Chapter 23

All that could be seen was a handsome young man wearing slippers, dressed in flashy casual clothes, with a bottle of hard liquor in his hand.

He staggered over, his gaze loose and lazy, occasionally letting out a drunken burp.

The crowd all covered their faces, cringing on Kuchiki Senya's behalf hard enough to dig through the floor.

Embarrassing.

Way too embarrassing!

The strongest freshman, and this is what he looks like?!

"Quite... distinctive, to say the least." Yamamoto's Heavy Strike tugged at the corner of his mouth — this was his first time seeing Kuchiki Senya in person.

This lazy, slovenly image.

It was simply impossible to associate it with the image of the number-one genius of Soul Society, who had inflicted a single heavy slash upon Tsunayashiro Tokinada!

The contrast was just too great!

"Be careful."

"We've spent the past two days going through the school rules. Old Man Yamamoto values rules and justice above all else."

"According to the school rules, injuring a teacher leaves you with only two choices: immediate expulsion, or taking a slash from Captain-General Yamamoto."

Beside him.

Yoruichi, Urahara, and Bai Zai all looked at Kuchiki Senya with worry.

Kuchiki Senya merely nodded.

The older Old Man Yamamoto got, the more rigid and hidebound his thinking became — he would never allow anything that violated the rules.

Then.

He looked toward several figures not far off, whose Reiatsu pressed heavily upon the senses.

An old man so frail he needed a cane to support his body — Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni!

Though his frame was withered.

When his eyes opened and closed, they were like a hawk's, radiating a sharp, cold gleam!

He was also Soul Society's strongest on the surface — the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years, the ceiling of combat power!

A roguish middle-aged uncle, Kyoraku Shunsui — lazy and carefree by nature, but gifted with extraordinary talent and overwhelming combat power.

In the original work.

After Old Man Yamamoto passed away, it was he who went on to serve as Captain-General of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

The one with a gentle face was Hua-jie herself, Unohana Retsu — the first Kenpachi, a striking contrast to her appearance.

And finally…

Muguruma Kensei — the unit of measurement for Shinigami combat power, making the coolest entrance and taking the worst beatings!

"Kuchiki Senya."

"You now have two choices: withdraw from the academy right now, or take one slash from me — and then you may join the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's aged voice echoed across the entire grounds.

"What!"

"Take a slash from the Captain-General!"

The watching teachers and students were all stunned — that was Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years!

Even at the Captain level, without using Bankai, one couldn't take a single slash from him!

"Alright, bring it on."

Kuchiki Senya said flatly, and a Zanpakutō gleaming with cold light — one whose gaze alone made one feel a bone-piercing chill — appeared in his hand.

Its edge was peerlessly sharp.

Even from a great distance.

People could feel a faint stinging pain on their skin!

"That sword…"

The watching crowd was startled in their hearts — such an appearance was far from ordinary.

As for Aizen, his eyes narrowed slightly.

Kuchiki Senya's earlier claim of being unable to wield a sword had been nothing but a lie.

"Very good."

"Full of spirit."

Yamamoto's Heavy Strike nodded approvingly, while Unohana Retsu and the others beside him took the hint and cleared the surrounding crowd.

Making sure they were at least a kilometer away.

Even the residual shockwave from Old Man Yamamoto's single slash was enough to grievously injure these students — or even kill them.

A moment later.

Around the academy.

The temperature rose sharply, and from Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni at the center, raging flames burst forth.

They shot straight into the sky, shattering and obliterating the layered clouds, evaporating them into vast sheets of water vapor.

Within the academy.

The once-lush trees all turned a withered yellow, some even taking on a charred-black appearance.

The blaze grew ever more vigorous.

Layer upon layer of flames formed a kingdom of fire!

"Shikai!"

"All things of this world turn to ash — Ryujin Jakka!"

019. This is — the Captain's Qualification Exam!

"No, it can't be!"

"He's actually using Shikai! Old Man Yamamoto is trying to kill Kuchiki Senya!" Kyoraku Shunsui cried out in shock.

He drew his Zanpakuto at once, intending to intervene.

Kuchiki Senya is the heir of the Kuchiki clan — if Old Man Yamamoto cut him down, the situation would spiral out of control.

"No need to panic. The Captain-Commander won't take his life. This is also the Captain-Commander's test for Senya."

Unohana Retsu pressed Kyoraku Shunsui down, gently shaking her head, while her gaze remained fixed on everything happening in the field.

"In that case, isn't this just the Captain's entrance examination?" Rokutaro Kensai murmured softly from the side.

The Gotei 13.

893㈨64460

There are three ways to become a Captain.

The first.

Defeat the current Captain in front of two hundred squad members as witnesses.

The second.

Receive the recommendation of six Captains simultaneously, and gain the approval of at least three other Captains.

The third.

Pass a combat examination witnessed by the Captain-Commander and three Captains!

What lay before them.

Was the third!

Kyoraku Shunsui suddenly understood — no wonder, no wonder Old Man Yamamoto had brought several Captains with him.

This was what he had in mind!

However.

Could Kuchiki Senya truly succeed!

One must know.

To receive even one slash of the Captain-Commander's Shikai required at least Captain-level strength!

"Senya, big brother!"

Urahara, Bai Zai, and the others were pinned in place by the overwhelming Reiatsu of Genryusai, unable to move, cold sweat streaming down their faces.

Their eyes stared in panic at the scene unfolding in the field.

The might of Ryujin Jakka was like the wrath of the heavens, as if the Fire God himself had descended, leaving no room in their hearts for even the slightest thought of resistance!

They would die!