Seeing Inoue Toshiki lead him into the First Division Barracks of the Seireitei without any hindrance, Jay Censen muttered to himself.
"Good grief, the dignified First Division doesn't even have a gatekeeper? What if an assassin comes to sneak attack Old Man Yamamoto?"
But on second thought—it really didn't seem necessary.
Enemies who could actually fight their way into the First Division wouldn't be stopped by a gatekeeper, and those who couldn't wouldn't need one anyway.
Having obtained permission beforehand, Inoue Toshiki lightly pulled the wooden door open and led Jay Censen before Yamamoto Genryūsai.
He cleared his throat and reported respectfully, "Captain-Commander, Shino Academy student Jay Censen has been brought here."
After speaking, he stepped to the side and waited for orders.
Jay peeked at the old man, unsure if his eyes were naturally small or if he was just resting them, and looked around the room's furnishings in boredom.
Aizen-emon had already thoroughly analyzed the Captain-Commander's thoughts; today was purely a formality.
The room wasn't small, but the furnishings were simple.
On a small wooden table near the entrance lay several calligraphy manuscripts—though Jay didn't understand calligraphy, he could see the old man had quite a refined taste.
Yamamoto had been sizing up this young man—one who could leave a mark on Unohana—ever since he entered the room.
A master of swordsmanship couldn't hide their nature; a seasoned Shinigami could judge one's depth just by their stance and breathing.
If both Toshiki and Unohana hadn't confirmed that this kid had just started, Yamamoto would have suspected he was an old fossil from a thousand years ago reincarnated.
"Jay Censen, would you be willing to graduate early and join my First Division as a seated officer?"
This was no small offer.
A seat in the First Division carried great weight; high-ranking seated officers had strength comparable to Lieutenants of other Divisions and reported directly to Yamamoto, so other Captains generally couldn't order them around.
Inoue Toshiki immediately realized the Captain-Commander intended to focus on grooming him and quickly signaled Jay.
Unexpectedly, Jay hardly hesitated and shook his head directly.
He didn't have a bad impression of Old Man Yamamoto, knowing he was devoted to Soul Society, just a bit stubborn—perhaps all elderly people were like that.
He was mainly afraid that after joining the First Division, he wouldn't get along with the old man.
"Did someone offer you better terms first?"
Yamamoto continued to squint.
A young man with such potential couldn't go unnoticed, especially since he had only shown talent in Zanjutsu among the four arts of "Zan, Kaku, Ho, Gi."
If his other skills were also... If it were the Kuchiki Clan or the Shihōin Clan, it would be fine, but if it were others...
Yamamoto's grip on his cane tightened slightly, and his eyes opened a sliver.
Inoue Toshiki, who had been observing his expression, was instantly scared into a cold sweat.
"Not really..."
Jay was also in a bit of a bind.
This reason was really hard to voice; if Sōsuke were here, he could surely weave a seamless excuse.
"Speak plainly. I am no demon; there is no need to fear."
Inoue Toshiki prayed frantically in his mind: Ancestor, please don't say anything rebellious; I still need my reputation as a century-old teacher!
"Captain-Commander, you know I haven't been in Soul Society for long, right?"
Yamamoto nodded.
Before meeting him, he had naturally conducted an investigation.
"Then you see... I'm still quite young, right?"
Yamamoto nodded again.
In all fairness, this kid's appearance was indeed outstanding, but this way of speaking seemed a bit familiar... very much like his unreliable eldest disciple, Kyōraku Shunsui.
He wasn't sure yet; he needed to observe further.
"Captain-Commander, the greatest characteristic of young people is being 'young and vigorous.' So I apply to go to the Second Division, Fourth Division, or Twelfth Division—to temper my body and mind!"
Yamamoto understood completely.
Good grief, here comes another Kyōraku Shunsui, perhaps even surpassing his predecessor!
Back then, Kyōraku was just talk, but this one was planning to go directly "deep into the grassroots"!
To some extent, the Second Division was the Shihōin Clan's private army, and the Fourth Division was mainly in charge of healing; the common point was a high proportion of female Shinigami.
As for the Twelfth Division, wasn't Captain Hikifune Kirio still there!
"You certainly have... lofty ambitions."
"Not at all, not at all. So you see... is it possible?"
Yamamoto, who usually cultivated a heart as calm as water through calligraphy, felt a sense of powerlessness in addition to annoyance.
The face of the Gotei 13 had already been half-lost by Kyōraku; if another Jay Censen came along, would they have to disband on the spot?
Did all geniuses have this quirk?
But Ukitake... oh, he was physically weak; he had the heart but not the strength.
Yamamoto's thoughts wandered unusually, even secretly mulling over his honest student.
Far away in the Thirteenth Division, Ukitake Jūshirō suddenly sneezed.
"Ahem, I understand your intentions. However, this matter needs to be decided after consulting with the various Captains."
Yamamoto gave a tactical cough, using a delaying tactic.
He had no choice; he didn't know how to respond for a moment.
"The matter of joining the Gotei 13 will be put on hold for now, but you may come to me on regular days. If you have questions about your training, I can offer some guidance."
Beside him, Inoue Toshiki was dumbfounded—ever since the "Genji School" was renamed "Shino Academy," Captain-Commander Yamamoto had never personally taught a student.
Jay was truly about to soar into the sky.
"Think carefully; the Shino Academy only teaches the basics, which would be a waste of your talent."
Yamamoto was right.
What was taught at the Academy was only the introduction to "Zan, Kaku, Ho, Gi"; advanced techniques were only mastered by those at the Captain level.
Besides the old man, Jay indeed had no better choice.
"Alright then, I'll have to trouble you, Captain-Commander."
Jay bowed.
Inoue Toshiki felt as if he had been granted a great amnesty and quickly led him out of the room—he was truly afraid this kid would say something else shocking and ruin his own reputation in his later years.
Seeing Jay return to the classroom with his head hanging, Aizen felt a wave of satisfaction—there weren't many things that could make this heartless fellow suffer a setback.
"How did it go?"
"I'd say I got a bargain. Old Man Yama said he'd teach me personally from now on."
Aizen wasn't surprised.
To groom Jay as a spokesperson, taking him as a student was the most obvious factional label and would make those lurking in the shadows restrain themselves.
"Did you mention the Rukongai riot?"
"Not really. He just asked if I wanted to join the Gotei 13, then that matter was shelved, and I became half a student of his."
Jay shook his head in confusion.
Aizen, however, was lost in thought—if Yamamoto had asked about the situation today, it would have been to force him to take a side between the Nobles and the Gotei 13.
But now, he had simply taken him as a student... Aizen laughed softly.
As people get older, they indeed tend to soften.
"Captain-Commander, why did you not explain the current situation to Jay today?"
Yamamoto Genryūsai, sitting at the small wooden table copying calligraphy, heard Sasakibe Chōjirō's inquiry from the shadow behind him, and his brush didn't stop for a moment.
Not until he finished a piece did he set down the brush and carefully examine the ink marks on the paper.
"I did have that intention originally. From the moment he entered the door, I sensed his strength—even among Lieutenants, he would be at the forefront."
"Then why..."
"He has only been here for half a year."
Yamamoto's fingertips lightly brushed the dried ink, his tone calm.
"He indeed has potential; it is not impossible for him to surpass me in the future. But precisely because of that, should we old men let a child step into this muddy water so early?"
He picked up the rice paper with the character for "Protect" written on it and held it up against the sunlight.
Through the back of the paper, the ink seemed to be plated with faint gold.
After watching silently for a moment, Yamamoto took the cane by the table, and his habitually squinted eyes opened completely.
His hunched body emitted an invisible aura, and Sasakibe, who had served him for a thousand years, felt dazed as if time had flowed back a thousand years—that indomitable Captain-Commander had returned.
"Order the Captains of each Division to convene a general meeting!"
"Yes!"