Perhaps in light of Suzuki Makoto's "excellent performance" over the past few years, or perhaps due to Byakuya Kuchiki's guarantee, Suzuki Makoto was dispatched completely alone this time, without anyone accompanying him.
The dilemma facing the 13th Division was quickly resolved. Those Hollows used to confuse the public were easily found and eliminated by Suzuki Makoto. The retreating Seated Officers also quickly filled the manpower vacancy, and the situation in the World of the Living once again returned to its original stable state.
This also meant that Suzuki Makoto was idle once more. However, he was too lazy to manage division affairs anyway; aside from combat-related applications, he completely refused to touch anything else.
At first, Ukitake thought Suzuki Makoto was trying to avoid arousing suspicion, and even had a very serious talk with him, telling him not to have any misgivings. Later, after discovering that Suzuki Makoto genuinely had no interest in it, he never brought the matter up again.
Thus, Suzuki Makoto quickly resumed his regular lifestyle, rotating back and forth between the Rukongai, the Genryusai Dojo, and the World of the Living.
However, today there was some extra business to attend to.
"Are you preparing to return to the Western Branch?"
Suzuki Makoto was not surprised by Jeanne's words. On the contrary, he was more surprised that she was only bringing this matter up now.
"Yes, the situation here with the Yellow Turbans is already very stable. Furthermore, your personnel training system has begun to operate normally, so you don't really need me anymore—and I really have stayed here for a long time."
"It wouldn't matter if you stayed a little longer," Black Jeanne muttered under her breath.
Suzuki Makoto and Jeanne looked at each other and smiled. When dealing with this tsundere, spending just a little time together was enough to see right through her icy exterior.
"If you want, you can go to the Western Branch to play with her."
"Eh?"
Both Jeannes let out voices of surprise simultaneously.
"She is your Bankai, right? The Eastern Branch and the Western Branch are tens of thousands of miles apart. Are you able to maintain such a prolonged Reiatsu transmission?"
"The reasons behind it are very complicated, but it is indeed feasible."
"Really?" Black Jeanne looked at Suzuki Makoto in confusion.
"Did you not know that yourself?"
The man only felt a wave of speechlessness. Had this girl forgotten that she was originally supposed to be a Heroic Spirit?
Over the past few years, aside from relentlessly maintaining and nourishing his three swords, Suzuki Makoto had never stopped researching [Purgatory], the blade which Black Jeanne inhabited.
Although the Bankai of this Zanpakuto was only produced after Suzuki Makoto imported the Spirit Origin of Black Jeanne recorded in the Holy Grail, Bankai was merely a rule of this world. In essence, Black Jeanne was still a Heroic Spirit based on the Holy Grail, summoned through Suzuki Makoto's "Magical Energy".
Therefore, as long as Suzuki Makoto did not cut off the Magical Energy supply on his end, Black Jeanne would not have any problems no matter where she went.
"If you say it's possible, then it should be possible. But forget it, the Yellow Turbans can't do without me."
"No, that's not good. Just as she said, the Yellow Turbans have now passed the stage where they need the two of us as leading figures to drive them. When the entire system begins to operate normally, what we must do is minimize our influence as much as possible, not continue acting as babysitters."
Jeanne gazed at Suzuki Makoto, the smile on her face growing even more radiant.
This was precisely the reason she was willing to stay behind and help the Yellow Turbans. Compared to all the faction leaders she had seen both in life and after death, Suzuki Makoto was the only one who was the most special—he was the only one who tried his utmost to reduce his own influence.
In other words, what Suzuki Makoto considered was not how to turn the Yellow Turbans into his private property, but rather how to prevent the Yellow Turbans from becoming his private property.
"So you want me to go?"
Black Jeanne's voice still held some hesitation. It wasn't that she cared that much about the Yellow Turbans, but rather that if the Yellow Turbans didn't need her, she actually preferred to go...
Jeanne suddenly leaned close to her ear and whispered a few words.
"Really?"
The girl looked at her in surprise, and Jeanne nodded with absolute certainty.
"Then I'll go."
Suzuki Makoto found Black Jeanne's change in attitude a bit strange. With his sensory abilities, he could naturally listen in on the girls' whispers. However, being able to control this at will, he never quite liked using it to pry into his friends' privacy.
"Before you go, give a few instructions to the Inspection Team and hand over your work. Don't just run off all at once."
"I know, I know! So nagging! I'm not the kind of irresponsible person anyway!"
Black Jeanne was clearly already a bit absent-minded, anxious to pull Jeanne aside to discuss things.
"Then I'll trouble you."
"Rest assured, when she returns, she will definitely give you a pleasant surprise."
Jeanne covered her mouth and chuckled lightly.
"As long as it's not a fright, that's fine."
"Suzuki Makoto!"
"I'm leaving. I'll come see you off when you guys depart."
The man instantly stepped into a Shunpo and left.
By the time he reached the meeting place, Byakuya Kuchiki was already there waiting for him.
"Are you finished with your business on your end?"
"It's done."
This time, Byakuya Kuchiki very rarely did not go look for Rukia. Instead, he concealed his tracks, deliberately taking a detour to the Shiba family to meet with Kukaku Shiba, bringing a letter from his grandfather.
Kukaku Shiba's expression after reading the letter was quite poor, and she showed no intention of having him bring back a reply. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Byakuya Kuchiki, sensing her mood, decisively took his leave.
He could vaguely guess a little bit of the letter's contents. After all, the Tsunayashiro family's ambitions were already known to everyone. It was just that he was unclear on exactly how Ginrei Kuchiki was planning things. However, since the other party hadn't informed him, he naturally wouldn't go out of his way to pry into it.
"Suzuki-kun."
"Hmm?"
"Recently, you need to be a bit careful."
Suzuki Makoto raised an eyebrow; this unprompted warning from the other party was a bit strange.
Perhaps seeing Suzuki Makoto's confusion, Byakuya Kuchiki added a couple more sentences.
"Be careful of the Nobles. Besides making major moves within the Seireitei, the Tsunayashiro family has also dispatched quite a few personnel to the World of the Living. It's just unknown what they are going there to do—you are now the Lieutenant of the 13th Division, so the number of times you go to the World of the Living shouldn't be small. Don't end up with a fate like Kaien Shiba's."
Kaien Shiba hasn't met his end yet, don't jinx him to death.
Suzuki Makoto nodded, taking Byakuya Kuchiki's words to heart.
It wasn't strange that the Tsunayashiro family was making moves. After all, it would be strange if this family ever stayed idle. But what was strange was, why would they send people to the World of the Living?
One must know that previously, when making a move against Kaien Shiba, they had Gin Ichimaru take charge in the World of the Living. So why was it that now, when the dust had settled with the Shiba family, this bunch of guys had started dispatching their own personnel to the World of the Living instead?
Suzuki Makoto stroked his chin, carefully pondering the plot in his memories, and then his expression suddenly shifted.
If he hadn't been here, then Jushiro Ukitake would definitely have sought help from other personnel. And as it happened, the very first Substitute Shinigami in the World of the Living was appointed precisely by Jushiro Ukitake.
____
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