C13 You Helped Me to Cheat

"A hundred years ago?" Kyoraku Shunsui's face showed a flicker of concern.

Events from a century past are a forbidden subject within the Court of Pure Souls.

That day's betrayal had severely crippled the strength of the Gotei 13, cutting it down by more than half.

Shinji Hirako, the former captain of the Fifth Division, the vice-captains of the Twelfth and Eighth Divisions, the leaders of the Ghost Dao, among others—each was a formidable force within the Gotei 13.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, the Gotei 13's founding commander, could scarcely come to terms with the overnight loss of such vital members.

He had persistently pursued Urahara Kisuke, the alleged mastermind behind the betrayal.

"Old man, don't tell me you're using Kaien Shiba's hollowfication as a pretext to test this kid out as bait?" Kyoraku Shunsui's gaze sharpened as he quickly pieced together the underlying motives.

Right from the start, he had been skeptical about Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's unusual decision to let a descendant of the fallen Shiba Clan, who had greatly erred, take the Shinigami exam.

Yet, he had not anticipated Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's strategic foresight.

"Twenty years ago, Shiba Taku vanished without a trace. After two successive incidents, now a Shiba Taku emerges, prompting me to take a gamble," Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni stated, leaning on his cane.

"Regrettably, compared to the previous two, this Shiba Taku, aside from his innate talent for unarmed combat, possesses merely a trifling three bamboo spiritual pressure. It's somewhat disappointing."

"Allowing him to take the Shinigami exam has already raised eyebrows in the Central 24th Room. If I intervene again to make him a Shinigami and plant him as bait within the Thirteenth Division, it might give away the game."

As the head of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni certainly had the authority to stand up to the Central 24th Room.

But this time, his actions were all in the service of drawing out the shadowy figure behind the events of a hundred years prior.

If he kept showing up, he'd only tip off the enemy.

"Old man Yamamoto, you didn't call me here to vouch for this kid and get him into the Gotei 13 like Ukitake did, did you?" Kyoraku Shunsui said with a wry smile.

"Old man, this is a tough one. What kind of excuse could I possibly use to justify an exception? You're not seriously asking me to help him cheat, are you?"

No sooner had he spoken than Kyoraku Shunsui caught sight of the two usually stoic elders cracking smiles more ghastly than death itself. He realized in an instant he had walked right into his own trap.

"Captain Kyoraku, you truly are a student Captain Yamamoto holds in high regard, coming up with a solution so swiftly. I've heard you're the chief examiner for today's assessment. All you need to do is exercise your authority judiciously, ease up on the testing criteria, and discreetly pull a few strings. Everything else will fall into place," said Sasakibe Chojiro, standing behind Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, with a grin.

As the vice-captain, there were certain things that Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, in his position as captain, couldn't say himself, so the role of the scapegoat fell to him.

"Old man Yamamoto, you're really putting me on the spot," Kyoraku Shunsui said with a resigned smile.

But then, seeing Sasakibe Chojiro produce a bottle of clearly aged, fine wine, Kyoraku Shunsui eagerly accepted it.

"It looks like you're dead set on this, old man. Bringing out a millennium-old vintage, I see I have no choice but to comply."

"Don't worry, leave it to me. No, let Little Ise handle it. She'll ensure success. Just wait for the good news."

Watching Kyoraku Shunsui appraise the wine in his hands, Sasakibe Chojiro sighed helplessly. Both he and Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni were well aware that their disciple, who often resorted to flashy tactics to mask his brilliance, was actually playing the fool.

Otherwise, after Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni met his end at the hands of Yhwach in the original story, they wouldn't have considered Kyoraku Shunsui as his successor for the captain's position.

With Kyoraku Shunsui's savvy, he was well aware that Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni would be able to track him down.

He had no choice but to cheat.

Since cheating was inevitable, he might as well do it smoothly and seize the advantage first.

"Captain Kyoraku, were you just mentioning my name? Surely you haven't agreed to something unspeakable over that bottle of wine in your hands?" Nanao Ise approached leisurely from outside the hall.

Upon noticing the wine in Kyoraku Shunsui's grasp, she adjusted her glasses and inquired.

"Cough, cough. Nanao, what are you implying? Could my integrity really be compromised by a mere bottle of wine? Unlike that youngster, I have a refined palate and don't resort to violence when I drink," Kyoraku Shunsui said, coughing awkwardly with flushed cheeks, attempting to mask the little secret that had been uncovered.

"Considering the time, the Shinoreijutsuin's new student selection exam is about to begin. You, as the deputy examiner, have plenty to prepare. We should make our way there promptly."

"We wouldn't want to be outdone by the onlookers arriving before us."

Nanao Ise, of course, understood that there had been a clandestine agreement between Kyoraku Shunsui and Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni.

Yet, she chose not to delve into matters concerning the head captain.

To her, Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni was an immovable fixture, the venerable founder of the Shinoreijutsuin.

His millennia-old rules were ironclad, unbreakable by anyone.

For this reason, Nanao Ise was content to let the men's little secret slide, as long as it didn't interfere with the upcoming exam.

"Captain Kyoraku, I'm surprised you remember your role as the chief examiner. Your sudden disappearance before the Shinoreijutsuin's assessments was quite the headache for me as the vice-captain and deputy examiner."

Nanao Ise readjusted her glasses, resuming her cool, secretary-like demeanor.

"This time, we have a number of captains attending the ceremony. Among them are Captain Ichimaru Gin of the Third Division, Captain Uzhi Lie of the Fourth Division, and Captain Kuchiki of the Sixth Division. As for the others, I've heard they'll be making an appearance, likely to scout for fresh talent to bolster their ranks."

"Kuchiki's going too? He must be pretty invested in the kid's situation. Had I known he'd be attending the ceremony, I wouldn't have said yes to Old Man Yamamoto," Kyoraku Shunsui sighed with a sense of resignation.

Catching Nanao Ise's inquisitive look, he quickly clammed up, then burst into laughter, saying, "Nanao, forget I said anything. We're short on time. Let's get a move on. It would be quite the faux pas for the head examiner to arrive late."