Chapter 151: [War God]
Let us turn back to the previous day, the day after the victory banquet.
It was another clear morning.
While many people were still unable to get out of bed because they were drunk, Takeru, having enjoyed a full night's sleep, was brimming with energy. Just as he was preparing to start handling division affairs, he was suddenly summoned to the First Division.
"Captain Commander, I take it you've read the news in the Seireitei Bulletin as well."
The moment Takeru entered the office, he saw Yamamoto Genryūsai sitting behind the desk, holding a Ninth Division publication and squinting at it like an ordinary old man.
"Why do you think I assigned the Ninth Division to oversee the arts department in the first place?" Yamamoto Genryūsai lifted his eyelids slightly and glanced at him.
Takeru answered frankly, "I truly don't know much about that."
"I've forgotten too."
"..."
"That said, every generation has done a good job. Especially now, the content is quite rich. They even don't miss what happens on the battlefield. That boy Hisagi is quite talented when it comes to gathering information. When Shunsui retires in the future, he could be promoted to succeed him."
"I didn't expect you to think so highly of Hisagi. If I mention it to him later, he'll probably be so moved he cries, won't he?" Takeru said casually. "I have no objection to him becoming Captain of the Eighth Division, but that day is still far away. Even if he masters Bankai, he still might prefer to remain a lieutenant."
He had only said it offhandedly.
But Yamamoto Genryūsai shook his head and put down the newspaper.
"Last year, I also thought both you and Kurosaki Ichigo were still very young, and that it would take a long time before you could become pillars of the Gotei 13. It turns out... I miscalculated."
Takeru glanced over and noticed that the newspaper cover was a live photograph.
It showed the scene of Yhwach leading the Sternritter in confrontation with Takeru and the others led by Mochizuki.
It had clearly undergone some technical enhancement. The resolution was so high that everyone appeared startlingly vivid. Red and blue flames each occupied half the page. Although it was just a still image, the colors were brilliant and visually overwhelming.
If one stared at it for even three to five seconds, the grand atmosphere of a desperate battle came crashing over them.
It could simply be described as a classic.
Even if people were deliberately gathered and arranged to recreate the same scene like a film shoot, it would still be debatable whether they could produce that same effect.
Beneath it was a line of text:
"The Secret Behind the Battle to Defend the Seireitei! The Path of the Shinigami Who Wagered Their Souls, Now in Serialization!"
The title was written in wild, flashy lettering, full of gimmicks.
For people who had just lived through war, its appeal was undoubtedly enormous.
No wonder Takeru had noticed far more people than usual in the Shino Ward square on his way here. They were probably there for a kind of "holy land pilgrimage."
"Sit."
Yamamoto Genryūsai had someone bring over a chair and place it in front of the desk.
Once Takeru sat down, they began speaking of official matters.
The topic was the series of administrative orders issued when he had taken over the Seireitei.
Nayura had worked diligently for an entire week and still had not finished everything. Some tasks were still only in the preparatory stage and had not officially begun.
Now that the Wandenreich had been defeated and the Captain Commander had returned to reclaim authority, it was only natural to revisit those decisions.
Although repeatedly changing administrative orders was taboo, circumstances had changed. The policies Takeru had arranged were based on the conditions at the time, and they were not necessarily still applicable now.
Because of that, Takeru did not mind in the slightest if the Captain Commander chose to overturn all of those decisions in one sweep.
But Yamamoto Genryūsai did no such thing.
Instead, he took that entire set of orders and began asking questions about them from every conceivable angle, requiring Takeru to answer each one. Yet he never clearly stated whether the answers were good or bad, right or wrong, nor did he directly reveal his own views.
It was as though he simply wanted to understand Takeru's philosophy of governance and the true depth of his ability in that position.
It made Takeru think of a so called "interview."
At the same time, it reminded him of the days when he was still running errands in the First Division. Every morning after training, he had to report his reflections on the previous day's field duty to the Captain Commander, receiving guidance and accumulating experience.
The two had one thing in common.
They both concerned the direction of the future.
Takeru remained calm on the surface, but a faint premonition gradually began to stir in his heart.
Time passed between the old man's questions and the young man's answers.
By the time noon arrived and Tsubakabe came in to announce the meal, Takeru was still ready to continue.
Although he was the one being questioned, a person with real substance was not afraid of questioning. On the contrary, the more he spoke, the more energized he became.
"Let's eat first. Afterward, we can return and continue this in detail. I have some immature thoughts regarding currency reform and would like to ask the Captain Commander for guidance."
"No need. You'll have to figure that part out for yourself. I have nothing left to teach you."
At that point, Yamamoto Genryūsai opened his eyes fully and looked at the young man before him with a weathered yet composed gaze.
"Although it has been less than a year since you became a Shinigami, I have no right to underestimate you. Whether it was the recent matter of Yhwach, the expedition to Hueco Mundo, or even earlier, during the rebellion caused by Kuchiki Kōga's Zanpakuto, Muramasa, you deserve the greatest credit in all of them. Even compared to myself, in my position as Captain Commander, your contributions have already exceeded mine."
"Captain Commander, your very existence is itself a contribution no one could ever replace," Takeru said sincerely. "As long as you are here, no one will lose courage."
Yamamoto Genryūsai shook his head.
"That is not necessarily a good thing. Though I call myself the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years, that title is also steeped in sorrow. It means that for an entire thousand years, no Shinigami has been able to surpass me, or even stand on equal footing with me."
"And this time, I was schemed against by Urahara and Ichimaru's group. I, who hold that title, failed to play the role I should have. It is a true disgrace."
"Furthermore, while I was away, the Gotei 13 became more united, and through blood and fire they grew stronger."
"And among them, there are people like you, who have achieved immense military merit."
"For several nights now, in the dead of night, I could not help but ask myself... whether my existence, my title as the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years, is truly a good thing for the Soul Society."
"Perhaps even earlier, I had already realized this hidden danger. That is why, deep down, I had prepared myself to die in battle, silently waiting for such a moment to arrive, to inspire everyone through my death..."
"But before that moment could come, I found a better choice."
He looked directly at Takeru.
"And that choice is you, Shimiya Takeru."
Suddenly hearing his name called, Takeru's expression did not waver in the slightest.
It was as though he had already anticipated everything.
Seeing him like that, Yamamoto Genryūsai revealed a smile so faint it could scarcely be seen.
"You have likely already guessed my intention, so I will not waste words with empty buildup."
"The position of Captain Commander will be yours from now on."
"It will be formally announced at the next captains' meeting. Prepare yourself."
"Yes..."
Even Takeru felt slightly dazed at this moment.
The joke he had once casually exchanged with Hachihara had actually come true.
Speaking of which, he could no longer remember when the idea of becoming Captain Commander had first taken root.
But one thing was certain.
The origin of that thought had never been power.
Nor had it been some desire to shoulder greater responsibility.
Rather, it was simply that after becoming a Shinigami, he had naturally wanted to grow stronger, become more exceptional, and surpass everything before him.
The influence of Yamamoto Genryūsai, both as Captain Commander and as the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years, was so deeply rooted in everyone's hearts that one could not help but take him as a goal.
To one day become like him, or even to become a Captain Commander greater than him.
To stand at the apex of the Shinigami and look down over the Soul Society.
Rather than ambition or a dream, it was more like... the instinct of a Shinigami.
"I understand."
Takeru gathered his thoughts. In his eyes appeared the fierce will to survive that one might find in a Hollow.
But unlike a Hollow, it was not enough for him to think only of himself. He would need to lead everyone else in their struggle to survive as well.
That, too, was the duty of the Captain Commander.
"By the way, is the Captain Commander truly retiring just like that?" Takeru asked. "Are you not planning to take some advisory post in the Fourth Division after retirement, like Captain Ukitake?"
"Do not expect this old man to stay in the First Division and help you. I have my own work to do."
"Work?"
"After retirement, I will go to the Spirit Arts Academy and serve as Headmaster. I will devote all of my remaining energy to training students and do my utmost to cultivate more excellent talent for the Gotei 13."
Yamamoto Genryūsai did not hide his plans for retirement.
Takeru was genuinely surprised.
Although he had guessed the old man would not be able to stay idle after stepping down, the founder of the Genryū style and creator of the Spirit Arts Academy returning after a thousand years to once again take up the educational baton... he wondered just what kind of change that would bring to the academy.
There was no way it would bring no change at all.
After all, Yamamoto Genryūsai alone...
...was enough to raise the status of the Spirit Arts Academy to a height it had never normally occupied.
The current Headmaster was also a veteran of the First Division.
During the defense of the Seireitei, he had led from the front, taking the teachers of the academy into battle against the Soldat. He had been badly wounded, but fortunately treatment had come in time, and he was still capable of remaining in office.
Even if no one tried to force him out, if Yamamoto Genryūsai truly intended to take over, then the moment he heard the news of his old commander's return, he would probably be unwilling to step aside. He would likely be willing to give up even his salary just to fight for a lecturer's position and stand beside his old commander once again.
Takeru could almost picture it already, the Headmaster flushed with excitement.
"Right." Yamamoto Genryūsai suddenly remembered something. "It will not only be me. Chōjirō and Okiga are also retiring. They will accompany me to the Spirit Arts Academy, serving as Vice Headmaster and Dean of Students respectively."
"...Captain Commander, you're taking away two of the First Division's top men at once. How exactly am I supposed to take over the First Division under those conditions?"
Yamamoto Genryūsai snorted coldly, unmoved.
"Putting aside the fact that this was Chōjirō and Okiga's own decision, the moment they leave, you can simply promote your own confidants. For you, controlling the First Division is a trivial matter."
"That may be true, but finding reliable deputies on such short notice is still a headache. I can't exactly just transfer Hisagi and the others over. That would cause problems for Squad Nine as well."
Takeru fell into thought.
"That is for you to figure out on your own. In any case, I have already informed you. Any problems that arise from this point on are your responsibility and have nothing to do with me. After all... you are the Captain Commander now."
"..."
Takeru looked at him speechlessly.
The old man had not even retired yet, and he was already acting like a hands off manager who wanted nothing to do with anything.
There was not the slightest trace of any intention to "clear the road" for his successor.
Before Takeru had risked his life infiltrating the Wandenreich, he had at least gone out of his way to leave Nayura with a support team.
Then again...
If Nayura herself had been capable enough to carry everything alone...
Takeru would never have bothered spending the extra effort.
Because he still had to send Orihime back to the Human World, Takeru did not remain in the First Division for long.
But before leaving, he asked Yamamoto Genryūsai for authorization to intervene in the Human World through proper channels.
In the past, such approval was only needed when battles in the Human World created disturbances large enough that local citizens or public institutions needed to be managed and silenced afterward.
This time, however, the matter was different.
It concerned improving the living conditions of a Substitute Shinigami.
Strictly speaking, with Orihime's level of power, forget supporting herself, even taking over the Human World would not have been impossible.
Yet she possessed absolutely no such awareness.
So Takeru decided to convert the equivalent of hazard pay into direct living assistance in the Human World.
A move beneficial to both sides.
As expected, the Captain Commander approved it.
As for how it would be carried out in practical terms, that was another matter.
In short, with the Gotei 13's influence, even if one wanted to make Orihime the mayor of Naruki City, it would only amount to a small inconvenience.
After Takeru left, Yamamoto Genryūsai picked up the newspaper again and slowly reread it from top to bottom, as though he could never quite read it enough.
"With me here, no one will lose courage... perhaps that is true," he murmured. "But now you can do the same, and even better."
"Not only will courage not be lost... it will become something more."
"The exact opposite of invisible fear... infinite possibility. One could also call it... hope."
...
Now, back to the present.
Although there was no grand ceremony, the moment news of Takeru's appointment as Captain Commander was officially announced, the entire Seireitei still shook.
The second Captain Commander since the founding of the Gotei 13 had finally been born.
At the same time, the influence of the first installment of the "Battle to Defend the Seireitei" special feature, which Shūhei and the editorial department had worked through the night to publish, began to ferment.
Because it was a report on the event as a whole rather than something focused only on Takeru...
...it did not cross the red line that had been drawn back when he first became Captain of Squad Nine, the line forbidding joking or negative reporting about him.
As a result, Takeru did not interfere.
But neither he nor Shūhei had expected a familiar problem to arise yet again.
Nicknames.
At the moment, it was unclear who had started it.
But on that same day, as the news of his promotion to Captain Commander spread throughout the Seireitei, the title "War God" also spread like wildfire. Even the Rukongai was deeply affected.
As though it were basic common knowledge, everyone accepted and understood the meaning of that title with startling ease.
It would not be long before the entire Soul Society remembered both that title and the one who bore it.
Squad Nine barracks, Captain's quarters.
"Captain, I really wasn't the one pouring fuel on the fire this time!"
Shūhei hurriedly explained as Takeru packed his belongings in preparation for moving out.
"I've already asked around. Apparently it started in the Second Division. Someone there listed your achievements one by one, from transforming into a dragon and fighting a death match against an escaped upper level Hollow, to becoming a giant and saving the Noble District later, all the way to leading the Gotei 13 to victory in three wars. They said you were practically a superhuman."
"Then someone else said the former Captain of the Second Division had once been called the Flash Goddess, the god of shunpo, while you had gone beyond technique itself and were even more warlike than Zaraki Kenpachi. So somebody proposed the title War God."
"In my opinion, neither Lady Yoruichi nor Captain Zaraki can compare with your accomplishments. Even combining their titles would not be enough to describe even a fraction of your greatness. So I'll clear your name immediately!"
"It doesn't matter."
Takeru poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Shūhei with a sigh.
"I don't care much about things like that anymore. Everyone means well."
"More importantly..."
He patted Shūhei on the shoulder.
"Even though we haven't worked together for very long, I know what kind of person you are. The Captain Commander thinks highly of you. He even said you have the potential to succeed Captain Kyōraku."
"I think highly of you as well. If not for the fact that the Seireitei Bulletin truly cannot function without you, I would definitely transfer you to the First Division and keep you as my lieutenant."
"Captain..."
Warmth surged through Shūhei's heart. His nose tingled, and tears even began to gather in his eyes.
"Please rest assured! I will absolutely continue to work hard! Even though it hasn't been long, I, Hisagi Shūhei, will consider it the greatest pride of my life to have once served as your lieutenant! I will engrave your teachings into my heart forever!"
Takeru said nothing.
He only patted him on the shoulder once more.
After that, he headed to the underground laboratory of Squad Nine.
As expected, Rangiku and Nozomi were both there.
"Should I congratulate you, Captain Takeru?" Rangiku asked.
"It's Captain Commander now," Nozomi corrected her.
Rangiku immediately changed her tone.
"In that case, let me try again. Congratulations, Captain Commander Takeru."
"I don't feel the slightest sincerity from that, but forget it..."
As he spoke, Takeru glanced around the laboratory.
"Do either of you need to be transferred to the First Division?"
"It's fine as it is," Rangiku replied, shaking her head. "I'm a member of the Gotei 13 either way. Now that you're Captain Commander, if you want us to do anything, it'll only take a single order."
She had already adjusted to her current environment and had no particular desire to move.
Nozomi pressed her lips together and spoke seriously.
"I want to go to the First Division, but not yet. I'll wait until I've built up enough real achievements before I submit a transfer request."
"Very well."
Takeru nodded and did not force the matter.
"Where's Mebari?"
"Sleeping next door. Do you want me to wake him?"
Rangiku answered.
Because of the agony caused by his fusion with his Zanpakuto, Mebari spent most of his time in deep sleep.
Takeru was naturally aware of that.
"I promised him that if we won against the Quincy, I would help him undo the Zanpakuto fusion. If I fail to keep that promise, then I'll lose face as Captain Commander."
.....
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