Shiba Isshin had no objections to the idea of sparring matches between two divisions. After all, the full Gotei 13 exchange meet had already been held.
It was, in truth, a good thing—strengthening ties between squads, bringing some liveliness to both Fourth and Tenth Divisions. After three consecutive days of the exchange meet, there were probably plenty of squad members itching for a chance to show off on stage.
But after agreeing, Isshin told Nobu he wanted to talk about something else.
Matsumoto Rangiku and Hitsugaya, sensing it wasn't their place to stay, left the office.
"The Head-Captain… did he talk to you about the Third Division?" Isshin asked without preamble.
Nobu nodded. "He did."
The Thirteen Divisions were on the verge of appointing Ichimaru Gin as the new Third Division captain, but with Nobu having defeated Gin publicly at the exchange meet, it was only natural for some to start thinking otherwise.
Even though he knew his conversation with Yamamoto wouldn't spread, someone was bound to guess that the Head-Captain might be paying him special attention.
The question was—what would Aizen think?
"He wanted you to take the post of Third Division captain, right?" Isshin asked again.
"How does Isshin-taichō know about that?"
Isshin chuckled. "Not hard to guess. The post hadn't been officially decided. You showed Captain-level ability in the meet. Of course the Head-Captain would take a closer look at you."
"And may I ask, what is it you want to say to me?"
"Did you accept?" Isshin countered.
"No."
Isshin burst into hearty laughter.
"Good man—turning down a Captain's seat, you've got guts!"
Nobu raised a brow. "Not everyone is dying to be captain of the Third Division. That's not so strange, is it? Vice-Captain Sasakibe has been the Head-Captain's adjutant for a thousand years."
Isshin gave him a long, amused look. "Care to tell me why?"
Nobu only spread his hands. "I still don't know what it is you actually want to say to me, Isshin-taichō."
Inwardly, he wondered if Isshin was just fishing for information.
Given that Gin's name was involved, maybe he'd sent Rangiku away on purpose—plausible enough.
But something told Nobu it might not be that simple.
Isshin was quiet for a moment before speaking. "I've only been captain of the Tenth Division for twenty years or so. Honestly, I was never that passionate about the post—it just happened naturally."
Nobu listened in silence.
"At first, it was nothing. But slowly, I realized my presence was blocking the path for the next generation. And I haven't exactly been the most… diligent captain."
Nobu was silent for a beat. "…You mean Shiba-fukutaichō?"
He understood what Isshin meant by blocking the way forward.
Isshin smiled wryly, hesitated, then said, "Here's a secret—Kaien has already mastered bankai."
Nobu blinked but wasn't overly surprised.
Kaien was once mentioned in the same breath as Gin—if Gin had mastered bankai, it wasn't shocking that Kaien had too.
Still, if Kaien had it already, then his original cause of death seemed odd.
Was this the butterfly effect of Nobu's presence?
Or had it been a death wish born from losing his wife…?
He couldn't be sure, but the future was already changing.
"You might be jumping ahead," Nobu said. "You're in your prime, and Kaien is still young. There's plenty of time."
"I told you—I'm not eager to keep the job," Isshin replied. "The Shiba family's small, so no one's pressuring me. I'd like to slack off early, make room for the next generation."
Nobu frowned inwardly. Was Isshin planning to step down now?
He remembered Isshin staying captain for another two or three decades in the original timeline.
Then again, Isshin did seem like a man without much drive—in canon, he'd even joked about handing the post to Hitsugaya.
Right now, Isshin's feelings were complicated. His nephew was exceptional, and Isshin believed Kaien's future potential surpassed his own.
But Kaien never showed off, never sought the spotlight. Even the fact he had bankai was something Isshin had discovered in secret.
He could guess Kaien's thinking—worried that his uncle might take it the wrong way.
After watching the exchange meet, where Tachikawa Nobu, Ichimaru Gin, and Hitsugaya Tōshirō had all shone, Isshin felt Kaien should be up there too.
Young, outstanding in character, talent, and strength—he should be basking in attention.
Before, Ukitake's illness had kept Kaien anchored to the Thirteenth Division. That, Isshin could understand.
But now Ukitake was healthy. Was Kaien supposed to remain a vice-captain there forever?
Isshin couldn't accept that.
Kaien often spoke of succeeding Ukitake one day—but that could only happen if Ukitake died.
And Ukitake's strength was among the highest in the Gotei 13, second only to the Head-Captain himself. By comparison, Isshin knew he couldn't match him.
"So, are you telling me you plan to resign?" Nobu asked.
Isshin nodded. "That's right."
"And you want me to persuade Kaien to take your place?"
Isshin shook his head. "He won't agree. If we tried that, he'd think I was stepping down because of him. He'd refuse."
"Then what's your plan?"
Isshin smiled suddenly. "You still haven't answered—why didn't you take the Third Division job?"
Nobu thought for a moment. "I have things I want to accomplish in Fourth Division. I'm not leaving yet."
"How long?"
"…Hm?"
"I'm asking—how long will it take to do what you want?"
Nobu laughed. "Is that important? I don't see how it's your concern."
But Isshin's gaze stayed serious. Nobu considered, then said, "Three years. No more."
In three years, Rukia and Hinamori would be graduating too.
Isshin nodded in relief. "Three years isn't long…"
For a Shinigami, it was nothing at all.
Then Isshin asked, gravely, "Three years from now—would you take the captaincy of the Tenth Division?"
Nobu stared. "What did you just say?"
Isshin's expression didn't waver. "Tachikawa-san. Three years from now, after you've finished what you set out to do—will you take the post of Tenth Division captain?"
"…You're serious?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
"But what about Kaien? I thought you wanted me to help him take over."
Nobu was on good terms with Kaien—he wouldn't have minded helping.
"He won't accept it. He may seem easygoing, but he's stubborn. He'll never take the Tenth from me unless I'm dead."
"…"
"But," Isshin's tone shifted, "while the Tenth won't work, the Third might."
Nobu's mind snapped into focus.
Isshin wanted Kaien to vie for the Third Division's captaincy?!
Would the Head-Captain agree? The Central 46? Two Shibas among the captains?
No—three years.
Realization clicked. Nobu saw the plan now.
It was unexpected. He began to consider the chain of events.
The turning point had to be him curing Ukitake's illness—that had sparked Isshin's idea to get his nephew out of the Thirteenth and move him up.
"I understand…" Nobu exhaled.
"Do you think it can work?"
Isshin smiled faintly. "You never know until you try."
After a pause, Nobu asked, "Why me? You could just pass your post to Gin, then Kaien could take the Third without trouble."
Isshin's grin widened. "I like you better."
"…You've got good taste," Nobu said, smirking.
But…
It wouldn't be easy.
For Kaien to become Third Division captain, he'd have to prove himself stronger than Gin.
Could he beat Gin? Nobu couldn't say—he'd never fought Kaien himself.
"So you agree?" Isshin asked.
"I've got nothing to lose. And it's a good deal for me too, isn't it?"
Isshin roared with laughter.
When Nobu left the captain's office, Rangiku came over at once—Hitsugaya was nowhere to be seen.
"What were you two talking about?" she asked curiously.
Nobu glanced at her, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
He had two reasons for turning down the Third Division—first, the genuine one: unfinished business in Fourth.
Second—the Third Division offered nothing for his system's growth.
The Tenth, though, was different.
He already knew every female character in the Gotei 13 roster his system cared about. Soi Fon in the Second, Ise Nanao in the Eighth—at best, his position in those squads could only reach Third Seat. Awkward to work with.
Nemu and the Twelfth? No plans for now.
As for the women in the Eleventh and Thirteenth—no interest.
"You really want to know?"
"As the vice-captain of the Tenth, if it's about our division, of course I should," Rangiku said firmly.
Nobu replied lazily, "Funny—that's exactly what it's about. But I can't tell you yet."
He and Isshin had agreed to keep it quiet.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Rangiku huffed. "You're getting more and more disrespectful to me! Didn't you swear you'd never forget I brought you out of Rukongai?"
"That's separate," Nobu said with mock righteousness—then grinned. "If you honored our previous agreement, I might consider telling you."
Her first reaction was indignation—but she calmed quickly. "Our captain hardly bothers with squad affairs. I run everything. If there's something going on, I'll find out."
"Ask your captain then. See if he'll tell you."
"You—"
Her teeth clenched. She realized she was losing her composure around him.
It was this brat—always pushing her buttons.
As Nobu was about to leave, Rangiku suddenly stepped in close, clinging to his arm just as before. The snowy swell on her chest pressed against him, soft and warm, so much so it distorted around his arm—threatening to spill free from sheer abundance.
Nobu's breath hitched for a fraction. He turned his head to find her eyes shining, her bright face flushed with a lush glow.
"Tell me… please?"
Her voice stretched, honey-sweet, sending a shiver down his spine.
Good thing his shihakushō was loose enough to hide… certain reactions.
Tch—this woman… really asking for it…
"Well?" Rangiku's lashes fluttered, her lips close enough for him to feel her warm breath on his cheek.
"Ahem." Nobu coughed lightly, forcing his thoughts into order.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
Her expression shifted in an instant. She released his arm and kicked at him.
He slipped out of range.
"Goodbye, good onee-san."
"Get lost!" she snapped through gritted teeth.
Damn brat…
Nobu just waved cheerfully and strolled off toward the exit of the Tenth Division.