After the Captains' Meeting ended, Ukitake Jūshirō returned to the squad barracks and explained the situation to Kaien. Things went exactly as Minami Yojuro had already known: Shinji Hirako led a special task force to the scene of the incident to investigate.
With three Captains and three Lieutenants forming the lineup, everyone—including the Head Captain himself—believed this mission was practically guaranteed to succeed.
But reality proved otherwise. Without much external interference, events still unfolded nearly the same as in the original plot. Shinji and the others were defeated, framed by Aizen, and branded as traitors.
Fortunately, the most brilliant man in the Soul Society, Kisuke Urahara, had sensed that something was wrong. Using the Hōgyoku, he saved Shinji and his group, but he and Yoruichi Shihōin were framed in turn and forced to flee into the Human World.
The Hollowfied Shinji and his companions went on to form what would later be known as the "Visoreds." Meanwhile, the Gotei 13 entered the weakest stage in its history.
The Visoreds alone accounted for four Captains and Lieutenants. Add to that the defection of Second Division's Yoruichi and Twelfth Division's Kisuke Urahara, plus the eventual departure of Tenth Division's Shiba Isshin—later known as Kurosaki Isshin—to the Human World, and it meant that out of the Thirteen Captains of the Gotei 13, more than half of their combat strength had been wiped out by Aizen's schemes in one fell swoop.
With Kisuke and the others gone, the vacant Captain seats were quickly filled by fresh blood from within the divisions.
The Second Division was taken over by the cool-headed woman, Soi-Fon.
The Fifth Division fell right into the hands of the slick-haired schemer Aizen himself.
The Twelfth Division's Technology Development Bureau went to Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who had previously been Vice-Chief.
As for other divisions, since Gin Ichimaru, Kaname Tōsen, and others lacked sufficient seniority at the time, they weren't able to directly step into Captain-level roles just yet.
Inside the Thirteenth Division's barracks, in the Rainfall Hall (Ugendō), Ukitake Jūshirō sat across from Minami Yojuro.
Two years had passed. Because of his frail health, Ukitake had continued spending most of his days at home, leaving Kaien to handle the division's affairs.
That said, Ukitake hadn't been entirely uninvolved. He had paid attention to Yojuro's performance and growth over the past two years.
Setting aside his raw strength for the moment, Yojuro's way of dealing with people and his efficiency in handling tasks were far beyond what one would expect from a Shinigami who had only graduated from the Shin'ō Academy not long ago.
Kaien was a genius—he had entered the Thirteenth Division and immediately taken the Third Seat. Though Yojuro wasn't quite at that level, in just two years he had already risen to the Fifth Seat.
Originally, Yojuro could have advanced even higher, but he had declined multiple times.
His official reasoning was that the division's Third Seat and Fourth Seat were both adorable young women, and he didn't want to "steal anyone else's treasure." But in truth, Yojuro simply felt that Fifth Seat was already the perfect position for him.
A rank too high would attract unwanted attention—perhaps even make him a target for dangerous experiments conducted by certain big names. But a rank too low wouldn't do either—he'd risk being treated as disposable cannon fodder. To Yojuro, Fifth Seat was the perfect balance.
"Yojuro," Ukitake said, "you must have already heard about what's been happening in the Gotei 13 lately.
Now, with the Third, Fifth, Seventh, and Ninth Divisions suffering heavy vacancies, the Head Captain has asked if there are suitable candidates in other divisions who might take on roles as Vice-Captains or seated officers.
When I thought about it, you came to mind. What do you think about that?"
"Anyone who wishes to become a Vice-Captain must at least have achieved Shikai and possess a certain level of spiritual pressure.
But as far as I know, you've already met those standards, haven't you? You and Kaien often go to mountain in the West Rukongai to spar and train, don't you?"
Hearing Captain Ukitake's words, Minami Yojuro finally understood why he had been called for such a serious conversation today. So it turned out the Captain was planning to recommend him to another division as a Vice-Captain!
But the Seventh Division aside—how could he casually go to the Third, Fifth, or Ninth Division of all places?!
"Captain, I only want to stay in the Thirteenth Division. That is my wish. And I also don't believe that with my current strength, I am qualified to serve as a Vice-Captain."
You must be joking. The whole reason Yojuro kept a low profile was to avoid attracting the attention of the boss-tier villains. And now Ukitake wanted to push him into the spotlight? Wasn't that just asking him to defect?
Sure, Aizen had charisma, eloquence, and treated his subordinates with at least some measure of fairness—not exactly ruthless.
But the real problem was his opponent: that overpowered protagonist, blessed with the bloodlines of Shinigami, Hollow, and Quincy. If he lost, he could just pull out another cheat ability. As the "son of the world," he couldn't be judged by common sense.
"If you were to become a Vice-Captain, the treatment would be worlds apart from that of a seated officer. And with your talent, one day you might even become a Captain.
It isn't easy for a member of the Gotei 13 to transfer divisions. If not for this special situation, you might never get another chance. Are you really going to give this up?"
Looking at Yojuro before him—handsome, talented, and with such a good temperament—Ukitake truly couldn't understand. Normally, every Shinigami who joined the Gotei 13 aimed to climb toward the seat of Vice-Captain or Captain.
Yet here, when the chance to become a Vice-Captain was practically in his hands, Yojuro was doing everything possible to decline.
Kaien had been the same before him. If Ukitake hadn't personally invited him to become Vice-Captain, he would probably still be off bitterly training at some random place in West Rukongai.
Could it be that the Thirteenth Division was destined to breed slackers? Ukitake himself, because of his health, barely handled any work and often left things to others. Had that affected the division's atmosphere so badly that now nobody had ambition, and everyone just wanted to lie flat?
"In that case, let's table this matter for now. Instead, I have something else I'd like you to handle.
According to intelligence, a city in the living world called Karakura Town has recently seen a sudden surge of souls. The Technology Development Bureau's spirit pressure detection suggests that a Hollow there may have devoured large numbers of souls and grown into a Menos Grande. I need you to go and take care of it."
Of course Yojuro knew about this—he was the Fifth Seat of the Thirteenth Division, after all. But as far as he remembered, wasn't this something another officer was supposed to handle? So he asked:
"Isn't the matter in Karakura Town being handled by Third Seat Renkawa? Why would—"
"Renkawa's abilities are solid, but she has no experience fighting a Menos. I believe it's safer to send you.
Ideally, Kaien would go—it would be the most reliable option. But the rules of the Soul Society forbid anyone ranked Vice-Captain or higher from freely entering the human world. To avoid causing catastrophic damage, their spiritual pressure is sealed to only one-fifth of its full strength upon passing through the Senkaimon."
Hearing Ukitake's explanation, Yojuro nearly wanted to cry. Of course he understood why Kaien couldn't be sent. But just because the Third Seat lacked experience against a Menos—did that suddenly mean he had it?!
He had graduated from the Shin'ō Academy barely two years ago! He was a genuine newbie, okay!
°°°
A/N: Comment down your thoughts and questions. Also do some reviews, as y'all know, those things are the lifeline of us authors, lol