"This is it."
In front of him lay an exceptionally spacious cavern, surrounded by rough stone walls, bare and exposed. Directly ahead was a deep, square-shaped pit carved into the ground. Looking up, one could see bright daylight clearly, even though the path the black cat had taken him through clearly led downward underground.
Nobu was absolutely certain no place like this existed within Seireitei itself; this must be a special space created using unique methods beneath Sōkyoku Hill's execution grounds.
This had to be Urahara Kisuke and Shihōin Yoruichi's secret hideout—the place where the two had trained and played in their youth. In the original story, Kurosaki Ichigo had also trained here to achieve Bankai.
"Quite a hidden paradise. Didn't expect you really knew about a place like this," Nobu said aloud.
The black cat stood atop a large boulder, its eyes wandering around as though recalling something.
"It's been a long time since I was last here," it replied calmly.
"Can I use this place freely?" Nobu asked.
"What are you planning?" The black cat countered.
Nobu answered slowly, "Just something I don't want anyone disturbing."
The cat stared at Nobu for a moment before finally saying, "Do whatever you like. The place has long been abandoned anyway; I probably won't be using it anymore. Consider it repayment for all the fish. After I leave, I doubt I'll be coming back for quite a while."
As things stood, the cat was essentially a stowaway in Soul Society. It didn't know if its current circumstances would change, though at the moment, prospects looked bleak.
After some thought, it added, "This place can only conceal spiritual pressure of normal magnitude. If it exceeds that limit, others will still notice."
Hearing this, Nobu remembered how, in canon, Renji had located this place by following Ichigo's reiatsu.
So, it should be true. Nobu glanced around carefully. If he exploded his reiatsu recklessly here, it would definitely be noticed by the Shinigami of Seireitei. But that was not a problem for him.
Nobu actually wanted to ask about the Tenshintai—the special device invented by Urahara Kisuke, capable of forcibly materializing a Zanpakutō spirit to greatly speed up Bankai training. With it, Kisuke himself had achieved Bankai in only three days. But mentioning this would essentially expose his awareness of the cat's true identity and could make it wary.
Weighing the risks, Nobu decided against it. It wasn't as though his Zanpakutō's unlock progress had to reach 100% before achieving Bankai, right?
His strength was growing rapidly enough already. If he really needed the Tenshintai, perhaps he could find some way through Kurotsuchi Mayuri first.
"It's fine. As long as the location is hidden enough, that's all that matters."
...
Shiba Isshin had vanished as if into thin air.
Matsumoto Rangiku had searched for him numerous times, but he was nowhere to be found. When she asked Shiba Kaien, he simply claimed ignorance. The First Division informed her bluntly that Shiba Isshin was no longer a Shinigami of the Gotei 13, and they had no obligation to locate him.
They also informed her that a new captain for the Tenth Division would soon be selected.
This situation left Rangiku feeling unsettled, and the entire Tenth Division was swirling with rumors due to their captain's abrupt discharge.
She couldn't understand what had truly happened to her captain. Even if he simply no longer wanted to be captain, shouldn't he have at least explained everything before leaving? What was the meaning behind this sudden departure?
The attitude of the First Division and Kaien's ambiguous responses made her realize things weren't as simple as they seemed.
Returning from the First Division, Hitsugaya approached her immediately. "What did they say?"
Matsumoto Rangiku frowned deeply. "Couldn't find taichō. The First Division said they'll choose a new captain for us."
"A new captain?" Hitsugaya asked, somewhat surprised. "Who?"
Who could it possibly be…?
Matsumoto Rangiku carefully thought through every Shinigami in the Gotei 13 who qualified as captain candidates, and inevitably, a certain silver-haired Shinigami crossed her mind.
Could it be him…?
She shook her head vigorously. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about such things.
"If I ever catch that irresponsible bastard…" she muttered through clenched teeth, imagining exactly what she'd do to Shiba Isshin when she finally found him.
But Hitsugaya suddenly spoke up, "Do you think it's possible that this was all agreed upon beforehand between taichō and the higher-ups?"
Matsumoto Rangiku was puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Hitsugaya voiced the thoughts he'd been mulling over recently. "From his Temporary Leave to being officially discharged, nothing at all happened in between. Everything just happened suddenly. And the First Division's response was too swift and composed…"
"…"
Rangiku fell into thoughtful silence.
Hitsugaya continued, "Though our taichō usually acted lazy, he wasn't irresponsible. If he really intended to leave, he would've made arrangements beforehand. The way he acted suggests there's some hidden reason he couldn't openly discuss."
Matsumoto Rangiku understood Hitsugaya's point clearly now and murmured unhappily, "What reason couldn't he even tell me? I'm his fukutaichō, after all."
Hitsugaya pondered further. "Moreover, maybe everything that's happening is actually preparation for our next captain."
"…"
A new captain?
The light in Matsumoto Rangiku's eyes flickered uncertainly.
...
At the latest captain's meeting, Shiba Isshin's presence was noticeably absent.
Moreover, Isshin's removal from the rolls wasn't mentioned at all. The gathered captains stared thoughtfully at the empty spot where the Tenth Division's captain usually stood, each harboring their own private thoughts.
After the meeting concluded, several captains gathered casually, discussing the issue quietly amongst themselves.
"Did Shiba-taichō choose to leave voluntarily?"
"It was quite sudden."
"Indeed."
"Then, who will succeed him as Tenth Division captain? Sōtaichō didn't mention that either."
"There are certainly qualified candidates within the current Gotei 13."
The captains spoke offhandedly. None of them were fools, and it was easy enough for them to connect Isshin's discharge with the recent appointment of Shiba Kaien as captain.
This was probably another form of disguised power transition.
"Aizen, you could always recommend your fukutaichō," Komamura Sajin suggested.
Although Ichimaru Gin had lost to Shiba Kaien during the earlier competition for the Third Division taichō seat, it was well-known that he had already mastered Bankai and was fully qualified to become a captain.
"No," Aizen smiled, gently shaking his head. "Gin doesn't have that intention right now. Let's follow the Sōtaichō's decision."
Setting aside whether there was a hidden agenda behind this matter, Aizen had no plans whatsoever to let Ichimaru Gin join the Tenth Division.
The reason was simple: there was someone in the Tenth who could greatly influence Gin—someone Aizen currently found inconvenient to remove.
"Unohana-taichō!"
Ukitake Jūshirō hurriedly caught up to Unohana Retsu as she was leaving.
"Ah, Ukitake-san. Is there something you need?" Unohana asked softly, her smile gentle.
"Do you have a moment now?"
Unohana gazed quietly at the handsome, middle-aged man before her, sensing that he had something important to say.
They'd known each other for a long time, and Unohana could already guess what Ukitake intended to discuss.
Without changing her gentle expression, she replied softly, "No, I don't."
"Oh, in that case, let's find somewhere to sit down—" Ukitake was still smiling as he began his response, only to abruptly stop halfway.
He stared blankly as Unohana simply turned and walked away.
Rejected…
Ukitake's expression grew complicated.
"Ukitake-taichō."
Shiba Kaien approached at this moment.
"Ah, Kaien."
"I'd like to speak with you."
"…"
Together, they returned to the Thirteenth Division barracks. Although their previous superior-subordinate relationship had formally changed now that Kaien was a captain, it hadn't distanced them at all.
Everything at the Thirteenth Division remained familiar, though Kaien currently had no heart to pay attention to these details.
"You mean you want me to join you in recommending Tachikawa Nobu as the Tenth Division captain?" After hearing Kaien's words, Ukitake's tone turned rather peculiar.
He truly hadn't expected Kaien to approach him for something like this. Though he himself had frequently been thinking about Nobu recently, Kaien's role in this matter had slipped his mind entirely.
"That's right," Kaien nodded. "You know very well Nobu's strength and capabilities. If he has any flaw at all, it's simply his short tenure as a Shinigami—only two years since graduation, clearly inexperienced. There's indeed no precedent for someone becoming captain so quickly. But that doesn't mean he's incapable. His establishment of the Student Council at the academy, as well as his accomplishments in the Fourth Division, demonstrate he's someone who takes initiative and acts decisively."
Additionally, the Tenth Division had always operated smoothly under Matsumoto Rangiku, who was very capable. Appointing a new captain swiftly wouldn't cause disruption.
"…"
Ukitake considered for a moment before asking, "If we make a joint recommendation, who else are you planning to approach?"
Joint captain recommendations required six captains.
Kaien replied, "You're the first one I approached. I plan to speak with everyone else afterward. I'm confident I can persuade Unohana-taichō and Kyōraku-taichō. Aizen-taichō probably won't agree, as he'd prefer Ichimaru Gin. I hope you can help me convince a few others…"
Kaien had carefully considered this matter. He'd only recently become a captain, and thus his ties to the other captains weren't as deep as those among long-serving fukutaichō.
Soi Fon, Kuchiki Byakuya, Komamura Sajin, Tōsen Kaname, Zaraki Kenpachi, and Kurotsuchi Mayuri were all captains he planned to persuade.
After thinking for a bit, Ukitake smiled gently. "You're really going out of your way for a friend, aren't you?"
He now fully understood Kaien's motivations, feeling somewhat moved by his sincerity.
Kaien nodded lightly.
"But," Ukitake continued, "you might not need to put yourself through so much trouble."
"What do you mean?" Kaien was puzzled.
Ukitake explained, "If the Sōtaichō himself already intends to nominate Nobu-kun, then all the captains will naturally agree."
Kaien stared blankly for a moment. "You're saying the Sōtaichō himself intends to appoint Nobu as captain of the Tenth Division?"
"You could say that," Ukitake nodded, then added, "When the Third Division captain seat was vacant, Sōtaichō had already approached Nobu. Now that the Tenth Division needs a captain, Nobu-kun should naturally be the first candidate."
"Ah, I see," Kaien sighed with relief. "Seems I was worrying unnecessarily."
"You've already done enough for your friend," Ukitake reassured him warmly.
Kaien said nothing in reply. In his heart, his efforts weren't solely for Nobu's sake, so hearing Ukitake speak like this left him with complicated feelings.
Ukitake hesitated briefly, then carefully spoke up, "About your uncle…"
"I'm fine, Ukitake-taichō," Kaien replied quietly. "I can guess some of the details myself… Having two Shiba captains at the same time in the Gotei 13 was already unprecedented—even the Kuchiki and Shihōin families never managed that. Besides, my uncle always said he didn't really care about being a captain anyway. He's probably drinking happily somewhere out in Rukongai right now."
Ukitake chuckled gently, "It's good that you can understand it this way."
Kaien smiled back lightly, "I suppose you could call this taking over my uncle's position."
...
Unohana Retsu returned to the Fourth Division barracks. The moment she pushed open her office door, she saw someone already standing inside.
Her eyes flickered slightly as she closed the door behind her.
"Did you need something?"
The room was silent, several beams of soft white sunlight slanting through the windows. A faint fragrance of medicinal herbs—characteristic of the Fourth Division—floated in the air.
Nobu spoke first. "Taichō already knows I'll soon be leaving the Fourth Division, so there are some things I'd like to discuss."
Unohana approached slowly, stopping not far from Nobu.
"The captain appointment hasn't been officially announced yet, has it?" she asked softly.
Nobu didn't reply directly, instead continuing steadily, "Do you know why I deliberately hid my Zanpakutō's true abilities and entered the Fourth Division?"
"Go ahead," Unohana said gently.
"It was because of you."
Unohana showed no significant reaction at his words, as though she'd already expected this revelation. Gradually, a faint, ambiguous smile appeared in her eyes.
"Really?"
"But," Nobu continued calmly, "it's probably not what you're thinking."
"You know what I'm thinking?"
"Taichō, you were the first Kenpachi, the strongest swordsman in Seireitei. I admired your skill in swordsmanship, and since I'm also someone who has my own views on the sword, that's why I joined the Fourth Division."
Unohana listened silently, making no further comment. A few days ago, she'd deliberately taken on an external mission in Rukongai. If Nobu had intended to fight her, that had been the perfect opportunity she'd given him.
But Nobu had not come.
Unohana had considered many possible reasons—perhaps he was wary of the Sōtaichō's orders, or maybe he simply hadn't felt ready.
"My understanding of swordsmanship probably differs from yours. Although I greatly desire to cross swords with you, it's not a battle to the death that I seek."
The various emotions flickering in Unohana's eyes gradually faded away, leaving her voice unsettlingly calm.
"Ah, now I recall you once told me, if I came seeking death from you, you'd refuse to raise your blade."
"Yes."
Her voice became noticeably colder: "Are you so confident you could kill me?"
Nobu met her gaze without flinching. "I don't believe anyone can surpass me in pure swordsmanship. But I mention this only to ask you one thing: If, during our fight, I chose to spare your life, would you be willing to continue living?"
Instantly, the temperature in the room dropped to freezing.