Chapter 672 Yoruichi, Will You Support Me in Becoming the Soul King?

The existence of the Hogyoku was a secret even the current Yoruichi didn't know.

She stared at the strange little bead glowing in Makoto's hand, her golden pupils filled with shock.

'What was this strange Reiatsu?'

'It felt like a Hollow's, and like a Shinigami's, but not entirely either.'

'It was more like a delicate balance between the two at some critical point.'

Makoto put the Hogyoku back into his robes.

Yoruichi hesitated, but finally couldn't help asking, "What exactly are you trying to do?"

After causing such a commotion, combined with the ability of his Zanpakuto to erase even existence itself, Yoruichi couldn't imagine how many people in this world could stop him if Makoto really tried to do something big.

Makoto didn't directly answer her question. Instead, he asked back, "Do you know the truth about the Soul King?"

Yoruichi was stunned.

She clearly hadn't expected a Hollow to know about the Soul King.

As the head of the Shihoin Clan, one of the Four Great Noble Families, although she wasn't qualified to know the exact details and historical reasons behind the Soul King's dismemberment, she did know that the Soul King was not the supreme 'Ruler of the Three Worlds' that the Soul Society's upper echelons claimed him to be.

In reality, the Soul King had long been brutally dismembered, reduced to a living wedge used to maintain the balance of the three worlds.

The ones who truly controlled the Soul Society were the Royal Guard and the Four Great Noble Families. The being in the Soul King Palace was merely a living corpse without consciousness or the ability to act.

But as for the more specific details... who had dismembered the Soul King and how, where his body fragments were scattered, the true strength of the Royal Guard... even Yoruichi had no way of knowing.

Makoto suddenly smiled. "I have a small goal... to become the new Soul King."

As soon as he said this, Yoruichi was completely dumbfounded.

'Wait, you call that a 'small goal'?'

"Many Vasto Lorde have already said they'll fully support me."

Makoto looked at her seriously. "Yoruichi, will you support me in becoming the Soul King?"

Yoruichi's mouth twitched.

'Why was he suddenly calling me by my first name?'

'Since when were we that close?'

She complained internally, but still managed to answer, "You already have so many people supporting you. You don't need me either."

For some reason, she felt like she'd heard that line somewhere before.

Makoto didn't press her further. He turned and signaled Psykos with his eyes, indicating that she should move these Quincies back into Las Noches.

Psykos immediately activated her telekinesis. An invisible force surged from all directions, lifting all the Quincies stolen from the Technology Development Bureau.

Hundreds of half-dead Quincies hung in the air, swaying as they floated toward Las Noches.

When Makoto walked past Yoruichi, he suddenly reached out and lightly patted her smooth, bare back.

"Since you can't go back anyway, stay here for now. At least it'll keep your brother and your family safe."

Yoruichi stiffened at the touch, but after a long silence, she finally stepped forward.

Although she hated taking orders from this Vasto Lorde who had turned the Seireitei upside down, she had to admit he had a point.

For her brother Yushiro's sake, and to prevent the Shihoin Clan from sharing the same fate as the Shiba Clan because of her actions,

Her choices now were actually limited to two: either stay in Hueco Mundo and live as a prisoner,

Or go into hiding in the Living World, never setting foot in the Soul Society again.

At least staying in Hueco Mundo, she could observe what this dangerous man named Nishikawa Makoto was planning.

If he really intended to attack the Soul Society, she might have a chance to send a warning in advance.

With these complicated thoughts, Yoruichi pursed her lips and followed the group.

…

On the other side, in the Seireitei.

Having lost so many pillars of strength in one blow, the Gotei 13 urgently needed large-scale replenishment.

As Aizen had planned, after Shinji's downfall, he was immediately promoted from 5th Division's Lieutenant to Captain.

And Gin, who had been the 5th Division's Third Seat, naturally became the 5th Division's Lieutenant.

Because Yoruichi had been captured by Hueco Mundo, and investigations revealed that she had been absent without leave on the night of the incident, heading to the 12th Division with the apparent intent to break someone out of prison, Central 46 dismissed her from her position as 2nd Division's Captain.

The position was succeeded by the former 2nd Division's Lieutenant, Sui-Feng, who also became Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukido.

The 9th Division's Captain, Muguruma Kensei, and Lieutenant, Kuna Mashiro, were confirmed dead in the Hollowfication incident.

The Captain's position was succeeded by Tosen Kaname, who had been the 9th Division's Third Seat.

And with the official graduation of Saeko, the Shin'o Academy's top graduate, this female student, renowned for her swordsmanship talent and calm leadership during her academy years, immediately drew high attention from the upper echelons.

Within a few years of graduation, she successfully passed the Captaincy Examination and was appointed Captain of the long-vacant 7th Division, nominating her junior, Kocho Kanae, as the 7th Division's Lieutenant.

A new Shinigami named Komamura Sajin, after losing to Saeko in the Captaincy Competition, chose to join the 9th Division, led by his friend Tosen, as Lieutenant.

He wore a helmet, was quiet and reserved, but was well-loved by his subordinates.

Another year passed. Nishikawa Hiyori challenged the Captaincy of the 10th Division but narrowly lost to Isshin in the intense Captaincy Examination, subsequently joining the 7th Division.

Over the following years, Saeko essentially transformed the 7th Division into an all-female squad.

More and more female graduates from the Shin'o Academy chose to join her ranks, including Megumi, Katsura Kotonaha, Darkness, and several other distinguished graduates.

And seeing Saeko successfully take on the Captaincy, Zaraki also grew restless.

Not long after, he formally challenged the current Captain, Kiganjo Kenpachi, in front of all 11th Division's members.

The battle didn't last long.

Zaraki cut off Kiganjo's head in a single stroke, officially succeeding as the Captain of the 11th Division.

From now on, he was Zaraki Kenpachi.

At a time when the Seireitei urgently needed manpower, killing a Captain-class combatant was hardly a wise move.

But the 11th Division had a tradition since its founding that the new Captain had to kill the previous Captain in single combat.

Yamamoto didn't say much about it either.

Besides, Kiganjo's personality wasn't great to begin with. He often refused to attend Captains' Meetings and couldn't be found.

Replacing him with someone who, though equally crazy, was at least willing to follow orders, wasn't a bad thing.

…

Another ten years passed.

On Saeko's recommendation, Megumi, formerly the 7th Division's Eighth Seat, was transferred to the 2nd Division.

The recommendation was simple: the member excelled at covert operations and silent assassinations, highly compatible with the 2nd Division's Onmitsukido functions.

Within a few years, Megumi rose to become the 2nd Division's Lieutenant, thanks to her outstanding performance on several covert missions.

Another few years passed. The 4th Division's Lieutenant, Yamada Seinosuke, was transferred by Central 46 to serve as the head of the Shin'o Medical Institute, leaving the 4th Division's Lieutenant position vacant.

At this pivotal moment, a new student at the Shin'o Academy caught the attention of 4th Division's Captain Unohana.

She was a very cute young girl named Fujiwara Moeha, who displayed astonishing healing talent in her very first Kaido Class after enrollment.

After observing her for a semester, Unohana submitted an early admission application to the academy.

Three years later, Moeha graduated early from the Shin'o Academy as an honors student, was directly admitted to the 4th Division, and quickly earned the praise of all squad members with her gentle personality and exceptional healing skills, being widely considered the most likely candidate for Lieutenant.

That same year, 6th Division's Captain, Kuchiki Ginrei formally announced his retirement.

His grandson, Kuchiki Byakuya, succeeded him as Captain of the 6th Division and head of the Kuchiki Clan.

A year later, Kuchiki Byakuya met a commoner woman from the Rukongai named Hisana.

Despite strong opposition from his family and mockery from other nobles, Byakuya insisted on marrying Hisana into the Kuchiki Clan, making her the first commoner to become the legal wife of a Kuchiki Clan's Head.