Bleach: No cheat codes, he joined Aizen's side.

Chapter 199, Section 197: The Not-So-Smooth Appointment as General Agent
Two weeks later, in the Fourth Division barracks, the current Third Seat, Kotetsu Isane, received a message from their Fourth Division Captain, Unohana Retsu.

"Sister Yongyin, what does the captain want with you?"

A member of the Fourth Division, who was receiving instruction in Kido from Kotetsu Isane, asked Kotetsu Isane a question.

"I don't know. The captain just asked me to go to the captain's rest room. I'm sorry, Hanatarou, you'll have to practice on your own for now."

Kotetsu Isane gave the newcomer to the Fourth Division a very apologetic look.

In fact, as the current third seat of the Fourth Division, Kotetsu Isane didn't need to lower herself so much. However, the newcomer in front of her, named Hanatarou, had the surname Yamada and an older brother named Yamada Seinosuke, who was the current vice-captain of their Fourth Division.

Therefore, Kotetsu Isane always put some effort into training Yamada Hanatarou.

"It's okay, Yongyin-jie, you just go ahead, I'm fine!"

Seeing Kotetsu Isane's attitude, Yamada Hanataro immediately waved his hand sheepishly and said...

Soon, Kotetsu Isane arrived at the captain's rest room and saw her captain, Unohana Retsu.

"Isane, if I remember correctly, you usually help Seinosuke with the affairs of the Fourth Division, right?"

Unohana Retsu sat at the table, looking at Kotetsu Isane with a smile and asking.

"Yes, Captain, but I asked Vice-Captain Yamada for it myself!"

Kotetsu Isane was still unaware of the captain's purpose in calling her over, so her answer left some room for interpretation.

She was worried that the captain was coming to interrogate her because of the vice-captain Yamada's recent neglect of his duties.

Although Vice-Captain Yamada is not very popular within the team, as the third seat, Kotetsu Isane would not do anything to kick someone when they are down.

However, Kotetsu Isane's worries were completely unnecessary. If Unohana Retsu cared about such things, Yamada Seinosuke would not have remained the vice-captain until now.

"I remember you were a member of Xiuyi's Day Moon Class. Xiuyi had a very high opinion of your level of skill."

Retsu Unohana continued.

"Shuichi!" Kotetsu Isane was almost speechless for a moment. This was probably the first time she had ever heard the captain address his former vice-captain, now the Great Sword Hunter, in such a private setting. However, in the entire Soul Society, in Kotetsu Isane's memory, there seemed to be only one Shinigami with "Shuichi" in their name.
"However, Lord Xiuyi believes that my performance in all other courses, except for the Returning to the Dao, is far from satisfactory, and I still have a lot to learn!"

Kotetsu Isane said modestly.

But this is also true.

"It's alright. Our Fourth Division's tradition for selecting vice-captains is to prioritize their comprehension level. Right now, within the entire Fourth Division, you, Yuune, probably have the highest comprehension level. So, Yuune, do you have any thoughts about becoming a vice-captain?"

"Huh? The vice-captain? But it's Vice-Captain Yamada..."

Kotetsu Isane was caught off guard by Unohana Retsu's words. What vice-captain? She wasn't mentally prepared at all!

And he was to replace the vice-captain Yamada?
Da baa baa!

Think of that Xiuyi!

As a former member of the Fourth Division who had witnessed firsthand the love-hate relationship between Higashino Shuichi and Yamada Seinosuke, Kotetsu Isane knew very well what the position of vice-captain meant to Yamada Seinosuke.

Moreover, when did their Fourth Division develop such a tradition of judging status solely by the level of their return to the top?

Wasn't that a reason that Vice-Captain Yamada made up specifically to remove Hideichi from his position as vice-captain?

"You mean Seinosuke? He's not the vice-captain of our Fourth Division anymore, Isane~"

Unohana Retsu smiled and looked at Kotetsu Isane.

"what?!"

Well, Kotetsu Isane found that her mouth seemed to have no chance of closing again, and the shocking news just kept coming one after another.

She vaguely remembered that she hadn't heard of any major events happening in Soul Society recently, and Hueco Mundo seemed to be peaceful as well. The only major event was that her captain had been taken to Hueco Mundo and fought by that Lord Shuichi a few days ago, and this matter was only known to some captains in Soul Society and a few officers of their Fourth Division.

It seems like none of these cases had the chance to result in Vice Captain Yamada's death.

(Yamada Seinosuke: Are you being polite?)

"Don't be surprised, Isane. Right now, Seinosuke should be at the Shinigami Institute on Ryuo Avenue, attending the ceremony for taking over as the head of Shinigami Institute."

Unohana Retsu turned her gaze in another direction.

The perspective shifts to Higashino Shuichi, who, as the chief swordsman of the Sword Hunting Clan directly under the nobility, naturally had to be present to support Yamada Seinosuke's inauguration.

Furthermore, no members of the Gotei 13 were involved in the security of the entire ceremony; instead, it was left to the Sword Hunters.

Although Higashino Shuichi felt this was somewhat absurd, since their Sword Hunting Clan currently only had three members besides himself: Kisaragi Shusuke, Matsumoto Rangiku, and Nagasawa Satomi.

This isn't a question of whether security can be guaranteed, but rather that having only three security personnel standing in such a large ceremony venue looks somewhat comical.

However, Tsunayoshiro Kanbara insisted on this, saying that this was an important moment to showcase the abilities and strength of the Blade Hunters, and they absolutely could not allow other Shinigami to steal the spotlight from them.

Higashino Shuichi wanted to laugh when he heard this, but he held it in.

If Tsunayoshiro Kanbara really thought that way, then the Sword Hunters wouldn't only have three members now.

A few nights ago, Higashino Shuichi witnessed Tsunayoshiro Kamihara assigning tasks to the nobles who were dependent on the Tsunayoshiro family.

Because of the spiritual barrier, Higashino Shuichi didn't know what the mission was, but just by looking at the entourage attending Yamada Seinosuke's inauguration ceremony today, Higashino Shuichi knew that it was definitely not simple.

Because it was just an inauguration ceremony for the general agent of the Shinigami Institute, almost all the captains and vice-captains of the Gotei 13 were invited. Only four captains did not attend: Gin Ichimaru, captain of the 3rd Division; Mayuri Kurotsuchi, captain of the 12th Division; Jushiro Ukitake, captain of the 13th Division; and Retsu Unohana, captain of the 4th Division. The other captains and vice-captains were all present.

Their lineup is so impressive that they could easily sweep through the entire Hueco Mundo.

Correspondingly, this is also the time when the entire Gotei 13's control and responsiveness to Soul Society are at their weakest.

Higashino Shuichi glanced at Aizen Sousuke, who was having a lively conversation with Shiba Kaien in the distance. Aizen seemed to sense something and looked up, meeting Higashino Shuichi's gaze.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, a meaningful glint in them.

To be honest, Higashino Shuichi felt that if he were Aizen, he probably wouldn't be able to resist doing something sneaky at a time like this.

However, judging from Aizen's expression, he didn't seem to be planning anything.
Wait, when has Aizen ever looked at me like that in such a public setting?

If one had to put it into words, this look made Higashino Shuichi feel like he was dealing with a completely different person. Coincidentally, Ichimaru Gin was unable to attend the ceremony because he was going to Hueco Mundo to help the expedition team with reconstruction and technical support.

Shouldn't it be.
Higashino Shuichi thought it was very likely.

However, didn't Aizen just say that we shouldn't cause any big trouble in Soul Society recently?
What does he want to do?
Higashino Shuichi felt a little itchy.

Unfortunately, he didn't have a mirage, and he couldn't escape.

"I heard the murderer who killed those nobles last time has been found. He's a notorious villain from the end of Rukongai?" Sitting in his seat, watching the former head of the group give a passionate speech on stage, Shiba Kukaku casually walked over to Higashino Shuichi's side, grabbed the pitiful Yujima Ouko like a chick from the seat to Higashino Shuichi's right, and then plopped down on it.

"Well, I've executed that idiot who tried to get my attention this way in order to join the Sword Hunters and gain privileges."

In the weeks that followed, no similar incidents occurred, which confirms this finding.

Higashino glanced at Yujima Oush, who was looking pitiful with tears in her eyes and seemed about to complain to him, and gave her a helpless look in response.

"What a pity, I wonder what that guy was thinking!"

"Shiba Kukaku said."

"Hmm, just say what you want to say, Sora. Do we need to be so polite between us?"

Higashino Hideichi glanced at Shiba Kukaku, whose gaze wasn't even on him, and immediately saw through the latter's pretense.

Having already spent some time in contact and communicating, Higashino Shuichi knew very well that Shiba Kukaku was a straightforward person who always liked to make direct eye contact when speaking. The fact that Shiba Kukaku was afraid to make eye contact with him must mean something was not simple.

Shiba Kukaku, whose thoughts had been exposed by Higashino Shuichi, gave an awkward yet polite smile and put her arm around Higashino Shuichi's shoulder.

"Oh dear, I knew I couldn't hide it from you. You guessed it at a glance!"
"Can you do me a favor?"

Feeling the intense, soft pressure on his right arm, Higashino subconsciously shifted his arm, allowing it to sink into the valley.

"What's the deal?"

"Could you let my younger brother, Shiba Ganju, get into your Daylight Class too?"

Shiba Kukaku seemed completely oblivious to Higashino Shuichi's little trick, and leaned even closer.

“Shiba Ganju? I remember, wasn’t he interested in something else?”

He seems to prefer helping ordinary civilians in Rukongai.

Becoming the Grim Reaper is not necessarily a good thing for him.

"And how did you even think of putting him in my Day and Moon Class?"

Higashino Shuichi thought about it and realized that Shiba Kukaku was probably the first nobleman to actively send someone to him.

Well, not counting Kyoraku Shunsui, Ise Nanao was someone Kyoraku Shunsui deliberately threw in to act as a communication channel between him and himself.

"Because you're really amazing, don't tell me you didn't know that?"

Suddenly, upon seeing the somewhat puzzled expression on Higashino Shuichi's face, Shiba Kukaku slyly began to keep him in suspense.

"what do you know?"

Higashino Shuichi frowned.

"Oh~ it seems you really don't know. Then I won't say anything. But I can reveal a little bit of information to you. Recently, one of the Shinigami in your Day Moon Class has secretly mastered Bankai. My older brother, Kaien, saw it with his own eyes!"

Shiba Kukaku said mysteriously.

After listening, Higashino Shuichi narrowed his eyes.

Have you mastered Bankai?
Currently, his Day Moon Squad only has a few members, and there aren't many who can master Bankai right now. Besides Yushima Osh, whom Higashino Shuichi is very familiar with, and considering the information that Shiba Kaien witnessed firsthand, Higashino Shuichi has basically guessed who it is.

"Ikkaku Madarame, is that right?"

Higashino Shuichi slowly uttered a name.

Now it was Shiba Kukaku's turn to be surprised.

"This is so boring!"

How did you guess it so quickly?!

Higashino Shuichi smiled slightly, "Actually, it's very simple. Among my students, only a few have spiritual pressure that has barely reached the captain level. But if we're talking about who is most likely to master Bankai under such a low level, only Madarame Ikkaku, who is either fighting or on his way to fight every day, is a battle maniac who can do it."

Besides, among this guy's sparring partners, Kenpachi Zaraki and I have taught him quite a lesson.

"It's boring, it's still boring!"
So, are you still going to take in my younger brother or not?

It's not good to keep letting him wander around Rukongai all the time!

Shiba Kukaku finally let go of Higashino Shuichi's shoulder, puffed out her cheeks, and said as if she were a little angry.

"Actually, I have another, even better solution. Would you like to hear it?"

Seeing how worried Shiba Kukaku was about her younger brother, Higashino Shuichi thought for a moment and decided to have Shiba Kukaku send Shiba Ganju to the 10th Division. After all, the current captain of the 10th Division was Shiba Isshin.

Moreover, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the 10th Division will be extremely busy for a long time to come.

After all, creating a substitute for the Spirit King is a simple process in theory, but not easy in practice. It will cost countless innocent lives.

However, just as Seinosuke Yamada was about to take over the position of the former general manager and deliver his inaugural address, a little girl stumbled into the ceremony.

Her long clothes trailed on the ground, her sleeves covered her face, and she giggled.

In an instant, all the eyes of death on the scene turned to the girl.

There was doubt, and there was surprise.

Because almost all the Shinigami captains realized that this little girl was neither a Shinigami nor a commoner from Rukongai, but a materialized Zanpakuto.

Countless spikes suddenly flew out from all directions of the venue.

"Eighty One of the Binding Dao, Duan Kong!"

With a wave of his hand, Higashino Hideaki created black petals behind Shiba Kukaku, shielding her from the sudden spikes.

As for himself, with a single swing of his sword, not a single spike could get within a meter of him.

At the same time, all the captains and vice-captains in the arena used their own methods to block the attack.

Only the vice-captain of the Ninth Division, Shiya, seemed somewhat embarrassed, because he was surprised to find that the Zanpakuto that had suddenly barged into the venue seemed to be his own Zanpakuto!

"This seems interesting."

Looking at the helpless vice-captain of the Ninth Division, the image of a man appeared in Higashino Shuichi's mind.

(End of this chapter)