"I apologize, Teacher. My actions were rash."
Shunsui Kyoraku immediately apologized. This time, he had truly overlooked the severity of the problem.
Although this Yellow Turban incident originated in the Rukongai, with the nobles involved with such great fanfare, it was impossible for the 'black hand' from before to ignore the sudden rise of Suzuki Makoto's force.
And if they were to join forces and repeat, or even expand, the tragedy of decades ago at a critical moment, then the entire top-tier combat power of the Gotei 13 might very well be completely wiped out!
"The reason I wanted to recruit Suzuki Makoto and his companion is also because the Gotei 13 truly has no more talent reserves. Over at the Kido Corps, the positions of Grand Kido Chief and Vice Kido Chief remain vacant to this day. Although the Captain positions for the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th Divisions have been filled, among all the current Lieutenants of the other divisions, there is no one left who has achieved Bankai."
The old man sighed wearily.
The current Gotei 13 remained proud and independent, but this pride was brittle and fragile. If another Captain were to meet with an accident now, he would have no choice but to let his own Lieutenant, Chojiro Sasakibe, step up to fill the gap. And if two were to fall...
...Then they would simply have a gaping hole in their ranks.
"However, this condition of Suzuki Makoto's is simply... simply too excessive. If we move the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy solely to recruit two Captain-level combatants, we would be burying a hidden danger for the future division of the Soul Society. If the Seireitei and the Rukongai are split into two parts from this point on, then how are we supposed to continue maintaining the Gotei 13?"
Shunsui Kyoraku also realized where the problem lay. Agreeing to Suzuki Makoto's condition would basically be drinking poison to quench one's thirst—trading temporary stability now for an inevitable split in the future. Yet, not agreeing to Suzuki Makoto's condition meant that if the Gotei 13 encountered another upheaval in the future, the Yellow Turbans, eyeing them covetously from the outside, would likely not give up on pushing their sphere of influence further toward the inner districts.
"We can agree to a part of it."
"A part?"
"The Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy cannot be moved; this is indisputable. However, we can allow him to establish a branch campus."
"A branch campus?"
"Yes. The Principal of the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy is His Excellency the Captain-Commander, so the Academy cannot be moved. However, just because the Academy cannot be moved does not mean that teaching materials and the like cannot be gifted. In recent years, quite a few ordinary textbooks have circulated in the outside world anyway. Therefore, we are willing to help you establish a branch of the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy in District 41. It will be built completely in imitation of the one inside the Seireitei; not a single part will be missing."
Shunsui Kyoraku took out a blueprint and spread it out on the table.
"I heard the Yellow Turbans are currently reconstructing the water source and building a new residential area. You should be able to understand these drawings. Dormitories, classrooms, Kido training grounds, and other special facilities—they are all exactly the same. If you do not believe it, you can go inside the Seireitei to visit. If there are any issues, you can propose modifications immediately."
"In addition to this, a complete copy of all Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy teaching materials will be handed over to you. At the same time, a batch of squad members will retire from the Gotei 13 and come as support teachers. I can guarantee that these squad members are all from the Rukongai, and they are definitely not spies."
Suzuki Makoto did not take Shunsui Kyoraku's promises seriously. As an intelligence chief, not a single complete truth would ever come out of his mouth. He simply focused on examining the blueprints, then nodded slightly.
"Acceptable. I accept this condition."
Shunsui Kyoraku breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't expected Suzuki Makoto to be so reasonable.
"However, since your conditions came at a discount, the same applies to my side—I will join the Gotei 13, but Jeanne d'Arc will not."
Suzuki Makoto had never intended to bring Black Jeanne into the Seireitei with him. The relationship between the two of them was not just that of a Master and a Zanpakuto, but also the bond between a Master and a Servant. Therefore, they could contact each other anytime, anywhere. In this way, even if he stayed inside the Seireitei, he could still supervise the operations of the Yellow Turbans.
This condition was proposed right on the bottom line. Although Shunsui Kyoraku felt uncomfortable about it, he still tacitly agreed. It could be considered a step back for both sides.
With the conditions settled, it was time for the implementation phase. Shunsui Kyoraku had to go back to prepare the personnel and teaching materials, while Suzuki Makoto had to start preparing for the construction of the new campus.
"Lord Suzuki, are you really going to leave?"
"This is the condition from the Shinigami side. Only with me as a hostage are they willing to send those teachers over. It is quite fair, isn't it? As long as you do not make a move against them, I will be very safe in the Seireitei."
Suzuki Makoto would naturally find a reasonable explanation. After all, his goal was for the Yellow Turbans to operate more soundly—to be able to function even without him—rather than using it as a stepping stone for himself to enter the Seireitei.
The soldiers of the Yellow Turban Army were all filled with righteous indignation, but Suzuki Makoto had warned them beforehand that the power of the Gotei 13 was not something the current Yellow Turbans could contend with. They had to endure first and avoid the enemy's sharp edge for the time being.
"To be able to reach a peace agreement with them this time is already a stroke of heavenly luck. Not to mention getting them to take an extra step back and establish a branch of the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy in the Rukongai. Although it is a branch campus, neither the teaching materials nor the facilities are inferior, and there will even be teachers coming to instruct you—you must study hard and convert the power of the Shinigami into your own power, understood?!"
"Yes!"
The Yellow Turban troops roared in response.
"From now on, Jeanne d'Arc will take my place and continue to command the entire operation of the Yellow Turbans. She has a way to contact me. If you have any emergency situations, you can contact me through her."
Black Jeanne stepped forward with an expressionless face. Naturally, she did not want to stay in the Rukongai, but when Suzuki Makoto asked her if she truly had the heart to watch the organization the two of them had built single-handedly collapse due to a lack of supervision, she compromised.
She had watched Suzuki Makoto build the Yellow Turbans of today, boiling down his heart's blood drop by drop. Although she had helped, the young girl could distinguish that while fighting was easy, construction was hard. Since Suzuki Makoto had put it this way, she naturally could not refuse anymore.
Suzuki Makoto, on the other hand, was quite happy. Originally, he was struggling with how to slowly peel himself away from the management system of the Yellow Turbans. He hadn't expected the Seireitei to send him such a grand gift. Now, as long as the construction of the Inspection Team was completed and the enrollment rate of the branch campus was maintained, then in the future, after he left, the Yellow Turbans could continue to maintain their development within the Rukongai.
_____
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