Despite verbally expressing various "no's," Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Under the manipulation of the master Kisuke Urahara, he escaped his cell and joined the Research and Development Institute, becoming a proud researcher. From this day forward, he will lead by example, dedicating his life to striving for a better future for Soul Society...
Therefore, Mayuri Kurotsuchi set himself a small goal: to find a way to get rid of his superior Kisuke Urahara... To achieve this, he needed to work even harder...
The Shiba Clan, one of the Five Great Noble Clans of Soul Society, is unique in that its residence is not located within the Seireitei Seireitei, but rather outside of it. Despite being an outlier, the Shiba Clan undoubtedly possesses the size and strength of a top-tier noble family. However, it is precisely because of this that neither the main family nor the branch family holds any official positions in the Seireitei, remaining outside the realm of power and existing in a somewhat detached state that ignores worldly authority, which puzzles countless Soul Reaper.
"Ahem... Kaien, what's your decision?"
Inside the Shiba Clan mansion, a man with silver-white hair, a slightly thin face, and a sickly appearance, coughing frequently, was asking questions of a young man with short black hair in front of him.
" Captain Ukitake, are you referring to what you said before about me becoming Soul Reaper in the Gotei 13?"
The young man crossed his arms over his chest, still looking somewhat hesitant.
"That's right. After all, I don't know how long this body can last. To be honest, I've been wanting to step down from the captain's position, but... you know, although the children in my squad are all very talented, unfortunately, none of them have the ability to lead a squad. So, I'm forced to ask you to leave here and join my Thirteenth Division... Besides, Shiba, who are also one of the Five Great Noble Clans along with Kuchiki and Shihoin, needs someone to serve as captain of the Thirteenth Division, right?"
The silver-haired man's real name is Jūshirō Ukitake, the current captain of the Thirteenth Division Gotei 13. He possesses top-tier Spiritual Pressure at the Captain-level, but due to health issues, he spends 90% of the year sick.
"Going to work in the Gotei 13?"
"To be honest, our Shiba Clan isn't like the Shihoin or Kuchiki Clan anymore, planning to serve in the Gotei 13 indefinitely. After all, our family has already sacrificed enough for the Gotei 13, hasn't it?"
The black-haired youth, named Kaien Shiba, is the current head of the Shiba Clan. Although he really wants to help his friend Jūshirō Ukitake, as the head of the Shiba Clan, he has to consider the entire family's interests. He can't just agree to Jūshirō Ukitake's request because of his friendship. Besides, he doesn't plan to become a captain in the Thirteenth Division. To be honest, being a vice-captain is enough for him.
"I understand... so please, for my sake!"
Jūshirō Ukitake spoke, he bowed respectfully to Kaien Shiba and made his request.
"Hey, hey, hey... you're making things really difficult for me..."
Kaien Shiba felt a headache coming on as he looked at Jūshirō Ukitake kneeling before him. This man was a top student of Captain-Commander Yamamoto, and now he was making a request that disregard his own dignity. If he refused, wouldn't that be disrespectful to Ukitake? But...
Kaien Shiba kept rubbing his hair with both hands; he felt a headache coming on.
"Brother, do you have a guest? Ah... it's Mr. Ukitake..."
Just as Kaien Shiba was feeling a headache, a beautiful figure entered the house with a clear female voice, and happened to see Jūshirō Ukitake pleading with Kaien.
"Mr. Ukitake, please get up. My sister is back. Your appearance is somewhat troubling."
Kaien Shiba continued to speak to Jūshirō Ukitake, who was kneeling before him.
"I won't get up unless you agree, Kaien."
Ukitake was determined to have Kaien under his thumb today. He knelt before Kaien, making it clear that he wouldn't get up unless Kaien agreed.
"What exactly happened, brother?!"
" Captain Ukitake, is there something you want to ask of me? Since Captain Ukitake 're in this state, please agree."
Kūkaku Shiba had a general understanding of the situation, and she came to Kaien and began to speak.
"This is no small matter. If I, as the head of the Shiba Clan, join the Gotei 13, who will handle the Shiba Clan's fireworks business and all sorts of other problems? Besides, if someone tries to bully you while I'm away, who will stand up for you?"
Kaien Shiba addressed Kūkaku Shiba, explaining that the Shiba Clan was different from other noble families because they were not located within Seireitei. If they became Soul Reaper, it would be difficult for them to return to Seireitei, making it impossible for them to handle many things. He was also very worried about the lives of his younger sister and brother outside Seireitei.
Don't worry, brother!
"After you leave, I'll invite Uncle Isshin to our house. Uncle Isshin Yixin is much more capable than my brother; no one can bully us..."
Kūkaku Shiba said this very seriously.
"Huh? So you've found a replacement for me just like that? Although Uncle Isshin is indeed stronger than me, it really makes me feel disappointed as the older brother to hear my dear sister say that."
After hearing what Kūkaku Shiba Kaien Shiba a pang of heartache. His beloved little sister was no longer as adorable as she had been when they were children.
"Hehe..."
Jūshirō Ukitake listened to the conversation between the brother and sister, whose Spiritual Pressure had both reached or exceeded the Captain-level, and smiled without saying a word. Although he really wanted to tell Kaien in front of him, "Don't worry, no one in Rukongai can bully your sister. On the contrary, it's good enough that your sister doesn't bully others...", in order to seduce Kaien from here to become the captain of the Thirteenth Division... he ultimately held back.
"Enough with the nonsense, bro!"
"Besides, regardless of whether Captain Ukitake personally invited you or not, as the head of the Shiba Clan, you should go to the Gotei 13 and assume the position of captain. As one of the Five Great Noble Clans families, you must set an example! You idiot brother!"
Kūkaku Shiba hugged his older brother's neck and shouted.
"Okay, okay~"
"Let go, Kūkaku! Ukitake is still here watching you, it's embarrassing."
Kaien kept patting Kūkaku's arm, her face slightly flushed.
" Captain Ukitake, please get up quickly~ Don't worry~ My brother will definitely report to the Thirteenth Division."
Upon hearing Kaien's words, Kūkaku released Kaien's neck and helped Ukitake, who was kneeling beside her, to his feet.
"Grateful!"
After hearing Kūkaku's words Ukitake repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
"Not at all~ No need to thank me. In fact, it is our Shiba Clan that should be thanking you. Currently, the other families all hold important positions in the Thirteenth Division or important institutions of Seireitei, while our Shiba Clan is still on the sidelines. As one of the Five Great Noble Clans, it is somewhat unacceptable in terms of face. Now that you have come at the right time, I just wonder when my brother can take over your captain position?"
Kūkaku held Ukitake's hand and spoke with a smile.
" Kaien is fully capable of meeting the captain's requirements. Once Kaien is familiar with the captain's work, she can immediately take over my position..."
After hearing Kūkaku's words, Ukitake smiled slightly. Kukaku had the same thought as him. To be honest, he really couldn't continue being captain; he just wanted to drink tea and recuperate every day. (In the official novel WE DO Knot ALWAYS LOVE YOU, Kyōraku mentions that Ukitake had already prepared Captain's Haori for Kaien, intending to step down, but unfortunately, he never got to use it.)
"I'm not going to be the captain! Being the vice-captain is enough. If they want me to be the captain, I won't go."
Before Ukitake could continue, Kaien interrupted them, speaking with great stubbornness.
Since Soul Reaper don't leave the team, they generally only die in the line of duty or get promoted. If Ukitake is unable to continue working honorably in the Gotei 13 because of Kaien's joining the team, and instead has to take a leave of absence and eventually be removed from the Soul Reaper register, Kaien will feel somewhat resentful.
Therefore, Kaien was prepared to be Jūshirō Ukitake's vice-captain for life.
"..."
Ukitake and Kūkaku fell silent after hearing Kaien's words.
"Hahaha..."
"Ha ha..."
The two of them then burst into laughter.
"Hey?! What do you mean by this?"
Kaien felt embarrassed watching the two laughing, unsure of what he had said wrong.
"Nothing much? It's just that I feel... he truly lives up to his reputation as my older brother!"
Kūkaku nodded slightly to Kaien. The reason she smiled was because these were indeed the words of her older brother. Everyone joined the Gotei 13 to become a captain, but her brother insisted on saying that he wouldn't go if he were asked to be a captain.
"What do you mean, 'Truly worthy of being your elder brother'? I am your elder brother..."
Kaien was rather speechless after hearing Kūkaku's words.
"So what are you laughing at?"
Kaien turned her head to look at Ukitake and asked.
"The reason I'm laughing is... as expected, inviting you to join the Thirteenth Division was absolutely the right thing to do."
After hearing Kaien's words, Ukitake smiled and spoke.
"What the heck is going on...?"
Kaien was rather speechless after hearing what Ukitake said.
"Anyway, everything that happened today was good and worth celebrating. I'll talk to Kyōraku and the others in a few days about arranging your induction ceremony."
Ukitake addressed the Kaien in sermon.
"The induction ceremony?"
"I don't really mind... but don't make it too big, mainly so as not to cause trouble for others."
Kaien nodded slightly after hearing Ukitake's words, then hesitated. He didn't want others to think, "Ah! The Five Great Noble Clans are just the Five Great Noble Clans, even joining a team requires such a grand display..."
"Don't worry~ I'll only invite Shunsui and a few other acquaintances. I won't invite anyone else. Just a few of us old friends who have known each other for over a hundred years, have a little drink together."
Jūshirō Ukitake explained to Kaien.
"Okay, okay... I'll do whatever you say, after all, you're the captain."
After hearing what Ukitake said, Kaien said no more, but smiled and joked.
"Ahem... actually, you could be given the captain's position."
Ukitake coughed lightly twice and began to speak.
"Save those words for when you're about to die!"
Kaien said quite bluntly.
" Kaien, you're being too cruel."
After hearing Kaien's words, Ukitake's expression turned somewhat grim. He swore that he genuinely wanted to be freed from the position of captain.
"Hahaha... Who told you to personally invite me to the Thirteenth Division? You'd better hold on tight, Captain!"
Kaien smiled gently, emphasizing the word "captain".
"Forehead..."
After hearing Kaien's words, Ukitake was at a loss for words. Had he shot himself in the foot?
"Hahaha..."
Seeing Ukitake's ugly expression, Kaien finally smiled heartily; this could be considered as him finally bringing back a plate.
Meanwhile, outside the Seireitei, a handsome Grim Soul Reaper with brown hair was methodically conducting his experiments.
"Aaaaaah!"
With a heart-wrenching scream, the experimental soul before him was instantly devoured by the power of the void.
"Too weak, far too weak. If this continues, no matter how many times we try, we will never succeed."
Aizen looked at the soul that had suddenly roared and vanished, gently shook his head, and began to speak.
"So Lord Aizen, you've finally decided to make your move?"
Standing around Aizen, Aizen and Kaname Tōsen asked the only 'King' Gosuke their hearts.
"That's right, let's get started!"
"We must take our experiments to a whole new level before Sōgo-kun returns to Soul Society."
After listening to their conversation, Aizen nodded slightly, his eyes, hidden behind his glasses, gleaming with a light known as scheming.
"Increase the experimental scale ahead of schedule as planned, to lure the Shinigami Soul Reaper to investigate..."
After leaving those words behind, Aizen turned slightly, smiled faintly at a direction not far away, and then his figure slowly disappeared in front of Kaname Tōsen and Gosuke.
"Yes, sir!"
Gosuke and Kaname Tōsen nodded slightly towards Aizen, who had vanished without a trace, and then began their respective missions from different directions.
"..."
As the three of them left the spot, a boy with silver-white hair emerged from behind a tree in the direction where Aizen had just smiled.
At this moment, the boy revealed a pair of eyes filled with hatred that were completely out of character for his age. He stared at the spot where Aizen had disappeared for a long time before turning around and walking towards the Shin'ō Academy.
One month later.
"What did you say? A soul has died a violent death in Rukongai? Could it be a Hollow causing trouble?"
Inside the barracks of the Ninth Division, Kensei Muguruma raised an eyebrow after hearing his subordinate's words; he was about to lead the charge!
"You lot, come with me. I want to see what's going on."
Kensei frowned, casually selected a few elite team members, and then swaggered towards the scene of the incident.
"Yes, ma'am!"
As one of the elites who were named, Kaname Tōsen's lips curled up slightly after hearing Kensei's words.
(End of this chapter)