Isshin Shiba's Request

Just as Liu Chuan had calmed Momo Hinamori and was about to discuss their next steps with Renji, Momo, and the others, a somewhat abrupt voice filled with hearty laughter, accompanied by the appearance of a tall figure, shattered the tense atmosphere within their small group.

"Well, well, looks like I came at just the right time!"

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw that Isshin Shiba, captain of the Tenth Division, had somehow silently made his way over to their vicinity.

His face bore that trademark bright, slightly teasing smile, but his movements were a little "sneaky." He first craned his neck and looked around, making sure that the other captains who had left earlier were already far away, before striding over to Liu Chuan.

"Captain Shiba?" Liu Chuan was somewhat surprised, though his expression remained calm.

Renji Abarai, Momo Hinamori, and the others hurriedly saluted, wondering why this captain had returned after leaving.

"Don't be so formal, Brother Liu Chuan."

Isshin Shiba chuckled and scratched his slightly messy short black hair.

"I heard everything at the meeting!" He first praised him cheerfully, then immediately got to the point. Lowering his voice, he spoke with the familiarity and urgency of someone discussing family matters.

"That Toshiro Hitsugaya—the white-haired genius brat, one of the central figures in this incident—already agreed to join my Tenth Division after graduation! I even secretly drafted his application for him! He's someone I've got my eye on, a capable officer for the future!"

He paused, glanced around at Renji, Momo, and the others, then looked back at Liu Chuan. The smile on his face faded somewhat, replaced by the concern and responsibility a captain felt toward a prospective subordinate.

"So, you see, he isn't just your old classmate's childhood friend. In a sense, he's also a future member of my Tenth Division. If something happened to him, how could I, his future captain, just stand by and watch?"

It was a reasonable explanation, even a very straightforward one.

He had not only made clear his connection to Toshiro Hitsugaya, but also pointed out why he had every right to get involved.

"So—" Isshin Shiba pressed his palms together again and waved them at Liu Chuan, that disarming, cheerful grin returning to his face.

"Lord Liu Chuan, could you count me in on this operation? Don't let how I look now fool you. The Shiba Clan may have declined, but we're still a branch family of one of the Five Great Noble Houses. As the head of that branch family, I still have some influence in the Seireitei. I might be able to help gather information or smooth things over! Besides, I'm not too bad in a fight either!"

He patted the Zanpakuto at his waist, brimming with confidence.

Though his words sounded like boasting, considering his position as captain of the Tenth Division and the Shiba Clan's background, they were not empty claims.

Even if the Shiba Clan was not as illustrious as families such as the Kuchiki or Shihōin, its ancient noble heritage and extensive connections could indeed prove unexpectedly useful at certain times.

More importantly, although Isshin Shiba appeared carefree and rough around the edges, he was actually shrewd beneath the surface. Bold, loyal, and righteous by nature, he was quite well-liked within the Gotei 13. His participation would undoubtedly bring many conveniences.

Liu Chuan looked at the captain before him, who had ignored formalities and stated his purpose so directly.

Isshin Shiba's personality truly differed from that of many Soul Reapers Liu Chuan had encountered before. He had less of a noble's affectation and a captain's arrogance, and more of the straightforward warmth of a man of the world.

Liu Chuan did not dislike that sort of personality. It was not that he disliked socializing; he simply detested hypocrisy and needless complication.

Isshin Shiba's bluntness made things feel easier instead.

And as Isshin Shiba had said, he could indeed offer substantial help.

The official assistance of a sitting captain carried far more weight than that of several lieutenants and seated officers, especially when they needed to deal with other divisions or even agencies under the Central 46 Chambers.

The Shiba Clan's background could also provide protection or channels for information on certain levels.

Liu Chuan hardly needed to weigh it for long. He needed help in the first place, and Isshin Shiba had volunteered himself. He had strength, status, and motive, and his personality suited Liu Chuan's tastes. There was no reason to refuse.

"You flatter me, Captain Shiba," Liu Chuan said calmly.

"Since Toshiro Hitsugaya has an agreement with the Tenth Division, it is only natural for you to be concerned about this matter. With your assistance, this operation should proceed much more smoothly."

"Haha! Great! Now that's what I like to hear!" Isshin Shiba slapped Liu Chuan hard on the shoulder, grinning from ear to ear.

"I knew you weren't some rigid stick-in-the-mud! I like that Shiro-chan kid too. As long as I can help, that's all that matters! Don't call me Captain from now on—it's too formal. Just call me Isshin!"

In a familiar gesture, he threw an arm around Liu Chuan's shoulders, then winked at the still-dazed Momo, Renji, and the others.

"And you little ones, don't worry. With Brother Liu Chuan and me here, we'll definitely get your friends out safe and sound!"

Isshin Shiba's arrival was like a warm current flowing in, instantly dispersing the heaviness and unease brought on by Liu Chuan's sudden change in status and the incident itself.

His optimistic, bold presence infected everyone there.

After seeing Renji, Momo, and the others off, only Liu Chuan and Isshin Shiba remained.

"Then," Liu Chuan said, looking at Isshin Shiba and getting straight to the point.

"According to the plan, we first need to see the two people involved. Toshiro Hitsugaya and Sojiro Kusaka should currently be detained separately under isolation at the Central 46 Chambers."

At those words, the cheerful smile on Isshin Shiba's face faded somewhat. He rubbed his chin and nodded.

"Yeah. Once something like Twin Hyorinmaru appeared, the Central 46 Chambers took over and placed them in 'protective' detention for review. That's standard procedure. Tch. They call it protection, but it's practically prison."

He paused and looked at Liu Chuan. His expression turned slightly strange as he began explaining the intelligence on the Soul Society's highest judicial body, his tone full of undisguised mockery.

"The Central 46 Chambers consists of forty Sages and six judges. Those people... heh, they're not easy to deal with."

"Every last one of them thinks they're the embodiment of the Soul Society's wisdom and laws. Their noses are so high in the air it's unbearable."

"Other than ancient rules and so-called overall stability, there's probably nothing else in their heads."

"They spend all day in that underground assembly hall where daylight never reaches, relying on mountains of files and baseless assumptions to decide other people's fates."

He curled his lip and continued, "But Liu Chuan, this time is different. You came on behalf of the Zero Division."

He pointed at Liu Chuan's white haori. "That alone is the greatest pass and protective charm. No matter how arrogant those old fossils are, as long as they haven't completely lost their minds, they won't dare openly obstruct or defy the will of the Soul King Palace. They don't have the nerve for a direct confrontation."

"But," Isshin Shiba said, changing direction as a gleam of shrewdness and disdain flashed through his single eye.

"Pulling little tricks behind the scenes, paying lip service while acting otherwise, making things difficult through procedure, or concealing key information... that's exactly what they're best at."

"Those people value their own authority and that rigid set of procedures more than anything else."

"I'd wager that if the Zero Division hadn't explicitly intervened and put pressure on them this time, then with their usual style, they would have already assessed the situation in private and quietly handed down some disposition that followed the rules but wasn't necessarily fair."

His analysis cut straight to the heart of the matter, clearly laying out the Central 46 Chambers' nature, its possible response, and the hidden resistance Liu Chuan might face on this trip.

Liu Chuan listened quietly. What Isshin Shiba said largely matched his own previous guesses.

The Zero Division's status was a tiger's skin—it could intimidate them on the surface, but it could not eliminate the undercurrents.

Those Sages and judges, who held the power to interpret the Soul Society's laws and decide life and death in some personnel matters, had been inflated to the extreme by their lust for power and lofty positions.

Although Liu Chuan represented the Zero Division, he was simply too young. Those old men would likely make some moves in secret.

"A game of power and rules..." Liu Chuan murmured.

"I understand. Thank you for the warning, Captain Isshin."

"No need for that!" Isshin Shiba waved a hand, returning to his hearty self.

"We're on the same side now! Come on, I'll lead the way! Let's go meet those old men with their eyes stuck on top of their heads!"