"Captain Gosuke… do you understand what you are saying?"
Captain-Commander Yamamoto's voice grew heavy the moment Gosuke Shigure recommended a prisoner from the Maggot's Nest.
His tone suggested not anger, but seriousness—because such a recommendation was unprecedented.
Gosuke Shigure answered steadily:
"Although Kurotsuchi Mayuri is detained in the Maggot's Nest, that alone does not disqualify him.
He was deemed a potential threat—an unpredictable factor—yet he has not committed any act that violates the laws of Soul Society.
Had he broken the law, he would have been judged by Central 46, not merely confined."
Yamamoto did not immediately dismiss the argument.
Instead, he glanced around at the assembled captains.
"…Are there any other candidates?"
If not, he truly would consider evaluating this "Kurotsuchi Mayuri" Shigure put forth.
From the side, Yoruichi Shihōin shot Shigure a resentful look.
She had expected him to recommend Urahara Kisuke, but instead he named someone she had never heard of—
a complete unknown from the Maggot's Nest.
Annoyed, she stepped forward.
"I also have a candidate," Yoruichi declared.
"Speak, Captain Shihōin," Yamamoto replied.
Yoruichi said:
"The Maggot's Nest that Captain Gosuke mentioned is under the jurisdiction of my Second Division.
The person I recommend is not a prisoner, but the man who commands the Maggot's Nest's Third Unit of the Onmitsukidō—
and the Third Seat of the Second Division: Urahara Kisuke."
She continued:
"As you know, no one may bring a Zanpakutō into the Maggot's Nest.
To qualify as the commander of the Supervisory Unit, one must be capable of suppressing every detainee bare-handed.
Kisuke holds this position. His personal strength is exceptional."
"And beyond combat ability, Kisuke is a master of all fields related to spiritual technology—soul engineering, spiritual mechanics, reiryoku containment, and more.
His talent surpasses even many who specialize solely in research."
"Therefore, I recommend Urahara Kisuke to undergo the assessment for the new Captain of the Twelfth Division."
Yamamoto was visibly surprised at the degree of praise Yoruichi heaped upon Kisuke.
No other captains came forward with additional recommendations.
Thus, Yamamoto made his decision:
"Very well. Urahara Kisuke will be evaluated.
If he proves unsuitable… then we shall consider the man Captain Gosuke recommended."
It was only the beginning of the process—
Hikifune had not yet formally stepped down, and Kisuke's captain assessment would require time.
And since the Third Division's vacancy had been waiting longer, its ceremony would occur first.
Neither Gosuke Shigure nor Yoruichi had any involvement in that process.
After the captain's meeting ended, the two went off drinking together.
And Yoruichi wasted no time:
"Sensei! You never cooperate! If you had just recommended Kisuke from the start, I wouldn't have needed to jump in!
And who even is this Kurotsuchi Mayuri? I've never heard of him!"
Shigure chuckled.
"Kisuke is excellent… but what makes you so sure the man I recommended isn't?"
"Oh?" Yoruichi's eyes narrowed, curious.
"Kurotsuchi Mayuri," Shigure said, "is someone who can stand on equal ground with Kisuke."
In the original history he remembered, Mayuri and Kisuke were like two sides of the same blade.
Kisuke was adaptable—always capable of conjuring new solutions.
Mayuri was analytical—given enough data, he could dismantle any opponent.
In the Thousand-Year Blood War, Shigure knew the truth:
Mayuri was the irrefutable MVP of the battlefield.
He defeated enemy after enemy—
revived numerous allies—
and solved crises no one else could touch.
Even Komamura Sajin, who sacrificed everything and still failed to kill his opponent, was overshadowed by a mere device Mayuri engineered in minutes.
Who knew what Komamura would think if he ever recovered his mind?
"You're praising him that much?" Yoruichi muttered.
She trusted Kisuke's brilliance deeply.
But to hear that someone equally brilliant sat imprisoned in her own division's Maggot's Nest…
She found herself wanting to meet this mysterious Mayuri.
Shigure only smiled and let the topic drop.
After drinking with Yoruichi, he returned to the Eleventh Division.
In the following days, Hikifune Kirio remained in Soul Society while concluding her final duties, meaning Shutara Senjumaru could also stay longer.
Every night, Gosuke Shigure went to meet her.
Too much time had passed—entire lifetimes—and they had endless words to share, too many for a single night.
By day, Senjumaru hid quietly within the Twelfth Division, unseen.
During this period, Gosuke Shigure attended a captain installation ceremony.
Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō successfully completed the captain's assessment, officially becoming the new Captain of the Third Division.
With this, all future members of the "Masked Corps" had now risen to their historical positions as captains or lieutenants.
After Rōjūrō's inauguration, Hikifune finally completed her final duties and prepared to ascend to the Soul King Palace.
Gosuke Shigure planned to accompany Hikifune and Senjumaru to the palace.
To avoid unnecessary disturbance, he and Senjumaru went to notify Captain Yamamoto beforehand.
Yamamoto was surprised that Senjumaru intended to bring Gosuke Shigure into the Soul King Palace—
but he said nothing.
After all, in terms of status, the Royal Guard stood above even the Gotei 13.
And the Soul King Palace was a domain beyond the authority of any captain.
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