The Captain Qualification Exam was a comprehensive assessment meant to determine whether a candidate possessed the strength, composure, and leadership required to command a division within the Gotei 13.
Normally, captains were appointed through a recommendation system—where an existing captain would nominate a promising subordinate. For instance, Yoruichi Shihōin once recommended Kisuke Urahara from her own division to become the captain of Squad 12. Thus, a captain's promotion wasn't just about strength—it was also about relationships and trust within the Seireitei.
There were, of course, exceptions. Squad 11, for example, cared only about raw power. But today's case with Mayuri Kurotsuchi was even more unusual—he was the only person ever to recommend himself for the position of captain.
As the current head of the Research and Development Bureau, Mayuri already held captain-level status. Technically, this meant he qualified to nominate himself—but no one expected he would actually do it.
Inside the examination chamber, three captains sat in judgment: Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Sōgo Shihōin, and Shunsui Kyōraku. Facing them, Mayuri appeared perfectly composed.
"Go ahead. Begin your performance," Sōgo said with a lazy wave of his hand.
He'd never liked Mayuri's gaudy appearance to begin with, and he wasn't planning to waste time on this test any longer than necessary. The sooner it ended, the sooner he could go home to play with his subordinates.
"Fufufu…"
Mayuri chuckled in that eerie, unsettling way of his.
"The Captain Exam is merely to confirm whether one has achieved Bankai, is it not? A simple matter. I, a genius, have already mastered mine."
Arrogance filled his voice. Though even he admitted his Bankai wasn't especially strong, he found it fascinating and full of potential. Besides, in Soul Society, anyone who had achieved Bankai was already qualified to be a captain by unwritten rule. So Mayuri wasn't worried about failing.
"All right, all right—enough chatter. Just show us your Bankai already," Sōgo said impatiently, waving his hand again.
"Hmph! Since you're so eager to witness it, allow me to enlighten you! My Bankai—"
"Bankai! Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō!"
A grotesque, centipede-like creature with a baby's face materialized before them, its size and appearance enough to make one's skin crawl.
"Ugh. This guy's Bankai is as revolting as he is," Sōgo muttered, suppressing a shiver.
Even though he was absurdly powerful, he still couldn't help that instinctive disgust—like how a normal person might flinch at the sight of a cockroach, even knowing they could squash it easily.
"All right, all right—you pass. Now seal that thing away before I lose my lunch," Sōgo waved dismissively.
"Oh~ I see! You're awed by its magnificence already! But I haven't even explained its abilities yet," Mayuri said proudly, misunderstanding entirely.
"Yes, yes, we get it—you're amazing," Sōgo replied dryly. "No need for an explanation. The appearance alone is… unforgettable enough."
Satisfied—or perhaps delusional—Mayuri retracted his Bankai, turning his blade back into a normal katana. Then, disturbingly, he sheathed it somewhere unspeakable.
Sōgo's eyelid twitched. Maybe this pervert is even more suited to my Zanpakutō than I am…
"Don't you dare! You think just anyone can wield me?! And my name isn't even that, damn it!"
The furious voice of his Zanpakutō spirit roared inside his head, breaking his thought.
"All right, all right, chill out…" Sōgo sighed and cut the mental connection before it could escalate.
Turning to Yamamoto, he said, "Old man, the test's done, right? I can leave now?"
Yamamoto stayed silent for a moment, eyes half-closed in thought, before finally speaking.
"I hereby declare Mayuri Kurotsuchi to have passed the examination. As Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, I officially appoint the current Head of the Research and Development Bureau as the new Captain of Squad 12."
"OK~!"
Sōgo leapt up from his seat, more excited than the newly appointed captain himself. "Great, we're done here—time to clock out and go home!"
Because truly, in this world, there was no place warmer than home.
Back in Squad 2 headquarters, Sōgo stood before his subordinates, raising his voice.
"From today onward, we're implementing a rotation schedule—meaning we finally have days off! Enjoy your vacation!"
"OH!!!"
The entire Onmitsukidō cheered in unison, hands raised high.
Unlike other squads, the Onmitsukidō operated as the personal force of the noble Shihōin family, essentially serving as their private army. Ever since Yoruichi had commanded them, their loyalty to the family was absolute—so they had no objections whatsoever to Sōgo taking over.
And as for his orders? However strange, they obeyed without question.
Except for one.
In the crowd, Tsunayashiro Tokinada's face was dark and grave.
"Could it be… that even Sōgo has fallen under enemy control?" he muttered. "It seems I'm the only one left in Soul Society who can still be trusted."
He frowned deeply, his mind racing.
"The enemy's identity remains unknown. I mustn't expose myself… I'll have to act in secret."
His eyes gleamed with determination.
"To save Sōgo-dono, I must be the one to take action. The fate of Soul Society depends on me alone. I will not fail!"
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Sōgo was casually chatting with Harribel and the others.
"For now, you can all stay at the Shihōin estate," he told them.
"Yay! I've always wanted to see Sōgo's house!" Lilynette cheered happily.
"Calm down, Lilynette," Harribel said, crossing her arms. "We're Arrancar—us staying at Sōgo's home could cause unnecessary trouble."
"But Sōgo already said we could…" Lilynette pouted.
"Lilynette," Harribel said sternly, like an exasperated mother.
"…Fine…" she muttered reluctantly.
"No, really, it's fine," Sōgo said, raising his thumb with a grin. "There won't be any issues—because my sister isn't home today."
"Your… sister isn't home?"
The room fell silent.
Sōgo's logic was so confident and perfectly delivered that no one could even find a reason to object.
"So that means… we can all stay at your house from now on?" Lilynette asked innocently.
"Exactly." Sōgo nodded. She understood him perfectly.
"Sorry, but I'll have to decline," said Kenpachi Kuryashiki, shaking his head. "I live with my squad members. They're my family—I can't leave them."
"Uh-huh," Sōgo replied with a twitching smile, silently thinking, I wasn't inviting you anyway.
"My research equipment's all set up in Squad 2," said Szayelaporro, "so I'll have to stay there too. Apologies, Sōgo-dono."
"Yeah, didn't plan to invite you either," Sōgo thought again, still smiling politely.
"Ahahaha, what a shame," Szayelaporro laughed awkwardly.
Sōgo's smile tightened further. Yes… such a tragedy indeed.
Just then, Tsunayashiro Tokinada approached, his expression intense.
"Sōgo-dono! Please allow me to stay at your home!" he declared passionately.
"…No," Sōgo said flatly, deadpan behind his large eye-mask.
"What?!" Tokinada froze in disbelief. "No… this isn't real… This must be the enemy's plot to drive a wedge between us!"
He clutched his head dramatically. In his mind, he imagined a shadowy mastermind orchestrating a conspiracy to separate him from Sōgo.
"I must uncover the one behind this! I'll eliminate that accursed puppet master myself!"
Outside the window, a crow suddenly shrieked from a nearby tree.
"Why am I getting blamed for this?" muttered Aizen Sōsuke from Squad 5 headquarters, clearly irritated at being mentally assigned yet another villain role.
Tokinada, however, was undeterred. "I need an ally—a partner who can help me expose this mastermind. Someone I can trust with my back…"
His gaze turned toward the prison of Muken.
"…So that's your plan," Aizen murmured, now realizing exactly who Tokinada intended to recruit.
"Shiba Isshin… or should I say—Kenpachi Shiba," Aizen said softly. "I know you can hear me. How about a deal?"
Speaking to the empty air, he continued, his tone smooth and persuasive.
"We have no real conflict between us—only potential. Together, we could accomplish anything. So join me, Shiba-san. Once we unite, there will be no force in existence that can stop us."
But from the shadows came a cold reply.
"Unfortunately, we're fundamentally different," said Isshin, voice calm yet sharp. "And that difference makes it impossible for us to stand together."
Aizen smiled faintly.
"Is that so? Tell me, though—if you want Sōgo-kun to truly stand at the pinnacle of this world, don't you think he needs… a certain contrast?"
Isshin's brow furrowed.
"Without a demon king," Aizen continued smoothly, "there can be no hero. A hero without an adversary is just another strong man—never a legend, never a king. Only by facing a devil can the hero's light truly shine.
"And tell me, Shiba-san—who else but me could play that role?"
He smiled, radiating confidence.
"Let's coexist… harmoniously, shall we?"
Because to Aizen Sōsuke, everything—including this conversation—was already within his grasp.
After all, whether the final story ended with the hero's triumph or the demon king's victory—
both endings belonged to him.