Of course, not every division in the Gotei 13 was open for the graduates to pick freely.
Certain special divisions had their own rules.
For example: Squad 1, as the Head Captain’s division, rarely recruited from the general pool, barring a tiny handful of exceptionally talented students scouted in advance.
Squad 2 served as the Stealth Force and doubled as the private domain of the Shihoin Clan—one of the Four Noble Families.
With its own internal training system for reserve members, it almost never recruited ordinary graduates.
Squad 6 was the “Noble Guard,” sticking to the principle of nobles managing nobles.
Even when open to Shin’ō Spiritual Arts Academy graduates, it accepted only those with noble backgrounds.
Unless someone had special connections, ordinary commoners from the Rukongai stood zero chance of joining.
In addition, each division recruited according to its current vacancies.
Among them, Squad 11—a combat division—consistently had high casualty rates, so it always had plenty of openings.
Squad 13, responsible for stationed purifications in the Living World, needed massive influxes of graduates every year to replenish Soul Reapers sent to human realm posts.
Thus, the squad representatives present this time were from Squads 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, and 13.
“Alright, the representatives from each division have finished speaking.
Graduates, please choose your desired squad and report to their representatives for independent qualification testing.” “If you do not meet the qualifications, you may also consider applying for the Kido Corps, the Seireitei Gate Guard, or becoming retainers for noble families…” As the Seated Officers representing each squad finished their speeches, the old principal announced the next phase, and the graduates in the hall began to disperse toward their preferred representatives.
Makoto Senju, who had long made up his mind, took a deep breath.
Just as he was about to step forward, he felt his wrist grabbed tightly.
Turning his head, a shiny bald head popped into view.
“Makoto, join Squad 11 with me!” Wearing the uniform of the Shin’ō Spiritual Arts Academy, Ikkaku Madarame said with an eager, excited look on his face.
Makoto Senju froze.
He had deliberately tried to avoid Ikkaku Madarame, yet he had still been nabbed by this bald guy.
“I’m not good at fighting.
I won’t pass Captain Kenpachi’s test,” Makoto Senju explained helplessly to Ikkaku Madarame once again.
“Don’t worry!” Ikkaku Madarame patted his chest and took full responsibility, saying, “Captain Kenpachi is the big boss Yumichika and I recognized back in the Rukongai.
He’ll definitely give me face!” “That’s right…” Just as Ikkaku finished speaking, another man who looked like a handsome dandy stepped up, blocking Makoto Senju’s path.
Flicking his bangs back with one hand, he said, “Makoto, trying to sneak away like this isn’t elegant at all.
Just join Squad 11 with Ikkaku and me!
Then we can do what we used to: Ikkaku and I will slaughter on the frontlines, and you can heal us from behind!
It’s an elegantly perfect combination!” *Heal you guys?* The corner of Makoto’s eye twitched uncontrollably.
He felt a wave of regret for using the term “heal” back when he had tricked Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa into charging ahead for him to avoid combat.
Now, on the verge of graduation and marching toward his bright future, how could Makoto possibly choose to huddle up with a bald guy and a flamboyant dandy to “heal” each other?
Besides, the only female in Squad 11 was Yachiru Kusajishi—who looked suspiciously like a crime against the law to even look at funny.
Unless Makoto lost his mind, there was no way he’d pick Squad 11.
It wasn’t as if all the other female Soul Reapers in the Soul Society had died out!
*Heh…* Makoto gave a hollow smile, secretly trying to break free from Ikkaku’s grip, only to find Ikkaku’s grip rock-solid.
The muscles on his hormone-laden arm were even twitching slightly.
Sensing Makoto’s attempt to struggle, Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa closed in even tighter, executing a front-and-back pincer movement that left Makoto with zero chance of escape.
At that moment, in the middle of the gradually dispersing hall, the scene of Makoto trapped between two burly guys stood out in stark contrast to everything around them.
Makoto felt completely numb from this sudden pincer attack!
“Hey, hey, what on earth are you two doing?
I’m not good at fighting at all!
If I join Squad 11 and get dragged into constant battles, I’ll probably die in the line of duty real fast…” Pausing, Makoto put on a helpless and remorseful expression.
“Ikkaku, Yumichika, even though I really hate to part with you guys, I doubt you want to be attending my funeral anytime soon, right?” Hearing this, Yumichika Ayasegawa narrowed his eyes slightly, a noncommittal expression on his face.
At the Shin’ō Spiritual Arts Academy, as prospective members of the Gotei 13, the students weren’t sheltered greenhouse flowers.
Throughout their education, they had to face Hollows in combat multiple times.
Makoto Senju’s performance in combat could only be described as completely mediocre.
Whether it was Shunpo, Hakuda, Kendo, or Kido, none of them were impressive.
The only things he showed proficiency in were Kaido for healing and medical arts.
Aside from that, the only standout point about Makoto compared to ordinary graduates was that he had already mastered his Zanpakuto’s Shikai.
However, Makoto Senju’s Shikai ability seemed to be purely healing-oriented.
Thus, appearing unsuited for combat, Makoto had mostly teamed up with Yumichika Ayasegawa and Ikkaku Madarame over his years at the Academy.
Precisely because he had spent so much time with Makoto, Yumichika—who had always hidden his own true Shikai ability—vaguely had an intuition: this guy Makoto, much like himself, was likely only displaying a partial Shikai state in his daily life.
Of course, Yumichika didn’t have any concrete evidence.
What mainly sparked his suspicion was Makoto’s calm and composed demeanor whenever they faced Hollows.
Especially on several occasions when Yumichika and Ikkaku were trapped in dire straits, bloody and fighting for their lives, Makoto was always the one standing pristine and unruffled, casually healing them from behind.
That…
defied common sense!
Thinking up to this point, Yumichika couldn’t help but take another deep look at Makoto, sandwiching him even tighter alongside Ikkaku.
Back at the Academy, there hadn’t been many opportunities, so forget it.
But once they pulled Makoto into Squad 11, there would be plenty of chances to thoroughly investigate him.