Exception

The Central Council Tower, the second tallest structure in the Seireitei.

The Soul Reapers guarding the base of the tower suddenly felt a massive, tangible spiritual pressure surging down from the high sky above.

The sensation was akin to witnessing a thousand-pound boulder crashing down upon them, stripping every guard of the strength to move. Their nerves and cells trembled in silence, helplessly and vulnerably bracing for the arrival of death.

Fortunately, this vast and terrifying spiritual pressure appeared for only an instant before vanishing, as if it had never existed at all.

"What was that just now? Was that the Captain-Commander's spiritual pressure?"

"It scared the life out of me! I felt like I was being swallowed by the ocean, about to drown..."

"Only the Captain-Commander is up there meeting with the Central 46. It must have been him..."

As several Soul Reapers whispered among themselves, still shaken, footsteps suddenly echoed from behind them.

"Are you lot slacking off even on a task as simple as standing guard?" Captain-Commander Yamamoto had appeared behind them without them noticing.

"This..." Seeing the Captain-Commander standing before them, the Soul Reapers were thrown into a panic.

Yamamoto did not scold them as he usually would. Instead, he turned and walked away, leaving behind a cryptic remark: "Enjoy your time in peace while you can..."

He gripped his scabbard, walking forward slowly and firmly, while silently completing the second half of the sentence in his heart:

...for who knows when you might have to go to the battlefield to die.

Just moments ago, Yamamoto had lost control in front of the Central 46 for the first time. The spiritual pressure he "inadvertently" released had directly knocked eleven of the members unconscious. This debate regarding the expansion of the Shino Academy had thus ended in discord—

Proposals to expand the academy's recruitment scope and abolish identity restrictions for enrollment had all been rejected.

This meant that recruitment for the Shino Academy would be entirely controlled by the Central 46, making it impossible to replenish the Court Guard Squads with fresh troops normally. It was only a matter of time before the Shino Academy became a tool for the rising nobility to cultivate private armies for their respective houses.

These forty-six people, as weak as ants, each represented the families behind them. Yet when they united, they had become a behemoth looming over the Seireitei.

The original forty-six mid-level nobles now vaguely showed signs of surpassing the high-level nobility.

And since the Court Guard Squads could not receive sufficient reinforcements, it was only a matter of time before they were worn down to nothing in the wars to come.

It was not that Yamamoto was unaware of the Central 46's motives; after all, they had been seeking to seize power from the Court Guard Squads since the day they were founded.

It was just that the Court Guard Squads should exist only to "protect the court," not to seek out pointless slaughter and conquest.

Otherwise, for someone like Yamamoto, what difficulty would there be in slaughtering his way through the Central 46 alone?

"The mistakes of two hundred years ago must not be repeated." He closed his eyes slightly, muttering to himself with a hint of dejection.

Sasakibe Chojiro appeared before Yamamoto using Shunpo, dropping to one knee. For the first time, beads of sweat appeared on his face due to anxiety, and the calm, confident expression he usually wore was gone.

"Chojiro, what has happened?" Yamamoto asked, frowning as he sensed the anomaly in Sasakibe's expression.

"Lord Genryūsai, it is Kyoraku Seishu of the Second Division. They have discovered a rebel stronghold in the Danzhao District!" Sasakibe Chojiro glanced at the Soul Reaper squad members in the distance and lowered his voice to report.

"What?" Genryūsai's narrow eyes widened instantly. "You say in the Danzhao District?! How is Kyoraku?"

"My lord, Kyoraku Seishu and his men are unharmed."

"I am talking about that brat Shunsui!" Yamamoto asked urgently, subconsciously gripping his scabbard tighter.

Sasakibe Chojiro was somewhat surprised; it was the first time he had seen Yamamoto Genryūsai lose his composure out of anxiety.

"Rest assured, Kyoraku Seishu has already rescued Kyoraku Shunsui and the others, and the stronghold has been destroyed. Shunsui sustained light injuries, but Lin Nan's injuries are quite severe. They have not yet received entry clearance and are currently waiting at the Zhuwa Gate."

Yamamoto did not hesitate for a second, vanishing from the spot with a Shunpo: "Follow me!"

Outside the Zhuwa Gate.

Kyoraku Seishu had already ordered his servants to return home. He supported Shunsui himself, while a squad member carried the blood-soaked, unconscious Lin Nan on his back. Accompanied by three others, they waited for the gate to open.

Yamamoto arrived before them in a flash of Shunpo, stepping forward directly to stand before Shunsui: "Brat! How are you!?"

The assembled Soul Reapers hurriedly saluted.

Seeing that although Shunsui's face was bruised and scraped, his spirit remained intact, Yamamoto felt slightly relieved, though a trace of worry still lingered in his eyes.

Looking at Yamamoto's concerned gaze, Kyoraku felt an inexplicable warmth in his heart and replied in a low voice: "Old Man Yama... I'm fine..."

A headbutt immediately slammed into his head: "You scoundrel! How can you address the Captain-Commander that way!"

Kyoraku Seishu was scolding his younger brother in a low voice when Yamamoto waved a hand to interrupt him.

"No need for formalities now—what is the extent of Lin Nan's injuries?"

"He has at least two piercing blade wounds and several blast injuries from Kido..." the Soul Reaper carrying Lin Nan reported respectfully.

Yamamoto's brows shot up: "Why are his injuries so severe?"

Kyoraku replied in a low voice from the side: "Lin Nan was captured along with me while trying to save me. Then we managed to escape, and he was wounded by the enemy leader during the battle... Old Man Yama, please, save him..."

Yamamoto examined Lin Nan's injuries and muttered: "The injuries are not light. I fear the squad medics alone cannot perform the emergency treatment required. Sasakibe! Take him to the Shino Medical Academy immediately!"

Sasakibe reached out to take Lin Nan from the squad member and looked at the Captain-Commander: "But, the Shino Medical Academy has never treated Soul Reapers before..."

Yamamoto's gaze shifted slightly: "Find Tenjirō Kirinji there. Tell him I sent you, and have him save the boy first. I will be there shortly."

Sasakibe acknowledged the order, immediately hoisted Lin Nan onto his back, and dashed through the Zhuwa Gate using Shunpo.

Yamamoto looked at the battered and bruised Shunsui and said to Kyoraku Seishu, word for word: "Tell me everything that happened, without leaving out a single detail."

Kyoraku Seishu recounted his experiences and everything Shunsui had told him along the way to the Captain-Commander in full detail.

Yamamoto remained silent for a long time after listening.

The afternoon sun scorched everything on the earth with a venomous heat, and the air seemed as if it were about to be burned through.

The Kyoraku brothers endured the sweltering sunlight, feeling as though the surrounding temperature had risen even higher than before.

"The Rukon District, the most secure area, has actually been infiltrated by rebels who have even established a stronghold there. It is truly a disgrace to the Court Guard Squads." After a long while, Yamamoto spoke quietly.

Kyoraku Shunsui lowered his head, his voice heavy with guilt: "Old Man Yama, it is all my fault. If I hadn't insisted on taking Lin Nan out, this would never have happened, and I wouldn't have caused everyone so much trouble, nor would Lin Nan have been so severely injured..."

Yamamoto's large palm suddenly rested upon his head: "Do not blame yourself. If not for the two of you, I fear this stronghold would still remain undiscovered. By then, everything happening within the Seireitei would likely have been laid bare to these rebels."

After arranging for Kyoraku Seishu to take Shunsui to the 2nd Division medics for treatment, Yamamoto Shigekuni used Shunpo to arrive at the Shino Medical Academy located in the Noble District.

The Shino Medical Academy was a medical institution specifically for the nobility; from the outside, the vast and towering structure looked more like a magnificent palace than a hospital.

Sasakibe Chojiro was waiting at the main gate. Seeing the Captain-Commander arrive, he bowed respectfully: "My Lord, Lin Nan has already been taken into the academy by Master Kirinji."

Yamamoto nodded: "I am aware. It would not have mattered if he refused; since I have come here, he would inevitably appear."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a figure accompanied by a gust of wind appeared before them.

"Yo! Boss Yamamoto!"

The newcomer sported an incredibly exaggerated pompadour and was lazily chewing on a blade of grass; it was none other than Tenjiro Kirinji, known throughout the Soul Society as "Lightning Swift."

"You possess the fastest Shunpo in the Soul Society, yet you remain obsessed with Kaido and refuse to serve in the Court Guard Squads. Do you have any idea how much trouble you have caused Shihoin Sennichi by refusing to help?" Yamamoto looked at Kirinji and said unhurriedly.

"There's no helping it~ If I were to lead troops into battle, wouldn't that be a waste of both my talent and my life..." Kirinji stretched lazily, "Fighting every day—how could that possibly be as comfortable as soaking in a hot spring?"

"How are the child's injuries?"

"Over a dozen burns and blast wounds from Kido, and two blade wounds that reached his internal organs. It's a bit serious, but in my hands, it's nothing to worry about." Kirinji looked up at the sky and sniffed casually.

"Heal him. By any means necessary." Facing the devil-may-care Kirinji, Yamamoto chose to be brief and to the point.

"This is the Shino Medical Academy. If the Four Great Noble Houses find out I'm treating a commoner brat in private, I'll be..."

"Unohana will be changing her post next month. I intend to have her return to the Seireitei for a period of time to properly submit her service report."

Upon hearing the name Unohana, the arrogant Kirinji suddenly froze: "You... I... she..."

Yamamoto remained expressionless and continued: "If you fear the blame of the Four Great Noble Houses, then let Shihoin Sennichi withdraw his recommendation letter for your position at the Shino Medical Academy... I think, given your Shunpo is so strong, you should just go to the 11th Division and improve the hand-to-hand combat skills of their members."

Kirinji's expression twitched uncontrollably, his mouth working around the blade of grass, but he couldn't utter a single word:

"...I... I"

Kirinji, who called himself a genius, had a natural nemesis: Unohana, who particularly loved challenging the strong. At the mere thought of that madwoman who always wanted to chase him down and hack him to pieces, Kirinji felt an indescribable sense of unease.

Although he couldn't out-slash her, fortunately, his Shunpo was superior, and he could always run away.

After stammering for a long time, he finally stomped his foot: "Fine! I agree. But I can't keep the brat in the academy for too long; there are too many nobles here. If you want him to recover completely, we'll have to find another way."

"What way?" Yamamoto blinked his narrow eyes.

"Tonight, I'll take him back to my place and soak him in the [Spirit Hot Spring] I just developed for a day. It'll be a perfect opportunity to use him for an experiment—but don't blame me if he ends up soaked to death!"

Yamamoto nodded: "That is acceptable; I trust you. As long as you agree to save him, I believe he won't die so easily."

Night fell. Inside the assembly hall of the Central Council Tower.

"Yamamoto Shigekuni, the discussion regarding the Shino Academy has already concluded! If you are still thinking of restarting this agenda, you might as well give up on that idea!"

In the Central 46, the first seat spoke in a deep voice, "The members who were startled by you have yet to recover; even if we were to vote now, it would be invalid due to a lack of a quorum."

Yamamoto shook his head: "No, that agenda is in the past. The purpose of this emergency meeting is that I am sponsoring two individuals to enter the Shino Academy for training."

The first seat was somewhat confused; Yamamoto's statement lacked any logic: "Have you forgotten the laws of the Seireitei? Personnel of the Court Guard Squads are forbidden from interfering in the recruitment process of the Shino Academy in any form.

As the Captain-Commander of the Court Guard Squads, you ask knowing the answer. You have convened an emergency meeting for something so utterly impossible?"

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni stood motionless below, eyes fixed on the floor, as if he had not heard the words of the first seat. The bright chandelier overhead cast his eyes into shadow, making his expression impossible to read.

"I will repeat myself: I am sponsoring two individuals to enter the Shino Academy—the purpose of this meeting is to inform you, not to seek your consent."

In an instant, the previously silent assembly hall erupted into chaos.

Some demanded that Yamamoto apologize for his arrogance; others shouted for his removal as Captain-Commander; some clamored to have him sent to the tribunal.

Amidst the clamor, Yamamoto remained silent, his left hand pressing down on the hilt of his sword, tightening subconsciously.

The temperature in the air seemed to rise once again.

"My, my, I don't recall it being this hot in this room..." A voice suddenly drowned out all the noise, echoing through the hall.

Except for Yamamoto, all eyes turned toward the speaker.

The man was tall, leaning on a cane, his pure white short hair shimmering with a bright luster under the lights. He walked slowly toward Yamamoto with his cane, looked up at the seats above, and a gentle smile carried a trace of irresistible authority:

"As for what Captain-Commander Yamamoto has said, let us make an exception this time!"

Looking at the newcomer, all the seats fell into a sudden, deathly silence—

One of the Four Great Noble Houses, the 20th Head of the Shihoin Clan, Shihoin Sennichi!