The only player in the world of Bleach

"I have no idea."

Ha ha.

After a moment of silent chuckle, Yamamoto said softly.

"Zero Squad".

I heard this name again, this time from Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

"Hundreds of years ago, someone wanted me to ascend to the mortal realm and serve as a member of the Zero Division to protect the Spirit King for generations to come."

but.

"I did not agree to their request."

That's to be expected, since if they had agreed, the captain would have been replaced long ago.

Moreover, whether in the original work or in the current storyline, the self-narrations of the Zero Squad members are quite intriguing.

'The combined strength of our Zero Division is greater than that of the Gotei 13!'

The original intention of this statement was, of course, to praise the Zero Squad itself, but why compare the members together?

It's worth noting that even if all the members of the Gotei 13 were piled up together, they wouldn't be enough to defeat Yamamoto... Similarly, without the use of the Eye Monk, it would be equally impossible for the Zero Division to defeat Yamamoto.

Without ascending to immortality, the First Division Commander-in-Chief is, in the literal sense, an absolute powerhouse.

Having figured out the reasons, Matsushita Yusuke glanced sideways and remained silent for a while.

That being said...

What were the reasons for the refusal?

He hadn't actually thought about that.

“I do not want to leave Seireitei, because there are too many things here that I will miss… The Soul King is certainly worthy of respect, but I do not want to serve him for long.”

Yamamoto said in a leisurely tone.

"It's enough for me to stay here."

Everyone has their own ambitions, and Matsushita Yusuke had nothing to say about this; he simply nodded silently, and then Yamamoto continued speaking.

"So what do you want to do, how do you plan to act... as long as you don't harm the Soul King or affect the stability of the Seireitei, I will unconditionally support whatever you do."

As he spoke, he looked over at Matsushita Yusuke.

"You have already gained the Spirit King's approval, so my opinion is no longer important... Just do what you believe is right, that's all that matters."

Then, as if to emphasize it, he repeated it again.

"Go ahead and do it. I trust your judgment."

It would be a lie to say he wasn't moved, but at the same time, Matsushita Yusuke wanted to try to explain it to some extent.

"Commander, regarding this matter, I..."

Do you think you're doing the right thing?

Faced with such a question, Matsushita Yusuke hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly.

"I think... there shouldn't be any problem."

To consolidate forces, resolve subsequent troubles, and lay the groundwork and make various modifications in preparation for the great war against the Invisible Empire.

These are all adjustments and changes made for the sake of the Three Realms.

"Then go ahead and do it. I will endorse all your actions. The rest... is up to you to make your own judgment."

Perhaps the person involved has realized that this method of description is too crude, even exaggerated to the point of being astonishing.

So after a brief silence, Yamamoto spoke again.

“I have worked with you for over a decade. I trust my own judgment and your abilities and assessments… You are not a bad person, and that is enough.”

After saying these words, Yamamoto turned his head back and looked into the distance.

"I have nothing more to say... Captain Matsushita, you should go back and make preparations as soon as possible."

To be honest, the person involved had also considered... how this conversation would develop.

But unexpectedly, the course of this event took such a subtle turn.

But overall... it's good that it can be resolved.

Just as Matsushita Yusuke had calmed down a little, Yamamoto suddenly spoke up again.

How is the child?

"...?"

The sudden change of topic surprised him somewhat. After some thought, Matsushita Yusuke carefully considered his words before speaking.

"It's...it's basically stabilized, I guess."

“I’ve seen the details at the Technology Development Bureau. Cases like this are quite rare… You and Soi Fon will have to put in some effort.”

Faced with Yamamoto's concern, Matsushita Yusuke smiled helplessly and nodded slightly to indicate that he understood.

"There's nothing we can do about it, after all, she's my own child... I will definitely raise her well."

"Bring the First Division to see her when you have time. I'll teach her a thing or two."

As he spoke, Yamamoto quietly rummaged in his pocket for a while and then pulled out a warm sweet potato.

It's hard to imagine... how this thing always manages to be taken out of these strange places. Yusuke Matsushita suppressed his urge to complain and could only say helplessly.

"The child can't eat this... You can enjoy it yourself."

"Oh, that makes sense."

Clearly, the old man hadn't raised many children himself and lacked knowledge in this area.

With the topic of conversation coming to an end, the slightly awkward atmosphere eased as we reflected on the conversation.

Matsushita Yusuke smiled and looked at Yamamoto, seemingly having a different understanding of this usually rigid old man.

"Commander-in-Chief Yamamoto... I never expected you to be here..."

"Did you not expect me to be so easy to talk to?"

Yamamoto smiled, his mindset seemingly much younger.

"The Soul Society itself is indeed unchanging, but that doesn't mean everyone will be satisfied with it... I've also thought about changing something, but I've never had the chance."

Since we can't please everyone, it's better to at least maintain the status quo.

It will neither get worse nor better.

Just keep going like this... and that will be enough.

Admittedly, this idea is certainly highly controversial. But for Yamamoto now, this is where his 'compromise' lies.

So how did Yusuke Matsushita respond?

"I understand... I will do my best, Captain."

"That's good."

Both sides reached a consensus, and Matsushita Yusuke took the opportunity to say goodbye.

As he left the conference room, he felt that the slight tension he had felt earlier had been greatly relieved.

After all, Yamamoto was probably the most difficult opponent in the original plan.

Unexpectedly, the other party turned out to be surprisingly easy to talk to.

If that's the case, then now only one other person is left...

As he pondered this, Matsushita Yusuke left the First Division. He was about to head to his destination when he suddenly stopped.

Because the target has already appeared not far away.

The other person stood still, smiling, and spoke in their usual warm tone.

"Matsushita-kun, were you looking for me?"

Aizen Sousuke.

Kaname Tosen was now by his side, and the two were just like when they first met... Taking a step back, Aizen turned to the side and whispered something to the person next to him.

"We must have a lot to discuss... In that case, let's find a more suitable place to talk first."

After all, even if you want to have a conversation, a suitable environment is a very important background.

So where exactly are we going?

Before Matsushita Yusuke could speak, Aizen spoke first.

"Let's go to the Spiritual Arts Academy... the place where we first met."

318: Fleeting

Zhenyang Spiritual Arts Academy.

As mentioned long ago, as a key organization in Soul Society for training the next generation of Shinigami, its long history goes without saying.

And now, former graduates have returned here.

Walking through the familiar corridor, Yusuke Matsushita looked around, a wistful expression creeping onto his face.

Surprisingly, nothing has changed at all...

However, this is to be expected, since things in Soul Society are inherently resistant to change.

Without Ichigo Kurosaki's intervention, many things would not have changed in any meaningful way. And even with the arrival of this exceptionally promising young man... the conservative faction would still be the dominant force in a literal sense.

Changing the Soul Society is a long and arduous task.

Kara...

Hearing the sound of the door being pushed open, Yusuke Matsushita looked up and saw a very familiar silhouette.

Lecture hall.

He followed Aizen inside and looked around.

The sights that came into view filled him with emotion, to the point that his expression became somewhat wistful.

"Matsushita-kun, do you remember this place?"

In response to Aizen's question, Matsushita Yusuke nodded without hesitation.

"of course I remember."

This is where it all began, and also where he first met Aizen.

Even as the person involved, Matsushita Yusuke was extremely nervous when they first met... After all, the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was Aizen Sousuke, which would make anyone feel very nervous no matter what.

Looking back now, I feel a bit emotional.

It's not just because of my own thoughts, but also because it's a way of remembering the past.

After all, he is over a hundred years old.

Compared to the thirty years he spent in his previous life, he has lived here for much longer now, which has allowed him to experience many different atmospheres and emotions.

From initial misunderstanding and a playful attitude, to the current calm and even consideration for others... Yusuke Matsushita has experienced a lot and understood more.

Thinking of this, Matsushita Yusuke, slightly regaining his senses, subconsciously glanced to the side and saw Aizen Sousuke's ambiguous smiling face.

"You have such a wistful expression... Matsushita-kun, did you think of something interesting?"

"It's not exactly interesting, just a little bit of a感慨 (feeling of emotion/reflection)."

I never imagined so much time had passed, and I never imagined so many changes had occurred in myself.

It's no wonder that people often find themselves spacing out as they get older. While a lack of focus is partly to blame, ultimately it's because reality and memory are constantly intertwining and colliding.

People often find themselves reminiscing about the past, because as we grow up, some things simply fade away.

Aizen was no exception.

"More than a hundred years ago, I was teaching and educating people here... Now that I think about it, my mindset back then is very different from now."

Aizen walked up to the podium.

He raised his hands and pressed them down slightly, but before he could touch the table, his hands instinctively pulled back.