The squad leader assessment is an examination to confirm whether the participants possess the comprehensive abilities, qualities, and sense of responsibility required to serve as the captain of a squad.
The appointment of squad captains is generally based on a recommendation system, with the current captain recommending members they deem worthy. For example, Yoruichi Shihōin, the Second Division Captain, recommended Kisuke Urahara from her own squad. Therefore, under normal circumstances, the appointment of a captain is not only a matter of strength, but also of interpersonal relationships.
Of course, the 11th Division is a special case. It is the only 11th Division that simply looks at strength. And today's Twelfth Division is also quite special because Mayuri Kurotsuchi is currently the only person who has recommended himself to be the captain.
As the current director of the Research and Development Institute, Mayuri Kurotsuchi enjoys Captain-level benefits, meaning he is indeed qualified to nominate himself. However, no one expected that Mayuri Kurotsuchi would actually nominate himself to be the captain.
Inside the examination room, Sōgo Shihoin Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, Shihouin Sougo, and Shunsui Kyōraku sat in a row. Mayuri Kurotsuchi, facing these three captains who could be considered the strongest in Soul Society at present, appeared unusually calm.
"Please begin your performance."
Sōgo Shihoin looked at Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who was sitting in front of the three of them, and waved his hand, indicating that he could begin the exam.
Sōgo didn't really like Mayuri Kurotsuchi's makeup, so he didn't plan to waste any more time on her test. He wanted to finish it quickly so he could go home and play with his friends Shaoling Fon and the others.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh..."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi let out a strange laugh after hearing Sōgo's words, a laugh that sounded incredibly awkward to everyone.
"The so-called captain's assessment is just to see if the participants have mastered Bankai, right? It's simple... As a genius, I've already mastered it."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi's words were full of pride. Although his Bankai ability wasn't very strong, at least he didn't think so, it was very interesting and had great potential. Besides, even if his Bankai was weak, as long as he mastered Bankai, he would already have one foot in the captain's ranks. This was an unwritten rule, so Mayuri Kurotsuchi wasn't worried at all about whether he could pass the test.
"Alright, alright, enough talk, let's get to Bankai!"
Sōgo waved his hand impatiently at Mayuri Kurotsuchi and began to speak.
"Hmph, since you're so eager to see it, then I'll show you! My Bankai."
Seeing Sōgo's impatient expression, Mayuri Kurotsuchi Kurotsuchi's face darkened. He was in a bad mood; he hated those self-righteous guys who looked down on others.
" Bankai! The Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo!"
As Mayuri Kurotsuchi Bankai, a gigantic monster resembling a centipede with a baby's face appeared before the three captains.
"Ugh, this person's Bankai is just as disgusting and repulsive as the person himself."
Sōgo stared at the thing that looked like the final boss in a horror movie, the kind of thing that would make your sanity drop like crazy. He felt a jolt of disgust. Even though he was invincible, he still felt a jolt of powerlessness in the face of such a thing. It's like how a normal human would feel scared and disgusted when they see a cockroach. They could choose to slap it to death, but they would still feel scared and disgusted.
"Alright, alright, you've passed. Now hurry up and unleash your Bankai."
Sōgo waved his hand, signaling Mayuri Kurotsuchi to quickly stop his supernatural power; it was truly disgusting.
"Oh, so you already know how powerful I am, but I haven't yet introduced my Bankai ability."
After hearing Sōgo's words, Mayuri Kurotsuchi completely misunderstood them. He believed that even a mortal Sōgo would be captivated by the beauty of Sougo's Bankai after seeing Bankai.
"I understand, I understand. You're amazing. As for the introduction of your Bankai ability, I think we can skip that part. Just the appearance of your Bankai is impressive enough."
Sōgo practiced waving his hands, and he certainly understood the power of the opponent's Bankai. He had experienced this terrifying Bankai made one's scalp tingle, and he was unwilling to experience it again. Some experiences are enough to have once in a lifetime.
"Okay."
After hearing Sōgo's words, Mayuri Kurotsuchi withdrew his Bankai, transforming the disgusting Zanpakuto back into the shape of an ordinary katana, and then stuck it in an indescribable place.
"Oh no..."
Sōgo watched Mayuri Kurotsuchi stab his own Zanpakuto between his legs, his eyelids twitching slightly. Perhaps this freak in front of him was a better fit for him than Xiao Jiba.
"Get lost! Do you think just anyone has the right to use my name? And besides, I'm not even Xiao Jiba '."
As Sōgo thought of Xiao Jiba, he subconsciously connected with Ikomikidomoe, and Xiao Jiba's the Roar immediately echoed in his mind.
Go somewhere cool and stay there...
Sōgo was startled by Xiao Jiba's roar and then unilaterally severed his connection with Ikomikidomoe.
" Old Man Yama's assessment is over, can I go back now?"
After finishing his conversation with Xiao Jiba, Sōgo couldn't wait to Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, who had remained motionless and hadn't said much from beginning to end.
"..."
After hearing Sōgo's words, the Old Man Yama fell silent. He just sat there, his eyes half-closed, quietly thinking.
"I hereby announce that Mayuri Kurotsuchi has passed the test. Now Gotei 13, in the name of First Division Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, the current Captain-Commander the Research and Development Institute, Mayuri Kurotsuchi is officially appointed as the Captain of the Twelfth Division."
Finally, the Old Man Yama announced the news of Mayuri Kurotsuchi's appointment.
OK~
"Going home, going home, it's time to wrap up work."
Sōgo finally heard the news from the Old Man Yama that Mayuri Kurotsuchi had successfully passed the test. He was even more excited than Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who had passed the captain's test. He couldn't wait to leave the test room and head straight for his own Second Division.
Indeed, home is the warmest place in the world.
"Starting today, we will be operating on a shift system, so everyone has a holiday!!!"
Sōgo stood inside the Second Division barracks and shouted loudly.
"Oh oh oh oh!"
The members of the Stealth Force raised their hands and shouted loudly, in coordination with Sōgo.
Their Second Division is different from the other divisions because of the Stealth Force. The Stealth Force is a force that serves the great nobles. Since Yoruichi Shihōin took over, it has basically become the private army of the Shihoin Family. Therefore, they have no doubt about Sōgo of the Shihoin Family succeeding Yoruichi as governor.
As for Sōgo's orders, no matter how strange they are, they just need to obey them.
However, among these countless members of the Second Division, only one person had an extremely gloomy expression.
"Could it be that even Sōgo has been controlled by the enemy?"
"It seems that in the entire Soul Society, there is no one else I can trust besides myself."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada looked at Sōgo had just issued the order for him to take a break, and his brows furrowed tightly.
"We don't know who the enemy is yet, so I absolutely cannot expose myself again. I must keep a low profile."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada racked his brains, thinking about how he could help Sōgo get out of his current predicament.
"I'm the only one left in this world who can save Lord Sōgo. Cheer up, Tokinada! Let those lurking in the shadows feel your power."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada hypnotized himself, secretly vowing to help Sōgo solve his problems.
Meanwhile, Sōgo was chatting with Tier Harribel and the others.
"You'll all stay at the Shihoin Family tonight!"
Sōgo addressed Tier Harribel and the others.
"Great! I've wanted to visit Sōgo's house for ages!"
Lilynette shouted excitedly; she was exceptionally happy that she could go to Sōgo's house.
" Lilynette, calm down. We're Menos Grande, after all. Going to Sōgo's house like this will only cause Sōgo trouble and create a bad impression."
Tier Harribel crossed her arms over her chest and lectured Lilynette.
"But Sōgo has already spoken..."
Lilynette felt wronged.
" Lilynette."
Tier Harribel reprimanded Lilynette sternly, looking just like Lilynette's mother.
"I see..."
Lilynette replied, looking aggrieved.
"No, you should all go Shihoin Family. Don't worry, it'll be fine. If you're wondering why... my sister isn't home today."
Sōgo gave a thumbs-up to the group and spoke.
"My sister isn't home today?"
After hearing Sōgo's words, the group of people all froze on the spot.
Sōgo's words were so logical and well-founded that they couldn't find any points to refute them; they were practically flawless.
"Does that mean we can live at Sōgo's house from now on?"
Although Lilynette didn't Sōgo Sougo's profound words, she roughly understood one thing: they could live with Sōgo forever from now on.
"That's right."
Sōgo nodded; Lilynette understood him very well.
"I'll be staying with my teammates, so I can't go stay at Sōgo's house. Sorry."
Having understood everything Sōgo said, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi gently shook his head. He wanted to live with his dearest crewmates every day, so he couldn't grant Sōgo's request, which made him feel somewhat Sōgo.
No, actually I didn't intend to invite you.
After hearing Sōgo Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's words, Sougo's lips twitched slightly, but he ultimately didn't say anything, afraid of hurting the other person's feelings.
" Lord Sōgo, because all my research equipment is located in the Second Division barracks, I can't move into your house. I'm sorry."
Szayelaporro shook his Sōgo; his recent experiments had reached a critical stage.
"So, I never intended to invite either of you."
Sōgo silently complained to himself.
"Really? Hahaha... That's a real shame."
Sōgo replied with a somewhat insincere smile on his face.
It's really sad for Sōgo that Kuruyashiki Kenpachi and Szayelaporro can't go to his house!
Hehehehe...
" Lord Sōgo, I can go."
At this Tsunayashiro Tokinada walked up to Sōgo and spoke excitedly.
"No, forget about it."
Sōgo, wearing a large eye patch with huge dead fish eyes printed on it, stared at Tsunayashiro Tokinada and spoke coldly.
"What?"
"I was rejected by Lord Sōgo! This can't be true, this absolutely can't be true, it's all part of the evil plan of the mastermind behind it all."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada couldn't believe that he would be turned away by Sōgo. In his mind, he had already imagined that a mysterious mastermind had deliberately devised a scheme to sow discord between him and Sōgo in order to eliminate all the forces around Sōgo.
"I must deal with the mastermind behind this as soon as possible, and get rid of that damned person."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada clenched his fists tightly, his eyes filled with rage.
"Gagaga!"
As Tsunayashiro Tokinada raged incompetently, the crows that had been perched on the tree outside the window suddenly began to screech loudly.
"What does this have to do with me?"
Inside the Fifth Division's barracks, Aizen expressed his dissatisfaction at being blamed for everything, saying he was genuinely offended.
"I need an accomplice, someone who can help me find the mastermind behind this."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada pondered deeply, and finally he understood what he was lacking: he lacked a teammate, a teammate he could entrust with his back.
"Throughout the entire Soul Society, there's only one person who can achieve this level..."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada thought this, his gaze turned toward the direction of Muken.
"..."
Sitting in the Fifth Division Captain's room, Sōsuke Aizen suddenly realized something; he now knew who the helper Tsunayashiro Tokinada was planning to find was.
" Sōya Azashiro- senpai... or rather, I should call you Azashiro Kenpachi- senpai."
"I know you can hear me now, how about we make a deal?"
Sōsuke Aizen spoke incessantly to the empty air, as if someone were present in that deserted place.
"..."
Sōya Azashiro coldly stared at Sōsuke Aizen. He knew that the man before him was a very dangerous one. If the Central 46 Chambers found out what this man had done, he would most likely... no, he would definitely be imprisoned in the Muken. Perhaps the man before him was also well aware of this, which was why the other party addressed him as senpai.
"We have no major conflicts to begin with, nor any reason for hostility. On the contrary, we are naturally endowed with the advantages of becoming allies. So, ally with me, Sōya Azashiro! When we join forces... there will be no invincible before us!"
Sōsuke Aizen continued to preach to the air, his words filled with infectious energy that invigorated everyone present.
Unfortunately, there are fundamental differences between us.
"This difference makes it absolutely impossible for us to stand together."
Sōya Azashiro a cold laugh. He absolutely could not stand with Aizen because there was a point of absolute conflict between Aizen, which was the reason why he would never help Aizen. However, Aizen's next words made Sōya Azashiro feel a chill.
"If you want Sōgo-kun to stand in the heavens, don't you think something crucial is missing? Without the Demon King to set him off, even the strongest hero is just a powerful person; he can't become a hero, let alone a king. Only the appearance of the Demon King can give a hero value, and who in the entire Soul Society besides me can be that Demon King? So let's get along well, Azashiro- kun."
Aizen smiled, absolutely confident that he could persuade Sōya Azashiro, simply because he was in control of everything.
Moreover, there was absolutely no falsehood in what he said. However, it was hard to say whether the Demon King would defeat the Hero or the Hero would defeat the Demon King in the end. But, no matter which of the two endings came first, Aizen believed that it was within his acceptable range and that everything was under his control!
(End of this chapter)