"I choose Aizen."
Seeing Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni repeatedly pushing the power of the Gotei 13, Aiyan had no choice but to accept it with tears, and let his brother take over the Third Division.
"Reason."
After hearing this, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni agreed with the choice, but Aizen was his favorite lieutenant, someone who was extremely reliable.
With Aizen in place, he didn't need to worry about anything; the entire Third Division would be managed in perfect order.
It was simply too convenient.
Even though Aizen was very suitable to be a Gotei captain, Yamamoto didn't want to let him go.
"He's my brother."
Aiyan was straightforward.
The captains present couldn't help but laugh.
Looking across the Gotei 13, only Aiyan dared to speak to Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni in such a manner.
"I'm asking for the reason why Aizen can serve as captain, not about your relationship."
Yamamoto's eyes twitched.
"Don't avoid relatives when promoting the worthy."
"Head Captain, you should have heard of it. The Shinigami of the Gotei 13 all call Aizen 'Timely Rain.' Anyone who comes to him in trouble can get help immediately.
"Let's not talk about the Ninth Division, but as for the Third and Seventh Divisions, is there any Shinigami more suitable to take over as captain than him?"
Aiyan looked around at everyone.
In terms of both reputation and strength, there was truly no one more suited than Aizen to lead the Third or Seventh Division.
After all, the Third Division was a support unit, and the Seventh was an inner court guard division; both required excellent relations with Shinigami across all other divisions to perform well.
"If Aizen becomes captain of the Third Division, he can respond to any difficulty in any division.
"Even if a Shinigami were captured by the King of Hueco Mundo and served as a banquet dish, he could still lead a team to defeat Las Noches."
Aiyan made his case firmly, with sound reasoning and without hiding the truth.
He wasn't lying either — Harribel, the current ruler of Hueco Mundo, was one of his own. If a Shinigami was truly unfortunate enough to be trapped in Las Noches, Aizen could definitely secure their release.
"I agree with Captain Aiyan."
"There really is no more suitable candidate than Aizen."
"I agree."
"I second the motion."
Shihōin Yoruichi, Kuchiki Byakuya, and others nodded in agreement.
After all, with a Shinigami like Aizen, who could refuse to let him become a captain?
Especially after the battle at the Sōkyoku Hill execution grounds yesterday — due to Urahara Kisuke's involvement, they had also reviewed the historical records on Aizen brought by Ukitake Jūshirō from the Great Spirit Book Gallery.
A Shinigami could lie, but the Great Spirit Book Gallery could not.
It had recorded all of Aizen's glorious achievements, and holographic projections allowed those present to witness them.
To describe it in one phrase — noble, brilliant, and righteous.
"Although Aizen lacks years of service, he is indeed the best candidate to serve as a Gotei captain."
Yamamoto was moved.
Although he didn't want to let him go, he couldn't resist Aizen's popularity. As a teacher, he wanted his student to succeed, and he couldn't keep him by his side forever.
"Any more?"
After finalizing the captain appointments for the Third and Twelfth Divisions, Yamamoto looked at everyone.
He was met with unanimous silence.
The silence of the captains made him dissatisfied.
"How?"
"Is my Gotei 13 so lacking in talent and heroes that we can't even select three or four captains?"
"Shunsui, you speak first."
When Yamamoto saw the captains remaining silent, his brows furrowed. He had to call on Kyoraku Shunsui directly.
It seemed that no matter what, he was determined to hand captain appointments to Aiyan today.
No one could stop him from doing so.
"Old Man Yama, spare me!"
"Being a Gotei captain is no child's game. With your captain selection requirements, at this moment, I couldn't summon two Shinigami who meet them even if I tried.
"You've already dismissed several lieutenants. The remaining seated officers are either strong but lack qualifications, or qualified but lack strength. How do you expect me to recommend anyone?"
Shunsui's words dripped with resentment.
It hadn't been easy to recruit a beautiful lieutenant like Yadōmaru Lisa, only for Yamamoto to dismiss and imprison her.
If not for their long-standing teacher–student relationship, he might have turned against him long ago.
Yamamoto opened his mouth but couldn't speak.
What could he do?
He couldn't very well imprison Lisa, Muguruma Kensei, and the others yesterday, then release them today.
Did he want to lose face like that?
"Isn't it simple?"
"Gather all the Shinigami of the Gotei 13 and let them fight it out."
"Whoever stands at the end becomes captain."
Zaraki Kenpachi rarely voiced an opinion.
"Wonderful!"
Don't laugh — Zaraki's crude idea appealed to two people:
Aiyan and Unohana Retsu.
The former wanted to place his chosen people as captains, most of whom — except Aizen — had strength but lacked qualifications. The latter felt this method was very much like the First Generation Kenpachi.
"Captain Zaraki, you'd better stop stirring things up and just stand there quietly until the meeting ends."
Yamamoto nearly called for guards to drag Zaraki out.
"Head Captain, I think Captain Zaraki's suggestion has some merit."
"You require both qualifications and strength, and selecting four people at once is no easy task."
"We might as well slightly lower the selection requirements, balancing strength and qualifications."
Ukitake pondered for a moment and surprisingly agreed with Zaraki.
"Qualifications are easy to work around, but Bankai is not."
"Head Captain, if we truly must weigh it, between strength and qualifications, we should lean toward strength."
"This exceptional promotion could also send a message to all of Seireitei and even Rukongai — the Gotei 13 promotes talent without bias. As long as you have the ability, rising to captain in one leap, like Captain Aiyan, is not an exception."
As the only lieutenant in the room, Aizen also spoke.
The captains nodded in agreement.
In the Gotei 13, Bankai was everything.
Qualifications and achievements alone were meaningless.
What was the Gotei 13 originally?
A group of killers.
Without a Zanpakutō that could achieve Bankai, how could one be captain?
If they truly wanted to talk about seniority and merit, Yamamoto wouldn't need to hold a meeting — he could just pick the oldest seated officers and make them captains.
"Alright, we'll follow what Jūshirō and Aizen suggested."
"Don't ask about origin or qualifications, just ask about Bankai."
"Captains, do you have any suitable recommendations?"
Yamamoto's narrowed eyes opened slightly.
Aizen's words had struck a chord.
He welcomed anyone who pursued justice into the Gotei 13 — especially after finding talents like Aiyan and his brother, he had grown more attentive to recruiting Rukongai Shinigami.
"Then there's no need to be so hesitant."
"Head Captain, by your criteria, you just need the enrollment list from the Spiritual Arts Academy's first class."
"Pick any name that can use Bankai."
Aiyan's words earned a glare from Yamamoto. Although they sounded flippant, they held reason, so he ordered the list of first-class students to be brought over.
...
If you enjoyed this book, don't forget to vote with a Power Stone and take a few seconds to leave a review
Join my P@treon for advance chapters and special content!
[email protected]/Ren_Saga