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Fate In Bleach (351)
🕑 Added 2024-11-22 17:00:06 +0000 UTCChapter 351 - Shunsui Kyōraku’s Decision
As the casualties mounted, a figure blurred through the air, appearing before the whirling vortex of Kibune’s Zanpakutō. His white captain’s haori billowed around him, the number “3” emblazoned on the back stark against the swirling chaos.
“Captain Amagai!”
“He’s here!”
The Shinigami of the Third Division cried out in relief, their fear momentarily quelled by their captain’s arrival. A captain’s strength was unquestionable. One might doubt their character, their motives, but their power was absolute.
Amagai’s eyes narrowed as he drew his Zanpakutō.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
A flash of sword light passed by and he stood behind Kibune, and slowly sheathed his blade. Kibune’s Zanpakutō, however, spun out of control, clattering to the ground after a series of erratic flips.
“I apologize, Captain Amagai.”
Kibune bowed his head. “I was… overzealous in my pursuit of those Hollows. My desire to complete the mission quickly led me to use a technique beyond my control.”
“Really?”
Amagai, however, simply glanced at him coldly before turning his attention to the injured Shinigami. “Is everyone alright?”
“Captain, four of our squad members are critically injured. We need to get them to the Fourth Division immediately,” one Shinigami reported while casting a nervous glance at Kibune. “Three others sustained minor injuries, but they can still continue with the mission.”
“No. All injured personnel will return to the Fourth Division for treatment. I’ll handle the remaining missions personally. I won’t allow a single Shinigami to suffer due to the Third Division's negligence.”
“But Captain, won’t this further damage our reputation?” the Shinigami asked hesitantly.
“Don’t worry, Ryōsuke,” Amagai patted him on the shoulder. “Take the injured to the Fourth Division. I’ll handle the rest. I’ll complete all outstanding support missions as quickly as possible.”
“Captain…”
“Go.”
“Yes, Captain.” Reassured by Amagai’s words, the Shinigami carried their injured comrades towards the Fourth Division.
“Shusuke…”
After all the Shinigami from the Third Division left, Kibune walked to his Zanpakutō that was knocked flying and stuck in the ground, put it back to his waist, and came to the side of Amagai.
“Address me as ‘Captain,’ Kibune.”
“Yes, Captain.” He bowed his head, oblivious to the coldness in Amagai’s eyes.
While Kibune had been his trusted lieutenant in Hueco Mundo, Amagai knew his true nature. Kibune believed in the supremacy of strength. He only bowed to those stronger than him. And when he perceived himself to be the strongest, he became arrogant, ruthless, his only concern the accumulation of power and prestige.
He often disregarded the safety of his subordinates, prioritizing his own achievements. If not for the merit-based system of the Expeditionary Force, Kibune would have been court-martialed long ago.
Amagai had brought Kibune with him to the Seireitei not out of loyalty, but necessity. He had plans, plans that, if exposed, would brand him a criminal. He couldn’t risk involving anyone he cared about. Kibune, however, was expendable. He hadn’t anticipated Kibune’s recklessness, jeopardizing his carefully crafted image of a caring captain.
“I apologize, Captain. My actions have forced you to intervene,” Kibune said.
“No, Kibune. You did well,” Amagai said, clapping him on the shoulder. “You know I returned to the Seireitei for a reason, something I need to investigate. But I’m being watched. Your… unfortunate incident provides me with the perfect cover. Tonight, I’ll publicly reprimand you and confine you to barracks. Use that opportunity to contact the Kasumiōji family.”
“I understand, Captain. I won’t disappoint you.”
“I know you won’t.”
…
That night, Amagai’s public reprimand of Makoto Kibune for injuring his subordinates further solidified his position within the Third Division. Kibune, after all, was supposed to be his confidant. By punishing even his closest associate, Amagai demonstrated his commitment to justice and fairness.
Unbeknownst to them, however, a figure slipped out of the Third Division barracks under the cover of darkness, heading towards the Kasumiōji estate. Kibune, after scaling the walls, quickly located the estate’s steward, Gyōkaku Kumoi, the man he had met two centuries ago. The young man he remembered was now an old man with white hair, but their recognition was instant.
The Kasumiōji family, as high-ranking nobles, had been targeted during the recent purge. However, the attackers had focused solely on the nobles themselves. Kumoi, as a mere steward, had been spared. With only a young girl remaining of the Kasumiōji family, he was now the de facto head of the clan.
Learning of Kibune’s captain-level strength, Kumoi was elated. He saw an opportunity, a chance to regain what the Kasumiōji family had lost…
…
“I see…”
Shunsui Kyōraku sighed, closing the intelligence report. “So that’s why Ailin warned me. He knew that once I discovered Amagai’s identity, I would be forced to stand aside.”
He tossed the report aside and walked out onto the balcony, gazing at the moon. It had been a night like this, he remembered, bright and clear. He hadn’t expected to ever think of that name again: Shinetsu Kisaragi.
Yamamoto had only taken three disciples: Shunsui, Jūshirō, and Shinetsu.
Shinetsu had been the youngest, joining their ranks long after Shunsui and Jūshirō had become captains. Due to Yamamoto’s unique position, few knew of Shinetsu’s connection to him. Yamamoto didn’t want his disciples to live in his shadow. He had also incurred the nobles’ wrath by establishing the Gotei 13, stripping them of their executive powers, leaving them only with the authority to judge.
Shunsui and Jūshirō, as nobles themselves, hadn't been targeted. Shinetsu, however, a commoner, would have been crushed before he could reach his full potential if his connection to Yamamoto had been exposed.
Even casual interactions between them had been a luxury. Shinetsu, however, had been remarkably talented. Within a century, he had achieved Bankai and become the Third Seat of the First Division. He had seemed destined for greatness.
But then, the Kasumiōji family’s Bakkōtō blades, responsible for the deaths of several Shinigami, had attracted Yamamoto’s attention. The Central 46, however, citing a lack of evidence, had denied his request to investigate. Determined to uncover the truth, Yamamoto had sent Shinetsu to infiltrate the Kasumiōji estate.
And then…
“Yamamoto has grown old,” Kyōraku murmured, the words tasting like ash in his mouth.
While he had only just spoken them aloud, the realization had been simmering within him for some time. The Yamamoto of a thousand years ago had been a force of nature, leading the Gotei 13, an organization of assassins, with an iron fist. Anyone who opposed him had been swiftly and decisively dealt with. Now, however, even his attempts to investigate a criminal noble were thwarted by the Central 46.
Kyōraku didn’t believe Yamamoto hadn’t sensed Shinetsu’s Bankai, its overwhelming spiritual pressure. But he had adhered to the agreement with the nobles, allowing his disciple to die.
He sighed, a pang of regret twisting in his gut. He should have intervened. Now, with Shinetsu’s son seeking retribution, what could he do? Whether Amagai intended to destroy the Kasumiōji family or confront Yamamoto, Kyōraku had made his decision. He would not interfere. He suspected Yamamoto, if he knew Amagai’s true identity, would prefer it that way.
…
“Captain Ailin, I want to become stronger. Please, train me.” Momo Hinamori stood before Ailin, bowing deeply.
“Oh?” Ailin was surprised. He had assumed Hinamori was still fixated on Aizen, clinging to the belief that his betrayal had been for some noble purpose.
“Hinamori, why this sudden desire for strength?”
“Well…” She straightened up, blushing slightly. “After what happened with Captain Aizen, I… I felt so helpless. I wanted to do something, anything, but I couldn’t. While I’m… grateful that he used me, that I didn’t actually… do anything wrong, I never want to feel that powerless again. I spoke with Kira a few days ago, and he said you were the best teacher. He suggested I ask for your guidance.”
“I see.” Ailin nodded. It made sense. “Very well, Hinamori. While I don’t foresee you facing any life-or-death situations, I’m happy to train you.”
Hinamori, known as the “Seireitei’s Premier Meat Shield,” would remain the Fifth Division’s lieutenant even through the Thousand-Year Blood War, a constant amidst the changing tides of captaincy.
Ailin, however, wasn’t optimistic about her potential. Her Zanpakutō, Tobiume, was similar in strength to Rangiku Matsumoto’s Haineko.
Rangiku’s limitations stemmed from her soul having been partially repaired with a fragment of Gin Ichimaru’s. Her Zanpakutō’s power was derived from the ash of Gin’s Bankai, Kamishini no Yari. Because it was only a fragment, Rangiku’s potential was limited. She would never achieve Bankai.
