BLEACH : THE NINTH KENPACHI

"Now, you look like a Shinigami."

Gosuke Shigure looked at Zaraki, now dressed in the standard Shihakushō of the Gotei 13. On Zaraki's back, the roughly-hewn Zanpakutō he carried had begun to subtly shift in form, its blade less jagged now, responding subconsciously to the surge of spiritual pressure emanating from its new wielder.

There was no doubt in Gosuke Shigure's mind—Zaraki was a perfect fit for the 11th Division.

With his fierce, unrestrained aura and battle-hardened presence, he was the embodiment of the Eleventh's militant philosophy. In this moment, clad in the Shihakushō, Zaraki looked like he'd always belonged.

Zaraki tugged lightly at the robe's hem. It felt strange—foreign. Though he had seen many Shinigami wear these robes over the years in Rukongai—and had even taken his crude sword from one fallen Shinigami—he never imagined himself donning the uniform. Now that he had, the sensation was fleeting. He wasn't one to dwell on appearances.

What really mattered...

"Can I go fight someone now?"

"Not so fast," Gosuke Shigure interjected, sensing Zaraki's impatience flaring up again.

Zaraki's brow furrowed, his expression souring.

He had joined the Gotei 13—joined the Eleventh—because Gosuke had promised stronger opponents, not lectures. Yet here he was, restrained again.

Gosuke noticed the subtle tension in Zaraki's stance and sighed. "You should know," he began, his tone steady, "being a Shinigami isn't just about carrying a sword. There are four foundational disciplines every proper Shinigami learns."

"Four disciplines?" Zaraki echoed flatly, disinterested. He didn't care for schooling—he came here to fight, not sit through lessons.

But Gosuke continued calmly, "Just hear me out."

Zaraki let out a sharp breath, clearly agitated but listening.

"The four core skills are Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō," Gosuke explained. "In the Spiritual Arts Academy, it takes six years of training to even scratch the surface of them. During that time, students also attempt to awaken their Zanpakutō—though not everyone succeeds."

"If a student awakens their Zanpakutō and shows skill in one or more of the four disciplines, they're prime candidates for Gotei 13. But even those who don't awaken theirs can join—if their other abilities are exceptional."

He paused, his tone growing more serious. "But if a soul can't awaken their Zanpakutō and fails to grasp the four disciplines... they're dismissed. Their Asauchi—what we call the unawakened sealed blade—is reclaimed, and they lose the right to serve as a Shinigami."

Zaraki frowned, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed with the system. Gosuke smiled slightly, seeing it.

"I'm telling you this because those four disciplines—Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō—are what define a true Shinigami. Mastering them can make you just as powerful as someone with Shikai. Sometimes even more."

"You already wield a Zanpakutō," Gosuke noted, "but I can tell you haven't communicated with it. That means you haven't reached Shikai yet."

"So what I'm suggesting... is that you undergo further training. Sharpen your fundamentals. If you master the first three—Zanjutsu, Hakuda, and Hohō—you'll be stronger than ever."

"And Kidō?" Zaraki asked, eyebrow raised.

Gosuke chuckled. "Honestly, I'm not sure Kidō is your thing. But the other three—if anyone can push those to the extreme, it's you."

Zaraki listened, a rare moment of introspection flickering in his eyes. "You're saying I'll get stronger?"

"Absolutely," Gosuke replied. "You'll reach a level where even Captains will take notice."

That got Zaraki's attention. "Then I'll do it," he said, grin creeping in. "If training means I get to challenge stronger guys later, I'll go through the motions."

"Good," Gosuke nodded. "I've already got the perfect instructor in mind."

Without delay—Gosuke was never one for procrastination—he led Zaraki out of the 11th Division barracks toward the Fourth Division.

Known primarily as the healing corps, the Fourth Division lacked the fierce presence of the combat divisions. To many, they seemed weak. But Gosuke knew better.

The 4th Division wasn't just about healing. They were essential. In a world where death was constant and injuries frequent, they were the ones who made recovery possible.

And leading them... was none other than Captain Unohana Retsu.

To the younger Shinigami, she was a graceful and gentle woman, known for her flower arrangements and calm demeanor. But the veterans—those who remembered the old days—knew the truth: Unohana was the first Kenpachi. A warrior so brutal her very name was once feared across the Soul Society.

Her transformation into the kind-hearted healer was not a change of nature, but a choice—a discipline forged after centuries of bloodshed.

Zaraki was about to meet her.

They arrived at the 4th Division barracks. A quiet place. Clean, orderly, filled with a subdued serenity that contrasted starkly with the chaotic energy of the 11th.

The Vice-Captain of the 4th Division greeted them. An older woman, quiet and composed, whose experience was carved into the lines of her face. She had stood by Unohana's side for many years and earned a reputation not for words, but for skill.

After informing her captain, she returned and said simply, "Captain Unohana is expecting you."

Gosuke nodded and motioned for Zaraki to follow him.

They entered the Captain's room.

Inside, Unohana sat kneeling by a low table, calmly arranging flowers. Her graceful movements and soft aura made it easy to forget who she truly was.

She didn't look up at first. Her attention remained on the delicate arrangement of blooms before her.

Then—her eyes lifted.

And landed on Zaraki.

In that instant, her calm expression shifted. Those soft eyes sharpened, a cold gleam flickering within them. A long-buried instinct surfaced, the beast beneath her serenity stirring.

Zaraki had entered her presence—and she recognized him.

Not as a stranger.

But as a successor.

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