"Kenpachi's injury was caused by Gosuke Shigure!"
Kyoraku Shunsui delivered the revelation without hesitation.
"Before Kenpachi Kuruyashiki of Mole City surrendered, there was an incident involving the disappearance of numerous souls in the Rukongai. As the intelligence division, my 8th squad was tasked with investigating the cause. When our suspicions increasingly pointed to Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, I brought the matter before the Captain-Commander. Coincidentally, just before I arrived, there had been a massive spike in spiritual energy detected in the Zaraki District, located in the 80th district of Northern Rukongai. A battle had taken place there."
"One of the participants was Kenpachi Kuruyashiki!"
Kyoraku Shunsui calmly laid out the sequence of events.
Though he began mid-incident, every captain listened attentively, captivated by the magnitude of the implications.
The fact that Gosuke Shigure, vice-captain of Squad 11, had defeated a current Kenpachi was staggering.
And this wasn't rumor or hearsay—it was substantiated fact.
To reinforce Kyoraku's account, Hikifune Kirio, the 12th Division Captain, followed up. "According to spiritual monitoring conducted by the Seireitei Research and Development Institute, which is under the jurisdiction of my 12th Division, there was indeed a spike in captain-level Reiatsu in the Zaraki District on that exact day—consistent with what Captain Kyoraku described."
"The Research Institute promptly reported the matter to the First Division," she added.
The other captains had no rebuttal. The corroborating report from Squad 12 validated the truth of Kyoraku's testimony.
Kyoraku resumed: "After receiving orders from the Captain-Commander, I rushed to the Zaraki District. Upon arrival, I found Kenpachi Kuruyashiki gravely wounded on the ground, and standing beside him... was Gosuke Shigure."
"All evidence, including Reiatsu traces and battlefield residue, confirmed that the individual who fought Kenpachi was none other than Gosuke Shigure."
"It was this defeat that ultimately compelled Kenpachi Kuruyashiki to surrender himself."
Kyoraku Shunsui had now fully explained the incident.
The captains sat in stunned silence. Only now were they beginning to piece together the full scope of the situation.
Kuruyashiki's rebellion hadn't occurred in a vacuum—it had been methodical and deliberate. Kyoraku's clues helped expose the undercurrents behind it, but the surprising part was that Kenpachi had surrendered voluntarily after his defeat.
Unohana Retsu's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. She remembered the moment Kyoraku and Kenpachi arrived at the 4th Division for emergency treatment, accompanied by a young man. Now it all made sense.
'So it was him…' she mused.
At the time, she had asked Kyoraku who was responsible for Kenpachi's injuries but had received no answer. Now, the mystery was resolved.
The fact that Gosuke Shigure—merely a vice-captain—had defeated Kenpachi Kuruyashiki was extraordinary. But this was Soul Society. Rank didn't always equal strength. Shinigami growth was not linear. There were various means of gaining power rapidly.
The most significant of those was the mastery of Bankai.
If Gosuke Shigure had achieved Bankai, it wouldn't be entirely unthinkable that he could defeat a Kenpachi, even one as fierce as Kuruyashiki.
After everyone had digested the bombshell, Shihouin Kongchan, Captain of the 2nd Division, spoke up. "If Gosuke Shigure truly defeated Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, then by all definitions, he qualifies to be the new Kenpachi."
"According to the succession tradition, all that's required is for one to defeat the current Kenpachi in battle."
"He's already done that."
"Furthermore, he has long served as the vice-captain of the 11th Division and has an intimate understanding of its combat doctrine and members. Frankly, there is no more suitable candidate for this post in the current Gotei 13."
The rest of the captains nodded in agreement.
Of course, their opinion was just that—a recommendation. The authority to appoint a new Kenpachi or any squad captain ultimately lay with Captain-Commander Yamamoto and Central 46, Soul Society's judiciary body.
Since this meeting was being held in the First Division headquarters—not in Central 46—final authority rested with Yamamoto Genryūsai, founder and commander of the Gotei 13.
He had been quietly listening as the captains deliberated, observing with his usual steely gaze.
Now, he finally spoke.
"If the information presented by Captain Kyoraku is accurate, and Gosuke Shigure did indeed defeat Kuruyashiki, then he has the qualifications to inherit the title of Kenpachi."
"However, there remains a critical issue."
He then elaborated on the official rules concerning Kenpachi succession. "While it is true that one must defeat the reigning Kenpachi to claim the title, the duel must be conducted in the presence of two hundred Squad 11 members, and must also be witnessed by at least one captain-class Shinigami."
"When Kuruyashiki challenged the previous Kenpachi, Kaname Takuyashiki, the battle was observed by numerous 4th and 11th Division members, and the captain-level witness was myself."
"But in this instance, there were no formal witnesses present during the duel between Gosuke Shigure and Kuruyashiki."
Kyoraku had stated that by the time he arrived, the battle had already concluded. Therefore, no one could verify what had transpired between the two combatants.
The other captains now understood the crux of the issue.
The presence of witnesses during a Kenpachi duel was not a formality. It ensured transparency and safeguarded against dishonorable tactics—ambushes, poison, deception.
If an unworthy schemer were to claim the title of Kenpachi and become a squad captain, it would disgrace the legacy of the Gotei 13.
But Yamamoto, ever pragmatic, had a solution.
He declared, "Thus, I have decided: Gosuke Shigure will undergo an official Captain Proficiency Examination to assess his strength and determine his eligibility to lead Squad 11."