"Hmm? Maki Ichinose? What the hell is that?"
Seated beneath the eaves of the Eleventh Division captain's quarters, Kenpachi Zaraki asked doubtfully.
"Uh… seems like he was a subordinate of the former captain. Not sure why, but he defected," Ikkaku Madarame replied while holding a paper report.
"Defection is such an ugly act—only someone even uglier could do it!
Mm, he must be uglier than certain people," said Yumichika Ayasegawa, grooming his eyelashes while glancing sideways at Ikkaku.
"Damn it! Say what you mean—why are you looking at me?" Ikkaku roared, throwing down the report.
"Nothing, I meant exactly what I said. Don't take it personally," Yumichika replied nonchalantly.
"Bastard… you—!"
"That's enough, Baldy."
A pink head popped out from Zaraki's left shoulder as Yachiru Kusajishi pointed at the report on the ground.
"Who sent that report?"
"It was delivered by Third Seat Saitō Keichirō—he used to be First Division, but now he's with the Ninth. Apparently Captain Fūjin requested it," Ikkaku said after picking the report back up.
"It seems this Maki Ichinose guy has gotten involved with the rumored Bount. So Captain Fūjin is requesting our support."
"Hah? Support? He was bold enough to fight Captain-Commander Yamamoto… and he needs our help?" Yumichika said in surprise.
"Tch… boring."
Zaraki snorted impatiently and stood up, heading for the door.
"Captain? Where are you going?" Ikkaku hurried after him.
"The Ninth Division."
"Huh? What for?" Yumichika followed, puzzled.
"It's too dull here. I'm going to find Ichigo." A cold smile curled at Zaraki's lips.
"I've heard that Fūjin has some ability to slip past the Seireitei's watch and go to the Human World…
As compensation, I'll just cut down the rogue Shinigami and the Bount while I'm at it. I hope they don't disappoint me."
"Well… even so, shouldn't we report to Captain-Commander first?
Given what just happened, it's probably best not to let Captain-Commander Yamamoto misunderstand and think the Eleventh Division's captain and vice-captain ran off with two seated officers…" Yumichika kindly reminded him.
"No."
Zaraki refused without hesitation.
"You go if you want. I'm not listening to the old man's nagging."
"Why are you making trouble for no reason?"
Ikkaku shot Yumichika a sideways glance.
"My monthly pay's practically all docked already. I'm not afraid of breaking a few rules! If you're scared, stay behind."
"Uh… mine's almost gone too. Forget I said anything."
Wiping cold sweat from his forehead, Yumichika followed Zaraki and the others toward the Ninth Division barracks, located beside Clover Street in the Seireitei's northern district.
Normally, with Yachiru's completely random directions, there would be no way for Zaraki's group to find the Ninth Division.
However, ever since Fūjin Taichi assumed command, he had implemented sweeping renovations under the banner of "three fires of a new official."
First, the marble pillar engraved with a black "Nine" beside the front gate was ordered demolished. In its place, two trees were planted—both West Palace crabapples.
Second, the originally modest captain's quarters had been dramatically rebuilt into a 114-story skyscraper—nearly level with the tallest structure in Soul Society, Sōkyoku Hill. Fūjin named it "The Seireitei Landmark: Kaitō Building."
Finally, because the Ninth Division oversees the Shishinrō and other prisons, with the barracks backed against the southern end of Sōkyoku Hill, the Seireitei's engineering corps renovated the compound and even excavated a lake before the gate, planting rows of crabapple trees along its banks.
As a result, even someone as directionally hopeless as Zaraki could simply head toward Soul Society's most prominent building—the Kaitō Building—and arrive without fail.
"Tch…"
Zaraki glanced at the two crabapple trees at the entrance and snorted.
"A bit flashy… but it's definitely easier on the eyes than when that guy Tōsen was here."
"Man… a project this massive must've cost a fortune," Ikkaku muttered, shading his eyes as he stared at the towering skyscraper.
"There's no way the old Ninth Division savings could cover this. From what I know, Captain Fūjin came from one of the poorest, most remote districts of Rukongai…
And with Captain-Commander Yamamoto's personality, there's no way he'd allocate funds to the Ninth. So where did the money come from?"
"Sigh… who knows."
Yumichika glanced sideways at the silent Zaraki and sighed.
"If our division had even a little savings, I'd want to renovate our barracks too—
At the very least, fix those leaking roofs. And we still haven't paid off the Fourth Division's medical fees."
"…"
Ikkaku's face darkened. Being constantly chased for debt by the Fourth Division wasn't exactly honorable.
Although nearly all the monthly funds allocated to the Eleventh Division went toward debt repayment…
Looking at the division's long history and accumulated liabilities, that money was nothing more than a drop in the bucket.
"…."
With a dark expression, Kenpachi Zaraki said nothing. He walked straight into the Ninth Division barracks, passed through a long corridor draped in blooming wisteria, and finally climbed the steps upward.
"Captain Zaraki!"
Rukia Kuchiki, who had been left behind to handle paperwork, hurried down to greet them after receiving word from a subordinate. "8600, Third Seat Ikkaku, Fifth Seat Yumichika."
"Hmm... is Fūjin not here?" Zaraki lowered his head slightly and asked Rukia.
"Captain Taichi left early this morning with Captain Kaien, Renji, and Third Seat Keichirō on an external patrol. They haven't returned yet. Is there something you needed, Captain Zaraki?"
"External patrol?"
Yachiru Kusajishi jumped down from Zaraki's shoulder and tugged at Rukia's shihakushō.
"But there wasn't any official assignment issued by the Captain-Commander today!"
"Th-that…"
Rukia's face flushed red as she brushed a strand of long hair aside, unsure how to explain.
After all, Fūjin Taichi and the others had gone to the Human World through "unofficial channels" to investigate the Bount—there simply hadn't been time to report to headquarters.
Ssssh—
At that moment, the space beside the steps suddenly distorted, and a cross-shaped rift split open.
Fūjin Taichi leaned halfway out of it and waved at Zaraki and the others.
"Kenpachi, I've been waiting for you! Hurry up and come in—let's have some fun!"
"Heh… now that's more like it." A grin spread across Zaraki's face as he called out, "Let's go, Yachiru."
"Okay!"
Yachiru leapt back onto his shoulder, then turned around and giggled at Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa.
"Baldy, Peacock-man, keep up!"
"…."
Ikkaku and Yumichika exchanged a glance and silently sighed before following Zaraki into the cross-shaped spatial rift.
"Rukia, we'll be back after cutting down the Bount! You… just get the victory banquet ready."
Fūjin Taichi smiled as his figure disappeared into the rift along with the others.
"…Understood."