"Retired…?"
Hirako Shinji froze for a brief moment.
The former captains and vice-captains standing beside him also exchanged stunned looks.
No one had expected to hear such a word
especially not from Gosuke Shigure.
For a moment, the abandoned factory was filled with an unmistakable sense of disbelief.
Yoruichi stared at Gosuke Shigure, her usual relaxed expression gone.
"Sensei… what are you talking about?"
"Why would you retire?"
She took a step forward, clearly unable to accept it.
"And besides," she continued, "the position of Kenpachi isn't something you can just give up so easily. The Eleventh Division doesn't follow the same rules as the other divisions. Other squads talk about retirement, but the Eleventh"
She paused, then said firmly,
"doesn't."
Perhaps because the answer had been too shocking, or perhaps because she hadn't seen him in so long after leaving the Soul Society, Yoruichi spoke more than usual.
The rest of the Visored listened intently.
They had once been the core strength of the Gotei Thirteen.
They all knew very well how unique the Eleventh Division was.
Gosuke Shigure smiled faintly and spoke calmly.
"You're right. The Eleventh Division's captaincy is inherited through combat."
"But that battle does not necessarily require one side to die."
He continued evenly,
"I lost a battle to Vice-Captain Zaraki."
"So naturally, the title of Kenpachi passed to him."
The truth was unexpected.
"…It can actually happen like that?"
Hirako Shinji couldn't help blurting out.
Most Shinigami believed that the succession of the Eleventh Division's captain was a brutal fight to the death. Few knew that defeat alone was sufficient.
For the majority of Shinigami, the position of captain within the Gotei Thirteen represented supreme authority and honor.
Yet for some captains, after remaining in that position for a very long time, fatigue inevitably followed.
However, according to the laws of the Soul Society, a Shinigami's duty was effectively lifelong.
Even though the concept of retirement existed, those who stepped down were usually the elderly, the gravely wounded, or those no longer capable of combat.
Under normal circumstances, a Shinigami still in his prime
someone like Gosuke Shigure
could not retire.
But the Eleventh Division was different.
Its traditions were ancient and stubborn.
Even Genryūsai Yamamoto could not easily interfere with its internal rules.
Especially considering the timing
right after the Visored had been exiled from the Soul Society
It was almost certain that Yamamoto would have wanted to stop Gosuke Shigure.
Yet he couldn't.
"Sensei…"
Yoruichi looked at him closely.
"You actually lost to Zaraki?"
She did not underestimate Zaraki's strength.
But Gosuke Shigure was no ordinary captain.
To her, the idea that her teacher could lose so simply was difficult to accept.
Gosuke Shigure, however, didn't seem bothered at all.
"Everyone loses eventually," he said with a light smile.
"Why should I be the exception?"
"Besides, Zaraki's strength is far beyond what you imagine."
Yoruichi, Hirako Shinji, and the others fell silent, pondering his words.
In their previous understanding, Zaraki was a reckless battle maniac
someone who lived only for combat.
A Shinigami who hadn't even mastered Shikai.
That alone made him a special case.
And yet, such a man had now become the captain of the Eleventh Division.
Perhaps only a squad like the Eleventh would allow such a thing.
At that moment
"The teacher lost on purpose."
Urahara Kisuke, who had been quietly observing until now, suddenly spoke.
The words instantly drew everyone's attention.
Gosuke Shigure turned his gaze toward him.
"Oh?"
"Kisuke," he asked calmly,
"Why do you think so?"
Urahara adjusted his hat slightly and explained,
"I know how powerful Zaraki is. But I also know the teacher's strength far too well."
"Even without Shikai or Bankai, Zaraki's Reiatsu and swordsmanship alone wouldn't be enough to defeat you so easily."
"In a true battle to the death, Zaraki might have a chance."
"But from what the teacher described, that fight clearly wasn't one."
Urahara's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So there's only one explanation."
"The teacher chose to lose
so that he could step down and hand over the name of Kenpachi."
"Snap."
Gosuke Shigure snapped his fingers and laughed softly.
"Well reasoned," he said.
"As expected of you, Kisuke."
That confirmation shocked everyone far more than before.
If losing to Zaraki had been surprising
then deliberately losing was downright unbelievable.
"Sensei," Yoruichi asked seriously,
"why would you do something like that?"
She truly didn't understand.
Was it because he saw them all leave the Soul Society?
Because he suddenly felt being a captain had lost its meaning?
Was that really the reason?
Yoruichi voiced the doubt in her heart.
Gosuke Shigure shook his head slowly.
"After you left," he said,
"and considering the Tenth Division had already been vacant, the Soul Society suddenly found itself missing seven captains."
"At that time, I did briefly think that remaining a captain felt meaningless."
"But more importantly"
His expression grew more serious.
"I realized that the Soul Society had already stepped into a far more dangerous phase than anyone understood."
"In all fairness, I shouldn't have retired then."
Yoruichi frowned.
"Then why did you do it anyway?"
Gosuke Shigure answered calmly,
"Because I noticed that a dark crisis was approaching
one far greater than what we had already seen."
"Staying in the position of captain may look powerful and authoritative," he continued,
"but it also places you directly under everyone's scrutiny."
"When you stand in the light, there are many things you can't do."
"Only by stepping away from the captain's seat
by removing myself from the center of attention
could I prepare quietly."
"So that when those hidden crises finally surface,"
He looked at everyone present.
"I'll be able to respond without delay."
The words lingered heavily in the air.
For the first time, the Visored truly understood
Gosuke Shigure had not stepped back because he was tired.
He had stepped back
because he had seen what was coming.