BLEACH : THE NINTH KENPACHI

Back at Squad Eleven, the return of Gosuke Shigure came as no surprise.

But the man walking beside him—Zaraki—immediately drew the attention of the Eleventh Division members.

Nao Yamashiro, the Fourth Seat of the division, happened to encounter the pair as they entered.

"Captain, who is he?"

Yamashiro Nao eyed Zaraki curiously. With his towering build, wild appearance, and fearsome aura, he didn't seem like someone who could be casually approached.

He wasn't wearing the standard Shihakushō of the Shinigami, and although he wielded a broken longsword, Yamashiro didn't associate it with a Zanpakutō—it looked far too damaged for that. Zanpakutō, in her eyes, were more refined.

Before Gosuke Shigure could reply, she added, "He doesn't look like a Shinigami, Captain. Is he?"

Gosuke Shigure answered calmly, "He's a strong fighter I encountered in Rukongai. While he's not a Shinigami yet, Nao, trust me—once he becomes one, his potential will be immense."

"Oh?" Yamashiro raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. To her, even a strong soul from Rukongai couldn't compare to a trained Shinigami. So how could this wild man earn such praise from their captain?

Her eyes fell on Zaraki once again, and this time, Zaraki noticed her scrutiny.

Although Yamashiro was a woman, Zaraki didn't discriminate when it came to battle. He didn't see gender—only strength.

To him, Yamashiro Nao was a Shinigami, and Shinigami were warriors. That was enough.

She exuded power. Perhaps... she could be an opponent worth testing himself against.

A fire of battle-lust flared up in Zaraki's eyes.

Nao, attuned to that kind of intent, felt it immediately—and was surprised. She was a warrior too, raised in the ranks of the Eleventh, and fighting was second nature.

Interest sparked in her. If this man had impressed their captain, perhaps he was worth clashing with.

The tension thickened between the two as if a duel was about to erupt on the spot.

But Gosuke Shigure intervened. "If you want to fight, save it for later. Zaraki's officially part of Squad Eleven now—there'll be plenty of time for sparring in the future."

"I need to take him for registration first."

At that, Yamashiro Nao backed off. Her battle intent cooled slightly, though she still eyed Zaraki with curiosity and anticipation.

Zaraki, despite his violent nature, wasn't a fool. He wasn't one to play games with authority for no reason. If Gosuke said now wasn't the time, he would wait.

Registering Zaraki as a Shinigami wasn't complicated.

Since the Gotei 13's founding, the Spiritual Arts Academy—evolved from the old Genryū Kōryū (Yamamoto Genryūsai's training institution)—had served as the formal institution for Shinigami education. Most current Shinigami were Academy graduates, but that wasn't always the case.

After all, the Academy's program lasted only six years.

Its purpose was to provide basic training to souls with spiritual power: to teach them what it meant to be a Shinigami and give them rudimentary control over their abilities.

But throughout Soul Society's long history, many Shinigami had been untrained—products of experience, not academia.

Before the Academy, powerful warriors created their own factions, trained disciples, and shaped their own styles. Shinigami then were as varied as they were chaotic. The Spiritual Arts Academy rose to dominance only because Yamamoto Genryūsai prevailed—those who opposed him were either defeated or joined him, becoming the Gotei 13's first captains.

So yes, non-Academy-born Shinigami were not uncommon.

Why? Because becoming a Shinigami wasn't some elite, exclusive path.

All one needed was spiritual power—and a connection to a Zanpakutō.

Just look at Kurosaki Ichigo. He never spent a single day at the Academy, barely knew any Kidō, yet wielded one of the most powerful Zanpakutō in existence. Who could deny he was a Shinigami?

Zanpakutō and spiritual power—that was the foundation.

When the role of Shinigami was first created in the Soul Society, Ōetsu Nimaiya, one of the original creators of Zanpakutō and a member of Squad Zero, forged a corresponding number of sealed blades—Asauchi—each awaiting a soul capable of merging with it.

Through daily use—sleeping beside it, eating with it—the soul's spiritual pressure infused the Asauchi. In time, this would awaken the weapon's true nature, giving birth to a personalized Zanpakutō.

This process defined a Shinigami.

Some grew to unlock their Shikai. Fewer still awakened Bankai.

And when they died, their spiritual energy would dissipate. Their Zanpakutō would revert to a plain Asauchi, returned to the Soul Society to be passed on.

Over time, many Asauchi remained outside Seireitei. Some were lost in Rukongai, where spiritually aware souls happened upon them, and unknowingly forged new Zanpakutō—becoming Shinigami without ever setting foot in the Academy.

This was how many early Gotei 13 members were recruited.

In the beginning, the Gotei needed manpower. The Academy couldn't yet provide enough trained soldiers. So captains themselves went to Rukongai to scout raw talent.

Zaraki—the soul that Unohana Retsu once considered taking in, but chose not to—was one such talent.

Though many years too late, under Gosuke Shigure's leadership—the current Kenpachi—Zaraki was now entering Gotei 13.

Registration was completed quickly. Zaraki was now an official member of Squad Eleven.

Next came the matter of attire.

The Shihakushō, or Shinigami uniform, came in various sizes and cuts. While a tailored outfit could be obtained from Squad Twelve, Squad Eleven kept a stock of standard-issue ones for new recruits.

Though it wasn't graduation season, there were still spare uniforms from earlier Academy graduates.

Gosuke searched through storage, found one roughly matching Zaraki's frame, and handed it over.

Now, dressed in black and with his name registered, Zaraki was not just a wild soul from Rukongai anymore.

He was Zaraki Kenpachi, member of Squad Eleven—on the path to become something far greater.

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