Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

"This isn't something I say just for your sake. In fact... I remind every new member of the 5th Division the same thing."

"Your life takes precedence over your duty and responsibilities. Don't let the atmosphere or public opinion push you to a senseless death—always keep a clear head."

"Of course, this advice is mainly for newcomers."

And why was that?

Shinji Hirako grinned, flashing his teeth.

"Because having actual skill is rare~"

The more capable someone is, the more they're relied upon.

"The weak should be focused on protecting themselves, not rushing headfirst into battle just to get killed."

"On the other hand, those of us who are seated officers, vice-captains, captains—even the Captain-Commander..."

"We're the ones who should be taking responsibility."

It was almost like stepping back in time to Seiya's academy days, seeing Shinji at the podium, giving his lectures.

Same attitude. Same sarcastic tone. Same lazy air.

Not a single thing had changed.

"So, if you ever find yourself in a situation you can't handle, and the conditions are right to escape..."

"Don't hesitate. Take the chance and get the hell out of there."

"Leave the rest to us 'reliable adults.'"

Honestly—

This was the first time Seiya had heard something like this, and it caught him off guard.

"You look surprised."

Seiya paused, then nodded.

"Uh… yeah, a little. I didn't expect to hear something like this."

Shinji smirked, looking pleased with himself.

"Then make sure you remember it~ This is one of the core values of the 5th Division, so don't go forgetting it."

Seiya nodded calmly.

"Understood."

Cherish your life.

Don't throw it away for meaningless things.

—Shinji Hirako's philosophy.

No need to pity the weak.

Soul Reapers are not created equal. A summer insect can never understand ice. The common masses will never be like us.

—Sōsuke Aizen's philosophy.

A fleeting image of Aizen surfaced in Seiya's mind, and for a moment, his expression grew complex.

So similar, yet fundamentally different.

Was this the strange 'bond' between them?

When reading the original story, he had felt this contrast—but hearing it firsthand made it even clearer.

His thoughts wandered, but before they could settle, Shinji stood up.

"Alright, that's enough 'studying' for today. Just don't slack on the manuals I gave you—make sure you read all of them."

At least there wouldn't be any more quizzes for now, which was a relief.

But—

Where were they headed next?

Shinji waved him forward.

"Just meeting a friend. Relax."

A friend of Shinji's?

Seiya thought for a moment, and soon, a certain someone came to mind.

—

"Ahaha! So you really did end up in the 5th Division, huh?"

Watching Hiyori Sarugaki cackle and point at him, Seiya could only look on in mild confusion.

…What's so funny?

They were in a rural area about three hours outside the 5th Division barracks.

It wasn't quite Rukongai, but the buildings were sparse, making it clear this wasn't a place where people typically gathered.

Still—

Perhaps because there weren't many visitors, the scenery here was well-preserved.

Beneath the shade of a large tree, a group of figures sat around on a spread-out mat, chatting idly.

And Seiya, led here by Shinji, was now faced with… quite a crowd.

Hiyori, still laughing, turned her back to him and reached toward a man wearing sunglasses.

"I told you, didn't I? I knew this bald brat was gonna end up in the 5th Division! Y'all doubted me—so how about it now, huh? Feeling dumb yet?"

"Time to pay up!"

"Hand it over!"

Seiya followed the motion of her hand—

And landed on the current 7th Division Captain, Love Aikawa.

With a sigh, Love removed his sunglasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Yeah, yeah..."

"...Wait, this is all you're giving me?!"

"That should be plenty for a good kid to buy some sweets."

"Hah?! Who the hell are you calling a 'good kid'?! You bastard!"

Ignoring her outburst, Love casually placed a firm hand on her head, stopping her in her tracks.

Then, he turned to Seiya.

"First time we've met, huh?"

Before Seiya could answer, another voice cut in.

"Of course. Even though this rising star has been floating all around the Gotei 13, he's never come to our divisions."

The speaker, putting down a porcelain sake cup, was none other than the current 3rd Division Captain, Rōjūrō "Rose" Otoribashi.

He glanced at Seiya with interest.

"Can't lie—I've been curious about you for a while. But before I knew it, graduation season had already rolled around."

He tilted his head back with a wistful sigh.

"Time sure is cruel."

A man reclining against a tree trunk opened one eye, looking at him with a deadpan expression.

"Don't talk like you're an old man."

While he wasn't that old—

Rose shrugged.

"But we aren't exactly young anymore, are we, Kensei?"

The one scowling, looking like someone owed him money, was none other than the current 9th Division Captain—Kensei Muguruma.

And…

The first official captain-level opponent Seiya had ever beaten.

Originally, he had been uninterested in this whole gathering.

But now that he had been mentioned, Kensei straightened his posture.

His sharp, assessing gaze locked onto Seiya.

And he stared.

Long.

And hard.

"…"

Seiya, having once treated this man like a training dummy, suddenly found himself feeling… awkward.

Uh—could he stop looking? It was making him nervous.

Even Shinji had to step in.

"Oi, Kensei. Could you not glare at my subordinate like that? You're gonna scare him."

As if snapping out of a daze, Kensei blinked, then exhaled.

"Sorry. Didn't realize I was doing that."

He rubbed the back of his head.

"It's just… for a second there, I thought I saw something really damn unpleasant in you."

…Damn.

That intuition was spot on.

Shinji chuckled, unimpressed.

"Since when do you put stock in that 'gut feeling' nonsense?"

Kensei hesitated, then sighed, looking a little guilty.

"Guess you're right. Maybe I'm just being too sensitive… Sorry, kid."

Seeing the other captain offer a somewhat awkward but genuine apology, Seiya quickly responded.

"No problem, no problem…"

Surprisingly, Kensei was a lot easier to deal with than expected.

…Maybe he just had a scary resting face?

Still, this whole situation was unexpected.

Shinji, still smirking, clapped a hand on Seiya's shoulder and dragged him forward.

"You're sitting way too far back. I brought you here to introduce you to everyone properly!"

"You could've told me that beforehand..."

After all, there were four captains here—plus a few others he didn't recognize. Maybe lieutenants?

So what was this gathering for?

Shinji, almost reading his mind, chuckled and leaned in.

"A little nervous, huh? This is the first time you've been surrounded by this many captains, right?"

…No.

The captain's meeting had way more people.

"But don't worry~ Everyone here is on our side. They're our allies."

Seiya narrowed his eyes slightly.

So this was… an introduction.

A way of formally bringing him into their circle.

Like Aizen had his network—Shinji had his own.

It wasn't as overwhelming, but it was still a force to be reckoned with.

This was likely the foundation of what would later become the Visoreds.

So they had all known each other for years, huh?

As if sensing his realization, Shinji tightened his grip and grinned.

"Anyway, it's simple."

"This kid's gonna be my vice-captain."

"So I'll be counting on you all to help him out."

Though his tone was casual—

Their responses carried real weight.

Love chuckled.

"Rising star, huh? A bit intimidating, honestly."

Rose, amused, brushed his hair back.

"I am curious… If we get along well, maybe I can convince him to switch divisions."

Shinji scoffed.

"Not a chance~ He belongs in the 5th Division."

Kensei, despite his usual scowl, gave a small nod.

"I've heard of you before, Seiya Arima."

Shinji raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? And from where, exactly?"

Kensei thought for a moment.

"…Some blind squad member. He mentioned him a lot."

Seiya sighed internally.

Kaname, you're still thinking about me from your prison cell?

But before he could reflect too much, Hiyori suddenly grinned.

"Oh yeah! What's your Zanpakutō's ability?!"

That question—

Immediately, the entire group focused on him.

—What is your Zanpakutō's power?

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Powerstones?

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