Information is the most important thing in any world.
Those who command intelligence forces are always the ruler's most trusted confidants.
Although Kyoraku said that, Kyoya didn't believe for a second that if he were to transfer to the 8th Division, Yamamoto and Kyoraku would actually hand over the next Captain's position to him.
Moreover, Kyoya himself didn't place much importance on intelligence within the Bleach world.
His memories from his past life gave him a comprehensive understanding of the Bleach World, including deep familiarity with many of its key figures.
Beyond that, with his current abilities, as long as someone was within Soul Society, Kyoya could easily obtain precise information about them.
Having reached this level of insight, Kyoya had come to a new understanding of Aizen's words: "A battle between Shinigami is a battle of Reiatsu."
Whether it was Unohana's Reiatsu fused with the very fabric of Soul Society's space, Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu manipulating the five senses through Reiatsu, or the Quincy's shadow realm constructed within the shadows of the Seireitei… Kyoya could perceive it all with his Observation Haki-enhanced senses.
However, because the Wandenreich existed within a 'shadow space' where 'light' did not exist, and Kyoya's abilities had not yet reached the conceptual level of 'sight itself being light', he could only sense the presence of Reiatsu within the shadows but could not perceive the contents of that shadow space.
"Alright."
Seeing that Kyoya had no intention of meddling in intelligence operations, Kyoraku inwardly relaxed.
"Captain Kyoya, I'm sure you're aware that the duties of the Gotei 13 have been refined over nearly a thousand years. They are the foundation of the Seireitei's peace and stability."
"If you recklessly alter the responsibilities of the 11th Division, it could cause significant upheaval in the Seireitei."
No matter what Kyoraku thought, the task assigned by Yamamoto had to be carried out.
"Just because something has always been done a certain way, does that make it right?"
Kyoya looked up at Kyoraku and posed that question.
Kyoraku opened his mouth, wanting to respond, but in the end, he couldn't think of a proper rebuttal.
In truth, it wasn't just Kyoya… Kyoraku himself had his own reservations about the Gotei 13, the nobility, and the Seireitei.
There was no denying that both the Central 46 and the existence of the Gotei 13 had made the Seireitei far more stable than it had been a thousand years ago.
But at the same time, Kyoraku knew all too well the depths of darkness that lay beneath that peace.
It was an absolute evil… one that had nearly devoured even high-ranking noble families like the Kyoraku Clan.
It was precisely because he understood the darkness of the Seireitei's nobility that Kyoraku didn't dare openly acknowledge his own niece, only helping her in small ways where he could.
Unfortunately, as a woman of the Ise Clan, his niece could never be recognized by a Zanpakuto.
Or rather, her Zanpakuto was the Ise Clan's hereditary Divine Sword, passed down through generations.
When Lisa was still around, Kyoraku could at least have her look after his niece.
But now that Lisa had left with Kisuke and the others, Kyoraku could already sense the presence of malicious individuals circling around Ise Nanao.
"Captain Kyoraku, you know better than I do what the peace and stability of the Seireitei are built upon."
"The Kasumioji Clan's Battoto, how many Shinigami and civilians became sacrifices in their experiments..."
"The members of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force fought desperately, trading their youth and lives for the stability of the three worlds, yet they never received the treatment they deserved…"
"The nobles produce nothing, act tyrannically, and casually abuse or kill their servants and commoners, while the institutions meant to restrain or punish them are nothing more than decorations…"
As Kyoya listed example after example, Kyoraku's usual smile faded, eventually twisting into a bitter expression. Some of the things Kyoya mentioned were known to Kyoraku.
Others were not.
But regardless of whether he had known about them or not, just from the nature of these incidents, Kyoraku recognized them as the handiwork of the nobility.
As for Kyoya's intelligence-gathering abilities, after witnessing his earlier display, Kyoraku Shunsui had no reason to doubt them.
"Captain Kyoya, you must understand that the Gotei 13 is a military force assembled by the old man."
"If your actions provoke his displeasure…"
Kyoraku didn't finish the sentence.
Kyoya's title of Kenpachi signified the Strongest Shinigami.
But in reality, for the past thousand years, the true Strongest Shinigami of the Seireitei had always been Yamamoto!
From the very first Kenpachi onward, the title had only ever meant The Strongest in Zanjutsu.
Yamamoto's conviction was to protect the Seireitei.
No matter who it was, even if it were Kyoraku or Ukitake, if they disrupted the Seireitei's stability and peace, Yamamoto would not hesitate to cut them down.
Even if Kyoya was a genius, Kyoraku didn't believe he could survive against Yamamoto.
"Hah, don't worry, Captain Kyoraku."
"I know what I'm doing."
Kyoya picked up the teacup in front of him, raising it slightly toward Kyoraku in a gesture of thanks for his warning.
As the Captain of the 8th Division of the Gotei 13 and one of Yamamoto's most accomplished disciples, Kyoraku had already shown Kyoya the utmost sincerity within his power.
"The new responsibilities I'm adding to the 11th Division have nothing to do with the Seireitei."
"If you have time, you can come take a look the day after tomorrow."
"With you there, Captain-Commander Yamamoto should feel much more at ease."
"Nothing to do with the Seireitei, huh?"
Kyoraku nodded slightly.
'If that were truly the case, then the old man probably wouldn't take any action against Kyoya.'
Just like how the nobles exploited loopholes to exercise their privileges… if they wanted to kill someone, they would use every means possible to make that person a servant. And nobles had the right to deal with their servants however they pleased.
In a way, 'servants' and 'slaves' were practically the same.
The 'dead warriors' secretly trained by various noble families could also be considered a special kind of 'servant'.
In fact, from what Kyoraku knew, there were even nobles who deliberately married commoner women, taking them as concubines just so they could openly torment them and crush the 'justice' those women believed in.
Kyoya's approach was similar.
If it didn't involve the Seireitei, then neither the nobles nor Yamamoto would have any reason to interfere with Kyoya.
If they were the ones who struck first, then Kyoya's retaliation would likely be met with neutrality from Yamamoto.
Kyoraku didn't believe that, without Yamamoto's support, the nobles had anyone strong enough to stop Kyoya.
In fact, their actions might even give Kyoya a legitimate reason and excuse to move against them.
"Then I'll look forward to seeing what kind of 'wind' Captain Kyoya brings to Soul Society…"
As the captain of the intelligence division, Kyoraku was far from foolish.
Kyoya had made his intentions clear enough. Though he still didn't know exactly what Kyoya planned to do, the only place in Soul Society outside the Seireitei was the Rukongai.
Clearly, Kyoya intended to step outside the chessboard of the Seireitei and make his move in the Rukongai.
As for whether Soul Society would eventually see the rise of an organization capable of rivaling the Seireitei, Kyoraku didn't know.
But he did know that the winds Kyoya was stirring would have far-reaching consequences.
In the millions of years since Soul Society's creation, the people of the Rukongai had instinctively gravitated toward the Seireitei… whether to reach a better district or to seize control of their own fate by becoming powerful Shinigami.
Though Kyoraku was a noble, even he had to admit that the Seireitei's current stability was inseparable from the efforts of those Rukongai-born Shinigami who sought change.
Yet, over the past thousand years, the Shinigami who rose from the Rukongai, some even becoming Captains of the Gotei 13 and standing at the pinnacle of the Seireitei, had ultimately all become part of the system.
Kyoya was the only one who, after reaching the peak, chose not to integrate into the Seireitei's inner circle but instead turned back to nurture the Rukongai.
With Kyoya setting such an example, it was inevitable that more Shinigami from the Rukongai would emerge in the future, striving tirelessly to solve its problems.
Just the thought of such a possibility made Kyoraku feel the approach of an unstoppable tide.
This was no longer something that could be resisted by strength alone.
"Let's wait and see, then!"
…
"Captain Kyoya!"
Kyoya smiled as he stepped onto the main viewing platform of the training ground, surrounded by numerous Shinigami.
Today was the day he had decided to reform the 11th Division.
Out of the 11th Division's over 900 members, aside from those who were truly unable to attend, more than 900 Shinigami had gathered in this training ground.
For the past twenty-plus years, Kyoya had set aside one day each month to personally answer the 11th Division's questions about swordsmanship.
It could be said that every single member of the 11th Division had received direct instruction from Kyoya at least three times.
Their own growing strength had brought these division's members' recognition of Kyoya to its peak.
In fact, some Shinigami felt that even if Captain Kyoya were to lose in a future captaincy battle, they would still willingly follow him.
"Everyone, it's been a while."
"I'm glad to see all of you gathered here today."
Kyoya's gaze swept across the cheering division's members, and as his eyes passed over them, they instinctively quieted down in unison.
"I imagine many of you have already heard rumors about why I called this meeting."
"So let me make it clear-"
"Yes, the reason I've gathered everyone here is because I intend to change the functions of the 11th Division."
The Shinigami below showed surprise at his words, but they remained silent, listening intently.
This was the combat division… they lived by the creed of 'the strong reign supreme'.
And without a doubt, Kyoya was their supreme ruler.
No matter what he wanted to do, all they needed was to follow behind him, dealing with the small fry unworthy of his attention.
Kyoya's perception faintly picked up on the collective will of the division's members gathered on the training grounds.
This wasn't mind-reading.
Rather, it was something just as rare, [Hearing the Voice of All Things]!
After coming into contact with the Soul King's will, Kyoya's Observation Haki had gained a new trait:
He could now sense the consciousness of objects, and through that connection, perceive everything they had seen, heard, and even thought.
In a way, it was a bootleg version of [The Almighty].
Right now, Kyoya was using this ability to read the unified 'will' of his division's members.
So instead of explaining why he wanted to reform the 11th Division, Kyoya simply gave them their orders.
They wouldn't question why they fought.
They would only think of fighting for themselves.
So as a reward for their loyalty, Kyoya naturally wouldn't betray their expectations.
"From this moment on, the 11th Division will be split into two parts."
"The first will retain its original duties… overseeing all combat within the Seireitei."
"This unit will be led by Zaraki Kenpachi and Kusajishi Yachiru."
"The second will also belong to the 'combat' division."
"But your battlefield won't be limited to the Seireitei… it will extend across all of the Rukongai."
"I want you to bring every violent faction in the Rukongai under our control. Ensure that every district has a strong presence from the 11th Division, so that when crises arise, we can act immediately."
"This unit will be led by the fourth seat, Ichinose Maki, the fifth seat, Madarame Ikkaku, and the sixth seat, Ayasegawa Yumichika."
After hearing Kyoya's words, some of the Shinigami in the training ground showed confused looks.
They didn't fully understand why Kyoya wanted them stationed in the Rukongai.
But that didn't stop them from obeying his orders without hesitation!
"Gentlemen..."
"The Seireitei is the Seireitei of the nobles."
"There is no place here for ordinary people to thrive."
"I came from the Rukongai. On my journey from its streets to the Seireitei, I was helped by many kind souls."
"Now, I have the power to repay them."
"So today, I ask for your help… to unite the Rukongai under our banner and give its people a better life."
"And most importantly… once the Rukongai is unified, we will have the power to negotiate with the Seireitei as equals."
"From that day forward… what belongs to the nobles stays with the nobles, and what belongs to the commoners stays with the commoners!"
"Oooohhhh!!!!"