Two days after the duel with Kenpachi Zaraki.
On the western side of the Seireitei, a massive Senkaimon had slowly opened, white Reishi light flowing constantly within it.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni stood among the others, wearing a brand-new white Captain's Haori.
On its back was a conspicuous character for "three."
Ichigo Kurosaki circled Yoriichi, his expression growing stranger by the moment.
"Yoriichi, I never thought you'd actually become a captain in the Soul Society."
"Yes."
Yoriichi nodded.
"The Captain-Commander appointed me Third Division Captain."
"Why?"
Ichigo couldn't help saying, "We all broke in together as Ryoka, but I get a Substitute Soul Reaper license while you get to become a captain straight away?"
"Maybe it's because Yoriichi is stronger."
Standing beside them, Orihime Inoue offered her earnest analysis. "Just like a school club. The strongest person can become club president right away."
Uryū Ishida adjusted his glasses.
"The Gotei 13 isn't a high school club."
"Oh, it isn't?"
Orihime paused in surprise.
Yasutora Sado was silent for a moment before saying, "The clothes suit you."
"Thank you."
Yoriichi glanced down at his haori.
The Third Division had rushed to make this haori overnight. Its measurements were perfect, but it looked somewhat conspicuous on him.
After all, he was only fifteen this year.
There probably hadn't been many captains as young as him in the history of the Gotei 13.
In her black cat form, Yoruichi crouched on Ichigo's shoulder and swished her tail.
"Kid, don't underestimate that haori. Now that he's a captain, every member of the Third Division has to obey his orders."
Ichigo looked at Yoriichi.
"Does that mean he can't go back to the World of the Living anymore?"
"I can."
Yoriichi said calmly, "The Captain-Commander has permitted me to remain stationed in the World of the Living for now, to monitor the Substitute Soul Reaper."
Ichigo froze.
"Monitor who?"
Yoriichi looked at him without answering.
"Hey, what are you looking at me for?"
"Is there another Substitute Soul Reaper here?" Uryū asked.
Ichigo: "..."
Suddenly, the Substitute Soul Reaper license in his hand didn't seem so great anymore.
What kind of license was this?
It was clearly proof that he was Yoriichi's surveillance target.
Not far away, Jūshirō Ukitake coughed softly twice, a gentle smile on his face.
"Don't worry. 'Monitoring' is merely a turn of phrase. As long as you do nothing to endanger the World of the Living or the Soul Society, the Gotei 13 won't restrict your movements."
"I wouldn't do anything like that anyway."
Ichigo took the wooden badge out of his clothes.
"But how exactly do I use this?"
"The Substitute Badge can separate your soul from your body, and it can also detect nearby Hollows."
Ukitake explained patiently, "If anything unusual happens in the World of the Living, the Gotei 13 will also contact you through the Substitute Badge."
"Also, do not give it to anyone else, and certainly don't throw it away carelessly."
Ichigo turned the Substitute Badge over in his hands.
"What happens if I lose it?"
"You'll need a replacement."
"That's all?"
Ukitake's smile remained unchanged.
"You'll also need to fill out twenty-seven statements explaining its loss, answer questions from the Thirteenth Division, and have the First Division verify your identity again."
Ichigo immediately stuffed the Substitute Badge back into his clothes.
"I definitely won't lose it."
Yoruichi couldn't help laughing.
Uryū Ishida stood at the back of the group, his face still somewhat pale. His right arm was bandaged, and his Reiatsu was much weaker than before he'd entered the Soul Society.
During his battle with Mayuri Kurotsuchi, he had removed the Sanrei Glove.
Though he had successfully defeated his opponent, he had also lost his Quincy powers.
The injuries from that battle had been extremely severe. Even though the Fourth Division had taken him back for treatment in time, his recovery had still been very slow.
Only after Orihime had gone to help had he recovered most of the way by today.
Ichigo glanced at Uryū.
"Are you sure you can walk?"
"I'm doing much better than you were just after Kenpachi Zaraki cut you down."
Uryū adjusted his glasses and said calmly, "At least I wasn't lying on the ground waiting for someone to rescue me."
A vein twitched on Ichigo's forehead.
"You jerk, I was worried about you."
"I don't need you worrying about me at that volume."
"What did you say?"
Chad took half a step forward, placing himself between them.
"The Senkaimon's about to close."
Both of them turned their heads.
The Reishi passage inside the gate remained stable, with no sign of closing whatsoever.
Chad fell silent for a moment.
"It should be soon."
Orihime walked over to Uryū and asked quietly, "Ishida, do your wounds still hurt?"
"They're fine now."
Uryū looked at his right hand.
He could feel that the Quincy power inside him had completely vanished.
But he had no regrets.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi had killed so many Quincies and even used his grandfather as experimental material. If he had to do it again, he would still remove the Sanrei Glove.
Yoriichi glanced at Uryū.
To his eyes, the Reishi Circuits inside Uryū hadn't completely disappeared. They had merely gone dormant for the time being.
"Your powers will return."
Uryū raised his head.
"You can tell?"
"Yes."
Yoriichi said calmly, "The Reishi Circuits are still there. They simply can't function normally. Find the right method, and you can awaken them again."
Uryū was silent for a moment, a glimmer of light appearing in his eyes.
"I understand."
Ukitake looked at everyone and said softly, "Everyone, the transit coordinates for the World of the Living have been fixed. You can depart now."
Ichigo glanced back at the Seireitei.
On this trip into the Soul Society, almost every one of them had been through several battles.
Fortunately, Rukia was safe now.
As for Ganju Shiba, he had returned to Rukongai after Aizen left. Before leaving, he had even sought Ichigo out specifically and arranged to have drinks together sometime.
Even though Ichigo wasn't old enough to drink at all.
"Let's go."
Ichigo stepped into the Senkaimon first.
The others followed close behind.
Inside the Reishi passage, Ichigo looked at the white road stretching ahead and suddenly remembered their previous experience.
"There shouldn't be a Kōtotsu this time, right?"
Lying on his shoulder, Yoruichi raised a paw and smacked him on the head.
"Idiot, do you want to run into one that badly?"
"Of course not."
Holding his head, Ichigo said, "I was just making sure."
"Relax. The passage is fixed. Nothing will go wrong."
Just as Yoruichi finished speaking, a muffled rumble suddenly came from the distance.
Ichigo's expression changed instantly.
"What was that sound?"
Yoruichi looked up.
"The Senkaimon closing."
Ichigo let out a breath of relief.
"Couldn't you have said that in the first place?"
"It's your fault for being such a scaredy-cat."
"I'm not scared!"
Following behind, Orihime couldn't help laughing. Chad remained silent, while Uryū adjusted his glasses and deliberately put some distance between himself and Ichigo.
Yoriichi walked among them, his white Captain's Haori swaying gently with his steps.
Soon, they were making their way toward the World of the Living, bickering and fooling around.
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