Underground Central Assembly Hall.
Kenma and Tessai Tsukabishi were sitting in a room. After chatting for a while, a notification came from the guards outside.
The two passed through the connecting underground passage and waited at the entrance of the assembly hall.
Tessai Tsukabishi's face was solemn, while Kenma closed his eyes to rest his mind, quietly awaiting the upcoming summons.
After a short wait, an order came from the Judges inside. The guards opened the large doors at the entrance. Illuminated by a faint light source, inside was the highest power center of Soul Society.
Kenma opened his eyes abruptly and glanced at Tessai Tsukabishi beside him. Seeing that he still wore that sullen expression, Kenma nodded slightly, then stepped forward and walked inside.
Tessai Tsukabishi lagged half a step behind as the two walked into the assembly hall of Central 46 one after the other.
After entering, Kenma looked around the somewhat dimly lit hall.
The hall was structured in a circular enclosure. Standing in the illuminated spot in the center was the person summoned by Central 46. His figure was aged and slightly stooped, and draped over his shoulders was a white Captain's haori with the kanji for 'One' written on the back. It was none other than the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Shigokuni.
Forty Sages sat in a circle, with six Judges situated at the highest point directly in front of the entrance. These people were blocked by wooden boards in front of them, each written with their respective numbers.
Kenma walked with steady steps to Yamamoto Shigokuni's right, standing more than two meters away.
Seeing this, Tessai Tsukabishi walked to Yamamoto Shigokuni's left.
Clack, clack!
Two more beams of light fell from the ceiling above, illuminating the one-meter area around the two men, revealing them to the Sages of Central 46.
The Judges above looked at the three spots of light below and the three people within them.
"Given the ineffective protection by the Gotei 13 during this incident—not only failing to stop Kuchiki Kōga's atrocities, which resulted in the deaths of so many nobles and Sages, but also suffering heavy losses themselves with several Captains killed..."
"After our deliberation, we have concluded that the Gotei 13 can no longer fully maintain its function of protecting the Court."
"Therefore, the judgment is made: the total budget of the Gotei 13 will be halved, and the scale of personnel within the squads will be halved."
"The cut budget and personnel will be transferred to the Kidō Corps and the Onmitsukidō to strengthen the power of both, with the expectation of better protecting the Seireitei in the future!"
As the voice of the Judge above fell, an uproar immediately broke out in the hall.
Grand Kidō Chief Tessai Tsukabishi's mustache trembled slightly, and a look of surprise appeared on his face, but he immediately forcibly suppressed it, maintaining his original solemn expression.
He pushed his glasses, the lenses flashing with white light, completely concealing his expression.
Yamamoto Shigokuni glanced sideways at the Grand Kidō Chief beside him, then withdrew his gaze.
The Sages of Central 46 discussed among themselves, only calming down after the Chief Judge struck his gavel and shouted for them to stop.
One of the Sages spoke up: "At present, the Gotei 13 is of little use, while the Kidō Corps contributed greatly to the arrest of Kuchiki Kōga. It is only natural to place importance on them in the future and increase the staffing of the Kidō Corps."
"But the Onmitsukidō is somewhat different."
Another voice, belonging to an elderly woman, asked in confusion, "The Onmitsukidō, the Kidō Corps, and the Gotei 13 are the three major organizations guarding the safety of the Seireitei in Soul Society. If the Gotei 13 is useless, promoting the other two is naturally beyond reproach, but what is the difference with the Onmitsukidō?"
The previous voice sounded again: "Since the establishment of the Gotei 13, it has guarded the peace of the Seireitei for a thousand years. Its merits are naturally outstanding, but because of this dominance, it has been constantly squeezing the importance of the other two."
"Because of the special nature of the Kidō Corps, although its presence has always been low, it has at least managed to maintain basic independence. However, under the pressure and annexation of the Gotei 13, the Onmitsukidō has long existed in name only."
"Even after a thousand years, it has gradually merged with the Second Division of the Gotei 13, even becoming a subordinate institution of the Gotei 13, completely losing the independence it had at its inception."
As soon as these words came out, it caused another round of discussion.
Yamamoto Shigokuni, standing in the center below, opened his eyes slightly. His aged face remained as still as an ancient well; clearly, he had expected the situation before him.
Since Central 46 mentioned this matter at this moment, the subsequent development became gradually clear.
The Sage continued, "The previous generations of Sages in Central 46, in view of the illustrious military exploits established by the Gotei 13 and the huge stabilizing role it played during that period, turned a blind eye to this situation."
"But this incident with Kuchiki Kōga has allowed us to see clearly the limitations of the Gotei 13."
"If the Onmitsukidō is to play the great role we anticipate, it must first be separated from the Second Division of the Gotei 13 and become a separate institution once again."
"Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigokuni, do you have any objections?"
It really is like this.
Yamamoto Shigokuni sighed inwardly and shook his head gently.
"None."
His plain and clear eyes looked to his side. His gaze passed through the white eyebrows hanging down the sides of his eyes, briefly sweeping over Shihoin Kenma beside him, then he withdrew his gaze and continued to look at the many Sages in front of him.
Just now, when Tessai Tsukabishi and Shihoin Kenma arrived together and appeared here, he had speculated about such a situation in his heart.
Yamamoto Shigokuni's aged voice rang out.
"If this move is beneficial to the peace of the Seireitei, the Gotei 13 will naturally not have the slightest objection!"
"That is good!"
Seeing this, the Chief Judge above gently struck the gavel, making the final decision.
"Strengthening the Kidō Corps and rebuilding the Onmitsukidō; this agenda is hereby confirmed."
"During the rebuilding of the Onmitsukidō, all institutions within the Seireitei must provide their full support to build it as quickly as possible."
"No one is allowed to disobey orders, obstruct, or even feign compliance while acting in opposition, nor delay the progress of reconstruction."
"Violators will be punished for treason!"
As the Chief Judge's voice fell, the Sages of Central 46 nodded in agreement.
Through this procedure, the matter of re-establishing the Onmitsukidō had the most solid legal basis and became the most significant matter in the Seireitei for this period.
The Chief Judge continued, "Next is to discuss the candidate for the Commander-in-Chief who will preside over the Onmitsukidō."
As soon as this was said, everyone's eyes turned in unison to Shihoin Kenma below.
Such a thing was naturally a foregone conclusion; even the re-establishment of the Onmitsukidō had been decided by this son-in-law of the Shihoin family below.
The candidate... was naturally also this one.
But the superficial procedures still had to be followed.
The Sages of Central 46 withdrew their gazes and spoke up one after another to discuss.
"Since it is the Onmitsukidō, the existence of the Shihoin family cannot be ignored."
"The Shihoin family is a great noble family after all, and generations have had experience serving in it. They are experts regarding the Onmitsukidō. The candidate for Commander-in-Chief can only be selected from the Shihoin family."
"How about the head of the Shihoin family, Lady Shihoin Yoruichi?"
"Lady Yoruichi is the Captain of the Second Division and possesses great strength. She is indeed a suitable candidate."
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