Ukitake covered his mouth, coughing softly. His face was as pale as a thin sheet of paper.
Noticing Kaien's gaze, Ukitake offered a reassuring look that also concealed a trace of complex worry.
"You want me... to become the Captain of the Tenth Division?"
Kaien opened his mouth, his voice somewhat dry. "But Head Captain, the affairs of the Thirteenth Division... Captain Ukitake's health has always been poor. If I leave, who will manage the squad's duties? Rukia and the others are still too young, and Kiyone and Sentaro can't take charge on their own."
This was by no means an excuse to shirk responsibility.
Kaien knew better than anyone that the reason the Thirteenth Division could function normally was almost entirely because he, the Vice Captain, was holding it together.
Ukitake spent most of his time bedridden in Ugendou. If he were to leave now, it would be tantamount to half the sky collapsing on the Thirteenth Division.
"Kaien Shiba, this is the joint consensus of the Four Noble Families." The Tsunayashiro elder's cold voice rang out, devoid of any warmth. "As for the Thirteenth Division, it naturally has its own principles of operation."
"But!"
Kaien stood up in agitation. He didn't care about the power and influence of a Captain; what he cared about were his comrades who had shared life and death with him.
"Vice Captain Kaien..." Yushiro, who was off to the side, spoke up timidly.
The young family head nervously wrung the hem of his clothes, his eyes full of pleading. "Please accept it. This is also to... protect the Shiba family."
"If you don't take that seat, Central 46 might completely revoke all of the Shiba family's privileges in the Seireitei due to Captain Isshin's incident... If that happens, the Shiba family won't even be able to maintain their current way of life."
Kaien's fists clenched tightly.
The nobles planned to find someone of status to fill the vacancy in the Tenth Division, and they just happened to seek him out.
If he didn't do it, perhaps they would go to the Kyoraku Family, the Kasumioji Family, or the Omaeda Family.
But that would also mean he had rejected their "good intentions".
His family choosing a peaceful life in the Rukongai was a completely different concept from being stripped of their status and banished from the Seireitei.
Thinking of Ganju, who had just enrolled today, and Kukaku, who was tinkering with fireworks in the Rukongai...
"Kaien..."
Jushiro Ukitake finally spoke.
Though weak, his voice carried a sense of unwavering resolve. "Go. Even though my body is failing me, the squad won't collapse just because you leave."
"Furthermore, this is a responsibility that belongs to the Shiba family. After Isshin disappeared, there is no one better suited to take up this burden than you."
Kaien looked at Ukitake, their gazes meeting in the air.
He read helplessness in his Captain's eyes, but also understanding.
A profound sense of powerlessness washed over Kaien.
"I understand."
"I accept the order, but I have one request."
Head Captain Yamamoto raised his eyelids. "Speak."
"Until a qualified successor is trained in the Thirteenth Division, I want to manage the duties of both squads."
"I will be responsible for the Tenth Division's affairs, but I will absolutely not completely let go of the Thirteenth Division's matters."
The elder of the Tsunayashiro family frowned, just about to reprimand him.
"Approved." Head Captain Yamamoto struck his walking stick heavily against the floor, setting the tone.
Byakuya Kuchiki remained expressionless on the side, while Yushiro felt happy about this outcome.
Next, the family heads still had to continue their discussions, so Kaien took his leave first.
As he walked out of the main hall, the sunlight outside stung Kaien's eyes, making it hard to keep them open.
"Congratulations, Vice Captain Kaien... no, Captain Kaien." The squad member standing guard at the door walked over with trepidation to offer his congratulations.
Kaien didn't smile; he merely walked silently toward the main gate.
"The Tenth Division, huh..." Kaien murmured nostalgically, the image of Isshin Shiba's perpetually unserious face floating into his mind.
"Just where in the world did that guy run off to..."
Although Isshin was technically his uncle in terms of seniority, they interacted like peers most of the time.
After all, there weren't many people left in the entire Shiba family.
Before he knew it, he had walked for quite a while. Turning a corner, the courtyard of the Tenth Division barracks came into view.
To Kaien's surprise, the place was not in the state of chaos he had expected.
Even though their Captain had been missing for some time, the barracks were in perfect order.
On the training grounds in the distance, squad members were carrying out their daily drills methodically, their shouts vigorous and powerful. Document officers shuttled back and forth along the corridors; although they had worried expressions, there was no sign of panic.
"Oh? Is that Vice Captain Kaien? Are you here to see Toshiro?" A seated officer recognized Kaien and asked politely.
Kaien nodded and, under the other party's guidance, pushed open the side door to the Captain's office.
A rich scent of ink mixed with... the faint smell of alcohol.
"I'm telling you, Rangiku, you've dragged your feet on this report regarding the Rukongai disturbance for three days now. If you don't finish processing it today, you can go explain it to the First Division yourself at tomorrow's regular meeting."
A youthful yet coldly authoritative voice rang out from inside the room.
Kaien focused his gaze.
Behind the massive desk, a young boy with short silver hair and emerald eyes was buried in a mountain of paperwork.
His small, slender frame was almost swallowed by the piles of documents, but the brush in his hand moved at a rapid pace, leaving concise and forceful notes on every page.
Opposite him, the curvaceous, blonde-haired Rangiku Matsumoto was slumped over another small desk without a care for her image.
She clutched a sake jug in her hand, muttering, "Shiro-chan, couldn't you just write this up while you're at it? Captain Isshin used to do it that way anyway..."
"Don't call me Shiro-chan! It's Third Seat Hitsugaya!" A vein popped on the boy's forehead as he corrected her without looking up. "Also, Captain Isshin is missing, not dead. Until he returns, the Tenth Division cannot lose face over these trivial official documents!"
Standing at the door and watching this scene, Kaien couldn't help but secretly marvel.
The silver-haired boy was named Toshiro Hitsugaya, a rare genius student from the Shin'o Academy.
Even though he was only the Third Seat, his efficiency in handling affairs and his commanding presence at the center of it all were simply more composed than some squad Captains.
No wonder that reckless guy Isshin could run off and slack off all day in the past. With such a seated officer holding down the fort in the rear, the Tenth Division could indeed operate in perfect order even without him.
"It seems like I, an outsider, am a bit redundant here." Kaien coughed lightly and stepped inside, his signature bright smile hanging on his face.
"Who is it?" Toshiro instantly raised his head. After clearly seeing the Vice Captain armband and the face of the newcomer, his gaze softened slightly. "So it's Vice Captain Shiba of the Thirteenth Division."
"My! If it isn't our handsome Kaien." Rangiku reacted extremely quickly, instantly sitting up straight.
Although the smell of alcohol hadn't dissipated, her eyes had become clear. "What wind blew you to our neglected Tenth Division?"
"Vice Captain Rangiku, mind your words," Toshiro frowned and reminded her. He then hopped down from the tall chair and bowed politely to Kaien.
"We have long heard of Vice Captain Shiba's great name. Please have a seat, though we only have plain tea to offer."
Kaien waved his hand and casually sat cross-legged on the floor. "Don't be so polite, I'm just here to take a look."
"To be honest, seeing you manage the squad's duties so well from the doorway just now puts a lot of pressure on me as the Captain candidate."
"Uncle Isshin really struck gold. Hitsugaya-kun, your talent is even more astonishing than I imagined."
"Captain candidate?!" Toshiro and Rangiku exchanged a glance, realizing the implication in Kaien's words.
Toshiro was the first to speak. "Excuse me, Vice Captain Shiba, but when you say candidate, could it be..."
"That's right. Although the official orders haven't come down yet, in a few days, I will become the Captain of the Tenth Division."
"What!"
Rangiku Matsumoto set down the sake jug in her hand. Although she was usually carefree, her eyes currently revealed a chilling coldness.
"Those old men at the top couldn't wait to shove someone in? And it's you? Someone from the Shiba family replacing the Shiba family...?"
Toshiro Hitsugaya's voice also carried suppressed emotion. "Vice Captain Shiba, I respect your strength, but the Tenth Division is not some family's private property."
"With Captain Isshin's fate currently unknown, such an order is truly hard to accept."
Kaien looked at the boy, who was significantly shorter than him and exuding a piercingly cold aura. He didn't feel angry; instead, he felt a sense of gratification.
To the members of the Tenth Division, Isshin Shiba was not just their Captain, but also their big brother.
Now that someone was coming to take over, it was undoubtedly a psychological challenge for them.
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