Chapter 118: The Thirteen Court Guard Squad Has Already Become Araki's Form

First Squad barracks.

The main gate of the First Squad barracks is always open, perhaps because peace has lasted long, or perhaps in the eyes of Yuan Liuzhai, Captain General of the Thirteen Court Guard Squad, the First Squad barracks he himself protects are the safest place in Jingling Court, so there is no need to close the doors nor station guards.

As for the members of the First Squad, they have all been dispatched by Yuan Liuzhai at this moment to assist other squads and manage the vast Jingling Court.

Today, although the First Squad barracks' gate has been open for a long time with no "guests" willing to come, a group of Thirteen Court Guard Squad captains arrived.

Indeed, today marks the squad leaders' meeting after several days' interval.

"A squad leaders' meeting and all that, how troublesome."

"Just seeing Yamamoto's old face makes my mood sour for an entire month. By the way, have the squad leaders' meetings become too frequent lately? Is some squad having trouble?"

Kong Miyadai, the head of his house and current captain of the Seventh Squad and the Inner Court Guard, walked down the First Squad's long corridor, sighing continuously. Even with his status as a head of one of the Five Great Noble Houses, coming to the First Squad where Yamamoto Genryusai, the so‑called strongest Shinigami of the Soul Society, resides brings him immense pressure; merely exchanging glances with Genryusai in daily life makes him feel as if his body were burned by flames.

"Good morning, Captain Kong Miyadai~"

Just as Kong Miyadai murmured, a slightly solemn whisper reached his ear. He turned his head and saw an elegant man with jet‑black long hair, wearing a Qianxing Qian on his head and a silver‑white Fenghua Sha around his neck, walking toward him and nodding a greeting.

"Who am I? Oh, it's the Kuchiki head! Greetings~"

Kong Miyadai despises the head of the Kuchiki family; in his eyes, Kuchiki people are a bunch of pretentious and rigid fellows, always wearing a sour expression and spouting a heap of rules, claiming that anything not done would betray noble decorum, anything that doesn't fit Soul Society's regulations is forbidden. To Kong Miyadai, the Kuchiki family's rules are nonsense; if a head of the Five Great Noble Houses cannot act as they wish, then being a head of the Five Great Noble Houses becomes meaningless.

Of course, deep down Kong Miyadai looks down on the Kuchiki head, but he still offers outward respect, especially as the Kuchiki family's rise has been so strong in recent years that they even seem poised to surpass his own house and become the foremost noble house of the Soul Society.

"Hmm."

The Kuchiki head heard this and lightly tapped his chin at Kong Miyadai.

"Here, here, such an arrogant chin‑tilting posture…"

"People of the Kuchiki family are truly cut from the same mold."

Kong Miyadai looked at the smiling Kuchiki head and kept muttering in his mind.

"Good morning, both of you~"

Just as Kong Miyadai and the Kuchiki head exchanged greetings, Shiba Zehu, former captain of the Ninth Squad and current leader of the Tenth Squad, flashed in behind them and greeted.

"Yo! Isn't this Miss Shiba? Greetings."

Kong Miyadai looked at Shiba Zehu and cheerfully greeted.

"Greetings? Only women say 'greetings', you sissy…"

Shiba Zehu, after hearing Kong Miyadai's words, wore a faint smile while silently cursing in his mind.

"What a rude and unkempt woman, I truly don't know why among our Five Great Noble Houses, there happens to be…"

Kong Miyadai was also mentally arranging Shiba Zehu at this moment; it can only be said that both sides find each other unpleasant.

"Let's go, the meeting is about to start."

After Shiba Zehu joined, Kong Miyadai grew too lazy to reminisce with the Kuchiki head. He gave a slight smile, nodded at both the Kuchiki head and Shiba Zehu, and stepped forward.

"Miss Shiba, let's go as well!"

Seeing this, the Kuchiki head nodded at Shiba Zehu and politely said.

"Alright!"

Hearing that, Shiba Zehu swaggered behind Kong Miyadai and walked away.

As for the Kuchiki head, he walked at the very back of the three…

In an instant, the representative of the third of the Five Great Noble Houses, the United Front, headed toward the First Squad leader's chamber, which is also the venue for the squad leaders' meeting.

"Come to think of it, the member of the Shihouin family hasn't arrived today, which is quite…"

When Kong Miyadai reached the doorway of the First Squad leader's chamber, he suddenly halted, as if recalling something, and asked Shiba Zehu and the Kuchiki head behind him.

"Eh? You don't know? That member of the Shihouin family, two days ago already…"

After hearing the words of the Gong Mi Dai family head, Zhi Bo Ze Hong, although she herself did not wish to deal with the guy in front of her, she still replied softly.

"What? Such a thing actually happened?"

The Gong Mi Dai head was startled by the words; he had been busy with the affairs of 'Shi Tan' these days and indeed had neglected matters of other families, and he did not expect that the head of the branch family of the 'Si Feng Yuan' family had already completely stepped down from the team‑leader position…

For a moment the Gong Mi Dai head was somewhat troubled; he wondered why the head of the branch family of the 'Si Feng Yuan' family had proactively contacted him to drink in recent days. It turned out that this branch head had already received a resignation letter from the clan in advance, so he planned to make a good profit before completely losing his authority, and the most infuriating part was that he had fallen for it, giving the other side many benefits.

"This squad leaders' meeting, I'm afraid…"

At this moment, the Kuchiki head interjected…

"Just because I don't know?!"

Kong Miyadai's eyebrows…

"Ah, everyone…"

Just as Kong Miyadai, the Kuchiki head, and Shiba Zehu stood at…

The others turned their heads and saw a woman with long jet‑black hair, a graceful figure, and a dignified, beautiful appearance, walking with a light yet very steady stride toward the three of them.

"Captain Mao no Hana…"

When the Gong Mi Dai head saw the woman before him, countless fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead; this woman was one of the few people in the 'Jing Ling Ting' that he could neither afford to offend nor wished to offend.

"Captain Mao Zhi Hua." Compared with the extremely guilty Gong Mi Dai head, who had done all the bad deeds, the Xiumu head and Zhi Bo Ze Hong were very generous; both smiled and nodded toward Mao Zhi Hua Lie, greeting him.

Among them, Zhi Bo Ze Hong also remembered to give a slight bow to Mao Zhi Hua Lie, and while greeting, thanked, "Thank you, Captain Aramaki, for your help to our Zhi Bo family these days."

"Haha…" Mao Zhi Hua Lie heard this, gave Zhi Bo Ze Hong a light smile, and then said, "Since it is Captain Aramaki who helped your Zhi Bo family, you should go and thank Captain Aramaki in person."

"Click…"

It was precisely while Mao Zhi Hua Lie was chatting casually with the few of them that the door of the 'Yi Fan Duo' team‑leader room slowly opened.

"The captain of the even‑numbered squad stands to my right, and the captain of the odd‑numbered squad stands to my left."

When the team‑leader room door opened, Yamamoto Motoyanagi, holding a Zhan Po Dao in his hand, stood at the far end of the room, his breath full of vigor, addressing the many captains outside the door.

"At your command."

As Motoyanagi began to speak, Mao Zhi Hua Lie and the others first gave a slight nod, then stood on both sides of Motoyanagi.

"Lie, you came so slowly today~"

In the captain's quarters, Araki, who had already arrived, glanced at the fashionably late U no Hana Retsu, gave a small yawn, and complained.

Ah, I don't know which bastard disappeared as soon as he opened his eyes this morning, leaving me alone to treat the critically ill members of the Fourth Division.

Upon hearing this, U no Hana Retsu slightly narrowed his eyes, and a killing intent seemed to emanate from his narrowed gaze.

Eh...

Hearing U no Hana Retsu's words, Araki merely gave an embarrassed smile.

As for the three who entered together with U no Hana Retsu—the Kuchiki family head, Shiba Zehong, and the Tsunashiro family head—they pretended not to have heard anything, each taking their place and standing at attention, keeping their backs straight.

Did you hear anything just now?!

Araki questioned the other division captains beside him, steering the conversation elsewhere.

No, nothing...

The captains all shook their heads in response.

It's strange—why is Captain Araki idly attending this captains' meeting today?

Since the Ninth Division captain still hasn't arrived, the Seventh Division captain, the Tsunashiro family head, had to stand beside Araki, the Eleventh Division captain, with nothing between them to serve as a shield.

Thus, faced with Araki's deathly glare, the Tsunashiro family head had to pick up Araki's words and completely divert the topic.

Because I'm free today, I came. What? Is that not allowed?

Hearing the Tsunashiro family head's words, Araki gave a faint smile and then smilingly asked the Tsunashiro family head before him.

Eh...

Upon hearing this, the Tsunashiro family head's face instantly turned deathly pale.

No, did Araki take gunpowder today? He's speaking so aggressively.

Besides, this isn't what I wanted to ask—didn't you tell me to ask? It's utterly unreasonable.

The Tsunashiro family head kept complaining inwardly, but didn't dare to openly slight Araki's face, so he could only give an embarrassed smile.

In response, Araki didn't say much more; he merely looked at the Tsunashiro family head before him with a smiling, narrowed gaze, like looking at a lamb awaiting slaughter.

Time passed, half an hour went by, and afterward Araki and the other captains said nothing more, while the captains of the Gotei 13 gradually took their places, standing on either side of Genryūsai.

All right, since all the captains have arrived, you three may come out.

As all the active captains had gathered, Genryūsai, who held his Zanpakutō, lightly tapped the floor of the captain's chamber with the base of his Zanpakutō's sheath, quieting the scene while speaking softly.

Yes, sir~

As Genryūsai's words fell, four figures clad in white captain's haori entered from the side door of the First Division's captain's chamber and stood before the active captains of the Gotei 13.

Huh?!

Seeing this, the Gotei 13 captains were all startled; it was the first time they had seen four newly appointed captains of the Gotei 13 all at once.

Moreover, the Tsunashiro family head, who is the captain of the Seventh Division, was especially shocked; he never imagined that one day he would see this branch-family brat at a Gotei 13 captains' meeting.

Let me introduce these four: the new captain of the Second Division and commander of the Covert Ops, Yoruichi Shihōin; the new captain of the Eighth Division, Shunsui Kyōraku; the new captain of the Ninth Division, Tsunashiro Tatsuki; and the new captain of the Thirteenth Division, Jūshirō Ukitake! Let's congratulate these four for passing the captain's examination and officially becoming members of the Gotei 13 captains.

Genryūsai stood before the captains, taking in the expressions of the current Gotei 13 captains, while introducing the identities of Yoruichi and the others.

Shihōin Yoruichi? So that little lass before us is the little princess of the main Shihōin family? Truly formidable for her age, she already has the strength to be a captain at such a young age.

After all, being a member of the Shihōin family, having such strength at this age is quite normal! Speaking of which, I've never heard of this 'Ukitate Jūshirō'—does the noble class of Soul Society even have the surname Ukitate?!

I haven't heard of that either; the only Ukitate noble I know in Seireitei is a lower-ranking noble who makes a living from farming. However, I have heard of the surname 'Kyōraku'—it's a martial arts family that has been passed down for thousands of years. I originally heard that the current head of their family had fallen ill, thinking their Kyōraku line would decline, but I never expected such a talented genius to emerge; the Kyōraku family truly enjoys the protection of the Soul King.

As Genryūsai introduced Yoruichi and the others' identities and names, the captains immediately began whispering among themselves.

Congratulations, Tsunashiro family head!

The Tsunashiro family producing such an outstanding captain as Tatsuki bodes well for its future, which will surely continue its current glory! How delightful!

Tsunashiro family head, you really know how to keep secrets—there's someone in your family serving as captain of the Thirteenth Division, yet you didn't give us a heads‑up; if you had let us know earlier, we could have prepared gifts!

The current captains of the Third and Fifth Divisions, somewhat ingratiatingly, gathered before the Tsunashiro family head, continually offering congratulations.

Haha, it's not a big deal at all—why would you need to prepare gifts for me?

Upon hearing everyone's words, the Tsunashiro family head merely gave a light smile, responding with a calm, carefree demeanor.

Inwardly, the Tsunashiro family head was practically cursing: 'You idiots, do you think I don't want to? The problem is, I don't even know! Humph! That brat Tatsuki, running for captain—such a big matter, even I, the family head, am unaware; how could I inform you beforehand?'

At the same time, Tsunashiro Tatsuki, Kyōraku Shunsui, and Ukitate Jūshirō are all graduates of the Shino Academy, making them the first batch of graduates to become captains of the Gotei 13! This shows that our efforts in founding the Shino Academy are beginning to bear fruit.

Next, Genryūsai announced that Kyōraku and the others were all graduates of the Shino Academy, giving the academy a bit of publicity.

Haha...

In response, the captains of noble birth merely gave a light smile; to them, Kyōraku and the others entering the Shino Academy for further study was just the nobles giving Genryūsai a bit of face, slapping on the Shino Academy name.

As for why Kyōraku and the others could become captains of the Gotei 13 at such a young age, it was entirely due to their innate talent, with little relation to the Shino Academy.

By the way, there's one more thing to tell you all: Shihoin Yoruichi, Tsunashiro Tatsuki, Kyōraku Shunsui, and Ukitate Jūshirō are all disciples of Captain Araki, making them fellow disciples of the same school! Let's give a round of applause for these four, who all passed the captain's examination and successfully became captains of the Gotei 13.

Immediately after, Genryūsai, without waiting for the nobles to finish laughing, continued announcing the subsequent matter: that Yoruichi and the others all came from Araki's school, and that this was the 'Genryu' founded by Genryūsai himself, which he told the captains present.

This...

For a moment, the smiles on the faces of the noble-born captains vanished.

Originally, they saw that the forces competing with their noble-backed factions had put forward new captains for the Eighth, Ninth, and Thirteenth Divisions, and they were still quite happy.

But when they heard that these captains were all disciples of Araki, all coming from the Genryu, they could no longer smile for a moment.

It seems the Gotei 13 has fallen back into Genryūsai's hands.

If that's the case, then all our previous efforts have merely been making wedding clothes for someone else.

The noble-born captains all thought in astonishment.

You should know that originally the Fourth and Tenth Divisions were considered by everyone to be captains of the Genryu faction; adding Genryūsai himself, the founder of the Genryu, who occupies the positions of Commander‑General, Medical Logistics, and Combat Divisions, the Genryu faction itself is already the strongest within the Thirteen Divisions…

Now, with the addition of the Second Division, which has absorbed Covert Ops, the Eighth Division's intelligence unit, the Ninth Division's prison unit, and the Thirteenth Division's purification unit, the current Gotei 13 seems to have reverted to the era of its founding, becoming a killing organization under Genryūsai's sole authority—this time differing from the original in that…

Now, thanks to the efforts of these nobles, the current Gotei 13 has become inextricably linked with Seireitei; each captain wields tremendous authority to govern a region, and even nobles are subject to the command of the Gotei 13 captains.

What these captains don't yet know is that the Zhibo family's "Tenth Squad" has already taken the shape of Huangmu.

In other words, the First, Second, Fourth, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Thirteenth Squads—eight squads in total—are, in the eyes of these nobles, the so‑called Primordial Flow faction's team leaders.

"What on earth is going on with the Gangmidai head?!"

In response, the captains of the Third and Fifth Squads have already gathered before the Gangmidai head, who is the captain of the Seventh Squad, anxiously asking.

"Heh…"

As for the Gangmidai family head being questioned, his complexion is a bit off at this moment; honestly, he also wants to ask others what's happening—he himself doesn't grasp the current situation.

"Isn't this the high‑ranking, powerful head?!"

While the captains of the Third and Fifth Squads keep blinking at the Gangmidai head, who is the captain of the Seventh Squad, the current captain of the Ninth Squad, Gangmidai Shitan, steps up to his own head and greets with a cheerful smile.

"Shitan, long time no see~"

"Why didn't you tell the family about your run for Ninth Squad leader? If you had, the family would have found a way to support you! Running for captain alone must be very hard, right?!"

Gangmidai's head, looking at Shitan standing beside him, squinted, kept a smile on his face, and peppered Shitan with questions.

"Not hard—after all, I have my master, senior sister, and two junior brothers by my side!"

"Honestly, everything has been too smooth—so smooth that I haven't felt any hardship during the assessment. As for telling the family, I see no need; after all, this is my personal matter, and having the family intervene would be inappropriate. I would feel guilty about it~"

Shitan, after hearing Gangmidai's head speak, replied with a cheerful smile.

"What's there to feel guilty about? Shitan, remember—you bear the Gangmidai name, you are a member of the Gangmidai family; Gangmidai's affairs are your affairs, and your affairs are Gangmidai's affairs."

Upon hearing this, Gangmidai's head's expression hardened, and he spoke to Shitan in a stern yet seemingly warm manner.

"Heh…"

"Family, huh?!"

Shitan, after hearing his own head's words, gave a cold smile.

"Indeed, I do bear the Gangmidai name; I don't deny that. My blood is linked with yours, an inseparable part, and I don't deny that either. So after I become the leader of the Ninth Squad, I will take good care of our Gangmidai family~"

Shitan gave his own head a gentle smile.

"Ha ha, is that so?! As long as you look after our family…"

In response, Gangmidai's head also chuckled repeatedly, though his eyes flickered with a hint of panic.

"Of course I will look after our family; you needn't remind me of that, head…"

"So here I'd like to advise the head: from today onward, it's best to have my male and female cousins watch themselves carefully, lest I catch them by the little braid…"

"You know I'm now the captain of the Ninth Squad's Prison Unit; when I see violations of regulations, I must act, it's my duty! If I accidentally capture a cousin or even an elder, I hope you'll be lenient, after all… it's my duty!"

Shitan, looking at the Gangmidai head before him, gritted his teeth and uttered the four words "it's my duty."

"That's natural…"

After hearing Shitan's words, Gangmidai's head felt cold sweat trickle down his forehead, yet his mouth remained courteous.

But everyone who knows this Gangmidai head knows that his inner fury has nearly reached its peak; honestly, even he can't recall how many years it's been since he became head that anyone dared speak to him like this?!

Especially since the one threatening him now isn't an outsider but a junior member of the Gangmidai family—how could that not ignite his anger?!

"Better that way…"

Shitan, hearing this, nodded in satisfaction.

"Oh, by the way! My two 'uncles'…"

"Our family's Second Elder and Third Elder—did they perhaps convey a message to you?!"

Then Shitan seemed to recall something else and asked the Gangmidai head before him.

"What message?!"

The Gangmidai head furrowed his brows upon hearing that and curiously asked Shitan.

"It's not a big deal…"

"I told the two elders that I've decided to be the next head of the Gangmidai family…"

Shitan smiled at the Gangmidai head and said.

"You…"

The Gangmidai head, hearing this, felt a slight throb at his temples and veins bulge on his forehead. He had to admit that Shitan's insufferable chatter was constantly testing his limits.

"The two elders have already told me."

The Gangmidai head exhaled slowly, steadied his mindset, and coldly addressed Shitan.

"Is that so? Since the two elders have already told you, do you think that, as the leader of the Ninth Squad, I am suitable for the position of head of our Gangmidai family?!"

Shitan casually asked the head.

"Whether you are suitable or not is for the elders to decide."

The Gangmidai head did not answer Shitan directly; he tossed the ball to the clan elders, but the elders have already been offended by Shitan, clearly telling Shitan not to be naive.

"That's actually great; I was thinking the same…"

However, after hearing his own head's words, Shitan merely gave a faint smile.

"Hm?!"

This gave the Gangmidai head a fleeting ominous premonition.

"Our Gangmidai elders absolutely love me~"

"They surely won't stop me from becoming the next head of the Gangmidai family!"

"When the time comes, I hope you'll hand over your position to me…"

"As for now, I'm still the captain of the Ninth Squad; I'll first master all the affairs and duties of the Ninth Squad before considering inheriting the family business…"

Shitan, shamelessly, looked at the Gangmidai head before him and said cheerfully.

"You…"

"Fine! I must say, Shitan, you truly… I want to see how you'll persuade the elders to help you take my position."

After hearing Shi Tan's words, the head of the Gong Mi Dai family felt his heart clamp shut; his eyes flashed with a sharp cold light as he coldly spoke to Shi Tan.

"Is that so? Then let us wait and see~"

Shi Tan heard this and gave the head of Gong Mi Dai a gentle smile.

"Fine! Then let us wait and see."

The head of Gong Mi Dai gave a slight nod, his gaze like that of a venomous scorpion.

On the other side, the captains of the Third Squad and the Fifth Squad, listening to the conversation between Gong Mi Dai, Shi Tan, and their own head, felt a chilling dread; they had not expected the relationship between Shi Tan and their head to be so poor, and they finally understood why the head of Gong Mi Dai had been so hasty about their junior's appointment as captain—clearly, before today this head did not even know that Shi Tan served as the Ninth Squad captain.

After the captains of the Third Squad and the Fifth Squad exchanged glances, they made a decision: from today they would interfere less in the affairs of the Gong Mi Dai family, since one side is the head of the Five Great Nobles, the current supreme authority of the Corpse Soul Realm, and the other side is a youth whose strength is already great enough to lead the Ninth Squad, backed by the new elite of Araki and even Yuan Liuzhai.

"It seems the Corpse Soul Realm is about to change heaven and earth~"

The leaders of the Third Squad and the Fifth Squad, after exchanging glances, reached a conclusion.

"Yuan Liuzhai first weakened the rights of us nobles and, using our noble hands, expanded the influence of the Thirteenth Squad; now it seems they will target the Five Great Nobles, the highest privileged class of the Jingling Court! I wonder how this clash of titans will finally turn out?!"

The captain of the Third Squad, a head of a senior noble, whispered to the nearby captain of the Fifth Squad using the Heaven‑Standing Sky Net.

"Regardless of victory or defeat, it is not for our small families to meddle in."

The captain of the Fifth Squad, also a head of a senior noble, shook his head helplessly at the captain of the Third Squad.

"Indeed, it is."

The captain of the Third Squad heard this and gave a slight nod to the captain of the Fifth Squad.

"Meeting dismissed!"

While the captains were whispering, Yuan Liuzhai, the Chief Commander, announced the end of this leaders' meeting.

"That Shuduo La captain, wait a moment~"

As Yuan Liuzhai said the meeting was dismissed, Araki did not leave but walked toward the captain of the Twelfth Squad, who is also one of the later members of the Zero Squad, Xiuduo La Qianshoumaru…

Of course, the reason the other side holds the Twelfth Squad captaincy at this time in the Jingling Court is naturally Araki's doing.

Eight thousand~