The Prisoner  

So, Unohana did not meet the Zero Squad's requirements and did not receive their invitation.

"What were you thinking?"

Ailin stretched out his hand, pulling off Tenjirō Kirinji's grip on his wrist. He wasn't in the habit of letting other men hold his hand.

"I'm living well in the Seireitei, why would I want to go to the Soul King's Palace and be a prisoner?"

"Hah? You dare call us Zero Squad members guarding the Soul King prisoners, brat?" Tenjirō flicked his pompadour hairstyle and sneered. "Guarding the Soul King is an immense honor. How dare you call our honor being prisoners?"

"Isn't that what it is?" Ailin did not humor Tenjirō, shrugging his shoulders. "Once you become a Zero Squad member, you can't leave the Soul King's Palace, right? If your activity is restricted only to the Soul King's Palace, what else are you but a prisoner?"

"You brat..."

Tenjirō wanted to refute Ailin but realized that their situation didn't differ much from what Ailin described.

It was just that before being promoted to Zero Squad members, the members were devoted researchers. Otherwise, they couldn't have created things non-existent in Soul Society, becoming Soul Society's "history" itself and gaining recognition from the Soul King's will.

In that case, for them, becoming Zero Squad guards of the Soul King was merely a change to a better research environment.

But for someone like Ailin who loved freedom, joining the Soul King's Palace as a Zero Squad member unable to leave would be a shackle in itself.

After realizing this, Tenjirō understood.

No wonder the Zero Squad's invitations to Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, and Ailin were all rejected.

Perhaps for such people, freedom was more important than honor. Well, one couldn't say that. After all, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto established the Gotei 13 to properly protect the Seireitei as the first line of defense for the Soul King's Palace.

Guarding the Soul King was their honor too.

Nine hundred years ago in the war against the Quincy Empire of Light, it was Genryusai who defeated Yhwach forces.

"Tch."

Unable to refute Ailin, the disgruntled Tenjirō spat, his arms crossed. Then he turned to Kirio Hikifune. "Captain Hikifune, you heard what Captain Ailin said. Do you still want to join the Zero Squad now?"

"Before the creation of the 'King's Key', you can still change your mind. But once the 'King's Key' is created, you can never leave the Soul King's Palace again."

"Hahaha, unlike Captain Ailin, as long as I have a lab, I'm satisfied. Besides, I can feel that I've reached my limit now. If I don't ascend to the Soul King's Palace, this will be my lifetime's achievement."

"It seems we have a new colleague then."

Just called a "prisoner" by Ailin, hearing Kirio's words made Tenjirō feel he had found a kindred spirit.

How could these martial artists understand the allure of exploring the unknown?

"Yo, Head Captain Yamamoto, haven't seen you in so many years and you're still going strong."

Although promoted to the Zero Squad with reiatsu surpassing a Shinigami's limits, Tenjirō still acted like a subordinate before Yamamoto.

No helping it, the old man's strength was too exaggerated. His Bankai's reiatsu exceeded Shinigami limits, on the same level as them. That temperature rivaling the sun's core - one slash would instantly kill anyone it hit.

In the Zero Squad, the strongest melee-type Zanpakutō "Sayafushi" forged by Ōetsu Nimaiya could perhaps cut through Yamamoto's scorching flames and battle him.

But Tenjirō's healing hot springs formed from condensed reiatsu would be useless against that heat, completely countered.

"Well, since we've taken in Captain Hikifune, let's return to the Soul King's Palace quickly. After all, your duty is to guard the Soul King's Palace. In your current state, you're not suited to stay down here long. Alright, guess this may be the last time we meet for a while."

After saying that, Tenjirō brought Kirio into the Tenchuren, closing the door and operating it to soar into the sky towards the Soul King's Palace.

After seeing Kirio off, the captains returned to the 1st Division barracks. Now, thanks to Tenjirō's words, everyone had a deeper understanding of Ailin's strength.

He had reached the level of being invited by the Zero Squad. Though they didn't know how strong one had to be for a Zero Squad invitation, if they never received one, they knew they still fell short of Ailin.

Currently, in their perception, besides the Head Captain Yamamoto, Captain Ailin was the strongest in the Seireitei.

"Alright, now that Captain Hikifune of the 12th Division has joined the Zero Squad, the 12th Division Captain position is vacant. Does anyone have a recommendation for the new Captain?" Hearing the Head Captain's question, the group of captains fell silent.

In the Gotei 13, several divisions were quite special. The 1st Division commanded the other twelve, so its Captain not only needed outstanding strength but a broad perspective and the recognition of the other captains.

After Yamamoto's death, the only one everyone could accept as Head Captain was Shunsui Kyōraku of the 8th Division.

The 2nd Division was the stealth force, its captaincy controlled by the Shihōin clan.

After Yoruichi Shihōin defection, with the next clan heir Yushiro Shihōin not grown up yet, the interim 2nd Division Captain was Soi Fon, the head of a lesser Fon noble branch family.

The 6th Division was the noble division commanded by the Kuchiki clan, one of the Five Noble Houses. Even Ailin only became its Captain after marrying into the Kuchiki family.

The 12th Division originated as Seireitei's research institute before being incorporated into the Gotei 13 by Yamamoto. Its captaincy required not just strength but research abilities to awe the division's scholars.

Other than these few divisions, the other captaincies had no special requirements beyond strength.

For other divisions, they might recommend the 11th Division's Zaraki or Kiganjo who had achieved Bankai. But the 12th Division... Don't expect a bunch of illiterates to know any research experts.

No, there was someone who knew.

Ailin glanced at Yoruichi Shihōin, who seemed to sense his gaze, nodded at Ailin, and then stepped forward to address everyone.

"If no one has a suitable candidate, I can recommend someone."

"Who is it?"

"Our 2nd Division's Third Seat Officer, Kisuke Urahara."

"Third Seat?"

The captains present were puzzled. The 12th Division might be the research division, but the basic strength requirement for captaincy still applied.

Did that mean the 2nd Division's lieutenant and third seat, like the 11th's, had also achieved Bankai?

"Haha, don't look down on Urahara just because he's a third seat,"Yoruichi Shihōin said with crossed arms. "Besides being our third seat, Urahara is also the captain of the Detention Unit. It's just that Urahara himself keeps a low profile, so you're not too familiar with him."

"Oh, I see."

Hearing that Kisuke Urahara was the Detention Unit captain, they became more amenable to him becoming the 12th Division Captain.

Those familiar with the 2nd Division knew the Detention Unit oversaw the imprisoned in the "Nest of Maggots".

Since many prisoners committed relatively minor crimes not deserving banishment, exile or execution with sentences under a century, they only had their Zanpakutō confiscated without sealing their reiatsu.

To be the Detention Unit Captain required superb hand-to-hand combat skills to defeat all the empowered prisoners in the Nest alone. Some captains might not even be capable of that.

Like Love Aikawa and Rōjūrō Otoribashi - much of their strength came from their Zanpakutō; without them, their power dropped by 70% at least.

Kensei Muguruma maintained an excellent hand-to-hand level since his Bankai's melee style best utilized his Zanpakutō's power. His lieutenant Kuna Mashiro could attain vice-captaincy through hand-to-hand alone, showing Kensei's own skills were formidable.

Plus his recent losses motivating him to train even harder these past decades, one could say Kensei was the hardest working captain , even among Byakuya who was outclassed by him. A century's arduous training had considerably strengthened Kensei's power.

"Urahara achieved his Zanpakutō's Bankai over a century ago, already at the captain level," Yoruichi Shihōin said. "Many of the practical tools developed by the 12th Division recently were his inventions too. I think if Urahara became the 12th Division Captain, he would quickly earn everyone's recognition."

Hearing Yoruichi Shihōin words, before the other captains could speak, Ailin voiced his support. "Head Captain, if Urahara becomes the new 12th Division Captain, I support it as well. As you all know, decades ago when my wife Haruko's body had some difficult issues, it was thanks to Third Seat Urahara's help that she recovered her health."