"... "
Yamamoto Genryusai stood there quietly, his eyes narrowed slightly, like two deep, cold pools.
In his dark pupils, Zaraki Kenpachi's battle-ready appearance was clearly reflected.
After a long pause, he stroked his snow-white beard and said in a deep voice, "Zaraki Kenpachi, are you sure you're not joking?"
"I've never seen a precedent where a Captain challenges a Vice-Captain."
"Now you have one!" Zaraki Kenpachi sharply interrupted Yamamoto Genryusai.
His voice was as loud as a bell: "That guy once defeated me, and if I can't beat him, becoming the Captain of the Eleventh Division means nothing!"
"As a Kenpachi, I must be the strongest among all Shinigami!"
"Right now it's him, and in the future, I'll challenge you too!"
"You're the Captain-Commander, so you must be very strong!"
Zaraki Kenpachi's tone was extremely bold, as if he wanted to defeat all Shinigami …
However, in Yamamoto Genryusai's eyes, this was nothing but arrogance.
Processing his Captain's appointment was already very irregular.
Because Zaraki Kenpachi didn't even know Shikai.
Let alone Bankai, which is above Shikai.
Furthermore, he wasn't from the Reiatsu Academy; theoretically, a Rukongai like him would struggle to even become a Shinigami.
But who could argue when he had defeated Kiganjo in front of everyone…
This was a rule of the Eleventh Division, established since ancient times.
As long as one defeated the previous Kenpachi, they could take his place, which, in a sense, was on par with his own orders as Captain-Commander.
After all, the person who set the rule was from the same generation as him…
A troublemaker!
In just a few words, Yamamoto Genryusai had already characterised Zaraki Kenpachi's personality.
This kind of arrogant and extremely bloodthirsty personality would have been a good blade a thousand years ago, when the Gotei 13 was first established.
But now…
Yamamoto Genryusai fell into deep thought, his drooping beard swaying slightly in the spiritual pressure emanating from him.
The surrounding environment seemed to enter a time stop, utterly silent.
After a long while, he finally looked up, his voice as calm as still water:
"If you want to challenge me, mere determination and perseverance aren't enough…"
"A kid like you would need another thousand years of training, and even then, it would be too soon."
"However… since this is your decision as the Captain of the Eleventh Division, I cannot refuse."
"But there's one thing you must remember."
"Once you lose, your Captain position will vanish, and you yourself might die as a result."
"The girl beside you might seek revenge for you, but the Seireitei strictly prohibits infighting."
"Once an incident of comrades harming each other occurs, the lighter punishment is imprisonment in the Muken for a sentence of over a thousand years; the heavier punishment is the abolition of all spiritual power, becoming an ordinary soul, and expulsion from the Seireitei."
"Are you… Ready?"
"Don't be too quick to agree; this isn't just about you."
Yamamoto Genryusai's gaze slowly shifted to Yachiru, who was sitting on Zaraki Kenpachi's shoulder.
The latter had a beaming, innocent smile, as if she didn't know what death was.
If her strength hadn't been verified earlier, there's no way this child would have been allowed to become a Vice-Captain.
Her apparent age was too young.
The Eleventh Division was a combat division; sending a child to the battlefield was something Yamamoto Genryusai absolutely could not do.
Clap, clap.
Yachiru clapped her hands, her clear sound echoing in the silent air.
She seemed to be encouraging Kenpachi:
"Kenpachi, don't worry about me, I'm very strong."
"We're partners, aren't we?"
"That's right!" Hearing this, Kenpachi's confidence was instantly ignited.
Just as Yachiru said, they were partners.
Even if he only had one breath left, he would crawl back up from the ground!
His retreat back then was only due to Tsugikuni Yoriichi's words.
Now, it was different.
Kenpachi took a deep breath and quickly said:
"I'm ready! I'll stake the name of Kenpachi and defeat him!!"
… …
… …
"So…"
"This is why I had to come out of seclusion?"
Outside the training ground, Tsugikuni Yoriichi stood there quietly, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
He looked at Kyōraku Shunsui, who occasionally came and was now standing before him, and asked with a complex tone:
"Zaraki Kenpachi wants to challenge me… Why?"
"Isn't he a Captain?"
To be honest, he didn't want to fight Shinigami other than enemies, especially not a battle to the death.
Because it was meaningless.
It only added to the sorrow, pain, and sadness of both sides, with no positive effect whatsoever.
"I don't understand that either." Kyōraku Shunsui scratched his head, "If you say he's reckless, he still knows to stake the name of Kenpachi."
"If you say he's not reckless, he actually used the name of Kenpachi to challenge you, a Vice-Captain…"
"Of course, that's not a put-down; I just find it a bit surreal, because the Eleventh Division has been in an uproar over this."
"Some Shinigami even came to your Tenth Division demanding an explanation, believing that you were pressuring him."
"Of course, I know that's impossible, because you've been here these past few days…"
"No choice, I don't know what Captain-Commander is thinking, so I had to step in myself and spent a lot of effort to persuade them back to their respective posts."
Speaking of this, he let out a long breath, his tone gradually becoming relaxed:
"The duel is in two days, along with the new Captain of the Twelfth Division."
"The new Captain of the Twelfth Division, you probably know him: the former Third Seat of the Second Division, Kisuke Urahara."
"This assessment was originally intended to adopt a Captain challenge system."
"Like, a new Captain challenges an old Captain, and as long as they get the old Captain's approval, it's considered a success."
"Now, well…"
"It's changed slightly because of Zaraki Kenpachi's appearance."
"I'm not quite clear on the changes, as Captain-Commander personally formulated them."
"But I've heard bits and pieces, in short…"
"At worst, one side will be severely injured, that's all."
Kyōraku Shunsui said this.
As he spoke, as if sensing something, he looked to his side.
When he saw a girl in black hiding behind a nearby tree…
His tone became a little helpless: "Lisa-chan, when did you get here…"
The girl's name was Lisa Yadōmaru. As the Vice-Captain of the Eighth Division and part-time secretary, she basically followed Kyōraku Shunsui around all day.
However, there were exceptions, such as when Kyōraku Shunsui secretly snuck out.
The Eighth Division was an intelligence division, and its work was too busy. He thought his actions today were quite secretive, but he didn't expect to be discovered and followed...
Lisa Yadōmaru pushed up her glasses, took a step forward, turned around, her face quite serious:
"When you mentioned the Captain's assessment."
"As a Vice-Captain, I must remind you that leaking secrets is a very serious crime."
"Especially for you as the Captain of the Eighth Division, knowingly breaking the law is unforgivable."
"Oh, Lisa-chan, don't be so serious. Yoriichi is my junior, what's wrong with giving him a little information?"
Kyōraku Shunsui waved his hand and smiled, seemingly unconcerned about everything at the moment.
A moment later.
He casually adjusted the straw hat on his head, then slowly turned to face Tsugikuni Yoriichi, nodding slightly:
"In short, that's how it is."
"Get ready. I still have high hopes for you."