Yamamoto stood at the head of the hall, his majestic gaze sweeping over the captains who had arrived on time, as well as a certain rebellious disciple loafing in the corner.
His aged face darkened instantly.
"Just now, Ninth Division Lieutenant Kensei Muguruma reported a shocking matter to me."
As soon as Yamamoto spoke, everyone's curiosity was piqued. Over a dozen gazes turned toward the old man standing at the head of the room.
Meanwhile, Naraku Sora's heart skipped a beat.
'Damn, it really is about that!'
"Three days ago, Ninth Division Captain Goki Takeda went missing. No clues were found in the division barracks or his residence. Following an investigation and analysis by the Onmitsukidō, it has been confirmed that he departed of his own volition."
As these words were uttered, strange expressions flickered across everyone's faces.
As colleagues, they had all dealt with the Ninth Division Captain to some extent and possessed a certain understanding of him. Normally, he was firm and reliable, calm in the face of crisis, and though a bit strict with his subordinates, his reputation was decent. While his strength wasn't the absolute highest, he held a middle-tier position among the many captains.
Yet, a powerhouse like him had suffered setback after setback recently.
First, he was challenged and surpassed by the seated officer Naraku Sora. Then, he was ambushed within the Seireitei and lost an arm. Now, he had vanished completely without a trace.
This series of events inevitably led to deep reflection.
Had he offended someone he shouldn't have?
Many turned their eyes toward the youth standing in the corner, only to find him looking as if his mind were wandering through the heavens, showing no respect to Yamamoto whatsoever.
Seeing this, Yamamoto's expression grew even darker.
Although he was fairly certain this matter had nothing to do with this brat, seeing his 'none of my business' attitude made his anger flare. Come to think of it, this kid hadn't come to the First Division for lessons in many days.
Once this captains' meeting concluded, he would definitely impart a wave of the Genryū's core doctrines to him.
"Whether it is the previous attack on Captain Goki Takeda or this disappearance, both concern the reputation of the Gotei 13. This matter must be investigated thoroughly, no matter what."
"Captain Shihōin."
"Here!"
Yoruichi stepped out of the line with her head held high, her gaze scanning the room before lingering the longest on Naraku Sora.
Their eyes met, and she grinned.
She was actually quite grateful to Naraku Sora. First, he had cut through the mess like a hot knife through butter, resolving the Shihōin family's internal factions before the elders could even react. Then, he had eliminated the trouble of the Maggots' Nest at its root.
Add to that their similar personalities, and Yoruichi very much enjoyed spending time with Naraku Sora. The only thing she found strange was that whenever the topic of their engagement was brought up, this guy always found an excuse to dodge it.
Could it really be as Ōmaeda said—that this guy wanted to break the contract?
The eye contact between the two did not escape the other captains, who all coincidentally recalled the major incidents that had recently occurred in the Seireitei.
From Araki to the Shihōin family, and then to the Yokota family—in the short time from his enlistment to becoming a member, the number of noble lives lost at Naraku Sora's hands had already exceeded the number of captains present.
What was this? A noble slayer?
Thinking of this, the expressions of those present became somewhat subtle.
When other Soul Reapers performed meritorious service, it was usually by killing traitorous Soul Reapers or Hollows invading the Soul Society. Yet this kid, from beginning to end, had been killing nobles.
Normally, this would be an act of high treason to be judged by the Central 46. But you simply couldn't find any evidence of him violating the Soul Society's regulations.
One could say that Naraku Sora was constantly dancing on the edge of the law, yet he never truly crossed the bottom line. If nothing else, his mastery over the rules was truly peak.
"This matter is entrusted to you. There must be no errors."
"Yes, Captain-Commander."
Investigations into disappearances were typically handled by the Onmitsukidō. As the Captain of the Second Division and Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō, Yoruichi had no power to refuse. The disappearance of a captain was a grave matter, and Yoruichi had to personally set out to find relevant clues.
"Furthermore, Eighth Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku and Ninth Division Lieutenant Kensei Muguruma will assist in the investigation. Resolve this in the shortest time possible!"
Yamamoto's eyelids lowered slightly, his voice authoritative and brook no refusal.
Shunsui Kyōraku nodded with a helpless expression.
As the person who understood Yamamoto best, he could see at a glance that while Yamamoto appeared enraged by the incident, he was actually just going through the motions. Goki Takeda siding with the Tsunayashiro might have been a secret to others, but as one of Yamamoto's most trusted confidants, Shunsui Kyōraku had known about it for a long time.
Yamamoto, who had always disliked those who acted willfully, also had issues with Goki Takeda's conduct. But since the man hadn't technically committed a crime, he hadn't bothered to intervene too much.
Thud!
The sound of his staff hitting the ground acted like a morning bell, startling everyone. The captains who were still deep in thought subconsciously looked at the dignified Yamamoto.
"Does anyone have any differing opinions?"
The captains shook their heads in unison.
"Then we shall proceed to the second item of this meeting. Goki Takeda's disappearance has left the position of Ninth Division Captain vacant. The captains of the Gotei 13 all shoulder heavy responsibilities; the absence of even one increases the risk to the Seireitei. Therefore, does anyone have a suitable candidate to recommend?"
As the words fell, surprised expressions appeared on the captains' faces.
Wait, were they just not going to look for him? They hadn't even investigated the results yet, and they were fast-forwarding straight to recommending a new captain?
Shunsui Kyōraku tucked his hands into his sleeves and grinned. "How about letting Third Seat Naraku have a try?"
Yamamoto glanced at him, then swept his gaze toward a certain someone dozing off in the corner, and said irritably, "He is impetuous and lacks seniority. He is unfit for such a heavy responsibility!"
"Teacher, I observe that Ninth Division Lieutenant Kensei Muguruma acts steadily and possesses great strength. Perhaps he could take over the role of captain."
Jūshirō Ukitake followed up immediately.
A look of contemplation flashed in Yamamoto's eyes, and he then looked at the crowd. "Kensei Muguruma does indeed meet the captaincy standards, though his strength remains to be verified. In that case, we shall follow the rules. A captain proficiency test will be held first, and if he passes, he shall assume the position of Ninth Division Captain. Everyone, what are your opinions?"
Having said that, Yamamoto looked at the other captains.
The captains all shook their heads.
"In that case, I announce that the captain proficiency test will be held in ten days."
With the major events settled, Yamamoto struck the ground heavily with his staff, declaring the meeting over.
As soon as the words were spoken, Naraku Sora walked toward Yoruichi, intending to ask about the specific investigation process to see if there was any chance the previous events might be exposed.
However, before he could speak, a majestic gaze struck him, and Yamamoto's low voice rang out again. "Naraku Sora, stay behind."
"?"
Inside a brand-new dojo.
Yamamoto's eyelids were lowered, his dignified gaze falling upon Naraku Sora. Even though this kid had a perfectly candid expression, for some reason, he felt like the brat was hiding something from him.
"Regarding the matter of Goki Takeda, what do you think?"
Naraku Sora paused, then carefully tested the waters. "Good riddance?"
"?"
Even though he was prepared, Yamamoto was still infuriated by the kid's foul mouth. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his rising blood pressure, and after glaring fiercely at Naraku Sora, he said sternly, "Watch your words! Captain Goki Takeda is merely missing."
Naraku Sora nodded in deep agreement. "You're right, Teacher."
Yamamoto looked at him with some confusion, unsure why Naraku Sora was being so well-behaved today.
"As previously analyzed, Goki Takeda is not a reckless person. On the contrary, he is meticulous and never does anything without certainty. Therefore, I suspect his disappearance is no accident, but rather driven by someone behind the scenes. However, if we can find Goki Takeda, we might use him as a breakthrough point to constrain the Tsunayashiro."
Naraku Sora smirked inwardly.
You can't bring the man back, but you could probably carry him away in pieces.
Since killing Goki Takeda a few days ago, the man had been completely dismantled. Perhaps intending to explore secrets related to Hell, Aizen had stripped away all the 'Qi' stored within his body to research its properties.
Naraku Sora suddenly remembered Aizen's previous instructions, so he asked, "By the way, Teacher, have you ever heard of Hell?"
Yamamoto leaned on his staff with both hands, his brow furrowed.
After a long silence, he suddenly asked, "Naraku, do you know the duties of the Five Great Noble Families?"
Without waiting for Sora's answer, Yamamoto continued.
"The Kuchiki family is responsible for maintaining and executing the laws of the Soul Society. They are the model for all Soul Reapers, possessing the best reputation and earning the most respect. The Shihōin family, with whom you have ties, is known as the God-Gifted Armor Corps, inheriting many divine weapons and tools that exist independently of the Zanpakutō system. The Shiba family inherits secret Spiritual Arts and Kido independent of the standard systems; their members are born with extraordinary spiritual power and often hold key positions in the Gotei 13. The Tsunayashiro belong to the more mysterious branch of the five families, responsible for managing the Great Spirit Book Gallery; they are the family that knows all the history and intelligence of the Soul Society."
"As for the final branch, the most mysterious of the nobles—they never participate in the power struggles or any political activities of the Soul Society. Whether it is the division of interests among nobles or the changing of members in the Gotei 13, they simply do not care. There isn't even a corresponding seat for them in the Central 46."
At this point, Yamamoto narrowed his eyes and said seriously, "They are so low-profile they hardly seem like the high-and-mighty Five Great Noble Families. But at the same time, their importance is irreplaceable by the other four. Because the duty of the Mikado family is..."
"To gaze into Hell."
Naraku Sora showed a look of realization.
So there was such an oddity among the Five Great Noble Families—not only uninterested in power but diligently gazing into Hell. Compared to the others, the Mikado family was truly a breath of fresh air among the nobility.
"Any intelligence related to Hell is passed down from the Mikado family. And throughout the long passage of time, that intelligence has indeed proven to be correct."
Yamamoto pondered for a moment, then asked curiously, "By the way, why do you ask? You haven't come into contact with something related to Hell, have you?"
Naraku Sora remained silent.
He hesitated over whether to tell Yamamoto the truth. To be honest, although this teacher had a fiery temper and his original purpose for taking him as a disciple was impure, after spending time together, he realized Yamamoto treated his students with genuine sincerity. Whether imparting knowledge or dealing with the secrets of the nobility, Yamamoto's primary consideration was his safety. One could say Yamamoto trusted him almost one hundred percent.
Seeing Naraku Sora's expression, Yamamoto's heart sank.
As the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, no one in the Seireitei understood the danger of Hell better than he did. If this kid really got involved with Hell, things would be troublesome.
While he was thinking, Naraku Sora said with a conflicted face, "Teacher Yamamoto, I have a friend. While performing a mission, he accidentally killed a villain, and immediately after, the Gates of Hell appeared without warning. The strange thing is, no one else could see the Gates of Hell except for him..."
Seeing the guy's 'constipated' expression, Yamamoto knew exactly who this 'friend' was.
"Sinners who committed heinous crimes in life will summon the Gates of Hell upon their soul's death, be bound by its chains, and finally cast into Hell. Actually, it's not just you—your friend—others in the Gotei 13 have also seen the Gates of Hell appear during their missions. Only—"
Yamamoto frowned. "As you said, the situation where only he can see it while others are oblivious is something I've heard of for the first time. When I have time later, I will personally visit the Mikado family to ask about the specific reason for you."
Naraku Sora grinned. "Thank you, Teacher Yamamoto."
Yamamoto gave a small huff of a laugh and didn't say anything more.
This kid really hadn't failed his trust. To be willing to share such a secret with him was truly rare and valuable. Unlike a certain stubborn fool who didn't know how to be flexible and carried everything on his own, burying all his pain deep in his heart. Appearing sensible, but actually being extremely foolish.
A stubborn face subconsciously surfaced in Yamamoto's mind, and a trace of regret flashed in his eyes.
"Anything concerning the Gates of Hell is an extraordinary matter. Aside from me, do not tell anyone else, lest you invite unnecessary calamity. Lately, the Soul Society has been in a period of many troubles. Be cautious and prudent in everything you do. Do not fall into danger just because of a momentary desire to prove yourself."
The last sentence was clearly a reminder to Naraku Sora that if he encountered a thorny problem, he should come straight to him rather than trying to solve it alone like an idiot.
Naraku Sora took a deep breath and nodded seriously.
Seeing that the kid understood the underlying meaning of his words, Yamamoto nodded with satisfaction. "You haven't come to the First Division for training recently. It just so happens I am free today; I can guide you on the advanced techniques of Ikkotsu. Incidentally, I'll check on your cultivation progress from this recent period."
Hearing this, Naraku Sora suddenly remembered the 'Black Flash' contributed by Goki Takeda. A smile curled his lips. "I recently realized a new move, and I was just about to ask for your guidance."