In District 41 of the Rukongai, the General of Heaven Banner of the Yellow Turbans hung high in every residential area. Whether willing or unwilling, at least after the nobles actively withdrew, not many people here wanted to resist the Yellow Turbans' management.
Just one street away, Shinigami dressed in Shihakusho were patrolling vigilantly, strictly screening everyone attempting to cross this dividing line.
At first, there were many people wanting to enter District 40. Faced with inspections, many put on the airs of nobles. However, soon after the Captain-Commander's orders were issued and the 11th Division entered District 40 to handle security, these troublesome matters decreased significantly.
After those guys quieted down, people started migrating from inside District 40 toward the outer districts. Some were doing it for their relatives, some yearned for the life under the Yellow Turbans, and some were simply running away.
The screening on the Yellow Turbans' side was much stricter. No one could gain any privileges holding a laughable pass. They even formally handed over a portion of criminals to the Shinigami side, making the murderous brutes of the 11th Division unsure whether to point their blades at the Yellow Turban Army or at those criminals.
"I heard their leader is also from the Zaraki District."
A Shinigami looked at those patrolling men wearing yellow turbans, curiosity on his face.
"Yeah, did you forget what the Seated Officer said? If war breaks out, no one is allowed to get ahead of the boss; he wants to fight that Suzuki Makoto personally."
Another Shinigami looked at their appearance, his face showing a hint of longing.
They were all Shinigami who came from the Rukongai, not from noble backgrounds. They all knew what life was like in the Rukongai. Even in the most peaceful District 1, ordinary people only lived a life comparable to that under the Yellow Turbans, let alone in other places.
If such an organization had appeared back then, perhaps they might not have even enrolled in the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy, but would have continued to stay in the Rukongai instead, right?
"Will a fight really break out when the time comes?"
"I don't know, but I hope not. We aren't nobles, so why try so hard to risk our lives for them?"
Both of their voices lowered significantly. Although the 11th Division was a combat division, fighting Hollows was one thing, but going to suppress the Rukongai was another matter entirely.
Meanwhile, a similar conversation was happening behind Kenpachi Zaraki.
"Captain, are you really going to fight to the death with that Suzuki Makoto?"
"Nonsense. Battle only has meaning when you stake everything on it. If you still have to worry about staying alive, then you can't enjoy that kind of battle at all!"
Kenpachi Zaraki stopped walking and turned around.
"Since when did you get so wishy-washy?"
"No, before we followed you to the Seireitei, we were also from the Zaraki District. I know what kind of place that was. Hearing that the Yellow Turbans have governed it to be like the first ten districts, I kind of want to go see it."
Madarame Ikkaku explained hastily.
"It's not just you; Yumichika should want to go back and look too, right?"
Ayasegawa Yumichika, suddenly brought into the conversation, paused for a moment but eventually nodded.
"Yes. Although I don't have any feelings like nostalgia for that place, after hearing about the Yellow Turbans, I do indeed want to go back and take a look."
"That's right! Ken-chan, the Kusajishi District must have gotten better too, right? Let's go back and look together!"
Kusajishi Yachiru, lying on Kenpachi Zaraki's shoulder, also got excited. She tugged at his hair, looking completely eager.
"Not now. Wait until the Captain-Commander's orders come down."
"Eh? Since when did you listen to the old man like that?"
"Tch. Before coming here, that glasses-wearing bookworm specifically told me that if I leave District 40, both sides might very likely start a war. In that case, the higher-ups will order the killing of everyone wearing a yellow turban—if it were fighting against the strong, I wouldn't care how many I kill, but I have no interest in killing those kinds of guys!"
Kenpachi Zaraki looked at those guys wearing yellow turbans but having hardly any spiritual power on them, and curled his lips.
"Was it Captain Aizen? If he said it, then it's very likely true."
Ayasegawa's expression was somewhat grave. The top three seats of the entire division were battle maniacs with nothing but chopping on their minds, so most of the 11th Division's external negotiations were handled by him, the 5th Seat. Therefore, he also had a fair amount of goodwill towards Sosuke Aizen, the Captain of the 5th Division who received unanimous praise.
"Yeah, back in the Zaraki District, we couldn't be bothered to kill that kind of person. We can't possibly start attacking guys like that after becoming Shinigami."
Madarame Ikkaku meant the same thing. He had been worried about this point earlier, which was why he felt slightly uneasy.
"Then, Ken-chan, are you still going to fight that person?"
"Of course! A guy who can unite the entire Zaraki District must be interesting to fight! I can't miss an opponent like that!"
Battle was everything to Kenpachi Zaraki. As for considering other things, he didn't have the energy for that. At worst, after fighting Suzuki Makoto, he would go back to sleep and heal his wounds. Anyway, he would only swing his blade at the strong.
Suddenly, his expression shifted, and he immediately turned his head to look at the opposite side.
A young girl in black armor was looking at them with a cold sneer.
"Finally, some decent guys came to patrol, huh."
Kenpachi Zaraki grinned. A guy like this was an opponent worth fighting.
"Yeah, a guy like you is indeed qualified to be kindling."
Black Jeanne also had a face full of cold sneers, and the cross-shaped greatsword at her waist began to ignite.
She had received a report that high-ranking Shinigami were patrolling the border, so she came over to monitor.
Although Suzuki Makoto had warned her not to actively provoke them, if the other side attacked first, that was another matter.
The two just stared at each other with swords drawn and bows bent, the atmosphere tense to the extreme for a moment.
Just staring.
Staring.
Even Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika behind him noticed the clue. Although the two of them had fierce eyes, their feet were honestly motionless.
"It seems the other side doesn't want to actively instigate a war either."
Ayasegawa lowered his voice.
"Nonsense. We have thirteen Captains. Even if the Yellow Turbans have two Captain-level guys, it's impossible for them to win against the Seireitei turning out in full force—but the Captain is the strange one. Can he actually restrain himself?"
"Lieutenant Yachiru is yanking Captain Zaraki's hair to stop him from walking forward—oh, I forgot, you don't have hair, so you don't know how much that hurts."
"You bastard! Are you trying to pick a fight?!"
"Let's fight then! In the Rukongai, it reminds me of the time before we followed the Captain. We two never stopped fighting back then either, right?"
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