The Head Captain's decision had come only after much deliberation. No matter whether Minami Yojuro was placed in the Eleventh Division or the Fourth Division, it would inevitably displease either Unohana Retsu or Zaraki Kenpachi, and might stir up more unnecessary trouble.
To avoid that, the safest course was to assign Minami Yojuro to another division altogether.
As for why he chose Kyōraku Shunsui's Eighth Division—on one hand, this guy had just been watching the fight with the biggest grin, practically splitting his face in two.
On the other hand, the Head Captain had confidence in Kyōraku's strength. If Unohana or Kenpachi came knocking for trouble, there weren't many captains here who could actually hold them back.
The other captains quickly caught on to the Head Captain's reasoning. At once, they offered their "congratulations" to Shunsui.
"Congratulations, congratulations! For a rookie Shinigami to make Captain Unohana and Captain Kenpachi clash like that, he must have some remarkable qualities."
"Congratulations, Captain Kyōraku—your Eighth Division has gained a powerful new asset."
"What a shame. I was just about to ask for him myself, but since it's the Head Captain's command, I can't do anything about it."
Hearing these hollow words, Shunsui's face nearly twisted with frustration.
Then he glanced at Minami Yojuro again, and his mood worsened. If Yojuro had been a beautiful woman, Shunsui wouldn't have minded bringing him into his division, even with the trouble that came attached.
But the problem was, Minami Yojuro wasn't a beauty—he was a ridiculously handsome man. So handsome, in fact, that even Kyōraku Shunsui felt overshadowed. Bringing someone like that into his division? How was Shunsui supposed to keep charming women afterward?
Especially in recent years, young women had started favoring cool, handsome types. Once upon a time, it was the brooding older men like himself who were in demand.
"Head Captain," Shunsui said with a forced smile, "our Eighth Division is already at full capacity. We don't really need new recruits right now.
"Just recently, when I was drinking with Ukitake Jūshirō, he mentioned that his Thirteenth Division is short on manpower. Why not let this Shinigami join them instead?"
The Head Captain cast a sharp look at the banner hanging over the Eighth Division's recruitment stand.
Written across it in bold were the words:
'Eighth Division Recruiting – In urgent need of information-gathering specialists. Room and board included, excellent benefits, low risk. Young female Shinigami given priority.'
"Cough, cough…" Ukitake quickly stepped forward, still coughing but smiling politely. "Head Captain, if the Eighth Division can't take him, then please allow him to join us in the Thirteenth Division.
"As Captain Kyōraku said, our manpower shortage is real. If he's willing to join us, it would truly be a great help."
Hearing that, Shunsui's face lit up with relief. He even slung his arm around Ukitake's shoulder, ignoring the man's persistent coughing.
Of course, Shunsui had already known that his good friend Ukitake would step in to take the burden. This Shinigami named Minami Yojuro was a hot potato no matter which division he went to—but for Ukitake, it wasn't really a problem.
Everyone in the Soul Society knew that Ukitake Jūshirō was the kindest of men. Not only had he been one of the first Captains since the founding of the Shin'ō Academy, but he was also beloved by nearly everyone. And because of his frail, long-sickly health, even people like Unohana Retsu and Zaraki Kenpachi would never go looking to cause trouble with him.
"In that case," the Head Captain declared, "this Shinigami, Minami Yojuro, shall be assigned to the Thirteenth Division. As for the punishments for the Fourth and Eleventh Division Captains, they are to be carried out as decided."
Both Ukitake and Kyōraku were his own students, and the Head Captain understood their personalities well. Ukitake was dependable, with excellent connections. Entrusting this matter to him was the safest choice. The only reason he had pressed Kyōraku before was because Shunsui had been smirking too much, while Ukitake was already so ill that Yamamoto hadn't wanted to burden him.
And with that, the whole fiasco came to an end.
Minami Yojuro himself hadn't expected this. All he'd wanted was to quietly join some "retirement-friendly" division—but somehow he had stirred up such a storm.
He hadn't been able to get into his top choice, the Fourth Division, but in the end he still landed in his second choice, the Thirteenth Division. Its Captain, Ukitake Jūshirō, was one of the strongest in all of Soul Society and also known as the most gentle. It had been one of Yojuro's preferred destinations anyway.
Of course, he wouldn't be close to Lady Unohana, and the Thirteenth Division didn't have nearly as many women as the Fourth, but given the circumstances, it wasn't as if he had much of a choice.
"You are Minami Yojuro, right? …Cough, cough… Come with me back to the Thirteenth Division's barracks. From today, you are one of us.
"Our division, also called the 'Purification Squad,' is tasked with purifying souls in Rukongai that have begun to Hollowfy, as well as performing Konsō on the many souls of the living world who die each day… cough…"
In the world of the Shinigami, humans who die appear as souls with chains attached to their chests. If they linger in the world of the living too long, or suffer from overwhelming negative emotions, they transform into Hollows.
Since Rukongai was home to countless wandering souls, Hollows appeared from time to time. And in the living world, the daily death of ordinary people created even more souls that required Konsō. This purification was precisely the Thirteenth Division's responsibility.
Ukitake walked ahead, coughing between sentences. Yojuro couldn't help but worry the man might collapse at any moment. But there was no denying the truth—Ukitake Jūshirō's actual strength was among the very best in the Soul Society. He wielded one of the only paired zanpakutō, and his true nature was said to be none other than the manifestation of the Soul King's right arm!
"Captain, you've returned? How did things go at the Shin'ō Academy? Was it a Vasto Lorde invasion from Hueco Mundo?"
Before they reached the Thirteenth Division barracks, a man approached them. He had black hair, deep blue-gray eyes, long lower lashes, and tattoos across his bare shoulder. Seeing Ukitake and Yojuro, he immediately asked the question.
In Hueco Mundo, Hollows were divided into four levels: normal Hollows, Gillians, Adjuchas, and Vasto Lordes. A Vasto Lorde was considered the peak of Hollow evolution, with power said to rival that of a Captain—or even surpass one. They had their own unique Cero, iron-like skin, and frightening regenerative powers.
Given the captain-level reiatsu that had just erupted at Shin'ō Academy, Shiba Kaien had assumed the only explanation was a Vasto Lorde invasion.
"Actually," Ukitake explained weakly, "it was just a quarrel between Captain Unohana of the Fourth and Captain Zaraki of the Eleventh… cough, cough… I'll tell you the details later.
"And this—this is a new recruit of ours, Minami Yojuro. Explain to him our Thirteenth Division's duties and what he needs to keep in mind."