Help! I am bound to Aizen!-Chapter 305

Chapter 305

2-in-1 chapter:

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A fall rain had swept through the Seireitei, dragging the temperature down from over twenty degrees to just above ten.

Clack!

Kaelith pushed open the window and inhaled the crisp air.

“A joyous occasion, huh? Well, nothing especially joyful going on right now.

“Still, the season’s turning, and my spirits are soaring. It’s like I’m getting younger by the day!

“Keh keh keh keh!”

Laughing righteously, Kaelith put on his clothes.

The weather was perfect for a day of gaming at home.

He’d picked up a few new titles on his last trip to the World of the Living—games that had been developed there. Kisuke Urahara had converted them into spirit form so Kaelith could play them back in the Soul Society. Today, he could finally enjoy them in detail.

But before he could finish the tutorial stage, a message arrived from a member of the Reitei (Inner Court) Troop.

After hearing the report, Kaelith’s face showed surprise.

Captain Ginrei Kuchiki of the Sixth Division had fallen ill.

Without hesitation, he set his console aside and hurried to the Kuchiki estate.

The guards at the gate bowed in greeting. Over the decades, most of the Kuchiki family’s gatekeepers had grown familiar with Kaelith. Aside from any actual Kuchiki clan members or the family’s stewards, Kaelith was probably the least restricted visitor to this mansion.

It didn’t take long for him to find Byakuya Kuchiki, who led him to Ginrei Kuchiki’s room.

Sōjun Kuchiki was there as well, looking rather worn down.

At the sight of Kaelith, Sōjun finally perked up a bit, nodding in silent greeting.

Meanwhile, Retsu Unohana stood at Ginrei’s bedside with Lieutenant Seinosuke Yamada.

Once she finished her examination, Unohana turned.

She offered Kaelith a slight bow, then addressed Sōjun:

“Sōjun, we should speak outside.”

Kaelith followed them out, while Seinosuke remained behind. He was rummaging through his medical kit, picking out what he needed.

Even if he despised Kaelith for personal reasons, he had no time to waste on old grudges. Ginrei Kuchiki was important—Sōjun had once been part of their Shin’ō Academy quartet. If Seinosuke didn’t give this everything he had, how could he ever face his brothers again?

Outside the room, Unohana spoke:

“My apologies, Sōjun.”

His heart sank, and the next words confirmed his fears:

“Lord Ginrei’s condition… Strictly speaking, it isn’t an illness. His lifespan has nearly reached its limit. I’ll do my best to prolong it, but I can’t promise any specific outcome.”

Sōjun wavered.

“That can’t be… Father is a Captain, so powerful… He should have had many more years.”

Kaelith steadied him with a hand on the shoulder but said nothing.

Deep down, he knew Ginrei Kuchiki’s life wouldn’t last as long as Sōjun assumed. If Ginrei were destined to live for centuries more, he’d never have stayed quiet during Rukia’s incident…nor would he have sat idly by in the affair with Kōga Kuchiki.

In the original timeline, after Sōjun unexpectedly passed away, Ginrei held things together until Byakuya matured. Then, not long afterward, he too was gone.

If Ginrei had still been around in Byakuya’s adulthood, Byakuya’s marriage to Hisana might have played out very differently.

Either way, Sōjun had lived. Ginrei’s sense of crisis, and thus his will to cling to life, had surely weakened. Maybe, in some twisted sense, it was a mercy.

Kaelith simply kept patting Sōjun’s shoulder, trying to calm his friend’s distress.

…

…

In the First Division’s main hall, an emergency Captain’s Meeting convened.

Following Ginrei Kuchiki’s collapse, the Central 46 was in uproar.

For generations, the Sixth Division’s captaincy had belonged to one of the Five Great Noble Houses.

The Tsunayashiro Clan was known for staying aloof from mundane matters, and the Shihōin House had already taken up the Second Division.

The strongest current member of the Kuchiki House was Sōjun, whose ability—while decent among lieutenants—wasn’t quite enough to qualify for a captaincy.

The Shiba House had the same problem: though Kaien Shiba was quite strong for his age and rank, he still wasn’t at full captain level.

Sensing an opening, other noble families began to stir.

None of them had a truly top-tier Captain candidate ready, but it only took a bare-minimum Bankai user to fill the post—someone to “meet the requirement.”

Backed by Kaelith’s terrifying reputation, no one would dare move directly against the Kuchiki family itself. But surely they could push to claim the Sixth Division’s captaincy, right?

Many noble houses felt that if they secured that position now, they might dominate Soul Society in the coming century.

When Sasakibe finished his briefing, many captains shook their heads in exasperation.

This was exactly the sort of moment when noble scheming went into overdrive.

Standing at the front, Genryūsai Yamamoto spoke in a slow, heavy voice:

“The Sixth Division is indeed bound to the nobility, so the new captain must come from among the nobles. Thus, I have agreed to their request.

“In three days, a formal assessment will be held on Sōkyoku Hill. The aristocratic families will send their Shinigami candidates who possess Bankai. Under the witness of the Gotei 13, these candidates shall compete.

“Each noble house may submit one or two candidates, and the final decision will be based on the outcome of the matches.

“Captains—”

“I’m taking part!”

Before Yamamoto could finish, Kaelith spoke up loudly.

Everyone turned, startled.

Yamamoto frowned.

“Don’t be foolish. The Sixth is a noble division, and you—”

He stopped mid-sentence, remembering that this insufferable brat was technically a noble himself.

Tch. Usually, you’d never guess.

Annoyed, Yamamoto snapped, “You’re already Captain of the Eleventh Division. You’re going to hold two posts?”

“Then I’ll quit being Captain of the Eleventh!”

“?”

A vein bulged on Yamamoto’s forehead.

His blood pressure soared.

Kaelith himself realized how offhand that sounded. He frowned:

“Anyway, the Sixth Division belongs to Sōjun…and if not him, then Byakuya. I’m not letting random weirdos take over!

“Sōjun might be a little lacking right now, but he’ll get there eventually. If a fight comes up, I’ll handle it for him.”

Yamamoto’s mustache bristled in rage at his disciple’s flippant remarks. He was about to draw his blade and blast Kaelith away when Kaelith suddenly remembered something. He smacked his fist into his palm.

“Oh right! Didn’t you say that every noble house is allowed to send people?

“Well, the House of Yurei wants in too!”

Yamamoto paused, considering for a couple of seconds—annoyingly enough, that was indeed how the rules worked.

He eyed Kaelith in suspicion. “Isn’t your entire ‘house’ just you? Who else can you even field?”

Kaelith laughed, unbothered. “I’ll have someone ready soon enough!”

“Ridiculous…”

Yamamoto’s headache worsened. Just what did this brat think the Gotei 13 was—a playground?

Usually, he’d turn a blind eye to Kaelith’s antics. But this was the Captain’s Meeting; they had to maintain decorum.

Before he could rage further, Retsu Unohana unexpectedly stepped forward.

“Commander, I support Captain Kaelith’s proposal. As a member of the nobility, House Yurei is entitled to take part in this competition. As for whether they have eligible people… Well, the contest hasn’t started yet, so they’re within their rights to recruit followers.”

Yamamoto stared at her in surprise.

That face—was it truly Unohana?

Whether in her grim past or her gentle, healer’s persona over the last few centuries, she’d never interfered with petty noble politics. So why now?

Instinctively, he glanced at his problem-student.

No way… Could it be—

A shiver ran through the old man as terrifying images flashed in his mind.

Meanwhile, Yoruichi Shihōin—who had been about to speak up—was even more stunned than Yamamoto. She shot Kaelith an intrigued look.

Then she, too, rose to voice her support.

Following their lead, Kaelith’s two senior “brothers” (Shunsui and Ukitake) and his “lackey,” Mayuri Kurotsuchi, also spoke in favor.

With so many captains weighing in, Yamamoto nodded begrudgingly and cleared his throat.

“Captain Kaelith, the affairs of the noble houses are not for me to meddle in. Thus, you have until tomorrow to finalize your family’s member list and submit it to the Central 46.

“Meeting adjourned!”

…

…

The House of Yurei burst into a frenzy.

Many had been clamoring for years to join Kaelith’s family and help expand its influence. But Kaelith had shown little interest in building a house, never even offering membership to Sōsuke Aizen.

If Aizen wasn’t part of the clan, no one else dared press the matter.

But now, that old dream was alive again. Kaelith was officially inviting people into the family.

The terms were straightforward: you had to have Bankai and be ready to fight.

Kenpachi Zaraki rushed over at once, offering to cut down whoever needed cutting.

Kaelith kicked him out on the spot.

For one thing, the Sixth Division required a captain who could wield a Bankai. Even if Kenpachi truly had one (and was just not using it), Kaelith wouldn’t let him go; Zaraki was his insurance to succeed him in the Eleventh.

In the end, it took less than a quarter-hour for two people to join House Yurei:

Gin Ichimaru and Sajin Komamura.

Kaname Tōsen had considered it but felt strongly opposed to becoming a noble, so he backed out when he saw others had volunteered.

Rangiku Matsumoto cried her eyes out in the dorms for missing this opportunity—though she could handle Captain-level foes if she pushed herself, she’d never actually trained in Zanpakutō communion enough to achieve Bankai.

She’d always felt that raw strength was enough. After all, their lieutenant had never even released his Zanpakutō, yet nobody dared underestimate him.

So over the decades, she’d never bothered perfecting her blade. If only she’d known…

Meanwhile, Kaelith was surprised when Kisuke Urahara approached him, requesting membership in the family—not to become Sixth Division Captain, but because he felt that, to realize Kaelith’s ambitions, he’d be dealing extensively with outsiders. Holding noble status in the Yurei Clan would make things far more convenient.

Kaelith had no objection and immediately added Kisuke’s name to the list.

Upon hearing this, Mayuri Kurotsuchi came running to sign up as well.

The biggest shock, however, was Retsu Unohana’s decision to join House Yurei. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

The news stirred quite a buzz throughout Seireitei.

Speculation ran wild.

Just like that, in a single day, the solitary House Yurei expanded to include five captains.

Counting Kaelith himself, this “newly risen” family now boasted six captains at once!

Such a lavish lineup was unprecedented in Seireitei’s history.

All the major noble houses were thrown into chaos.

What was Kaelith aiming for?

Ginrei Kuchiki had barely collapsed, and House Yurei was exploding in size. Had he waited for this moment all along?

The only consolation for the worried nobles was that the two representatives Kaelith planned to send into the competition were unknowns at best:

Sajin Komamura and Gin Ichimaru.

Gin was at least known as a prodigy from his Shin’ō Academy days. But that Komamura fellow—who was he?

Meanwhile, another unexpected announcement caught their attention:

The Shiba clan had also dispatched a candidate: Isshin Shiba from a branch family.

It was only now that the nobles seemed to recall that the Shiba clan still had such a person. Isshin had spent years in the Eleventh Division, never involving himself in noble matters, so he’d remained obscure in aristocratic circles.

Now that he’d stepped forward, everyone remembered he was, beyond doubt, at the same level as a Captain with a fully developed Bankai.

And sure enough, he also carried the mark of being under Kaelith’s umbrella.

At this point, most in the Seireitei felt a sudden jolt of realization.

So Kaelith—and his Eleventh Division—were finally revealing their power?

…

…

Under the day’s first rays of light, Gin Ichimaru stepped out of his room, sliding his Zanpakutō into place at his waist.

Today would be his first time going into battle for Kaelith against external adversaries. No matter which upstart the nobles sent, he would not lose.

On the way, he ran into Sajin Komamura.

They exchanged a quick glance and nodded.

“Young Ichimaru, let’s both do our best!”

Gin smiled. “Sure—friendly rivalry, yes?”

They walked side by side to the Eleventh Division’s main gate, where Kaelith leaned casually against the entrance, watching them.

As the two candidates approached, Kaelith raised a clenched fist:

“Go out there and show me your full power! Pound those lackeys of those pompous nobles into the dirt!

“Whoever takes first place gets one favor from me, no questions asked!”

At those words, Gin and Komamura exchanged sharp looks.

Friendly rivalry?

I’ll crush everyone—even you if I have to!

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