Chapter 392: You All Have Truly Made Me Suffer!
If one were to find the person in the world who understood Yamamoto's strength best, it would undoubtedly be Satoru.
Whether it was his two centuries of apprenticeship under Yamamoto, the over five thousand battles he experienced against Yamamoto in simulated spaces, or the firsthand references from opponents of Yamamoto's caliber he had personally fought…
Satoru had an exceptionally clear understanding of Yamamoto's power.
When the Priest utilized the power of rules, his strength indeed surpassed Yamamoto's.
But without employing the power of rules, relying solely on his own abilities, the Priest was absolutely no match for Yamamoto!
To prove himself to Yamamoto, to make clear to this teacher—who had taught him for over two centuries and given his all—just how strong he had now become, he couldn't afford to hold back in the slightest.
He would unleash his strongest blow and seize this victory!
Triple Body - Asura-Faced Satoru!
Plus... Fivefold Sōkotsu!!
The moment he threw his punch, the metal claws of his Bankai couldn't withstand such terrifying power, melting into molten iron that flowed backward along Satoru's arm.
For an instant, the entire world seemed to stand still, leaving only these two arms, these two fists in motion!
In Yamamoto's field of vision, Satoru's figure completely disappeared.
All he could see was this single punch.
Everything else turned into a blinding white light!
Seeing the approaching fist, Yamamoto raised the corner of his mouth.
He understood that he no longer needed to hold anything back.
The unimaginable consequences that might arise from using his ultimate technique... no longer existed.
He grinned, revealing a near-mad smile, and swung his strongest blade.
The undefeated blade that reduced everything it cut to nothing!
Zanka no Tachi, North.
Heaven and Earth! Reduced to Ashes!!!
The strongest blade collided with the strongest fist.
A terrifying shockwave instantly erupted!
Even though they had already created distance, dozens of wounds of varying depth appeared on Ukitake and Retsu Unohana's bodies.
Ichigo released his Reiatsu, standing before them in Bankai form while raising a Reiatsu shield.
But even he, who had already approached the threshold beyond limits, felt tremendous pressure.
Just then, Aizen arrived beside him and released his Reiatsu.
Instantly, Ichigo felt the pressure greatly diminish.
He looked with surprise at the gentle-looking bespectacled man beside him, his gaze filled with disbelief.
But Aizen simply stared forward calmly, without the slightest fluctuation in expression.
The terrifying explosion consumed hundreds of kilometers of desert.
Its aftermath was even more horrifying.
Like a meteor striking Earth, the massive shockwave spread across the land surface, sweeping across thousands of kilometers.
The spectators began to feel panicked.
Though Yamamoto was the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years, and Satoru had already transcended the limits of both Shinigami and Hollow, both were ultimately ordinary living beings, not true gods.
Such a terrifying collision, if it had occurred in the Soul Society, would have been enough to destroy the entire Seireitei and cause immeasurable damage to nearly half of Rukongai.
Were the two at the epicenter really alright?
Kyōraku rushed out from behind Ichigo, gripping his twin swords and swinging them fiercely, creating two whirlwinds that blew away the rising sand and dust.
What they saw was a massive crater at the desert's center.
At the bottom of the crater was a molten pool burning with blood-red intensity.
The desert formed from deceased Hollows had a melting point far beyond ordinary sand.
Yet now, dozens of meters had been instantly vaporized.
Everything below had completely melted!
At the center of the molten sea of fire, a figure stood quietly.
Satoru's clothing was barely intact.
All that remained were tattered fragments of his Shinigami Uniform around his waist.
A deep, bone-revealing wound extended from his left shoulder down to his right waist.
Despite such severe injuries, he remained unshaken, simply standing there.
Not far before him stood Yamamoto's figure.
The old man held his Zanpakutō, quietly watching his disciple nearby.
Under everyone's gaze, Yamamoto snorted and revealed a smile.
Then, like a collapsing mountain, he heavily fell forward.
Slap!
Yamamoto, halfway to the ground, was caught by Satoru who had Flash Stepped to his side.
Watching Satoru still having the energy to move at such speed, Yamamoto felt a sense of emotion.
And when he saw the wound on Satoru's chest rapidly healing, almost disappearing entirely, his feelings grew even more complex.
On the path ahead, his own figure would no longer be walking in front of this young man.
From now on, he would have to walk alone.
No one would be there to carefully teach him how to wield his sword or how to use Reiatsu.
He would walk ahead of everyone, becoming the new light.
This damn kid... has graduated.
Thinking this, Yamamoto slowly closed his eyes, revealing a gratified smile.
He had not failed the aspirations he had set back in the day.
The Soul Society now had someone who could surpass him.
His legacy had stepped into a new era in the most perfect way.
As a teacher, he had completed his mission.
Just as he let go of the heaviest burden in his heart and prepared to rest properly, Satoru's voice suddenly rang out above him:
"Wait, teacher, don't die yet! Before you go, could you tell me... where do you keep all your valuable things? Aside from the calligraphy and paintings in your study, is there anything else?"
"?"
Yamamoto's eyes, which were about to close, snapped open again.
Looking at the anxious face of this brat, his blood pressure skyrocketed.
"You little bastard... I think you look like something valuable!"
The old man swung a karate chop at Satoru.
The latter quickly let go and backed away to create distance:
"I'm just preparing for the worst! It's better for me to have your things than for them to be buried and lost!"
"I'll bury your ashes first!"
Watching the old and young figures disappear into the distance while chasing each other, Retsu Unohana, who had been about to rush over to help, stopped in her tracks.
Beside her, Kyōraku raised a hand to adjust his straw hat.
"That Satoru guy... he's really something."
"Just by holding Old Man Yama for a short while, he almost completely healed his injuries."
Ukitake walked over as well.
"I never imagined that there would be someone in this world who could face Teacher's 'Ash of Heaven and Earth' head-on and defeat it."
"Is this... the power of a Transcendent?"
Behind them, Aizen adjusted his glasses.
He had seen the sorrowful look in Yamamoto Shigekuni's eyes earlier.
Don't worry, Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
That Satoru won't have to walk alone.
I will catch up and walk alongside him.
Both now and in the future.
...
...
For the following period, Satoru unexpectedly enjoyed a stretch of peaceful life.
After returning to the Seireitei, Yamamoto, for some unknown reason, relieved him of his position as Acting Captain-Commander.
All important matters of the Gotei 13 were once again taken back into his own hands.
Satoru couldn't help but laugh even in his dreams about this.
With his return to leisure, he spent his days visiting each division's mess hall for meals, going home to play with his LSP4, play with Suì-Fēng, play with Bambi, play with Nemu...
Scratch that last one.
It was purely about helping them regulate their bodies, nothing strange about it.
Although that old coot Mayuri Kurotsuchi always hinted at something, Satoru simply pretended not to notice.
At the very least, he should deal with that certain female background character first.
However, this peaceful life was brutally shattered on this particular day.
A group of Shinigami wearing Captain's Haori gathered one after another at the First Division barracks.
Today was the day of the regular Captain's meeting.
Led by Satoru, the slacking faction had already prepared to sleep through the meeting.
Although called a faction, it actually consisted of only three members at full count.
Satoru, Shiba Isshin, and Shunsui Kyōraku.
Centered around Yamamoto, the twelve captains stood divided into two rows below the steps, awaiting instructions.
In the solemn atmosphere of the room, Yamamoto picked up a document and began discussing countermeasures with everyone.
Satoru closed his eyes and started letting his mind wander.
Outside the conference room door, all the vice-captains were waiting there.
Among the crowd, Aizen curled up the corner of his mouth, as if anticipating some entertaining spectacle.
Suddenly, a figure cautiously approached.
"Um... Vice-Captain Aizen?"
Aizen turned to look and saw a girl with a small bun tied on her head, looking up at him like a harmless little animal.
"Hello."
He nodded.
He recognized this girl.
The sixth seat of the 10th Division, Hinamori Momo.
Her swordsmanship talent was poor, but her Kidō talent was astonishing. She had been selected for Satoru's advanced class, specifically following the path of Kidō enhancement.
As an expert in the field of Kidō, he had taught this child when substituting for Satoru's class.
Under Aizen's gaze, the girl's face slightly reddened:
"Vice-Captain Aizen, I'm Hinamori Momo. I previously studied under you in Teacher Mikami's advanced class..."
"Yes, I remember."
Aizen nodded.
Hearing this, Hinamori breathed a sigh of relief.
She showed a smile and handed over a cloth-wrapped box:
"Vice-Captain Aizen, you're the person closest to Teacher Mikami."
"This is the lunch I prepared. If it's convenient... I hope you can deliver it to Teacher Mikami for me!"
Looking at the lunchbox in his hand, Aizen revealed a somewhat subtle gaze.
A hundred years ago, he once had a plan.
Using Satoru's identity as a Shin'ō Academy teacher, he would infiltrate the academy's faculty team, attract a group of students with his personal charm, and cultivate them as future reserve subordinates.
Later, due to various reasons, he neither had the time nor the inclination to pursue this anymore.
Unexpectedly, his unfinished business had been unknowingly accomplished by Satoru—and even better than he could have done himself...
With a somewhat helpless mood, he reached out to take the box Hinamori was handing him.
Suddenly, a loud shout came from inside:
"What the fuck?!"
Hearing this voice, Hinamori trembled in fright, dropping the lunchbox from her hand.
Aizen hooked his finger, using his Reiatsu to lift the lunchbox back through the air.
He looked toward the conference room door, revealing a pleased smile.
Inside the conference room, Satoru stared wide-eyed at Yamamoto.
"Old bas—I mean, teacher, what did you say?!"
Under the equally shocked gazes of the other captains, Yamamoto repeated his previous words:
"I, under the name of Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, hereby declare to you all:"
"Effective immediately, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto resigns from the positions of Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and Captain of the First Division."
"Satoru is appointed as the new Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and Captain of the First Division."
"Chōjirō Sasakibe is relieved of his position as Lieutenant of the First Division."
Satoru opened his mouth, feeling as if he'd just fucked a cat.
"Are you kidding me... Such an important matter, have you consulted the Central 46..."
Halfway through his sentence, his face suddenly darkened.
The Central 46 was gone. The current actual ruling body of the Seireitei was the Grand Council.
Because specific affairs still required some time for transition and familiarization, to avoid the situation of amateurs directing professionals, the Gotei 13 was currently in a temporary state of autonomy.
Only after the parliamentary system matured would they gradually begin to take over military authority.
In other words, at present, this old man Yamamoto could indeed decide such matters unilaterally!
But Satoru absolutely refused to accept this.
"Teacher, I'm still too young and inexperienced for such great responsibility!"
"Heh, no matter. I've already considered this."
Yamamoto continued:
"The Gotei 13 will establish a new position of Captain-Commander Advisor, to be held by the former Lieutenant of the Fifth Division, Sōsuke Aizen."
"This arrangement has also been agreed upon by Lieutenant Aizen himself."
Satoru turned his head in shock, looking toward the door.
Sōsuke, have you betrayed me?!
By this time, the captains who had initially been shocked were now showing thoughtful expressions.
Thanks to Shunsui Kyōraku's "unintentional slip," they had all heard about Satoru's direct victory over Yamamoto.
In fact, even if Satoru hadn't defeated Yamamoto, his repeated accomplishments in previous events had already earned him sufficient popularity.
In the past, Yamamoto stood there like a great mountain, sheltering everyone from wind and rain.
Just seeing that figure was enough for Shinigami to charge forward without hesitation, fighting bloody battles.
And Satoru?
This guy would charge ahead before you even had the chance to move.
Moreover, every time he charged forward, he returned with nothing less than overwhelming victory.
As a leader, his charisma, while different from Yamamoto's, was in no way inferior—it just manifested differently.
By comparison, Yamamoto was like a deity—brilliant, sacred, and unattainably distant.
Satoru felt more like a true leader.
Whether he was a tyrant or a foolish ruler, at least following behind him would leave no room for doubt.
Yoruichi was the first to speak:
"Captain of the Second Division, Yoruichi Shihōin, in favor!"
"Captain of the Fourth Division, Retsu Unohana, in favor."
"Captain of the Sixth Division, Shiba Isshin, in favor!!"
"Seventh Division..."
In an instant, almost the entire Gotei 13 stepped forward.
Among them, Mayuri Kurotsuchi was the most excited. Grinning like a villain, he pulled out a white Captain's Haori and draped it over Satoru's shoulders.
Emblazoned on the haori was the character for "One."
Just as Satoru was about to say something, Aizen had somehow already entered the meeting room—a space reserved only for captains.
He reached out and placed a hand on Satoru's shoulder:
"Satoru, the Seireitei needs you."
"The Three Realms need you."
Seeing the earnest look in Aizen's eyes, Satoru's face turned ashen.
"You've really screwed me over!"