"Captain Unohana?!"
As one of the most senior Shinigami currently in Seireitei, Chōjirō was naturally aware of Unohana's status.
He had no objections to Unohana succeeding as the Captain-Commander.
Yamamoto said, "Chōjirō, send someone to invite Nohara and Captain Unohana over."
Chōjirō nodded in affirmation.
—
Having received the message, Shin and Unohana met outside the First Division barracks.
Shin greeted her, "Retsu, the old man called for you too."
He wondered inwardly what Yamamoto wanted with him and Unohana that he called them over so suddenly.
Unohana nodded slightly, appearing extremely gentle and serene.
The everyday Unohana truly embodied the Yamato Nadeshiko type.
No one would ever connect her with terms like 'greatest criminal' or 'murderer.'
Click!
A squad member slid open the door to the barracks.
Yamamoto was seated on the bed, while Chōjirō was kneeling formally below him.
Shin got straight to the point, "Old man, what did you need me for?"
Yamamoto was not in a hurry, signaling for the two to sit down first.
Unohana and Chōjirō sat formally in seiza, but Shin was less particular, he had always disliked kneeling like that.
"This time, I called you here to announce something important."
Pausing for a moment, Yamamoto continued, "I will be stepping down as the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13."
Shin's expression shifted slightly.
Yamamoto was retiring, and he had called both him and Unohana over—the meaning was already quite clear.
Unohana slowly asked, "Captain-Commander, is this decision final?"
Yamamoto nodded, then his expression turned serious as he stated, "I hereby appoint Captain of the Fourth Division, Unohana Retsu, to the position of Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, concurrent with the position of Captain of the First Division."
"Understood." Unohana showed neither joy nor sorrow, simply accepting the appointment calmly.
Yamamoto continued, "The formal appointment will be issued at the Captains' Meeting later."
Shin had previously discussed the succession of the Captain-Commander with Aizen, and Shunsui was undoubtedly one of the greatest possibilities. He wondered what had happened to make Yamamoto decide to appoint Unohana instead.
He asked, "Old man, what are your plans for the future?"
Yamamoto replied, "I will return to Shin'ō Academy from now on, where I will engage in teaching."
Shin nodded.
That was a good idea. Shin'ō Academy had originally been founded by Yamamoto himself.
Now that the Gotei 13 had suffered heavy casualties, there was an urgent need for new blood. Yamamoto's return to Shin'ō Academy would allow him to better cultivate new strength for Soul Society.
Yamamoto's teaching methods were certainly effective. He had trained many excellent Shinigami when he previously served as the Academy's Headmaster, and now he could continue to contribute his expertise.
Yamamoto looked at Shin and said, "There is one more matter, and I need Nohara's help."
Shin thought to himself, 'It's finally here.'
If it were only about the succession of Captain-Commander, Yamamoto only needed to call Unohana, there was no need to summon him as well.
"Old man, go ahead."
Yamamoto stared at Shin and slowly said, "I want you to train Zaraki and help him regain his peak strength."
Zaraki was one of the Six Special War Powers, and it was true that he possessed immense strength, but Unohana embodied strength, intellect, and Kaido. Both were extremely important to Soul Society.
Yamamoto did not want to see either of them die, let alone perish at the hands of one of their own.
If Unohana and Zaraki were forced to fight, one of them would certainly fall.
Shin, however, was different. Yamamoto was certain that Zaraki could not kill Shin, making him the perfect person for this task.
Upon hearing this, Shin readily agreed, "No problem."
This request played right into his hands. He certainly didn't want Unohana to train Zaraki only to end up meeting her demise.
Yamamoto said, "Very well, Chōjirō, send someone to notify all Division Captains to convene a Captains' Meeting. No one is permitted to be absent."
...
The Captains' Meeting Room.
All Captains, including those severely injured, had arrived.
The meeting room was silent.
Yamamoto's strict order this time made them realize that the matter was unusual.
Finally, Yamamoto arrived.
Contrary to the somber mood everyone expected, Yamamoto, having decided to step down as Captain-Commander, looked considerably more relaxed.
Next, he dropped a bombshell.
"As of today, I shall resign from the positions of Captain-Commander and Captain of the First Division."
Upon hearing this, all the other Captains were utterly stunned, save for Shin and Unohana, who already knew the news, Shunsui, who had his suspicions, and Zaraki, who remained indifferent.
Yamamoto had served as Captain-Commander for a millennium, and the Shinigami had grown accustomed to his presence. Hearing that he was suddenly retiring was difficult for them to accept immediately.
Yamamoto quelled the murmurs and spoke of the mistakes he had made during Aizen's defection and the Wandenreich invasion, effectively resigning in atonement for his faults.
Everyone fell silent.
Even if Yamamoto had committed some errors, his contributions to Soul Society were undeniable.
Following this, Yamamoto announced Unohana's appointment as the succeeding Captain-Commander.
Most Captains had no objections to this result. Unohana was qualified to serve as Captain-Commander in terms of seniority, strength, and political acumen.
Only Shunsui, after his initial shock, felt a cloud of gloom settle in his heart.
It was precisely because he had sensed Yamamoto's unusual behavior that he had gone to the First Division barracks, where, while visiting Yamamoto, he had proposed that Unohana train Zaraki.
Unexpectedly, Yamamoto not only rejected the proposal but also appointed Unohana as the Captain-Commander.
In fact, the Yamamoto of a thousand years ago would have agreed to Shunsui's suggestion without a second thought, but over the course of a millennium, Yamamoto had changed. He had too many ties and too much he couldn't let go of.
Shin observed the expressions of the Captains present, focusing particularly on Shunsui for a few moments, thinking, 'This guy had better not try any schemes, or he shouldn't blame me for being ruthless.'
After the Captains' Meeting concluded, the news of Yamamoto's resignation and Unohana's succession as Captain-Commander spread throughout Seireitei.
Unohana held high prestige among the Shinigami, and coupled with her stellar performance in the recent war against the Wandenreich, there were few dissenting voices among the Shinigami.
Afterward, Yamamoto presided over the succession ceremony, completing the transfer of the Captain-Commander's authority under the watchful eyes of the Shinigami.
From then on, Yamamoto officially retired as Captain-Commander and returned to Shin'ō Academy to serve as Headmaster.