Chapter 26: and translation of chapter title

If those Quincy remain just as they were, merely guarding their own little plot of land, we Guardian Thirteen Squads can't even be bothered to pay attention!

If they so much as step out of line, I will personally tell them with this Flaming Blade of Fire in my hand just what the Guardian Thirteen Squads rely on to protect Soul Society, and what they rely on to 'guard' Seireitei……

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's eyes blazed like torches, and his entire body released a spiritual pressure that chilled the bones.

Even though Araki had already attained the position of Guardian Thirteen Squads captain, having defeated the former 'Kenpachi' Unohana and taken the name 'Kenpachi', upon feeling the immense spiritual pressure within Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's body, his eyelids couldn't help but twitch!

Then I can rest easy!

Araki looked at the before‑him Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, who was like a fierce tiger, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

Even Araki, who, like Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, is a captain of the Guardian Thirteen Squads, would feel a jolt of alarm when facing the latter's bared fangs and claws.

If it were any other member of the Guardian Thirteen Squads, even a lieutenant‑level Shinigami, they might very well have been knocked unconscious by the immense spiritual pressure emanating from Yamamoto's body at this very moment……

This is the strength of the Guardian Thirteen Squads' Commander‑General, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni!

After Araki set his mind at ease, he then had a brief discussion with Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni in the First Division's meeting room about a plan to deal with the Quincy……

In fact, rather than a plan, it was more like a warning!

Apart from quietly informing the old man of the Quincy's abilities, the thing Araki said most often to Yamamoto was 'Careful sailing brings ten‑year safety!'

Ultimately, Araki was reprimanded so many times for repeatedly telling the old man, 'You must be careful when dealing with the Quincy; if you get a chance to kill their leader, don't miss it—act decisively and with full force,' that……

Araki was directly kicked out of the First Division's barracks by the hot‑tempered, ruthless, decisive Yamamoto, who lives by the creed 'When in doubt, don't hesitate—if you're dissatisfied, just smash it!'

By the way, alongside Araki, the one also expelled by the old man was his vice‑captain, Unohana Retsu.

"That old coot Yamamoto Genryūsai just won't listen to advice!"

"Sigh… Not heeding your disciple's advice will only bring you loss right before your eyes, you old geezer Yamamoto!"

Araki stood outside the First Division's barracks, helplessly scratching his cheek.

Since Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni founded the Guardian Thirteen Squads, Araki is the first captain to be personally expelled from the First Division's barracks by the Commander‑General for talking too much, to the point that even Yamamoto could no longer tolerate it……

Moreover, Araki is likely not only the first captain to be kicked out of the First Division's barracks by Yamamoto for talking too much; there probably won't be any successors. Barring any surprises, Araki will become the sole captain ever expelled from the barracks by Yamamoto for being too talkative!

In fact, aside from Araki, when the other Guardian Thirteen Squads captains hear that Commander‑General Yamamoto has summoned them, they don't even dare to initiate conversation—they're so frightened their legs go weak!

Even captains who haven't received an invitation from Commander‑General Yamamoto still feel an innate fear of the old man; if they merely happen to pass by the First Division's barracks, they will unconsciously quicken their pace, or even use flash step to speed past the barracks.

For this group of captains, when they pass by the First Division where Yamamoto resides, they run as fast as they can, terrified that Yamamoto will see them and give them a dressing‑down.

But Araki is different; he ended up annoying Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni instead……

To put it bluntly, since Araki assumed the post of Eleventh Division captain, he has set a brand‑new record in Seireitei!

"So… Captain Araki, what should we do next?!"

Unohana Retsu had been closely following Araki on either side; now that they had been kicked out of the First Division's barracks by that old coot Yamamoto, where they should go next is up to Captain Araki to decide.

"Sigh……"

"Forget it! Since this old geezer won't listen to advice, Retsu, let's head back to our quarters!"

Upon hearing that, Araki sighed helplessly; he never imagined that he and Unohana Retsu would ultimately be expelled from the First Division's barracks by Yamamoto……

Left with no choice, Araki had no option but to take his vice‑captain Unohana Retsu back to the barracks of the Eleventh Division, which he commands.

After returning to the barracks, Araki once again dove straight into the Eleventh Division captain's office, paying no heed to the people in the barracks.

At the same time, Araki issued an order to the entire Eleventh Division: only he, the captain, and Unohana Retsu, the vice‑captain, may enter the captain's office!

No one else, regardless of what happens, is absolutely forbidden from entering the Eleventh Division captain's office, nor may they disturb him for any reason; even if they encounter him inside the barracks, they should not speak to him……

If the division members have any questions about the Eleventh Division, they can go directly to Vice‑captain Unohana Retsu.

There's no helping it; in fact, Araki suffers from an incurable condition called '100% Inability to Communicate with Brutes!' Anyone afflicted with this symptom feels restless and irritable when dealing with brutes, and once Araki becomes restless, he just wants to lash out~

Therefore, Araki isn't avoiding interaction out of laziness; he's doing it for the safety of the entire division's members, which is why he forbids them from speaking with him. This self‑lessness of his is truly impartial and unselfish—he even chooses to lead the Eleventh Division in isolating themselves for the sake of everyone……

Thus, although the nominal captain of the Eleventh Division is Araki, in reality the division is still under Unohana's control; consequently, the Eleventh Division members even get the impression that their captain hasn't changed at all.

As for Araki's reasons, it's simply that he can't be bothered with pointless socializing; in the Guardian Thirteen Squads, lasting decades in office counts as a veteran, and those who can retire smoothly are few indeed. Moreover, there's no need to curry favor with the founding captains of the Guardian Thirteen Squads—let them first figure out how to live past a thousand years~

As for the ordinary soldiers of the division, let's first see if they can survive the invasion of Yhwach; even if they do survive, their feeble spiritual pressure and frail spiritual bodies will hardly allow them to live on for a thousand years……

Araki is the type who invests emotion even in raising a cat or dog; he fears that after growing familiar with his subordinates, a century later, seeing those patches of yellow earth where spirit particles return will only add to his sorrow.

Perhaps this is the sorrow of the long‑lived race! Shinigami with spiritual might above the third tier and beings below that tier are no longer existences of the same dimension……

And so, several months passed……

Finally, a 'guest' arrived at the Eleventh Division's barracks seeking Araki.

And it was precisely with the arrival of this 'guest' seeking Araki at the Eleventh Division's barracks that the division's members realized their captain had actually been replaced~

Outside the Eleventh Division's barracks stood a tall, slender figure! Without a doubt, this upright silhouette had come to look for Araki.

The person seeking Araki had short silver‑gray hair and eyes matching that hue; his face was somewhat youthful, making him quite handsome……

Although the youth's looks still fall slightly short of Araki's, among the 'misshapen melons and cracked dates'—the founding members of the Guardian Thirteen Squads—he would certainly be considered handsome!

Most importantly, compared to the Guardian Thirteen Squads' reputation for 'average kill‑crazed brutes' and 'utter roughness,' this silver‑haired man exudes extraordinary politeness, giving off the air of a 'British‑style gentleman.'

At this moment, the youth clad in a black shihakushō, over which he wore a white haori and a woven thin shirt, his whole bearing exuding a 'gentleman' aura, stood before the Eleventh Division's barracks gate, smiling at the gate guards and saying: "Please, you two guards, go inside and inform Captain Araki! Tell them that the First Division's vice‑captain, Que Bu Zhang Jiro, has come specially to request an audience! I know your division's Captain Araki rarely sees anyone in his quarters, but if you give my name, he will likely agree to meet me……"

Indeed, this youth, possessing a touch of 'gentlemanly bearing' and 'considerable courtesy,' is none other than the 'Most Loyal' to the Guardian Thirteen Squads' Commander‑General Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni—namely, the First Division's vice‑captain, Que Bu Zhang Jiro……

At the same time, he is also one of only two vice‑captains in the Guardian Thirteen Squads permitted to wear a white haori!

In terms of strength, Que Bu Zhang Jiro is undoubtedly captain‑level!

Moreover, the performance of his Zanpakutō, 'Kōkō Gonrei Rikyū,' is exceptionally outstanding! It is an extremely rare Zanpakutō in Soul Society capable of directly influencing the weather……

By the way, in the current Seireitei Guardian Thirteen Squads, aside from Que Bu Zhang Jiro, the only other vice‑captain allowed to wear a white haori is Unohana Retsu—a special dispensation granted by Commander‑General Yamamoto……

"Huh? Captain Araki?! Weird, why does that name sound so familiar?"

"Right! I remember now—our Eleventh Division's captain is apparently named Araki……"

The Eleventh Division gate guards, upon hearing Que Bu Zhang Jiro's words, first blinked in surprise, then muttered to themselves.

"This…… is there a problem?"

Que Bu Zhang Jiro blinked in surprise after hearing the remarks of those two Eleventh Division guards.

Sorry! Vice Captain Quebu Changcilang! Because our Eleventh Division has always been managed by Captain Maozhibua Lie!

As for the Captain Huangmu you're looking for, we're not sure if he's in the barracks either! So please allow us to go to the barracks to report your situation to Captain Maozhibua Lie, and then we'll briefly inquire about Captain Huangmu's situation...

The two division members exchanged a glance, looking at Quebu Changcilang as he explained.

Huh? Captain Maozhibua Lie!!

Quebu Changcilang heard this, and a hint of doubt appeared in his expression!

Although the division's vice captain is indeed barely considered of the captain's rank, and even when some division captains are temporarily transferred or killed in action, the vice captain will temporarily assume the captain's position...

At the same time, some vice captains with great strength and charisma are indeed directly called captain by their own division members when they are among themselves, but that only happens when there are no outsiders, behind closed doors, speaking privately.

Normally, when outsiders are present, no matter how outstanding the vice captain is, the division members would address him as vice captain; but these two division members, when addressing Maozhibua Lie, did not add the prefix "vice".

It's as if these two division members genuinely believed that Maozhibua Lie was their division's captain...

Secondly, what struck Quebu Changcilang as strange was that he clearly felt Huangmu's spiritual pressure in the Eleventh Division's barracks, yet these two Eleventh Division members seemed unclear about their captain Huangmu's whereabouts, which left Quebu utterly puzzled; in his view, no matter how lax a division member might be, they should at least have a rough idea of their own captain's movements, right?

So what on earth is going on?!

Could it be that Huangmu has returned the captain's position to Captain Maozhibua Lie?

Ah, I really want to get to the bottom of this...

But this is after all the couple's own affair; if I, an outsider, were to ask, wouldn't that be impolite?

For a moment, Quebu Changcilang's heart felt unusually itchy.

In fact, given Quebu Changcilang's understanding of Huangmu, Huangmu is indeed capable of taking such an "against-the-rules" step of returning the captain's position to Maozhibua Lie!

As for Huangmu's motive in doing so...

Quebu Changcilang remembered Huangmu once telling him: "A married couple's life is about adding a bit of fun~ that's how feelings last..."

Regarding this, whether the previous Quebu Changcilang or the present one, neither could fathom what Huangmu meant by those words!

"Married couples" and such, in Quebu Changcilang's view, are unnecessary things!

In Quebu Changcilang's eyes, having Commander-General Yamamoto Motoyasu Shigekuni is enough!

Cough cough...

You're the Vice Captain of the First Division, Quebu Changcilang, right?!

Just as Quebu Changcilang was lost in thought, a clear, lovely voice interrupted his reverie, bringing his mind back to the present.

Only seeing Quebu Changcilang turn his head toward the sound, he happened to spot Maozhibua Lie wearing a white haori, walking toward him...

Obviously, Maozhibua Lie, who had been urging the division members inside the barracks to practice sword strikes, sensed the spiritual pressure unintentionally released by Quebu Changcilang standing outside the Eleventh Division's barracks gate,

"Captain Maozhibua Lie!"

Upon Maozhibua Lie's arrival, the two Eleventh Division members on guard duty immediately bowed respectfully and greeted him loudly.

"Captain... Vice Captain Maozhibua Lie! Hello, I'm here to find Captain Huangmu!"

Quebu Changcilang watched Maozhibua Lie approach, hesitated repeatedly in his heart, yet still added the prefix "vice" to his title.

"Jinten, Yuan, listen up you two! I am no longer the captain of the Eleventh Division! When there are no visitors to the division normally, it's fine for you to address me this way~ I won't force you to change, after all you're veteran members, it's only natural that you're used to calling me chief! But once other divisions' 'visitors' come into the division, you must follow the rules and address me as 'vice captain'!" Maozhibua Lie first gave a quiet lecture to the two gatekeepers, then turned to Quebu Changcilang with a smile and said: "Vice Captain Quebu Changcilang, you've come?! Captain Huangmu is already waiting for you in the captain's room~"

"Huh?! Okay, okay..."

Upon hearing this, Quebu Changcilang's forehead was covered in cold sweat; he always had the feeling that Maozhibua Lie was pointing at something about him.

Moreover, Quebu Changcilang didn't know if it was his imagination, but he always felt that Maozhibua Lie seemed to have changed, becoming more 'kind-hearted' than before, while also seeming more 'cunning' than before.

This chapter is four thousand characters! And then, there's more!

(End of chapter)