A few days later.
All the Captains and Vice-Captains of the Gotei 13 had gathered in the First Division's courtyard.
Nanatsuki stood in the center.
Yesterday, Hikifune Kirio officially stepped down as Captain of Squad Twelve.
Following her resignation, Nanatsuki immediately applied to Yamamoto to take over the role.
Yamamoto wasted no time in summoning the Captains to conduct Nanatsuki's Captain qualification test.
According to the rules of the Gotei 13, a Captain test must be conducted under the supervision of at least three Captains. If the candidate passes, they are granted the position.
Today's turnout was excellent—every Captain and Vice-Captain had shown up.
Nanatsuki would have to demonstrate his strength, and everyone was curious about the man who had slain Baraggan, the King of Hueco Mundo.
There are three components to the Captain test:
Proficiency in Bankai.A test battle against a current Captain, judged by others.Proof of administrative capability, typically through past achievements.
Everyone knew Nanatsuki had mastered Bankai—he passed the first requirement outright.
As for administrative experience, his résumé included Honorary Dean and former Vice Dean of the Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy, as well as former Vice-Captain of Squad Four—easily qualifying him on the third point.
All that remained was a duel with one Captain and approval from the supervising Captains.
Kuyashiki Kenpachi was itching for a fight—he was also a swordsman and had long wanted to cross blades with Nanatsuki.
Unohana Retsu's gaze sparkled as well, though she had long since cultivated restraint and wasn't inclined to reveal her true self in front of so many.
Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō looked relaxed—they were just there to spectate.
The last time they'd seen Nanatsuki's power was during their study days under Yamamoto—it had been a long time, and they were curious.
"I wonder who Sensei will have fight Nanatsuki," Ukitake mused, glancing at the eager Kuyashiki Kenpachi. It seemed likely he'd be chosen.
"Why not let me do it? I've been waiting a long time to spar with Nanatsuki-kun," said Kuyashiki with a grin.
"Hah, Old Man Yama probably wants to test him himself—but with so many people watching, he's got his Captain-Commander pride to consider. Can't just bully the juniors in public," Kyōraku said lazily.
"Kyōraku Shunsui, you will test Katori Nanatsuki's strength," Yamamoto suddenly declared.
"...Huh? Me?"
Kyōraku froze. He had only come to watch the show, but now the Head-Captain had thrown him on stage.
"Is there a problem?"
Yamamoto's sharp gaze bore into him.
Kyōraku looked around helplessly, hoping someone else would volunteer.
"Kyōraku-taichō's Zanpakutō is quite... entertaining. Watching you and Nanatsuki fight might be interesting," Kuyashiki rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Seeing Kyōraku fight was just as good, and if he still wanted a bout, he could always challenge Nanatsuki later—it wouldn't be seen as bullying another Captain.
"I'm looking forward to it too," said Unohana with a sweet smile.
Ukitake couldn't help but snicker. 'That's what you get for running your mouth!'
"No problem... sigh, guess I'm just cursed to work hard," Kyōraku muttered, walking reluctantly toward Nanatsuki.
"Captain Kyōraku, I look forward to your guidance," Nanatsuki said with a smile.
"Let's keep this light, okay? Just a little sparring..." Kyōraku said weakly.
"This is a Captain qualification test, Kyōraku Shunsui!" Yamamoto barked.
"Alright, alright, I'll take it seriously..."
No room for slacking with all these eyes on him.
"When the Flower Wind Rages, the Flower God Roars, When the Wind of Heaven Rages, the Heavenly Demon Sneers—Katen Kyōkotsu."
Kyōraku released his Zanpakutō, which became twin large cleaver-like blades.
"Let's begin, Nanatsuki-kun."
Nanatsuki nodded lightly. He ran his hand over his blade—its edge quickly turned pitch black.
In the next instant, he vanished from sight.
Kyōraku spun his twin blades, creating two spinning gusts of wind like bladed tops.
Whoosh!
Nanatsuki reappeared outside the wind zone.
"Phew~ Good thing I predicted that one!"
Kyōraku chuckled. He hadn't reacted to Nanatsuki's movement—he had used a preemptive area-damage attack from the start.
Suddenly, lightning arcs and swirling Reiatsu surged behind Nanatsuki.
Sizzle—!
Shunkō: Raikiri activated instantly.
Nanatsuki's form merged into the thunderclap.
Concentrated lightning and Reiatsu erupted from his foot—he dashed through the storm and shattered Kyōraku's spinning winds with a single kick.
"What the—!"
Kyōraku quickly raised his blades in defense.
Boom!
Nanatsuki landed directly on the twin blades—but Kyōraku didn't budge an inch.
"You're slippery..."
Nanatsuki narrowed his eyes at the airborne Captain.
His strength had been nullified—Kyōraku hadn't taken any real damage.
Nanatsuki knew—it was Kyōraku's Zanpakutō ability at work.
"Confusing, isn't it?" Kyōraku said proudly. "Guess what the trick is~"
Katen Kyōkotsu operated on game-like rules—if you couldn't figure out the game, you couldn't win.
Just before blocking, Kyōraku had jumped—placing himself physically higher than Nanatsuki.
"What sort of ability is this, I wonder..." Nanatsuki pretended not to know.
"Guess~"
Kyōraku slashed downward.
Szzzt—!
A Z-shaped lightning bolt flashed, and Nanatsuki reappeared behind him.
Seeing him vanish, Kyōraku's alarm bells rang.
"Gray!" he shouted.
A heavy impact hit his back.
Thud!
Kyōraku slammed into the ground.
"My back! You almost broke it!"
If he couldn't change the rules mid-fight, that blow would've seriously injured him.
Katen Kyōkotsu turned children's games into reality—once within its Reiatsu zone, opponents were forced to play.
Though Kyōraku had to follow the rules too, he could switch the game at any time.
"Bushigami: the higher position wins." Nanatsuki continued.
"Enki: the correct color must be struck."
Those were the two game rules Kyōraku had used so far.
Under Bushigami, whoever stood higher had enhanced attack power.
Under Enki, you had to call out a color and strike that part on your opponent's body to land a valid hit—otherwise, the attack was nullified.
Kyōraku had shouted "gray" earlier. Since Kyōraku's back had no gray—only pink from his Haori—the attack did nothing.
"...How do you know about Bushigami and Enki? When did I ever tell you that?" Kyōraku frowned, confused.
"You talk a lot when you're drunk," Nanatsuki replied casually.
He had made that up, based on Kyōraku's notorious drunken rants.
"Ugh... booze ruins everything!" Kyōraku groaned. "No idea what else I've let slip. Now I've lost my information advantage!"
With a rules-based Zanpakutō, keeping the opponent in the dark was crucial.
Now that Nanatsuki knew the rules, he could find the loopholes—and use them.
"White!" Kyōraku shouted and slashed.
Nanatsuki wasn't wearing his usual dojo Haori today—just a standard shihakushō, which was mostly black.
Calling out "black" would hit almost anywhere.
But in Enki, the larger the color coverage, the weaker the damage.
The smaller the colored area, the more devastating the hit.
Only Nanatsuki's waist sash and inner lining were white—tiny areas.
If Kyōraku hit those, the damage would be huge.
But Nanatsuki, familiar with the rule, had already prepared.
He dodged backward.
"Exactly what I wanted!" Kyōraku suddenly slashed at the shadow on the ground.
Due to the current lighting, Nanatsuki's shadow had shifted toward Kyōraku's side after he moved.
"Kageoni: whoever steps on the shadow wins!"
Nanatsuki smiled and stabbed his own blade into the shadow.
Shunk!
A black blade erupted from Kyōraku's abdomen.
"What—!"
Kyōraku was stunned—he'd lost under Kageoni!
In this game, stepping on the opponent's shadow allowed a direct attack through it.
"Captain Kyōraku, did you forget? My Zanpakutō can manipulate shadows," Nanatsuki said.
Kyōraku looked down and realized—he hadn't stepped on Nanatsuki's shadow.
Nanatsuki's shadow had shifted on its own.
And Kyōraku's shadow had moved right under Nanatsuki's feet.
"I see… so you were waiting for me to use Kageoni all along…" Kyōraku gave a bitter smile.
With rules-based abilities, intel was everything. Once the opponent knew the rules, it became dangerous.
Even though Katen Kyōkotsu could switch games, Nanatsuki had still found a way to turn the rules against him.
"Old man! Enough already!" Kyōraku shouted at Yamamoto.
"I'm bleeding out here! If I don't get treatment, I'm gonna die in Squad One!"
He clutched his wound and winced dramatically.
"You wouldn't want your cute little disciple dying right here, would you?"
Nanatsuki twitched.
'He didn't even hit a vital spot…'
The wound wasn't that serious—it wouldn't affect Kyōraku's combat ability much.
Yamamoto's face darkened, his eyes nearly spitting fire.
Of course he saw through Kyōraku's act—he just didn't want to fight anymore.
"Enough. Let's end this here."
"Does any Captain have doubts about Katori Nanatsuki's strength?"
Nanatsuki had just forced Kyōraku down with relative ease—and he had slain Baraggan not long ago. This test was a mere formality.
Yamamoto didn't want to see his unruly disciple embarrass himself further.
"I believe Katori Nanatsuki is fully qualified to lead Squad Twelve," said Unohana Retsu.
Though the fight had been short, she had clearly seen the vast improvement in Nanatsuki's fundamentals.
His previous weak points—Shunpo and Hakuda—had been covered.
Now he excelled in all four Shinigami disciplines—Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Kidō, and Shunpo—and even had Kaidō rivaling hers.
"A ripe fruit… too tempting to resist…" she smiled warmly—though a closer look revealed a terrifying heat in her eyes.
"Nanatsuki-kun is strong—definitely Captain material," Kuyashiki Kenpachi praised.
"His speed is insane. Great instincts too."
"I agree. Even if Shunsui and I went all out, we might not beat him now," Ukitake added.
Nanatsuki's speed made him nearly untouchable.
Kyōraku had landed hits only by manipulating game rules.
Ukitake felt that if he faced Nanatsuki, he'd be stuck on defense with no real chance to win.
"I, too, recognize Katori Nanatsuki's strength."
Yamamoto paused.
"Captain test passed unanimously."
"Effective immediately—Katori Nanatsuki is the new Captain of Squad Twelve!"
Sasakibe Chōjirō placed a tray before Yamamoto's desk.
Yamamoto stood, picked up the tray, and walked over to Nanatsuki.
On the tray lay a white haori marked with the square "十二" emblem—Squad Twelve's Captain's cloak.
"The responsibilities of Squad Twelve are now yours. I hope you'll stay true to your heart and achieve great things."
"Rest assured, Captain-Commander. I will fulfill my duties and devote myself to protecting Soul Society!"
Nanatsuki grasped the haori and draped it over his shoulders.
From this day forward, he was—Captain Katori Nanatsuki of Squad Twelve.