Chapter 651 - 651 Is Yamamoto Genryusai Thinking of Stepping Down?

"Alright, with this, Hiyori-san should be... out of immediate danger." As the Tenkai Ketchu was about to activate, Unohana also finished treating Hiyori, saying this to the Vizard members gathered around.

"Immediate danger? Do you mean there's still a chance Hiyori might not be saved?" The Vizard members asked anxiously, one after another.

"The power of Kido is no different from medicine... it can only heal physical injuries. Hiyori-san has no major physical problems left. As long as her will to survive is strong enough, she will live. As for whether she will give up the will to live... compared to me, you all should know better." Unohana said calmly.

After Unohana said this, the Vizard members felt relieved. They had great confidence in Hiyori's will to survive.

"Thank you very much... Captain Unohana." Shinji said respectfully.

"Why thank me? I was merely 'helping a comrade'. It's only natural for me. You don't need to thank me." Unohana said calmly.

"Don't be stupid! I never thought of becoming comrades with you all..."

"Hmm... Hiyori would definitely say something like that."

Shinji did a complete one-eighty in the meaning of his words. Clearly, after this battle fought side-by-side, Shinji was no longer so resistant to Soul Society.

Then Shinji continued: "Let me thank you once again, Captain Unohana..."

Vzzz—!

The Tenkai Ketchu activated, space warped, and everyone along with the battered replica of Karakura Town vanished instantly. Then, in the next moment, the completely intact real Karakura Town reappeared in its original place.

Due to Toshiro's presence, Aizen did not enter the real Karakura Town as he did in the original work. Thus, Karakura Town suffered no damage whatsoever, and not a single ordinary human was harmed.

Most importantly, in this timeline, Soul Society completely defeated Aizen by its own power, without relying on outside help. Presumably, Yamamoto would no longer have any lingering regrets about this.

This is truly... cause for celebration, cause for celebration...

…

Ten days later, Soul Society, Central 46 Underground Assembly Hall.

At that moment, Aizen was bound and seated on a chair-like torture rack, his entire body wrapped in black cloth, only his left eye exposed, with countless layers of seals placed all over his body.

Surrounding him on a raised platform sat the six judges and forty sages of Central 46.

Ten days earlier, after Aizen was defeated by Toshiro, the Aizen sealed on the cross was also brought back to Soul Society.

However, because Central 46 wanted to engage in some formalism and conduct a 'fair' trial for Aizen, they ordered the Gotei 13 to release Aizen, who had been frozen into an ice sculpture, so they could hold their trial.

Although Toshiro was very dissatisfied with Central 46's behavior of making trouble out of nothing, Yamamoto, who had regained consciousness after treatment, agreed to Central 46's request.

Therefore, Toshiro couldn't say much more and could only somewhat helplessly release the frozen Aizen again.

Of course, Toshiro only removed the ice layer on the surface of Aizen's body... he didn't actually undo the seals. So, the power inside Aizen's body was still frozen and posed no threat.

Nevertheless, the officials of Central 46 still didn't dare relax. They added layer after layer of seals on Aizen. If it weren't for the limited number of seals that could be stacked, these officials of Central 46 would have wanted to apply every seal in Soul Society on Aizen, terrified that he might suddenly attack and harm their precious lives.

After all, Aizen had a prior record. He had slaughtered the previous Central 46. The current members had only recently been assembled. If they were killed by Aizen again, they would probably set a record for the shortest term and become a laughingstock throughout Soul Society.

"Announcing the verdict!"

"Former Captain of the 5th Division, Aizen Sosuke, is sentenced to eighteen thousand eight hundred years of imprisonment! To be held in the lowest level of the Underground Prison, the Eighth Prison, [Muken]!!" Central 46 announced the verdict against Aizen.

"I see—"

"Eighteen thousand eight hundred years, huh? But... for mere ants like you to presume to judge me? How utterly absurd!" Aizen said with a very contemptuous tone.

"..."

"You are far too presumptuous!!"

"Outrageous sinner, Aizen Sosuke! We spare your life out of mercy, yet you dare speak such insolence!"

"Guards! Seal his eyes and mouth!!"

"Also... extend his sentence to twenty thousand years!!!"

The old men of Central 46 were trembling with rage, while Aizen, the one causing all this, simply looked at them as if they were clowns, gave them a cold glance, and then closed his eyes voluntarily.

…

Meanwhile, at the 1st Division, Office.

While a farcical trial was taking place at Central 46, a special kind of 'trial' was also underway at the 1st Division's office.

"You absolute fools!!!"

Yamamoto thundered furiously, berating Byakuya, Kyoraku, and Zaraki standing before him. His voice was so loud that Toshiro, Ukitake, and the two Third Seats waiting outside had their ears ringing.

"You lost your Captain's Haori? It would be one thing if they got damaged in battle, but losing them is utterly disgraceful!"

"And on top of that, you're all acting so nonchalant, not taking this matter seriously at all. It's unforgivable!!" Yamamoto said angrily.

"Well..."

Byakuya spoke calmly: "Rest assured. This kind of cheap haori, with the Kuchiki Clan's wealth, we can produce thousands of them at any time. Giving one to every Shinigami in the Gotei 13 would be no problem. So, I'll take responsibility for the lost haoris."

Byakuya stated this incredibly extravagant statement with a plain expression. However, Yamamoto only grew more irritated: "This isn't about the price! And they aren't cheap goods! You absolute fool!!"

Then, Yamamoto said seriously and loudly: "Listen up! Victory alone is not enough in battle! What do you think the Captain's Haori represents?"

"What does the Captain's Haori represent?"

Hearing this question, Byakuya and the other two paused, then each gave a different answer.

Zaraki: "A nuisance?"

Kyoraku: "Style?"

Byakuya: "Cheap goods?"

Hearing their answers, Yamamoto's veins bulged with anger: "You absolute fools!!!!"

…

Outside the door.

"It's nice to see Captain-Commander so energetic. He seems to have recovered quite well." Toshiro said.

Ukitake smiled and said to Toshiro beside him: "Yes, ten days have passed. Although Genryusai-sensei lost his left arm, his body has mostly recovered. We can finally rest easy now."

"Come to think of it... Toshiro, you look a bit strange right now. It's kind of hard to get used to." Ukitake looked Toshiro over and said with a wry smile.

Toshiro's current appearance was not his usual 1.33-meter elementary schooler look, but rather a handsome young man 1.8 meters tall.

That's right, Toshiro's appearance was exactly the same as the adult form he took after his complete Bankai in the past.

This form of Toshiro wasn't unfamiliar to everyone. When Aizen defected from Soul Society, Toshiro had shown this form to everyone while fighting Aizen.

However, back then, he would only take this adult form for a short time after activating his complete Bankai, and would revert to his original elementary schooler look once Bankai was released.

But after the final battle with Aizen ended, Toshiro had remained in his adult form.

At first, no one paid much attention, thinking he was just maintaining his complete Bankai adult form as a precaution.

But after returning to Soul Society, when Toshiro still looked like this, everyone finally realized something was wrong.

Upon asking, they learned that Toshiro had broken the Shinigami limit and reached another level, causing his body to permanently change into its adult form. He would no longer revert to his elementary schooler appearance.

"Well, I suppose this is the price for obtaining power?"

Toshiro looked at his own hands and continued: "The reason I used to grow rapidly and take an adult form after complete Bankai was mainly to adapt to the immense power of complete Bankai."

"After all, a small, young body cannot bear the immense power of complete Bankai. Not to mention, after breaking the Shinigami limit, my power rivals that of a god. My original young body would be even less capable of bearing such god-like power."

"So, to adapt to the power after breaking through, that power, which transcends Shinigami and Hollows and is comparable to a god, actively remodeled my body. The result is this perfect and flawless [Divine Body]. Well, although the sudden 'aging' has caused me some trouble... there are some things that can only be done after 'aging'. So, I don't really mind this appearance too much." Toshiro explained.

At this point, Toshiro couldn't help but think of Momo. They had been together for many years, but due to Toshiro's age, they could only live a life of 'respectful distance'.

But now... since he had become an adult...

Then... many things that could and couldn't be done before, could now be done...

"Divine Body? Power rivaling that of a god? It seems... you have truly surpassed your master, completely outdoing Genryusai-sensei." While Toshiro was daydreaming, Ukitake marveled at his strength.

"Well, probably." Toshiro said ambiguously.

Toshiro had indeed completely surpassed Yamamoto, but Yamamoto had once taught him, and Toshiro respected him greatly.

So, even though it was obvious to anyone that Toshiro, having broken the Shinigami limit, had surpassed Yamamoto, Toshiro didn't go around proclaiming it loudly. It was a matter of attitude.

"By the way, Toshiro, do you know why Genryusai-sensei called you here today?" Ukitake suddenly said.

"No, Genryusai-sensei didn't say. He just told me to come by." Toshiro shook his head.

Toshiro knew Yamamoto had called Byakuya, Zaraki, and Kyoraku here to scold them for losing their Captain's Haoris, but he didn't know why he himself had been called.

"I have a guess... about why Genryusai-sensei called you." Ukitake said hesitantly.

"Oh? You know, Jushiro? What is it?" Toshiro asked.

"Genryusai-sensei probably... wants to step down and officially appoint you as the next Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13." Ukitake said, dropping a bombshell.