Shinji was the first Soul Reaper to learn to control Hollowfication. He passed his experience to the others, and soon all those infected returned to normal—at least on the surface. Some who were not stable enough were still undergoing treatment.
Kisuke Uhara and Kensei Muguruma expressed their support in succession. The other captains had no objections; Makiya's strength had long been recognized by everyone, and it would be strange if he didn't become a captain.
Moreover, since Makiya was about to become the 2nd Division Captain and Yoruichi Shihoin was the first to agree, the others had no reason to object.
The captains all looked toward the Head Captain.
The Head Captain opened his narrowed eyes, his gaze toward Makiya full of deep meaning, as if saying: 'You boy promised me, don't refuse.'
Makiya naturally had no reason to refuse.
The meeting's agenda was still quite long.
As the newly appointed 2nd Division Captain, Makiya joined the queue, standing in Yoruichi's former position.
Meanwhile, Yoruichi and Tessai Tsukabishi stood on either side of the Head Captain, representing the Onmitsukido, the Gotei 13, and the Kido Corps respectively.
One item after another was discussed and passed in the high-level meeting; Makiya saw another side of the Head Captain for the first time.
Besides being powerful and occasionally unconventional—using Ryujin Jakka to grill fish or sweet potatoes—the old man was actually a master of official jargon. He spoke in long, winding sets of phrases, giving Makiya flashbacks to school leaders' speeches in his past life, almost triggering his PTSD.
After the meeting adjourned, at the 2nd Division barracks.
"Yoruichi, why did you resign? Wait, can a Gotei 13 captain even resign voluntarily?" Makiya asked what was on his mind.
Yoruichi scratched her head, a bit troubled about how to explain it to Makiya. She rested her chin on one hand and thought for a while before slowly speaking: "Well, about a thousand years ago..."
"In the early days of the Seireitei's founding, the Gotei 13 was merely an assassin organization led by Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto. The Kido Corps, the Onmitsukido, and the Gotei 13 were independent entities of equal rank."
"However, Old Man Yamamoto was too invincible; he suppressed everyone single-handedly. The three major organizations gradually evolved into a structure with the Gotei 13 as the main body, supported by the Kido Corps and the Onmitsukido, together maintaining the order of the Seireitei."
"Among them, the Onmitsukido had always been led by the Shihoin family, known as the 'Tenshoin Heiho'. Members excelled in Hakuda and Shunpo, using divine weapons to execute assassination missions—like that artifact bandage of Yoruichi's that can seal a Zanpakuto."
"Compared to the 'samurai' of the Gotei 13 and the 'sorcerers or yin-yang masters' of the Kido Corps, the Onmitsukido was more like 'ninjas'."
This pattern continued until Yoruichi became the head of the Shihoin family and also the 2nd Division Captain.
A certain anonymous 2nd Division Captain and Onmitsukido Commander-in-Chief, to avoid working two jobs and commuting to two places, waved her hand and began merging the various Onmitsukido squads into the 2nd Division. Each squad leader served concurrently as a lieutenant or seated officer of the 2nd Division.
The Onmitsukido showed signs of becoming a subordinate agency of the Gotei 13. To adapt to the Gotei 13's structure, Yoruichi even streamlined many members.
"Lately, I don't know what's gotten into the Tsunayashiro family. They're summoning lower-level nobles every day. Many who were loyal to the Shihoin family received invitations. They've been coming to the Shihoin mansion one by one to show their loyalty, but who knows what they're up to in private."
Makiya thought for a moment: "Could it be Aizen? Given his Zanpakuto's ability, the Tsunayashiro family is likely all under his control."
The dark-skinned girl looked distressed: "My old man thinks so too, but no one can enter the Tsunayashiro family grounds to investigate. We can only figure out what Aizen is up to through the personnel they have scattered outside. With the Seireitei's 320 districts, the Onmitsukido is shorthanded."
"You want to expand the forces?" Makiya realized.
"Strictly speaking, it's not an expansion," Yoruichi corrected. "It's just restoring the original organization. The old man wants me to focus on managing the Onmitsukido and put everything else aside for now."
"Oh, I see." Makiya nodded repeatedly, then a sudden realization hit him. "Wait! If you're taking everyone with you, won't the 2nd Division be empty?"
'Have I become a commander without an army?'
"Don't worry." Yoruichi grinned and threw her arm around Makiya's shoulder like they were best buds. "I've already spoken with the Head Captain. In two months, it'll be graduation season at the Shin'o Academy. You get to recruit people first, and the other squads will take whoever's left."
"At least you have some conscience."
"Oh, right, there's one more person." Yoruichi suddenly remembered something and pulled a stack of documents from behind her. "I have a good friend who is capable enough to be a lieutenant. I want her to join the 2nd Division."
Makiya took the documents. The cover was printed with a portrait of Yoruichi's friend: black short hair, delicate features, and a somewhat tsundere expression.
Soi Fon.
"Her Zanpakuto ability is very powerful, but her Spiritual Pressure is a bit lacking. Makiya, you must train her hard for me." Yoruichi winked, her mouth moving silently to mouth the word 'Hogyoku'.
She knew about the research Uhara and Makiya were doing, and she knew the rate of progress of those two researchers. Yoruichi intended to get some benefits for her good friend.
With Makiya, Soi Fon would surely gain a lot.
"Don't worry, Yoruichi." Makiya tucked the documents away with a serious expression. "I'll train her well."
A month later, the 2nd Division barracks were completely empty.
There was still one month left until recruitment.
In the 2nd Division's assembly hall, Shunsui Kyoraku took a sip of sake. Because he had exerted too much effort with his facial expressions, it pulled at the wound on his face.
"Hiss! Ow, ow, ow!"
Dots of fresh blood seeped through the gauze on his face.
"Why did you have to slash my face?" Shunsui Kyoraku complained incessantly. "This face of mine has charmed thousands of yearning young maidens in the Soul Society. If they find out you ruined such a handsome face, they'll surely fight you to the death."
Makiya's mouth twitched. Looking at the lazy, greasy middle-aged man across the table with his chest hair showing, he rolled his eyes. "The yearning young maidens of the Soul Society must be blind to be charmed by you."
"You can't say that." Shunsui Kyoraku took off his straw hat and brushed back his permed black hair. "The uncle type is a very popular style. Of course, the handsome type like you isn't bad either. I heard the girls at the Shin'o Academy held a vote for the most handsome Soul Reaper; did you know about that, Makiya?"
"Who would pay attention to that? We graduated a long time ago." Makiya shook his head. He had been working in Uhara's underground training facility lately, learning quite a lot.
"Speaking of which..." Shunsui Kyoraku looked around, his gaze passing through the hall to look down at the empty barracks. "There's been a big change in personnel here, and your duties have changed a lot too. Aren't you planning to change the squad flower?"
"Can that thing even be changed?"
"Of course. The captain proposes it, the Head Captain confirms it, and then you just go through the motions at Central 46."
After the reorganization, some of the duties originally handled by the Onmitsukido were not suitable for the 2nd Division to inherit, such as guarding the Maggot's Nest.
It retained the functions of execution and patrol, being primarily responsible for hunting down and executing traitors of the Seireitei and monitoring Soul Reapers who left the Gotei 13. It was obvious who this was aimed at; even if they couldn't monitor them now, they could do so legitimately once they had the capability.
Originally, the 2nd Division's flower was the Pulsatilla, with the floral language of 'self-restraint', which had a very strong ninja flavor.
Makiya tapped his fingers. After thinking for a moment, he found paper and a brush in the assembly hall and began to draw.
"How about this?" Makiya handed the sketch with wet ink to Shunsui Kyoraku.
"What... kind of flower is this?"
"Blue Silver Grass."
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