Only then did Yamamoto's expression soften.
He had nothing against nobles. He had a problem with useless ones.
"I see. That's wonderful!" Tsunayashiro Fūka smiled like a fox. With his strength as the head of one of the Five Noble Clans, securing a captain's position should not be difficult.
Yamabuki Chidori smiled too. You have no idea what kind of lunatics the First Generation Captains are.
Central 46
Tsunayashiro Fūka was delighted. He had achieved his goal. The rise of the Gotei 13 could no longer be stopped, so why shouldn't he profit from it?
They had promised him a captain's position. That was more than enough for him.
"But there's one more matter. After yesterday's battle, you saw how weak Seireitei's defenses are. We plan to establish an academy dedicated to teaching Soul Reapers how to fight. What do you think, Tsunayashiro Family Head?" Yamabuki Chidori asked.
"Of course it's a good idea! I support it wholeheartedly. In that case, I certainly can't take back the gifts I brought. Establishing both the Gotei 13 and an academy will take resources. If you need my help, I'll gladly do my part!" Tsunayashiro Fūka declared, thumping his chest.
Yamamoto's strength was plain for all to see. Countless Soul Reapers dreamed of learning under someone like him.
It could only benefit Seireitei.
"Then sorry for the trouble, but please spread the word for us," Yamabuki Chidori said with a foxlike smile.
"Of course! Of course! We're all on the same side now. If you need anything, just ask!" Tsunayashiro Fūka beamed.
Tsunayashiro Fūka left Yamamoto's room looking thoroughly pleased with himself. The other nobles assumed he had gained some tremendous advantage and crowded around to ask.
"An advantage? Oh, an enormous one. But there's no need to ask me. You'll find out soon enough!" Tsunayashiro Fūka's mysterious air drove the other nobles mad with curiosity.
Yamamoto sat there feeling somewhat frustrated. He seemed to have done nothing, yet everything had fallen into place. All he had done was swing his sword once.
"Yamabuki, would the Gotei 13 have been established this quickly under your original plan?" Yamamoto asked.
The answer was obvious. The founding of the Gotei 13 was inevitable. Even without Yamabuki Chidori, it would still have happened.
Yamabuki Chidori's main goal was not to establish the Gotei 13. It was to secure greater authority and benefits for it.
After all, Central 46 was Soul Society's highest governing body. Its decision-makers all came from the major noble clans, and they represented noble interests.
They held the final say in interpreting the law!
The clearest example was Kyouka, Tōsen's closest friend. Her husband murdered her, but because the killer belonged to a branch of the Tsunayashiro Clan, his sentence was merely a hundred years of house arrest.
That case made Tōsen lose all faith in Soul Society's leaders and join forces with Aizen to overthrow them.
What Yamabuki Chidori intended to do was win the greatest possible authority for the Gotei 13.
And this was only the beginning.
After returning home, Tsunayashiro Fūka immediately wrote to the heads of the other Five Noble Clans, calling them together to discuss the Gotei 13's establishment.
The Five Noble Clans had a secret meeting room that only their heads could enter. Whenever Soul Society faced a major change, they gathered there to make a decision.
In later years, Tsunayashiro Tokinada would invite Shihōin Yoruichi and Kuchiki Byakuya there to discuss restoring the Shiba Clan's seat among the Five Noble Clans and naming Kurosaki Ichigo its new head.
Only four of the Five Noble Clans attended, however.
There was the Tsunayashiro Clan, which controlled the Great Spirit Library Corridor.
The Shihōin Clan, which commanded the Divine Soldier Division.
The Shiba Clan, which controlled the passage to the Soul King Palace.
And the Kuchiki Clan, currently foremost among the Five Noble Clans.
As for why only four of the Five Noble Clans appeared...
Ask Tite Kubo. Why did he only write about four of the five?
"Everyone, I assume you've read my letter. What do you think about establishing the Gotei 13?" Tsunayashiro Fūka asked.
Shunshun Shidō remained as irreverent as ever. "Do you even need to ask me?"
He had already joined the Gotei 13 as Second Division Captain. Naturally, he supported it wholeheartedly.
Tsunayashiro Fūka then looked at the remaining two clan heads.
The Kuchiki Clan Head nodded slightly. "I agree. We all saw what happened yesterday. Without Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the consequences would have been unthinkable. The nobles have enjoyed the privileges of power for so long that most can no longer fight. Seireitei needs fresh blood."
"What about you, Shiba Clan Head?"
"Why ask me? I live in Rukongai. Settle Seireitei's affairs among yourselves. The three of you have already agreed. What difference would my objection make?" the Shiba Clan Head said helplessly.
"Then all Four Great Noble Clans are in agreement! Let's submit a joint petition to Central 46 at once. I'm sure those rotten old men understand the weight of a petition signed by all four clan heads!" Tsunayashiro Fūka said with a smile.
He was working so hard because the Gotei 13 had promised him a captain's position. The stronger it became, the more valuable that position would be.
With his own interests at stake, Tsunayashiro Fūka was not doing this for the Gotei 13. He was doing it for himself.
The other three clan heads had only one simple task: sign the joint petition.
Once that was done, Tsunayashiro Fūka carried the letter to Central 46 with a spring in his step.
It was Soul Society's highest governing body.
Yet despite occupying the heart of Soul Society, Central 46's defenses were pitifully weak.
The Sages feared betrayal by their guards, so they recruited only noble children for the role. They did not even allow those guards to carry Zanpakuto, restricting them to blunt weapons such as six-foot iron staffs.
Every noble child recognized the Tsunayashiro Clan Head. When they saw Tsunayashiro Fūka, none dared stop him. He marched straight through Central 46.
At last, Tsunayashiro Fūka stood before the forty-six Sages.
Even before the head of one of the Five Noble Clans, Central 46 remained haughty.
Their authority, after all, surpassed that of any single clan!
In the future, they would even strip the Shiba Clan of its status among the Five Noble Clans, fearing the clans would challenge their power.
"This is outrageous! Even as head of the Tsunayashiro Clan, you cannot do as you please here! Who gave you permission to raise your head? Lower it!" an elderly man seated above him shouted.
Tsunayashiro Fūka's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly recovered his playful smile. "Please don't be angry. This letter is a joint petition from the heads of the Five Noble Clans to Central 46. Kindly read it."
A Joint Petition from the Five Noble Clans
At Tsunayashiro Fūka's words, the forty-six old fossils erupted into an uproar, their faces changing color.
A joint petition from the Five Noble Clans?
What were they planning? Surely they weren't trying to abolish Central 46?
What else in Seireitei could warrant a joint petition from all five clan heads?
If the Five Noble Clans agreed and the Soul King gave his approval, the authority of that letter would supersede Central 46's.
The old fossils looked grim. For a moment, not one of the forty-six dared speak.
At last, a Great Sage seated at the highest point said, "Bring me the letter."
An attendant immediately delivered it to him.
The old fossils watched as though awaiting their own execution. With trembling hands, the Great Sage opened the letter.
As it turned out, its contents had nothing to do with them!
"The Gotei 13? What is that?" the Great Sage asked.
"As the name suggests, it is an army dedicated to protecting Seireitei. You all saw what happened yesterday. Mass attacks by Hollows are rare, but they do happen. I believe we should establish a dedicated force to respond to such emergencies. The Five Noble Clans have agreed. All we need now is Central 46's approval," Tsunayashiro Fūka said.
Once they realized no one was abolishing Central 46, the old fossils regained their swagger.
"Absurd! Why would Seireitei need a rabble to protect it? What are the Five Noble Clans for? What are all these nobles for?"
"I'm sure you all felt that world-shaking Reiatsu yesterday. Wouldn't you like someone that powerful protecting you?" Tsunayashiro Fūka asked.
Of course they had felt Yamamoto's devastating Reiatsu yesterday.
It had shaken them to their cores!
They might have been corrupt, but they were not fools.
"You mean Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto is the founder of the Gotei 13?"
"Exactly. For now, though, the Gotei 13 is merely an unofficial organization, since Central 46 has not approved it. I propose inviting Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto here to speak with us face-to-face, with the heads of the Five Noble Clans and the High-Ranking Nobles as witnesses," Tsunayashiro Fūka said.
The forty-six Sages began debating among themselves. Central 46 buzzed like a swarm of flies.
With a peerless fighter like that defending them, they could finally rest easy.
"Silence!" The Great Sage at the highest seat struck his wooden gavel hard.
"Very well. Bring Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto here, and we'll discuss it face-to-face," the Great Sage said.
Naturally, they did not want a repeat of yesterday. When the Hollows had attacked en masse, more than a few of the forty-six Sages had nearly wet themselves.
A powerful army devoted to Seireitei's security would be perfect.
Tsunayashiro Fūka looked at their repulsive faces and sneered inwardly. But there was nothing he could do. Powerful as he was, he could not overturn the rules that had governed Soul Society for a million years.
Yamabuki Chidori was the first to receive the news. He immediately told Yamamoto.
"So once Central 46 recognizes us, we'll be an official organization!" Yamamoto had never imagined his dream would come true so quickly. Less than half a month had passed. The way he looked at Yamabuki Chidori changed.
Before, he had considered Yamabuki Chidori merely an assistant.
After this, Yamamoto understood the importance of strategy. Ryūjin Jakka might be unstoppable, but his ultimate goal was to protect, not destroy.
If destruction were all he wanted, he could activate his Bankai and start swinging. It would not take long to reduce all of Soul Society to ruins.
But his goal was to protect this world!
That made things far more complicated.
He had even devised a hundred-year plan to achieve his goal.
Then Yamabuki Chidori had arrived and compressed that hundred-year goal into half a month.
It was how Liu Xuande must have felt when he first met Zhuge Wolong.
In just half a month, Yamamoto had gone from a backwoods brute with nothing but strength to someone dealing directly with Soul Society's highest authorities.
"Yamabuki, what should we do next?" Yamamoto asked.
"Be arrogant! Be forceful! Don't give them an inch!" Yamabuki Chidori said. "Captain Commander, when we reach Central 46, will you let me do the talking? You must follow my lead. Don't show the slightest willingness to compromise. Be firm—absolutely firm!"
For a moment, Yamamoto did not understand what the boy meant.
But they had come this far. It was too late for second thoughts.
"All right. Whatever you say, I'll back you up," Yamamoto said.
By now, Yamamoto trusted Yamabuki Chidori unconditionally.
The meeting was set for the following day.
Yamabuki Chidori needed to devise a flawless plan overnight.
His grand retirement plan depended on this. He could not afford the slightest mistake.
The next day, Yamabuki Chidori even made a point of dressing up.
Saitō Fubōfu looked unhappy. "Why do I have to meet those old fossils too? What a pain! Are there going to be a million rules of etiquette? I hate that stuff!"
Yamabuki Chidori dismissed the concern. "Forget etiquette. Be as arrogant and overbearing as you can. Just act like yourself."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean? Am I usually that arrogant? Keep talking and I'll punch you!" Saitō snapped.
Shunshun Shidō was about to explain Central 46's rules to everyone. Technically, they were not allowed to bring swords.
"Everyone, bring your swords! Captain Commander, you especially—be ready to release Ryūjin Jakka at any moment!" Yamabuki Chidori said.
Shunshun Shidō nearly choked. He might have looked wild and unrestrained, but he was born a noble and served as a clan head. His every word and action reflected on his entire clan, so he often had no choice but to restrain himself.
"Are you going to war? They won't let you in with swords! You won't even get through the door!" Shunshun Shidō said with a bitter smile.
"No. We'll get in whether we bring swords or not." Yamabuki Chidori knew exactly what the people of Central 46 were like. They imagined themselves above everyone else and wielded immense authority, but their fighting ability was practically nonexistent.
A thousand years later, Aizen would slaughter them once. Then, during the Quincy invasion, the Quincy would slaughter them again.
Even after that, they still would not learn.
Before you continue