Yamamoto clutched his collar, feeling a bit short of breath. It was all because of this wretched child, Kōe, infuriating him.
It felt as though his heart had just taken a critical hit from Kōe!
Suppressing the urge to cough up blood, Yamamoto temporarily abandoned the idea of rousing Kōe's ambition. It was a massive undertaking, a long and arduous journey that couldn't be rushed. For now, it was better to get down to business.
"I want to fight for this on your behalf."
"There's no need for that, I really don't mind," Kōe hastily refused, assuming Yamamoto was still testing him.
Yamamoto let out a long sigh. *'Have I been too strict with this boy?'* he wondered. But Kōe was usually so lackadaisical around him. It seemed that his own imposing presence was still too overwhelming during crucial moments. *'Should I be a bit more lenient in the future?'*
"I truly want to fight for this on your behalf. It would be a pity to leave such an excellent blade unused!"
"Really?" Kōe probed cautiously. "You're not trying to trick me?"
"When has this old man ever deceived you!"
Yamamoto's tone carried a hint of irritation; it seemed he wasn't joking. In truth, Yamamoto had never lied to Kōe, and the so-called loyalty tests had never actually happened. It was just that the matters involved this time were so significant that Kōe had no choice but to be cautious.
At this point, Kōe realized that he wasn't the only one reluctant to let it go; Yamamoto also couldn't bear to see such a Zanpakutō gather dust. If they could avoid making such a painful sacrifice, they should. He was in complete agreement with this.
"It seems Master has a way to persuade Central 46?"
"You clearly couldn't bear to part with it, yet you put on quite the act!" Yamamoto pointed at Kōe's head, scolding him with a chuckle.
Hearing this, Kōe's heart skipped a beat. *'What does that mean? Was that just another test? Weren't we done with this? It seems this little fox still fell into the old hunter's trap!'*
Just as Kōe's heart was about to turn completely cold, Yamamoto's voice rang out again.
"I have no way of persuading Central 46 to trust you, so I never intended to let Central 46 know the specifics of your situation."
"Master means for me to hide completely?" Kōe frowned and continued, "But is such a thing even possible right now?"
Shihouin Kōe was a genius picked up from the Rukongai by Head Captain Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni and raised as his final disciple. Everyone in Seireitei knew this.
He had been watched by all sorts of people since he was a child. Asking him to hide now and vanish into the crowd? That would be like burying his head in the sand!
"It is similar to what you are thinking, but not entirely."
"I am slow-witted, Master. Please stop speaking in riddles."
Yamamoto made a pressing motion with one hand, signaling him not to rush. He slowly stood up and said, "Do you remember why I had you enroll in the Shin'ō Academy?"
"First, to help Master establish the Academy's prestige. More importantly, to grow at a slower pace within the Academy and appear a bit more ordinary."
Yamamoto nodded and continued to ask, "And why must you appear ordinary?"
"Because from the moment I stepped into Seireitei, everyone has been watching me, guessing exactly why I was able to become Master's final disciple..." As he spoke, he seemed to realize something, trailing off into deep thought.
The masses only knew that Shihouin Kōe was a genius, but they had absolutely no idea *how* much of a genius he was.
Because of this, the people of Seireitei had always kept a close eye on Kōe. To reduce the scrutiny from those with ulterior motives, Yamamoto had sent Kōe to the Shin'ō Academy to put on a show.
As long as people saw his performance, they would feel they had the measure of him. Naturally, this attention would wane, making it much easier for Yamamoto to protect him.
Seeing Kōe's brow relax, Yamamoto knew the boy had figured it out. He asked, "Do you understand now?"
"The more they know, the easier it is for them to let their guard down." Kōe looked up at Yamamoto and continued, "The unknown is what truly captures their interest!"
"You are not too slow-witted after all. It seems we can continue with these riddles?"
Kōe's face flushed slightly. *'Sure, we can continue. As long as you're happy.'*
"You are a genius, everyone knows that." Yamamoto walked over to the window, looking out at the dim courtyard as he continued, "But your cultivation path, what you excel at, and what you lack—only I know these things."
"Our previous plan was merely a stopgap measure. Those with calculating minds will still harbor suspicions; they won't truly let you off the hook."
"Not only does this leave your hands tied, but those who intend to harm Seireitei will hide even deeper. When they finally strike, you will be in even greater danger." Yamamoto sighed, his hands clasped behind his back. "Seireitei appears peaceful, but I always feel that danger lurks on all sides. There are not only threats from the outside, but problems within our own ranks!"
At this moment, Kōe was absolutely stunned. *'So wise, so resourceful... are you really the stubborn, arrogant Old Man Yama from the Bleach I knew in my past life? It turns out time spares no one, not even Shinigami.'*
He desperately wanted to tell Yamamoto: *'Your instincts are spot on. A man named Aizen Sōsuke is going to stir up a massive storm in the future. Even though he's just an ordinary seated officer in Squad 5 right now, and his intentions might still be pure... trust me, he's a confirmed traitor! He will absolutely rebel later! Don't ask me how I know, just take the word of a transmigrated prophet!'*
However, if he actually said that out loud, Yamamoto would probably send him straight to Squad 4 for a psychiatric evaluation. So, Kōe could only offer a hasty reply, "Master is absolutely right. I feel the same way!"
"But didn't Kōki's Shikai draw even more attention this time?" Kōe continued. "I don't think anyone will lower their guard around me."
Yamamoto didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "How do you think your Kōki compares to the other one?"
"It doesn't compare." Kōe shook his head, speaking with absolute certainty. "They aren't on the same level at all!"
"Then hasn't your greatest reliance, your deepest secret, been completely hidden away?"
Yamamoto's words instantly cleared the fog in Kōe's mind. *'That's right! No one can possess two different Zanpakutō! Using Kōki as a smokescreen to hide my biggest trump card—no matter how you look at it, it's a massive win for me!'*
However, Yamamoto had also said that he didn't want him to seal away the other blade. But one person couldn't have two Zanpakutō. One Zanpakutō could only correspond to one Shinigami...
"I get it!" Kōe had a sudden flash of inspiration and said excitedly, "One blade for one person. If there are two blades, we just need to find another person!"
"It seems you have completely figured it out. Good, very good!"
That was exactly what Yamamoto meant. He had no intention of letting Kōe's talents go to waste, but having two blades concentrated on a single person would too easily invite jealousy. Since that was the case, they just needed to fabricate a person to wield the other blade.
When the time came, the attention focused on Kōe would inevitably be split with this other persona. The real Kōe would become invisible, perfectly hidden in the blind spot right under everyone's noses.
"But there's a flaw in this plan!" Kōe organized his thoughts, his face full of worry. "If a person appears out of thin air, won't Central 46 intervene?"
"When this old man was young, there was no Central 46!" Yamamoto turned his head, a fierce glint in his eyes. "You are the only potential flaw in this plan!"
A drop of sweat rolled down Kōe's cheek, and his back was instantly drenched in cold sweat. He understood what Yamamoto meant. This plan was designed to protect him, but what if he, Shihouin Kōe, turned out to be one of those people with 'ulterior motives'?
"Master... rest assured..." Kōe swallowed hard and continued, "I treat this place as my home... I really do..."
That sharp, intimidating aura vanished. Yamamoto's previously fierce gaze softened into one of benevolence.
"I raised you. I know exactly what kind of child you are!"
Yamamoto stepped forward and patted Kōe's head, speaking gently, "It's just that in the future, you may suffer grievances. You may become disappointed in your Master, disappointed in Seireitei..."
"I won't..." Before Kōe could finish his sentence, Yamamoto interrupted him.
"But no matter what, you must never betray Seireitei! You must not leave your home! You must trust your Master!" Yamamoto knelt down, holding Kōe's face in both hands. "Promise me, will you? Kōe."
The clouds parted, revealing a crescent moon hanging in the sky. Bathed in moonlight, Seireitei remained exactly as it always was, as if nothing had happened at all.
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