CHAPTER 21

After Gosuke Shigure returned to the 11th Division, the squad began its slow recovery.

While it was an undeniable fact that Kenpachi Mochisei had committed a felony within Seireitei, the sting of losing yet another Kenpachi left a heavy shadow over the entire division.

But with the vice-captain back in place, the squad gradually returned to its routine operations.

After all, Gosuke Shigure had been the one managing many of the division's internal affairs during Mochisei Kenpachi's tenure. Now, stepping back into his old role, he provided the necessary stability.

Under Gosuke's leadership, the 11th Division regained its rhythm. The soldiers, though still mourning, redirected their energy toward their duties within the Gotei 13, especially combating the Hollows—who were increasingly appearing across Soul Society in unnatural numbers.

During this period, Gosuke did not hesitate to draw his blade.

This time, the circumstances were different.

In the past, with Kenpachi Mochisei leading the charge, Gosuke could focus on operations and logistics, rarely needing to personally engage with large threats. But now that Mochisei was gone, he could no longer afford to stay behind the scenes.

If the vice-captain failed to rise in the division's time of need, it would be inexcusable.

During one engagement against a surge of Menos Grande, Gosuke Shigure took to the front lines.

Without Mochisei Kenpachi at his side, he faced battle alone. But when a squad of 11th Division members became overwhelmed by a Gillian-class Menos, Gosuke arrived—and with a single strike, he cleaved the towering Hollow down.

Though Gillians are the lowest class of Menos, they are still formidable. Ordinary seated officers often risk injury—or death—when fighting them.

That Gosuke could slay one effortlessly shocked many within the division. They had underestimated how much he had grown.

In the past, Gosuke had fought beside Mochisei, rarely drawing attention on his own. But now, his true strength was on full display.

However, the senior officers of the 11th Division remained grounded.

"He's strong," one muttered. "But still far from Kenpachi-level."

They weren't wrong.

Slaying a Gillian was no small feat, but their former captain, Tsubakiyashiki Kenpachi, had once slain a Vasto Lorde—an upper-tier Menos Grande, and the rarest class. To a true Kenpachi, a Gillian was less than an afterthought.

Still, Gosuke's act sparked something.

His courage and strength reignited the fighting spirit within the 11th Division. Slowly but surely, the squad began to rise from its grief.

The timing couldn't have been more critical.

In recent years, Soul Society had been anything but calm.

Hueco Mundo, the Hollow realm, had grown restless. Vasto Lordes had emerged more than once, and Gillians frequently breached the boundaries into Soul Society. Ordinary Hollows surged in from all directions, attacking the outer Rukongai districts.

Under such pressure, the 11th Division's mission load increased drastically.

Even Gosuke Shigure, once a behind-the-scenes commander, now fought on the front lines with grim consistency.

But he was only one man.

He could not stop all the bloodshed. Some of their members were injured. Others fell.

Yet for the warriors of the 11th Division, this was the path they had chosen.

Everyone who joined knew: to die in combat was not a tragedy, but an honor.

After the squad laid their fallen comrades to rest with full rites, they returned to duty, blades in hand, heads held high.

Months passed like this.

And just as the 11th Division began adjusting to life without a captain, word arrived from Central 46.

The trial of Kenpachi Mochisei had concluded.

The entire ordeal had taken an excruciatingly long time—but few were surprised.

Central 46, the legislative and judicial council of Soul Society, was notoriously bloated with politics. Its members were representatives of noble families, and while they theoretically served Soul Society's interests, they were far from unified.

Had the noble clans truly stood together, the tragedy of the Kenpachi family in Mole City would never have reached this point.

When it came to judgment, each Central 46 member sought to assert their own perspective. Endless debate dragged on—not over the crime itself, but over how to punish the crime.

In comparison, Gosuke Shigure's release from the Senzaikyū after being declared uninvolved was considered remarkably fast, though even that had taken longer than necessary.

Eventually, however, a verdict was reached.

As Captain Kyōraku Shunsui had predicted, Kenpachi Mochisei was sentenced to imprisonment in the lowest level of the underground prison: Muken.

Muken, the eternal prison, is where the most dangerous criminals in Soul Society are confined. Since the foundation of Seireitei, only a select few had ever been imprisoned there—and only for crimes that reached the level of existential threat.

Mochisei's sentence confirmed it: his crimes had been considered catastrophic in nature, even if his plans had failed. Central 46's judgment was clear. His mere intent had crossed a line that could not be tolerated.

Shortly after the sentencing, the Gotei 13 convened.

The meeting was held in the First Division's Assembly Hall—a massive room specifically reserved for captain-level discussions. It was within these walls that many of the Gotei's most important decisions had been made over the centuries.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai stood at the head of the chamber. His stern gaze swept across the assembled captains.

First, he announced Kenpachi Mochisei's sentence.

Everyone already knew the details. Central 46's deliberations had lasted months. There were no surprises.

Then, Yamamoto moved on to the next item on the agenda.

"The Captain of the Fifth Division," he said, "has formally stepped down due to injuries sustained long ago. Central 46 has accepted his resignation."

He paused for a moment, and then continued.

"Following the retirement, an evaluation was conducted by the Commander and senior captains. Vice-Captain Hirako Shinji has demonstrated the requisite strength and leadership to assume the role of Captain."

"Effective immediately, by order of Central 46, Hirako Shinji is hereby appointed as the new Captain of the Fifth Division."

As the announcement ended, a man entered.

He had long, messy blond hair with unusual forward-swept bangs, and an impish grin that revealed a sharp white fang.

Hirako Shinji greeted the captains with a casual wave and a half-lazy salute.

The other captains greeted him in turn.

They were no strangers to Shinji. He had served faithfully as Fifth Division Vice-Captain for years, and his reiatsu and tactical acumen were both well-known. His promotion to Captain had always seemed a matter of when, not if.

After the formalities, Yamamoto's tone turned grim.

"With the matter of the Fifth Division settled," he said, "we now turn to the Eleventh Division."

He let that statement linger.

The room quieted.

"The position of Captain of the Eleventh Division," Yamamoto continued, "is officially vacant."

"Mochisei Kenpachi was sentenced to Muken for high treason. A successor must be found."

The captains braced themselves.

For the Gotei 13, selecting a new Kenpachi was never just a matter of power—it was a matter of legacy, of danger, of balance within Soul Society.

The future of the Eleventh Division, and the title of Kenpachi, now hung in the air.