"Y-Yes, it's Captain Muguruma!"
"The invincible Muguruma Kensei has fallen again."
"What exactly is going on? Why is the same person getting beaten up in two consecutive Captain proficiency tests?"
The onlookers and the Captains seated in the high stands stared in shock at the two figures in the arena, their faces filled with disbelief.
Hirako Shinji's eyes widened in sheer astonishment. "Where did that brat Naraku Sora dig up such a monster? He's unbelievably ferocious! Thank goodness Head Captain Yamamoto didn't put me in charge of this Captain proficiency test, or I would have been humiliated."
Aizen lowered his gaze, a flash of surprise vanishing from the depths of his eyes.
Naraku Sora hadn't come looking for him recently. Aizen had assumed the boy had found his conscience and was planning to lay low for a few days.
He hadn't expected him to go to the Rukongai to recruit a fierce warrior for the Gotei 13.
Judging from the Reiatsu fluctuations of the Soul Reaper named Zaraki Kenpachi, his current performance was by no means his limit.
It seemed some sort of shackle or seal was restricting his original strength. If it were completely released, his power would likely be far more terrifying than it was now.
Speaking of which, ever since that guy took on the role of Prison Warden, he seemed much more reliable than before.
Aizen glanced at the figure casually slinging an arm over Kyōraku Shunsui's shoulders, let out a deep breath, and shook his head helplessly.
At the head seat.
Yamamoto narrowed his aged eyes, staring intently at the beast-like, ferocious figure in the center of the arena. A look of unconcealed surprise appeared on his weathered face.
Although the process was somewhat unexpected, the result was highly satisfactory.
That beastly fighting style was surprisingly compatible with Squad Eleven, which revered martial virtue.
Moreover, he was incredibly strong. Even without demonstrating a Shikai, his performance was not inferior to an average Soul Reaper Captain.
With a little refinement, he could even rank among the first-rate.
It was just a pity for Muguruma Kensei.
Yamamoto had finally thought of a way for him to regain his confidence, but now he had probably been beaten into complete self-doubt.
Hopefully, Captain Unohana was skilled in psychological therapy.
Pinning his hopes on such an elusive prospect, Yamamoto focused his attention back on the battle.
The slaughter, filled with blood and brutality, made him reminisce about the days before the Gotei 13 was established.
Wearing a tattered, sleeveless haori, Kenpachi revealed hideous gashes. His unhealed wounds tore open, soaking his bandages in blood. With lowered eyes, his pupils burned with a fighting spirit so intense it seemed tangible.
The golden Reiatsu rising from his body violently ravaged the surrounding space, distorting the very atmosphere and whipping up a gale that made it impossible to get close.
Muguruma Kensei staggered to his feet, a hint of unwillingness flashing in his eyes.
Gritting his teeth, he unleashed his Reiatsu without reservation, its light soaring into the sky.
Immediately after, the roar of the wind tore through the barrier of Zaraki Kenpachi's Reiatsu, erupting from within the Kidō barrier.
The wind was burning!
Like a volcanic eruption surging wildly from the earth, it surged forward, bestowing an equally tyrannical radiance.
Using techniques honed through immersive training, he concentrated the explosive power driven into the human body after Bankai entirely into his bladed fists. The resulting storm could instantly destroy everything in its path.
Looking at that dazzling radiance, an inevitable look of excitement appeared on Zaraki Kenpachi's face.
The intensity of the slaughter just now had left him feeling a bit unenthused, but the current attack perfectly met his demands.
And so, amidst the deafening roar that tore through the air, Zaraki Kenpachi suddenly stepped forward.
The hurricane swept up shattered bricks and stones, but the beast-like figure had already broken through the wind's restraints. The ferocious demon was right in front of him.
Facing Muguruma Kensei, he raised the jagged longsword in his hand—
*Slash!*
The two figures brushed past each other. Stumbling forward with unabated momentum, Kensei fell heavily to the ground. Sweating profusely, the metal treads wrapped around his arms burst open with numerous cracks, blood seeping from within.
Behind Muguruma Kensei, Zaraki Kenpachi's body also burst open with countless wounds. Boiling blood splattered out, instantly dyeing his body red.
He looked as if he were bathed in blood. While terrifying and hideous, it also delivered a profound visual shock.
Zaraki Kenpachi stood straight on the ruined earth, grinning and baring his stark white teeth at the spectating Soul Reapers. His smile was exceptionally brutal.
Inside the arena, there was dead silence.
As Soul Reapers, they had seen plenty of brutal fighting styles, but this was their first time seeing someone like Zaraki Kenpachi, who fought entirely on instinct.
The impact was truly overwhelming.
"Ahem, seeing as Captain Muguruma has fallen unconscious and lost his combat ability..."
Sasakibe Chōjirō stepped forward to announce, "Therefore, Zaraki Kenpachi has passed the test and is promoted to Captain of Squad Eleven."
The Squad 4 members who had been waiting on the sidelines hurriedly rushed into the arena. Flustered, they lifted Muguruma Kensei and placed him on the stretcher originally prepared for Zaraki Kenpachi.
*Speaking of which, Lord Naraku specifically booked a VIP ward not long ago. Could he have predicted the outcome of this test?*
Several Squad 4 members instantly conjured up a slew of conspiracy theories, ultimately agreeing that the Prison Warden was definitely not as simple as he appeared.
*Perhaps he's secretly plotting some earth-shattering event.*
At the thought of such a terrifying possibility, the group quickened their pace as they carried Muguruma Kensei away.
Zaraki Kenpachi, looking displeased, shoved away the squad member trying to treat his wounds. He raised his head and looked toward the high stands outside the arena.
"Hey, it's not going to end just like this, is it?"
"Bring out someone stronger to fight! I finally managed to get excited."
Seeing this, Naraku Sora sighed.
Zaraki Kenpachi was great in many ways—simple-minded and physically imposing, he would cut down whoever he was told to. But outside of combat, he was somewhat insubordinate.
A pure troublemaker.
Just as Sora was about to step down and clean up the mess, he saw Zaraki Kenpachi raise his jagged longsword, pointing it directly at the high stands.
"That white-bearded old man over there, you look like you can put up a good fight. Come and kill each other with me!"
Naraku Sora: "?"
Yamamoto's expression stiffened. He turned to look at a certain someone whose expression was equally stiff, then slowly took off his Captain's haori and shoved it into his good disciple's hands.
With a flash, he appeared in the arena barehanded.
Looking at the old man radiating scorching heat before him, Zaraki Kenpachi showed a hint of satisfaction and grinned.
He approved. That guy Sora really hadn't lied to him.
This Seireitei was simply a paradise!
Taking a deep breath, Zaraki Kenpachi launched a suicidal charge.
The next second.
The Kidō barrier instantly disintegrated, and half of the arena was reduced to ruins, looking as if it had been carpet-bombed. Not a single intact stone brick could be found.
After Yamamoto coaxed Zaraki Kenpachi to sleep, he used Flash Step to appear on the high stands and took back his haori.
"I will wait for you at Squad 1."
Under Kyōraku Shunsui's sympathetic gaze, Naraku Sora headed to the execution ground with a look of grief and indignation.
"Although he is a bit reckless, he is a perfect fit for Squad Eleven."
In the tea room, Yamamoto skillfully shoved Ryūjin Jakka under the stove and boiled the water. Soon, the elegant fragrance of tea filled the room.
To Naraku Sora's surprise, the usually hot-tempered Old Man Yama didn't reprimand him this time.
Seemingly sensing a certain someone's thoughts, Yamamoto cast a sidelong glance at his rebellious disciple and said crossly, "In your eyes, am I really such an unreasonable and vulgar person?"
Naraku Sora really wanted to nod and say yes, but his strong survival instinct stifled this suicidal urge.
Even though Sora didn't say anything, his face didn't look like it could hide a thing. Yamamoto couldn't be bothered to argue with a rebellious disciple whose brain was full of muscles.
"The reason I called you over is actually because I thought of something."
Naraku Sora blew on his tea, took a small sip, and showed a comfortable expression.
The tea leaves here were all gifts from Ukitake Jūshirō. As one of the Soul Society's tea suppliers, the Ukitake family had no shortage of premium tea.
"You still haven't learned Bankai, have you?"
Hearing this, Naraku Sora suddenly felt the tea in his hands lose its appeal.
*Why did this old man have to bring up the one thing I didn't want to talk about?*
*If physical blows won't work, he's going straight for psychological damage, huh?*
Ignoring his disciple's internal breakdown, Yamamoto poured himself a full cup of tea and said in a deep voice, "Judging from his performance in the Captain proficiency test just now, that Soul Reaper named Zaraki Kenpachi doesn't even seem to know the name of his Zanpakutō."
"I felt loneliness from his Zanpakutō, as well as the pain of not being understood."
"Compared to him, you are already excellent."
Naraku Sora looked up in surprise. "Teacher, you have such a miraculous ability?"
"Didn't I tell you during my lectures before? When Jinzen reaches a certain level, you can feel it to some extent..."
Halfway through his sentence, Yamamoto paused slightly.
"Wait, you actually dared to zone out during my classes?"
Yamamoto felt his blood pressure rising. If he hadn't considered the fact that this bastard had just done a great service for the Gotei 13, he would have definitely made him experience the profound mysteries of Genryū.
He would make a note of it and settle the score later.
Yamamoto glared fiercely at Naraku Sora and continued, "Shikai is a state where a Soul Reaper's power is reflected onto the blade, while Bankai builds upon that foundation, cultivating the blade's ego and manifesting it."
"Of course, some Soul Reapers understand this as materializing the Zanpakutō from the inner world into the real world, and then forcing it into submission."
"Neither is right or wrong; it's only a matter of what is suitable."
"But whether it is Shikai or Bankai, the process of training is a deeper understanding of oneself, from ideology to the depths of the soul."
"Actually, in my opinion, the reason you haven't been able to learn Bankai isn't because your Reiatsu is insufficient, nor is it because your physical strength is lacking. It's because your training time has been too short—"
"You lack an understanding of yourself."
"As your teacher, although I don't know exactly what is driving you to push forward so desperately, please remember one thing: no matter when, I will always stand firmly behind you."
Shino Prison, exclusive research lab.
Urahara Kisuke was deeply engrossed in his experiments, focused entirely on operating the equipment in front of him.
Inside the container, several masses of unknown flesh were twisting and multiplying, occasionally colliding with each other and bursting with brilliant Reishi radiance.
Although he was quite busy here, over time, he had grown accustomed to this hectic lifestyle.
Exploring the unknown was also a kind of joy.
Coupled with an endless supply of various materials, it was practically the paradise every scientific researcher desired most.
However, just as the experiment was nearing completion, a demonic whisper came from behind him:
"Kisuke, I want you to help me train!"
Urahara Kisuke: "?"
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