Gojoshibe Kenpachi's words made Tsugikuni Yoriichi stop abruptly.
He turned to look back.
The atmosphere instantly froze.
It had to be admitted, this suggestion was somewhat sudden.
Although becoming a Captain was a dream all Shinigami pursued throughout their lives, Yoriichi didn't particularly care about the current situation.
His previous thoughts were merely because he hadn't yet arrived in the Human World.
Furthermore, currently being in Hueco Mundo, when he would return was another matter.
And even if he did return, the Eleventh Division was not his ideal Division.
At this, Yoriichi opened his mouth.
Just as he was about to speak.
The next second, the squad members who had miraculously survived by Gojoshibe Kenpachi's side all urged him:
"Captain, no! Captain!"
Their voices were urgent, their tones slightly panicked.
It was as if they were facing not a Captain, but an old father.
Never had they been so agitated.
"You are a Kenpachi!"
"Although your Zanpakuto is broken, who says it can't be repaired?"
"If we can get back alive, maybe the Twelfth Division has a solution?"
Perhaps, but the probability was minuscule.
Gojoshibe Kenpachi exhaled.
His massive physique appeared particularly unburdened at this moment.
He extended a hand as large as a cattail leaf fan, pressing it down to signal for silence:
"Say no more, my mind is made up!"
After speaking, his gaze turned to Tsugikuni Yoriichi:
"Even if you don't agree, my end is already sealed."
"Entering Hueco Mundo was inherently a near-fatal mission, but it was also something the Eleventh Division had to do."
"Because we are the strongest among the Gotei 13."
"It's ironic, really; as the strongest squad, our casualty rate is also the highest."
"I am the Ninth Kenpachi. Among the previous eight Kenpachi, the one with the shortest tenure only lived for a mere twenty years, not to mention the squad members."
"Those around me will likely find it difficult to return, but we will not surrender; we will continue to stay here."
"Accordingly."
"I hope that after you return, you will report this news to the Captain-Commander. Tell him that although Gojoshibe Kenpachi is dead, his will has been passed down."
"After that, whether you take on the role of Captain of the Eleventh Division or not, it will no longer concern me."
As he spoke, his voice gradually deepened.
"This is also my final request."
"Without my Zanpakuto, my strength is less than three-tenths; even if I were to survive here with your help, it would be an insult to us."
"Also, if you have the chance, I hope you will take them out with you as well."
Gojoshibe Kenpachi pointed to the five squad members beside him and spoke solemnly.
The squad members froze for a second upon hearing this. One of them anxiously said:
"What are you saying, Captain! If we stay, we stay together; if we die, we die together!"
"How could we be the kind of people who abandon their comrades and shamelessly cling to life alone!"
"From the day I joined the Eleventh Division, I knew what my end would be."
"But we have never been afraid, because this is the very combat philosophy of the Eleventh Division!"
"Our squad flower, the 'Sawtooth Herb,' also signifies combat; have you forgotten?"
"I haven't forgotten, but precisely because of that, I cannot let you die with me! Combat does not mean sacrifice!"
Their voices were all very loud.
If this weren't a Vasto Lorde stronghold, just a few sentences of casual conversation would probably attract a large number of Hollows.
This was also what Tsugikuni Yoriichi disliked.
He preferred quiet, but the Eleventh Division was very noisy.
He remained silent.
After some time, the argument within the Eleventh Division gradually ended.
Ultimately, Gojoshibe Kenpachi was defeated by the unwavering conviction of his squad members.
He decided to take his squad members and fight to the death in Hueco Mundo.
Of course, it couldn't be aimless fighting; he decided to visit the Forest of Menos.
It was said that the most Hollows resided there. Dying there would not be in vain for his status as a Captain.
As for his affairs after death, they remained as before; he entrusted them to Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
There were no extensive demands, only that he report his death to the Captain-Commander upon returning.
Because it was a heroic sacrifice, Seireitei would provide some compensation to him and his squad members' relatives.
And so.
Bidding farewell to the squad.
A few of them embarked on their journey anew.
Yoriichi watched them disappear into the vast silver sea, uncharacteristically not trying to stop them.
For Shinigami, at such a critical juncture, dissuading them was tantamount to defiling their will.
It was like someone telling him to lay down his blade and immediately achieve Buddhahood when he was about to slay Kibutsuji Muzan.
If one could easily give up, they would not be called a Shinigami.
He silently exhaled.
Whoosh...
As a gust of wind blew, the group ahead vanished without a trace.
Yoriichi composed himself and set off again. He walked in the opposite direction from the others.
Due to the lack of companions, the surroundings were exceptionally quiet.
However, this also gave Yoriichi ample time for contemplation.
He pondered why Kaneda Takeshi had turned into a Hollow and why he had coincidentally appeared before Rukia.
There must have been an unknown reason behind it, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't find the root cause.
The information he had gathered was still too scarce.
However, Yoriichi believed that as long as he became strong enough, no demons or monsters would be able to approach him or his loved ones.
When he found Uta again, he absolutely could not let her suffer the same fate as Rukia.
Clutching these beliefs, the Zanpakuto at his waist suddenly emitted a noticeable glow.
Yoriichi was startled.
He saw.
Karma of Good and Karma of Evil reappear before him.
Karma of Good's expression was as calm as ever.
Only Karma of Evil showed some change.
He stood on the soft sand, his indifferent eyes slightly narrowed, and his voice complex:
"Yoriichi, even now you still think you can protect Uta?"
"Of course." Yoriichi nodded, expressing only a brief surprise at the appearance of the Zanpakuto spirits.
His voice was calm: "Decades ago, during my battle with my brother, I understood..."
"If I had had the remaining strength to deliver a second blow back then, my brother would never have been able to commit evil for another three hundred years..."
"If I had run faster when Uta was giving birth, she wouldn't have been attacked by a demon at night..."
"Everything is simply because I wasn't strong enough."
"Indeed." Karma of Evil exhaled, quite pleased with this answer.
He had long grown tired of the old Yoriichi, who was prone to emotional impulsiveness.
Because he was too emotional, he was completely indifferent to things like power.
However, after several incidents, he had come to understand that even a leisurely life required strength to support it.
This was also why Yoriichi was able to use Bankai just now.
—Only by gaining the complete recognition of a Zanpakuto and making it submit will Bankai awaken.
As the two spoke, Karma of Good slowly raised his head, his ethereal eyes sweeping forward until they fixed on Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
Knowing that his purpose in becoming stronger was to protect his loved ones, the words he was about to speak caught in his throat.
After a long moment.
—Very well.
He nodded gently.
His heart, too, was filled with relief.