Inside the First Division Barracks the Seireitei.
Like First Division, Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, stood quietly in the barracks.
" Captain-Commander- in-Chief."
Just as Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai was quietly enjoying this rare moment of peace in the Soul Society, a slightly weathered voice softly sounded behind him.
"You've come."
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai looked at the figure behind him, opened his eyes which had been slightly narrowed, and instantly, the aura of the originally kind and amiable Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, like an old man in a park, changed drastically. In an instant, he transformed from an ordinary old man into a ferocious tiger, terrifyingly powerful!
" Sōgo Shihoin has already resolved the Bount matter."
"Preparations for the meeting are currently underway..."
At this point, the intelligence officer who had come specifically to report to the Captain-Commander suddenly hesitated.
"Um?!"
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai glanced sideways at the hesitant intelligence officer beside him, his brows furrowing slightly, a hint of displeasure in his expression.
"Please feel free to speak."
Yamamoto gave the order to the intelligence officer.
"Yes, sir..." After receiving confirmation from Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, the intelligence officer took a deep breath before mustering his courage and saying, " Sōgo Shihoin... has convened a meeting of the heads of the Five Great Noble Clans!"
"..."
The intelligence officer's words left Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai speechless for a moment.
"Convene a meeting of the heads of the Five Great Noble Clans?!"
After a Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai frowned and asked with a slightly puzzled look in his eyes.
"Yes, Captain-Commander, Sōgo Shihoin is planning to convene a meeting of the heads of the Five Great Noble Clans."
After thinking for a long time, the intelligence officer replied.
"Is it just another drinking party, like always, where the heads of the Five Great Noble Clans are invited?"
"If it's just a party like that, I don't think you need to report it to me."
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai seemed to have become accustomed to the gatherings of the Five Great Noble Clans.
No, to be precise, it wasn't just Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai who thought it was commonplace.
Rather, the entire Gotei 13, the entire Seireitei, and the entire Soul Society had become accustomed to the Five Great Noble Clans family heads' meeting convened by Sōgo Shihoin.
They all knew that the current head of the Shihoin Family Five Great Noble Clans, was a playful person. He would hold banquets, bringing together the heads of the five most powerful families in the world to drink... get drunk together, and act crazy while drunk...
In short, they did everything that was unsuitable for nobles.
Some call Sōgo Shihoin a disgrace to the nobility, while others say he is a man who doesn't concern Sōgo Shihoin with trivialities and possesses the magnanimity to become a king...
However, no matter what these people said, it wouldn't change that person. He seemed to ignore their words and continued to do what he believed was right.
In pursuit of... the pleasure I keep searching for...
This time, with Sōsuke Aizen leading several Captain-level figures in a defection from Soul Society, Sōgo Shihoin once again convened a meeting of the heads of the Five Great Noble Clans families...
"No, Captain-Commander, I believe that Sōgo Shihoin of this meeting of the heads of the Five Great Noble Clans was not about the banquet. This time, he may have something else to do... This is precisely why I rushed to see you. I suspect that Sōgo Shihoin's meeting this time may be related to the Central 46 Chambers."
The intelligence officer knelt on one knee before Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai and revealed his suspicions.
"It's related to the Central 46 Chambers. The current situation is... the brand-new Central 46 Chambers hasn't been fully established yet, but... the Bount, the council of the Five Great Noble Clans families... could it be..."
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai pieced together all the information he had gathered and came to a conclusion that he found extremely ominous.
Then came a sense of relief...
Let them be!
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai smiled lightly. He was no longer the invincible Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, and this Soul Society was no longer the Soul Society that couldn't do without him. Ever since Sōgo Shihoin appeared out of nowhere, this world had changed. Even the Central 46 Chambers had become dispensable. Since that was the case... then let everything that should be eliminated be eliminated!
"Then we..."
The intelligence officer turned to Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai and asked.
"Just pretend you know nothing."
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai closed his eyes, as if in a meditative state, suppressing all his aura. Like a fierce tiger, Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai stood in the First Division barracks like a withered tree the moment he closed his eyes.
"Yes, sir!"
The intelligence officer nodded slightly, stood up respectfully, bowed slightly in the direction of Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, and the next second transformed into a black shadow and disappeared from the spot.
Inside a luxurious restaurant, where the heads of the Five Great Noble Clans families gathered.
Sōgo Shihoin, Byakuya Kuchiki, Kaien Shiba, and the heads of the Tsunayashiro Clan and the other family gathered here to drink and celebrate.
"I think you all already know why I have gathered you here."
Sōgo Shihoin, as the face of the Five Great Noble Clans, sat arrogantly in the main seat and smiled at the others present.
"Grandfather mentioned it."
Byakuya Kuchiki casually replied to Sōgo Shihoin's question.
"Hehe..."
The others simply smiled and remained silent.
"Now that everyone knows in advance, things are much easier to discuss."
"I've called everyone here today mainly for two things."
"The first thing we need to do is stand up for Rukia Kuchiki, the younger sister of Byakuya Kuchiki, the head of the Kuchiki Clan!"
Sōgo Shihoin stopped being coy and spoke frankly.
"I'm just asking, isn't it just about sharing the power of Soul Reaper with an ordinary human? Is it really a reason for a death sentence?"
"That's obviously not the case."
"Fortunately, we eventually figured it out: the Central 46 Chambers, which issued the punishments, had actually been wiped out in one fell swoop."
"Our Soul Society's highest penal institution has been completely destroyed in one fell swoop."
"They even took the opportunity to issue false orders to the entire Soul Society under the guise of the Central 46 Chambers..."
"In fact, she almost caused my brother, Byakuya Kuchiki's... I mean, his adopted sister, who's even closer than a Rukia Kuchiki her head. That's just too much!"
"Do you think it's right? Is it reasonable for an organization that symbolizes the highest power in Soul Society to be so easily wiped out and so easily exploited?"
Sōgo Shihoin clenched his fist tightly and shouted loudly.
"No! No, it shouldn't be like this..."
"Unreasonable! Unreasonable! Unreasonable..."
The residents of the Five Great Noble Clans all echoed Sōgo Shihoin, saying in unison that Sōgo was right, and everything Sōgo said was right!
"Therefore, I believe that in order to prevent our highest authority from being secretly eliminated and exploited by the enemy, we should make certain changes. For example... I think that since the Central 46 Chambers has been completely wiped out, there is no need to reorganize it. We can take over from now on. What do you all think?"
After finishing his speech, Sōgo Shihoin crossed his hands and gently placed them on the conference table, awaiting the approval of the other noble family heads.
Yes, Sōgo Shihoin hadn't considered the possibility that these people might disagree. Since everyone was already here, if they didn't accept these opinions, it would be disrespectful to him Sōgo Shihoin. And if they didn't respect him, Sōgo Shihoin, then today wouldn't be over!
"This..."
" Sōgo, are you trying to activate that power of ours?"
The head of the Tsunayashiro Clan, a fair-skinned young man with small round glasses, first wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand after hearing Sōgo Shihoin 'Sōgo Shihoin.
What do you think?
Sōgo Shihoin did not answer the head of the Tsunayashiro Clan's words; he simply smiled quietly at the head of the Tsunayashiro Clan, remaining silent.
That's it!
The head of the Tsunayashiro Clan once again picked up the handkerchief beside him and kept wiping the sweat from his forehead, then nodded heavily.
"Ah~ that's more like it~"
Seeing the enlightened look on the Tsunayashiro Clan's face, Sōgo Shihoin said with a smile.
"Head of the Shihoin Family, if I may be so bold, does the Soul King know about what we're doing?"
The head of that family turned deathly pale upon hearing Sōgo Shihoin's treasonous words. Due to their family's unique nature, their connections with the Shihoin Family and other families weren't particularly deep. Therefore, while they knew Sōgo Shihoin Sōgo Shihoin strong, they didn't know just how strong he was. To arbitrarily activate a privilege that was impossible to activate and existed only in fantasy was truly wishful thinking... After all, although the Soul King was no longer able to speak, there were not only the Soul King Palace Lord Soul King in his Soul King, but also five other Soul Reaper standing at the pinnacle of Soul Reaper, among whom the unfathomable Monk of the Eye was the most terrifying!
Whether the ' Soul King ' knows about this, I don't know either.
"But I know that the older brothers and sisters in Squad Zero probably won't get involved in this."
Sōgo Shihoin smiled slightly at the head of that family.
"Waaah~"
"Thank you for informing me, Head of the Shihoin Family. Please, everyone, pretend I said nothing just now."
When the head of that family heard Sōgo Shihoin say that even the Squad Zero wasn't involved in this matter, he realized that it didn't matter anymore. The Lord Soul King" he was referring to was just a few captains of the Squad Zero in the Soul King Palace.
"In that case, the proposal is considered passed."
"Then we need to deal with another matter..."
"Now that we are the highest authority in Soul Society, we need to elect a leader."
"I believe I should be the leader of the first Five Great Noble Clans Alliance. Gentlemen... who agrees, who disagrees?"
Sōgo Shihoin, with his long, slender legs crossed, asked the other four heads of the Five Great Noble Clans.
"..."
The other heads of the Five Great Noble Clans were all taken aback after hearing Sōgo Shihoin's words...
Since the heads of the Five Great Noble Clans have replaced the Central 46 Chambers and become the highest authority in Soul Society, this person representing the Five Great Noble Clans will directly become the highest authority in the entire Soul Society.
In short... this person in charge will directly replace the Soul King and become the supreme ruler of the entire Soul Society, the uncrowned king of the three realms!
"I... I agree!"
The first to raise his hand was the head of the Tsunayashiro Clan, tears streaming down his face as he sobbed.
" Shihoin... Lord Sōgo! He's finally awakened!"
As a member of the Tsunayashiro Clan, and as the head of the Tsunayashiro Clan who controls the Great Spirit Book Gallery, he—no, not just him, but the entire Tsunayashiro Clan —firmly believed that Sōgo Shihoin would lead the Five Great Noble Clans to a new era of glory!
I agree!
Byakuya Kuchiki frowned. He was the second person in the room to choose to support Sōgo Shihoin. It wasn't that he had a particularly good relationship with Sōgo Shihoin, but rather... Kuchiki Ginrei had specifically told him that no matter what outrageous things Sōgo Shihoin said at today's meeting, Byakuya Kuchiki didn't need to pay attention to them. He just needed to remember to unconditionally agree with Sōgo Shihoin's words.
"I agree..."
Kaien Shiba was the third person to support Sōgo Shihoin as the leader. It wasn't that he had any opinion on the position of the number one leader in the three realms, but rather that he was slow to react and someone else beat him to it.
"And you?"
With the three major families —Tsunayashiro, Kuchiki, Shiba —all supporting Sōgo Shihoin, the remaining family faced increased pressure.
At this very moment, the Sōgo Shihoin of that family was facing the oppressive feeling emanating from the four individuals: Byakuya Kuchiki, Kaien Shiba, and the head of the Tsunayashiro Clan. He was like a lone boat on the sea, swaying with the waves.
"I agree, of course I agree."
The lord finally couldn't hold back any longer, stood up, and agreed to let Sōgo Shihoin.
"Very good."
After hearing what that person said, Sōgo Shihoin smiled with satisfaction.
"From this moment on, the Soul Society is entirely in our hands."
Sōgo Shihoin sat quietly in that ordinary seat. However... at this moment, even the most ordinary seat became extraordinary because of Sōgo Shihoin. As long as Sōgo Shihoin sat here, that seat symbolized supreme power.
"All injustice will vanish."
Sōgo Shihoin gently raised his hand and tossed a handful of sand into the air...
The sand was crystal clear, radiating a blue glow.
" Reishi?"
Everyone stared in surprise at the sand that Sōgo Shihoin had thrown, wondering why he would hurl a handful of Reishi towards the sacred meeting Sōgo Shihoin...
It's important to know that these translucent Reishi are often the product of the Soul Society after death; in World of the Living terms, they're ashes...
"Now that I am the supreme ruler of the Three Realms, I hereby issue this order: the Central 46 Chambers- Central 46 Chambers are hereby completely disbanded. Their functions will be directly overseen by the Gotei 13. Except for major trials or matters the Gotei 13 cannot handle, they are not to disturb the heads of the Five Great Noble Clans!"
The moment Sōgo Shihoin gained supreme power, he threw all the power, which he considered meaningless, to the Gotei 13. He believed that as long as the Central 46 Chambers, those ignorant but mischievous geniuses, disappeared, Soul Society would become much cleaner.
"Huh?!"
Upon hearing Sōgo Shihoin's words, Tsunayashiro Clan's expression changed drastically. He had initially thought that Sōgo Shihoin had finally awakened, finally become a powerful ruler, and could finally lead the Five Great Noble Clans to the pinnacle of life, assuming the highest position of rule in Soul Society. However, the next second, Sōgo Shihoin threw away all the power he had just gained...
"It seems that Lord Sōgo has not yet fully awakened; we still have a long way to go!"
The head of the Tsunayashiro Clan wiped his eyes, clearing away his tears. He wanted to grab Sōgo Shihoin by the collar and shout, "Give me back all the emotion I felt, you bastard!" But the fair-skinned head of the Tsunayashiro Clan didn't have the courage.
"In that case, everyone, the meeting is adjourned."
After saying what he wanted to say, Sōgo Shihoin ignored everyone and left the private room in the restaurant that was being used as a meeting room.
Should we continue eating?
The head of that family scratched the back of his head and asked.
"It's already tainted with that kind of unclean stuff, how can you still bring yourself to eat it?"
"Well..."
The head of the Tsunayashiro Clan sighed helplessly and then left.
"..."
Byakuya Kuchiki left without saying a word.
"You've ordered so much food, wouldn't it be a waste to leave without eating it?"
The head of that family looked at the table full of fine wine and food and said with some heartache.
"They're all gone?!"
"They're not even eating... What a pity, what a pity..."
Kaien Shiba opened a bottle of aged wine, inhaling the rich aroma wafting from it, and felt utterly captivated.
"How about we grab a drink, Shiba?"
"I just noticed that none of these dishes were contaminated by that Reishi."
The head of that family walked up to Kaien Shiba and selected several dishes from the table full of food and wine that had not been contaminated by the Reishi Sōgo Shihoin.
Let's have one!
"We can't waste it!"
Kaien Shiba took out a wine glass, poured wine for the two of them, and they sipped their drinks while enjoying the delicious food on the table.
Inside the barracks of the First Division.
Not long after the meeting with Sōgo Shihoin and others, Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai received an order from Sōgo Shihoin, instructing him to take over the Gotei 13 and continue the functions of the Central 46 Chambers without fail!
"So, now, I'm completely in control?"
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai felt somewhat amused and exasperated. He had spent so many years arguing with the Central 46 Chambers and the Five Great Noble Clans over the power to do more for Soul Society, and now that power had fallen into his hands so easily. He was still a little unaccustomed to it. From then on, no one in Soul Society stopped Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai from reforming the laws of Soul Society.
Sōgo was happy to have some peace and quiet...
Five thousand~
(End of this chapter)