"There is absolutely no issue with the sentencing of Urahara Kisuke and Shihouin Yoruichi. I can guarantee you that."
Yamamoto walked down the stairs with a calm expression, as if this quiet place wasn't Central 46, a vital stronghold of the Seireitei, and he was just an ordinary old man taking a stroll.
If any outsiders were present right now, they would probably doubt their own eyes. The Head Captain, who usually only had eyes for justice and principles, was actually ignoring Kōe's recent threat against Central 46.
After all, that killing intent just now was no joke. If Central 46 hadn't provided an explanation, they would have been forced to consider the issue of an immediate change in administration.
And what was up with the suddenly quiet Central 46? Could they also just ignore Kōe's threat against them? How was that possible!
It was hard to believe, but if one understood Central 46 well enough, this was actually entirely reasonable. Otherwise, why would Urahara have agreed to Kōe's insane plan?
Central 46, an organization that had existed for nearly as long as Yamamoto himself, could be described with words like arrogant, absolute, stubborn, cold, and utterly devoid of human empathy.
It was not a revered place, and it had made many mistakes, but everything it did was for the sake of its most fundamental principle: protecting the Seireitei.
And what did "protecting the Seireitei" entail? Kōe and Urahara's summary of it was this: every decision was based on what was beneficial to the Seireitei. And "beneficial" meant adhering to the supreme principle of avoiding any and all factors that had already threatened, or could potentially threaten, the Seireitei.
Therefore, it acted stubborn, issued orders that brooked no questioning, and appeared proud and uncompromising, as if it were completely unreasonable. But in reality, all of this was merely a facade.
Such an organization would never consider issues from a personal perspective, making its orders incredibly difficult for any individual to defy. Yet, by that same logic, even if someone committed a crime, Central 46 might pretend not to know—as long as that person remained useful to the Seireitei.
Just like the current situation. When Yamamoto noticed Kōe's lingering doubts and began recounting the events of fifty-two years ago to him...
...lines of ink were rapidly appearing on the blank scrolls spread across the desks of the forty-six sages present, allowing them to conduct a silent yet fierce debate.
"It appears that Shihouin Kōe has not been in contact with Urahara Kisuke and the others, nor is he aware of the changes that occurred in the Seireitei after his departure."
"However, considering his recent behavior, if he does come into contact with Urahara Kisuke's group later, the probability of him defecting with them is extremely high!"
"Still, being able to break free from the restraints of spiritual tools proves that Shihouin Kōe's power is highly beneficial to the Seireitei. After all, there are at least eight captain-class fugitives hiding in some unknown location."
"I believe his threat level is even greater."
"But if we abolish his Reiatsu or lock him in the Underground Prison because of this, how do we placate Yamamoto? There is a precedent for this sort of thing, after all."
"Then what if we restrict him from meeting Urahara Kisuke and the others? Furthermore, the threat of Zaraki Kenpachi has not been completely eliminated. Could these two serve to keep each other in check, allowing us to utilize both of their powers?"
"Then we must consider whether we have sufficient countermeasures in place should things go wrong."
"..."
Indeed, after Kōe had displayed a fraction of his capabilities, Central 46 was now beginning to respect the power he possessed and was considering how to use it for themselves.
This was entirely predictable. The departure of Urahara and the others didn't just cost the Seireitei eight captain-class combatants; it simultaneously created a powerful enemy. In Kōe's own words, Urahara had forcefully dragged a "Gotei 8" out of the Seireitei. Going purely by the number of captains, Urahara's side was the real Seireitei.
The impact of this massive shift in power wasn't so easily erased. Even now, the Seireitei had yet to select a Grand Kidō Chief or a Deputy Kidō Chief, and Squad 3 and Squad 10 of the Gotei 13 were still without captains. Of course, a candidate for the Squad 3 captaincy had already been chosen and would soon take office. Meanwhile, Urahara Kisuke's whereabouts remained completely unknown.
At a time like this, the abilities Shihouin Kōe displayed were enough to make Central 46 salivate. Naturally, figuring out how to ensure this power didn't spiral out of control was giving them quite a headache.
Similarly, Kōe was also nursing a headache right now. This was already the second time he had to listen to someone recount the Soul Disappearance Incident. How should he describe this feeling? It was like a director praising a perfect one-take performance, only to ask for a do-over because they forgot to hit record.
He wasn't sure if binge-watching the same show on repeat would make someone throw up, but having to act out the exact same scene twice was genuinely making him nauseous...
If Yamamoto knew that his disciple—who was currently gritting his teeth and clenching his fists so hard his knuckles were turning white—was actually thinking about *this* nonsense, the old man would probably just cut him down where he stood.
"Conducting Hollowfication experiments and turning everything we stand for into a joke—Urahara Kisuke has long since discarded the justice and pride a Shinigami ought to possess!" Yamamoto said sternly. He was more than happy to see that Kōe had nothing to do with that incident, and it would be best if he never did.
"So, are you still going to remain obstinate, Shihouin Kōe?"
At this moment, Central 46's discussion also reached a conclusion. Shihouin Kōe's threat level was indeed real, but his combat prowess held immense significance for the current Seireitei.
This wasn't just about the unseen external threat posed by Urahara's faction, but also the internal destabilizing factors within the Seireitei—such as Kurotsuchi Mayuri, whom Urahara had brought out of the Maggot's Nest, or that particularly unique eleventh-generation Kenpachi.
For a moment, the grand hall fell into a dead silence. Both Yamamoto and the forty-six sages on the podium were waiting for Kōe's answer. If his earlier outburst could be forgiven as blind trust in his best friend born of ignorance, refusing to believe the truth now that it was laid bare before him would just be sheer stupidity. Such a person would be of absolutely no use to the Seireitei.
"Urahara really did all of this? I find that incredibly hard to believe." Kōe took a deep breath and said in a low, solemn voice, "But if he truly committed such acts, then I will absolutely not let him off the hook!"
A flash of relief crossed Yamamoto's eyes, and the forty-six sages on the podium collectively let out a sigh of relief. They had found themselves in a rather precarious position.
If there were concrete evidence of a crime, they wouldn't have hesitated to throw Kōe into the Underground Prison. However, given the current circumstances, the most they could do was send him to the Maggot's Nest. But was the man standing before them someone the Maggot's Nest could actually hold?
"A wise choice."
"However, having left the Seireitei without cause for seventy-two years, whether you are still qualified to be a member of the Gotei 13 remains up for debate."
"Furthermore, your earlier behavior, regardless of the reasoning behind it, cannot be forgiven!"
These words sounded intimidating, but Kōe didn't take them to heart at all. It was a classic case of a slap on the wrist to serve as a warning. From the moment they said 'A wise choice,' he knew he was in the clear.
"We have now reached the following decision regarding you: your revoked squad membership will not be reinstated for the time being, and you are forbidden from leaving the Seireitei without the explicit permission of Central 46. As punishment, you yourself shall enter the Shin'ō Academy to teach for seventy-two years."
"This order is effective immediately!"