Chapter 102: The Commander-General
Honestly, seeing this person came as something of a surprise.
He barely appeared in the original story at all.
Mostly he showed up in flashbacks, memories, descriptions, and one very uncomfortable Arrancar impression.
But limited screen time didn't mean unimportant. If anything, the opposite.
Shiba Kaien's identity, and the timing of his death, raised a whole category of problems on its own.
He was the talent the declining Shiba house had managed to produce after considerable effort. Shiba Isshin belonged to a branch family. Kaien was also the most beloved senior figure in all of Squad 13.
Ukitake Jushiro had left the vice-captain position empty afterward, as a memorial to him. That kind of gesture said something.
And Shiba Isshin's eventual rise to captain: certainly personal ability had something to do with it, but if you dug into the background, the path probably connected back to this man. The one who had been all but predetermined for something larger.
All of this ran through Matsushita Yusuke's head in a tangled rush, and he realized he had been staring.
Not obviously. But Kaien had noticed.
"Is that young man... staring at me?"
He raised a hand vaguely and looked back across the distance.
Kyoraku Shunsui, who never missed a chance to enjoy himself at someone else's expense, grinned and clapped Kaien on the shoulder.
"Maybe he thinks you're impressive and wants a round with you?"
Kaien took a step back, smile going slightly helpless.
"Please, I'm not nearly that capable. It's probably just that I look a bit like someone he knows."
If Matsushita Yusuke had heard that, he would have given the man a genuine thumbs-up.
Your instincts are actually incredible.
The Shiba bloodline ran clean and clear. You could see traces of Isshin's younger face in Ichigo Kurosaki, once you knew to look. And this more distant branch of the family had its own share of that resemblance.
He moved on.
Matsushita Yusuke became aware that his stare had gotten a bit intense. He adjusted, dropped his gaze, and gave a small nod in Kaien's direction.
First meeting and all. Radiating too much interest at a stranger was going to read wrong no matter how you looked at it.
"More people keep arriving..."
Kishinoshin murmured, which matched what Yusuke was thinking.
The scheduled time was getting close. He reached up to check the state of his outfit, and tentatively looked over at Soifon.
"Wait. Don't take it off yet. The Commander-General is coming."
The Commander-General.
The words landed.
Every person present turned toward the same direction at the same moment.
An old man was walking toward them from the way they had come.
His steps were steady and quiet. The slight curve of his posture showed the outline of great age. Eyes cast downward, hair fully white.
Both eyes were mostly hidden behind gray-white brows and beard, present only as a searching quality tucked behind all of it, a measuring look that took in everything around him.
From pure appearance alone, this was, without question, a perfectly unremarkable old man.
And yet.
Nobody here was capable of underestimating him.
Because this man was the current Gotei 13's peak combat power, and per the original story, he was actually stronger right now than he would be when the main timeline began. The only thing that had ever constrained him was his own gradually fading rage and killing intent. A thousand years ago, the butcher of men had sheathed his blade and pulled that killing intent inward, and that was the only reason the current Soul Society existed as a stage for younger people at all.
But the blade was still sharp.
Actually seeing him in person, Matsushita Yusuke finally understood why Aizen moved so carefully and avoided any direct confrontation. With this man standing watch, how were you supposed to play?
Small moves through Kyoka Suigetsu in daily life, fine. Actually provoke the old man and you could check what had happened to the poor souls on the other side of the Thousand Year Blood War. One strike and everything, body and soul, erased without remainder.
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.
His arrival alone silenced the crowd that had been noisy a moment ago. Every eye moved to him. Everyone stood like they were waiting for a signal, no dissent from any direction.
Matsushita Yusuke found himself staring a little.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Footsteps, closing the distance.
Yamamoto passed by Matsushita Yusuke.
There was no oppressive weight to it. No crushing pressure. No reiatsu bearing down.
Which was exactly what made it frightening.
Before showing any hostility, Yamamoto could suppress his presence entirely. Not one extra trace of power leaked out. No warning signal. Nothing.
Powerful wasn't just a descriptor when applied to this man. It was a literal statement of fact.
Sasakibe Chojiro followed close behind, and also passed by Yusuke.
Yamamoto came to a stop at the base of the execution platform.
He turned, swept his gaze across everyone present, and spoke in a flat, unhurried tone.
"Time is about up. Is everyone here?"
Sasakibe stood behind him, head slightly lowered.
"Kijishi has not yet arrived."
"How long remaining?"
"Roughly ten minutes."
"Then we wait."
Three exchanges. The arrangement was settled.
Commander-General's authority showed in everything, down to how little it needed to say. Matsushita Yusuke was still taking that in when he caught another figure approaching from a distance.
The silhouette was clearly not Kijishi.
A woman, hair pinned up, Zanpakuto cradled in her arms, expression warm and composed.
Unohana Retsu.
"My apologies for arriving a little late."
Even her apology had a gentle quality to it. As Squad 4's captain she looked exactly as her role implied: a healer, precise and mild, dedicated to her specialty.
But Matsushita Yusuke knew exactly what she actually was. The second most dangerous person at this gathering. The original Kenpachi. The first Squad 11 captain. The one who had gone east and west with the old man, cutting through everything in her path, and never blinked once.
She moved naturally toward Kyoraku's side and settled into her place as an observer. Yamamoto's two students received her arrival with appropriate courtesy.
Yusuke could feel her attention moving across him from the side, a light and unhurried appraisal. He did not dare turn his head. He kept his posture even and pretended not to notice.
Dealing with the goddess of slaughter could wait until the dust settled.
He was still thinking this when Soifon's voice came from beside him.
"Kijishi's here."
****
70+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces