At this moment, only Ichimaru Gin and Aizen remained in the main hall of palace.
Gin, wearing his ever-present sly grin, glanced at the calm and composed Aizen before speaking in a half-jesting tone.
"Aizen-taicho, you really are cruel. You knew from the start that Szayelaporro was hiding something, but you chose not to expose him right away—just to watch him squirm."
Aizen looked at Gin leisurely, an enigmatic glimmer in his eyes.
"Understanding the heart is difficult. Even people themselves often fail to grasp the depths of their own desires," Aizen mused. "The only thing I can do is present them with a reflection—a reality that belongs solely to them."
At the beginning, his illusions were powerful but not yet perfect. But instead of settling for imperfection, he refined and fine-tuned them repeatedly, tailoring different versions of reality to each individual.
In the end, whether it was the world within a person's heart or the world they perceived with their eyes, both ultimately fell under his control.
"Of course, Aizen-taicho's Kyōka Suigetsu is flawless—without weakness," Gin remarked, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But are we really going to allow my former classmate to continue growing unchecked? Defeating three Espadas in a single battle… his strength is getting a bit terrifying."
"Uehara Shiroha's growth is indeed beyond expectations." Aizen's mind drifted to their first encounter.
Back then, he had already sensed something special about the boy. However, he hadn't expected him to be this extraordinary—to have reached a level that was now nearly on par with his own.
Gin's eyes flashed with a subtle, unreadable glint. "That may be so, but Aizen-taicho seems rather pleased about it."
"Can you tell?" Aizen's expression remained unreadable, giving nothing away.
Ichimaru Gin chuckled, his grin as foxlike as ever. "Being considered a rival by Aizen-taicho… Shiroha sure is unfortunate."
His words suggested that Aizen's intrigue stemmed from his amusement in toying with a promising prey.
However, Gin understood better than anyone that Aizen was far more complex than that.
Even he had only ever caught glimpses of the iceberg that was Aizen's true nature.
"Am I excited by my prey?" Aizen murmured, his gaze shifting towards the direction Uehara Shiroha had left, his expression unreadable.
After returning to the Court Army base, Uehara Shiroha was met with countless admiring gazes.
The moment he stepped back into camp, the once unruly soldiers erupted in cheers.
Having eliminated powerful enemies one after another, he had cemented his status among them—not just as a leader, but as an idol.
These men, once the most notorious rogues of the 80th District, had become his most loyal followers.
In the past, they had only believed in strength—only in blades and fists. But now, their faith lay solely in Uehara Shiroha.
One command from him, and they would charge through fire and flood without hesitation.
To them, serving under a warrior like Uehara Shiroha was an honor worth dying for.
These men were either incredibly simple—or incredibly stubborn.
Before anyone realized it, the Court Army had become fiercely united, their loyalty absolute.
In their eyes, there was no longer a Captain-Commander. No longer the Gotei 13.
There was only their leader—Uehara Shiroha.
To them, he was a god.
Upon returning to the Soul Society, Uehara Shiroha was once again celebrated as a hero.
The Department of Research and Development had previously detected powerful fluctuations of spiritual pressure emanating from Hueco Mundo—on the level of a Vasto Lorde.
Not just one, but three.
And one among them had exceeded the strength of a standard Vasto Lorde.
Panic spread through the Soul Society like wildfire. The high-ranking Shinigami recalled the devastating invasion of the Vasto Lordes more than two centuries ago.
Back then, it had taken Kenpachi Azashiro's might to repel the onslaught, yet the Gotei 13 had suffered enormous losses.
But just as fear took hold… the disturbances in Hueco Mundo ceased.
The overwhelming spiritual pressure vanished.
And the only thing that had changed?
Uehara Shiroha had arrived.
The Soul Society breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that, once again, the one who had secured their safety was none other than Uehara Shiroha.
This wasn't the first time the Gotei 13 had owed him a debt.
Ever since he became the Court Army's Commander, both the Soul Society and the Human World had enjoyed an unprecedented period of peace.
For that, every Shinigami was grateful.
His prestige had long since surpassed that of the average Captain.
And now, within the heart of Seireitei, the Court Army was being referred to by a new, unofficial name—
The Fourteenth Division.
All of this was because of one man.
An invincible leader.
The following evening, Kyōraku Shunsui arranged a grand banquet in Uehara Shiroha's honor, as was becoming tradition.
The chosen venue? None other than the most prestigious establishment in Hanamachi—the Flower Street.
Inside a lavish, emerald-adorned chamber, a group of beautiful women encircled Uehara Shiroha like stars orbiting the moon.
Everywhere he turned, there was elegance, laughter, and the intoxicating scent of expensive perfume.
Soft hands stirred his drink. Delicate fingers added fragrance to his cup.
Silken garments rustled, and the faint sound of laughter filled the air.
The evening was one of indulgence.
And, after a few more moments of such luxury, Uehara Shiroha felt utterly at ease.
Among the women, several were geishas trained since childhood, their expertise evident as they offered massages, their skillful hands easing every ounce of tension from his muscles.
They were professionals, after all. Their techniques were flawless.
After enjoying the moment, Uehara Shiroha finally waved a hand, dismissing them with a casual, "You can go now."
He had sensed Kyōraku Shunsui's spiritual pressure approaching.
A short while later, the Captain of the 8th Division entered, carrying a bottle of fine sake.
Without preamble, the two men sat down and began drinking.
Uehara Shiroha studied Kyōraku Shunsui, who was leisurely sipping his drink beside him, and smirked.
"Brother Kyōraku, you're being quite generous tonight," he remarked. "This is the most extravagant establishment in the entire Flower Street. You must've spent a fortune on this. Your personal savings must be nearly drained by now, no?"
The room's decor was nothing short of opulent. Even the highest-ranked Captains of the Gotei 13 would rarely, if ever, see such grandeur in their lifetimes.
The women who had attended to him weren't just beautiful; they were rare, cultivated gems—flawless in their grace and skill.
And naturally, the price for such an experience was astronomical.
Even among nobles, only the wealthiest could afford it.
This time, Kyōraku Shunsui had indeed spent a fortune.
However, before Uehara Shiroha could make another remark about it, Kyōraku Shunsui chuckled and raised his cup.
"This time, someone else is footing the bill," he said with a smile. "Just now, the old man approved a large amount of military funds for your Court Army. He specifically mentioned that we should express our gratitude properly, so all the expenses tonight will be covered by the First Division."
Kyōraku Shunsui took a sip of his sake, his tone turning slightly playful.
"Even towards his own division, the old man has never been this generous."
Uehara Shiroha tapped the rim of his cup, his gaze thoughtful. He understood what Yamamoto was doing.
The Court Army was no longer a small-scale operation; it had grown into a formidable force.
This money was a form of compensation.
After all, Uehara Shiroha had built the Court Army from nothing—without any support, without any backing.
No one had believed in him back then.
No one had helped him.
Yet now, the Court Army had developed into an indispensable force for the Soul Society, assisting the Gotei 13 in countless ways.
It was only natural for the Gotei 13 to show their appreciation.
But more than that, this was a move with deeper implications.
At this point, Uehara Shiroha's strength and influence had surpassed that of many Captains. The Court Army was no longer just a ragtag group—it had become a power of its own.
And when dealing with someone of his caliber, mere money wasn't enough.
For the high-ranking controllers of Seireitei, currency was just a number.
What truly mattered was favors and alliances.
Strong men at their level sought respect and acknowledgment, not material wealth.
Uehara Shiroha picked up his glass, took a slow sip, and said flatly, "Is the old man trying to recruit the Court Army?"
The rapid rise of the Court Army was something that couldn't be ignored. Even an outsider like Tōsen could recognize its growing momentum.
The future prospects of the Court Army far surpassed those of the Kidō Corps or the Department of Research and Development.
In the past, the Gotei 13 had absorbed the Onmitsukidō into their ranks.
And now, after witnessing the capabilities of the Court Army, they might be considering doing the same.
Of course, Uehara Shiroha knew that old man Yamamoto was not so short-sighted.
He wasn't just after the Court Army.
He was after its leader.
The old man Yamamoto didn't just want to absorb the organization—he wanted Uehara Shiroha himself.
He had probably long since considered eliminating the Court Army as an independent force and drawing Uehara Shiroha completely into the Gotei 13.
Kyōraku Shunsui chuckled, clapping his hands. "Hahaha! I guess I can't hide anything from you after all."
He leaned back, refilling his cup with a leisurely motion.
"Actually, when you first formed the Court Army, the old man thought of it as nothing more than an act of defiance," he admitted. "He believed it wouldn't last—that sooner or later, you'd come to your senses and return to the Gotei 13."
Kyōraku took a sip before continuing.
"But, well… things didn't exactly go as planned."
The Court Army had thrived—beyond anyone's expectations.
And now, the old man was beginning to feel uneasy.
Yamamoto had originally allowed Uehara Shiroha to operate freely because he saw him as a rare talent—one worth cultivating.
He thought that, sooner or later, Uehara Shiroha would return to the fold.
But before anyone realized it, Uehara Shiroha and the Court Army had become an independent powerhouse.
Now, it wasn't about optimism anymore.
It was about necessity.
The old man wasn't just watching over Uehara Shiroha—he was starting to depend on him.
Uehara Shiroha set his cup down and said calmly, "With the old man's prestige, there's no need for such roundabout tactics. Besides, I'm still the Third Seat of the First Division. I'm still a member of the Gotei 13."
His voice carried no arrogance—only clarity.
He understood what Yamamoto and Kyōraku Shunsui were thinking.
This was a veiled attempt to secure his loyalty.
It seemed that they were already considering him as a future Captain-Commander.
Before, this was just a faint idea, a possibility.
But now?
Now, it was becoming a real plan.
Because at this point, his strength was getting out of their control.
And those nobles? They would never feel at ease with someone like him.
Kyōraku Shunsui lazily swirled the sake in his gourd before taking another sip.
"Honestly," he said, "staying in the Court Army is probably better for you."
He glanced at Uehara Shiroha meaningfully.
"The Gotei 13 is full of restrictions. Too many rules. And those damn nobles… they're a headache."
Kyōraku sighed.
He knew Uehara Shiroha well.
No one liked having a chain around their neck.
At his level, it was far better to lead on your own terms than to answer to people who didn't understand true power.
This gesture from the Gotei 13 wasn't just about recruitment.
It was also an acknowledgment of his status.
If not for the rigid laws of the Soul Society, someone with Uehara Shiroha's strength and accomplishments would have already been placed above the Central 46.
It was only because of these outdated traditions that his position hadn't been solidified yet.
Which was why Kyōraku Shunsui was growing increasingly discontent with the Tsunayashiro family and the Central 46.
Uehara Shiroha smirked and raised his cup slightly. "We'll see when the time comes."
He knew that Kyōraku Shunsui was on his side.
The nobles? They were just using him.
Yamamoto's trust and respect for him were genuine—but it was all based on the assumption that he wouldn't cross certain lines.
As long as he didn't break the Soul Society's rules, as long as he stayed within their system, they would support him.
But the moment he stepped out of line?
They wouldn't hesitate to turn against him.
He understood these people's thoughts and ambitions all too well.
But he didn't care.
He would play along.
He would use their system, just as they were trying to use him.
The Tsunayashiro family? Their future was already sealed.
Just as they had once destroyed others for their own gain, they would eventually meet the same fate.
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