he hadn't said:
"Who knows when you'll have to go to the battlefield and die..."
Just now, Yamamoto had lost control in front of Central 46 for the first time. The spiritual pressure he had "unintentionally" released had knocked eleven members unconscious. The debate over expanding enrollment at the Shino Academy had ended in bitter discord—
Every proposal to broaden the academy's admissions and remove restrictions based on social status had been rejected.
This meant that Central 46 would have complete control over enrollment at the Shino Academy, which could no longer replenish the Court Guard Squad's ranks normally. It was only a matter of time before the Shino Academy became a tool for the rising noble houses to train private soldiers for their own families.
Each of the forty-six members was as frail as an ant, and each represented a family standing behind them. Yet when they joined forces, they became a monstrous beast coiled around Seireitei.
The original forty-six minor nobles were now showing signs of surpassing the great nobles.
And with the Court Guard Squad unable to replenish its ranks, it was only a matter of time before it was ground down in war.
Yamamoto knew full well what Central 46 was after. Ever since its founding, it had been seeking to wrest power from the Court Guard Squad.
But the Court Guard Squad should exist only to "protect the court." It shouldn't pursue pointless slaughter and conquest.
Otherwise, for him, Yamamoto, how hard could it be to cut his way through all of Central 46 alone?
"The mistake we made two hundred years ago must not be repeated." He closed his eyes slightly and murmured to himself, a hint of dejection in his voice.
Sasakibe Chojiro appeared in front of Yamamoto with Shunpo and dropped to one knee. For the first time, beads of sweat had appeared on his face from anxiety. His usual calm, confident expression was nowhere to be seen.
"Chojiro, what happened?" Yamamoto noticed the unease on Sasakibe's face and asked with a frown.
"Sir, Kyoraku Seishu of the 2nd Division—he and his men discovered a rebel hideout in Danzhao District!" Sasakibe glanced at the Soul Reaper officers in the distance and deliberately lowered his voice as he reported.
"What?" Genryūsai's narrow eyes flew open. "You mean in Danzhao District?! What happened to Kyoraku?"
"Sir, Kyoraku Seishu and his men are safe and sound."
"I mean that brat Shunsui!" Yamamoto asked urgently, unconsciously tightening his grip on his scabbard.
Sasakibe was taken aback. This was the first time he had seen Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto look so flustered with worry.
"Don't worry. Kyoraku Seishu has brought Shunsui and the others back. The hideout has also been destroyed. Shunsui has minor injuries, and Lin Nan is in worse shape. They haven't received permission to enter Seireitei yet, so they're waiting outside Zhuwa Gate."
Yamamoto didn't hesitate for a moment. He vanished with Shunpo. "Come with me!"
Outside Zhuwa Gate.
Kyoraku Seishu had already ordered the family retainers to return home. He was supporting Shunsui, while one officer carried Lin Nan, covered in blood and unconscious. Three others accompanied them as they waited for the gate to open.
Yamamoto appeared before them with Shunpo. He strode straight over to Shunsui. "Brat! How are you?"
All the Soul Reapers present hurriedly bowed.
Shunsui's face was bruised and scraped, but he seemed to be in good spirits. Yamamoto felt a little relieved, though a trace of worry remained in his eyes.
Seeing Yamamoto's concerned gaze, Shunsui felt a sudden warmth in his chest. "Old Man Yama... I'm fine..."
A headbutt promptly landed on his head. "You little fool! How dare you address the Captain-Commander like that!"
Kyoraku Seishu had been quietly scolding his younger brother, but Yamamoto raised a hand to stop him.
"Never mind the formalities. How badly is Lin Nan hurt?"
"At least two deep, through-and-through sword wounds, along with several injuries from Kido explosions..." the Soul Reaper carrying Lin Nan reported respectfully.
Yamamoto's brows shot up. "Why is he so badly hurt?"
Shunsui answered quietly from the side. "Lin Nan was captured with me because he tried to save me. Then we found a way to escape, and he was wounded in a fight with the enemy leader... Yama-jii, please, you have to save him..."
Yamamoto examined Lin Nan's injuries and fell silent for a moment. "They're serious. The division's medic may not be able to handle the emergency treatment alone. Chojiro! Take him to the Shino Medical Academy at once!"
Sasakibe took Lin Nan from the officer and looked at the Captain-Commander. "But the Shino Medical Academy has never treated Soul Reapers..."
Yamamoto's gaze shifted slightly. "Go there and find Kirinji Tenjiro. Tell him I sent you, and have him treat the boy first. I'll be there shortly."
Sasakibe acknowledged the order, then immediately carried Lin Nan and raced through Zhuwa Gate with Shunpo.
Yamamoto looked at Shunsui's bruised, swollen face and said to Kyoraku Seishu, one word at a time, "Tell me everything that happened. Leave nothing out."
Kyoraku Seishu recounted his own experience in full, along with everything Shunsui had told him on the way back.
Yamamoto said nothing for a long time.
The afternoon sun beat down mercilessly on everything, and the air seemed ready to burn.
The Kyoraku brothers endured the scorching sunlight, feeling as if the temperature around them had risen even higher.
"Even the safest district in Rukongai, District One, has been infiltrated by the rebels, who've established a hideout there. This is a disgrace to the Court Guard Squad," Yamamoto said at last.
Shunsui lowered his head and said quietly, guilt in his voice, "Yama-jii, it's all my fault. If I hadn't taken Lin Nan out, none of this would have happened, and I wouldn't have caused everyone so much trouble. Lin Nan wouldn't have been hurt so badly..."
Yamamoto's broad hand suddenly came to rest on his head. "Don't blame yourself. If it weren't for you two, we might never have discovered that hideout. Then the rebels might have learned everything happening in Seireitei."
After arranging for Kyoraku Seishu to take Shunsui to the 2nd Division's medic for treatment, Yamamoto Shigekuni used Shunpo to reach the Shino Medical Academy in the noble district.
The Shino Medical Academy was a medical institution serving the nobility. From the outside, its vast, imposing building looked more like a splendid palace than a hospital.
Sasakibe Chojiro was waiting at the entrance. When he saw the Captain-Commander arrive, he bowed respectfully. "Sir, Mr. Kirinji has already admitted Lin Nan."
Yamamoto nodded. "I see. It wouldn't matter if he refused. Now that I'm here, he's bound to show up."
As soon as he finished speaking, a figure accompanied by a gust of wind appeared before them.
"Yo! Boss Yamamoto!"
The newcomer had an extremely exaggerated pompadour, and he lounged around with a blade of grass between his teeth. He was Kirinji Tenjiro, known throughout the Soul Society as "Thunder Swift."
"You have the fastest Shunpo in the Soul Society, yet you've devoted yourself to healing and refused to serve in the Court Guard Squad. Do you know how much trouble you've caused Shihoin Sennichi by refusing to help?" Yamamoto said to Kirinji, unhurriedly.
"Can't be helped~ If I led troops into battle, wouldn't that waste both my talent and my life...?" Kirinji stretched lazily. "Fighting every day? So much less fun than soaking in a hot spring every day."
"How badly is that boy hurt?"
"Burns and blast wounds from a dozen or so Kido, and two sword wounds that reached his internal organs. It's pretty serious, but in my hands, he'll be fine." Kirinji looked up at the sky and casually sniffed.
"Treat him. No matter what." Faced with the laid-back Kirinji, Yamamoto kept his words brief.
"This is the Shino Medical Academy. If the Four Great Noble Houses find out I secretly treated some commoner brat, I'll..."
"Unohana is moving her base next month. I'm planning to have her return to Seireitei for a while and give a proper report."
At the mention of Unohana, the proud look on Kirinji's face suddenly faltered. "You... I... she..."
Yamamoto remained expressionless and continued, "If you're worried about the Four Great Noble Houses blaming you, then perhaps I should ask Shihoin Sennichi to withdraw her recommendation for you to work at the Shino Medical Academy. With your Shunpo, you could go straight to the 11th Division and improve the officers' hand-to-hand combat skills."
Kirinji's face twitched. His mouth, with the blade of grass between his teeth, moved spasmodically, but he couldn't get a word out.
"...I... I..."
The self-proclaimed genius Kirinji had a natural enemy: Unohana, who especially loved challenging the strong. Just thinking about that crazy woman who always wanted to chase him down and cut him up left him with a strange, uncomfortable feeling.
He might not be able to beat her in a fight, but at least his Shunpo was faster, so he could always get away.
He stammered for a long while, then finally stamped his foot. "Fine! I'll do it. But I can't keep the brat at the academy for long. There are too many nobles here. If you want him to recover completely, we'll need another way."
"What way?" Yamamoto blinked his narrow eyes.
"Tonight I'll take him home and have him soak for a day in the Spirit Hot Spring I just developed. He'll make a good test subject, too—but don't blame me if he ends up boiled to death!"
Yamamoto nodded. "That's fine. I trust you. If you agree to save him, I doubt he'll die easily."
Night fell. Inside the Council Chamber of the Central Council Tower.
"Yamamoto Shigekuni, the discussion of the Shino Academy proposal is over! If you still want to reopen the matter, you might as well give up now!"
The first seat of Central 46 spoke in a low voice. "Those members you frightened still haven't recovered. Even if we voted now, the result would be invalid because there aren't enough votes."
Yamamoto shook his head. "No. That proposal is behind us. This emergency meeting is to announce that I intend to recommend two people for training at the Shino Academy."
The first seat couldn't help but feel perplexed. There was no logic to Yamamoto's words at all. "Have you forgotten the laws of Seireitei? The Court Guard Squad may not interfere in the Shino Academy's admissions process in any way.
"You're the Captain-Commander of the Court Guard Squad, and yet you're asking this as if you don't know. You've called an emergency meeting just to discuss something that's utterly impossible?"
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stood below, his gaze lowered to the floor, as though he hadn't heard the first seat's words. The bright ceiling lamps cast shadows over his eyes, making it impossible to read his expression.
"I'll repeat myself. I intend to recommend two people for training at the Shino Academy. This meeting is to inform you, not to ask your permission."
The previously silent Council Chamber erupted into an uproar.
Some demanded Yamamoto apologize for his arrogance; others shouted that he should be stripped of his position as Captain-Commander. Still others clamored to have him brought to trial.
Amid the commotion, Yamamoto said nothing. His left hand, resting on the hilt of his sword, clenched unconsciously.
The temperature in the room seemed to rise once more.
"Oh dear, oh dear. I don't remember this room being so hot..." A voice suddenly rose above all the commotion and rang through the chamber.
Everyone except Yamamoto looked toward the speaker.
The man was tall, leaning on a cane. His short white hair shone brightly beneath the lights. He made his way over to Yamamoto, then looked up at the seats, his warm smile carrying an unmistakable authority.
"Let's make an exception this time for what Captain-Commander Yamamoto is proposing!"
At the sight of the newcomer, every seat fell silent—
Shihoin Sennichi, head of the Shihoin House and the twentieth head of one of the Four Great Noble Houses!
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