Unohana Retsu looked at Natsuki's resolute expression and was a little surprised. Then she asked softly, "What do you want me to witness?"
Over the years, Natsuki had often come to the 4th Division to study under her. At first, he had learned healing techniques. Later, after Azashiro Kenpachi was imprisoned and Gosu became the new Kenpachi, Natsuki's lessons with her gradually shifted to Zanjutsu—in other words, swordsmanship.
The two of them had grown quite familiar with each other.
Natsuki replied in a low voice, "I want you to witness my challenge to Kiganjo Kenpachi!"
"According to the 11th Division's generations-old rules, anyone who defeats the current Kenpachi in front of two hundred squad members and a captain will inherit the captain's position and become the new Kenpachi, no matter what their status was before the challenge."
"That was how Azashiro Kenpachi defeated Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, and how Kiganjo Kenpachi defeated Gosu Kenpachi."
"And now, I want to challenge Kiganjo Kenpachi, so I need a witness!"
Natsuki didn't hide his intentions. He plainly told Unohana Retsu what he had been thinking.
A flicker of surprise crossed Unohana Retsu's eyes.
Although she was in the 4th Division, she still knew a little about what went on in the 11th Division.
When Gosu became Kenpachi, Unohana Retsu had merely lamented that he wasn't strong enough for the role. But after Kiganjo became Kenpachi, she had felt genuine disdain.
Perhaps Kiganjo Kenpachi was much stronger than Gosu, but could a fool who inflicted violence within his Division and turned the whole place into a mess really do a good job as Kenpachi?
On second thought, it wasn't surprising that Natsuki had made this decision.
No reasonable person could tolerate a fool like Kiganjo.
The ordinary Shinigami of the 11th Division lacked the strength to resist him, so they had no choice but to endure his oppression. But Natsuki was different. Unohana Retsu had taught him for a long time, and she knew just how much potential he had.
Generally, once Shinigami reached a certain level of growth, they would hit a so-called bottleneck, and their strength would be difficult to improve.
But Unohana Retsu had never seen anything like a bottleneck in Natsuki.
It was as if he was improving every moment.
When she had first seen Natsuki's strength, it had already been impressive. After that, he had seemed to change every year, always charging ahead. By that, she meant his Rei-pressure.
Unohana Retsu often gave Natsuki guidance, so she had a deep understanding of his Rei-pressure.
It was hard to imagine how far he might go once he reached his peak.
Though it had been many years since Natsuki became a Shinigami, for Shinigami with their long lifespans, that was only the beginning.
Within the Gotei 13, there were several Shinigami who had held captain positions for over a century.
"Why did you choose me as your witness?" Unohana Retsu asked another question. "If I remember correctly, Captain Kyōraku of the 8th Division witnessed both of the previous Kenpachi duels."
Unohana Retsu didn't ask Natsuki why he wanted to challenge Kiganjo Kenpachi. There was no need. Someone like Kiganjo would only tarnish the 11th Division's reputation. The rules of the Kenpachi Succession Ceremony had allowed a man like him to become Kenpachi, but Unohana Retsu had been hoping someone would challenge him.
It didn't surprise her that Natsuki had stepped forward now.
From her time with Natsuki, she knew he was a man with a strong sense of responsibility.
Now that he was the 11th Division's vice-captain, he couldn't just stand by while Kiganjo bullied the squad members.
"Captain Kyōraku witnessed the two Kenpachi duels, but I'm not especially close to him. The captain I know best is you, Captain Unohana."
Natsuki gave her an explanation.
But what he really thought was that Unohana Retsu was the First Kenpachi.
Having the First Kenpachi witness his challenge to Kiganjo would make the ceremony feel complete.
"I see." Unohana Retsu nodded. "Then I'll be your witness."
In the 11th Division,
Kiganjo Kenpachi sat in the middle of the training ground, drinking with his legs spread wide.
The 11th Division Shinigami who had been sparring there all stopped when Kiganjo Kenpachi arrived.
This displeased him.
"Fight! Why did you stop?"
"I want to see what it looks like when Shinigami fight!"
"Come on, get moving!"
Though Natsuki had stopped him from assaulting a female squad member that night, Kiganjo's nature was hard to change. He had been an outright villain in Rukongai, and he had brought that ugly disposition into the Seireitei. It clearly wouldn't be easy for him to change.
He wanted to turn the entire 11th Division into his personal fiefdom, just as he had in Rukongai. Everyone would work to curry favor with him, and every now and then, he would give them a little reward.
The Seated Officer positions were what he considered the best rewards.
After learning how the Gotei 13 worked, Kiganjo had figured out what these Shinigami wanted most.
If that woman had really pleased him that night, he wouldn't have minded giving her a Seated Officer position.
But he had been stopped.
As he watched the Shinigami standing frozen and no longer fighting, Kiganjo Kenpachi thought again of the man who had stopped him that night.
If the man hadn't been the 11th Division's vice-captain, and if Kiganjo hadn't just arrived and needed to rely on him to handle the so-called Division affairs, he would have taught him a lesson already.
But he hadn't forgotten. Sooner or later, he would strip that vice-captain of his position and make him kneel before Lord Kiganjo and beg.
Just as Kiganjo thought of Natsuki, then returned to the present and prepared to berate the Shinigami for refusing to fight and depriving him of his entertainment, a low voice sounded.
"Everyone's here!"
"Perfect. That saves me the trouble of gathering you all."
At the sound of that voice, Kiganjo Kenpachi's brows rose slightly, and a look of distaste appeared in his eyes.
"What do you want?"
Kiganjo Kenpachi looked at Natsuki, who had come over, and asked in a cold voice.
"Or have you finished handling all the Division affairs?"
Natsuki met Kiganjo Kenpachi's icy gaze without fear. "Division affairs can be handled whenever. Today, there's only one thing I want to do."
As he spoke, Natsuki shifted his tone and brought up something else.
"Within the Gotei 13, our 11th Division is extremely special. Not only is its captain called Kenpachi, but the way the captain's position is passed down is also completely different from that of the other Divisions."
"Today, there happen to be two hundred squad members here."
"So I want to challenge you!"
"Kiganjo... Kenpachi!"
As he said those final two words, Natsuki's voice carried a hint of mockery, as if he were expressing his contempt for Kiganjo, the man calling himself Kenpachi.
Bang!
Kiganjo Kenpachi hurled the flask in his hand to the ground. It shattered with a sharp crash. Then he sprang to his feet and looked at Natsuki with a savage sneer. "What do you take me for? I'm Kenpachi!"
"You're nowhere near strong enough to challenge me!"
"Since you're the vice-captain, I'll give you a chance. Give up now, and it's still not too late."
Natsuki's expression remained unchanged. He replied calmly, "Give up? Sorry, I've been thinking about challenging you today for a long time. I even went out of my way to find a captain to witness it."
"That's right. I'm here to be the witness."
After Natsuki spoke, another gentle voice rang out.
Hearing that gentle voice, the 11th Division squad members began murmuring among themselves.
"It's Captain Unohana!"
"Vice-Captain Natsuki..."
"..."
They hadn't expected Natsuki to be serious.
After Kiganjo became Kenpachi, his conduct had been completely different from that of the previous Kenpachi.
Azashiro Kenpachi had been cold, but he rarely interfered in the Division's affairs. They had found him difficult to get used to, but otherwise, they hadn't had much to complain about.
Kiganjo was different.
He was selfish and cruel. His behavior in the Division had long since angered many squad members, but since Kiganjo was Kenpachi, they had no choice but to bury their resentment.
They never expected someone to finally reach their limit.
Someone had chosen to challenge Kiganjo Kenpachi.
And that challenger was their vice-captain, Natsuki.
They knew Natsuki well. He rarely attended drinking parties, and sometimes kept to himself, but he never backed down in a fight. He was someone they respected. Honestly, they hoped he could defeat Kiganjo Kenpachi.
But could he really do it?
Back when Gosu Kenpachi was in charge, Natsuki had still only been vice-captain. That proved Gosu Kenpachi was stronger than him.
And Kiganjo Kenpachi had defeated Gosu Kenpachi to become Kenpachi.
Natsuki had no idea that so many squad members doubted him.
With Unohana Retsu's arrival, all the additional requirements of the Kenpachi Succession Ceremony had been met. Now, they only needed to settle the outcome.
He looked at the furious Kiganjo and spoke again.
"Rather than let a man like you serve as Kenpachi and tarnish the name, I'd rather take the title myself!"
Before you continue