Bleach: Love and Bonds Make Me Stronger!

First Division Barracks, Captains' Meeting

Due to his unique status, Makoto naturally attended.

However, compared to previous meetings with full attendance, the captain seats for the Fifth and Thirteenth Divisions were now vacant.

The vice-captain seats were even worse, missing six.

For vice-captains with reiatsu around the tier-4 or tier-5, the Quincy army's strength was simply too overwhelming.

The room was silent, no one speaking.

Though the founding Gotei 13 captains could be described as lunatics, that didn't mean they were indifferent to the deaths of those around them.

Especially since the enemy had yet to be fully vanquished.

Thud.

Yamamoto's scabbard struck the floor, producing a dull sound.

Sasakibe stepped forward from behind him, beginning the report on the battle's outcome.

"Per the divisions' reports, in this Quincy bandit assault, the Gotei 13 suffered 651 casualties, including 129 seated officers, six vice-captains."

"And two captains."

"Additionally, the total losses incurred…"

The lengthy meeting reports were customary, lulling most attendees into drowsiness.

Aside from the death toll, few cared about the Seireitei's remaining losses, after all, until recently, most of those damages were caused by themselves.

Only after the incomprehensible data passed did they reach the part everyone truly cared about.

"Now, let's discuss," Yamamoto's voice was heavy, his sharp gaze sweeping over the captains present.

"How to deal with the remaining Quincies."

"…"

The room fell silent for a few seconds before erupting into chaos.

"Of course, we strike first! Are we supposed to sit here waiting to get hit?!"

"Where did these guys even come from? How come we never heard of them all these years?"

"Exactly! Their abilities are bizarre, completely unrelated to zanpakuto, if you face them blind, there's no defense."

"Find their base, grab their kids! Blow up their home! Wipe them out in one go!"

"Idiot! They live in the Living World!"

"You want to destroy the entire Living World?!"

"You-"

Yamamoto watched the scene unfold. Though he'd anticipated this, his face darkened with frustration.

With the strength and status of these troublemakers, even he couldn't just consult a few strategists, announce a plan, and force them to execute it.

Instead, he had to hold these meetings, repeatedly highlighting their intellectual shortcomings to push his decisions through more easily.

But knowing this didn't make it any less headache-inducing.

"Shut up!"

Yamamoto snapped irritably.

In the end, he had to suppress them with his reiatsu.

The crowd finally quieted.

But they still glared at their recent sparring partners, as if trying to outstare them.

"Captain Kinroku, your thoughts?"

Yamamoto turned to his side.

Kinroku stepped forward, adjusting his glasses, and said calmly, "After this battle, both I and everyone here should realize, the Quincies are enemies whose strength rivals us Shinigami."

"Completely annihilating them without cost is impossible."

"Thus, minimizing our losses is our top priority."

His cold eyes, hidden behind glasses, swept over the captains and vice-captains, his voice calm yet chilling. "Therefore, I have one suggestion, sacrifice a few to hold back the enemy's strongest leader."

"The rest must swiftly eliminate their remaining forces."

"And finally, surround their leader for the decisive blow."

As his words landed, every captain stopped their staring contests, turning to look at Kinroku.

The enemy leader was, of course, the one who'd just clashed with Yamamoto.

His name… Yhwach, was it?

Everyone had witnessed that confrontation.

A foe who could fight Yamamoto to that degree was rare, even over a millennium.

And neither had gone all out.

Holding that man back… wouldn't that be as daunting as surviving a full-force assault from Yamamoto?

Makoto watched the captains, a flicker of tension rising within him.

A job that sounded like a death sentence, surely no one would volunteer…

But before he could finish the thought, a voice beside him cut in.

Nobutsuna Shigyō stared straight at Kinroku, his face splitting into a wide grin, revealing rows of yellowed teeth, his smile fierce. "So you're saying!"

"That guy's head can be mine, right?"

A single stone stirred a thousand waves.

The moment Nobutsuna Shigyō spoke, the room exploded again.

The clamor blended into a chaotic mess, impossible to parse.

"You bastards! Nobody's stealing this job from me!"

"I've been dying to know how many it takes to chop off Yamamoto's head!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Killing that guy should be as good as taking down Yamamoto, right?"

"Huh? You're quick on the uptake, and that makes total sense!"

"What's it got to do with you? A rookie like you would die in one hit!"

"Kumoi, let's team up!"

"…"

If given the chance, they'd love nothing more than to take down someone on par with Yamamoto.

For these arrogant, bloodstained maniacs, how could they not harbor some defiance?

Makoto watched the scene, falling into silence.

As expected.

Thinking these deranged lunatics would cower at the enemy's strength was far too naive, wasn't it?

But then, as if struck by a thought, Makoto quietly sidled over, using the taller captains' frames as cover. He tugged at Saito, who was jumping and waving her small hand, desperate to join the Yhwach takedown team, pulling her back.

"Hey! What's with the tugging?"

"I'm busy!"

Saito turned, her single eye glaring at him.

Makoto's tone was unusually firm. "Don't go."

"Your zanpakuto's ability isn't suited for this."

"Hah?!"

Saito's forehead pulsed with veins as she grabbed Makoto's collar. "You brat, are you looking down on me?!"

"…"

"You'll die."

Makoto's voice was neither loud nor soft, his eyes locking onto Saito's.

Countless memories of his past life gave him vivid clarity of the original story.

In the Thousand-Year Blood War, one scene stood out: Yhwach atop a pile of corpses.

Sasakibe's ambush, Yamamoto's beheading.

That blazing strike marked the Shinigami's victory over the Quincies.

But few recalled the moment before, when the camera panned over the 'surviving' captains.

Of the original thirteen, only half remained.

Yamamoto, Kinroku, Nobutsuna, Katori, Kumoi, Unohana.

Six out of thirteen.

Saito wasn't among them.

Back when he first arrived in this world, Makoto could've dismissed it, hiding in a corner to wait out the Shinigami-Quincy war.

But now, he was part of this world.

He didn't want those he cared about to die in this meaningless conflict.

Moreover…

Saito was tier-2 reiatsu.

If she died, she'd likely only be sent to the lifeless Hell through a soul burial, wouldn't she?

Though he knew every captain's ultimate fate was Hell, Makoto didn't want to witness it himself.

Sensing his rare seriousness, Saito froze for a moment as their eyes met, as if feeling something.

Snort!

The next second, she flashed a carefree grin, revealing a small fang.

"Idiot-"

Saito's voice carried a hint of playful petulance as she turned away casually. "A warrior who draws their blade must be ready to die."

"If anything, dying in the grandest war is my heart's desire!"

"Now, now, get lost!"

The girl laughed, scolding him. "If I die, you better avenge me!"

"If you pull it off, my Shuketsukyū is yours!"

When discussing life and death, even a carefree soul like Saito didn't resort to her usual teasing about tabi or stockings.

For a girl born for battle, her zanpakuto was her everything.

Entrusting it after death meant that person was likely the most important in her life.

Yet her tone remained light.

As Saito said, from the moment she drew her blade, life and death were cast aside.

All Saito craved was the ultimate fight and the ultimate death.

Makoto looked at her unpretentious smile, wanting to say more but feeling it unnecessary.

"Fine."

"I'll do it."

He exhaled softly, as if resolving something.

"Hah?!"

Saito was stunned, shouting, "You bastard! You're trying to steal my kill, aren't you?!"

"No way I'm letting you have it!"

Makoto, as if shedding a burden, smiled lightly. "Who knows?"

Noticing their hushed exchange, Unohana Yachiru turned, glancing their way.

Katori, meanwhile, had been stifling laughter from the start, watching them.

How amusing!

Finally, Yamamoto waited until their bickering subsided and observed the room for a while before striking his scabbard with a thud.

"Due to the Gotei 13's current shortage of personnel, the Yhwach subjugation team will consist of only four."

"The rest will handle the remaining Quincy elites."

"Now, captains willing to go, step forward."

Almost instantly, four figures stepped into the center.

The Captain of the Sixth Divison - Saito Furofushi.

The Captain of the Seventh Divison - Nobutsuna Shigyō.

The Captain of the Tenth Divison - Furuoki Ōtogawa.

The Captain of the Twelfth Divison -Uhin Zenjōji.

All eyes fell on them.

Saito grinned, hoisting her scabbard over her shoulder, looking proud.

Everyone knew this was a near-suicidal mission.

But for these lunatics, what was more exhilarating than dancing on the edge of life and death?

Yamamoto nodded slightly.

The only thing these fools made him proud of was their fearless valor in the face of death.

But just as he was about to finalize the list, another figure stepped out from the crowd.

Yamamoto looked over, his expression faltering.

His voice, however, remained steady. "Fifth Seat Makoto, what is it?"

Makoto stepped out calmly, his voice as warm and even as ever. "Captain-Commander."

"To ensure this plan's success, beyond the first line of defense formed by the four captains, a second line should be established."

"To ensure the four captains' battle remains undisturbed."

"Or, in the event all four fall, someone can step in."

Hearing this, Yamamoto relaxed slightly, rejecting the idea. "I've already stated, the Gotei 13 is short on manpower."

"Four is the maximum we can spare."

"This matter is closed."

Makoto didn't back down, interrupting, "One man!"

"The second line of defense needs only me."

As his words landed, all eyes shifted from the four captains to Makoto.

He stood tall, calmly meeting their gazes.

Among them was Yamamoto.

"Fifth Seat Makoto, this is a captains' meeting."

Yamamoto suppressed the fire in his chest, speaking rationally, his voice heavy and hoarse. "Not a place for you to jest!"

"Do you know what you're saying?"

Such arrogance, even from his chosen successor for Captain-Commander, was intolerable.

Military orders were not a game.

Makoto's face showed no retreat, his voice rational to the point of coldness. "In the next three days, I will cast off all restraints, aiming to reach a level infinitely close to tier-1 reiatsu."

"Three days from now, I ask Captain-Commander to test me."

"If I fail, punish me by military law."

As his words fell, everyone cast stunned glances his way.

Even Yamamoto's half-squinted eyes widened slightly, gazing at him coldly.

Makoto, sensing that piercing stare, raised his head without flinching, meeting Yamamoto's eyes.

The calm in his gaze was resolve.

Yamamoto stared at him for a long time, the room silent, a pin's drop audible.

Finally, the corners of his bearded mouth curved upward.

To face an invincible foe alone?

As his successor, this was the caliber required!

"Approved."

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

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