"Baldy! I heard my division is getting a new Captain. Have you heard any news?" Hiyori asked Shinji, her heart full of anticipation for her new commanding officer.
Shinji flashed an infuriating smile. "Hehe, of course I know! But I can't tell you just yet. I can give you a little hint, though. It's someone you already know, Hiyori."
Hiyori's eyes lit up. "Someone I know? Who could it be? Don't tell me it's Love! His strength is enough to be promoted to Captain."
Shinji smiled, shaking his head. "It's not Love. Guess again."
Hiyori frowned, thinking hard. "Then who else could it be? It can't be that annoying four-eyes, Aizen..."
Shinji just smiled without saying a word, finding it amusing to watch Hiyori rack her brains.
Hiyori finally couldn't take it anymore and shouted, "You damn baldy! Are you going to tell me or not?! Fine, don't say it! I'll find out tomorrow anyway!" She turned on her heel and stormed off in a huff.
Watching her retreating back, Shinji chuckled softly. "Haha... she's still so impatient."
...
The next day, the Twelfth Division welcomed its new Captain.
This news caused a sensation within the barracks. Everyone had been placing bets on who it would be, but no one expected the appointee to be someone transferred directly from the Second Division's Onmitsukidō.
What was even more surprising was that the appointment was nominated by Yoruichi Shihōin herself.
Amidst everyone's anticipation and curiosity, Kisuke Urahara made his official debut.
He wore the white haori over his uniform, a bucket hat pulled low over his eyes. He looked scholarly and laid-back, yet exuded the air of a brilliant, unpredictable schemer.
His appearance filled the squad with anticipation, but also with doubts about his abilities.
After all, whether an assassin from the Detention Unit could manage the Seireitei's science division was a major unknown.
However, Kisuke did not disappoint.
The first thing he did after taking office was establish the Shinigami Research and Development Institute (SRDI).
Immediately after, he invited Mayuri Kurotsuchi to serve as his Vice-President.
Mayuri had originally been deemed a high-risk threat and imprisoned in the Maggot's Nest, but now he was an executive figure in the SRDI.
This move caused controversy across the Seireitei, but it also proved Kisuke's boldness and determination.
Hiyori remained the Vice-Captain of the Twelfth, but she resented Kisuke's arrival and the total overhaul of her beloved squad!
"So it's him! You damn baldy, why didn't you tell me beforehand?!" Hiyori punched Shinji on the back of the head at the izakaya that night.
Although Kisuke was technically an old acquaintance, Hiyori disliked the guy.
This might have been a shared trait among Soul Society scientists, because Mayuri Kurotsuchi had that same irritating, ambiguous quality about him.
Although the Twelfth Division's focus had already begun shifting toward research during Kirio's tenure, Hiyori didn't like the sterile atmosphere Kisuke was cultivating.
She felt these so-called 'scientists' were always immersed in their own twisted worlds, indifferent to the living, breathing people around them.
They frequently did things that were simply incomprehensible.
Mayuri was a prime example.
His bizarre makeup, his cold and ruthless attitude, and his unscrupulous experimental methods made Hiyori sick to her stomach.
She would much rather fight alongside brave, straightforward squad members on the front lines than stay cooped up with crazy, unethical scientists.
...
A few days later, Hiyori marched over to the Seventh Division.
"I want to transfer from the Twelfth Division to the Seventh Division! I hate the work environment over there now," Hiyori declared, pouring out her grievances to Kazuma.
Kazuma frowned slightly from behind his desk. "Have you really thought this through, Hiyori? The Seventh Division already has an excellent Vice-Captain in Jin'emon. If you transfer over, you could only serve as the 3rd Seat. Are you willing to accept a demotion?"
Despite his warning, an idea stirred in Kazuma's heart.
He thought of how Kirio had asked him to take care of Hiyori before she left, and he was tempted to take the girl under his wing.
Hiyori answered without a second of hesitation. "I've thought it through. I'm sure I want to transfer to the Seventh. I hope you will take me in, Captain Kazuma."
She was not someone who coveted rank or political status, she just wanted a place where she felt she belonged.
Kazuma nodded, a warm smile breaking across his face. "Alright then. Welcome to the Seventh Division Hiyori! I'll submit the paperwork to the Captain-Commander and have a quick chat with Kisuke." He stood up to leave.
Hiyori quickly held up a hand. "I'll go talk to Captain Urahara myself."
She felt she owed it to her former squad to explain things clearly to Kisuke in person.
Hiyori marched back to the Twelfth Division to find Kisuke in his new lab.
She took a deep breath and said solemnly, "I'm submitting my paperwork to transfer to the Seventh Division."
Kisuke peered out from under his bucket hat, a mock-surprised expression on his face.
He pointed a fan at himself. "Why? Is it because you just can't stand me?"
Hiyori shook her head, explaining sincerely, "Kisuke, you're a decent guy as a friend. It's just... I don't like the new style and atmosphere of the Twelfth Division, so I want to transfer to the Seventh. I hope you'll approve my request."
"Well, well! In that case, I approve it Hiyori," Kisuke said with an easygoing smile.
"Thank you, Kisuke," Hiyori smiled, her eyes sparking with relief.
...
With the flutter of a butterfly's wings, the trajectory of fate changed.
Hiyori left the Twelfth Division and moved her belongings to the Seventh.
She was a Vice-Captain, but had willingly demoted herself to become the 3rd Seat of Kazuma's squad.
The members of the Seventh Division did not show any resentment or confusion about this sudden change.
They were well aware of the principle that strength reigned supreme, and they held respect for powerful warriors.
When they learned that a powerhouse like Hiyori was joining their ranks, they welcomed her with open arms.
With Hiyori's departure from her post, the future Visored faction lost a core member.
But Kazuma didn't care about the 'canon' plotlines anymore, he had his own plans and goals.
Since Hiyori had placed her trust in the Seventh Division, he would not allow her to fall victim to Aizen's Hollowfication experiments.
Kazuma knew Hiyori had untapped potential.
Anyone who could serve as a Vice-Captain in the Gotei 13 was no simple character. If she received dedicated guidance, she could grow into a true Captain-level combatant.
Therefore, he decided to have Batsu'unsai mentor Hiyori, helping the girl break through her limits.
No sooner said than done, Kazuma put his plan into action. "Hiyori, I'm thinking of finding a personal teacher for you. I wonder if you're interested?"
Hiyori crossed her arms, glaring at him. "Don't you dare say it's you! I won't agree to that."
The thought of having a lazy monster like Kazuma as her teacher made her skin crawl!
"Am I really that bad?" Kazuma laughed, unoffended. "But you've got it wrong. I'm actually planning to have my wife, Batsu'unsai, take you as her student."
After spending time around the barracks, Hiyori had come to understand the depth of Batsu'unsai's power.
"If it's Captain Batsu'unsai, then I agree!"
...
At the izakaya that evening...
Shinji took a sip of his drink and asked, "Hiyori, why did you go to the Seventh Division of all places? You would have been better off transferring to my Fifth Division."
"Shut it, baldy! It's none of your business anyway! I'm happy where I am. Compared to Captain Kazuma, I'd rather not see your ugly face every day. Not only that, but Captain Kazuma's wife agreed to become my teacher!" Hiyori bragged.
"Tell us, is Captain Kazuma's wife strong too?" Kensei asked, ignoring Hiyori's insults.
As the brawler of the group, he only wanted to know about power levels.
"Go ask the baldy. He knows the truth," Hiyori said, jerking a thumb at Shinji.
Kensei stared eagerly at Shinji. "Hurry up and tell me!"
"Honestly, Kensei, all you care about is how strong someone is. You really are a muscle-brained idiot," Shinji sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't know exactly how strong she is now. I only know she is the founding, first-generation Captain of the Eighth Division, Katori Batsu'unsai. You can figure it out for yourself. How could someone who survived the quincy wars not be a powerhouse?"
"Hiyori, I'm so jealous of you! I wish I could be taught by a legendary figure like that," Kensei admitted, practically drooling at the thought of elite combat training!
"Kensei, don't even think about it! Even if you begged on your hands and knees, Captain Batsu'unsai wouldn't agree to train you. If Captain Hikifune hadn't asked Captain Kazuma to look after me before she left, I wouldn't have had this chance either," Hiyori said, shattering Kensei's fantasy.
Kensei slumped over his drink, sighing in resignation.
"What a damn shame..."