Upon returning to Shin'o Academy, the entire campus was immersed in a jubilant atmosphere.
The teachers and students who had accompanied Setsuna to the Central 46 as observers were surrounded by other classmates like triumphant warriors returning from battle, vividly recounting the day's thrilling events.
"You should have seen the scene! With just one glance, Setsuna subdued that Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande!"
"Those usually high-and-mighty wise sages were so scared they tumbled from their seats. Tsk tsk, all dignity gone."
"When Sato Taishi exposed himself, I was right there. Hah, he was truly pathetic… torn apart alive!"
Listening to these vivid descriptions, students who couldn't attend the hearing all wore expressions of regret.
Such a once-in-a-century courtroom drama, and they missed it!
Among the crowd, Setsuna looked at Aizen beside him and asked softly, "How do you feel?"
Aizen pushed up his glasses, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "So, the so-called Central 46 are merely a bunch of parasites clinging to the Soul Society's authority. Hypocritical, cowardly, short-sighted... To be ruled by such trash is truly a tragedy for genius."
His voice was light, yet carried a certain cold insight.
Yoruichi remained silent for a long time, her brow furrowed as she spoke. "Those wise sages are neither strong nor just. They don't even have the courage to remain calm in danger."
She looked up, her eyes filled with confusion. "Who chose them as wise sages anyway? What gives people like them the right to wield the Soul Society's highest judicial authority?"
Setsuna looked toward the towering silhouettes of Seireitei's buildings in the distance, smiling slightly. "They were elected from within, of course. 'Wise' is merely a self-proclaimed title. Whether they are wise or not depends entirely on how they define it themselves. Those in power always find ways to paint themselves as wise."
Yoruichi sighed. "No wonder none of us Five Great Noble Families have members in the Central 46. It seems our elders long knew of its darkness."
Setsuna gave her a somewhat speechless look. To be precise, the Central 46 could only be considered the 'Lower House'. The Five Great Noble Families' Council was the 'Upper House' that stood above it.
It was only due to the Shiba Clan's lack of cooperation that the former Five Great Noble Families Council rarely convened, allowing the Central 46's authority to gradually surpass them.
In Setsuna's view, the Central 46's gradual rise to the core of the Soul Society's power likely had much to do with the Tsunayashiro Clan's covert support.
The reason he didn't let Szayelaporro wipe out the entire Central 46 was precisely because he saw through this.
The Central 46 is just a name, a symbol.
Even if all the current wise sages and judges were killed, new people would quickly fill the positions.
What truly needs changing isn't the people sitting in those seats, but the system and rules that allow those people to sit there.
…
1st Division's barracks, meeting hall.
Along both sides of a long table, the Captains of the Gotei 13 took their seats one after another.
Yamamoto sat at the head, eyes slightly closed, hands folded atop his cane, like a silent statue.
"The 11th Division's Captain hasn't arrived yet?" The 2nd Division's Captain, Shihoin Ken'ichi, looked at the empty seat.
"That guy Kuruyashiki is probably somewhere else, having fun slashing away, and forgot the time," The 8th Division's Captain, Kyoraku Shunsui, chuckled softly, a hint of envy in his tone.
He considered himself quite idle among the Captains, but still couldn't compare to the 'privileged' Kenpachi.
The 11th Division's Captain's absence was already something the Captains were accustomed to.
Each 'Kenpachi' was an eccentric individual, enjoying a special status within the Gotei 13.
Comparatively, Kuruyashiki was already a very 'normal' one.
After all Captains were seated, Yamamoto slowly opened his eyes.
"I've gathered everyone today to report on the incident at the Central 46."
He concisely recounted everything that happened in the courtroom: From Sato Taishi colluding with a Menos Grande, to Iwasaki Hideki's false testimony, to Szayelaporro's rampage, and Setsuna's intervention and suppression.
The meeting room fell into brief silence.
Ken'ichi sighed inwardly: 'That kid... really is reckless.'
Ginrei frowned slightly, displeased. Setsuna's actions, though within the rules, pushed against the rules' edges, almost trampling the rules themselves.
For someone like him who always revered order, Setsuna's actions were somewhat beyond the pale.
"Defeating a Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande is already difficult, let alone capturing one alive," The 4th Division's Captain, Unohana Retsu, softly remarked, shifting the topic. "Even among us, few can do that."
The 12th Division's Captain, Hikifune Kirio, smiled. "Speaking of that, among us, the one who has clearly killed a high-level Menos Grande seems to be Captain Kuruyashiki alone."
She turned to Kyoraku. "What about you, Shunsui? Can you handle a high-level Menos Grande?"
Kyoraku lazily adjusted his straw hat. "Ah, how can such things be spoken of so lightly? Firstly, we don't know much about high-level Menos Grande either. Secondly, depending on each person's characteristics, someone might easily defeat a high-level Menos Grande but could also lose to a lower-level one. Compatibility issues, so it's hard to say."
He looked at the Captain beside him. "Right, Jushiro?"
Ukitake Jushiro nodded gently. "Indeed. Combat isn't simply a contest of Reiatsu. Tactics, environment, condition... many factors affect the outcome."
A vein throbbed on Yamamoto's forehead. "I did not gather you all to discuss such things."
Unohana calmly retorted, "If not this, then what? Do you want us to chase into Hueco Mundo to avenge those noble wise sages?"
"Unohana!" Yamamoto said gravely. "Don't play dumb. Anyone can see Chiaki Setsuna deliberately bound himself and allowed that Menos Grande to kill."
"What's the problem?" Unohana said indifferently. "Since the Central 46 suspected him, binding himself aligned with the wise sages' wishes, didn't it? If you ask me, all of this is the bitter fruit of the Central 46's own poor judgment and bias."
Yamamoto sighed helplessly. He knew Unohana felt grateful to the boy for removing Zaraki's limitations and would naturally defend him now.
"Although he is not yet an official Shinigami, such recklessness is not good for the Soul Society's stability..." Just as he was about to continue, the meeting room door was violently pushed open.
A member of the 1st Division rushed in, face pale. Without even saluting, he urgently reported, "Captain-Commander! Urgent news! The 11th Division's Captain, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, has been... killed in West Rukongai District 64!"