On the day of the Captain proficiency test, the morning sun had just begun to spill onto the streets of the Seireitei.
Kensei Kenzuru walked at the rear, ahead of him were three Shinigami whose eyes held both excitement and tension: Mashiro Kensei, Rōjiro Obana, and Aikawa Rabu.
Watching the three who were so agitated they had begun walking out of step, Kensei Kenzuru felt like a parent sending their children off for the college entrance exams.
At least the Shinigami test doesn't require any ID documents. Otherwise, we'd probably get a scene where a patrolling Shinigami finds Kensei's lost ID and personally delivers it to the exam hall.
Kensei Kenzuru cleared his throat, adopting a fatherly tone of earnest instruction: "In short, remember this: the test isn't about fighting the examiner to the death. If you can't win, surrender. There's no shame in it."
"Who do you think you're looking down on!" Kensei immediately retorted. "We're all Captain-level. Should I avoid his edge?"
Rose took over with a chuckle: "We all have Bankai. Even if there's a gap in the quality of our spiritual pressure, we shouldn't be reduced to a crushing defeat."
Love didn't speak, simply hefting his Zanpakutō to indicate his equal confidence.
Kensei Kenzuru looked at the three confident individuals, his expression turning strange.
While confidence is good... aside from the Captains of the 10th and 11th Divisions, none of the other Captains are pushovers. Like Sister Unohana and Sister Hikifune, not to mention someone like Uncle Kyōraku.
But he couldn't say that out loud, lest he shatter their confidence.
"Let's show these veteran Captains the strength of us younger generation!"
"Oh!!!"
The three, who had just been fired up with passion, ready to shock the veteran Captains, saw the aged figure standing in the center of the dojo—hands folded atop his wooden staff, like a dormant volcano. Instantly, it felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them.
Three heads of varying styles turned stiffly, fingers trembling as they pointed at Yamamoto in the center of the dojo. Their mouths opened and closed but produced no sound.
"Y-Ya... Ya..." Kensei's tongue seemed to be tied in knots.
Seeing the three beginning to tremble, Kensei Kenzuru swiftly placed his hands on their shoulders from behind, lowering his voice to reassure them: "Don't panic! A venerable senior like the Captain-Commander is obviously here to preside. The actual examiner is definitely someone else."
After hearing Kensei Kenzuru's words, the three stiff bodies relaxed slightly.
Kensei swallowed hard, not sure if it was sincere or self-consolation. "The Captain-Commander overseeing is a good thing!"
Rose struggled to maintain his elegant smile. "To receive the Captain-Commander's supervision is truly an honor."
Right, someone of the Captain-Commander's level couldn't possibly take to the field personally for three minor Captain candidates like us. He couldn't possibly know about our collusion with Kensei Kenzuru and decided to teach us a lesson, could he?
"Alright, hurry up and get inside."
Kensei Kenzuru pushed them into the dojo, and the heavy doors slowly closed behind them.
As a venue specifically for Captain proficiency tests, the building extensively used materials that could absorb a certain amount of spiritual pressure. Various barriers were also arranged in the arena below to prevent the commotion from a Bankai from causing disturbances.
The spectator seats were arranged in a circle above the arena, offering an excellent view.
Too bad Old Man Yama has no business sense. He could probably make a lot of money just selling tickets to watch Captain tests.
Sidling up next to Yoruichi, who had her legs crossed, Kensei Kenzuru scanned the observing Captains above. Indeed, they were all present. Even the rarely seen Captain of the 11th Division, Kenpachi Kiganjō, was there, along with some unfamiliar faces.
"Yoruichi, who's the examiner in charge today?"
"You don't know?" Yoruichi gave Kensei Kenzuru a strange look, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "You'll find out in a moment."
Yamamoto still maintained his previous posture, eyes slightly closed, as if an old man dozing off after standing for too long.
The newly entered Kensei, Rose, and Love stood firm about ten meters in front of Yamamoto. Though they tried to straighten their backs to project confidence, their slightly trembling knees under Yamamoto's pressure betrayed their inner panic. They prayed fervently for the real examiner to take the field soon.
As if hearing their silent prayers, Yamamoto slowly opened his eyes a sliver. His calm gaze swept over the three before him, his voice carrying unquestionable authority.
"Today's Captain proficiency test content: Defeat me."
With these words, not only were Kensei and the others dumbfounded, but even Kensei Kenzuru above was stunned.
Old Man Yama is clinging to power, unwilling to see my influence grow, and wants to use this opportunity to knock us down a peg!
Kensei Kenzuru wildly speculated about Yamamoto's intentions in his mind.
"The time limit is the duration of one incense stick. You may go all out," Yamamoto continued, ignoring everyone's reactions. "The three of you will attack together."
Kensei's flat-top seemed to nosedive, the elegant expression on Rose's face crumbled, and Love's sunglasses nearly fell off.
Even with a three-on-one situation, facing Captain-Commander Yamamoto, ten people wouldn't be confident of defeating him!
Yamamoto seemed to see through their thoughts and calmly added: "If you can join forces to make me move even half a step, you pass."
These words gave them a sliver of hope while simultaneously making them feel a sense of humiliation.
Even if Yamamoto is the strongest Shinigami in a millennium, he can't look down on us like this!
"The test begins."
Yamamoto closed his eyes again, as if asleep.
Kensei, Rose, and Love exchanged glances, seeing the same fighting spirit in each other's eyes.
Facing Captain-Commander Yamamoto, there's no need for so-called probing, nor can we afford any wishful thinking. We must go all out from the very first second.
"Bankai!"
Three roars erupted simultaneously, filled with unshakeable resolve.
Kensei's body was covered in silver-gray, caterpillar-track-like armor. The original blade on his fist transformed into a knuckle-duster structure, sharp points extending from the finger joints gleaming coldly.
Before Rose, several massive golden figures appeared, posing in elegant stances like dancers. A moving melody reverberated through the dojo. At this moment, Rose became the conductor of an orchestra, attacking with the baton in his hand.
As for Love... since his Bankai never appeared in the original work, I won't write about it.
Just kidding.
Love's body was engulfed in crimson flames, transforming him into a demon seemingly emerged from hell. The temperature in the entire space rose sharply.
"It seems our junior brother's judgment is indeed better than the old man's."
On the spectator stand, Kyōraku pressed down on his straw hat to avoid it being blown off by the overflowing spiritual pressure.
Ukitake coughed lightly twice, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief. "I hope they can pass Teacher's real test."
The two turned their gaze towards Kensei Kenzuru, wanting to see their junior brother's reaction to this test. Instead, they saw Kensei Kenzuru flirting with Yoruichi Shihōin, completely unconcerned about the life-or-death struggle of the people on the field.
"Our junior brother is really..." Kyōraku thought for a long time before coming up with a suitable phrase. "...confident in these three."
Below, the three different Bankai spiritual pressures intertwined, generating a terrifying shockwave that blasted towards Yamamoto.
Yamamoto remained standing with his eyes closed. The terrifying shockwave could only ruffle the corner of his clothes but failed to dislodge the haori draped over his shoulders.
Rose struck first, as only his Bankai's ability could be activated from a distance.
Rose waved the baton in his hand. The golden dancers performed a dance reminiscent of "The Scream" around Yamamoto. A massive whirlpool of water encircled Yamamoto, attempting to trap his movements.
Kensei slammed both fists into the ground, using the recoil from the vibration to launch himself into the air, almost instantly arriving above Yamamoto's head. He swung down with his iron fist from directly above.
Love, transformed into a flaming demon, condensed magma-like scorching flames into a gigantic fist, smashing towards Yamamoto from the right.
Facing the three-pronged assault, Yamamoto, at the center of the whirlpool created by Rose, didn't even lift an eyelid.
Although he hadn't yet discerned the true nature of Rose's Bankai, an attack of this level couldn't shake Yamamoto's mountain-like body. He slowly raised the wooden staff in his hand, his left hand making a slashing motion towards Love's direction.
The flaming giant fist Love swung at Yamamoto seemed to collide with an invisible thick wall, stopping dead in mid-air, unable to advance any further.
The knuckle-dusters on Kensei's hands, containing terrifying explosive power, made contact with Yamamoto's wooden staff. Instantly, Kensei felt his power suppressed by a massive spiritual pressure. Forget exploding; it became a complete dud.
Yamamoto flicked his staff. Kensei, who seemed glued to it, was sent flying backward. Yamamoto then lightly tapped the staff on the ground.
"Hadō #31—Shakkahō."
Though a mid-level Kidō, bolstered by Yamamoto's terrifying spiritual pressure, it was powerful enough to rival a high-level Kidō.
Three red spherical flames arrived before the three in the blink of an eye. Even before contact, they could feel the scorching heat radiating from them, capable of melting anything.
Kensei and the others either blocked or dodged; none could fully withstand them. Several wounds of varying depths were left on their bodies.
"If you cannot endure, you may also choose to give up."
Yamamoto still stood there in his original posture, as if the previous attack had never happened.
Rose, Kensei, and Love exchanged glances, instantly understanding each other's intent. They once again mustered their spiritual pressure.
Rose waved his baton again. The golden dancers raised their hands, flames beginning to gather between their palms, then snaked towards Yamamoto like chains.
Love concentrated all his spiritual pressure in front of him, forming a thick shield. He then charged at Yamamoto like a chariot. He intended to withstand Yamamoto's attacks, creating an opportunity for Kensei, who was gathering power behind him.
Old Man Yama simply tossed aside the wooden staff in his hand, spiritual pressure converging on his bulging arm muscles. He directly tore apart the illusory flame chains created by Rose.
The next moment, Yamamoto appeared as if from nowhere, throwing a punch at Love. He shattered the thick shield with a single blow, scattering it into sparks that fell to the ground. Immediately followed by another punch, directly doubling Love over like a cooked shrimp.
Using Shunpo again, Yamamoto reappeared like a ghost before Kensei, sending him flying back towards where Love had landed.
Then came Rose. Seeing the three already piled together, Yamamoto withdrew his bulging muscles, reverting to his small-old-man appearance.
"Since I have moved, you have passed the test."
Picking up the wooden staff from the ground, Yamamoto slowly walked towards the trio still lying on the ground. In a voice only the three could hear, he said:
"I heard you wish to join that rebellious disciple in his grand endeavor. Today serves as a lesson for you."
After giving each a tap on the head with his staff, Yamamoto slowly announced:
"From today, Rōjiro Obana, Aikawa Rabu, and Mashiro Kensei are formally appointed as Captains of the 3rd, 7th, and 9th Divisions."
Feeling the pain all over their bodies, Kensei and the others couldn't help but grimace, sucking in sharp breaths.
If we'd known we'd be taught a lesson by the Captain-Commander today, we shouldn't have agreed to Kensei Kenzuru's rebellion yesterday.
I wonder if it's too late to defect to the Captain-Commander's side now...
***
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