Stirring in the Shadows / I'm Done. Who's in Favor? Who's Against?

"As expected of the Captain Commander, even your wisdom surpasses mine as your subordinate. My admiration for you is like a never-ending river, like the Yangtze River overflowing its banks..." Before Yamabuki Chidori could finish his joke, Captain Commander Yamamoto was already rolling up his sleeves, ready to beat him up.

"It's about the Central 46." Yamabuki Chidori hurriedly brought up the most crucial matter. "The Central 46 -Central 46 was completely destroyed in this great war, and seventy percent of the nobles have jointly petitioned for its reconstruction. What are your thoughts on this?"

After a moment of silence, Captain Commander Yamamoto did not offer his own opinion, but instead tossed the question back to Yamabuki Chidori: "And you? Can't you decide this?"

"Of course we can't decide! You and I know best what these nobles are thinking. They just want to take advantage of this opportunity to make money and become the people in charge of Soul Society. Do they really think we don't exist?" Yamabuki Chidori sat cross-legged on the ground, casually tossing a bottle of sake over. The Captain Commander reached out and caught the bottle, gulping down two mouthfuls.

"Is there something wrong?" Captain Commander Yamamoto asked.

In his view, the Central 46 has existed for many years; what difference does it make if it's destroyed and another one is built?

Yamabuki Chidori paused for a moment, then said, "You just said it yourself: powerful forces without restraint will eventually become a scourge, and absolute power without checks and balances will inevitably lead to corruption. The human heart is unpredictable! You've lived for thousands of years; you understand this better than I do!"

Captain Commander Yamamoto quietly took a sip of his drink, waiting for Yamabuki Chidori to continue.

"Although the Gotei 13 made an agreement with the Central 46 when it was created, the Central 46 can't interfere in the internal affairs of the Gotei 13, but the Gotei 13 can't interfere in things outside of the Gotei 13! I don't want to see these people ruin the Seireitei that we've worked so hard to protect and shed so much blood for!" Yamabuki Chidori said.

"You... want to run for the Sage of the Central 46?" Captain Commander Yamamoto asked uncertainly.

"That's not accurate. To be precise, we're both running for the Sage of the Central 46. I want to take this opportunity to seize control of the Central 46. It's true, I'm not very talented, and you don't know how to manage..." Yamabuki Chidori said self-deprecatingly.

Captain Commander Yamamoto Yamamoto's face twitched. Who was this person who managed the Gotei 13, numbering in the thousands, so efficiently? Was it a dog?

"But at the very least, we must supervise the power of the Central 46," Yamabuki Chidori said. "I know those nobles will definitely be dissatisfied, but political power grows out of the barrel of a gun, and strength is the truth. We don't need much, just two of the forty-six positions. But the weight of the two of us is greater than that of the remaining forty-four people combined." Yamabuki Chidori said solemnly.

"Hmm? How so? The Central 46 uses a voting system, right? The minority obeys the majority!" Captain Commander Yamamoto said.

"Indeed. But Captain Commander, do you know what a veto power is?" Yamabuki Chidori asked with a smile. "The two of us are in charge of the Central 46. We don't usually participate in voting; we just supervise them. But if something goes wrong, the power to veto is in our hands. For any matter, if either of us votes against it, even if all forty-four people vote in favor, the proposal will be immediately invalidated!"

Captain Commander Yamamoto's eyes showed surprise. His strength was indeed unparalleled, but his thinking was still that of the ancients, or even feudalists. Otherwise, the Gotei 13 in the original timeline wouldn't have been so frustrated, almost being ridden and humiliated by the Central 46!

Captain Commander Yamamoto may still harbor remnants of the "ruler-subject" mentality, which is why he compromised time and again.

Yamabuki Chidori's bold idea completely shattered the Old Man's worldview.

Power is absolute! Criterion is truth!

"But... those nobles won't agree, will they?" Captain Commander Yamamoto asked.

"Does it matter whether they agree or not?" Yamabuki Chidori gently grabbed a handful of rubble. "If they don't want to become this dust, they'd better behave themselves. Otherwise, I'll just have to find a new batch of obedient dogs."

A terrifying light flashed in Yamabuki Chidori's eyes.

"Hahahaha!" Captain Commander Yamamoto suddenly burst into laughter. "You really are a madman! I wasn't wrong about you! Fine, in that case, I'll go crazy with you this once and for all!"

Chapter Three: A Lurking Moment in the Shadows

It was late at night.

The dark corners of Seireitei.

A group of nobles are gathered together to discuss the future of Soul Society.

And the one who took the lead was none other than Tsunayashiro Fūka.

"Gentlemen, the old era has ended, and the new era is about to begin. The Central 46- Central 46. What do you say?" Tsunayashiro Fūka smiled as she looked at the Great Noble before her.

"Of course, as nobles, we should lead Soul Society to build a new future. Although the Gotei 13 has taken away a lot of power, the Central 46 is still the largest power group. If we can gain a foothold, it will bring immeasurable benefits to our family," said a High-Ranking Noble.

Others chimed in.

Tsunayashiro Fūka is actually a very shrewd person; everything he does is for the benefit of his family.

After chaos comes harmony. The destruction of the Central 46 may deal a blow to the nobility, but isn't this also an opportunity for them to rise again?

"Our joint document has been delivered to Yamabuki Chidori. What is his attitude?" a High-Ranking Noble asked.

In the previous great war with the Wandenreich, these nobles and their descendants did make certain contributions, which cannot be denied. However, making contributions and engaging in infighting are two different things.

The reason for sending that document was to test Yamabuki Chidori's bottom line.

As for Captain Commander Yamamoto, he is indeed very strong, capable of suppressing the entire Soul Society single-handedly, but when it comes to using his brain, it still depends on the Chief Strategist.

Tsunayashiro Fūka pressed her hands down slightly. "Everyone, please be quiet. There's no need to worry about this matter. The Central 46 will definitely be established. The Chief Strategist has already told me this."

Upon hearing this news, the nobles were overjoyed; it seemed that the Gotei 13 had finally bowed to power.

"However..." Tsunayashiro Fūka suddenly changed the subject. "The Chief Strategist said that all the Great Noble will be invited to participate in the discussion in three days. How to resolve this matter depends on his attitude."

At this moment, a nobleman said with great displeasure, "We have protected the Soul Society for thousands of years, and now we have to put up with the whims of a mere brat! What a disgrace! It's just a small war we won! His smug look is infuriating!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Tsunayashiro Fūka flew over and slapped him hard across the face.

The slap was very clear, and everyone present heard it clearly. The nobleman never expected that Tsunayashiro Fūka would directly hit someone!

Although the nobleman was the Rage, Tsunayashiro Fūka's status was undeniable. She was not only the head of one of the Five Noble Clans, but also the Lieutenant of the Gotei 13. Moreover, in terms of strength, even if all the nobles in the room were tied together, they couldn't defeat Tsunayashiro Fūka.

Tsunayashiro Fūka is only weaker than those freakish Captain; defeating these ordinary nobles is a piece of cake for her.

"I wonder who was so scared they almost wet their pants when the Quincy invaded!" Tsunayashiro Fūka said coldly. In that war, Tsunayashiro Fūka also joined the battlefield and killed many enemies, which she was proud of.

"The Chief Strategist is not someone you can talk about behind his back! Anyone who dares to speak disrespectfully to the Chief Strategist again, don't blame me for being impolite!" Tsunayashiro Fūka's gaze swept over everyone with a sinister look like a venomous snake, making everyone feel a chill run down their spines!

"The contributions of the Captain Commander and the Chief Strategist to Soul Society are beyond the reach of you bunch of trash! It's already a great favor that they're willing to lower themselves to negotiate with us. When will you finally realize your place?" Tsunayashiro Fūka said sarcastically. "In this world, power reigns supreme, and those two are at the pinnacle of the entire world! Show some respect at the negotiations three days from now, or don't blame me if you get killed on the spot!"

The blood of these nobles is practically frozen.

Even though the Gotei 13 has developed rapidly in the past six months, in the eyes of these nobles, the Gotei 13 is just a bunch of country bumpkins.

Completely oblivious to the fact that they were now like fish on a chopping board.

Their only advantage now is that they have the title of "meritorious official". Killing all these nobles would hurt people's feelings. Yamabuki Chidori and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto took this into consideration, which is why they gave them a chance to negotiate.

Of course, it's just an opportunity.

I'm giving you face, so you have to accept it!

If you can't handle this, don't blame me.

These three days were precisely the buffer that Yamabuki Chidori gave to these nobles.

After all, I'm not some kind of demon!

How could you put these "meritorious officials" on a fire to roast?

Three days later.

The ruins of the Central 46.

Yamabuki Chidori did not issue any orders, no one dared to repair the area, leaving only ruins. These nobles had no idea what Yamabuki Chidori intended to do.

Yamabuki Chidori instructed Hane Hane Chiyo to write down the names of all the people who participated in the negotiations, so as to see who was so disrespectful.

"Gentlemen, thank you all for giving me the honor of attending this negotiation! The Central 46 is the core of power in Soul Society. Now, the Central 46 has been destroyed in the war, and I think everyone is heartbroken. The purpose of my gathering you all here is to rebuild the Central 46. I believe everyone agrees, right?" Yamabuki Chidori said to the nobles with a smile.

"No, no, of course not!"

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stood there quietly, leaning on his sword, without saying a word. His mere presence was enough to intimidate anyone!

Anyone who dares to challenge these two big shots should carefully consider their own capabilities and whether they can handle them!

"Whether it's man or death, they all keep moving forward! Before rebuilding the Central 46, I discovered a huge flaw in the Former Central 46. Have you all noticed what it is?" Yamabuki Chidori smiled broadly, like a smiling tiger, ready to devour you at any moment.

Faced with the question about the Yamabuki Chidori, the nobles shook their heads as much as possible, none of them wanting to speak, for fear of being tricked by this clever little thing at any moment!

"Six months ago, the Sword of Death, Unohana Yachiru, stormed into Seireitei, slaughtering her way from the East Gate all the way to the Central 46. So many important figures in the Central 46 were completely powerless to fight back and were slaughtered like lambs! I was heartbroken at the time! It was thanks to Staff Officer hard-fought battle that I was able to subdue Unohana Yachiru." Yamabuki Chidori said, clutching her chest with a pained expression.

Of course I feel sorry for how badly I hurt Unohana back then!

How could I possibly feel sorry for those beasts in the Central 46!

"And then there was the recent invasion by the Wandenreich. The enemy directly attacked the Central 46, and the Central 46 were completely slaughtered without any chance of resistance! Doesn't that prove everything?" Yamabuki Chidori said passionately.

Chapter Four: I've finished speaking. Who agrees? Who disagrees?

These nobles didn't know what Yamabuki Chidori was trying to say; they were just wary that he might set a trap in his writing.

"Doesn't this prove the point? The Central 46's defenses are incredibly weak! I checked before, and the only Central 46 can call an army is some nobles' private soldiers. Their weapons aren't even swords; they're those heavy, cumbersome Six-Toothed Iron Rod, which are practically useless against the enemy. That's what caused these tragedies," Yamabuki Chidori said loudly.

Katoru Hatsunoya his hand with a very obedient expression. "Should we strengthen the defenses of the Central 46?"

Katoru Hatsunoya is also the head of High-Ranking Noble, so she is certainly qualified to participate in this negotiation. Moreover, she is a "plant" carefully invited by Yamabuki Chidori.

"That's a good question! To rebuild the Central 46 46, we must strengthen its defenses. We can't allow our highest authority in Soul Society to be slaughtered at will by the enemy. I'm sure none of you want to take that risk, and I don't want to lose face either," Yamabuki Chidori said with a smile.

At this moment, many nobles already had a bad feeling. Was this kid going to have the Gotei 13 guard the Central 46?

In this way, wouldn't the Central 46 become easy Gotei 13?

"What plan has the Chief Strategist prepared? What methods will be used to protect the members of the Central 46?" a nobleman asked, raising his hand.

"That's a really good question. I'd like to ask everyone in return, what kind of defense is the most perfect?" asked Yamabuki Chidori.

The nobles exchanged glances, afraid of saying the wrong thing. Seeing that no one dared to speak, it was finally Tsunayashiro Fūka who said with a smile, "Of course, we should increase the number of guards and improve their quality. It would be perfect if the guards were Captain-level!"

Yamabuki Chidori smiled slightly at Tsunayashiro Fūka, thinking that the kid's mind worked quite quickly, but unfortunately, his answer was wrong.

"As the saying goes, relying on heaven and earth is not as good as relying on yourself. Even the strongest Guard can make mistakes, and once they do, it can cause huge losses. Therefore, the best way to defend is to make sure that the forty-six people selected are the forty-six most capable fighters in Soul Society." Yamabuki Chidori said with a smile.

The minds of all the nobles present were buzzing!

Using force to select the ruling class? You must be joking.

And who are the most capable fighters right now? It's definitely those beasts from the Gotei 13!

The ominous premonition grew stronger; their worst fears had come true.

Power is about to be taken away.

The scene was deathly silent; everyone looked at each other, but no one dared to speak up first.

"My lord, the Central 46 is the most important organization managing the entire Soul Society. We absolutely cannot select a bunch of brutes with no brains. Please reconsider!" a nearly toothless old man said tremblingly.

Yamabuki Chidori completely ignored his attitude. "By the way, the structure of the Central 46 will also undergo a slight change. Originally, the Central 46 consisted of six Great Sage and forty Sage. I have decided to reduce the number of Great Sage positions to only two, and add four ordinary Sage positions. Furthermore, these two Great Sage will have the supreme power of veto."

"What does veto mean?" Katoru Hatsunoya once again acted as a tool, obediently raising his hand to ask.

"When the Central 46 encounter major issues, they will hold a vote. The two Great Sage will not participate in the vote; all matters are decided by the forty-four Sage. However, if the two Great Sage feel that something is inappropriate, even if all forty-four Sage' proposals are passed, as long as one Great Sage casts a dissenting vote, the proposal will be immediately invalidated."

"Holy crap!" Tsunayashiro Fūka couldn't help but exclaim.

As expected of the Chief Strategist! He's got some serious tricks up his sleeve!

Once this structure is approved, the power of the two Great Sage will far surpass that of the forty-four ordinary patients.

Wait, two people?

Tsunayashiro Fūka glanced at Yamabuki Chidori, then at the Captain Commander beside her, and immediately felt a chill run down her spine.

"Hahahahahahaha! As expected of you. You once showed me how utterly powerless you are in the face of strength, and now you're going to use strength to seize absolute power! Just as I thought! Hahaha!" Tsunayashiro Fūka laughed wildly in her heart.

Once this proposal is passed, the long-standing structure of the Central 46 will be completely broken.

"That's how it is. I've finished speaking. Who here agrees and who disagrees?" Yamabuki Chidori looked at the group of nobles in front of her with a smile.

Utter silence!

The nobles all rose up in opposition, which effectively reduced their power to a minimum.

The Central 46 inherently represented the power of the nobility, but now this originally unlimited power has been shackled with unbreakable chains.

"I object!!!" A man stood up.

Yamabuki Chidori glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and recognized him as the head of the High-Ranking Noble Sato Family.

"We've protected Soul Society for so many years without a single accident. Why should you come here and start making sweeping reforms? Have you considered us? Everyone, we absolutely cannot agree. What will happen to our future if we agree? What will happen to the interests of our clan? Yamabuki Chidori, I know you're powerful, but I don't believe you dare to kill someone in public." Clan Chief Sato shouted sternly.

Yamabuki Chidori sighed, and with a light tap of her fingertip, Chief Sato's head exploded instantly!

Blood mixed with brain matter sprayed everywhere, and the people sitting nearby screamed.

"Who else objects? I'm a very democratic person!" Yamabuki Chidori looked at them with a smile.

"I agree!" Mr. Honda said with a smile.

He and Yamabuki Chidori are business partners, and if Yamabuki Chidori were to take power, it would bring unimaginable benefits to their family.

"I agree!" said Katori Hatsunoya without hesitation; she was there specifically to act as a shill.

With someone taking the lead, the others who were afraid of death could only acquiesce, after all, this eighteen-year-old boy in front of them didn't care about any noble rules!

If you don't submit, I'll kill you!

If your whole family doesn't submit, I'll kill your whole family!