First Division.
The mont the Shinigami captains returned from their expedition to the Wandenreich, Yamamoto summoned them to the assembly hall.
"Dammit—if I hadn’t been worried that destroying the Wandenreich’s barrier would drag you all down with it, I would’ve smashed it apart with my Zanpakutō!"
Kuyashiki Kenpachi was clearly irritated at having missed the battle.
With the Solar Gate destroyed and the shadow passages severed, he had been unable to enter the Wandenreich at all.
In truth, his Zanpakutō was capable of breaking through the Wandenreich’s barrier—he could even force his way in through a Garganta.
But his blade was notoriously uncontrollable. Once released, it devoured everything indiscriminately.
Living or dead. Enemy or ally. Anything within its range would be torn apart and consud by his Shikai.
Because of that, Kuyashiki almost never used his Shikai.
"A victory is still a victory. And our losses were kept within acceptable limits."
Unohana Retsu spoke with her usual gentle smile.
She was currently treating Kyōraku Shunsui and Shiba Isshin, whose injuries were the most severe.
As for Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who had suffered the gravest wounds of all, he had already been transported back to the Ōtsuka Workshop.
"We owe a great deal to Captain Katori infiltrating the Wandenreich and obtaining intelligence," Kyōraku said.
"Otherwise... we might’ve paid a much steeper price."
Just recalling the terror of the enemy made the wounds on his body ache all over again.
"Indeed. While we were outside, we were deeply concerned about your situation," Ukitake Jūshirō added, his brow tightly knit.
"Fortunately, Captain Katori uncovered the Sternritter’s secrets. Otherwise, this operation would’ve been extrely dangerous."
He paused, then continued gravely.
"It’s just unfortunate that Yhwach escaped to Hell. His strength cannot be underestimated.
Vice-Captain Mayuri had already reached a level comparable to a captain, yet he was still injured so badly by Yhwach...
Letting him escape like this leaves a dangerous future threat."
"Even so, the Wandenreich has been virtually annihilated," Yamamoto said, nodding slowly.
"Captain Katori deserves the greatest credit."
"However," he continued, his tone firm, "Yhwach will not give up. We must not lower our guard."
For now, Yamamoto had no intention of personally chasing Yhwach into Hell.
Hell was vast—its territory even larger than the Valley of Scream.
Entering Hell to hunt Yhwach would be like searching for a needle in an ocean.
"Understood. The R&D departnt has already made progress in researching Hell Reishi.
If a Gate of Hell appears in the Soul Society, we’ll detect it imdiately," Nanatsuki said.
Once the captains finished their reports, Yamamoto dismissed them to rest.
But just as Nanatsuki turned to leave, Yamamoto stopped him.
Yamamoto led Nanatsuki to the tea room.
He raised a hand, intending to have Chōjirō Sasakibe serve the tea—then rembered that Sasakibe had also been injured and was receiving treatnt with the Fourth Division.
With a quiet sigh, Yamamoto poured tea for both of them himself.
"This might be the first ti I’ve ever drunk tea poured by the Captain-Commander," Nanatsuki said with a smile.
"You rarely co by. Naturally, you wouldn’t," Yamamoto replied.
In private, he was far less severe than he appeared in the assembly hall.
"I kept you behind because there are so things I want to clarify," Yamamoto said.
"You an this, don’t you?"
Nanatsuki had expected it.
With a sweep of his hand across his face, a white mask appeared.
"My senses weren’t mistaken... Hollow Reiatsu," Yamamoto said, his gaze sharpening.
When Nanatsuki used Hollow power on the battlefield, every Shinigami present had felt it.
Others hesitated to ask—but Yamamoto would not ignore it.
"The Hollow power cos from that mask?" Yamamoto asked.
"Explain."
"The mask is rely a manifestation of Hollow power," Nanatsuki replied calmly.
"How much do you know about my origins, Captain-Commander?"
"My understanding?" Yamamoto considered briefly.
"Officially, you were taken in as Katori Batsu’unsai’s younger brother.
In truth, you are a Reishi Shell created as part of the Captain Supplentation Plan, modeled after Katori Batsu’unsai."
As Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto was well aware of the plan.
He hadn’t initially known Nanatsuki was a Reishi Shell—only discovering the truth after Nanatsuki rose to prominence and his background was thoroughly investigated.
"Correct... but only half correct," Nanatsuki said, shaking his head.
"Then there are matters even I don’t know?" Yamamoto raised an eyebrow.
"It seems Katori Batsu’unsai withheld information from ."
He had personally sent Sasakibe to question Batsu’unsai.
If there were still missing pieces, then facts had been deliberately concealed.
Nanatsuki smiled faintly—and began to fabricate without hesitation.
"This matter is deeply entangled. Batsu’unsai kept the truth hidden to protect ."
"The Reishi Shell is only one part of what I am."
"You’re familiar with Captain Ukitake’s condition, are you not?"
"My situation is actually similar to Mimihagi, the One-Eyed Great Deity."
"I am the Shadow of the Soul King."
"The Soul King governs all existence across the three realms—
and I govern shadows."
"Shinigami, Hollows, Quincy—everything has a shadow.
By controlling the shadows of Hollows and Quincy, I can wield powers beyond those of a Shinigami."
"After rging with Batsu’unsai’s Reishi Shell, Shinigami power beca my instinct.
The other powers require growth before they can be awakened."
Nanatsuki fully intended to hide behind the title Shadow of the Soul King.
After all—the Soul King wasn’t exactly going to step out and refute him.
"So that’s how it is..."
Genuine surprise flickered in Yamamoto’s eyes.
"This explains why your control over shadows cannot be attributed to a Zanpakutō," Nanatsuki continued.
"I can now manipulate shadows even without releasing my blade. Please, observe."
He pointed at the shadow beneath the teacup.
The shadow peeled away from the cup, reshaping itself into Yamamoto’s silhouette—
which promptly began performing an enthusiastic dance atop the table.
After acquiring Shinigami, Quincy, and Hollow powers in succession, Nanatsuki’s shadow abilities had grown significantly stronger.
If Kyōraku were to challenge him now, Nanatsuki could even distort the rules, allowing shadows themselves to attack Kyōraku within the ga.
"Enough!"
Yamamoto’s face darkened instantly.
He didn’t need to be told whose silhouette that was.
Nanatsuki lowered his hand.
The shadow obediently returned to being a teacup’s shadow.
"For decades, you’ve contributed greatly to the Gotei 13 and the Soul Society," Yamamoto said at last.
"This victory against the Wandenreich—your role was decisive."
He then shifted topics.
"The Royal Guard has taken notice of your achievents.
They’ve sent word—within the next few days, they will descend from the Soul King Palace and escort you there to receive honors."
"The Royal Guard is coming down?" Nanatsuki raised an eyebrow.
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