Jay Censen finally enjoyed a few days of peace, not having to clash blades with Captain-class opponents.
He estimated that Captain-Commander Yamamoto wanted him to finish the Academy's basic curriculum first; even advanced Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō techniques required mastering the fundamentals.
It was like how no one starts by knowing advanced calculus; everyone builds up from the basics.
"Sōsuke, do you know how a Shinigami can remain undefeated in combat?"
Jay tilted his head forty-five degrees, gazing at the sky with his hands clasped behind his back, speaking with great mystery.
"Shinigami combat is, fundamentally, a battle of Reiatsu. The gap in Reiatsu is not a chasm that can be easily crossed."
Aizen, flipping through his textbook, answered casually.
The level of Reiatsu directly affects a Shinigami's combat ability.
If the difference in Reiatsu spans two or three ranks, the situation becomes completely one-sided.
If the gap widens further, a spirit with weak Reiatsu might be directly disintegrated into Reishi by the impact of high-intensity Reiatsu.
"You are wrong, Sōsuke!"
Jay shook his right index finger in front of Aizen, wearing an expression that suggested he had seen through everything.
"It's about the presentation, understand? If someone as handsome as me were to fight Inoue Toshiki, that old geezer, as long as I spout some cool, pretentious lines, I'd definitely obliterate him instantly!"
Looking at the original work, besides his high stats, didn't Kurosaki Ichigo always get a new, incredibly cool form whenever he won?
Things like Hollowfication, the Vasto Lorde form, Mugetsu, and so on.
Even if I'm strong now, what if my Zanpakutō's Shikai and Bankai aren't cool enough?
"Sōsuke, you have to help me get a Bankai that is both powerful and cool."
Aizen rolled his eyes speechlessly, flipped to the next page, and continued studying, completely dismissing Jay's words as nonsense.
The formation of a Zanpakutō is intimately connected to one's own soul; how could an outsider help with that?
"Right, where did you get your Asauchi?"
Asauchi are normally temporarily issued to these Academy students upon enrollment, but the process was delayed due to the appearance of the anomaly, Jay Censen.
The issuance was now complete.
Unless they achieved Shikai while still an Academy Student, the Asauchi they possessed at this time were considered borrowed from the Academy.
"I picked it up on the road."
Jay glared at Aizen with intense disdain.
You could at least come up with a decent excuse. If I believed that, wouldn't it make me look incredibly stupid?
"When will you show me your Shikai?"
Aizen's finger, which was turning the page, paused slightly, but he immediately shook his head without changing his expression.
"I can't show you."
Jay curled his lip, thinking, You'd better never show me.
"Captain-Commander, sir, all Captains are present except for the Second Division."
Putting down his brush, Yamamoto stood up and draped the white Captain's Haori, marked with the character "One," over his shoulders.
He walked toward the large room used for Captains' meetings.
He subtly nodded after surveying the serious faces of the various Division Captains.
Although the current state wasn't comparable to when the Gotei 13 was first founded, none of the Captains had relaxed their training.
When he looked toward the Second Division's position, Yamamoto frowned.
The one who arrived was the Second Division's Lieutenant—Ōmaeda Shinozuke.
Although the Captaincy of the Second Division is traditionally inherited by members of the Shihōin Head Family, they must still possess sufficient strength to pass the test and assume the role.
Otherwise, if they appointed a weakling, not only would others refuse to submit, but they certainly wouldn't be able to fulfill their primary duty of managing the Onmitsukidō.
"Lieutenant Ōmaeda, when you return, remember to properly supervise the Shihōin Clan's brat so that she can assume the Captain's duties soon."
"Yes, sir!"
Ōmaeda, named by Old Man Yama, broke out in a cold sweat and quickly affirmed.
Even if he couldn't manage the Young Miss, he couldn't contradict the Captain-Commander, or else his considerable mass would be beaten down by the old man.
"Everyone, the riots in Rukongai are growing increasingly severe, yet Central 46 has been slow to issue orders to quell them. I believe you all understand what this signifies."
Everyone could hear the anger in Yamamoto's calm words.
After all, Central 46 was truly unscrupulous.
The power they currently hold is already immense, issuing commands that even Captain-Commander Yamamoto cannot disobey.
Now they are trying to manipulate things in Rukongai—isn't this forcing the Captain-Commander to turn hostile?
"We are now establishing a First Division Special Task Force."
"Third Division Captain Kinoshita Hanta, Seventh Division Captain Shirakura Shinichiro, both of you are to select seated officers from your Divisions to temporarily join the Special Task Force as Vice Commanders of Operations."
"As for the Commander-in-Chief..."
Yamamoto turned his gaze to Sixth Division Captain Kuchiki Ginrei.
Looking at his old friend, who was already white-haired and wrinkled, Yamamoto sighed softly in his heart.
"Ginrei, does your son-in-law currently have a mission?"
"Reporting to the Captain-Commander, our Kuchiki Clan is always willing to contribute our strength for the stability of Soul Society."
As the Head of the Kuchiki Clan and the face of the Four Great Noble Families, Kuchiki Ginrei absolutely would not allow anyone to challenge the order of Soul Society through conflict.
Upon returning, he would need to properly instruct Kuchiki Kōga.
Receiving the affirmative reply, Yamamoto stroked his beard.
The matter was temporarily concluded; three Captain-class combatants were sufficient to handle most internal situations.
Kuchiki Ginrei's son-in-law was a gifted individual, and his Zanpakutō ability would certainly pose a considerable threat in large-scale conflicts.
"Teacher, I heard you accepted a new student?"
Kyōraku Shunsui, sensing the atmosphere relax, felt a little wronged.
Hadn't it been said back then that he and Ukitake were the final disciples?
Why, after several hundred years, had he taken on a new disciple?
Although he heard that Junior Brother's talent was astonishing, he himself had been called a genius back in the day.
Yamamoto was already greatly displeased with Kyōraku Shunsui's unreliability, and now Jay Censen, who was even more eccentric than Kyōraku, had appeared.
In Yamamoto's view, this was probably karma caused by his momentary oversight in accepting the unfortunate Kyōraku as a disciple back then.
The old man's temper was as unpredictable as a child's; Yamamoto, deciding Kyōraku was the root of all trouble, snorted coldly, announced the meeting adjourned, and turned to leave.
Kyōraku Shunsui, who had inexplicably received a dirty look from his Teacher, was momentarily stunned.
He turned to look pleadingly at his close friend, Ukitake Jūshirō, only to have his friend return the look with an expression that said, "What trouble have you gotten into now?"
Could it be that the Old Man found out that he had been going drinking every day recently and dumping all his work onto Little Lisa?
Kyōraku Shunsui was still standing rooted to the spot, mentally reviewing everything he had done recently that might have angered the Old Man, while the other Captains had already left.
Ukitake Jūshirō, as his close friend, knew immediately from his appearance that Kyōraku hadn't been behaving well lately, so he pulled him toward Teacher Yamamoto's room to prepare him to confess his mistakes.
"Hey, hey, Ukitake, you're trying to kill me!"
Ukitake Jūshirō completely ignored Kyōraku's exaggerated performance.
It wasn't the first time, and at worst, he would be sentenced to train beneath a waterfall for a few months, which was insignificant to someone as thick-skinned as Kyōraku.
"Students pay respects to Teacher."
The two bowed to Yamamoto, who was resting with his eyes closed.
Regardless of anything else, this was the Teacher who had guided them, and they respected him from the bottom of their hearts.
Before Yamamoto could speak, Kyōraku Shunsui, having received a wink from Ukitake, dropped onto the floor with a "thud" and began listing his crimes to Yamamoto, hoping for leniency.
Old Man Yamamoto, who had only been slightly annoyed at Kyōraku, finally reached his boiling point upon hearing his good disciple mention things that raised his blood pressure.
Things such as "drinking parties," "privately serializing indecent novels," and "drunkenly scribbling on the Teacher's manuscripts."
"You scoundrel!"
Furious, Yamamoto glared and cursed Kyōraku.
How could an upright person like himself have taught such a frivolous disciple?
His reputation was utterly ruined.
The air around Yamamoto formed a vortex, swelling his Shihakushō, suggesting that in the next second, he would bulk up his muscles and thoroughly discipline this wicked fool.
Seeing his Teacher react so violently, Kyōraku Shunsui was also stunned.
Hadn't they said confession earns leniency?
Ukitake, you betrayed me!
Kyōraku Shunsui, watching in horror as Old Man Yama's fist rapidly approached his face, let out a shriek before being sent flying.