These words carried a resounding weight.
Isshin Kurosaki and Kaien Shiba were momentarily stunned.
Soon after, gratified smiles surfaced on both of their faces.
"Yeah..."
Isshin shook his head with a bitter smile, his eyes completely red, yet he smiled joyfully.
It was the kind of smile one had when watching a carefully cultivated seedling finally grow into a towering tree capable of providing shelter from the wind and rain.
"You're right, Captain Hitsugaya! The Tenth Division hasn't needed a troublesome old geezer like me for a long time now."
He looked at Toshiro, his eyes full of admiration and pride.
"You are calmer, more responsible, and more dependable than I ever was! Under your leadership, the Tenth Division will surely become the sharpest sword in the Gotei 13."
"Leaving the Tenth Division to you... was the most correct decision I've ever made in my life."
Kaien also looked up at Toshiro, the gloom on his face completely swept away, returning to his usual hearty demeanor.
"Sorry about that, Captain Hitsugaya... Even though I was a very incompetent captain, I am truly glad now that you were the one who took over the Tenth Division."
Kaien said earnestly, "You've done better than any of us! You are the one truly suited to lead the Tenth Division, the one who truly deserves to wear that Captain's haori."
Faced with such sincere affirmation and praise from the two former captains, Toshiro, who was accustomed to maintaining a cold facade, actually felt a rare trace of discomfort.
He turned his head slightly, avoiding their overly eager gazes, a faint blush creeping up the tips of his ears.
"Shut up! I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do!"
Toshiro snorted coldly, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Since you've both said this much, let's get straight to the point. What are your plans moving forward?"
Toshiro turned his head back. "The Soul Society is currently in its most chaotic period, and the future remains unclear. The Seireitei is in dire need of combat power right now."
He looked at Kaien. "Since you've returned and recovered your Reiryoku, do you plan to rejoin the Gotei 13?"
At the mention of this, Kaien's expression turned serious.
He answered without hesitation, "Of course! Although I don't want to get involved in the power struggles between those nobles, the Soul Society is my home. I can't just watch it get destroyed by that bastard Aizen."
"But..."
Kaien changed the subject, looking at Toshiro with a grin.
"I don't plan on going back to the Tenth Division to steal your spot. You and Rangiku are more than enough for the Tenth Division."
"I plan to return to the Thirteenth Division."
A trace of nostalgia for the past and determination for the future flashed in Kaien's eyes.
"Captain Ukitake's health has always been poor. During the years I was away, it must have been incredibly hard for him to hold the fort alone... The Thirteenth Division needs people right now."
"I am the Vice Captain of the Thirteenth Division. My place has always been there."
Hearing Kaien's decision, Toshiro did not feel surprised.
He knew the bond between Kaien and Jushiro Ukitake was very deep, and he also knew that Kaien's personality was indeed more suited for the relatively relaxed atmosphere of the Thirteenth Division.
"Understood. I will pass on your wishes to Head Captain Kyoraku."
"Given the current situation, the Thirteenth Division indeed needs a powerful combatant like you to return."
Toshiro nodded, then turned his gaze to Isshin Kurosaki.
"What about you?"
Toshiro's eyes became somewhat complex.
He looked at this man, whom he had once viewed as an elder and an idol, now wearing clothes from the World of the Living, carrying the faint scent of cooking smoke and medicine.
"Now that you've confessed your identity to Ichigo and your daughters, do you plan to bring them back to the Soul Society?"
"With your strength and the Shiba family bloodline, if you are willing to return, even if you don't serve as a Captain, the Seireitei would welcome you."
However, Isshin Kurosaki gently shook his head.
The heaviness on his face had disappeared, replaced only by a peaceful satisfaction, carrying a somewhat yearning smile.
He looked toward the sliding door of the tearoom. Through the thin shoji paper, he could faintly hear the sounds coming from the main hall outside.
There were Ichigo's loud complaints, Yuzu's crisp and sweet laughter, Karin's cool retorts, and Kukaku's boisterous urging to drink.
That was the vibrant tapestry of mortal life; that was the most precious treasure he had used all his strength to protect over these years.
"Forget about returning to the Gotei 13. That kind of life doesn't suit me anymore."
Isshin chuckled softly, his tone revealing a hint of freedom. "Isshin Shiba the Soul Reaper is already gone."
"The one sitting in front of you right now is just an idiot father who always makes his kids worry—Isshin Kurosaki."
He stretched out his hands, which had become somewhat rough with the passage of time, and gently patted his thighs.
"Of course, given the current state of the Soul Society, I won't just stand by and watch."
"I'll stay at the Shiba estate for a while and see if there's anything I can help with."
"After all, I am the head of the Shiba branch family. I can at least keep up appearances for you all and offer some advice."
He turned his head to look outside the door, his eyes softening. "As for Yuzu and Karin, let's just treat this as their summer vacation... After all, a place as interesting as the Soul Society isn't somewhere you can visit just anytime."
"Once the situation stabilizes, I'll take the kids back to the World of the Living and resume my days at the small clinic."
"I just want to peacefully watch my kids grow up, see what kind of wife that brat Ichigo finds in the future, and watch Yuzu and Karin get married..."
As he spoke, Isshin's eyes grew a little moist again, but he smiled brighter than ever before.
"This is my current dream, and it is also the most sacred mission... that Masaki left for me."
Looking at Isshin Kurosaki before him, whose face was full of happiness and who exuded the aura of a doting father from head to toe, Toshiro Hitsugaya remained silent for a long time.
He felt from the bottom of his heart that although this man's outward appearance had changed...
The sense of responsibility in his bones, the willingness to shoulder everything to protect his family and comrades, had not diminished in the slightest.
Although it was somewhat of a waste of his powerful Soul Reaper powers and noble bloodline, looking at Isshin's relieved and satisfied smile, Toshiro couldn't bring himself to utter a single word of reproach.
Isshin Shiba had chosen to give up power to embrace ordinary love and family.
Kaien Shiba had chosen to pick up his responsibilities again and return to his original bonds to fight.
Everyone had their own path and choices.
And as for him, Toshiro Hitsugaya—his choice was to wear this heavy Captain's haori properly and protect this Soul Society, which, although riddled with holes, was still cherished by many.
"...What a hopeless old geezer."
Toshiro finally just snorted coldly in annoyance. "Do whatever you want. If you need any help, go find Matsumoto."
"No matter what, the Tenth Division won't skimp on a cup of tea for you."
Although he spoke harsh words, the tight corners of Toshiro's mouth inadvertently curled up into a tiny smile.
He stood up, turning his back to the two of them, and prepared to slide open the tearoom door.
"Live well, you two old men..."
These words were the most awkward, yet most sincere blessing...
From this young Captain to these two former Captains.
Slide—
"Oh! Captain Hitsugaya is out!"
Kukaku Shiba, who was currently competing in a drinking contest with Shinji Hirako, immediately and boldly raised the sake cup in her hand upon seeing Toshiro.
"How was it? Did you give those two bastards who abandoned you a good lesson?"
"Haha! Come, come, come! Have a drink to celebrate getting your revenge!"
"I don't drink."
Toshiro flatly refused Kukaku's invitation, his gaze sweeping across the hall.
"Where is Matsumoto?"
"Rangiku?" Rukia pointed outside the door. "She just said the alcohol here wasn't strong enough and ran off to an izakaya in the Rukongai to buy good liquor. She'll probably be back in a bit."
"That drunkard who only knows how to cause trouble..." Toshiro rubbed his temples, nursing a headache.
Right at this moment, Isshin Kurosaki and Kaien Shiba also walked out of the tearoom.
The gloom on their faces had been completely swept away, especially Isshin Kurosaki, who had returned to his mindless, goofy self.
"Yuzu! Karin! Daddy's out! Did you miss Daddy?!"
Isshin opened his arms wide and lunged toward his two daughters like a big, clumsy bear.
"Go away! You smelly old man! You reek of sweat!" Karin dodged his hug with a look of disgust and even used his momentum to give him a shoulder throw.
"Daddy is so silly." Yuzu giggled from the side, covering her mouth in amusement.
Watching this family resume their daily roughhousing, Kaien shook his head helplessly.
Kisuke Urahara and Rojuro Otoribashi sat in the corner, sipping tea while watching this chaotic scene.
"My, my. Although it's a bit rough, the atmosphere of the Shiba family is truly enviable," Kisuke Urahara remarked with a sigh.
"Indeed. It is full of vibrant vitality, like a cheerful rhapsody," Rojuro Otoribashi nodded elegantly.
Toshiro Hitsugaya stood at the edge of the hall, looking at this group of people who were so noisy they gave him a headache, yet made him feel incredibly alive, and he sighed softly.
'No matter how great the storm in the future will be...'
He said silently to himself in his heart, 'At least for now, everyone is gathered here safely.'
'No matter what, we must protect all of this...'
Facing the setting sun spilling in through the crack in the door, Toshiro strode out of the Shiba family's gates.
He still had many things to do. The Tenth Division still had many official documents waiting for his approval, and Head Captain Kyoraku also needed his assistance.
As the Captain of the Tenth Division, he didn't have time to waste here with this bunch of idiots.
However, before he left, his cold voice still drifted gently into the hall along with the evening breeze.
"If Rangiku comes back from buying alcohol, tell her to report to the barracks on time tomorrow morning."
"If she is even one minute late..."
"I will dock a month of her salary."