Regarding the Menos Grande Expeditionary Force and such, the original work hardly mentioned them, so Toshiro wasn't very clear about it.
"Oh, it's like this..."
Isshin explained to Toshiro what was discussed at the Captains' Meeting.
"I see, that's how it is."
Toshiro understood.
"Yeah, so this Captains' Meeting decided that you should lead the team to support the Menos Grande Expeditionary Force and serve as the commander of the expeditionary force," Isshin Shiba explained.
"Of course, if you don't want to go, you don't have to. The Captain-Commander won't force you," Isshin added.
"Mm, I'll think about it first," Toshiro said thoughtfully.
"Then decide quickly. The Gotei 13 is making preparations now and will depart in three days, so you'd better give a clear answer by tomorrow," Isshin said.
"Oh, right. When the meeting adjourned, Captain Kyoraku asked me to tell you to meet him at the usual place for a drink," Isshin suddenly remembered.
"Shunsui? Got it," Toshiro nodded.
Toshiro had once trained under Yamamoto for a period. Although they weren't formally master and disciple, Toshiro respected Yamamoto as a teacher, and Yamamoto regarded Toshiro as a disciple just like Kyoraku and Ukitake.
Since then, Toshiro's relationship with Kyoraku and Ukitake had grown closer. The three of them were like fellow disciples, often gathering for drinks.
"In that case, I'll take my leave now, Captain. I leave these tasks to you."
Toshiro pushed the thick stack of documents on the desk in front of Isshin.
"Huh?"
Isshin was dumbfounded.
"Don't play dumb with me! You must finish handling these before I return!" Toshiro stared at Isshin with an unfriendly look.
"Ahahaha... Oh, Toshiro, since Captain Kyoraku invited you for a drink, you should hurry over. Don't waste time!"
Saying this, Isshin pushed Toshiro out the door.
"Captain, stop playing dumb! These tasks must be handled today, otherwise it'll be too late-"
Bang!
Before Toshiro could finish, Isshin pushed him out the door and shut it with a bang.
"Hmph! Fine, I won't bother either. If anything goes wrong, don't come looking for me!"
Toshiro hmphed and strode away.
In an elegantly decorated tavern.
"Yo, you're here, Toshiro," Kyoraku greeted him.
Ukitake was also there.
"Yeah, Shunsui, Jushiro."
Toshiro greeted them and sat down.
Kyoraku poured Toshiro a cup of sake but was stopped when he tried to pour one for Ukitake.
"Cough, cough. Sorry, Shunsui, Toshiro. I'm not feeling well today. I'll have tea instead," Ukitake said apologetically.
"If that's the case, no need to force it," Toshiro said indifferently.
It was often like this when the three gathered. If Ukitake wasn't feeling well, he would have tea instead of sake. Therefore, during their gatherings, Ukitake drank tea far more often than sake.
"Come on, let's have a toast first!" Kyoraku raised his cup.
"Cheers!"
The three clinked their cups and drank in one go.
Except Ukitake drank tea.
"Alright, Shunsui. We've had a drink. Now, what did you want to talk about?" Toshiro asked, putting down his cup.
"Mm, about the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force. Captain Shiba should have told you, right?" Kyoraku asked.
"Yeah, said something about me being the commander of the expeditionary force," Toshiro nodded.
"Actually, I recommended you this time. Old man Yama was worried about your safety, so he wasn't keen on sending you. I was the one who persuaded him," Kyoraku said.
"Why?" Toshiro asked, puzzled.
"Haven't your powers been stuck at the peak of Captain-class for a long time? Breaking through the Captain-class limit to reach a higher level isn't easy. And battles, especially life-and-death battles that push you to your limits, make breakthroughs more likely. Otherwise, training step by step, even with your talent, it'd probably take a hundred years to surpass me," Kyoraku said, sounding a bit smug.
Even though Toshiro would eventually surpass him with his talent, at least for now, Toshiro wasn't his match.
Among the three, Toshiro, Kyoraku, and Ukitake, Toshiro had the highest talent, but his strength was currently the weakest.
Kyoraku and Ukitake, as two of the most senior captains, were definitely beyond Captain-class Shinigami, and not weak ones among those beyond Captain-class either.
"Moreover, serving as commander of the expeditionary force and leading the campaign in Hueco Mundo will greatly increase your experience. You're a Captain-Commander candidate, you know. When you succeed to the Captain-Commander's position in the future, it'll make people more convinced," Kyoraku continued.
"Speaking of Captain-Commander candidate, aren't you one too? The one succeeding the Captain-Commander might be you," Toshiro retorted.
"Shunsui, don't you care at all? If I hadn't appeared, you'd be the only Captain-Commander candidate. You'd definitely succeed Genryusai-sensei's position as the new Captain-Commander," Toshiro asked curiously.
If following the original work's development, the one succeeding as Captain-Commander would be Kyoraku.
"You're right. Without you, the Captain-Commander position would definitely be mine. That's exactly why I recommended you as commander of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force. That way, you'll likely die in Hueco Mundo, and then the Captain-Commander position will undoubtedly be mine. Hehehe..."
Kyoraku suddenly chuckled 'ominously'.
"Is that so?"
Toshiro also looked at Kyoraku with a 'cold smile'.
The two just stared at each other, eyes wide.
"Hey, Toshiro, Shunsui, what's wrong with you two?" Ukitake asked anxiously.
"Ahahahahahaha..."
Toshiro and Kyoraku suddenly burst out laughing at the same time.
"Haha, Jushiro, we were just joking earlier. Didn't expect you to actually believe it," Toshiro said, barely holding back his laughter.
"You two..." Ukitake was speechless. He had actually been fooled by Toshiro and Kyoraku.
"Captain-Commander or whatever, it doesn't matter. Anyone can take the role," Toshiro said indifferently.
Toshiro didn't care about the Captain-Commander's position. Becoming a Captain and having some authority was enough for him. After all, Toshiro wasn't an ambitious person.