Although Zaraki's current mastery in swordsmanship hadn't reached the level of [Master Swordsman], his Great Swordsman Mastery combined with his Reiatsu made the slash he executed no less powerful than that of an ordinary Master Swordsman.
Under this slash, the several layers of defense Byakuya had set up were directly severed.
However, these layers had bought Byakuya enough time to evade, avoiding the threat of the slash.
But now, Byakuya was completely exposed within Zaraki's attack range.
If Zaraki launched another slash, Byakuya would be in danger.
"Hey!"
Zaraki let out a fierce laugh but didn't launch another slash. Instead, he pushed off with his feet, shooting towards Byakuya like an arrow.
For Zaraki, while a Great Swordsman's slash was powerful, what he preferred was the feeling of clashing blades and steel meeting flesh.
Zaraki's speed was fast.
But no matter how fast, it couldn't surpass a slash.
As Zaraki charged towards him, Byakuya felt slightly reassured.
Having studied under Kyoya for several years, Byakuya probably understood the Great Swordsman Mastery better than even Gin.
Flying slash was just an ancillary ability of a Great Swordsman.
If one could execute flying slashes with swordsmanship, their close combat ability would only be stronger.
Of course, some people specialized their talents into the flying slashes, making their flying slashes more powerful.
But most Swordsman's actual sword attacks were necessarily stronger than their flying slashes.
Zaraki was such a case.
However, Zaraki not using flying slashes indeed posed a much smaller threat to Byakuya.
As long as Byakuya maintained his position relative to Zaraki, allowing him to react to Zaraki's attacks, it wouldn't be easy for Zaraki to defeat him.
Especially since Zaraki wasn't using his full strength, the speed gap between them was even larger.
"To think Zaraki's swordsmanship has reached such a level."
"And Byakuya's progress is also significant."
Outside the battlefield, Kyoya watched the battle between Zaraki and Byakuya, feeling very pleased with both their improvements.
No matter where his future with the Seireitei and the Gotei 13 would lead, before the Thousand-Year Blood War, Kyoya indeed had no plans to replace the Seireitei.
These few decades weren't enough for Kyoya to nurture forces capable of rivaling the Gotei 13, successfully replacing them and garrisoning the Seireitei.
Moreover, even if Kyoya could develop a force capable of competing with the Gotei 13 in these decades, he wouldn't conflict with them before the Thousand-Year Blood War.
Otherwise, regardless of victory or defeat, it wouldn't be good for either side.
Even, if both sides were weakened and Aizen's Hueco Mundo Faction or the Wandenreich Quincy Faction took advantage, it would be truly laughable.
The battle between Zaraki and Byakuya, with the power generated by their colliding Reiatsus, was enough to make Shinigami below Lieutenant-level feel difficulty breathing. Those with weak wills might be unable to move.
Unsurprisingly, Byakuya's performance, in Kyoya's view, could be called 'excellent'.
Kyoya remembered that after Byakuya activated his Bankai, he had restricted barrier-type techniques like Senkei, attack-type techniques like Gokei, Shukei: Hakuteiken, and the ultimate technique, Ikka Senjinka.
Having just completed his Zanpakuto's Bankai Training, Byakuya had only learned Gokei.
Under Zaraki's pressure, his use of Senbonzakura gradually became more varied.
From initially manipulating only one sakura stream, Byakuya could now control three simultaneously. His progress was undeniably significant.
Of course, before Zaraki, one sakura stream or three made little difference.
They were all things he could shatter with a casual swing.
As for Zaraki...
Well, this guy was having fun right now.
For Zaraki, Byakuya's progress only excited him more.
Even, knowing Byakuya could continue improving under high-intensity pressure, Zaraki exhibited even greater pressure, just to make Byakuya stronger and thus enjoy greater battle pleasure.
…
Half an hour later...
"That's about enough."
The 1st Division's training ground was already thoroughly destroyed by Zaraki and Byakuya's battle.
A half-hour battle was a warm-up for Zaraki with his vast Reiatsu.
But for Byakuya, who needed to go all out, it was undoubtedly the highest intensity combat.
Both his Reiatsu and mental consumption had reached their limits.
If it continued, Byakuya might truly be killed by an overexcited Zaraki.
Realizing this, Kyoya hesitated no longer. His figure flashed, instantly appearing between Zaraki and Byakuya.
Kyoya grabbed Byakuya's arm with one hand and stomped on Zaraki's Zanpakuto, pinning it to the ground, stopping their battle.
"Alright, Zaraki, Byakuya."
"This battle ends here!"
After speaking, Kyoya looked towards Yamamoto and the other Captains outside the battlefield.
"Captain-Commander, and all Captains, how was Byakuya's performance in this battle?"
"Does anyone have objections to Byakuya succeeding as Captain of the 6th Division?"
"For Kuchiki-san to have such strength at such a young age puts me to shame."
The first to speak was 5th Division's Captain, Aizen.
Over the years, Aizen had fully established his reputation as a 'good person'.
Even among the Captains, everyone held considerable goodwill towards him.
Without conflicts of interest or emotion, Aizen had the best interpersonal relationships among the Gotei 13's Captains.
"I have no objections to Kuchiki-san becoming the 6th Division Captain."
"Indeed. To rapidly improve under Zaraki-san's attacks, Kuchiki-san's strength and talent are undoubtable."
The second to speak was 7th Division's Captain, Komamura Sajin.
Although he had been a captain longer than Byakuya, Sajin felt he would be easily countered in a fight against Byakuya.
Sajin's Bankai, Kokujo Tengen Myo'o, allowed him to summon a giant humanoid puppet for attack.
Its massive size meant even ordinary swings possessed mountain-splitting power.
Of course, the weaknesses were also very obvious.
It had a very close connection with Sajin. Any damage Kokujo Tengen Myo'o received would proportionally appear on Sajin's body.
However, Kokujo Tengen Myo'o's entire body was protected by thick armor, so ordinary attacks couldn't break through the armor's defense.
If Sajin and Byakuya fought, there would only be two outcomes.
One: Byakuya's Senbonzakura couldn't break through Kokujo Tengen Myo'o's armor defense and would be completely countered.
Two: If Senbonzakura's attacks could break Kokujo Tengen Myo'o's armor defense, then its massive size would become a target for Senbonzakura, instantly severely wounded by countless sakura petals.
After witnessing Byakuya's rate of improvement, Sajin knew that while Byakuya might not be his equal now, given his growth speed, he would likely completely surpass him in a few decades.
In such a situation, he didn't mind doing Byakuya a favor.
After all, as the Captain of the 7th Division, the Prison Division, having a good relationship with the Captain of the 6th Division, the noble squad, could resolve many troublesome individuals.
At the very least, it could ensure nobles were handled by nobles, and commoners by commoners.
"Well, I also recognize that the young Kuchiki has the ability to become the 6th Division's Captain."
The third to approve Byakuya was Kyoraku.
"Very well."
"Currently, Captains Aizen, Komamura, and Kyoraku have approved Byakuya's succession as Captain of the 6th Division."
"Then, according to the captaincy assessment regulations, Byakuya, from this moment, you are the Captain of the 6th Division!"
"Yes, Captain-Commander."
After receiving Yamamoto's approval, Byakuya solemnly bowed to him. He then nodded slightly to Aizen, Sajin, and Kyoraku, acknowledging their help.
"Now, next..."
Yamamoto turned his gaze to Kyoya, who was still stepping on Zaraki's Zanpakuto, and Zaraki, who was struggling against Kyoya.
"Captain Kyoya, are you certain you wish to leave the Gotei 13?"
"Correct."
Kyoya nodded, "Captain-Commander, not only am I leaving, but the members of the 11th Division's Rukongai branch squad will also be leaving the Gotei 13."
"That is impossible!"
As soon as Kyoya finished speaking, Yamamoto immediately shook his head in refusal.
"Kyoya, the Gotei 13 has annual limits on personnel retiring."
"Shinigami from any division wishing to retire must first submit a retirement application, then the Central 46 decides when they can retire."
"Heh, Captain-Commander, that line might work on the ordinary Shinigami of the Gotei 13."
Kyoya said lightly, "From what I know, the retirement quota only restricts commoner Shinigami."
"Those nobles, if they want to retire in the afternoon, they can submit an application in the morning, and it'll be approved before noon."
"But commoner Shinigami wanting to retire not only face delays of several years but are also assigned the most dangerous missions."
"Only those who survive until their term ends can retire, while those who die naturally don't get to retire."
"Take former 6th Division's Captain, Kuchiki Ginrei, for example."
"Everyone knows now that Former Captain Kuchiki Ginrei has retired, and Byakuya is the Captain of the 6th Division."
"But if I'm not mistaken, as of now, Ginrei-san hasn't submitted a retirement application to the Central 46, right?"
"After all, even Ginrei-san couldn't be certain Byakuya would pass the Captain Assessment 100%."
"As the head of the Kuchiki Clan, the foremost of the Seireitei's Four Great Noble Families, I even suspect Ginrei-san doesn't need to submit the application himself. The noble members of the Central 46 would proactively complete the retirement application for him..."
Here, Kyoya paused and shook his head.
"Captain-Commander, the rules of the Central 46 cannot bind me."
"If you agree, then I will take the 11th Division's Rukongai branch and leave the Seireitei."
"If you disagree, then try to stop me!"
"See if I have the ability to lead these division's members out of the Seireitei."
"I am not negotiating with you, I am merely informing you."
Hearing such forceful words from Kyoya, the Captains present were astonished.
At the start of this Captains' Meeting, Kyoya had indeed said he wanted to leave the Gotei 13.
He had also recommended the 11th Division's Lieutenant, Zaraki to become the new Captain.
But at that time, due to Unohana's objection, it was temporarily halted by Yamamoto.
The [Kenpachi Challenge] also came to nothing.
Zaraki's appearance seemed only to serve as a tool for Byakuya's Captain Assessment.
Yet, unexpectedly, right after Byakuya and Zaraki's battle ended, confirming his position as 6th Division's Captain, Kyoya immediately resumed the topic from the Captains' Meeting.
This time, Kyoya wasn't just leaving alone… he wanted to take half of the 11th Division with him.
Judging by his tone with Yamamoto, if the Captain-Commander didn't allow it, what he had said earlier would likely become reality.
Yamamoto stared intently at Kyoya.
There was a time when Kyoya was a junior Yamamoto held in high regard.
Even years ago, when Kyoya fought him over Koga Incident, Yamamoto held no ill will towards him.
On the contrary, he felt pleased with Kyoya's growth.
Protecting the Seireitei had become Yamamoto's obsession over the millennium.
The stronger the Gotei 13, the better it could safeguard the Seireitei's security and stability.
Yamamoto understood Kyoya wanting to leave to break through his strength's bottleneck.
He even approved of Kyoya's choice in his heart.
Because Yamamoto knew that true powerhouses aren't nurtured in times of peace.
Only those who emerge from blood and fire can be called true 'powerhouses'.
But Yamamoto never imagined that Kyoya not only wanted to leave himself but also wanted to break the Seireitei's rules and take half of the 11th Division's Shinigami with him.
How could he allow such a thing?
Forget the issues with the Central 46, even Yamamoto himself couldn't allow Kyoya to take those Shinigami away.
Otherwise, if someone else wanted to take their division's Shinigami and leave like Kyoya, what would Yamamoto do?