"A pity?"
Gosuke Shigure clearly understood the meaning behind Jūshirō Ukitake's words, yet he feigned ignorance and responded in a calm tone.
Ukitake smiled faintly, though there was a trace of melancholy in his expression.
"In truth, I have always felt that I'm a rather irresponsible captain. My body has been weak since childhood, and there are many duties I simply cannot fulfill personally."
He paused, gazing out across the quiet waters surrounding Yūgandō.
"However, after serving as a captain of the Gotei 13 for so many years, it is only natural that I feel a deep attachment to Seireitei."
"After that great incident decades ago, the Gotei 13 spent many years slowly recovering. Even now, the position of Captain of the Third Division remains vacant. Despite all this time, no truly suitable candidate has appeared."
He then looked back at Shigure.
"So when someone as young and capable as you chooses to retire from active duty, it is difficult not to feel that it's a shame."
Although Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku were not members of the original Gotei 13 founded by Genryūsai Yamamoto, they belonged to the first generation of captains trained after the establishment of the Shin'ō Academy.
For centuries they had helped guide and stabilize the Gotei 13.
From their perspective
Shigure was still extremely young.
After hearing Ukitake's words, Kyōraku nodded in agreement, lifting his sake cup lazily.
"That's exactly right," he said. "I've wondered about it for a long time myself."
He glanced sideways at Shigure.
"So tell me, Gosuke… why did you really retire back then?"
"Was it because losing to Zaraki Kenpachi hit you that hard?"
Shigure merely smiled.
He had no intention of revisiting that topic again.
Instead, he redirected the conversation.
"I understand Captain Ukitake's concern for the Gotei 13," Shigure said. "But you shouldn't focus your attention on someone who has already stepped away."
"To you, I may still seem young. But to the newer generation of Shinigami, I'm already an old relic."
He continued calmly.
"As for the Third Division's captaincy being vacant… is it truly because there's no suitable candidate?"
"I don't believe that."
Shigure casually glanced at Ukitake.
"Leaving other divisions aside, your own vice-captain Shiba Kaien seems quite suitable."
"Captain Ukitake, why not recommend Kaien to take the Captain Proficiency Test? He could compete for the position of Captain of the Third Division."
Before Ukitake could even respond, Shigure added with a faint smirk,
"Although… if Kaien were to become a captain, you'd lose your most capable subordinate. At that point, your dream of quietly recovering in Yūgandō might become impossible."
However, Ukitake barely heard the latter half of that remark.
His attention had already been captured by the earlier suggestion.
"Recommend Kaien… for the captaincy?"
His eyes flickered thoughtfully.
"That might actually be worth considering."
After all, Kaien had served as his vice-captain for years.
No one understood Shiba Kaien's abilities better than Ukitake.
As the current head of the Shiba Clan, Kaien had returned to Seireitei with a very clear goal to restore the family's former glory.
It was true that Kaien's uncle, Shiba Isshin, had once served as Captain of the Tenth Division.
But Isshin belonged to a branch family, not the main household.
For Kaien, as the head of the main branch, restoring the family's prestige was a personal responsibility.
During his years as vice-captain of the Thirteenth Division, Kaien had effectively handled most of the division's administrative matters himself.
In many ways, he had already been performing duties comparable to those of a captain.
But in the end
He was still only a vice-captain.
That position inevitably limited the scope of his influence.
If Kaien could pass the captain's examination and take command of the Third Division, it would certainly be a positive outcome.
As for losing such a capable subordinate?
Ukitake did not consider it a serious problem.
At worst, he would simply spend more time searching for a new vice-captain.
Unbeknownst to Kaien himself, his future had already begun shifting due to a casual conversation between Gosuke Shigure and Jūshirō Ukitake.
Ukitake was not someone who delayed action.
Soon afterward, he informed Kaien directly.
"You want me to take the captain's examination?"
Kaien was visibly surprised.
"That's right," Ukitake said with a gentle smile. "The position of Captain of the Third Division has remained vacant for far too long. Captain Yamamoto has been concerned about it for years."
"You possess exceptional ability. There's a real possibility that you could pass the Captain Proficiency Test and become the next captain."
"I've already discussed the matter with Head-Captain Yamamoto. All that remains now is for you to wait for the official notice."
Kaien hesitated.
"…Do you really think I'm capable of it?"
Under normal circumstances, the opportunity would have excited him greatly.
But ever since the battle with Metastacia, the crushing sense of helplessness he had felt in that moment still lingered in his mind.
For the first time in years
His confidence had wavered.
Ukitake noticed the hesitation immediately.
"You must believe in yourself," he said calmly.
Some time later, Shiba Kaien received a formal summons from the First Division.
Escorted by Chōjirō Sasakibe, the vice-captain of the First Division, Kaien arrived to participate in the Captain Proficiency Test.
However
This particular examination was somewhat unusual.
Because Kaien was not the only candidate.
Standing nearby was another participant.
Ichimaru Gin, Vice-Captain of the Fifth Division.
Head-Captain Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto soon explained the situation.
When Ukitake recommended Kaien as a candidate, Captain Aizen Sōsuke of the Fifth Division had coincidentally submitted a recommendation as well—
For his own vice-captain, Ichimaru Gin.
Both candidates were widely regarded as prodigies.
Their career paths were remarkably similar.
Each had graduated from the Shin'ō Academy in a single year.
Soon after joining their respective divisions, both had risen to the rank of Third Seat, and not long afterward they had been promoted again to Vice-Captain.
Given their comparable achievements, even Yamamoto found it difficult to determine which candidate would be the more suitable choice.
Therefore, he had decided to evaluate both of them directly.
After the examination concluded, the candidate deemed most suitable would be appointed as the new Captain of the Third Division.
After hearing this explanation, Shiba Kaien couldn't help glancing toward Ichimaru Gin.
Of course, he was already familiar with him.
In terms of age, Kaien was actually older.
But in terms of seniority within the Gotei 13, Gin was undeniably his senior.
After all, Kaien had only entered Seireitei later due to the Shiba family's earlier decline.
During his time at the Shin'ō Academy, however, Gin's reputation had been impossible to ignore.
The story of the prodigy who completed the academy in a single year was still widely circulated among students.
Ichimaru Gin
A true genius by any standard.
For that very reason, Shiba Kaien regarded him as a formidable opponent.
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