Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

How confident are you?

Hearing this, Seiya did not respond immediately. Instead, he cast a quick glance to the side.

Aizen seemed to understand his cautious gesture perfectly and smiled.

"I wouldn't make such a careless mistake… This conversation will remain private, and this visit is merely a routine matter within the Fifth Division."

As he spoke, Aizen crossed his arms and added with a playful tone,

"Therefore, if anyone else is present later, please do me a favor and refer to me as Watanabe Tarō."

What a stylish alias.

Seiya couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head. After a brief pause, he finally answered.

"In terms of certainty… ten out of ten."

So confident?

Aizen lifted his right hand, adjusting his glasses, his expression turning somewhat intrigued.

"Seiya-kun, while I acknowledge your strength…"

"I believe this decision might be somewhat hasty."

"Given the current situation, I personally think… our group could afford to remain in the shadows a little longer."

This was Aizen Sōsuke's perspective and his understanding of the present conditions.

It wasn't surprising—

After all, Tōsen had only recently mastered Bankai, and Gin was still in his rapid development phase.

Even Seiya himself—

"Aizen-sensei, I have already mastered Bankai."

One sentence spoke louder than a thousand words.

Aizen fell silent, narrowing his eyes slightly before leaning back with a quiet sigh.

"…Oh?"

There was no denying it.

Strength was the greatest source of confidence.

What had seemed like premature timing now took on a completely different meaning.

Aizen tilted his head slightly, resting his right hand under his chin as he began to ponder.

Plans were never set in stone—people changed constantly.

And because of that, Aizen adapted quickly.

"If that's the case, then there is indeed room for adjustments."

Time for a new approach.

Aizen smiled, shifting his posture, his eyes gleaming with intrigue.

"If you truly possess a captain-level strength, then at this moment, it may be an unprecedented opportunity."

After all, due to the Visored incident, the Gotei 13 had suffered a significant blow.

With the Third, Fifth, Seventh, Ninth, and Twelfth Divisions missing their captains, Seireitei had lost almost half of its leadership.

Of course, that was only on the surface.

As long as Yamamoto remained, the Gotei 13 could be completely wiped out and still be rebuilt.

But that was a truth known only to long-serving captains—those who had held the rank for over a century.

Right now, however, those concerns were irrelevant.

Aizen's gaze sharpened as he looked at Seiya.

"Seiya-kun, do you know the requirements for competing for a captaincy?"

Seiya nodded without hesitation, his tone completely calm.

"Of course. I understand them perfectly."

It was well known—

Becoming a captain of the Gotei 13 was far from a simple process.

"There are three primary requirements."

"First, one must have mastered Bankai."

This was a symbol of power, the defining qualification of a true Shinigami.

Without sufficient strength, one had no right to vie for such a position.

"Second, the candidate must have the personal desire to become a captain."

This was straightforward—no one could be forced into the role.

Take Madarame Ikkaku, for example.

Despite achieving Bankai and even helping Renji master it, he stubbornly remained in the Eleventh Division, choosing to follow Kenpachi rather than seek promotion.

Similarly, Sasakibe Chōjirō had chosen to serve as Yamamoto's lieutenant rather than take up a captaincy himself.

"Third, one must receive the endorsement of at least three captains."

At first glance, this might seem restrictive, since the Gotei 13 captains were independent entities with their own responsibilities.

However, in practice, it was relatively easy to obtain.

The divisions were filled with smaller factions, and securing recommendations was often a matter of socializing and making connections.

After all, anyone worthy of being recommended for a captaincy would already have demonstrated their abilities.

After listing the three conditions, Seiya took a moment to reflect before adding,

"Additionally, these requirements are not set in stone."

"If necessary, they can be loosened or even bypassed entirely."

"In fact, even without Bankai, it is possible to attain a captaincy."

Take Kiganjō, for example—

He had taken the position by overpowering the previous lieutenant rather than through the traditional process.

The Gotei 13's special nature meant that at certain times, its rigid rules could be adjusted as needed, making the system much more flexible than it appeared.

After all, it had evolved from an assassination force—the expectations couldn't be too high.

Aizen understood all of this well and showed no surprise.

"I see. Knowing all these details so thoroughly… it seems you truly are fully prepared."

Then—

A final question.

"For this captaincy contest, which division are you aiming for?"

Seiya grinned and answered without hesitation.

"The Third Division, of course!"

It was a carefully thought-out decision.

"First, the other vacancies are not ideal. The Seventh Division serves as an internal security force, with little freedom. The Ninth Division is essentially a prison guard unit, which is even more restrictive… And I have no interest in research, so the Twelfth Division is out of the question."

"Second, the Third Division and Fifth Division have similar operational philosophies. Though there may be some initial adjustment, it shouldn't be too difficult to adapt."

"Third—"

Seiya paused briefly, then smiled.

"If I compete for the Third Division, I have a 100% chance of success."

The reasoning was simple.

When a captain was removed, the vice-captain was typically the first candidate for succession—unless they refused or lacked sufficient strength.

With five captaincies currently vacant, the Central 46's top priority was refilling those positions.

"The current Third Division lieutenant is Iba Tetsuzaemon. He's experienced, but his ambitions lie elsewhere."

Iba had served under Kensei Muguruma, and his loyalty leaned toward a more traditional yakuza-style leadership rather than any artistic ideology.

As a result, he had always maintained professional respect for Kensei but never fully adopted his philosophy.

"And from what I've heard, he's been considering stepping down."

In the original story, he received little focus, and after Kensei's disappearance, he quietly resigned from his position.

While the Gotei 13 rarely had formal retirements, this decision reflected his personal stance.

"I see…"

Aizen nodded thoughtfully, clearly impressed by Seiya's meticulous planning.

The fact that Seiya had already mapped out his approach so thoroughly showed that he had been preparing for this for quite some time.

Compared to someone who acted impulsively, Aizen naturally preferred a disciple who planned ahead.

"Using strength, connections, and a vacant position… You're leveraging all three to secure the captaincy."

"I must say, it is a well-calculated move."

"If everything aligns, there should be no uncertainty."

It was rare for Aizen to offer such direct praise. Seiya couldn't help but let out a satisfied chuckle.

Heh~ does this count as graduation?

But at that moment, Aizen's expression took on a slightly different nuance.

"Seiya-kun, while I have no issues with your approach or reasoning, I believe there are certain details that need adjusting."

Hmm?

Seiya couldn't imagine where the flaw might be.

Aizen's lips curled slightly. His glasses reflected the light as he smiled meaningfully.

"I believe… the Third Division is not the most suitable place for you."

—

Time passed.

Four days later.

Inside the First Division headquarters.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was unusually quiet.

Kyōraku Shunsui adjusted his straw hat, slipping his left hand into his haori as he lazily remarked,

"We expected this… but seeing it in person really drives it home."

The mighty Gotei 13—

Now nearly half-empty.

"Well, these things happen. It's part of our duty… cough, cough!"

Jūshirō Ukitake doubled over with a fit of coughing, his sunken eyes making him look even more frail.

Kyōraku frowned.

"Did you take your medicine before coming?"

Waving a hand dismissively, Ukitake steadied his breath.

"That's not important. What matters now is how we fill these vacant positions."

"Ah~ about that."

Kyōraku smirked and leaned in slightly.

"I've got a little insider info."

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Powerstones?

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