The power of the Quincy was fundamentally different from that of Shinigami and Hollows. Therefore, even if their goals aligned, the Shinigami had no choice but to eradicate them.
This power to completely obliterate existence made Yamamoto worry about the consequences. However, for the majority of Shinigami, this power brought them nothing but dread.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri's desire to research the Quincy was not a recent development. But as a member of the research institute, even with his impure motives, there were plenty of people who could put him in his place the moment he stepped out of line.
But Kōe Shihouin's involvement changed things. For the first time, Kamidera Miya saw something called ambition within him. Furthermore, his subsequent solo venture into the Ryūkai District to battle Azashiro Sōya only deepened the dread in Kamidera Miya's heart.
If Kōe were present, he would probably cry foul. His loyalty was absolute—wasn't he just trying to save the Seireitei from a massive catastrophe? Alright, even if his primary motivation was to save his own skin, that could hardly be called ambition, right?
But just as Kōe wasn't there to read Kamidera Miya's thoughts, in the eyes of others, Kōe was not a man who simply loved exploration like Urahara Kisuke. Now that he was researching the Quincy, their first thought was that he was chasing after Quincy power.
Perhaps Kōe truly meant well for the Seireitei, but once this power was fully researched, there would be far too many uncontrollable variables. This was not something Kamidera Miya or the Seireitei wished to see.
What he wanted to see even less was Kōe's methodology. Unlike Yamamoto, who would openly discuss his thoughts with them, Kōe's approach was to forcefully implement his ideas within the Seireitei, slowly molding it to his own will.
It would be one thing if Kōe Shihouin were merely an ordinary Shinigami. But he just had to be the genius acknowledged by Yamamoto, kept by his side and groomed as his successor. There might be many geniuses in the world, but he was the only one treated this way by Yamamoto!
And the facts spoke for themselves. In less than two hundred short years, Kōe had gained the ability to kill Azashiro Sōya. One could only say that Yamamoto's eye for talent was flawless.
In terms of strength, Kōe was indeed qualified to become a captain. According to the rules of Squad 11, there was absolutely nothing wrong with him becoming their new captain.
However, Squad 11 was the primary combat unit of the Gotei 13. Even setting aside their captain and lieutenant, the squad's overall combat prowess was unmatched throughout the entire Seireitei.
Kuruyashiki Kenpachi had been deeply beloved by Squad 11. By avenging him, Kōe had inherited that loyalty, elevating his prestige to unimaginable heights. If he so desired, changing Squad 11 to serve his own ends would be effortless.
"He does have his own ideas, but I am well aware of that child's nature. Everything he does is guided by the justice in his heart."
Yamamoto's words made Kamidera Miya breathe a sigh of relief. If the Captain-Commander was still willing to explain himself, then the situation was still within a controllable range.
"Perhaps he is still prone to petty temperaments and is not yet ready to shoulder the burden of Captain-Commander." Yamamoto paused, his deep, resonant voice echoing once more. "However, these flaws can be corrected over time. This is no reason to let his efforts go to waste. He promised me that he would never betray the Seireitei. Even if he becomes the Kenpachi, I believe he will not lose himself."
"Not everyone is like you. Once a man possesses both ambition and power, the conviction in his heart will never fade. You and I are both like this, and he is no exception." Kamidera Miya shook his head and continued, "I do not believe that granting him more authority will somehow help him control himself."
"And what of it? Even if he leaves my side, he remains my disciple! I can wait! I will wait until he finds a conviction he can uphold, until he can control his own desires, before I hand this scepter over to him!" Yamamoto gripped his right hand fiercely with his left. "I have waited for over two thousand years. A little more time makes no difference."
The grand hall fell silent once more. Kamidera Miya lowered his head with a bitter smile. His greatest fear had come to pass. This Captain-Commander, who had always stood like a solitary peak in a barren desert, was actually shedding a gentle stream of water to nurture the sapling beside him, all so he could see the day this sapling would grow to support the heavens and the earth.
His heart, which had been dried up for a millennium, was brimming with emotion for the first time. Most crucially, after fulfilling his lifelong pursuit, he had actually found a new one. Perhaps he hadn't even realized it himself, but he had gradually diverged from the man he used to be.
Previously, his only concern was that if Kōe became the captain of Squad 11 and later took over the position of Captain-Commander, he would hold both Squad 1 and Squad 11 in his grasp. By then, there would be no one left in the Seireitei capable of stopping him.
Did Kōe harbor fatherly affection for Yamamoto? Kamidera Miya didn't know. But at this moment, he actually hoped that Kōe Shihouin was an unscrupulous man who would do anything to achieve his goals, a cold-hearted wretch who viewed familial bonds as worthless weeds.
Otherwise, once Kōe took over Squad 11, this 'father and son' duo of Yamamoto and Kōe would control two of the most vital squads—squads that would be almost entirely under their absolute command.
Whether it was Kōe's identity as the 'son,' or Yamamoto's identity as the 'father' who was gradually changing for his sake, both filled Kamidera Miya with an overwhelming terror. He absolutely could not allow Kōe Shihouin to become the captain of another squad. Absolutely not!
"The you of the past would never have said such things. Absolute trust is a concept far too distant for people like us." Kamidera Miya took a deep breath and continued, "You yourself can see the impropriety in Kōe Shihouin's actions, yet you still choose to wait. It is hard to believe that this is the same attitude you held when you pacified Soul Society a thousand years ago!"
"Do you expect me to personally execute my disciple over such a trivial matter?!" Yamamoto's eyes snapped open. The walking stick beneath his hand shattered into fragments, revealing the Zanpakutō hidden within. His right hand rested firmly on the hilt as he roared, "He eradicated the Quincy and killed the fugitive captain-class criminal, Azashiro Sōya! You want me to kill a man like that?! You bunch of bastards!"
The blade remained sheathed, yet Kamidera Miya felt as though his body had already been hacked to pieces. Yamamoto clearly hadn't released his Reiatsu, but the surrounding air felt as if it were being crushed into the ground, leaving Kamidera Miya unable to move a single step.
"N-No, I am not asking you to kill him. B-But having someone like him serve as a captain poses a hidden danger..."
Kamidera Miya stammered out his words, but Yamamoto's terrifying gaze did not waver in the slightest. The right hand resting on the hilt had now gripped it tightly.
Let alone moving his feet, Kamidera Miya found it difficult to even open his mouth. The words his father had spoken to him the night before he took over the Kamidera clan echoed in his mind: *'From tomorrow onward, you will be the head of the Kamidera clan. This is not a matter of glory, but a duty to shoulder the survival of the Seireitei. The emergence of any internal strife will be your failure! The Kamidera clan will be shamed because of you!'*
"The Seireitei only has the Five Great Noble Families, and there will only ever be the Five Great Noble Families! There is no need for a sixth great noble family to emerge!"
Kamidera Miya squeezed his eyes shut. His usual calm and collected demeanor was entirely gone. With disheveled hair plastered to his face, he bellowed like a mad peasant.
"Whether it is Yamamoto or Shihouin, a clan like that must not be allowed to exist in the Seireitei!"
The unspoken facade between Yamamoto and Kamidera was completely shattered by those words. However, whether the disappearance of this barrier would lead to their reconciliation or their parting of ways—much like the many unknown histories of the Seireitei—would be known to very few.
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