As time passed, the Gotei 13 remained steady. The new recruits settled into their divisions, training and adjusting to the rhythms of squad life. For a while, things were smooth. No major disturbances, no hollow outbreaks, no sudden changes.
But the stillness did not last.
The first shocking news arrived like a bolt of lightning across Seireitei: Captain Kirio Hikifune of Squad 12 had been promoted to the Royal Guard, the legendary Zero Division. It was a moment of pride, but also of loss. Her sudden departure left a noticeable gap in the Gotei 13, both in leadership and spirit.
Then came the second blow—Captain Hiroshi Tanaka of Squad 10 had passed away. He was one of the oldest serving captains, second only to Head Captain Genryūsai Yamamoto in age and seniority. His death was quiet, due to illness, but his absence was thunderous.
With both Hikifune gone and Tanaka deceased, two captain seats now stood empty. And such a void in the command structure could not be left for long.
To address this matter, a Captain's Meeting was summoned at the First Division Headquarters.
Yamamoto stood at the center of the room, his tall frame as unshakable as ever, his cane tapping once against the floor before he spoke.
"I have summoned you all here to address an important matter," he said, voice deep and commanding. "As you know, there are now two vacant captain positions—Squad 10 and Squad 12. It is imperative that these positions be filled."
He glanced slowly across the room, his stern gaze locking briefly with each captain.
"You are hereby ordered to evaluate and suggest suitable candidates from among the seated officers. You have one year to present recommendations for official captaincy trials. Choose wisely."
With that, the meeting was dismissed. The captains departed in silence, each lost in thought.
---
Later – Squad 8 Barracks, Captain's Office
In the warm glow of the late afternoon, Captain Shunsui Kyōraku lounged in his chair, sake cup in hand, his straw hat tilted back slightly. The sound of wind rustling the cherry blossoms outside filled the room.
Across from him stood Lieutenant Mohit, arms crossed behind his back, blindfold neatly tied across his eyes as always, posture calm and composed.
Shunsui broke the silence.
"Hey, Mohit... you know there are two empty captain positions now, right?"
Mohit turned his head slightly. "Yes, Captain. It was the focus of today's meeting."
Shunsui chuckled. "How about it? I've been thinking... I might suggest your name."
"According to me, you meet all the standards."
Mohit remained silent for a moment before replying calmly.
"Thanks for the compliment, Captain. But don't you think a meeting between all the captains should happen first—an open discussion—before personal nominations are made?"
He added, "There are several good candidates others might consider besides me."
Shunsui raised an eyebrow. "Hmm. The suggestion of a meeting is good. But who are these 'other candidates' you're referring to?"
Mohit answered plainly, "There's Isshin Shiba. He's currently serving as lieutenant of Squad 10. His records show he joined Squad 10 just five years after I joined the Gotei 13. So we've been in the organization for nearly the same amount of time."
Shunsui leaned forward, interested now.
"Isshin, huh? That guy's got a wild spirit, but I've heard he's sharp."
Mohit nodded slightly. "He's a strong fighter. Popular among his squad. His combat performance is consistent, and he has the loyalty of his subordinates."
Shunsui smiled. "You're too humble, Mohit. But I get it—you're looking at the bigger picture. That's why I respect you."
Mohit gave a faint nod, not replying further.
Outside, the wind stirred once more. And with two captain seats open, the quiet currents of Seireitei had begun to shift. Mohit stood near the window of his quarters, the distant sounds of Seireitei faint beyond the paper walls. The news of vacant captain seats echoed in his mind, but one truth weighed heavier than any ambition:
He hadn't yet achieved Bankai.
And that—more than reputation or seniority—would bar him from true consideration.
He thought back to the last time he communed with his Zanpakutō spirit. Their conversations were rare and cryptic, but one phrase remained etched in his memory:
"Keep me close to your heart… if you wish to awaken what lies within."
He had meditated on those words countless times, trying to decode the message. But there had been no progress—no new voice, no vision, no change.
Until today.
His fingers curled slightly as a thought struck him.
"Yes… this is it. I have to go to the same place where Ichigo was trained by Yoruichi."
The idea was sudden, but it resonated with clarity. If Ichigo had awakened his true powers under intense pressure, perhaps the same environment could help Mohit take the next step.
He left Squad 8 headquarters quietly, without alerting Shunsui or any of the seated officers. Moving alone and unnoticed, he made his way to the edge of Seireitei—toward the sacred Sōkyoku Hill.
---
Sōkyoku Hill – Midnight
The wind howled faintly as Mohit arrived, the moon casting long shadows over the ancient execution grounds. The spiritual density of the place weighed on his skin like cold water. He walked in slow, deliberate steps across the stone paths, looking for signs of hidden entrances or remnants of spiritual energy.
But there was nothing.
Frustration flickered within him. He had scoured the visible parts of the hill, and still he found no trace of Yoruichi's training grounds.
He stood still, then reached behind him—fingers closing around the hilt of his Zanpakutō. Honour the arcane (Shikai Command)
At once, his sword dissolved into black threads, coalescing into a swarm of a hundred spider-like creatures, each one glinting with metallic sheen and silent intelligence. With a subtle wave of his hand, he gave the mental order:
"Spread. Cover the entire hill. Search every crevice. Every hidden path."
The spiders scattered instantly, vanishing into shadows, stone, and soil—faster than the eye could follow. Mohit drew in a sharp breath as his perception expanded suddenly, vision exploding into a hundred perspectives at once.
The burden of information was staggering—especially for someone blind.
His brain struggled to sort through it all, like a thousand overlapping voices whispering in different directions. Sweat formed on his brow. He staggered once, then stabilized himself.
"I can't stay here... not while I'm split between too many senses."
He recalled the spiders silently and returned to his squad room.
---
Squad 8 – Mohit's Quarters
Mohit shut the sliding door behind him and sat down in a meditative position at the center of his room. His sword lay in front of him, unmoving—but his spiders remained active, still feeding visual input directly to his mind.
Hours passed.
Then a day.
Then two.
He barely moved, eyes closed, mind immersed in the synchronized perception of his spiders' search. The exertion pushed him to the edge of exhaustion—mental and spiritual.
But then…
He saw it.
A man in black shinigami outfit with a bkack hat cane to the hill between two rocks that was
Kisuke Urahara.
Mohit's heart thumped hard.
The sight was brief. Urahara had appeared for only a moment, near the base of the execution scaffold, then vanished behind an outcropping of stone that hadn't been visible from above.
Without wasting a second, Mohit rose and flash-stepped out of the room.
---
Back at Sōkyoku Hill
He arrived quickly, body moving with focused precision despite the strain. The moon was still high, and the wind still cold.
He moved straight toward the spot where Urahara had appeared.
And as he neared the rock formation, something shifted—a thin veil of illusion faded, revealing a narrow path downward… one that had been hidden from all senses unless seen from the exact right angle… or through the eyes of a hundred spiders.
Mohit stepped forward without hesitation.
"Let's see what you're hiding, Urahara."