Captain Nomination  

Thinking of that man, everyone could not help but sigh softly.

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's strength lied in the power of his Zanpakutō. His Bankai could devour everything within a radius of several lin except for Kuruyashiki Kenpachi himself in an instant. Kuruyashiki had also received an invitation from the Zero Division before, but he rejected it.

In the battle with Sōya Azashiro, if he had used Bankai, the outcome would at least have been mutual destruction for both parties.

However, Kuruyashiki did not wish for his subordinates who loved and respected him to be buried along with him just because of his own selfishness, so he apologized to Sōya Azashiro.

Kuruyashiki also told Sōya Azashiro that the title "Kenpachi" was the title for the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society. In a Kenpachi's challenge, one must go all out, but because he did not want to implicate his subordinates, he went against the challenge tradition of "Kenpachi" by not letting Sōya Azashiro see his Bankai, and asked for Sōya Azashiro's forgiveness.

Judging from how Sōya Azashiro did not receive an invitation from the Zero Division, in the eyes of the Zero Division members, Sōya Azashiro was inferior to Kuruyashiki Kenpachi.

And the 11th Division Vice Captain Gosuke that Shunsui Kyōraku just mentioned was Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's nephew. After his death, Gosuke was entrusted to Sōya Kenpachi by Kuruyashiki.

However, because the difference between Gosuke's strength and Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's strength was too great, he felt that he could not live up to the Kuruyashiki name, so he just called himself "Gosuke".

In Seireitei, there were three ways to become a "Captain".

First, passing the captain's exam with the witness of three or more captains, including the Commander-General.

Second, being recommended by six or more captains and obtaining recognition from another six captains.

Third, defeating the current captain with the witness of over two hundred division members.

The so-called "captain's exam" was to test whether one had the strength to serve as a captain. The simplest exam was to display one's "Bankai".

If one did not wish to display their "Bankai", they could also choose to battle the witnessing captains to obtain the captains' recognition.

Among them, only the second method could allow someone without captain-level strength to become a captain.

Clearly, Shunsui Kyōraku's current proposal to have the 11th Division Vice Captain Gosuke become the ninth generation Kenpachi was through this method.

"Very good. Now the 11th Division captain candidate, Vice Captain Gosuke, already has the recommendation of Captain Kyōraku of the 9th Division and Captain Ukitake of the 13th Division."

"Still lacking four more captains' recommendations..." 

Hearing the Commander's words, the captains below instantly understood in their hearts. It seemed that Commander-General Yamamoto also intended to have this Shinigami called Gosuke become the new 11th Division Captain.

"Alright, since there is no other candidate, I'll also recommend this Vice Captain Gosuke."

The 12th Division Captain, Kirio Hikifune, chimed in with a grin.

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi ah, that man obtained the qualification he wanted, yet ultimately chose to give up. However, her research now was nearing the finishing stage.

Just wait until that thing was invented, she would definitely receive an invitation from the Zero Division! She would help that man one last time before her departure.

"That's three."

"Um, since Captain Kyōraku, Captain Ukitake, and Captain Hikifune all think it's fine, I'll also recommend him."

The 10th Division Captain, Isshin Shiba, also crossed his arms and threw a vote to the 11th Division Vice Captain.

"Four."

Seeing Isshin Shiba also give a recommendation, the various captains hesitated a little.

A captain was not only a symbol of status, but also a symbol of strength. To let a weakling ascend the captain's seat would no doubt be an insult to the word "captain".

They could reluctantly allow it at the very last moment, but to go against their own will to recommend a weakling to power...

"Captains of the 13 Divisions, the 11th Division is a combat division. The title of Kenpachi is also the title for the strongest Shinigami."

Just as the captains remained silent, a gentle female voice sounded. It was the 4th Division Captain, Retsu Unohana.

Instantly, all the captains looked towards Captain Unohana.

The newly promoted captains only thought Captain Unohana was the healing captain of the 4th Division with unparalleled accomplishments in Kido.

The older generation of captains instead knew that Captain Unohana's strength was possibly only below Commander-General Yamamoto.

After all, this person was the first generation Sword Eight when the 13 Divisions were established. The title for the strongest Shinigami "Kenpachi" was killed by her.

Commander-General Yamamoto might not care about anyone's attitude, but in the selection of the 11th Division Captain, he still had to consider Captain Unohana's attitude.

Whoever thought Captain Unohana's strength had declined over the years due to her focus on Kido, that person was truly an idiot.

With Captain Unohana's current mastery of Kido, if she were to also employ her former frenzied battle style, she would definitely become even more terrifying.

"Commander just said earlier that Rukongai has been very unstable lately. The number of Hollows entering Rukongai has increased several fold compared to the past.

Based on this situation, even if a Gillian or greater Adjuchas-class Hollow appears in Soul Society, it would not be anything strange.

How great a blow would it be to the Shinigamis' faith if the 'strongest Shinigami' did not die in battle against the next Kenpachi, but was instead killed by a Hollow?"

Hearing Captain Unohana's slowly uttered words, the few captains who had just recommended the 11th Division Vice Captain Gosuke to be 11th Division Captain instantly went silent.

Yes, if it was during peaceful times, they recommending Vice Captain Gosuke to be 11th Division Captain due to Kuruyashiki Kenpachi would not be a big problem.

But according to the current situation in Rukongai, the possibility of encountering powerful Hollows was very high.

As 11th Division Captain, one had to lead by example. With Gosuke's strength as Vice Captain, he truly could not shoulder the duties of the 11th Division.

"Then what does Captain Unohana think?"

Commander-General Yamamoto's squinted eyes opened a sliver, "As Captain Unohana just said, currently in Rukongai it is very likely for Gillian or greater Adjuchas-class Hollows to appear. Therefore, the position of 11th Division Captain cannot be left vacant. I wonder if Captain Unohana has someone in mind?"

"Commander, I have a candidate here, I just don't know if a felon who was exiled from Seireitei for violating your edict still has the chance to return to Seireitei and take on a captain's position in the 13 Divisions."

Boom!

When Captain Unohana finished speaking, the spiritual pressure on the 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki who stood in ranks violently erupted, concentric circles of invisible shockwaves spread outward from Byakuya Kuchiki as the center, blowing all the captains' shihakushō around him to flutter noisily.

Since these were all captains around him, they merely glanced at Byakuya Kuchiki's erupting spiritual pressure without suffering any effects.

However, the vice-captains waiting in the adjacent room were not so fortunate. Under the terrifying spiritual pressure of Captain-level Byakuya Kuchiki, they were so frightened that they couldn't even stand firmly, with only a few vice-captains like Soifon, Lisa Yadōmaru and Sōsuke Aizen still remaining calm.

"What happened? Did something happen? Captain Kuchiki actually erupted with spiritual pressure in the meeting room?" Ginjirō Shirogane hurriedly righted his askew glasses, shocked in his heart.

From his interactions with Captain Kuchiki these days, Ginjirō also discovered that while Captain Kuchiki's facial expressions seemed a bit colder, he actually still had human sentiments in his heart.

The many people in the 6th Division dissatisfied with Captain Ailin did not receive any punishment at all. Even the tasks assigned were based on everyone's individual strength without Captain Kuchiki making things difficult for anyone due to their vilification of the Kuchiki Family.

Yet this very Captain Kuchiki actually erupted with spiritual pressure in the captains' meeting room. Just what were they discussing in there?

Within the meeting room, the captains very quickly guessed who the person Captain Unohana recommended from her words along with Byakuya Kuchiki's eruption of spiritual pressure.

A felon who violated the Commander's edict and was exiled from Seireitei. Then add Byakuya Kuchiki's current attitude... It was that person, right? The previous 6th Division Captain before last, Ailin!

Indeed, from the strength Ailin displayed, none of the captains present dared to boast that their strength exceeded Ailin's.

Having him take on the title of ninth generation Kenpachi to truly live up to the name of the "strongest" would be highly appropriate.

"Don't waste your efforts. That man will not come to Seireitei to be a captain." Yet before everyone even started voting, Byakuya Kuchiki already spoke up.

"Oh? Why does Captain Kuchiki believe Ailin will not come to Seireitei to be a captain? Could the Kuchiki Family have tried before?"

Hearing Byakuya Kuchiki's words, Captain Unohana smiled and narrowed her eyes to ask back.

"Do as you wish. If the next topic is this, then you all discuss it yourselves. I abstain." After speaking, Byakuya Kuchiki also ignored Commander-General Yamamoto's suddenly darkened expression as he directly walked out from the ranks and left the meeting room.

All the way, Byakuya Kuchiki's expression was indifferent, seemingly thinking of something unknown. However, he knew these people were definitely wasting their efforts.

If that man was really so easy to return to Seireitei and become a captain, his grandfather would not have had to bend the rules and attempt to force his aunt into suicide by exploiting Uncle Ailin's feelings for his aunt in order to keep Uncle Ailin tied to the Kuchiki Family.

After walking some distance, Byakuya Kuchiki then realized that he had been so immersed in his own thoughts when he passed by the waiting room that he actually forgot to call Ginjirō Shirogane to leave together.

His footsteps slowed slightly. Byakuya Kuchiki looked back at the distance from here to the waiting room. Then, Byakuya Kuchiki extended his index finger towards the void space before him.

"Bakudō Number Seventy-Seven – Tenteikūra!"

Black runes crawled up Byakuya Kuchiki's arm, ultimately passing through his index finger to form a small black square box floating in front of Byakuya Kuchiki.

Then, Byakuya Kuchiki spoke towards this black little box: "Ginjirō Shirogane, the meeting has ended. Let's go."

After speaking, Byakuya Kuchiki dissipated this demon art before striding forth without stopping towards the outside of the 1st Division.

Within the waiting room where the vice-captains were, Ginjirō Shirogane got up and paced about anxiously in the narrow room.

Ever since just now, Ginjirō Shirogane's heart was filled with a bad premonition. Especially after Captain Kuchiki's eruption of spiritual pressure, what happened afterwards?

Could Captain Kuchiki be punished by the Commander-General?

Dear Soul King, just what happened to the 6th Division these days?

It seemed like ever since Lord Sojun Kuchiki's death, there had never been peace. In just over ten years, they already went through four captains!

From Lord Ginrei Kuchiki to Captain Ailin to Lord Ginrei Kuchiki again, and now Lord Byakuya Kuchiki.

Could the 6th Division be changing captains again?

Just when Ginjirō Shirogane felt extremely worried, he suddenly heard Byakuya Kuchiki's voice by his ear.

"Ginjirō Shirogane, the meeting has ended. Let's go."

"Yes, Captain Kuchiki!"

On conditioned reflex, Ginjirō Shirogane immediately stood at attention. Under the strange looks of the other vice-captains present, he swiftly left the waiting room.

It was only after Ginjirō Shirogane exited the waiting room that he discovered Captain Kuchiki was already almost out the front gates of the 1st Division.

"Huh? I just heard Captain Kuchiki speaking by my ear earlier, so how did Captain Kuchiki get over there in an instant?"

Although very puzzled, Ginjirō Shirogane still quickened his footsteps to catch up to Byakuya Kuchiki.

"Wait for me, Captain Kuchiki..."

***

Within the captains' meeting room of the 1st Division, the selection of the new 11th Division Captain did not stop due to Byakuya Kuchiki's departure. On the contrary, because Byakuya Kuchiki left, everyone became even more open.

Offending Ailin and having enmity with Ailin was the Kuchiki Family's business, what did it have to do with them?

Under the recommendation of 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana, the few captains who had contact with Ailin also started giving their recommendations to Ailin.

The 7th Division Captain Love Aikawa slapped a fist into his palm, "If it's Captain Ailin, I have no objections. After all, Captain Ailin was previously the 6th Division Captain before and has the experience of being a captain. What's more important is that Captain Ailin does indeed possess the strength to become 'Kenpachi'."

After hearing Love Aikawa's words, the various captains present could not help but take another look at Love Aikawa.

As captain-level powerhouses, which one of them did not have a shred of arrogance?

What does having the strength to become "Kenpachi" mean?

Only the strongest Shinigami could be crowned with the title of "Kenpachi".

Although after that the title "Kenpachi" became the constant title of the 11th Division Captains, causing the meaning behind the title to weaken somewhat.

Yet just looking at the previous two generations of Kenpachi, no matter if it was Kuruyashiki Kenpachi or Sōya Kenpachi, they indeed possessed strength surpassing all the captains.

Other than the Commander-General, probably only 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana and 12th Division Captain Kirio Hikifune could fight evenly against Kuruyashiki Kenpachi.

Even now with 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku and 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake, they still fell short compared to Kuruyashiki Kenpachi by a level.

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi lost against Sōya Azashiro due to not understanding Sōya Azashiro's abilities.

Of course, Sōya Azashiro who now fused the entirety of Soul Society's space truly did not fall below the previous Kuruyashiki Kenpachi in strength. 

Battling again, the victor between them would still be hard to say.