Ukitake, Just Give In to This Old Man / Ukitake's Captaincy Trial

"Don't worry, I'll go with you." Yamabuki Chidori and Jūshirō Ukitake arrived at the Thirteenth Division together. Before they even entered, they heard Sakurane Saizo's violent coughing and his very weak voice.

"If I am about to die, you must pass on my words, and let Ukitake..." Sakurane Saizo could finish speaking, Yamabuki Chidori interrupted him.

"Come here, let me see what's wrong?" Yamabuki Chidori strode to the bedside and reached out to take his pulse.

Sakurane Saizo kept groaning in pain, then said to his team members, "You all go out first, I have a few words I want to say to the Chief Strategist."

Ukitake could only lead his team members out first.

I don't know what the two of them said in the room, but judging from what just happened, the Captain was probably giving his last words.

The Captain is quite old. I heard that he already looked like Old Man when he joined the Gotei 13. Now he has been working in his position for three hundred years, and it seems that his body is about to give out.

A short while later, Yamabuki Chidori came out of the room, her face ashen, and all the team members felt a chill run down their spines.

Yamabuki Chidori is Seireitei, and now even the Chief Strategist like this. Could it be that the Captain's body is really about to give out?

Come to think of it, nothing in this world can stop the passage of time. Even Captain-level Grim Reaper will weaken due to old age.

"Teacher, how is the Captain's health?" Ukitake asked in a low voice.

Yamabuki Chidori's expression was solemn. She looked up at the sky, then shook her head sadly. "Let him eat whatever he wants! Also, during this time, you all need to appease him and make sure he doesn't get angry again. Go along with everything he wants, understand?"

Hearing Yamabuki Chidori say this, Ukitake's heart sank. Even the best healer in Seireitei said so, so did the Captain only have a few days left to live?

"Teacher, didn't you always say that your medical skills were taught by Tenshirō Kirinji? Could Mr. Kirinji possibly have a solution?" Ukitake asked anxiously.

Yamabuki Chidori kept shaking her head. "Although my medical skills were taught by Kirinji, I've surpassed my master. I can cure many difficult and complicated diseases that he couldn't solve. Even diseases that I can't cure... Sigh! By the way, Sakurane Saizo about his health condition. I just said he had a bad cold and would be better in a few days."

"We understand! We all understand! We will definitely obey our Captain in every way during this time," the team members said sorrowfully.

Although the Old Man Sakurane Saizo seems strange, he has worked diligently for the past three hundred years and is very kind to his teammates, making him very popular among them.

Ukitake asked again in a low voice, "Teacher, should we prescribe some medicine for the Captain?"

Yamabuki shook his head and said softly, "No matter what medicine we prescribe now, it's useless; it can only barely stabilize his condition."

After saying this, Yamabuki Chidori sighed and left.

Ukitake quietly opened the door, forcibly suppressing his cough, afraid that it would disturb the Captain.

Sakurane Saizo quietly on the hospital bed, his eyes half-open and half-closed.

"Ukitake, you're here? Did that Yamabuki kid tell you what illness I have? Why didn't he tell me anything?" Sakurane Saizo said weakly.

"No... it's nothing! It's just a cold, a few doses of medicine will do the trick. By the way, Captain, is there anything you particularly want to eat? I'll go buy it for you!" Ukitake asked.

Sakurane Saizo said leisurely, "I'm already this old, nothing tastes good anymore, so I'd better not! However, the work in the team will have to be handled by you for the time being."

"No problem, Captain, don't worry. Just focus on your recovery and leave everything else to me," Jūshirō Ukitake said firmly.

"I see! Then I can rest easy." Sakurane Saizo gently closed his eyes, peaceful and serene.

"Captain... Captain!!!" Ukitake hadn't expected the person to leave so quickly.

Sakurane Saizo suddenly opened his eyes and glared at him. "Stop calling me. I just closed my eyes to sleep for a while. You can leave now. Unless it's something really important, don't bother me!"

"Alright! That scared me to death! Captain, you should rest now. Call me anytime if you need anything." Jūshirō Ukitake respectfully withdrew.

Although the lifespan of a Shinigami is very long, it is not immortal. Over the past few hundred years, Old Man Yamamoto has aged noticeably. Previously, Captain Commander Yamamoto looked like a middle-aged man in his fifties, but now he looks like Old Man sixties, and he has even started to lose his hair. Captain Commander Yamamoto has put a lot of effort into this.

However, it is estimated that in another one or two hundred years, the Captain Commander's hair will have fallen out completely.

Jūshirō Ukitake's eyes were filled with sorrow. He had been a member of the Gotei 13 for over two hundred years, working under Sakurane Saizo. The two had a very good relationship, and he never expected that something like this would happen.

As evening fell, the members of the Thirteenth Division were preparing to go home when a special guest arrived at the Captain's office.

"You are... Captain Shijima Chiru?" Jūshirō Ukitake looked at the man in front of him with some surprise. When Shijima Chiru resigned, Jūshirō Ukitake had not yet joined the Gotei 13.

Along with Shijima Chiru, there were also Ōtōgawa Utsugi and Saitō Fubōfu.

The fact that these three veteran Captain, who had already resigned, suddenly came here must be because Teacher. Yamabuki told them that the Captain's health was not good and asked them to come and visit him.

"We've brought some gifts to visit our old friend. Don't be too sad, all good things must come to an end!" Saitō Fubōfu patted Ukitake on the shoulder.

Chapter 178: Ukitake, just give in to this old man.

Ukitake led the veteran Captain to Sakurane Saizo's bedside. The Old Man's consciousness was somewhat hazy, but he could still recognize the people in front of him.

Ukitake whispered to the veteran Captain, "He was perfectly fine just two days ago, only caught a bad cold, and suddenly Captain's like this."

Shijima Chiru said in a low voice, "As the saying goes, illness comes like a landslide, but recovery is like pulling silk. In addition, the old man is already old, and he has worked hard for so many years, which has led to his illness. It's just that all the injuries and fatigue accumulated over the years have come out at once. There's no need to make such a fuss."

"Ukitake! I feel like I'm hallucinating? It's like all my old friends from when I was young have come looking for me!" Sakurane Saizo like he might die if he couldn't catch his breath.

"Captain, it's not a hallucination. The other Captain came to see you with gifts," Ukitake said.

"They actually came! That's great! Help me up!" Sakurane Saizo said happily.

"This..." Ukitake looked troubled.

"It's alright, you can go out first, we can handle things here. We're old friends after all, why don't you stay and chat tonight? Besides, I'm skilled in acupuncture and massage, maybe it'll be good for this old man's health," Shijima Chiru said with a smile.

After bidding farewell to the senior figures, Ukitake obediently withdrew.

After Ukitake left, Shijima Chiru revealed a cunning smile like a fox, "Old Man, my acupuncture and massage are top-notch. How about I give you acupuncture?"

He took out a Silver Needle pouch from his pocket, and pulled out a silver awl over forty centimeters long and thicker than a little finger. "Usually, people your age get Alzheimer's disease. This symptom is caused by cerebellar atrophy. I'll use this Silver Needle your cerebellum. As long as you get enough stimulation, you'll regain your vitality. You two hold him down while I administer the acupuncture!"

As she spoke, Shijima Chiru pounced on her like a demon.

The next day, when Ukitake arrived, he noticed a faint smell of alcohol in the room of Sakurane Saizo.

"Huh? Captain, did you drink last night? Is your body able to handle it?" Ukitake asked, somewhat surprised.

"No... it wasn't alcohol, it was medicinal wine that Shijima Chiru brought. She said it would be good for my back, and she applied a lot to my back. It did help a bit; I feel much better in my back." Sakurane Saizo's cloudy old eyes darted around. He seemed quite energetic just a moment ago, but in the blink of an eye, he looked dejected and old.

"Ukitake, come here, I have something to say to you!" Sakurane Saizo said in a very solemn tone.

Ukitake what Yamabuki Chidori had said, "Don't provoke Sakurane Saizo your anger," Ukitake obediently sat down.

"These old bones of mine can't hold on much longer. Before I close my eyes, I want to pass on the position of Captain of the Thirteenth Division," said Sakurane Saizo weakly.

"Captain, which one have you chosen? I'll go and call him over right now," said Ukitake.

Sakurane Saizo stared intently at Ukitake: "I don't trust anyone else, Ukitake. How about you take on the position of Captain of the Thirteenth Division? You've been in the Thirteenth Division for over two hundred years. In terms of strength, you're no less than me. In terms of prestige and popularity, the team members will definitely support you..."

"But... I'm afraid my abilities aren't enough to take on the role of Captain!" Jūshirō Ukitake said with great difficulty.

"Ukitake, are you just going to watch me die with my eyes open? You have to believe in yourself. Although you are weak and sickly, your strength is definitely no less than those Captain. Ukitake, this is the only wish I have before I die. Can't you even grant this small wish to a dying man like me?" Sakurane Saizo's eyes were filled with despair and disappointment. "Fine! Fine! Let's just pretend our two hundred years of friendship never existed. Go! Let this Old Man die here all alone."

"Captain, please don't say that." Ukitake knew his physical condition. He always believed that his Reiatsu had grown to the Captain-level not because of his hard work, but because he had the Soul King's Right Arm inside him. This was cheating. Therefore, deep down, he always believed that his potential was far inferior to that of these Captain.

This is also why he repeatedly refused to serve as the Captain of the Thirteenth Division.

But now he had no choice but to accept the offer. His Sakurane Saizo, and he was on the verge of death. His greatest wish before he died was to become the Captain and lead his team to continue on their journey.

Think about how the Captain has taken care of me over the past two hundred years.

If I can't even fulfill my Captain's wish to die, am I even human?

Ukitake took a deep breath and made up his mind.

"I understand. Since the Captain values me so much, I will certainly not let Captain down." Jūshirō Ukitake knew he had no way out; he had to succeed no matter what.

This old man has spent hundreds of years building the Thirteenth Division; I must not let him down.

"You agreed! That's wonderful!" Sakurane Saizo jumped up from the bed with joy, but then remembered that he seemed to be seriously ill, so he quickly lay back down.

Jūshirō Ukitake didn't even notice this, thinking it was just the old man's last burst of energy before death.

This, however, made him even more worried about Sakurane Saizo's physical condition.

"There are three conditions for selecting the Captain of the Gotei 13. You can become Captain by fulfilling any one of the following conditions," Sakurane Saizo. "First, complete the Captain selection task under the supervision of at least three Captain. Second, be recommended by at least six Captain, and more than half of the remaining six Captain do not object. Third, defeat the previous Captain in front of at least two hundred members. The third condition does not apply, and the second condition... is just for show. In the two or three hundred years since the Gotei 13 was established, no Captain has ever been recommended. Therefore, Yamabuki Chidori and the Captain Commander will definitely give you a very difficult task. Ukitake, it all depends on you!"

"Don't worry, Captain. No matter how difficult the mission is, I will complete it." Jūshirō Ukitake had already taken this as the last wish of the Sakurane Saizo.

He might not be capable enough to be the Captain of the Thirteenth Division on his own, but at least he wanted to ensure that the old man could die peacefully and see that the Thirteenth Division had a successor.

That afternoon, Sakurane Saizo personally wrote a document and submitted it to the Staff Department. The document was very simple: he was too old to serve as the Captain of the Gotei 13, and hoped that the Lieutenant, Jūshirō Ukitake, Thirteenth Division Captain over the position.

Chapter 179: Ukitake's Captain's Trial

"That's how it is, Teacher." Jūshirō Ukitake sat upright facing Yamabuki Chidori.

Yamabuki Chidori gently tapped her head, looking like she had a terrible headache.

"Since he's said so, how could I refuse? I'll arrange your trial in three days. Go back and prepare." Yamabuki Chidori said.

After Ukitake left, Yamabuki Chidori began to think about the trial. Ukitake was definitely strong, and not weak at all. He was definitely at the Captain-level. It was a pity that his physical fitness was too poor. There was nothing that could be done about it. If it weren't for the Soul King's Right Hand forcibly prolonging his life, this kid would have died when he was three years old.

Therefore, the content of the trial must be carefully prepared.

If the trial takes too long, Ukitake might fail due to lack of stamina. However, if the trial is too easy, it will be difficult to convince others. He knows that this kid will definitely become the Captain of the Thirteenth Division in the future, but others do not. If he goes easy on him, it might cause dissatisfaction among others.

After all, Ukitake was considered his disciple, so it was easy for people to gossip about him.

Yamabuki Chidori listed all the requirements of the trial on a piece of paper.

The environment must be pleasant; it should be a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters. If you send Ukitake to a volcano or a snowy place to carry out a mission, he might die on his own before the enemy even has to lift a finger.

Secondly, the opponent's strength must not be weak. Ukitake's power must be recognized by the other Shinigami of the Gotei 13. After all, the most important factor for becoming Captain in the Gotei 13 is being able to fight.

Everything else was ranked second.

Just thinking about those two conditions made Yamabuki Chidori feel an itch on her head, as if a brain was growing out of her head.

He's really gone to great lengths for these people.

Moreover, if this kid dies, the Thirteenth Division will be without Captain for a long time.

Yamabuki Chidori flipped through the latest reports, which were filled with news of various Menos Grande appearing.

Suddenly, he saw a strange message in the 2nd Division's report.

In the northern Rukongai, several villages have disappeared one after another; it is hoped that someone will be sent to investigate.

These villages have populations ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand. Such a large-scale disappearance will certainly have adverse effects if left unchecked.

"Alright, let's leave this task to Ukitake." Yamabuki Chidori his fist into his palm.

Don't underestimate these investigation missions; sometimes they are more difficult than simple raiding missions.

The task of subjugating someone is simply to find the target and kill him.

Investigation missions test people's intellect. If you send the previous Kenpachi to fight, they certainly wouldn't be afraid even if they were fighting Vastolorde. But when it comes to something that requires brains, apart from the first and second Kenpachi, even if everyone else were tied together, they might not be able to solve the problem.

Furthermore, the main job of the Thirteenth Division is Purification, which involves Purification the Soul Burial in the Human World. They don't actually fight much, so the demand for combat power is not that high.

"It's decided then and there!" Yamabuki Chidori made the decision immediately.

Sakurane Saizo ill, Jūshirō Ukitake could only act as the Captain of the Thirteenth Division. Surprisingly, the members of the Thirteenth Division were very supportive.

Jūshirō Ukitake is a gentle and kind person who treats his teammates very well. Although he is frail and sickly, he never backs down when it comes to battle and his fighting ability is surprisingly high. In everyone's eyes, he is a very reliable person.

Jūshirō Ukitake, however, always felt that he was not capable enough to serve as Captain.

Three days later, the trial missions were issued.

To everyone's surprise, this turned out to be an investigation mission: to find out the reason for the village's disappearance.

Jūshirō Ukitake felt somewhat awkward. Was his Teacher deliberately going easy on him because he was afraid he was too weak?

Although his physical strength wasn't great, he wasn't so easy to kill. If it were an ordinary Adjuchas, even two or three of them wouldn't be a match for him.

Ukitake had initially thought that others might object, given the mission's relatively low difficulty, but to his surprise, not a single person objected.

Especially those burly, rough men, even had serious expressions on their faces.

Hyakki-ji Kenpachi was the leader.

If you ask him to fight or get beaten up, he'll happily rush out, but if you ask him to use his brain to investigate something, you might as well just cut his brain off.

It's not that he lacks intelligence, it's just that for these people who love to fight, solving problems with anything other than fists is too troublesome.

"Mission requirements: No one may provide armed assistance, but intelligence or other aid may be provided. Time limit: half a month."

Upon seeing this, Ukitake and a hard place, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

This kind of investigation mission doesn't require the use of force, yet others can provide all sorts of information, which is practically cheating.

Although Jūshirō Ukitake is the Lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division, he is very popular in Seireitei because of his humble personality. As soon as the other members received the news, the intelligence came running to them on its own.