Captain Yamamoto's hand rested on Jakuhō Raikōben.
Just the casual release of his Reiatsu froze Sui-Feng in place.
Her finger hovered a hair's breadth from the trigger, but that tiny gap became an insurmountable distance.
"Are you planning to raze this old man's school to the ground?"
Captain Yamamoto's voice was calm but thunderously authoritative.
At the sight of him, Sui-Feng's senses returned at once.
"Captain Yamamoto, I..."
She faltered, speechless. Then she looked down from the stage.
On the faces of many young candidates, panic still lingered.
Even the seasoned members of various squads stood stiff, clearly shaken.
Only then did Sui-Feng fully realize how close she had come to disaster, all because of a moment's loss of control.
She bowed her head in shame.
What's wrong with me today? Why so irrational?
This isn't like me at all!
Tch... it's all that bastard's fault!
She cast a resentful glance at Su Li across the stage.
Yamamoto caught her expression and sighed inwardly.
Then his voice rang clearly across the school grounds.
"This year's graduation assessment ends here."
"All division members, return to your posts. Assignment of new recruits will proceed as planned."
"All captains, report to the central conference room. The Gotei 13 will now convene a plenary meeting."
He paused, eyes narrowing on Su Li.
"You too. Attend."
A stir rippled through the crowd.
The Gotei 13 plenary meeting... and Su Li is invited?
Does that mean... Captain Yamamoto has acknowledged him as a captain?
All eyes turned to Su Li with growing curiosity and excitement.
Su Li looked mildly confused but nodded nonetheless.
Under the coordinated direction of the academy staff, the crowds dispersed in orderly fashion.
Su Li followed the captains of the Gotei 13 toward the main hall.
...
Soon, the academy's wide courtyard lay empty.
Creak!
A figure arrived with sudden urgency—Zaraki Kenpachi.
He looked around at the deserted grounds, a rare flicker of uncertainty crossing his face.
"Xiaojian, looks like we're late... the test's already over..."
Yachiru, draped across his shoulder, chewed her fingers and pouted.
"Damn it..."
Kenpachi scratched his head in frustration.
He had left first—and yet arrived last.
The irony stung.
But he had only himself to blame.
He was a wild wanderer, directionless. And Yachiru, his so-called guide, was even more unreliable than he was.
All morning, the two had wandered aimlessly around Seireitei.
A breeze rustled through the air, scattering dry leaves.
Kenpachi stood alone in the empty schoolyard, a desolate silhouette.
...
Meanwhile, in the Thirteenth Division's grand conference hall—
The captains of the Gotei 13 sat in two facing rows.
Byakuya Kuchiki, composed and dignified as ever, had skipped the graduation entirely.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri remained his usual unsettling self, clearly uninterested in juvenile sparring matches.
In his words, "Watching kids fight is dull. Experiments are far more entertaining."
Sui-Feng sat with a white cloth now wrapped around her head, hiding the red mark Su Li had left.
The atmosphere in the chamber was solemn—
With one exception.
Su Li, seated at the end of the line, looked around the room with the awe of a child visiting a shrine.
"So this is the Thirteenth Division's meeting hall! Just like in the anime!"
"Wow... these screens, that scroll, even the bonsai! All spot on!"
He kept muttering excitedly to himself, eyes gleaming.
Several captains turned their heads, eyeing him with a mix of curiosity and irritation.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri, seated nearby, finally snapped.
"Hey, brat. Can you shut up already? You're grating on my nerves!"
"Oops, sorry."
Su Li grinned sheepishly.
...
In the captain's office—more like an empty dojo than an office—
There was nothing but a simple wooden desk.
Behind it sat Captain Yamamoto, watching Su Li's profile through the open screen.
"The boy's parents vanished during the ronin disturbance ten years ago..."
"He was placed in a relative's care..."
"Six years ago, he entered the Spiritual Arts Academy. His performance was poor, always ranking near the bottom..."
"Peers described him as distant, unsociable, difficult to approach..."
Kneeling before the desk was Chōjirō Sasakibe, speaking respectfully.
"Having lost his parents, withdrawn behavior is understandable," Yamamoto said, nodding.
"Continue."
"Yes, sir. About a year ago, the boy's temperament began to shift..."
"His training became intense. His demeanor brightened."
"Though still academically weak, his attitude transformed entirely."
"Subordinates suspect he either encountered some kind of opportunity... or finally opened his heart."
Sasakibe finished his report with calm confidence.
Yamamoto leaned back in thought.
He gazed at his lieutenant, recalling distant memories.
Over two thousand years ago, Sasakibe had stood before him—a young man with dreams of being his right hand.
At the time, Yamamoto hadn't given him much attention.
But to prove himself, Sasakibe had achieved Bankai in just a week.
That had left a deep impression.
Perhaps this boy, Su Li, had also met someone—or something—that drove him to surpass his limits.
That kind of inner fire could not be taught.
It could only be awakened.
The boy had clearly tapped into something powerful.
And his talent... was extraordinary.
Yamamoto's stern expression softened with faint satisfaction.
"So, this child's background is clean."
He rose to his feet slowly.
To step into the heart of the Gotei 13, one must be free of suspicion.
This was the Soul Society's final line of defense.
"Yes, Captain," Sasakibe affirmed.
"Very good."
Yamamoto's eyes narrowed slightly in approval.
He took a step forward.
"Have all the division captains arrived?"
"All except Captain Zaraki Kenpachi of Squad Eleven."
"Tch."
Yamamoto's brow furrowed.
"Find someone and bring him here. We've no time to wait on him."
"Understood."
Sasakibe bowed and left swiftly.
Then Yamamoto raised his cane and brought it down once—
The carved wooden doors swung open.
"Meeting begins."