Shigekuni Yamamoto did not focus his attention solely on Kenpachi Zaraki because of his outrageous remarks. Instead, after hearing the other party admit that he had lost to Suzuki Makoto, he immediately shifted his gaze to Retsu Unohana.
"If it is the current Kenpachi Zaraki, being defeated by Suzuki-kun is normal."
The voice of the First Kenpachi remained calm and gentle, but even the Captain-Commander would not question the truthfulness within her words.
"Did you win?"
Hearing Retsu Unohana's answer, Kenpachi Zaraki turned his head to ask instead.
"Suzuki-kun and I merely engaged in an exchange of swordsmanship; we did not utilize much Reiatsu. If we were to make too much noise, it would affect the patients' recuperation."
"Does that mean he, like you, also masters the Eight Thousand Styles?"
The man seemed only slightly surprised, but not unexpected. Although the excessive venting of illustrious Reiatsu in the battle with Suzuki Makoto had covered up many technical aspects, the collision before the contact restrictions was enough to prove that the complexity of the combat styles mastered by the other party was not in the slightest inferior to a battle maniac like himself, who had slaughtered his way out of the Zaraki District.
He was merely surprised that Suzuki Makoto's skills had seemingly surpassed Retsu Unohana as well.
"It appears that the Zaraki District has unexpectedly produced another Kenpachi. However, there likely won't be another one in the future."
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto was no longer angry about Kenpachi Zaraki's bastardly words, but naturally, he could not agree to the other party's casual request.
"Go back and continue being your Captain of the 11th Division. If Suzuki Makoto is willing to take over the title of Kenpachi and the position of the 11th Division Captain, then I will approve your application."
"Tch, if he was willing, what would I be coming to find you for?"
Kenpachi Zaraki turned and left with a face full of displeasure. He hadn't told Suzuki Makoto in advance, but instead came directly to the 1st Division to find the Captain-Commander, precisely because he wanted to rely on Shigekuni Yamamoto's prestige and status to forcefully accomplish this matter—because Suzuki Makoto himself was definitely unwilling.
The old man's eyebrows twitched. If this were a thousand years ago, he would have already cut Zaraki down with a single slash. However, after a thousand years of cultivating his character, he no longer took such petty impudence to heart.
"Retsu, in your view, is Suzuki Makoto a pure warrior, or an ambitious schemer with ulterior motives?"
This was the point Shigekuni Yamamoto worried about the most.
When the Yellow Turbans first began to expand rapidly in the Rukongai, neither the nobles nor the Gotei 13 in the Seireitei took it to heart. It wasn't until the situation intensified and the opponent's snowball rolled larger and larger—now occupying all of the Rukongai outside of District 40, with an area exceeding two-thirds of the entire Soul Society—that they took notice.
This matter was something that a person like Kenpachi Zaraki, or Retsu Unohana, could absolutely never accomplish. It must be a fellow who was not unfamiliar with political means, and at the same time, he must possess firm convictions.
The reason Shigekuni Yamamoto wanted to pull Suzuki Makoto into the Gotei 13 was that, although the entire Yellow Turban faction possessed two top-tier combatants, the true leader was still Suzuki Makoto. As long as Suzuki Makoto stayed peacefully within the Seireitei, then the Yellow Turbans in the Rukongai would not expand or strengthen any further.
No matter how resourceful Suzuki Makoto was, within this Seireitei, with the dual safeguards of Shunsui Kyoraku and the Onmitsukido, it would be very difficult for the other party to remotely command the Yellow Turbans.
But now, the kind of talent the other party displayed forced Shigekuni Yamamoto to become cautious.
Suzuki Makoto possessed Captain-level combat power; this point was beyond doubt. However, to this day, no one knew what his Bankai actually was—neither Retsu Unohana nor Kenpachi Zaraki had been able to draw out this trump card of his.
Perhaps the other party was a weirdo like Kenpachi Zaraki, possessing Captain-level Reiatsu without a Bankai. However, the words Kenpachi Zaraki inadvertently let slip during his pestering today almost clearly indicated that Suzuki Makoto indeed possessed means to instantly amplify his own Reiatsu several times over. Aside from Shikai, the Captain-Commander did not know of any other means that could achieve this.
The truth revealed by this fact was obviously even more worrying—Suzuki Makoto, relying merely on the Reiatsu of his Shikai, could crush Kenpachi Zaraki, who could grow constantly in battle, defeating him instantly before Zaraki could grow to a sufficient height.
A Lieutenant who could defeat a Captain with just Shikai, and who was furthermore an unstable element from the Rukongai who had been recruited less than a month ago—such an existence had undoubtedly become a ticking time bomb within the Seireitei.
"Lord Captain-Commander, in my view, Suzuki-kun is merely someone like me, who has the purest and most direct pursuit of combat arts. The difference is that what I pursue is how to apply these arts in battle to enjoy an even more hearty and dripping fight, whereas Suzuki Makoto pursues the arts themselves more. He is like a collector, only what he collects are various sword arts."
Retsu Unohana was, after all, once a Great Swordsman; her sharpness in battle was enough for her to witness that 'sincerity' of Suzuki Makoto in combat. However, what she could see was also merely the Suzuki Makoto in battle.
"Is that so?"
Hearing these words from Retsu Unohana, Shigekuni Yamamoto also felt slightly comforted. Of the Captains from a thousand years ago, only he and Retsu Unohana remained as the sole survivors; he trusted the other party's judgment.
"Since that is the case, when you have taught him enough, ask him if he is willing to come to Genryusai's place to learn swordsmanship with me."
"Captain-Commander, you want to take a disciple again?"
The woman covered her mouth and chuckled softly. She still clearly remembered that the last person the Captain-Commander had felt a cherish for talent towards was Kenpachi Zaraki, who had also come from the Zaraki District. It was just that with Kenpachi Zaraki's temper, how could he possibly have the patience to follow Shigekuni Yamamoto's traditional teaching methods and learn strictly by the book?
Therefore, after not even a few days, the other party shouted that he didn't want to learn anymore and went back to the 11th Division to continue fighting for pleasure, angering the Captain-Commander quite a bit.
"That fellow should at least be a bit better than that bastard Kenpachi Zaraki. Since you say Suzuki Makoto wants to collect various combat arts, then he absolutely would not let pass this good opportunity to learn with me."
The old man had indeed felt some cherish for talent; otherwise, he wouldn't have offered amnesty to the Yellow Turbans. Moreover, taking Suzuki Makoto as a disciple wasn't just because he wanted to train another student; more so, he wanted to personally probe and witness Suzuki Makoto.
Retsu Unohana and Kenpachi Zaraki's evaluations could not be considered objective. After all, they were both people who would speak well of the other party as long as there was a fight. Therefore, regarding how this new Sword Master who appeared from the Zaraki District truly was, it would be best for him to see with his own eyes.
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