Bleach: Starting with Marrying Retsu Unohana

Kyoraku Shunsui looked at Araki, Yamamoto Genryusai, and Uno no Retsu, and asked them aloud.

"It's so-so."

Araki glanced at the three of them briefly and gave his assessment.

"Much better than before..."

Genryusai's answer was slightly better than Araki's, but only slightly better.

"Very handsome."

It was Unori's answer that brought the most joy to Kyoraku and the others.

At this moment, Unori Retsu was looking at Kyoraku and the other two with a 'kind smile' on her face, as if she were looking at her own children.

"My teacher's wife always speaks so nicely!"

After hearing what Unorire said, Kyoraku arrogantly retorted.

"Listen up, you three! Don't think that just because you're wearing haoris now, you're at the pinnacle of 'Shinigami.' Being a 'Captain' is just the beginning of your 'Shinigami' careers. You're still a long way from the true peak."

Araki, not giving the three huskies—Kyoraku, Ukitake, and Tokina—a chance to proudly raise their tails, spoke forcefully to the three of them.

"We understand..."

"I will follow Master's teachings!"

"We understand, we all understand~ Compared to you, Master, we definitely still have a gap to close~"

As Araki finished speaking, Kyoraku and the other two repeatedly said that they understood.

"Alright, now that you've passed the team leader assessment, from today onwards, you are the captains of 'Team Thirteen.' Pay attention to your appearance! Don't embarrass your master..."

"As for now, you should go and check out your respective squads! Make sure you become thoroughly familiar with the work and affairs of your squads as quickly as possible. As for the inauguration ceremony for the three of you as squad leaders, let's hold it together after Yoruichi has finished dealing with the Onmitsukido and the Second Squad! That will save us from having to gather the busy captains of the Gotei 13 together for a meeting at the First Squad twice in a short period of time."

Araki looked at his three 'disciples' who were sitting upright and listening to him, and smiled with satisfaction.

Fortunately, his three disciples still had some sense of propriety. They didn't get arrogant just because they had become captains of the 'Gotei 13', and they didn't act disrespectfully towards their master...

Of course, if his three disciples think that he can no longer control them now that he has become the captain of the 'Thirteenth Squad', they would be sorely mistaken! He will use his Zanpakuto to show Shitan and the others that their master is still their master.

"Speaking of which, hasn't Yoruichi-senpai passed the team leader assessment yet?!"

Kyoraku didn't get cocky in front of Araki. After all, Kyoraku knew Araki's strength. Although he and Araki were both captains of the 'Thirteenth Division', the gap between captains was sometimes greater than the gap between a commoner in 'Yūkiri Street' and a squad captain in 'Seireitei'...

But it wasn't in Kyoraku's nature to not show off after becoming captain. So, after Kyoraku learned from Araki's words that their "senior sister" Yoruichi hadn't passed the "captain's test" yet, he made a decision in his heart.

"interesting!"

After hearing Kyoraku's mutterings, Shitan also came over.

"Why don't we go and brag to Yoruichi?!"

Kyoraku looked at Shitan and asked.

"That's exactly what I was thinking! Shall we go together?"

Shi Tan smiled slightly upon hearing this.

Although Tokina doesn't like to show off in front of others, he doesn't mind showing off his captain's haori in front of the little princess of the Shihōin family as a member of the Tsuna-Yayo branch family.

For a time, Tokina and Kyoraku, who had always been rivals, finally reached a consensus on one thing: to run up to Yoruichi and show off their 'team leader's haori'.

"good!"

Kyoraku smiled with satisfaction after receiving Tokitani's reply.

The next second, Kyoraku and Tokina happily left the 'Team Leader Assessment Room' and headed together towards the 'Shihouin' family's territory.

"Kyoraku, Tokina! You two, don't provoke Yoruichi-senpai over something like this!"

Ukitake frowned deeply as he watched Kyoraku and Shinetani run away into the distance.

“These two guys…” Ukitake shook his head inwardly, then expressed his apology to Yamamoto Genryusai, Araki, and Uno Retsu, who were still sitting in the 'examiner' positions: “Master, Master, and Mistress, I’m sorry, I have to go now! I have to go after these two guys, Kyoraku and Tokinada.”

"Go~"

After hearing what Ukitake said, Araki waved his hand at Ukitake.

Upon hearing this, Ukitake bowed to Araki and the other two before turning and leaving the 'examination room'.

"That kid, Fukitake."

Araki watched Ukitake run away last and stroked his chin.

Ukitake's Shunpo skill is roughly on par with Kyoraku and Tokina. Since Ukitake started later, he definitely couldn't catch up with Kyoraku and the others who started earlier. However, Ukitake still chased after them, which shows that Ukitake himself really wanted to go to the 'Shihouin' clan territory. Sometimes Araki thinks that Ukitake is a kind-faced but ruthless person...

Araki could already imagine the expression on Yoruichi's face when she saw Kyoraku, Tokina, and Ukitake, clad in their leader's haori, appear before her after her training, just as she was resting at the Shihouin clan compound. It would surely be an incredibly spectacular sight!

"Araki, your three apprentices are quite good~"

After the three members of Kyoraku left, Yamamoto looked at Araki beside him and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Not bad~"

Araki smiled slightly upon hearing this.

"Come out for a walk with me?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Liuzhai didn't say much, but instead extended an invitation to Araki.

"it is good."

Araki nodded slightly to Genryusai in response.

"Um……"

Genryusai slowly stood up after receiving Araki's reply.

"I'll head back now~"

Looking at the 'master and disciple' who clearly had something to say to each other, Mao Zhilie smiled slightly at them.

"Okay. Lie, you can go back now!"

Upon hearing this, Araki addressed Uno no Retsu.

"Ok!"

After receiving a response from Araki, Uno no Retsu turned and left.

"Araki, it's been so long since we, master and disciple, have spent such a leisurely time together..."

After Masaru left, Yamamoto Genryusai walked slowly with his hands behind his back toward the barracks of the 'First Division', with Araki naturally following closely behind.

"Yes, the last time you strolled with me in this Seireitei was before I led the Eleventh Division and the first Gotei 13 captains to the Forest of Menreiki to defeat Mikado."

Araki answered Yamamoto's question upon hearing this.

"Um……"

Yamamoto nodded upon hearing this.

"What are your thoughts on the current situation in the Seireitei?!"

After a few minutes of silence, Yamamoto asked Araki.

"I don't have any opinion..."

Araki, upon hearing this, spoke the truth.

"No opinion?!"

Upon hearing this, Yamamoto's eyes showed surprise.

"So, after you take over my position, how do you plan to 'protect' this 'Seireitei'?"

Yamamoto looked at Araki with a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Keep the obedient ones, kill the disobedient ones."

Araki's answer was unusually straightforward.

"you……"

Yamamoto suddenly felt that he had asked his apprentice a question that was somewhat unnecessary.

Given Araki's personality, what other answer could he possibly give besides this?!

"Right now, the Seireitei still can't do without those nobles. Although they are corrupt, they have both ability and strength. If all of them were to die, the entire Soul Society would be in chaos. No matter how powerful you are, you will eventually find yourself unable to handle everything."

Yuan Liuzhai advised Araki.

“I know that, so I am willing to give them a chance to kowtow and submit to me.”

Araki smiled immediately after hearing Genryusai's words.

"You just understand."

Yuan Liuzhai didn't know what to say about Araki, but he nodded anyway.

When do you plan to take over the position of 'Captain-in-Chief' from me?

Yuan Liuzhai continued to question Araki.

"Don't worry, old man! I don't plan to send you to teach at the 'True Central Spiritual Arts Academy' anytime soon. I'll let you do it for at least another fifty or sixty years."

Araki thought for a moment, then looked at Genryusai and began to speak earnestly.

"By the way, when you go to the Seireitei Academy, Master, you must do your best to train more people who are truly loyal to the Seireitei and the Thirteen Divisions. That way, I can replace all the positions controlled by those overly corrupt nobles."

Araki then continued his sermon to Genryusai.

It seems that Araki has already envisioned himself winning a battle against Genryusai in the not-too-distant future.

"Hmph! You're always so disrespectful. Remember to call me Master, you annoying brat..."

Genryusai didn't refute anything. He just snorted coldly after hearing how Araki addressed him, then left Araki behind and walked ahead alone. As for what he wanted to know, Araki had already told him.

Chapter 117 Night One: Kyoto Music, Floating Bamboo, and Time Beach, Finally Forming a Team

The clan territory of the Shihōin family, one of the five noble families of Soul Society.

Artificial hills, pavilions, and flowing streams—everywhere you look is a pool of emerald green. In the distance, the courtyards are arranged in a staggered yet orderly fashion, and the golden tiles on the rooftops look like shimmering gold under the sun from afar!

If Kyoraku and the others hadn't been the first to know that this was the ancestral home of the 'Shihouin' family, they might have mistaken it for the palace of some modern dynasty.