One Piece: The Living Devil

Chapter 760: You’ve Forgotten Where You Came From!

The Seireitei was turbulent beneath the surface, yet on the outside it still maintained a fragile balance of order.

But under that calm, the undercurrents had already surged like a raging tide.

It was like a pot of water about to boil. Even if no bubbles had formed yet, anyone could feel the stifling heat pressing down.

This restlessness spreading from the top down instead created a strange kind of quiet within the Gotei 13.

The friction that used to come from differences in ideals and personality clashes, even the near irreconcilable hostility between Kurosaki Ichigo and Ichimaru Gin, had quietly disappeared during this time.

In contrast, several divisions had begun carrying out almost frantic internal inspections and purges.

Kurosaki Ichigo, Yoruichi, and the other captains who had been turned might not have the resolve to decisively eliminate dissenters, but that didn't mean they would allow those with opposing views to remain planted in their territory.

Those loyal to Rosse, or simply those who disapproved of their recent actions, were removed from core positions in large numbers. Some were transferred into other divisions, while others were outright reassigned to the most remote outposts in the Rukongai.

This kind of obvious rejection reaction was something even a fool could see had a problem.

Half a month later, Tenth Division barracks. The routine captain's meeting was held once again.

At the long table, thirteen captains and two Zero Division observers were gathered.

The air felt so heavy it was almost solid.

First Division Captain Sasakibe Chojiro sat upright. The face that usually carried a hint of butler-like humility now looked stern, even cold, with a distance that kept others at arm's length.

Sixth Division Captain Kuchiki Byakuya lowered his eyes. His usually proud face was clouded by gloom, making it impossible to read what lay beneath.

Seventh Division Captain Komamura Sajin leaned forward slightly, as if he wanted to say something. But after glancing around at the atmosphere, it turned into a helpless sigh, and he chose silence.

Eighth Division Acting Captain Shihoin Yoruichi lay sprawled across the table without any regard for image, lazily yawning as if she had no interest in the meeting at all.

As for Thirteenth Division Captain Kurosaki Ichigo, this kid might as well have "something's wrong with me" written across his forehead.

He couldn't sit still. His eyes drifted from time to time toward Rosse and Aizen at the head seat, the doubt and struggle in them almost spilling over.

Even though Rukia behind him quickly reminded him to cover it up, that clumsy act looked like a child's trick in Rosse's eyes.

All of these abnormalities, Rosse naturally saw clearly.

Not just Kurosaki Ichigo. The distancing attitude of several other captains was just as obvious.

If it were any other ruler, they would have slammed the table or started purging people in secret long ago.

But Rosse simply sat there quietly, that unreadable smile still resting at the corner of his lips.

What did it matter? After all, this was their choice.

As long as he ensured that he remained a fair and just Captain-Commander who worked for the Soul Society, that was enough.

He opened the document in his hands and began presiding over the meeting in a steady, official tone, as if he hadn't noticed the strange atmosphere at all.

"This month, the overall situation of each division has remained stable. The First Division has achieved good results in the academy's teaching reforms and deserves commendation. The Seventh Division continues to maintain high efficiency in maintaining order in the Rukongai…"

Rosse read through each item one by one. Praise where it was deserved, criticism where it was needed. His tone was flawlessly fair.

Even for those divisions that were clearly drifting away from him, as long as there were no mistakes in their work, he didn't hold back on praise.

Even though within this month, their personnel changes had been almost absurdly frequent.

In the First, Sixth, Eighth, and Thirteenth Divisions, nearly half of the core members had been replaced. Those who had originally leaned toward him were pushed aside in large numbers, replaced by loyalists of each captain or by old noble factions.

These figures were right there in the report in Rosse's hand, yet he seemed not to see them at all, not even mentioning them once.

He was like a truly, absolutely fair Captain-Commander, concerned only with rules and results.

As for where people's loyalties lay, as for the storm that was brewing, it seemed to have nothing to do with him.

Human nature was ever-changing. That was precisely the most exciting part of this final act.

If there wasn't even this bit of turbulence, wouldn't the ending be too dull?

"That's all."

Rosse closed the file and swept his gentle gaze across the room, "That concludes the main agenda of this monthly meeting. Does anyone have anything to add?"

Silence.

A dead silence.

Unohana Retsu still sat gently as ever. Aizen smiled faintly and adjusted his glasses. Zaraki Kenpachi yawned in boredom. Kurotsuchi Mayuri remained absorbed in his data pad.

Aside from these captains who were either on his side or single-minded, the rest cast surprised looks.

Even captains like Ichimaru Gin and Tosen Kaname, who knew part of the inside story yet still stood with Rosse, couldn't help showing a hint of confusion.

This was way too indulgent.

The problems in those divisions were practically written on their faces. Anyone with eyes could see they were stirring trouble, yet Rosse was really ignoring it?

"What's this? It seems everyone has quite a lot they want to say?", Rosse still smiled.

"Captain-Commander!"

Finally, Second Division Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro couldn't hold back.

The young genius stood up abruptly, pointing at the restless orange-haired figure across from him, his voice filled with suppressed anger, "The Thirteenth Division has persuaded or transferred nearly two thousand members this month under various pretexts! Two thousand! Doesn't a personnel shift of this scale require an explanation? This is clearly a purge of dissenters!"

"Hah?"

Already full of pent-up frustration with nowhere to vent it, Kurosaki Ichigo snapped instantly. He slammed the table and shot to his feet, glaring fiercely at Hitsugaya, "I'm dealing with my own division members. What the hell does that have to do with you? That's my division's business!"

"Those people didn't do anything wrong! They worked diligently, and many of them were even credited for maintaining order after the last war!", Hitsugaya shouted back without backing down, "You're just messing things up! If you've got a problem, say it out loud! What kind of ability is it to keep pulling these shady tricks behind the scenes?"

Hitsugaya slapped the table, his face full of displeasure.

He didn't fully understand Rosse's identity, but having come from the Tenth Division and having been recommended by Rosse to become the Second Division captain, he had always considered himself part of Rosse's direct line.

Though he had some sense that Rosse had darker sides, Matsumoto Rangiku had once asked if he wanted to know, but he refused.

Some things, if he heard them, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to handle it.

But no matter what, as long as Rosse was acting for the good of the Soul Society, he would never become like Kurosaki Ichigo and forget where he came from.

That's right. In his eyes, what Ichigo was doing was pure ingratitude.

That position of Thirteenth Division captain had been recommended by Rosse in the face of opposition. If he didn't want the job anymore, he could get lost. Don't squat there doing nothing while turning a good division into a mess.

"Who are you calling shady?"

Veins bulged on Ichigo's forehead as he grabbed his Zanpakuto, "You wanna fight? Then come on! I've been itching to beat you up for a while!"

Having recently learned the truth and still being forced to suppress his anger according to the plan, he was already close to losing it.

Now that someone had come right up to him, he didn't mind throwing down first.

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