Individual guidance

"Old man Yama, we've brought them back."

Kyōraku Shunsui took off the bamboo hat on his head and tried his best to stay composed upon reporting in as he and the rest entered the 1st Division Assembly Hall.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto slightly opened his eyes, glancing at Watanabe Keiryū for a moment before shifting his gaze toward Kimura Muyang. No one could figure out what was the meaning behind this at the moment.

Sensing Captain-Commander Yamamoto's intent gaze at him without blinking, Kimura Muyang sent shivers down his spine. He was pretty sure that he didn't make any mistake… unless drinking with Shinji at the tavern too often was considered a mistake.

Kimura Muyang just couldn't shake off this discomfort with Captain-Commander Yamamoto staring at him so intently. He wasn't the traitor, yet why was he the one being stared at?

Sensing this weird atmosphere in the Assembly Hall, Kyōraku Shunsui laughed a little to break the tension ​​and immediately asked, "Uhh... Old Yamamoto, what should we do with Captain Watanabe and his men?"

Only then did Captain-Commander Yamamoto finally take his eyes off Kimura Muyang and turned at Kyōraku Shunsui.

Kimura Muyang sighed in relief as Captain-Commander Yamamoto was really intimidating. He could've peed his pants just by looking at him in the eyes.

"5th Division Captain Watanabe Keiryū, Lieutenant Ryūzaki Sengyo, 5th Seat Watanabe Ichiro, you three are suspected of betraying the Soul Society. Therefore, your Zanpakuto will be temporarily confiscated, and you'll be detained in the 3rd Division's prison as you waited for the trial."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto slammed down the cane in his hand and said solemnly.

"All of 5th Division's affairs will be handled by 8th Division Captain Kyōraku Shunsui for the time being."

Several 1st Division members then confiscated Watanabe Keiryū and the other two's Zanpakuto. These three didn't show any sign of struggling, even though they seemed a little hesitant to hand over their Zanpakuto. Even Ryūzaki Sengyo, who has been very cooperative, also handed over his Zanpakuto without saying a word.

Seeing these three handed over their Zanpakuto obediently, Kyōraku Shunsui was a bit relieved. Captain-Commander Yamamoto then nodded as a signal for his Division Members to escort Watanabe Keiryū and his men to their cell. Since they handed over their Zanpakuto, they clearly had no intention to put up a fight. Besides, they were in the middle of the 1st Division headquarter. They wouldn't get out unscathed even if they put up a fight.

"Okay, dismiss! Except for Kimura Muyang."

Kimura Muyang was shocked when Captain-Commander Yamamoto ordered him to stay back all by himself. What would Captain-Commander Yamamoto need from a Lieutenant like him? Not to mention ordering everyone else to leave, so they could talk privately. Even if he did have something to say to him, shouldn't it be his Lieutenant, Sasakibe, that informed him?

Hearing Captain-Commander's order, Hikifune Kirio was stunned. But after thinking for a moment, she seemed to have a rough idea about it and immediately walked toward Kimura Muyang and gave him a pat on the shoulder before leaving with Kyōraku Shunsui.

"Kirio-san, no! Are you going to abandon me too?

Kimura Muyang panicked as he watched Hikifune Kirio leaving without a word after patting his shoulder. It was as if she left him alone to his fate…

Kimura Muyang tried to guess what Hikifune Kirio meant by the pat on the shoulder. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. He had a bad feeling about this, but he couldn't figure out what would happen to him.

"dong!"

Captain-Commander Yamamoto slammed down his cane and snapped Kimura Muyang from his reverie.

Kimura Muyang was surprised and found that Captain-Commander Yamamoto was staring at him solemnly.

"Captain-Commander, did you have a particular task for me?"

Kimura Muyang tried his best to sound calm as he looked at Captain-Commander Yamamoto's eyes.

"Lieutenant Kimura, you defeated Captain Watanabe and brought him back."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto said all of a sudden.

Kimura Muyang frowned. He started to think that this was all about him chasing after Watanabe Keiryū without receiving orders.

"No, I didn't defeat Captain Watanabe. I merely stalled him, that's all. He stopped putting up a fight because of Captain Kyōraku and Captain Hikifune."

"Is that so?" Captain-Commander Yamamoto said, still staring at Kimura Muyang. His eyes were like a vast ocean, and Kimura Muyang couldn't even guess what he was thinking right now.

"You didn't use Shikai earlier, right?"

Right when Kimura Muyang was a little relieved because it wasn't about him acting outside of orders, Captain-Commander Yamamoto suddenly discussed this matter.

"I..."

"Dismiss!"

Kimura Muyang was surprised when Captain-Commander Yamamoto suddenly brought that up, but before he could explain, Captain-Commander Yamamoto sent him away, so he immediately shut his mouth. However, as he walked turned around and walked toward the door...

"You're pretty tough. Meet me here every afternoon starting tomorrow."

Right before Kimura Muyang was about to leave Assembly Hall, Captain-Commander Yamamoto's indifferent voice clearly reached his ears.

"Yes!"

Kimura Muyang immediately stopped before turning around and bowed to Captain-Commander Yamamoto once again and then left Captain's Office with a smile on his face.

———————-

"Chōjirō, what do you think?"

Captain-Commander Yamamoto suddenly asked even though the Assembly Hall was empty.

"There is no problem in terms of skill. Based on my daily observation, I'd say there's no other problem other than his tendency to slack off."

"I see," Captain-Commander Yamamoto's eyebrows flicked, and he seemed to be deep in thought. "If that's the case, let's beat him to shape."

"Gotei 13 is in such a dire right now. Including this incident, there are 4 vacant Captain Seats in our ranks right now."

"No matter the place and era it was, a void will definitely bring inconsistency to the world, and a void will be the easiest prey for evil to latch their claw on."

"The vacant Captain Seat must be filled as soon as possible."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto slowly opened his eyes, and a bright glow flashed in his eyes.

————————————————————

"It seems that Old man Yama is trying to push Kimura up, but isn't this too sudden…"

After exiting the Captain's Office, Kyōraku Shunsui looked up at the sky profoundly before turning around and looked towards Hikifune Kirio, "Then again, my condolences, Captain Hikifune. Losing one of your capable men can be hard, after all."

With a smile on his face, Hikifune Kirio said, "Of course not. I'm proud to have such a competent subordinate. What's more fulfilling than seeing your subordinate grow like this?"

After staring at Hikifune Kirio profoundly, Kyōraku Shunsui turned around and tilted down his bamboo hat, and his tone suddenly changed from playful to serious.

"Gotei 13 is quite vulnerable now. It's just one thing after another, and the sudden changes among the Captains are really worrying."

"Yeah."

Hikifune Kirio slightly nodded solemnly in agreement, but then she followed up with a smile: "Don't worry, I believe Captain-Commander will take care of everything, and it's gonna be fine."

Kyōraku Shunsui froze for a moment and then smiled as well, "Haha, it seems that I really brood too much over this. Everything will change eventually, and that just happens to be now, that's all. Old man Yama will definitely do something about it. As for Kimura, he's— well, there he comes."

Hikifune Kirio turned around and saw Kimura Muyang, who seemed to be in good spirits as he came out of the Assembly Hall.

"Kirio-san! Captain Kyōraku!"

Kimura Muyang called out the two Captains.

"Yo, Kimura, you seem to be in good spirits. How did it go?"

Kimura Muyang said with a smile: "It's nothing. Captain-Commander just told me to see him every afternoon starting tomorrow."

Although he tried so hard to keep his coll, he couldn't hide the excitement in his tone. Kimura Muyang had no doubt that it would be Captain-Commander's personal mentoring! No wonder he was so excited.

Hearing Kimura Muyang's answer, Kyōraku Shunsui couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. To think that Old man Yama would personally mentor him, it seemed that he really valued Kimura Muyang.

Kyōraku Shunsui looked at Kimura Muyang meaningfully and patted his shoulder: "Old Yamamoto's personal mentoring, you should know what that means."

"Well, yes, of course."

Based on what Captain-Commander Yamamoto said, Kimura Muyang believed that he'd teach him Hakuda. The out of the world 'Ikkotsu' and 'Sōkotsu' that Captain-Commander Yamamoto demonstrated in the anime left a deep impression on Kimura Muyang's heart. If he could master that super punch that blasted away Wonderweiss, he would definitely…

"What are you waiting for? Let's go back."

"Ah, wait for me, Kirio-san."

Kimura Muyang immediately caught up with Hikifune Kirio. He was grinning all the way until they arrived at the 12th Division's barrack.

Kyōraku Shunsui just watched Kimura Muyang's back as he disappeared from his sight.