A Rare Guest Through the Back Door

Late night. 1st Division, Captain-Commander's office. A solitary lamp illuminated the desk before Yamamoto, while the vast majority of the spacious office remained shrouded in darkness.

"You are truly a rare guest. What business brings you to visit in the dead of night?"

"Ahahaha, Yamamoto, it has been many years, yet you remain the same—so stiff and formal."

Accompanied by the rhythmic sound of wooden clogs, a large, stout figure slowly emerged from the shadows. As the lamplight gradually enveloped his body, a string of blood-red, oversized prayer beads and a thick, bushy beard appeared within Yamamoto's line of sight.

"Ichibe Hyosube." Yamamoto sat upright behind his desk, staring fixedly at the other's face. "Why are you appearing here instead of remaining in the Spirit King Palace?"

"Ah, that is a cold way to put it! Did we not fight side by side over a thousand years ago?" Ichibe Hyosube, the Monk of the Eye, reached up to rub his round, bald head, speaking with a hint of hesitation. "Why do you seem so unwelcoming now?"

Due to the homophonic nature of his name, some also referred to him as the "Monk of the Eye." By comparison, that pair of large, perfectly round eyes only made the nickname seem more fitting.

Yamamoto gently stroked his goatee. "That is not the case. However, for the leader of the Royal Guard to appear in my office as stealthily as a thief is highly improper.

Even when the Seireitei was besieged by the Quincy, your Squad Zero never showed themselves. Is there some major event afoot this time?"

Yamamoto recalled the great war from two hundred years ago and the price paid by the Gotei 13 at the time, his tone carrying clear resentment.

If Squad Zero had intervened back then, the outcome would surely have been entirely different, would it not? There would not have been nearly half of the captains martyred.

Ichibe Hyosube pulled over a chair with a casual air and sat down face-to-face with Yamamoto. "It seems you have many grievances against the Royal Guard. It is understandable, given the heavy price you paid last time.

However, as the leader of the Royal Guard, I must remind you: a Soul Reaper must always place their duty above all else.

Your duty is to protect the Seireitei and the Five Great Noble Families; as for us, we exist solely to protect the Spirit King. Only by each performing our own duties can the stability of the entire Soul Society be guaranteed."

His wide-open eyes, like two bronze mirrors, stared straight at Yamamoto, his words imbued with an indescribable majesty.

Yamamoto did not show the slightest weakness, meeting his gaze head-on. He released his spiritual pressure without reservation, causing his pure white captain's haori to flutter without a breeze, emitting a rustling sound.

Within the spacious office, even the air seemed to grow scorching hot. Yet the monk remained completely unfazed, still staring with his bell-like eyes, looking at the other with a grin.

A moment later, Yamamoto sighed softly and dispersed his surging spiritual pressure. He turned to grab the teapot from the stove, poured two cups of hot tea, and placed them before the monk and himself. "Let us end the small talk. Now, tell me the reason you sought me out.

Since you came in person, it signifies a matter of great importance; yet, by visiting secretly at night, it implies this is something that cannot be brought into the light, is that correct?"

Ichibe's expression finally turned a few shades more serious. "The work of a Captain-Commander has helped you grow quite a bit! You are not so reckless anymore. This matter concerns an old friend who once fought by your side. Can you guess who it is?"

"Stop beating around the bush; it will be dawn soon."

"I am not beating around the bush! If you can guess the person, it will save me the trouble of explaining the cause and effect."

Yamamoto pondered for a moment, analyzing the situation. "Since it is an old friend, it means this person is no longer with us. If it is someone who fought by my side, it can only be one of the six captains who fell during the formation of the Gotei 13. They were mostly recruited by me personally, and most were younger than I.

If you truly have not left the Spirit King Palace since the Hollow invasion over a thousand years ago, then these young captains would have had no chance to know you... therefore, this person can only be..."

The candlelight on the table reflected upon their faces. Each held a teacup, and simultaneously, they whispered a single name: "Saizo Kotsukotsu!"

Ichibe Hyosube extended a thick thumb and burst into loud laughter once more. "Sharp as ever, Yamamoto! You guessed it instantly!"

Yamamoto ignored him, lifting the remaining tea in his cup and draining it in one gulp, as if to deliberately drown out the images of Saizo Kotsukotsu's death in his mind.

"You came to see me tonight because of him?"

Ichibe Hyosube scratched his bald head. "You know, Saizo Kotsukotsu was an exceptional priest. Many years ago, I entrusted an item to his shrine for safekeeping, and he performed his duties well. That was until two hundred years ago, when you formed the Gotei 13 and recruited him as a captain.

Because you were facing a life-or-death struggle at the time, I worried for the safety of that item, so I sought him out privately before the war and reclaimed custody..."

Yamamoto's right hand, which had been turning the teacup, suddenly stopped, as if he had caught the subtext in the monk's words. "You guessed how heavy our losses would be before the war even began?"

The monk's pupils constricted slightly, then he shook his head. "Hahaha, of course not... I did not know... I was merely taking precautions. Although I had sealed Yhwach's abilities, his strength remained. In that bloody battle, anyone could have died."

Yamamoto stared at Ichibe Hyosube's face, saying nothing, waiting quietly for him to continue.

"...Since I could not bring the item back to the Spirit King Palace, I disguised its appearance and left it at the shrine. Later, a family of residents from the Rukon District who frequently visited the shrine caught its attention.

Their child had excellent talent and was willing to offer themselves as a vessel, so I agreed to let it be temporarily stored within that child's body..."

Yamamoto's brows furrowed in confusion. "What kind of item could possibly exist within a person's body?! And why would storage require talent?"

The monk waved his hand, indicating that was not the point. "Just understand that it is a very, very important item... In any case, I petitioned the Spirit King, and after receiving an affirmative reply, the matter was settled for the time being.

However, the child's current physical condition is not optimistic. Although his potential for spiritual pressure is outstanding, his body is growing weaker by the day. In my view, he needs systematic training to strengthen his physique, and while he is at it, he should eat well in the Seireitei for a few years to supplement his nutrition—after all, there is not much decent food to be found in the Kotsukotsu District.

Since he is the custodian appointed by the Spirit King, I had no choice but to pull some strings here."

Yamamoto guessed the other's intent and asked, "You mean...?"

"Exactly. I already know about you and Shihoin Sennichi intimidating the Central 46. I came to find you now to take advantage of this opportunity," Ichibe Hyosube nodded and placed his teacup gently on the table, "to have the child I mentioned sent into the Shino Academy along with the others."

Kirinji's open-air hot spring.

"Boss, the temperature is almost perfectly adjusted!" A muscular man wearing round glasses, looking somewhat comical, stood in the courtyard and shouted toward Tenjiro Kirinji, who was sitting on a small stool.

"The bathing supplies are also prepared!" In the distance, another equally muscular man walked in carrying a stack of folded bath towels.

Kirinji stood up solemnly, turned to face the room behind him, and invited loudly: "Come out! Honored guest of the Spirit Hot Spring! It is time for you to witness a miracle!"

Lin Nan, wrapped in a bath towel, walked out of the room with a look of doubt and wariness, looking thoroughly reluctant. "We agreed, this is the last time, right?"

If it weren't for the fact that Kirinji's Shunpo was too formidable for him to outrun, he would never have given the man this final chance.

Tenjiro Kirinji held a blade of grass in his mouth, raised his right hand, and vowed solemnly:

"The last time! I guarantee it!"