Shinigami Research and Development Institute.
"Captain, a technician assigned to the Zaraki District has reported a security incident. One of the surveillance units was destroyed by a Rukongai resident."
"The Zaraki District? That area is notoriously chaotic."
Nanatsuki accepted the incident report handed over by his subordinate.
To prevent an invasion by Yhwach—now suspected of colluding with Hell—the Shinigami Research and Development Institute had been deploying round-the-clock surveillance systems throughout Rukongai.
The final captured frame was attached to the report.
It showed the perpetrator mid-swing, blade descending straight toward the lens.
What caught Nanatsuki's eye wasn't the act itself—but the person.
Wild, bristling hair like overgrown weeds.
And perched casually on his shoulder—a small, pink-haired girl.
"…Zaraki and Yachiru?"
Nanatsuki's interest was piqued immediately.
The figures were unmistakable.
Zaraki Kenpachi and Yachiru Kusajishi—almost certainly.
"Ignore the Zaraki District for now. I'll deal with it personally once I return."
"Yes, sir!"
After finishing his instructions, Nanatsuki left the Shinigami Research and Development Institute and headed toward the outskirts of the Seireitei.
The Royal Guard was scheduled to descend today.
And he would be traveling to the Soul King Palace.
"Oh? Everyone's already here."
When Nanatsuki arrived at the outer perimeter of the Seireitei, he found a sizable crowd waiting.
"Shishō!"
"An opportunity to see the Royal Guard doesn't come often—of course we had to show up!"
Many of the newer captains had never laid eyes on the Royal Guard before.
Upon hearing they would descend today, they had all rushed over out of sheer curiosity.
"I've heard there are seventy-two barriers between the Soul King Palace and the Seireitei—only passable with the King Key. So how exactly will the Royal Guard descend?"
Aizen Sōsuke gazed up at the clear blue sky, a glint of inquiry shining in his eyes.
Just then, everyone sensed something plunging rapidly downward from above.
"They're here! Looks like… a pillar?"
Shiba Isshin raised a hand to shield his eyes.
"That should be the Royal Guard's transport—the Tenchūren. First time I've ever seen it myself!"
"So the Heavenly Pillar is tied to the King Key…"
Aizen silently etched the name into memory.
The Tenchūren drew frighteningly close—yet showed no sign of slowing.
BOOM!
It smashed directly into the ground, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.
"That kind of entrance—cough cough—!"
The Tenchūren was a massive yellow cylinder over ten meters long.
At the end embedded in the ground was a door engraved with a square pattern—a hollow red square, resembling the numeral zero.
The next instant, the door opened.
Two figures emerged.
"So it's Senjumaru-senpai and Kirio-san! Long time no see!"
Nanatsuki greeted them with a smile.
"All familiar faces! It really has been a while!"
Hikifune Kirio was well acquainted with this generation of captains—she had known many of them back when she still served as Captain of the Twelfth Division.
"Is that… Kirio-san? You've changed quite a bit!"
Isshin stared, dumbfounded.
Before her promotion to the Royal Guard, Hikifune had already begun stockpiling Reiatsu using Temporary Souls—but she'd always maintained a merely plump figure.
Now?
She had fully embraced excess.
The sheer amount of Reiatsu she'd accumulated had pushed her physique well into unmistakable obesity.
"I haven't changed that much! How rude!"
Hikifune laughed heartily.
"You've recovered nicely, Batsu'unsai."
Shutara Senjumaru glanced toward Katori Batsu'unsai, who stood beside Nanatsuki.
Most members of the Royal Guard were familiar with Batsu'unsai. Hearing they would descend today, he had come specifically to reunite with old friends.
"If the Gotei didn't have all captains already, I'd be tempted to return to active duty!"
Batsu'unsai looked genuinely pleased to see them again.
"You did not betray Batsu'unsai's trust."
Senjumaru turned her gaze to Nanatsuki and offered a rare smile.
"Naturally," Nanatsuki replied.
After a brief reunion, Senjumaru shifted to business.
"We are here under the direct command of the Soul King himself—to invite you to the Soul King Palace for a period of training."
"The Soul King's will…?"
Senjumaru nodded.
Nanatsuki was genuinely surprised.
He'd assumed this invitation came solely from the Royal Guard.
The revelation startled Aizen Sōsuke as well.
He had studied countless ancient texts and knew that the Soul King now functioned as the Covenant of the Three Realms.
"Interesting… The Royal Guard still obeys the Soul King's will?"
Aizen had believed the current Soul King to be nothing more than a puppet—
a stabilizing mechanism stripped of agency.
And yet, the Royal Guard still acted in accordance with his intent.
Soon after, the Tenchūren was relocated to a platform within Shiba Clan territory.
The Tenchūren lacked the ability to return to the Soul King Palace on its own—it required an external activation.
The Shiba Clan possessed the secret art necessary to drive it back.
"The Shiba Clan's numbers are really dwindling…"
Nanatsuki glanced at the gathered clan members.
There were barely any—no different from a declining minor noble house.
The current Shiba Clan Head was Isshin's cousin.
Beyond him, there was only one other brother left of their generation.
The clan head looked far older than Isshin—less like a peer, more like an elder.
But it was the spiky-haired young man beside him who caught Nanatsuki's attention.
"Captain Katori, this is my son—Shiba Kaien,"
the clan head said, following Nanatsuki's gaze.
"Kaien… a good name."
Nanatsuki nodded and glanced at Kaien's Status Interface.
[Shiba Kaien]
[Talent: S]
[Reiatsu: Lv. 75]
[Reputation: Stranger]
Kaien's Reiatsu had already reached seated-officer level.
"Kaien asked me just the other day if he could train at the Katori-ryu Dojo!"
Isshin laughed loudly, slinging an arm around Kaien's shoulders.
"I told him he'd meet Shishō today—he was so excited he didn't sleep all night!"
"Captain Katori!"
Kaien stepped forward, eyes shining with admiration.
"I've long revered Katori-ryu swordsmanship. Please allow me to follow you and train in the way of the blade!"
"You want to train under me?"
Nanatsuki studied him calmly.
"You haven't enrolled in the Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy yet, have you?"
Nanatsuki still had two disciples—Kuchiki Byakuya and Madarame Iakkaku—currently studying there.
If a talent like Kaien had already enrolled, Nanatsuki would've known.
"The Academy?" Kaien paused.
"I'm not a student. With my current strength, I doubt I'd gain much there anyway."
Kaien had been raised as the next Shiba Clan Head.
Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Shunpo—he already possessed solid foundations in all of them.
He could've become a full Shinigami immediately.
"I'll take you as my disciple if you place first in this year's Academy entrance examination."
Nanatsuki recalled something Murata-sensei had mentioned recently.
The Academy had undergone reforms.
New students no longer had to start from the first year.
Those with prior training could challenge a special entrance examination,
and be placed directly into the appropriate level based on performance.
"No problem!" Kaien replied without hesitation.
"I'll take first place and become your disciple!"
"For your sake…"
Nanatsuki's eyes gleamed faintly.
"I'll be waiting for good news."
If everything unfolded as expected—this year's entrance exam would be far more difficult than Kaien imagined.