Aoooga! Aoooga! Aoooga!
A piercing alarm blared through the Seireitei.
The shrill sound echoed across the white walls, shattering a century of relative peace. This was a Class-1 alarm, triggered only in the most critical of times.
Simultaneously, the Captains of the Gotei 13 received a mental transmission via Tenteikūra: All Captains of the Gotei 13 are to proceed to the First Division for an emergency meeting!
Batsu'unsai, who was handling squad duties in the 8th Division, heard the alarm.
Her expression tightened.
She dropped the documents in her hand. She knew exactly what that siren meant, it had been a long time since it had sounded.
"Kazuma, gear up and remain on standby. The combat alarm has sounded, Yamamoto has called an emergency Captains' meeting," Batsu'unsai said, her face grave.
Without another word, she blurred out of the office, using Shunpo to speed toward the First Division.
Kazuma was a little puzzled.
'What major event has occurred?' He wracked his brain, recalling any significant events that might have happened recently.
However, after thinking it over and over, he came up with nothing.
According to the timeline, there was still some time before the Quincy invasion of Soul Society, and the occasional Shinigami rebellions were not of a scale or influence that would warrant an emergency captain's meeting.
'I'll stop thinking about it! I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. With my current strength, even if something really did happen, I should have no problem protecting myself.' Kazuma relaxed slightly, smoothing his furrowed brow.
He figured he would find out the specifics when Batsu'unsai returned.
...
"Everyone, this emergency captain's meeting has been convened because of a Shinigami rebellion in Rukongai. I dispatched the Seventh Division Captain, Nobutsuna Shigyo, to suppress the rebellion. Just a moment ago, Captain Shigyo's Spiritual Pressure vanished. I consider this an urgent matter. I now issue the following order: Eleventh Division Captain, Yachiru Unohana, Fifth Division Captain, Danjirō Obana and Eighth Division Lieutenant, Satou Kazuma, will form an investigation team and proceed to the scene. The remaining captains will remain on standby in their respective division headquarters to respond to any further emergencies that may arise. Meeting adjourned!"
When the captain's meeting was convened, most of the captains already sensed something was wrong.
The spot where the Seventh Division Captain should have been standing was empty, and Yamamoto wore a grim expression.
It didn't take much to guess that something had happened.
And indeed, it was no small matter.
A captain's Spiritual Pressure had vanished.
This meant they had either gone to the World of the Living or Hueco Mundo, or they had died in battle.
...
Upon returning to the 8th Division, Batsu'unsai saw Kazuma and couldn't wait to relay Yamamoto's orders.
"Kazuma, we received news that the Seventh Division's Captain Shigyo's Spiritual Pressure disappeared in Rukongai. Yamamoto has ordered you, Captain Unohana, and Captain Obana to form an investigation team and head to the scene to investigate."
Hearing this news, Kazuma's face grew solemn.
He knew well that the disappearance of a captain's Spiritual Pressure was no ordinary matter; a great crisis could be hidden behind it.
He responded firmly, "I understand. I will set out to rendezvous with the two captains."
Batsu'unsai looked at Kazuma with worry and spoke to him with concern, "Kazuma, you must be careful. No matter what you encounter, don't act recklessly. If necessary, request backup."
Kazuma gave a confident smile to reassure her. "Don't worry, Batsu'unsai. I promised to protect you, so how could I let myself get into danger so easily? Besides, Captain Unohana and Captain Obana are going with me this time, so there's no need to worry. I'll be back when the mission is complete."
With that, Kazuma turned and left to meet up with the other two captains.
Before long, the three of them arrived at the area where Nobutsuna Shigyo's Spiritual Pressure had disappeared.
"There are no traces of a Garganta or Sekaimon having been opened. We can rule out the possibility that Captain Shigyo went to Hueco Mundo or the World of the Living," Danjirō Obana stated his conclusion.
"Then let's use this area as the center and split up to search. If anyone finds anything, we regroup," Unohana suggested to the two.
Kazuma and Obana agreed, and the three began to search the forest.
After they had been searching for a while, Unohana found something.
When Kazuma and Captain Obana arrived, they found Nobutsuna Shigyo leaning against a large tree.
He was dead.
The traces of the Spiritual Pressure he had released before his death still lingered in the surroundings.
Unohana's face was grim. "There are no signs of Hollows in the area. Besides, to kill a captain-class Shinigami, it would have to be a Vasto Lorde. Moreover, before you two arrived, I examined Captain Shigyo's wounds. They don't look like they were caused by a Hollow. There's a residue of an energy I've never seen before."
In fact, the most shocked person was Kazuma.
As far as he knew, no Gotei 13 captain had died in the line of duty before the Quincy invasion of Soul Society.
Now, Captain Shigyo was dead.
This shattered Kazuma's understanding of the plot.
'Could a butterfly effect have occurred? Had the plot changed because of my arrival?'
This was not good news for Kazuma.
Kazuma pondered for a moment. "What's done is done. For now, let's take Captain Shigyo's body back to the Seireitei and report to Yamamoto. The inexplicable death of a captain is a huge deal."
...
When the news of Nobutsuna Shigyo's unexpected death in battle arrived, the entire Gotei 13 was thrown into an unprecedented state of shock.
The atmosphere in the First Division's meeting room was heavy.
The usually solemn and dignified room was now filled with gravity and grief. The captains' faces were grim, shocked and pained by this tragedy.
The topic of the meeting was no longer routine patrol reports or tactical discussions, but facing the reality of losing a squad's leader and how to deal with the challenges ahead.
"We must first investigate the cause of Captain Shigyo's death," the Sixth Division Captain, Furōfushi Saitō, spoke first.
"This is related to whether we are facing an unknown, powerful enemy, or if there is a problem from within."
Her proposal received unanimous agreement from the captains present.
For an experienced and powerful captain like Nobutsuna Shigyo to die in battle was by no means a coincidence.
"You are dismissed for now. I have ordered Captain Shihōin to lead the Onmitsukidō in a thorough investigation. Starting today, all of you are to strengthen patrols in the Seireitei. Report any suspicious situations," Yamamoto said, filled with worry.
For the next few days, Soul Society entered a state of high alert.
The captains personally led their squad members in detailed investigations, leaving no stone unturned, from Nobutsuna Shigyo's last mission to his daily life.
At the same time, the Seventh Division's lieutenant took over command of the squad, ensuring that the daily operations of the Seventh Division would not fall into chaos due to the passing of their captain.
After an investigation, the truth came to light—Nobutsuna Shigyo had been ambushed by a mysterious, never-before-seen enemy while on a high-risk mission and had died heroically after being outnumbered.
This news shocked all the captains, meaning they were facing a powerful unknown threat.
"We cannot let Captain Shigyo's death be in vain. I have examined his body, and I already know the cause of his death. If I'm not mistaken, it should be Quincy Power."
The words of the First Division Captain, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, broke the silence in the meeting room.
"Quincy? What's that?" a captain asked.
"As you all should know, when we Shinigami eliminate Hollows, we perform a Soul Burial, which is to purify the Hollows and send them to the cycle of reincarnation. The so-called Quincy, however, advocate for the complete annihilation of Hollows. In the long run, this will have an irreversible effect on Souls and disrupt the balance of the Three Worlds."
"It can be said that the Quincy are the natural enemies of us Shinigami. It is almost certain that they are responsible for Captain Shigyo's death this time. Now, we must stand united and face this crisis together." Yamamoto's words resonated with everyone present.
Every captain knew that at this moment, they had to be more united than ever before.
In the subsequent meeting, the captains began to re-evaluate the strategic deployment of each squad and made corresponding countermeasures for potential threats.
For Nobutsuna Shigyo's death in battle, Soul Society held a solemn Soul Burial ceremony.
All the captains and squad members came to see him off one last time.
At the funeral, Yamamoto delivered a moving speech, praising Nobutsuna Shigyo's lifelong loyalty and bravery, and stated that he would carry on his will to protect the peace of Soul Society.
After the funeral, Yamamoto prepared to have someone fill the vacant position of Seventh Division Captain to cope with possible future situations.
The death of Nobutsuna Shigyo was a heavy blow to the entire Gotei 13.
The seasoned captain had won the respect and admiration of all his squad members with his fortitude and wisdom.
His departure left a huge void, not only in a tactical position but also on a spiritual level.
Faced with such a change, Yamamoto, as the supreme commander of the Gotei 13, had to make a swift decision to ensure the stability of the Seventh Division and that the organization's combat effectiveness was not affected.
After careful consideration, Yamamoto decided to nominate the 8th Division's lieutenant, Satou Kazuma, to take over as the captain of the Seventh Division.
This was not a decision made lightly.
Although Kazuma was young, his strength was already at the captain level, even though he had not yet learned Bankai.
"Satou Kazuma, this is a heavy responsibility, but I believe you have the ability to carry this banner."
In a private meeting in the First Division, Yamamoto spoke to Kazuma seriously, "Looking at the entire Gotei 13, you are currently the most suitable candidate to take over as captain. The Gotei 13 needs you."
Faced with Yamamoto's trust and expectations, Kazuma's heart was filled with conflict.
On one hand, he was excited about this challenge, it was an excellent opportunity to display his strength and leadership abilities.
On the other hand, he also felt immense pressure.
He had to prove that he was competent for this position and not let down the expectations of Yamamoto and all the squad members.
"I will do my best, Captain-Commander," Kazuma replied firmly, his eyes revealing his determination.
"I will keep Captain Shigyo's spirit in my heart, and I will make the Seventh Division great again."
"Good luck, kid. From now on, you'll have to learn to stand on your own two feet."
...
Kazuma's heart was filled with emotion when he returned to the 8th division.
"Batsu'unsai, I'm being promoted to captain too!"
"I know, Captain Satou. But... I still need you to protect me, you know."
"Batsu'unsai, stop joking around and teasing me with that line," Kazuma began to regret ever saying that to her.
"Well, regardless, you should learn Bankai as soon as possible. Only by learning Bankai will you have an extra layer of security. Tomorrow is the day of your promotion to captain and I've tailored a Captain's Haori for you. Hurry up and try it on so I can see." Batsu'unsai took out the Captain's Haori she had prepared.
"You look much more handsome after putting it on. Come here, give me a hug."
...
The next day, Kazuma's promotion ceremony to Seventh Division Captain was held, presided over by Yamamoto.
Kazuma stood in the position belonging to the Seventh Division Captain, and all the other captains congratulated him.
In the days that followed, Kazuma began his transition from vice-captain to captain.
He not only needed to familiarize himself with every member of the Seventh Division, understanding their personalities and fighting styles, but also had to reformulate tactical plans to ensure the squad could respond to various emergencies.
The first day after becoming captain, Kazuma stood in the center of the Seventh Division's training grounds, facing a crowd of expectant and somewhat doubtful gazes.
He cleared his throat and began his inaugural speech.
"From today on, I will be the new captain of the Seventh Division. I know the responsibility on my shoulders is great. I will do my utmost to lead our Seventh Division to new heights. We will train together, fight together, and protect our home together."
His words were short and powerful, each one filled with determination and confidence.
The squad members responded to their new captain's speech with enthusiastic applause.
They saw the firmness and resolve in Kazuma's eyes, which filled them with hope for the future.
However, becoming a captain was not all smooth sailing.
In the following months, Kazuma faced many challenges. Some of the older members of the Seventh Division questioned his youth and experience, and he also encountered some difficulties in tactical decision-making.
But Kazuma did not back down, he proved his abilities with practical actions.
Under the shadow of Nobutsuna Shigyo's death, Kazuma gradually won the trust and respect of the Seventh Division in his own way.
He not only inherited Shigyo's courage and determination but also demonstrated his own unique leadership style.
Under Kazuma's leadership, the Seventh Division became more united, and its combat effectiveness was enhanced.
However, Kazuma still did something outrageous.
He moved his captain's office to the 8th Division, using the excuse that he was newly promoted and unfamiliar with squad duties, and had Batsu'unsai handle his paperwork all day.
This increased Batsu'unsai's workload, causing her to complain endlessly.
Yamamoto watched the changes in the Seventh Division with a heart full of gratification.
He knew he had not chosen the wrong person.
Kazuma not only filled the void left by Nobutsuna Shigyo but also brought new vitality and hope to the Seventh Division.
After experiencing the pain of losing a captain, the Gotei 13 was recovering its strength, preparing to face the future large-scale invasion of Soul Society by the Quincy.