The arrogant ruler of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan, was dead—cut down by the new leader of the Katana-gari-shū, the Grand Blade-Hunting Chief, Higashino Shuuichi.
Some busybodies dug out the old textbooks and remembered that a thousand years ago, this very same Vasto Lorde–class Hollow called Baraggan had been defeated by the then–young Captain-Commander.
And this time?
Baraggan was clearly much stronger than he had been a millennium ago.
So… did that mean this Grand Blade-Hunting Chief might one day be able to challenge the Captain-Commander's position himself?
"I think it's totally possible. Shuuichi-sama is just that amazing a Shinigami. If he hadn't been framed back then, he'd definitely already be a division captain by now!"
Six days after the great battle, most of the ruins in the Seireitei had been cleared away. The wounded had, by and large, been treated. With this rare bit of downtime, under the initiative of 11th Division Vice-Captain Kusajishi Yachiru, the newly re-formed Women Shinigami Association chose to hold their 121st Association event in the 4th Division barracks.
The topic of today's event: from a woman's perspective, compile a comprehensive ranking of the male Shinigami currently in Soul Society.
The one speaking at the moment was the newest member personally dragged into the club by Association Chairwoman Unohana Retsu: 4th Division's newest low-seated officer, Kotetsu Isane.
Back when Higashino Shuuichi was still serving as 4th Division Vice-Captain, Isane had already joined the division. She had personally witnessed the string of things Higashino did afterward.
To this day, Isane could still clearly recall the scene of Shuuichi-sama teaching the new recruits Kidō—so gentle and patient.
Even when someone failed to get it after being taught over and over again, Shuuichi-sama would still tirelessly explain the spell one more time, and then one more.
How could a Shinigami like that possibly be the "traitor to Soul Society" the Central 46 painted him to be?
Back when they'd submitted that joint petition to vouch for him, arguing that he posed no danger, Kotetsu Isane's name had been on it.
So when she finished speaking, she didn't hesitate at all. On the line bearing Higashino Shuuichi's name, in the score boxes for "Strength," "Charm," "Personality," and "Potential"—the four core categories—Isane filled in all 9s.
The only reason she hadn't given him full marks was because she felt Higashino's current position was a bit awkward. Nominally, the Katana-gari-shū didn't have the best relationship with them proper Gotei Shinigami. If she just slapped full marks across the board, it would look like she was siding with an outsider against her own.
"Right, right? Little Kusajishi also thinks Ashuu is really strong. Ken-chan's challenged him a ton of times. Aside from those first two fights where they were evenly matched, pretty much every time after that, Ken-chan never got the upper hand!"
After listening to Isane's remarks, Kusajishi Yachiru blinked her big, bright eyes and, in front of everyone, wrote the number 10 in the "Strength" column after Higashino Shuuichi's name on her own sheet.
"Mm. In my heart, Ken-chan's strength is a perfect ten. So of course Ashuu's strength has to be a ten too~"
Uh…
Kotetsu Isane glanced at Yachiru's sheet, then back at her own.
Had she been a bit too conservative with that "Strength: 9"?
At that moment, another newly joined female Shinigami—Isane's younger sister, Kotetsu Kiyone—immediately raised an objection.
"No, no, that's not right, Kaichō Kusajishi. There's no way Shuuichi-dono's strength is a ten. When he left Soul Society back then, he was forced to retreat by my captain. That means his strength definitely has to be below Captain Ukitake's. Our Ukitake-taichō should be the one getting full marks in strength!
As for Shuuichi-sama… I think we can give him a ten in charm! After all, even our Ukitake-taichō and Vice-Captain Shiba both acknowledge him. If those two recognize him together, then I can reluctantly admit that his charm can be on par with our Captain Ukitake."
Kiyone went on and on, and as Isane listened, she gradually realized something was off.
Her little sister was supposed to be talking about Shuuichi-sama… so why did it sound more and more like she was just finding creative ways to praise her own Captain Ukitake?
So Isane subtly leaned back, just enough to see the sheet in Kiyone's hands.
Sure enough, in the row for 13th Division Captain Ukitake Jūshirō, Kiyone had filled in all 10s.
The only other person who'd managed to snag a single full mark from her was Shuuichi-sama—with a perfect 10 in "Charm."
Even the Captain-Commander's "Strength" score, in her eyes, was only a 9.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Hasn't my little sister only been in 13th Division for less than three years?
After Kiyone, it was the Vice-Chair of the Women Shinigami Association's turn to speak: currently 8th Division's acting captain's aide and de facto vice-captain, and the only Shinigami in the entire Gotei 13 who didn't possess a zanpakutō—
Ise Nanao.
"Even though I think discussing something like this at a time like this is… debatable, if we're going to evaluate the Grand Blade-Hunting Chief, then in my opinion, 'Strength,' 'Charm,' and 'Potential' are all secondary.
The most important thing is that, despite everything, he chose to set aside past grudges and stand up for Soul Society at such a critical moment. Just based on that, I think his 'Personality' absolutely deserves full marks."
As Kyōraku Shunsui's right hand, Ise Nanao knew a few pieces of inside information that outsiders didn't.
For example, Kyōraku had once casually tested Higashino Shuuichi's loyalty to Soul Society.
Or that, in the Human World, Shuuichi had protected Shiba Kaien's life for Soul Society's sake.
Whatever his current status might be, just judging from everything Higashino Shuuichi had done so far, Nanao felt genuinely respectful of him.
As she watched Nanao write a "10" in the "Personality" column for Higashino's row, Isane glanced at her own sheet again.
Why did it feel like she was the only one in the entire room who'd kept Higashino Shuuichi's "outsider" status in mind?
Seriously, none of you vice-captains are going to spare a thought for the Gotei 13's reputation?
Thankfully, the next person to speak was the Association Chairwoman herself, who was also Isane's captain—4th Division Captain Unohana Retsu.
Isane looked at Unohana with great anticipation.
If it was the captain, she would definitely be thorough and considerate, right?
"When it comes to Shuuichi-kun… he used to be my vice-captain, so I know him fairly well."
Unohana began by establishing her relationship and position, which had Isane nodding nonstop.
Yes, yes, that's right, Captain. Please, go on!
"Shuuichi-kun's strength is decent. Being able to defeat Baraggan is indeed his achievement. But that day, I was there. The main reason he could beat Baraggan was because of the special properties of his zanpakutō's Bankai (Final Release). It just happened to counter Baraggan perfectly.
His reiatsu itself hasn't reached the level you're all imagining. So for that column… the best I can give is a 9~"
In the midst of all the flattery, Unohana suddenly sounded like the only sober one in the room, piercing straight through to Higashino Shuuichi's weak point.
Isane listened, eyes shining.
They were already talking within captain-class ranks. How many "levels" could there even be left between them?
Oh. I get it. Captain's just making excuses. She can't very well deliberately deduct points without a reason.
She has to come up with something that sounds reasonable.
"As for Shuuichi-kun's charm… not everyone likes him, you know. At least from what I know, there are at least two people in Soul Society who don't like him much at all."
(At that very moment, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni and Yamada Seinosuke both sneezed.)
"So for 'Charm,' I can only give a 9 as well~"
Unohana continued trimming points. Isane continued nodding furiously.
Yes, yes, exactly—this is a true captain's big-picture view!
"And his personality… well, it's hard to explain it properly to you all. But I can guarantee you this: Shuuichi-kun's personality is very similar to mine. So actually, it's not all that great. For that, I can only give him an 8."
Unohana smiled gently as she undercut herself, and Isane was moved to the verge of tears.
What was this…?
This was Unohana-taichō's magnanimity.
Unable to find a better excuse to drag Shuuichi's score down, she had even dragged herself into it—lowering her own evaluation just to bring his down with her, all to leave a little face for the other male Shinigami of the Gotei 13.
Isane quietly guided her pen over to the "Personality" column after Higashino Shuuichi's name on her sheet.
Forgive me, Shuuichi-sama!
For the sake of the other male Shinigami in the Gotei 13… I'll have to wrong you a little!
With one stroke, she changed the "9" that had been there into an "8."
She would just follow her captain's scoring!
Her little maneuver went completely unnoticed by the others. Unohana soon moved on to deliver her final verdict on Higashino Shuuichi.
"And lastly… the quality I consider most precious in Shuuichi-kun. In my opinion, when it comes to 'Potential'… he deserves full marks, without question.
The reason… I'd rather not say. But I ask all of you to believe me: in my book, only Shuuichi-kun can earn that perfect score."
Unohana stated her conclusion with a soft smile, memories of each and every one of her battles with Higashino flashing through her mind.
Though those battles had all turned out completely different from what she had once envisioned, she had watched with her own eyes as Higashino Shuuichi walked step by step—from that rookie Shinigami who could barely swing a blade properly, to the warrior he stood as now.
For a long stretch in the middle, he had been under her tutelage, receiving her personal instruction in swordsmanship.
Whenever Unohana thought about it, there was a feeling in her chest that she could not quite put into words.
She couldn't name it precisely, but she could describe the brief emotions.
For example: that day, outside Las Noches, when she felt Higashino Shuuichi's reiatsu vanish suddenly within.
What welled up inside her was a fury so profound it shocked even herself.
For someone who had never cared much to meddle in Soul Society's affairs, it was the first time she'd felt an urge to charge straight into Las Noches and hack Baraggan to pieces.
And then later, still that same day—when she was about to rush in—
She saw Higashino Shuuichi descend from the sky.
That feeling was a mixture of joy… and reproach.
Reproach that he had disturbed the calm she'd maintained in her heart.
Once she finished, Unohana filled in her scores on her own sheet.
From the way her hand moved, Isane could tell that number really was a 10.
B-But… Captain!
What happened to the big-picture view? What happened to that grand, all-encompassing perspective?
How could you backstab me like this at the very end?!
Isane could feel her heart cracking in two.
So she was really the only one here trying to protect the bigger picture?
…No. There was still one more person.
She glanced around and realized there was still one Association member who hadn't spoken yet.
2nd Division Captain Soi Fon.
As a captain—even if her own 4th Division captain had abandoned the higher perspective—surely Soi Fon-taichō would have it, right?
She was the Captain of 2nd Division, commanding the Keigun–type units. By function, they were naturally in opposition to the Katana-gari-shū.
Yes!
Isane felt she must be right. As 2nd Division Captain, Soi Fon didn't even have to think about the bigger picture. Her very position meant she'd be at odds with the Grand Blade-Hunting Chief by default.
If it were her, she would definitely give Shuuichi-sama a very low score!
That way, when everyone's sheets were tallied, Isane's 9s wouldn't be the lowest scores on the board.
But no matter how long she waited, she never heard Soi Fon-taichō share her opinion of Shuuichi-sama.
Instead, the conversation drifted on. The group chattered their way through the scores of other well-known male Shinigami in the Gotei 13.
For example, 5th Division Captain Aizen Sōsuke—almost everyone gave him high marks in "Charm" and "Personality," around 8 or 9. But in "Strength" and "Potential," most only gave him between 5 and 7.
Then there was 3rd Division Captain Ichimaru Gin. His "Charm" and "Personality" scores were split right down the middle. The Kotetsu sisters, Isane and Kiyone, both gave him a pathetic 2 in those categories, while the others gave anywhere between 6 and 8.
Fortunately, as the organizer of today's activity, Kusajishi Yachiru hadn't asked them to rank every male Shinigami in existence. She'd only picked out a handful of notable ones.
So, after spending the whole afternoon debating, everyone finally finished filling in their sheets.
Right as it came time to hand in the forms, Kotetsu Isane's curiosity got the better of her.
She gathered her courage and walked up to Captain Soi Fon. Using a greeting as a pretext—and taking advantage of the captain's modest height—Isane managed to get a look down at the sheet in Soi Fon's hands.
One peek was all it took.
Isane almost lost it.
It was one thing for her little sister Kotetsu Kiyone to give her own captain, Ukitake Jūshirō, straight 10s. That, at least, Isane could understand.
Admiring your own captain was perfectly normal. Who didn't?
She herself admired her Captain Unohana just as much.
But you, Soi Fon, are the Captain of 2nd Division!
Your former captain was Shihōin Yoruichi, not Higashino Shuuichi!
So why in the world did you give Shuuichi-sama full marks across the board too?!
And that wasn't even the worst part.
The worst part was that this meant…
Her sheet—the one where she'd given Shuuichi-sama 9s—
Was now officially the lowest score he'd received.
In the blink of an eye, she'd gone from being the "only one with real big-picture awareness" to the villain dragging the average down.
Isane suddenly felt an almost irresistible urge to rush over to Kusajishi Yachiru and snatch back the sheet she'd just handed in.
Forget "big-picture awareness." Forget "magnanimity."
Who needs any of that?!
While the Women Shinigami Association was secretly plotting the first-ever comprehensive Male Shinigami Ranking in Soul Society history…
Higashino Shuuichi had only just finished handling the aftermath at the Tsunayashiro clan and was setting out for his rendezvous point with Aizen.
He could already imagine just how curious Aizen would be this time. How many questions he'd have.
After all, in the middle of his battle with Baraggan, Shuuichi's reiatsu had vanished for a while, then reappeared.
And not just reappeared—he'd descended from the sky.
To ordinary Shinigami, that might still be a mystery. But among the upper ranks of Soul Society, including the noble houses—such as the head of the Tsunayashiro clan, Tsunayashiro Kamihara—that matter might as well be public knowledge.
As the current captain of the 5th Division, it would be harder for Aizen not to know than to know.
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