Soul Society – Seireitei...

Today marks the return of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force. Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, stood alongside the current captains before the Gate of Destiny, quietly awaiting the arrival of Araki and the others.

As the gate slowly creaked open, a subtle wave of nervousness rippled among the captains.

"What's wrong, Ōmaeda? Nervous?"

Shihoin Chihiro, the current captain of the Second Division, teased the tall, afro-haired man standing behind him.

"Well... that Punitive Captain is said to have fought Yhwach at your side. He's a living legend! So yeah, I'm definitely nervous…"

Ōmaeda responded respectfully, addressing Chihiro with a tinge of awe.

"Haha, don't worry. Araki is just as gentle and easygoing as I am."

Chihiro reassured his long-time subordinate, who had served him loyally for over fifty years.

"If he's anything like you, Captain, then I'm relieved!"

Ōmaeda exhaled deeply, visibly more relaxed.

Crack!

At that moment, the Gate of the Realm opened wide, and one by one, soldiers in black Shinigami uniforms stepped through. Leading them was none other than Unohana Retsu.

"Where is Araki?"

Genryūsai's brows furrowed as he addressed Unohana directly.

"Oh, Captain Araki returned early. Didn't you know?"

Unohana responded with a serene smile.

In the whole of Seireitei, only a handful—Unohana among them—dared speak to Genryūsai so casually.

"What?!"

The revelation shocked all present. Even Genryūsai raised an eyebrow.

"Genryūsai-sama, Araki asked me to give you this…"

Just then, Chojiro Sasakibe appeared beside the Commander, presenting him with a blood-soaked haori from the 11th Division.

In that instant, the truth became clear. Everyone knew where Araki had gone.

"This evil disciple… he truly infuriates me!"

Genryūsai's fury ignited as he gazed at the bloodstained haori. A wave of crushing spiritual pressure exploded from his form, making the captains flinch. After nearly a century of peace, they had forgotten the terrifying aura this old man could unleash.

"As expected of the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society… that power is untouchable."

Some captains muttered in awe.

"Looks like someone's in deep trouble."

Others whispered among themselves, inwardly gloating at the storm that would soon befall Araki.

"Captain Araki of the 11th Division has returned prematurely from Hueco Mundo without consulting the other captains and has acted without authorization. Therefore..."

Genryūsai's spiritual pressure surged again.

"He shall be punished with a week's salary deduction, to uphold the dignity of the Gotei 13!"

"HUH?!"

The captains collectively froze. A week's salary?! Since when was that a punishment?

"Since Araki has no need to greet his squad, we won't flatter him either. Captains, return to your divisions!"

Before anyone could raise further questions, Genryūsai dismissed the entire welcoming party.

Many vice-captains exchanged uncertain glances but ultimately complied, following their captains back to their barracks.

However, those who paid attention noticed something hidden in Genryūsai's words—

By calling him "Captain Araki of the 11th Division", he had effectively acknowledged Araki's new rank. Whoever had died to make that possible… it no longer mattered.

"Captain… is that the gentle and easygoing man you were talking about?!"

Ōmaeda Nozomi whispered, trembling as he glanced at the haori still dripping blood.

"Haha…"

Chihiro could only let out a dry laugh. What he called "gentle" was relative. None of the current generation truly understood what it meant to have emerged from the kill-or-be-killed era.

As the crowd dispersed, even the blade at Chihiro's side seemed to dull under the weight of nostalgia.

"Sigh…"

He sighed deeply, then turned to his vice-captain. "Let's go. Back to the barracks."

"As you command, Captain."

The Second Division barracks stood atop a lofty mountain—an elegant palace reflecting the glory of the Shihoin Clan. In grandeur, only the First Division's headquarters could compare.

Inside the luxurious captain's room—large enough to host hundreds without feeling cramped—fine antiques, furniture, and military equipment reflected the clan's long and powerful legacy.

But today, an uninvited guest awaited them.

As Chihiro slid the door open, he froze.

A handsome man was seated cross-legged on the futon, dozing over a Shihoin clan manual on taijutsu. He looked like he'd been waiting.

"Who dares trespass into the Second Division barracks?!"

Before Chihiro could react, Nozomi Ōmaeda stormed forward, barking at the stranger.

"Hmm…"

The man stretched casually and stood. Tossing the book aside, he strolled toward Chihiro and greeted him calmly.

"Long time no see."

"It's been a while indeed… what, nearly a hundred years?"

Chihiro nodded. "How went the subjugation in Hueco Mundo?"

"Not bad."

"You just got back, and already you're causing waves! When the Commander saw that bloody haori, his face turned green!"

"Haha, don't be fooled. That old man's a master at faking outrage."

The intruder was none other than Araki, just back from Hueco Mundo. He laughed at the theatrics, knowing Genryūsai's mind better than anyone.

"Uh…"

Ōmaeda Nozomi stood frozen, overwhelmed by their casual conversation.

The realization dawned on him—this man before him, this youthful-looking, relaxed intruder, was the same terrifying warrior who had murdered the previous 11th Division captain this very morning.

Ōmaeda tried his best to minimize his presence… but Araki's gaze was sharp.

"And who's this?"

Araki asked, glancing at Ōmaeda with a faint smirk.

"Ōmaeda Nozomi—vice-captain of the Second Division. He serves under me and is the head of the Ōmaeda family."

Chihiro replied.

"Not bad."

Araki nodded, clearly satisfied.

"Uh…"

Omaeda felt the pressure radiating from Araki, sweat streaming down his face. He was already drenched, and frankly, he'd rather be anywhere else than under the gaze of a man as fierce as Araki.

"Omaeda, you can leave first."

Without waiting for a response, Shihoin Chihiro dismissed him with a calm wave.

"Yes, Captain!"

Omaeda silently thanked his superior and immediately fled the Second Division's command room.

"So then… why did you call me here?"

Chihiro Shihoin asked as soon as Omaeda left.

"Nothing much," Araki replied nonchalantly, leaning in. "Just that your old teammates are waiting for you in heaven…"

"Oh, and they asked me to pass along a message: They miss you dearly~."

Araki's tone was soft, almost teasing, but the weight behind his words was unmistakable.

Chihiro, a shrewd man, instantly caught the implication. In the Soul Society, there was only one place that could truly be called heaven—the Soul King Palace.

"…So this is your and the Captain-Commander's plan?"

Chihiro muttered to himself, scoffing at the idea.

"Those noble fools. Do they really think that by replacing the original Gotei 13 captains with their own people, they'll gain full control over the Soul Society? Ludicrous. You're all just pawns in Yamamoto's game…"

In that moment, everything clicked in Chihiro's mind.

"Now that you understand what the old man and I are plotting, there's no turning back."

As Chihiro processed this, Araki casually slung an arm around his shoulder.

"No problem," Chihiro replied smoothly.

That made Araki pause for a moment. Of all the original Gotei 13, this guy was the slipperiest.

"As the original captain of the Second Division, of course I have no issue. But I'm not just the captain of the Second Division. I'm also the head of the Shihoin clan."

He spoke with a rare gravity, the weight of family responsibility pressing down.

"So what?" Araki asked bluntly, not missing a beat.

"So…" Chihiro looked him dead in the eye. "You help raise the next head of the Shihoin family."

"I refuse," Araki replied immediately.

He had planned to drag Chihiro to train at the Soul King Palace, but now Chihiro wanted him to raise a child? Absolutely not. That was a losing trade. The Shihoin family would come out ahead.

"Don't be so quick to say no! My successor is incredibly talented—and beautiful too. When she grows up, she'll stun the entire Soul Society."

"Still no! I'm not interested in kids!"

"They're here…"

With a sly smile, Chihiro clapped his hands.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

Omaeda Nozomi walked in, carrying a struggling little girl.

"This child is Yoruichi Shihoin," Chihiro introduced.

"She's the most gifted talent our family has produced under the age of a hundred."

"Huh?!"

Araki's eyelid twitched. This was Yoruichi Shihoin? So she was born this young? Well… it made sense. The Shihoin family had existed for over a million years, and Yoruichi was the 22nd head. Each family head ruled for a long time, after all…

So…

When Araki finally left the Second Division barracks, he was trailed by a dark-skinned child with short purple hair.

"Hmph!"

The little girl snorted arrogantly. She lacked the elegance and poise of her future self, but the attitude was definitely there.

Araki wasn't fazed. He muttered to himself,

"Tsunderes just need a good beat—uh, discipline."

Honestly, he had zero experience with raising kids.

"Why not just send her to Squad Zero?"

He frowned.

"That fake monk's been alive for over a million years—he's gotta be good at this…"

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