Chapter 164: Leave of Absence
"Who are you planning to release?" Yamamoto asked, his expression unreadable.
Masatsuki Aozaki answered without hesitation. "Mayuri Kurotsuchi."
"The former 12th Division member who researched the Quincy?" A flicker of surprise flashed through Yamamoto's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Very well. I'll report it to the Central 46 Compound."
Masatsuki Aozaki was caught off guard by how readily Yamamoto agreed.
He had expected some resistance—after all, Mayuri Kurotsuchi's actions had stirred quite a bit of controversy at the time.
In truth, Yamamoto had been aware of Mayuri's name since the early days of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, having learned about him from Kirio Hikifune. He had even looked into him extensively.
To Yamamoto, Mayuri being imprisoned for his Quincy research was not a major issue.
But since Seireitei's upper echelon had deemed such research dangerous, his arrest had been a reasonable course of action.
Still, Yamamoto had no intention of refusing his disciple's request.
He understood that, as the future Captain-Commander, Masatsuki Aozaki would need his own forces and loyal subordinates.
Just like the original Gotei 13—after its formation, it answered to no one but him, disregarding even the will of the nobles. It was that absolute control that allowed him to lead the Gotei 13 until now.