You Kid, You're Really Brave Enough!

"Twenty-seven minutes late."

Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto's expression remained blank as wisps of scorching heat rose around him.

As it distorted the spiritual particles in the air, several captains instinctively moved farther away from him again.

As the strongest being alive today, even the slightest release of high heat from Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto was enough to make ordinary captains keep their distance in awe.

His narrowed eyes slowly opened, and a brilliant flash of fire flickered through his pupils.

His aged yet imposing voice echoed through the training hall:

"This old man requires a reasonable explanation."

Faced with the pressure of his aura, Su Feng still wore a gentle smile.

In a certain sense, he bore some resemblance to Aizen Sosuke, the newly appointed captain of the Fifth Division.

"Training."

Su Feng replied neither arrogantly nor humbly, "Disciplined training is the only path to becoming stronger."

"After all, a weak captain is not something Soul Society wishes to see."

"That reasoning is reasonable enough, isn't it?"

Once those words fell, the training hall remained silent.

Different gazes regarded Su Feng from different angles, though most were filled with admiration.

Anyone who could still state their own theory while the Captain-Commander was on the verge of exploding

was already worthy of their respect.

The Assessment Battle had not even begun, yet he was already treating himself as a captain.

Kid, you really had guts!

Sure enough, as soon as he said that, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto's old face darkened even further.

Kaname Tosen's expression in the distance did not look much better either.

Though since the man was already black as charcoal, it was impossible to tell from the color of his face.

That excuse

made Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, who had been about to flare up, pause.

Anyone with even a remotely normal brain

would not openly provoke him under these circumstances.

But clearly, the Third Seat of the Ninth Division was far from normal.

One could tell as much merely from the rumors circulating through the Seireitei.

What Shinigami called doing a hundred push-ups and running ten kilometers every day "training"?

Even first-year students at the Soul Reaper Academy could easily manage that much!

"Barely reasonable."

Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto withdrew his aura, his aged voice echoing throughout the training hall.

"But training must also be judged according to the circumstances."

"This old man will not pursue the matter further this time. Prepare to begin the Assessment Battle!"

Upon realizing that he could not achieve his goal of suppressing Su Feng, he redirected everyone's attention to the subject of the day.

The Assessment Battle!

The battle that would determine who became captain of the Ninth Division!

With the captain, lieutenant, Fourth Seat, Sixth Seat, and Seventh Seat all eliminated, only Tsunayashiro Su Feng and Kaname Tosen remained qualified to compete.

"Fifth Seat Tosen."

Su Feng turned his gaze toward Kaname Tosen in the distance and smiled gently. "Are you ready?"

Faced with the provocation, Kaname Tosen remained silent, merely placing his right hand upon the sword sheath at his left side.

There was not the slightest emotional change detectable in his completely white pupils.

Everything about him was concealed beneath that bone-like mask.

"What an aggressive aura."

Shunsui Kyoraku adjusted his straw hat, his lazy gaze drifting between the two.

"In that case, let us begin."

The instant his words fell.

Two vast Spiritual Pressures erupted at once, condensing into tangible pillars of light that surged across the dojo.

The stone slabs beneath their feet groaned under the impact of the Spiritual Pressure, spiderweb cracks spreading across them.

A fierce wind howled, whipping up gusts that swept through the entire dojo.

The onlookers, captains and squad members alike, wore shocked expressions.

Some of the Seated Officers from other divisions were even left dumbfounded, unable to believe what they were seeing.

They were all clearly Seated Officers, so how had these two secretly been training behind their backs?

They had suddenly unleashed Spiritual Pressure of this level—how were the rest of them supposed to keep slacking off now?

The Seated Officers exchanged glances, each seeing the same frustrated look on the others' faces.

The captains watching as spectators, however, gazed appreciatively at the enormous Spiritual Pressures resembling pillars of light and could not help but sigh in admiration.

"Both Seated Officers possess Spiritual Pressure at captain level."

"It seems that whoever wins will be qualified to take the post of Captain of the Ninth Division."

"Third Seat Su Feng has only been in the Ninth Division for three years. He truly deserves the title of genius."

Their tangible Spiritual Pressures.

Confronted each other above the dojo.

Faintly forming dazzling pillars of light that tore through the surrounding air.

The squad members watching from afar felt an indescribable suffocation under that pressure, as though their throats had been gripped.

Su Feng did not underestimate Kaname Tosen.

After maintaining discipline for so long, he needed a worthy opponent to measure his current level of combat strength.

Kaname Tosen was undoubtedly well suited for the role.

"Third Seat Su Feng, please be careful."

Adhering to the principles of a spar, Kaname Tosen did not forget to offer a reminder before the fight.

A bright gleam flashed to his left. His Asauchi left its sheath in an instant with a clear ring, flying straight toward Su Feng.

Its momentum was swift and fierce, like a howling gale sweeping through the entire dojo in an instant!

Clang!

The clash of steel rang out and echoed.

Beneath his bone mask, a flicker of surprise appeared on Kaname Tosen's normally composed face.

The immense force transmitted through the Zanpakuto was nothing like what a normal Shinigami should possess.

And it was still increasing, as though there were no limit to it!

The corners of Su Feng's lips rose slightly, confidence radiating from him and lending him an added touch of charm.

His strength was not limited to Spiritual Pressure alone.

While completing his self-discipline tasks, he would occasionally improve the essence of his soul as well.

Though not by much.

Yet over time, his already resilient soul had become even stronger.

This allowed Su Feng to find almost no opponent capable of fighting him when their Spiritual Pressures were equal.

"Strength of this level..."

"Is far from enough to become the Captain of the Ninth Division."

It was as though lightning danced within Su Feng's pupils.

"Fifth Seat Tosen."

Boom!

A vast force erupted, sending Kaname Tosen flying backward in an instant.

He immediately drove his blade into the ground behind him, carving a long, deep trench through the stone.

"Completely overwhelmed in terms of strength?"

Kaname Tosen murmured as he rose to his feet. He raised his Zanpakuto high in his right hand, holding it upright before him as intense Spiritual Pressure waves bloomed around his body.

In Su Feng's vision, the figure before him seemed to have suddenly been stripped of all color, leaving only faint black and white.

At that moment, the world fell silent.

Clear insect chirping echoed through the dojo.

Kaname Tosen raised the blade in his hand. Spiritual Pressure trembled across it, and amid the humming insect cries came a low declaration of battle.

"Cry, Suzumushi!"