CHAPTER 369: CHAPTER 369: FINAL PREPARATIONS

None of the captains raised any objections to the joint training operation initiated by the Captain-Commander.

After all, they all understood the current situation.

Kyo Mazuru—their most dangerous enemy—was still at large. Everyone remembered the overwhelming power he had displayed during the battle more than a year ago. On top of that, Kenpachi Azashiro, who had escaped from Muken and was now rumored to be aligned with him, remained a wild card.

A joint exercise wasn’t just necessary—it was crucial preparation for the war they all sensed was coming.

Under Yamamoto’s leadership, the captains held extended discussions, and eventually, the decision for large-scale coordinated drills between divisions was finalized.

But that wasn’t the only matter Yamamoto had gathered them for.

After confirming the training operation, he brought up a second topic.

This one concerned Kurosaki Ichigo—and the restoration of his shinigami powers.

Over a year ago, in the final battle against Aizen, Ichigo had used a forbidden technique that cost him all of his shinigami power. He had willingly given it up to seal Aizen, and in doing so, became a normal human.

But given the power Ichigo had wielded back then, it felt like an incredible waste to let him remain that way.

If his powers could be restored, he would undoubtedly become a formidable asset to the Soul Society.

Though there was no known method to recover lost shinigami powers, Yamamoto proposed a different path—one not unlike what had occurred before.

The idea was to give Ichigo new shinigami powers.

This, however, wasn’t a simple matter. The laws of the Soul Society explicitly forbade transferring shinigami power to ordinary humans. Kuchiki Rukia had violated that law once before in the Human World when she entrusted her power to Ichigo. The result had been disastrous—from Soul Society’s standpoint, at least. She was arrested, and Ichigo’s invasion of Seireitei had nearly destabilized their entire world.

Later, with Aizen’s betrayal revealed, the truth came to light.

It had all been part of Aizen’s grand scheme. Rukia’s transfer of power to Ichigo was merely the trigger. In fact, Ichigo already possessed an innate, latent power as a shinigami. That’s why, after Kuchiki Byakuya shattered his Saketsu and Hakusui, Ichigo was able to regain his strength through Urahara Kisuke and the combined efforts of his allies.

But this time, Yamamoto proposed a deliberate and coordinated method. Just like Rukia had done in the past, someone would grant Ichigo shinigami power. The difference was—they would control the process.

Due to Ichigo’s overwhelming spiritual potential, Rukia had once intended to share only a portion of her power, but Ichigo had inadvertently taken it all.

To avoid a repeat of that, Yamamoto proposed creating a special Zanpakutō.

Before any transfer took place, this custom blade would be forged to contain fragments of power willingly offered by several shinigami. Then, through that weapon, Ichigo could receive enough combined power to function once more as a shinigami.

As for whether this violated Soul Society’s laws?

No one objected. The proposal came from the normally rigid and conservative Captain-Commander himself—if he didn’t care about Central 46’s rules anymore, neither did the others.

In truth, many shinigami had noticed changes in Yamamoto lately. He no longer clung to protocol as rigidly as he used to. He seemed more human. More flexible.

What they didn’t know was that Yamamoto had learned of the Invisible Empire.

A colossal threat lurked in the shadows of Soul Society, dormant yet dangerous. Extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures. The laws of the past no longer held relevance in the face of what was coming.

However, there was one issue.

The special Zanpakutō Yamamoto mentioned didn’t exist yet.

It would take time to design and forge such a weapon—especially since no one in recorded history had ever attempted to craft a sword designed to hold the power of multiple shinigami for transfer into a human.

Kurotsuchi Mayuri, predictably, was displeased.

Not because he disagreed with the plan. But because the concept for the sword hadn’t come from him.

He found it deeply unsettling. Who else could possess the expertise to forge such a unique spiritual tool? If not him, then who? He wanted to ask, but Yamamoto wasn’t sharing any further details—and it wasn’t convenient for Mayuri to press the issue.

After finalizing matters related to Ichigo, Yamamoto summoned another of his former students—Ukitake Jushiro.

In the First Division barracks, Yamamoto asked calmly, "Jushiro, how is your health these days?"

Unlike with Shunsui, whom he often scolded and teased, Yamamoto maintained a gentler attitude toward Jushiro. The young man’s temperament was kind, his spirit steady—unfortunately, his body remained frail.

"Thank you for your concern, sensei." Jushiro replied, bowing respectfully. "I’ve been feeling well recently."

Yamamoto nodded in approval, then moved on to the true reason for summoning him.

"Can you still contact Ginjo Kugo?"

The name stirred old memories.

Jushiro’s expression grew conflicted for a moment, but he nodded.

"If I try, I can reach him."

Years ago, after Ichigo and his friends had invaded Soul Society, Jushiro had gifted Ichigo an official Soul Society-issued badge—declaring him the Substitute Shinigami.

But Ichigo had not been the first.

Before him, there had been another: Ginjo Kugo, the original Substitute Shinigami. A unique human with the power of Fullbring—a technique that allowed humans to manifest their spiritual powers through objects.

Ginjo had once worked closely with Soul Society. But interference from the Tsunayashiro Clan had soured that relationship. He eventually severed ties with them and disappeared into the human world.

But that timeline had changed.

Because of Mazuru’s interference in the shadows, Tsunayashiro Tokinada had betrayed the Soul Society far earlier. His actions led to the downfall of the Tsunayashiro family. Without their influence, Ginjo had never become a full enemy of the Soul Society. The conflict had been avoided—or at least, postponed.

That was why even Mazuru, for all his influence, had failed to locate Ginjo Kugo in Hueco Mundo. The ripples of time had shifted subtly but decisively.

"I assume you’ve already guessed why I’m asking." Yamamoto said.

Jushiro nodded.

"You’re referring to Inoue Orihime and Sado Yasutora, aren’t you?"

"Correct."

Both Orihime and Sado had exhibited Fullbring-like powers. Though Sado’s brute force-based ability was straightforward, Orihime’s power—Shun Shun Rikka—was far more mysterious. She could reverse damage, restore the broken, and reject events entirely.

Her power was potentially divine.

Yamamoto, having experienced her healing firsthand, took her abilities seriously. She had restored his destroyed arm not once, but twice.

With proper training, she could become a powerful ally.

The pieces were moving. Shinigami, Fullbringers, even humans—they all had a role to play in the war to come.

And Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni was preparing for it like never before.

*****

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