Living in the Soul Society, Just Wanting to Coast into Retirement

Yamamoto's expression finally softened.

He did not reject nobles; he only rejected useless trash with no ability.

"I see. That's wonderful!" Tsunayashiro Fūka smiled like a fox. With the strength of a Five Noble Clans head, securing a captain's position should not be difficult.

Yamabuki Chidori was smiling too. You clearly have no idea what kind of lunatics the first generation of captains were!

Central 46

Tsunayashiro Fūka was grinning happily. His goal had already been achieved. The rise of the Gotei 13 was now unstoppable, so why shouldn't he profit from it?

The other side had promised him a captain's position, and he was already quite satisfied.

"But before that, there is one more matter. After yesterday's battle, you saw how weak the Seireitei's internal armed forces are. We plan to establish an academy specifically to teach Soul Reapers how to fight. What does the Tsunayashiro Family Head think of this?" Yamabuki Chidori asked.

"That is naturally a good thing! I support it with both hands. In that case, I definitely cannot take back the gifts I brought. Now that we are establishing both the Gotei 13 and an academy, resources are needed more than ever. If you need my help, I will not refuse!" Tsunayashiro Fūka declared, thumping his chest.

Yamamoto's strength was obvious to all. Learning under such a powerful man was the dream of countless Soul Reapers!

This would benefit the entire Seireitei without any drawbacks!

"Then we will have to trouble you to spread the word for us!" Yamabuki Chidori revealed a foxlike smile.

"Of course! Of course! From now on, we are all on the same side. Just speak up if you need anything!" Tsunayashiro Fūka said with a smile.

When Tsunayashiro Fūka left Yamamoto's room, he looked utterly pleased with himself. The other nobles assumed he had obtained some enormous benefit and hurried over to ask.

"Benefits? Naturally, there are tremendous benefits. But don't ask me. You'll find out soon enough!" Tsunayashiro Fūka wore a mysterious expression that left the other nobles itching with curiosity.

Yamamoto sat there, feeling a little depressed. It seemed like he had not done anything at all. Everything had fallen into place naturally. He had merely swung his sword once.

"Yamabuki, according to your plan, will the Gotei 13 really be established this quickly?" Yamamoto asked.

There was no need to say it. The establishment of the Gotei 13 was a choice of history. Even without Yamabuki Chidori, the Gotei 13 would still have been created.

Yamabuki Chidori's greatest goal was not to establish the Gotei 13, but to secure greater authority and benefits.

Central 46 represented the highest governing body of the Soul Society. Everyone who could enter Central 46's decision-making level came from the major noble clans, and they represented noble interests.

They held the final authority to interpret the law!

The greatest example was Tōsen's close friend, Kyouka, who had been killed by her own husband. Because the murderer was from a branch family of the Tsunayashiro Clan, the final sentence had only been a hundred years of confinement.

It was also because of this incident that Tōsen had completely despaired of the Soul Society's upper ranks and joined forces with Aizen to overthrow the Soul Society.

What Yamabuki Chidori needed to do was secure the greatest possible authority for the Gotei 13.

This was only the beginning.

After Tsunayashiro Fūka returned home, he immediately wrote letters to the heads of the other Five Noble Clans, inviting them to discuss the establishment of the Gotei 13.

The Five Noble Clans had a secret conference chamber that only their heads had the right to enter. Whenever a major change occurred in the Soul Society, they would gather there to deliberate and decide.

In later generations, Tsunayashiro Tokinada invited Shihōin Yoruichi and Kuchiki Byakuya here to discuss restoring the Shiba Clan's position among the Five Noble Clans, and to nominate Kurosaki Ichigo as the Shiba Clan's new head.

However, only four of the Five Noble Clans came.

They were the Tsunayashiro Clan, which controlled the Great Spirit Library Corridor.

The Shihōin Clan, which controlled the "Divine Soldier Division."

The Shiba Clan, which controlled the passage to the Soul King Palace.

And the Kuchiki Clan, the current head of the Five Noble Clans.

As for why there were only four of the Five Noble Clans...

Please ask Tite Kubo why he only wrote four of them.

"Everyone, I assume you have all read the letter I sent. What are your thoughts on establishing the Gotei 13?" Tsunayashiro Fūka asked.

Shunshun Shidō still looked as carefree and irreverent as ever. "Do you even need to ask me?"

He had already joined the Gotei 13 as captain of the 2nd Division, so naturally he supported it with all his strength.

Tsunayashiro Fūka then looked toward the remaining two clan heads.

The Kuchiki Clan Head nodded slightly. "I agree as well. Everyone saw what happened yesterday. Without Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the consequences would have been unimaginable. The nobles have enjoyed the privileges brought by power for too long, and most of them have now lost their ability to fight. The Seireitei must be infused with fresh blood."

"And what do you think, Shiba Clan Head?"

"Why are you asking me? I live in the Rukon District. You can settle your Seireitei affairs yourselves. The three of you already agree, so would it matter if I objected alone?" the Shiba Clan Head said helplessly.

"Then all four noble clans have unanimously approved! Let us immediately submit a joint petition to Central 46. I believe those decayed old men understand the weight of a petition signed jointly by the heads of the four noble clans!" Tsunayashiro Fūka said with a beaming smile.

He was working so hard because the Gotei 13 had promised him a captain's position. The stronger the Gotei 13 became in the future, the more valuable that captaincy would be.

With their interests bound together, Tsunayashiro Fūka was not doing this for the Gotei 13's battles. He was doing it for his own benefit.

The other three clan heads only had one simple task: sign the joint petition.

After finishing all this, Tsunayashiro Fūka spiritedly carried the letter to Central 46.

The Soul Society's highest governing body.

Yet as the core of the Soul Society, Central 46's defenses were so weak that pathetic was the only fitting word.

These lofty sages feared that their guards might betray them, so they only chose noble-born children as guards. Those noble children were not even allowed to carry Zanpakuto, only blunt weapons such as six-foot iron staffs.

Since they were noble-born, none of them failed to recognize the Tsunayashiro Family Head. When they saw Tsunayashiro Fūka, they did not dare stop him and simply allowed him to barge through Central 46.

In the end, Tsunayashiro Fūka arrived before the forty-six sages.

Even when facing the head of one of the Five Noble Clans, Central 46 remained haughty and arrogant.

Because their authority stood above that of any individual noble clan!

In the future, they would even strip the Shiba Clan of its status as one of the Five Noble Clans, fearing that the Five Noble Clans would compete with them for power.

"This is outrageous! Even as the Tsunayashiro Family Head, you cannot behave so recklessly! Who allowed you to raise your head? Lower it!" an elderly man seated above shouted.

Tsunayashiro Fūka's expression changed slightly, but it quickly returned to its usual playful smile. "Please do not be angry, everyone. This letter is a joint petition from the heads of the Five Noble Clans to Central 46. Please review it!"

A Joint Petition from the Five Noble Clans

Upon hearing Tsunayashiro Fūka's words, the forty-six old geezers erupted like a boiling pot, their expressions changing drastically.

A joint petition from the Five Noble Clans?

What were they trying to do? They could not be planning to abolish Central 46, could they?

Other than that, what matter in the Seireitei could possibly warrant a joint petition from the heads of the Five Noble Clans?

If the Five Noble Clans shared the same opinion and the Soul King nodded in approval, then the authority of this letter would stand above Central 46.

The old bastards' expressions turned extremely ugly. For a moment, not one of the forty-six dared make a sound.

After a long while, a Great Sage seated at the highest position said, "Bring the letter forward!"

A servant immediately delivered the letter to the Great Sage.

Like they were awaiting their final execution, the old geezers trembled as they opened the letter.

Yet the contents had absolutely nothing to do with them!

"The Gotei 13? What is that?" the Great Sage asked.

"Just as its name suggests, it is an army dedicated to protecting the Seireitei. You all saw what happened yesterday. Although Hollows attacking the Seireitei in groups is rare, it is not unprecedented. I believe we should form a dedicated army to prevent all manner of unexpected incidents. The Five Noble Clans have unanimously agreed. We now only await Central 46's approval." Tsunayashiro Fūka said.

It was not about abolishing Central 46, and the old bastards immediately became smug again.

"Ridiculous! Why would the Seireitei need a band of ruffians to protect it? What are the Five Noble Clans for? What are all these nobles for?"

"I assume all of you felt that world-destroying Reiatsu yesterday. Do you not want someone that powerful to protect your safety?" Tsunayashiro Fūka asked.

Of course they had felt Yamamoto's world-destroying Reiatsu yesterday.

It had terrified them and made them tremble!

These people were rotten, but that did not mean they were idiots.

"You are saying that the founder of the Gotei 13 is Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto?"

"That is correct. It is him. However, the Gotei 13 is currently only a civilian organization, since it has not received Central 46's approval. My suggestion is to summon Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto to Central 46 so that we can discuss this face-to-face, with the heads of the Five Noble Clans and all the high-ranking nobles serving as witnesses." Tsunayashiro Fūka said.

The forty-six sages began discussing it among themselves, and Central 46 immediately buzzed like a swarm of flies.

Indeed, with such a peerless powerhouse stationed here, they could rest easy from now on.

"Silence!" The Great Sage seated at the top slammed his wooden gavel down hard.

"In that case, bring Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto here, and we shall discuss this face-to-face." the Great Sage said.

Naturally, they did not want yesterday's events to happen again. When the Hollow horde launched its assault, no one knew how many of the forty-six sages had wet themselves in fear.

If a powerful army could take full responsibility for the Seireitei's security, it would be perfect.

Looking at their disgusting faces, Tsunayashiro Fūka sneered inwardly. But there was nothing he could do. Though the power in his hands was considerable, it was still insufficient to shake the Soul Society's million-year-old rules.

Yamabuki Chidori was the first to receive the news, and he immediately told Yamamoto.

"So as long as Central 46 recognizes us, we will become an official organization!" Yamamoto had never expected his dream to come true so quickly. Less than half a month had passed, and the way he looked at Yamabuki Chidori changed.

Before, he had only regarded Yamabuki Chidori as an assistant.

But after this, Yamamoto had deeply realized the importance of strategy. Indeed, his Ryūjin Jakka was invincible, but his ultimate purpose was to protect, not destroy.

If he only wanted destruction, he could simply release his Bankai and slash wildly. Before long, the entire Soul Society would be destroyed.2

But his ultimate purpose was to protect this world!

That made things far more complicated.

He had even made a hundred-year plan, intending to accomplish his goal over a century.

Yet Yamabuki Chidori's arrival had brutally compressed that goal from a hundred years to half a month.

It felt like Liu Xuande's first encounter with Zhuge Wolong.

In just half a month, he, a mere mountain rustic with nothing but strength, had directly reached the very core of power in the Soul Society.

"Yamabuki, what should we do next?" Yamamoto asked.

"Be arrogant! Be tough! We absolutely cannot back down!" Yamabuki Chidori said. "Captain Commander, once we reach Central 46, can you hand the right to speak over to me? You must follow my lead. You absolutely cannot show even the slightest hint of compromise. You have to be tough, absolutely tough!"

For a moment, Yamamoto did not understand what the boy meant.

But once he considered how far they had already come, it was too late for regrets.

"Fine. Whatever you say, I will do." Yamamoto said.

Yamamoto had now begun to trust Yamabuki Chidori without reservation.

The meeting was scheduled for tomorrow.

Yamabuki Chidori needed to work through the night to devise a perfect plan.

This concerned his grand retirement plan. There could not be the slightest mistake.

The next day, Yamabuki Chidori even dressed up specially.

Saitō Fubōfu looked deeply unhappy. "Why do I have to go meet those old fossils too? It's so annoying! Are there a lot of rules of etiquette? I hate that kind of thing most!"

Yamabuki Chidori immediately dismissed the concern. "No etiquette is needed. Be as arrogant as you can, as domineering as you can. Just act naturally."

"Hey! What do you mean by that? Am I usually that arrogant? Believe it or not, I'll beat you up!" Saitō shouted.

Shunshun Shidō had been about to explain the rules for visiting Central 46. Normally, weapons were not allowed.

"Everyone, bring your swords! Especially you, Captain Commander. Keep Ryūjin Jakka ready for release at any time!" Yamabuki Chidori said.

Shunshun Shidō nearly spat blood. He might appear wild and uninhibited, but he had been born a noble and was also a clan head. Every word and action represented not only himself, but his entire family behind him, so he had no choice but to restrain himself much of the time.

"Are you going to war? You cannot get in at all with swords! You simply will not be allowed inside!" Shunshun Shidō said with a bitter smile.

"No. Whether we bring swords or not, we will get in." Yamabuki Chidori naturally understood what the people of Central 46 were like. They saw themselves as lofty and all-powerful, while their actual combat ability was infinitely close to zero.

A thousand years later, Aizen would slaughter them once. Then, when the Quincy invaded, the Quincy would slaughter them again.

Even so, they would still refuse to repent.