One month later.
Within the walls of Seireitei, Soul Society.
The regular Captains' meeting, scheduled in accordance with the calendar, commenced as usual.
But this time, the matters up for discussion were far more complicated than before.
Not only did they need to deliberate on unresolved issues and new developments, but they also had to officially determine the fate of a suddenly vacant Captain's position.
"Shiba Isshin…"
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's voice remained as composed as ever, but those familiar with him could detect an undertone of weariness.
"Even after a full month of searching, there is still no news of him?"
His sharp gaze shifted downward.
Standing directly to his left, Sui-Feng stepped forward without hesitation.
"I'll start. If anyone has anything to add, feel free to do so afterward."
"First—our Stealth Force has already spread throughout the World of the Living."
"Despite its vastness, there should have at least been some trace of him by now."
The Second Division specialized in reconnaissance and surveillance, making them the most reliable source for such matters.
Meeting Yamamoto's gaze, Sui-Feng lifted her chin slightly and continued with an unwavering voice.
"Based on reports from our operatives, we believe that under normal circumstances, Shiba Isshin would have been able to contact us if he wished."
"Yet he has not."
"From this, we can infer only two possibilities."
Shifting her gaze toward the other Captains, Sui-Feng spoke with complete neutrality.
"First—Shiba Isshin is dead, executed by an enemy, with no trace of his spiritual presence remaining."
"Second—Shiba Isshin is either unable to respond or is in a coma, rendering him incapable of communication."
Beyond these two conclusions, there were no other reasonable explanations.
"Additionally, members of the Tenth Division have been gathering information in the World of the Living as well."
"But the truth remains unchanged—Shiba Isshin has disappeared without a trace."
"With these findings in mind, speaking solely on behalf of the Second Division, I formally propose a Captain replacement."
Captain replacement.
As the phrase settled into the air, its weight became unmistakable.
It meant that dissatisfaction with the current Captain's absence had grown to the point that an official motion for replacement could no longer be ignored.
—In other circumstances, such a request would have been controversial.
But given the situation, it was understandable.
The Tenth Division needed a leader.
And Sui-Feng was in a particularly vocal mood today.
"Though I have no personal grievances against Shiba Isshin, letting this matter drag on indefinitely serves no purpose."
"The Tenth Division has several outstanding individuals—leaving them in limbo is a waste of their talents."
There was no need to name them.
Everyone already knew the two candidates in question.
Because, not long ago—
The Tenth Division had conducted an internal duel.
—It wasn't widely publicized, but it had still drawn the attention of multiple Captains.
And the two combatants were—
Hitsugaya Tōshirō and Ichimaru Gin.
Ordinarily, two Shinigami with no personal conflict wouldn't engage in a serious duel.
But this was different.
This was a selection process for the next Captain of the Tenth Division.
Two Bankai-wielding candidates competing for a seat of power—
A perfectly normal event.
The final result of their battle was unknown to most.
But judging by the current discussion, it was clear that a decision had already been made.
The reasoning was sound, the logic flawless—there was no room for dispute.
Yet, to some, it still felt—
Cold.
Kyōraku Shunsui, standing further back, couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
"Just one month missing, and he's already losing his position?"
Beside him, Ukitake Jūshirō simply closed his eyes and murmured:
"It's not surprising, is it? The strong take precedence… The same applies to both of us."
Such was the perspective of a veteran Captain.
"Haha… I suppose you're right."
Even so, Shunsui's eyes reflected a lingering sense of unease.
"But still… something about this situation feels off. If I had the time, I'd investigate a little further."
Ukitake turned toward him with a questioning glance.
"Have you found something?"
"Nope. No leads at all."
"Then why—"
"Just a gut feeling~"
Toying with a strand of his hair, Shunsui's tone was light, but his expression was uncharacteristically serious.
"There were too many conflicting spiritual pressures at the scene. The sheer scale of the battle destroyed any chance of tracking them properly."
"But even so, I could still make out a few things…"
"It wasn't just Shinigami."
"*Hollows.**"
"And… Quincy."
"With a situation that messy, wouldn't you be curious too?"
Ukitake's gaze darkened slightly.
"You… didn't report this when you gave your findings."
"Well~" Shunsui shrugged. "I was being careful. I didn't want to cause unnecessary misunderstandings."
Lowering his hand, he smiled faintly.
"Besides, I still have things I want to investigate. So, I held a few details back."
A deliberate omission.
"Releasing unconfirmed information could cause unwanted panic. So…"
He would handle it himself first.
That was his approach.
"Besides, Seireitei is already in turmoil as it is. Dividing our forces for this seems… wasteful, don't you think?"
Ukitake's eyes twitched.
"You can't just—!"
Before he could finish, a violent cough echoed through the chamber.
"Kuh! Khaak! …Gah!"
The sound was so sudden that Shunsui instinctively turned toward it.
"Wait… that wasn't you?"
Ukitake, looking equally surprised, blinked.
"No…"
The other Captains exchanged startled glances.
And soon—
Their eyes fell upon the source.
The Captain of the Fifth Division, Seiya.
His hollowed cheeks and pale complexion were unmistakable.
Even his usual posture seemed fragile.
His haori, once a mark of authority, draped over him like an oversized coat.
Moments ago, he had nearly collapsed—if Byakuya Kuchiki hadn't caught him in time.
"…My apologies," Seiya muttered.
Even his attempt at a sheepish smile looked strained.
Standing beside him, Byakuya frowned.
"If your condition is this poor, why did you not request leave?"
Having a chronically ill wife had made Byakuya accustomed to recognizing such symptoms.
Seiya could only offer a helpless chuckle.
"I wanted to… But I needed to be here today."
Even without Yamamoto's explicit permission, the tone of these meetings had softened over the years.
A bit of casual conversation was tolerated under certain circumstances.
And now, an unexpected voice chimed in.
Aizen Sōsuke.
Adjusting his glasses, he spoke with polite concern.
"Seiya, your condition… appears quite concerning."
A carefully worded statement.
Because in truth—this wasn't just a minor illness.
Everyone knew that Shinigami of Seiya's level weren't supposed to get sick.
Aizen had chosen his words carefully, but his true intentions were clear.
He wanted attention drawn to Seiya's condition.
To put him under scrutiny.
And Seiya realized it immediately.
'This wasn't in the script, Aizen!'
He had come here only to witness a certain someone's promotion—
But now, Aizen had turned the entire room's focus onto him.
He barely held back a sigh.
'Tch… Such unnecessary concern.'
The meeting continued.
And soon—
Yamamoto spoke the final verdict.
"The proposal is accepted. Summon him."
"The next Captain of the Tenth Division—"
"Ichimaru Gin."
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Powerstones?
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