His words landed. Everyone froze. Even Yamamoto opened his eyes.
Shigure's eyebrow rose. He chuckled softly.
He hadn't expected Mayuri to engage in this kind of sophistry.
Mayuri truly hadn't participated in the Battle of Karakura Town. But he had opened the directional Garganta for Shigure and the others, allowing Shigure to reinforce the Gotei forces as quickly as possible.
And subsequent events proved Shigure indeed had the power to defeat Aizen single-handedly.
So even though Mayuri hadn't come to fight, the final result wasn't any worse...
After all, Aizen's Arrancar subordinates had already been defeated one by one by the captains and lieutenants. Only Aizen remained, leaving them helpless.
Even if Mayuri had come along, he wouldn't have made much difference.
Just like Gin. When he unleashed his Bankai, that sword thrust briefly seemed to give them absolute advantage, as if ending the war.
But ultimately, like everyone else's attacks, it achieved no substantial result.
Thinking this, Rangiku bit her lip lightly.
She realized her words had been impulsive. In trying to defend Gin, she'd instinctively belittled Mayuri.
But thinking carefully, Mayuri had not only worked with Kisuke to create the Tenkai Kecchu pillars and fake Karakura Town, but also opened the directional Garganta from Hueco Mundo to the World of the Living. His contributions were indeed significant...
However, at that moment, Shunsui laughed softly:
"Ha ha ha ha, Captain Kurotsuchi, you're quite cunning..."
"The Head Captain asked about avoiding battle, yet you cleverly used Segawa's strength and victory probability as leverage, turning this into something insignificant..."
Hearing this, Mayuri immediately looked over. His smile grew more intense.
"Hehe, isn't that the case, Captain Kyōraku...?"
"From the moment I arrived in Hueco Mundo, I knew Segawa could defeat Aizen. So I chose other things I could do. Looking at it this way..."
"I simply allocated my combat power reasonably. It doesn't count as avoiding battle."
Mayuri laughed, looking back at Yamamoto. "So, how's my explanation now, Head Captain?"
Yamamoto didn't speak. Instead, Unohana laughed softly.
She did remember. Before opening the Garganta in Hueco Mundo, Mayuri had said exactly this.
Though at the time, Unohana trusted Shigure's strength, she hadn't been absolutely certain he could defeat Aizen.
But now, everything proved Shigure truly had that power.
His participation meant victory. This wasn't empty talk.
Thinking this, Unohana raised her eyes slightly, looking at Shigure across from her with a gentle smile.
At that moment, Yamamoto closed his eyes again, then slowly nodded.
Though he said nothing, he clearly accepted Mayuri's explanation.
Sending Shigure from Hueco Mundo back to the World of the Living was indeed sufficient.
Though this seemed merely a debate about whether Mayuri had failed his duty, it invisibly deepened Shigure's position in everyone's hearts once more.
For Yamamoto, who looked forward to Shigure's future, this was certainly a good thing.
After a moment of silence, Byakuya spoke.
"Head Captain, since the matter regarding Captain Kurotsuchi has concluded, we should return to the previous issue."
"Regarding Gin's judgment—why has the authority transferred from the Central 46 to the captains' meeting? Please explain."
Byakuya raised his eyes slightly, speaking calmly. He was naturally curious about this matter.
Hearing this, Yamamoto nodded without hesitation:
"Mm, this was indeed my oversight. Since it's been raised, it's time to inform all captains."
"Several days ago, I went with Captain Segawa to the Central Underground Assembly Hall."
"Through negotiations with the Central 46, we implemented certain reforms and changes to the Seireitei's future regulations."
"The main content is this: from now on, all wartime decisions in Soul Society will belong entirely to the Gotei 13. Only peacetime authority will return to the Central 46."
"Gin's matter falls under wartime decisions. Naturally, our captains' meeting must decide his judgment."
"...?!"
"What?!"
Though Yamamoto spoke calmly, the surrounding captains and lieutenants completely froze.
Not only had they never heard of this—they couldn't have imagined it!
The Central 46's rigid system... had suddenly begun reforming?!
And not a small change either—all wartime decision-making authority transferred entirely to the Gotei 13...!
This massive change couldn't be described as simple reform. It could even be called—
Soul Society's new era!
Thinking this, everyone's gazes grew shocked simultaneously.
But they weren't looking at Head Captain Yamamoto. They were looking at Segawa Shigure standing to the side!
From their understanding of the Head Captain, with his rigid thinking, he could never have initiated such reform himself!
Then only one answer remained—
Segawa Shigure!
He'd proposed it and forced the Central 46 to enact this massive reform!
Though the Head Captain spoke of this matter calmly, their hearts surged with waves.
Though they hadn't witnessed the situation then, they could imagine how intense things must have been...
Everyone's gazes on Shigure shone with unusual light.
In the past, people had considered reform.
Some Soul Reapers had even proposed completely abolishing the Central 46. But these reforms never reached implementation—they never even reached the Central 46.
Because the Head Captain protected the Seireitei's stability.
If the Central 46 were overthrown, the Seireitei would inevitably fall into prolonged noble turmoil. That wasn't what Yamamoto wanted to see.
But in this reform, so much authority had been stripped from the Central 46, yet the Head Captain spoke of it so calmly.
This proved Segawa Shigure's reform... had the Head Captain's full support!
Only this way could the reform proceed so quietly.
So quietly that aside from them, not a single captain or lieutenant had learned of it!
Thinking this, everyone's gazes on Shigure shone brilliantly.
In less than a year since his appearance, he'd completely... changed all of Soul Society!
Facing these varied gazes, Shigure remained calm, looking ahead with a faint smile.
...
This strange atmosphere continued until the meeting ended.
Though many post-war matters had been decided, what shocked the captains and lieutenants most was still Shigure's reform.
And they believed that under Shigure's leadership, such changes in Soul Society would only increase in the future...
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