"Kuchiki Kōga, for your merit in suppressed the rebel Soul Reapers, I appoint you as the Captain of the First Detachment of Squad 1."
In front of the Squad 1 barracks office, Yamamoto spoke solemnly as he looked at the young man standing tall before him.
"Thank you, Head Captain!"
A flicker of excitement flashed in Kuchiki Kōga's eyes.
Not long ago, due to his outstanding performance on the battlefield, he had been promoted to the 3rd Seat of Squad 6. Now, having led a team of Soul Reapers to achieve further military honors, he was promoted directly to serve as a Captain in the unit under the Head Captain's direct command.
While the move might have seemed like a nominal promotion with a loss of actual autonomy, his social standing had improved significantly. Most importantly, he had received the recognition here that he could never get from his father-in-law.
He remembered clearly that when he was granted the 3rd Seat position, Kuchiki Ginrei had been extremely reluctant. In truth, judging by his contributions and strength, even serving as a Lieutenant would have been more than enough.
Yet, the Lieutenant of Squad 6 remained Kuchiki Sōjun—the eldest son of the Kuchiki family and the designated heir chosen by the head and the elders.
Despite receiving such unfair treatment, Kuchiki Kōga still wanted to earn the approval of his elders through his own hard work. However, no matter how hard he tried, Kuchiki Ginrei's attitude toward him was always unnaturally harsh, and he frequently warned Kōga not to rely too much on the power of his Zanpakutō.
'But I am a Soul Reaper. If a Soul Reaper doesn't rely on the power of their Zanpakutō, what should they rely on? Am I supposed to kill enemies with my bare hands?'
"Kōga, take that batch of rebel Soul Reapers you arrested and escort them to Shino Prison," Yamamoto said suddenly, as if remembering something. "According to their crimes, Central 46 has already issued a verdict. They are to be imprisoned in the third level, Samghata, for a thousand years."
"Yes, Head Captain!"
Kuchiki Kōga maintained great respect for the elder who had promoted him.
Watching his departing figure, Yamamoto's gaze grew deeper. Not far away, Sasakibe Chōjirō, who had been standing in the corner, stepped forward and placed several files on the desk. Just as he was about to leave, Yamamoto spoke.
"Chōjirō, what do you think of this man, Kuchiki Kōga?"
Hearing this, Sasakibe Chōjirō paused. A thoughtful expression crossed his face before he said in a heavy voice, "In terms of talent and ability, he ranks in the top tier. However, his character is lacking. He is prone to bias and extreme views. Such a weakness is easily exploited by other factions."
Yamamoto nodded.
As a subordinate who had stayed by his side for over a thousand years, Sasakibe Chōjirō's insight was very sharp. Despite having little contact with Kuchiki Kōga, he had identified the man's greatest issue at a glance.
When Yamamoto first discovered Kuchiki Kōga, he thought the boy was good material. He was powerful and possessed a unique Zanpakutō ability. Most importantly, he was brave and willing to fight, always charging at the front lines during battles with rebels and even risking injury to reduce the casualties of his own side.
Such a person was absolute Captain material.
However, it didn't take long for Yamamoto to notice Kuchiki Kōga's problem.
His character was too frail.
Perhaps because of his background, his status within the Kuchiki family was not high, which made him sensitive and insecure deep down. Yet, as a rising star in the Soul Society and a genius who graduated from the Academy in just one year, it was only natural for him to have a bit of pride.
The intersection of these two extreme mentalities made Kuchiki Kōga desperately crave to prove himself and gain Kuchiki Ginrei's recognition.
Yet, that old man Ginrei had the traditional Kuchiki habit of being cryptic and refusing to speak plainly. In Ginrei's eyes, only after Kuchiki Kōga recognized the severity of his own issues on his own could he break through his flaws and change his weaknesses. Otherwise, he would only fall into becoming a plaything for others.
With two such stubborn people brought together, even Yamamoto was at a loss. He couldn't exactly put Ryūjin Jakka to someone's throat to force Ginrei or Kōga to change. Such a tactic only worked on a very few specific individuals.
Using it on members of the Kuchiki family would only make the problem worse. If you dared to threaten them, they would dare to let you strike, completely unafraid and impossible to communicate with.
Helpless, Yamamoto could only try transferring Kuchiki Kōga to Squad 1, hoping to correct his character through guidance. This was the best solution he could think of.
He hoped it would be effective.
...
When Kuchiki Kōga brought the rebel Soul Reapers to Shino Prison, he was surprised to find that the place had undergone significant changes since his last visit. The original reception room had been abolished, and there were many more guards passing by than before.
But what truly surprised Kuchiki Kōga was seeing several familiar faces in the crowd. They were Soul Reapers who had previously served in Squad 6.
"Long time no see, Kōga-dono."
The person responsible for receiving the rebel Soul Reapers was still the most dedicated and hardworking leader of Shino Prison, the 3rd Seat, Naraku Sora.
"Are these all the rebels? Leave them to me. I'll give them a warm welcome."
Looking at the group sealed by Kidō and bound in chains, Naraku Sora gave them a kind smile. But in the eyes of others, this smile looked exceptionally gruesome. A blatant greed flickered in the depths of his eyes, almost tangible.
He looked like a demon.
Naraku Sora took one end of the chains and pulled the group toward the underground prison. Watching his back, Kuchiki Kōga's face was full of doubt, and he hesitated to speak. After standing there for a moment, he decided to follow and ask for clarification; otherwise, he probably wouldn't be able to sleep for the next few days.
"Naraku-dono, I have a question."
"Ask away."
"What is your status within the Shihōin family?"
"I don't go there often, but they all treat me with quite a bit of respect," Naraku Sora answered honestly. He was busy to death every day. He barely had enough time for his own cultivation, so he had no interest in wandering around the Shihōin estate.
Kuchiki Kōga felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his expression instantly stiffening. He had thought that since they were both men who had married into noble families and Naraku Sora hadn't seemingly contributed much to the Shihōin house, the elders and clansmen there certainly wouldn't think much of him.
He had originally planned for the two of them to exchange experiences and discuss how to gain recognition. He never expected that while they were both "in-laws," their statuses were worlds apart, not even in the same league.
Naraku Sora seemed to suddenly think of something and looked back. "Kōga-dono, could it be that you, in the Kuchiki family..."
"I don't!" Kuchiki Kōga said with a hint of irritation. "My father-in-law treats me very well, and others respect me greatly. I have achieved great military honors for the Kuchiki family, and my status in the household is..."
"Extremely high."
Looking at that stubborn face, Naraku Sora grinned.
"What are you laughing at?!" Kuchiki Kōga grew anxious. "I'm telling the truth."
Naraku Sora didn't speak. Instead, he patted Kōga on the shoulder with a 'take care of yourself' look, then led the criminals straight toward the underground prison.
Watching him walk further away, Kuchiki Kōga hesitated for a moment, then grit his teeth and followed.