Squad 1, Captain's Office.
Sasakibe Chōjirō elegantly lifted the teapot, pouring the premium Hagoromo tea into a cup.
"Captain Kyōraku, please enjoy the tea."
Taking the cup, Kyōraku Shunsui looked at the senior before him with a somewhat heavy heart.
As Yamamoto's disciple, long before he even began studying under him, Sasakibe Chōjirō was already Yamamoto's right-hand man.
Not only had he rendered outstanding service to the Genryū school, but he had also made a crucial contribution to the victory in the war against the Quincies a thousand years ago.
It was safe to say that the Soul Society owed its present existence in no small part to the unsmiling Sasakibe Chōjirō standing before him.
And the only reason he was willing to contribute in obscurity was entirely due to his absolute loyalty to Yamamoto.
"Senior Sasakibe, when do you think the teacher will return?"
Kyōraku Shunsui took a sip of the tea and gently set the cup down.
Hagoromo tea was the highest-grade tea in the Soul Society. It tasted excellent and had a pleasant aroma, but he was in no mood to appreciate it.
It had been quite some time since Yamamoto left the Seireitei.
He had originally promised to be back in three days at most, but now there was no sign of him at all.
Now, all the administrative duties of the Gotei 13 headquarters were piled onto his shoulders, making the usually slacking Kyōraku Shunsui feel an immense mountain of pressure.
Especially after discovering that Naraku Sora had also gone missing.
Kyōraku Shunsui panicked even more.
*Did those two suddenly get the urge to find a deserted place and beat the living daylights out of each other?*
The mere thought that the two of them might end up mutually crippled, lying in hospital beds for eight to ten years to recover...
By then, all of Squad 1's files and documents would be dumped on him, on top of Squad 8's original workload.
Kyōraku Shunsui felt completely sick to his stomach.
He couldn't shake the feeling that he had been outsmarted by a brute.
"I am not entirely sure about that."
Sasakibe Chōjirō smiled faintly and explained, "Before Lord Genryūsai left, he only mentioned that he had a very important matter to attend to."
"Oh, right, there is one more thing."
Hearing this, Kyōraku Shunsui suddenly had an ominous premonition.
"Lord Genryūsai specifically mentioned that if he did not return for a long time, Captain Kyōraku would temporarily take over the duties of the Head Captain."
Kyōraku Shunsui's breath hitched, his eyes widening instinctively.
Just as he was panicking, a figure tightly wrapped from head to toe suddenly appeared in the corridor outside the door.
It was a member of the Onmitsukidō, specifically responsible for relaying important intelligence.
Although the Denreishinki could now transmit messages quickly, some crucial information was still handled by the Onmitsukidō.
"Report! Captain Kyōraku, Lieutenant Sasakibe, the Head Captain and Lord Naraku have been spotted in the South Rukongai!"
Kyōraku Shunsui was overjoyed.
He sprang up from his seat.
"Are the two of them alright?"
"Where exactly are they, and how long until they return to the Seireitei?"
The messenger Soul Reaper paused for a moment, then answered honestly:
"Both lords are unharmed, but they are accompanied by several unfamiliar faces."
Kyōraku Shunsui was taken aback. "Unfamiliar faces?"
*Did my junior martial brother pick up some hidden genius in the Rukongai again?*
The thought that Naraku Sora had single-handedly built an armed force no weaker than the Gotei 13 made Kyōraku Shunsui lose his composure.
He visited the Rukongai quite often himself, yet he had never discovered a single exceptionally talented Soul Reaper.
"Never mind, I will go take a look myself."
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Kyōraku Shunsui took the opportunity to ditch the mountain of paperwork and vanished from the spot with a Flash Step.
Led by the Onmitsukidō member, he quickly passed through the Hakutō Gate and arrived at the South Rukongai.
On the spacious street, two figures hurried along.
It didn't take long before they spotted their targets.
The group, led by Naraku Sora, strolled through the streets and alleys, stopping every now and then.
Yamamoto followed beside him, his aged face full of contemplation.
He seemed to be agonizing over something.
Meanwhile, Naraku Sora occasionally introduced the sights to the people beside him while buying some unique local delicacies or items.
By the looks of it, they seemed like a group of ordinary people who had never visited the inner districts of the Rukongai before.
They didn't emit a single trace of Reiatsu.
However, as the distance between them closed and he got a clear look at the group's faces, Kyōraku Shunsui's expression instantly froze.
Even with the scorching sun hanging overhead, Kyōraku Shunsui still felt a piercing chill, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Why were two groups with completely opposing stances hanging out together so harmoniously?
Wasn't Old Man Yama always someone who absolutely refused to tolerate even the slightest hint of evil?
Why was he turning a blind eye to the Arrancars right next to him?
*Head Captain Yamamoto, have you betrayed us?!*
Just then, Naraku Sora also spotted his senior martial brother and waved from afar.
Kyōraku Shunsui had absolutely no intention of going over.
He remembered very clearly that when they went to Hueco Mundo for the rescue mission, it was these exact individuals who had blocked their path to Las Noches.
Their strength had been unprecedented.
If Naraku Sora hadn't shown up in time back then, the so-called Hueco Mundo Subjugation Force would have likely been completely wiped out.
Wait!
Kyōraku Shunsui noticed a glaring blind spot.
At that time, Naraku Sora's timing was a bit too coincidental. Could it be that the whole thing was a play he directed and acted in himself?!
Seeing that the man wasn't coming over, Naraku Sora led the Arrancars toward Kyōraku Shunsui.
Watching the group draw closer and closer, Kyōraku Shunsui's heart nearly stopped, and he instinctively drew his blade.
Clang!!
To Kyōraku Shunsui's absolute horror, his blade was effortlessly blocked by a single finger, emitting the sharp sound of clashing metal.
Sparks flew.
Naraku Sora's finger acted like some sort of Dankū barrier, casually deflecting the slash.
"Senior Kyōraku, why cross swords the moment we meet? Did your junior brother do something wrong?"
Maintaining the posture of blocking the blade with his finger, Naraku Sora grinned.
"How is this possible?"
Looking at the exaggerated scene before him, Kyōraku Shunsui was full of bewilderment.
Although he had held back some of his power at the crucial moment, he was still a genuine Captain-class Soul Reaper, and not just an ordinary one at that.
But blocking a sword with a single finger? Wasn't that a bit too absurd?
Naraku Sora was strong, sure, but he shouldn't be *this* strong, right?
"Nothing is impossible."
Naraku Sora smiled confidently. "I have now mastered my ultimate technique. There is nothing in this world that can stop me anymore!"
Hearing the man speak like a quintessential villain, Kyōraku Shunsui looked a bit dazed.
After a few seconds of silence, he spoke with a bitter tone, "Could you first explain what is going on with them?"
Hearing this, realization dawned on Naraku Sora, and he instantly understood why Kyōraku Shunsui had attacked on sight.
He had stayed in Hueco Mundo for so long that he had grown accustomed to the presence of Harribel and the others, almost forgetting that a Soul Reaper Captain would instinctively lash out upon seeing them.
Since he had already planned to introduce them to the others to foster better relations upon returning to the Soul Society, he hadn't bothered with any disguises.
Ordinary Soul Reapers might not recognize Arrancars, but any slightly powerful Soul Reaper could instantly identify their unique Hollow Reiatsu.
"These are subordinates I subdued in Hueco Mundo. They heard I was doing well in the Soul Society, so they came to join me."
"Rest assured, Senior Kyōraku, they are good people."
Seeing Naraku Sora's solemn guarantee, coupled with Yamamoto's tacit approval beside him, Kyōraku Shunsui breathed a slight sigh of relief.
As long as this master-disciple duo hadn't betrayed the Soul Society, he could accept whatever happened.
Come to think of it, he really had overreacted just now.
Setting aside whether he could even defeat Naraku Sora, Yamamoto alone was an insurmountable chasm he could never cross.
Not to mention this group of fierce-looking Arrancars.
"Come, come, let me introduce you, Senior."
"That guy who looks like a scruffy middle-aged man is Starrk. The one eating konpeitō next to the teacher is Lilynette. The one with blue hair is Grimmjow..."
Watching the Hollows calmly follow behind Naraku Sora and Yamamoto, a strong sense of absurdity suddenly welled up in Kyōraku Shunsui's heart.
He usually mocked Old Man Yama for being pedantic, stubborn, rigid in his thinking, and out of touch with the times.
But why did he suddenly feel like *he* was a remnant of the old era?
*Does the new era even have a ship that can carry me?*
Just as Kyōraku Shunsui was trying hard to convince himself to accept the reality before him, a burly old man who had just been introduced stepped up to him, his deep, hoarse voice sounding out:
"Although this is our first meeting, I have admired Captain Kyōraku for a long time."
"A certain question has been troubling me for quite a while, and I hope you can provide an answer."
Kyōraku Shunsui looked at the old man before him with a somewhat melancholic expression and nodded.
"Feel free to ask."
After what he had just witnessed, his heart had grown incredibly resilient. No matter what question the other party asked, he wouldn't feel the slightest bit surprised.
Hearing this, a kind smile appeared on Baraggan's aged face.
"As the female lead of the third volume of *Rose-Colored Alley*, why did Asuka end up all alone in the end? Isn't that a bit too unfair to her?"
Kyōraku Shunsui: "?"
He was just a humble author, what did he know about Asuka!
After returning to the Seireitei, most of the group followed Naraku Sora to the Shino Prison barracks, preparing to get a good look at their King's daily living environment.
Baraggan, on the other hand, followed Kyōraku Shunsui back to Squad 8, claiming they needed to exchange reading insights.
Naraku Sora was completely at ease with this.
As the oldest Menos Grande in Hueco Mundo, no one was more steady and reliable than Baraggan.
Plus, since the two were engaging in an academic exchange, there was even less chance of any accidents happening.
After handing the Arrancars over to Urahara Kisuke and letting them move about freely, Naraku Sora waved over some other Soul Reaper squad members and issued a mission to find someone.
Soon, a young man with delicate features, wearing a black Shihakushō, arrived near the training grounds.
The moment they met, the young man spoke with a face full of excitement:
"Lord Naraku, are we doing special training today as well?"
"I am fully prepared!"
Looking at that face, which was much more mature than it had been a few years ago, Naraku Sora nodded in satisfaction and grinned.
"Byakuya, do you want a wife?"
Kuchiki Byakuya: "?"