Central 46 did not like compromise.
Central 46 held the highest authority in Soul Society after the Soul King's Palace, serving as its supreme judicial body.
Made up of forty Sages and six Judges, the organization ruled Seireitei. They were arbiters who could decide the fate of Shinigami without even needing the framework of the law.
They believed themselves to stand above all else, supreme beings who maintained the stability of the entire world, a part of the Soul King.
As the King's eyes, they saw the mortal world clearly.
As the King's ears, they listened to the people.
As the King's voice, they spoke destiny.
As the King's limbs, they delivered judgment.
That was why Central 46 could ignore the petitions of several Captain-level Shinigami and order Rukia Kuchiki's execution.
They could imprison Muten Natsu without verifying anything.
They could hide the crimes of nobles who slaughtered their fellow Shinigami.
They could shift the blame onto commoner Shinigami.
They could decide the fate of Shinigami by their own judgment.
That was how it had always been, and that was how it should continue to be.
That was why Central 46 hated change.
They hated changes in the Shinigami, changes they could not keep up with.
What if... the Shinigami became less obedient?
So they clung to their power and to the rules they had created. Anyone who violated those rules would be severely punished.
If someone dared break the rules today, wouldn't they try to overthrow them tomorrow?
Driven by that fear, Central 46 could not adapt with the times. They could not even admit the times were changing.
But when a blade was pressed to their necks, no matter how unwilling they were, they had to acknowledge what had to be acknowledged.
Before, Central 46 had called for Muten Natsu to be killed. But after learning of Sōsuke Aizen's plan and seeing the power and ambition he revealed, they began to feel that Muten Natsu was actually quite acceptable.
Central 46 truly did not like compromise.
But matters of Central 46... matters of a part of the Soul King... how could they be called compromise?
All of it was the Soul King's will.
"Central 46 is changing, but after Sōsuke Aizen was imprisoned, some people began trying to restore things to the way they were before. That is where most of the resistance to this matter comes from," Nayura Amakado summarized. "So we need another force to oppose that regression. Do you remember what I told you before?"
Some things were not impossible to change. People simply did not want to change them.
To solve the unique problems of extraordinary times, special-time regulations had to be created. If those special-time regulations produced positive results, there would be far less resistance to turning them into standing regulations.
Because of what had happened before, Muten Natsu had special privileges.
And for those privileges to take shape, corresponding changes were necessary.
Nayura Amakado hoped to force Central 46 into making those changes by granting Muten Natsu special privileges, then slowly transition those privileges into common rights for all Shinigami.
"This matter is the same. I hope you can speak with the members of the Visored and let those who wish to return to Soul Society take up Captain positions," Nayura Amakado said plainly. "You defeated Sōsuke Aizen. You have the ability to make those who oppose it afraid to object."
For the Visored to serve as Captains again, the members of the Visored needed to want it, and Central 46 also had to approve.
But it would be awkward no matter which side moved first.
If the members of the Visored agreed, only for Central 46 to reject it, that would hurt the Visored.
If Central 46 passed the resolution, but the Visored had no intention of returning to Soul Society, that would damage Central 46's authority.
Though there was not much of that left to damage.
Precisely because there was not much left, they had to fight even harder to preserve it.
A great deal of the resistance came from that.
This was where Muten Natsu's importance became clear.
As long as he showed his intention, Central 46 would agree.
If the Visored had no desire to return to Soul Society, then the proposal would not involve Central 46's reputation. It would simply be Muten Natsu's personal suggestion.
Just as Nayura Amakado served as the bridge between Muten Natsu and Central 46, Muten Natsu had now become the bridge between Central 46 and the Visored.
That was also why Nayura Amakado said she needed Orihime Inoue's help.
Orihime Inoue was the one who had healed the Visored' injuries.
With her help, communicating with the Visored would be much easier.
Muten Natsu was a little dazed.
Before he knew it, he had reached a level where he could influence Soul Society.
For the first time in a long while, he felt the confusion he had felt right after graduation.
His way of thinking had not yet fully shifted from school to society, yet his status was already that of an adult.
"I..." Muten Natsu thought about asking Retsu Unohana, but halfway through, he remembered her current condition and frowned.
He could not always rely on Retsu Unohana.
If he depended on her too much, what had happened before would happen again.
But if he did not ask Retsu Unohana, he could not make up his mind on his own.
"Muten..." Orihime Inoue poked Muten Natsu. "I feel like everyone does want to stay in Soul Society."
"Hm?" Muten Natsu asked. "What makes you say that?"
"After Mr. Rose came back from the Third Division, he kept telling everyone in the Visored Corps that it had been so long since he last walked around Seireitei like this," Orihime Inoue said gently. "Hisagi-san also came to visit Muguruma-san. When Hisagi-san was little, he ran into a Hollow in Rukongai, and Muguruma-san saved him. That was why Hisagi-san worked so hard to enter Shin'ō Academy afterward, and even after failing twice, he still didn't give up."
Muten Natsu thought of the number tattoo on Shūhei Hisagi's face. Kensei Muguruma had the same number on his chest.
He had assumed it was just a coincidence before, but it turned out there was a story behind it.
"Then all right." Muten Natsu stood up. "I'll go ask Hirako."
Since both sides needed this, Muten Natsu did not mind building a bridge between them.
But rather than building a bridge...
He inevitably thought of Sōsuke Aizen.
If Sōsuke Aizen was the one tearing off the roof, then the current Muten Natsu was more like someone opening a window.
If he did nothing, Muten Natsu would only be helping Central 46 maintain its rule.
It was not enough just to stop Sōsuke Aizen. Muten Natsu also needed to act, to open a window.
"Serving as Captains again, huh~" Shinji Hirako said in his usual odd tone. "Fine, I'll go talk to them..."
But then.
Bang!
Before Shinji Hirako could finish speaking, Hiyori Sarugaki, who had been lying in bed, sprang up and landed a perfect kick to the side of Shinji Hirako's face.
The move was terrifyingly fast. Shinji Hirako spun into the air and crashed heavily to the ground.
"I can't believe you!" Hiyori Sarugaki shouted while kicking him. "You bald idiot, there's a limit to how much nonsense you can talk!"
Fortunately, Lisa Yadōmaru stepped in, allowing Shinji Hirako to escape with his life.
But although Lisa Yadōmaru was calmer than Hiyori Sarugaki, she had no intention of returning to the Division either.
"A world without Shonen JUMP to read is useless to me, so I'm going back to the World of the Living too," Love Aikawa said with a smile as he watched the scene. "Besides, Hiyori needs a bodyguard, right?"
"The base in the World of the Living needs my barrier, and I have no reason to stay here either," Hachigen Ushōda said, giving his own reason. "Besides... if no one stays there for too long, the cats I know will get lonely."
Kensei Muguruma, however, was willing to serve as Captain of the 9th Division.
But there was one problem...
"Huh~!? That's not fair!" Mashiro Kuna flopped onto the floor and rolled back and forth, waving her arms and legs as she shouted like a child throwing a tantrum. "If Kensei gets to be Captain, then I want to be Lieutenant too! I~ want~ to~ be~ one~!!!"
A vein bulged on Kensei Muguruma's forehead. "The 9th Division already has a Lieutenant!"
Mashiro Kuna wailed in fake tears, "Kensei, you dummy! Dummy Kensei! Dummy, dummy, dummy!"
Shūhei Hisagi, who had come to visit at just the right time, looked rather awkward.
"I remember that besides being Lieutenant," Orihime Inoue said, blinking, "Hisagi-san is also the editor-in-chief, right?"
"Yes." Shūhei Hisagi nodded. "The 9th Division is responsible for the Gotei 13's literary department, and each generation handles the editing and publication of the Seireitei Communication."
"I've read it. It's super interesting," Orihime Inoue said, pressing on. "The editor-in-chief's job must be really fun too!"
"Uh... actually, most of the time it's very boring," Shūhei Hisagi said honestly. "First, you have to make content plans, such as deciding themes, setting schedules, and arranging manuscripts. After that, you assign tasks, oversee the editorial team's daily work, distribute and review manuscripts, make sure each editor understands their responsibilities and can complete their work efficiently, edit and review manuscripts to ensure consistency in language, style, and formatting, and make sure the content is accurate and clear. You're also responsible for hiring new editors, training and guiding them, chasing submissions, managing budgets and resources, adjusting content based on feedback, and sometimes running all over the place gathering material. But most of the time, you're just in the office sorting through manuscripts..."
Orihime Inoue's eyes lit up. "Then you must have one of those, right? One of those super-amazing editors."
Shūhei Hisagi did not understand. "What kind of editor?"
Orihime Inoue poked Muten Natsu and blinked at him. "What was it called again? You know, the Don Kanonji kind."
"Oh, that..." Muten Natsu immediately understood and imitated Don Kanonji's flamboyant naming style. "Super... Super Spirits Scoop Editor!"
"What's that?!" Mashiro Kuna instantly perked up, staring at Muten Natsu with sparkling eyes. "What do they do?"
Muten Natsu had not expected Don Kanonji's over-the-top style to work so well on children. "It's... a Super Soul Exclusive News Editor."
Mashiro Kuna turned to Shūhei Hisagi. "Do you have one? Do you? Do you?"
Shūhei Hisagi answered honestly, "We don't have one yet."
"..." Mashiro Kuna flopped back onto the floor. "Kensei, you dummy, dummy, dummy, dummy, dummy, dummy, dummy, dummy!"
Kensei Muguruma: "...!"
"But..." After catching the look Muten Natsu gave him, Shūhei Hisagi finally realized what was going on. "We never had a suitable candidate before, so the position didn't exist. Actually, I've been trying very hard to find a Super Soul Exclusive News Editor, someone who can travel between Soul Society and the World of the Living, uncover phenomena and events no one has ever seen before, and present them to our readers. Someone cool, fresh, stylish, dreamy, wonderful, colorful, and exciting! An SSS Editor!"
"Me, me, me!" Mashiro Kuna thrust up her little hand. "I want to do it!"
"Then I'll be counting on you." Shūhei Hisagi bowed deeply. "Kuna-senpai!"
"Hehe~" Mashiro Kuna put her hands on her hips. "Leave it to me!"
Kensei Muguruma: "..." These people were just playing along with her!
But this was fine too.
Kensei Muguruma was willing to stay in Soul Society out of his responsibility to maintain the balance of the world.
But he did not want Mashiro Kuna to become a Lieutenant again for his sake and get dragged into dangerous battles like before.
As for Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, there was no need to say much. He also agreed to stay in Soul Society and resume his position as Captain of the Third Division.
"Good afternoon~! Momo Hinamori-chan, are you in there?" After confirming his return to the 5th Division, Shinji Hirako saw how Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi got along with his Lieutenant and decided to visit the General Medical Center to meet his own future Lieutenant.
"Ah... yes, please come in!"
"Pardon the intrusion~" Shinji Hirako pushed open the door and saw Momo Hinamori lying on the hospital bed, pale-faced and hollow-eyed.
A trace of confusion appeared on Momo Hinamori's face. "Hirako-san?"
Although she had heard Nanao Ise mention the members of the Visored, Momo Hinamori had no real connection with them and did not know why Shinji Hirako had come.
Shinji Hirako pulled a chair from beside the wall to the bed, straddled it backward with the chair back in front of him, and sat down. "Hinamori-chan, you see... I'm planning to take over as Captain of the 5th Division."
Momo Hinamori's eyes widened for an instant. Then her eyelids lowered, and even her head bowed. "Ah... I see..."
"My Zanpakutō is called Sakanade. That guy has a really rotten personality... All he does all day is lie. I had to sift through that pile of lies, searching for the truth like a needle in a haystack, before Sakanade finally submitted to me." Shinji Hirako ignored the confusion appearing in Momo Hinamori's eyes and continued. "The first time I met Aizen, Sakanade started stirring... like it was itching for a fight, eager to have a go. Sakanade almost never takes interest in the outside world. That was the first time I'd seen it act that way. Maybe it got so excited because it had found someone similar to itself..."
Shinji Hirako tapped Sakanade at his waist, as if trying to wake it, but it gave no response at all. The corners of his downturned mouth twitched, and his gaze grew complicated.
"So from the very beginning, I realized that kid had a dark nature hidden inside him. But I could never find an opening. Until he finally showed his true colors, all I could do was keep him close and watch him. As for how that turned out, you saw it with your own eyes."
Momo Hinamori pressed her lips together. She had seen far more than that with her own eyes...
Shinji Hirako tugged at his carefully maintained hair. "Back then, no matter what methods I had to use, I should have killed him!"