"Sister Hikifune, save me!"
Although the official Research and Development Institute had not yet been formally established, the Twelfth Division had always housed many researchers who would occasionally produce novel inventions.
"What's the matter, young man?"
Kirio Hikifune, who had been studying the cooking techniques Kensei had taught her in the division office, couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Kensei Kenzuru clinging to her leg with a look of utter despair.
"Take your time and explain. If it's something I can help with, I certainly won't ignore you."
Almost getting lost in the overwhelming maternal aura radiating from Kirio Hikifune, Kensei quickly snapped back to reality and recounted how Old Man Yama was making things difficult for him, and how his chosen three Captain candidates didn't know Bankai.
"Hmm... to become a Captain, one usually needs to have achieved Bankai. Without it, the only way is to defeat the former Captain in front of all division members, like in the Eleventh Division." Leading Kensei to sit down, she placed the considerable weight on her chest onto the table, rested her cheek on her hand, and continued, "But their respective Captains are already gone, so that path is closed."
"And since those seated officers haven't shown any outstanding achievements, getting a Captain's recommendation is also impossible. So, indeed, they can only rely on Bankai."
Kensei's face fell. For Captain recommendations, he could only count on Yoruichi, Sister Unohana, and Sister Hikifune. That wasn't enough for six.
"Is there any way to speed up the process of learning Bankai?"
"For an average Soul Reaper, mastering Bankai usually takes ten to twenty years. However, Vice-Captain Chōjirō apparently mastered his in just one month. You could ask him."
Seeing Kensei completely deflated, Kirio Hikifune patted his head with an amused smile. "I didn't say there was no way."
Watching Kirio Hikifune begin rummaging through the room, hope reignited in Kensei's eyes. Heaven never seals off all exits!
"Found it. Take a look at this."
Kensei received a somewhat yellowed and worn old notebook. Scanning the recorded experimental data and hypotheses inside, he understood these were some conjectures Kirio had made about Zanpakutō resonance during her earlier research on souls. As for why she hadn't pursued it further, she was probably too busy researching the technology for Temporary Souls.
Reading the description of materializing the Zanpakutō, summoning its physical form, and then, by defeating it, triggering deeper soul communication to enhance resonance with the Zanpakutō, Kensei had a sudden epiphany. This is the Tenshintai!
"I get it! Thank you, Sister Hikifune! I will never forget this great kindness for as long as I live!"
Kirio Hikifune watched Kensei dash out in a flash, a faint smile curling her lips. Captain-Commander Yamamoto really knows how to give that boy a hard time, assigning him such a difficult task.
Rushing towards the Second Division, Kensei could only lament his lack of scientific expertise. If he knew research, he could have invented it himself instead of relying on others. Considering Aizen was currently preoccupied with the Hōgyoku and probably had no time for him, Kensei had no choice but to seek out the person currently still in the Second Division: Kisuke Urahara.
"Vice-Captain Ōmaeda, where's Yoruichi?"
Ōmaeda Nozomishin, whose physique rivaled a sumo wrestler's, looked at Kensei with a complex expression. This was the young man he had coincidentally met while on business in the Rukongai. Back then, recognizing his talent, Ōmaeda had recommended him for the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy. He never imagined that in such a short time, the boy would become Captain-Commander Yamamoto's disciple and might even end up eloping with his own superior, the head of the Shihōin Clan, Lady Yoruichi.
Truly unpredictable... Good thing I'm on good terms with him.
"Captain Yoruichi is currently training in the grounds. If you have urgent business, young Kensei, you can tell me. I usually handle all division affairs."
Ōmaeda Nozomishin wasn't exaggerating in the slightest. That Yoruichi had obediently taken up the Captain's position at all was a blessing from the ancestors. Expecting her to handle the division's complex affairs? Without Vice-Captain Ōmaeda Nozomishin, the Second Division would fall apart.
"Great Ōmaeda-sama, is there a division member named Kisuke Urahara in the Second Division? I need him for something."
Though "Great Ōmaeda-sama" was technically his son's title, what was wrong with a father using his son's moniker? After all, the Ōmaeda family was no ordinary bunch.
"Don't call me 'Great,' oh my, young Kensei, you're too kind." Nozomishin was quite pleased with the address and let out a hearty laugh. "I know that member. He's currently in the Detention Unit, overseeing the Maggot's Nest."
Kensei returned to this all-too-familiar place—it was here he had taken down the detestable Kishita and Shirakura. Those names were etched deeply in his memory.
Since the last attack on the Maggot's Nest, the Detention Unit's daily patrols had tightened significantly, causing immense distress to the work-shirking Kisuke Urahara.
He had originally joined the Second Division to be a guard here precisely because the Maggot's Nest was a vital location in the Soul Society; no sane Soul Reaper would cause trouble here. Yet, someone brainless enough to stage a jailbreak actually showed up.
"That's Kisuke Urahara over there."
Ōmaeda Nozomishin rubbed his belly—more exaggerated than a pregnant woman's—and pointed his chin towards a listless blond-haired Soul Reaper.
Kensei's eyes lit up. Finally found this tool-man. From now on, I'll just have Urahara make whatever cool stuff I want. He's way more useful than Aizen-Doraemon.
A face full of ill intent suddenly appeared before the daydreaming Kisuke Urahara, startling him so much he almost jumped. Unfortunately, his slight frame was no match for Kensei's large hand. He was lifted up like a chick.
"Great Ōmaeda-sama, I'll be borrowing this person for now."
"Of course. By all means."
Given Kensei's relationship with Lady Yoruichi, the Second Division would likely bear the Kenzuru name sooner or later. It's just one person. Not just borrowing; even if Kensei took him away permanently, Nozomishin wouldn't say a word.
Kisuke Urahara stared dumbfounded at the unusually accommodating Nozomishin. He never expected to be sold off by the Vice-Captain in just a few words. Pondering Nozomishin's somewhat ingratiating reaction and looking at the young man who seemed not all there mentally who had taken him away, Urahara could already confirm his identity: the current top trending figure in the Soul Society, Kensei Kenzuru.
"Lord Kensei, is there something you need my help with?"
"You catch on quick. Good. I have a very interesting research project I want you to complete."
Setting Urahara down, Kensei pulled out the notebook detailing the Tenshintai's principles from his clothes and handed it over.
Urahara was initially dismissive, but once his eyes landed on the data and hypotheses in the notebook, he couldn't look away, his breathing growing noticeably quicker. Just as he was about to continue reading, Kensei snatched the notebook right back from his hands.
"If you want to keep reading, you'll have to complete this research for me." Kensei waved the notebook side to side, making Urahara's eyes follow its movement. "How many days do you need to produce a working prototype for me?"
"One week! Give me one week!"
That was already incredibly fast. In the Soul Society, aside from a very few researchers, no one could produce a working prototype from simple principles in such a short time.
"Sigh. Then I guess I'll have to release Mayuri Kurotsuchi from the Maggot's Nest. He should be quite a bit faster than you."
Kensei put the notebook away, shook his head at Urahara with regret, and slowly turned to walk towards the Maggot's Nest.
"Five days!"
Urahara gritted his teeth. He was too interested in this experiment. Even knowing Kensei was haggling, he had no choice.
"Three days. I'll provide the equipment and raw materials."
"Deal!"
Urahara clenched his teeth and agreed. If he could really get proper research equipment, his future research into the nature of the world would be much easier.
Kensei was immensely satisfied. Regardless of the future, getting Kisuke Urahara to do unpaid labor for him now was definitely beneficial. He'd just pile a bunch of research topics on him daily, letting him experience the joy of being pushed.
Kisuke Urahara shivered for no apparent reason, feeling his future days might not be very easy.
***
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