I'm really not the number one slacker in Soul Society.

"Captain Zaraki, Vice-Captain Kusashi, what's going on?"

"You are... oh, the vice-captain of the First Division, right?" Kenpachi didn't hide anything, pointing to Yachiru who was perched on his shoulder, and said, "We were planning to go back to the barracks, but we couldn't find the way, and we ended up here."

"...?"

—The Shinigami Academy and the Eleventh Division are a full seventeen blocks apart, how could they get lost like that?

Getting lost is one thing, but why did you have to kick down the wall?

Chojiro Sasaki originally wanted to reprimand him loudly, but Kenpachi Zaraki's expression was so matter-of-fact that he didn't know where to begin. He could only instruct his subordinates to clean up the scattered bricks and tiles on the ground when they approached.

After all, although he was a veteran among veterans, the vice-captain had no right to criticize the captain to his face.

The only option is to create a way out that both sides can accept, and then let Old Man Shan make the final decision.

It's just a wall... so what if it's broken?

"The Seireitei is notoriously complicated. Captain Zaraki has only been here a short time, so it's normal that he can't find it easily. He'll get used to it eventually."

Chojiro stroked his beard and smiled, quickly changing the subject: "Speaking of which, today is graduation day at the Shinigami Academy. Each division is here to select promising new recruits. Although the Eleventh Division doesn't usually participate, since Captain Zaraki is here, I wonder if he would be willing to join in? Increasing manpower would be a good thing for the Eleventh Division, wouldn't it?"

Mima, who was eavesdropping, exclaimed, "?!"

Brother, don't be like that! Wouldn't it be better to persuade him to go back? How could those roughnecks from the Eleventh Division handle such meticulous work? If he causes any trouble, it won't look good for anyone!

"Recruiting new people?"

Upon hearing this, Kenpachi Zaraki scratched his head and hesitated for a moment: "We've already fought everyone in the team, so finding a few newbies... that should be quite interesting, right? -- Yachiru, what do you think?"

"That sounds like so much fun!" Yachiru excitedly raised her hand. "I want to participate!"

“Let’s go and do it.”

Kenpachi Zaraki replied in a flat tone, "Where would you like to sit?"

Mima: "..."

My stomach hurts so much... Can I skip today's plans...?

As Chojiro Sasaki was arranging seats for Kenpachi Zaraki, Yama also returned to his seat in the 8th Division, leaned against the table, and teased Nanao, who looked very nervous, "This won't do. The students haven't even arrived yet. If you're this nervous, how will you take on heavier responsibilities in the future?"

—Speaking of which, since Shunsui, the 8th Division should have been a lazy division whose ultimate career goal was to slack off. Why did each generation of members lose their leisure time after a certain point?

This must be some kind of curse...

"Don't make fun of me..." Nana shrugged, her voice tinged with a hint of grievance. "How could I not be nervous... those 'students' are all older than me... what if I don't do something right..."

“That’s right.” Mi Zhen smiled. “At twelve years old, you’ve already reached a height that they can only dream of. You’ll be even more amazing in the future—maybe you’ll become the captain and my vice-captain… or even the captain. I know it might be a bit too early for you to experience this kind of situation, but you have the ability. The captain and I have high expectations for you. All you have to do is show some confidence, that’s all.”

The team members around him were all handpicked by him to ensure their character, so they wouldn't be negatively affected by these comments. After all, it's important to know your own limitations; not everyone is capable of standing in a high position. For them, reaching the position of a seated officer is basically the limit in their lives, due to their limited talent. Meanwhile, Nanao, who doesn't even have a Zanpakuto, can still achieve a high ranking in internal sparring purely through Kido, which makes it impossible for them to be dissatisfied.

"I……"

Nana lowered her head, bit her lip, and began to think.

That's right. You, wielding the Eight Mirrors Sword, will be a very important being and must grow up as soon as possible. Although this eagerness is obviously a bit unrealistic, Mima is indeed looking forward to seeing the day when she can fight Victory Baro single-handedly.

Suddenly, Mima heard the sound of wind.

"Watanabe Yama, it's been a while since I've seen you."

Mima turned around with some surprise, looked at the petite yet agile figure, and smiled: "Oh? Captain Soi Fon is also coming in person to recruit new members?"

"I've been training for too long, so I'm just here to relax."

—As she said, although her spiritual pressure level seemed to have increased considerably in the past two months, the relentless training had left her almost exhausted, and even now, she still had faint dark circles under her eyes.

"Then I wish Captain Soi Fon a pleasant time."

Although Mima said those words, his mouth shape conveyed another meaning—"The promise can be kept at any time, whenever you have time."

Soi Fon raised an eyebrow, unsurprisingly understanding that this was an intelligence exchange mode originating from covert operations, and said in the same way, "I also wish your Eighth Division can find a suitable candidate."

The actual content was, "Two weeks from now, late at night, if nothing unexpected happens, I will go to the Eighth Division to find you."

After saying that, he turned and left, heading towards the seats of the Second Division.

Mima watched from afar as Ōmaeda laughed and talked to Soi Fon, only to be punched in the face in a comical scene. Meanwhile, he manipulated the present-day Sashio to add a line to her schedule.

...I wonder when I'll be able to truly relax.

But to be fair, Omae is Omae, he really can take a beating...

..........................................

Shortly afterward, the graduation oath ceremony in the college lobby finally came to an end.

Led by their teachers, dozens of graduates came to the playground from the other side of the road.

Dozens of people doesn't sound like much? That's right. Although anyone with spiritual talent and a clean background can apply to the Shinigami Academy, the path to becoming a Shinigami is not easy. The academy's graduation rate is around 15% year-round, meaning that only 15 out of 100 people can graduate successfully. The others who fail the test will have their Zanpakuto taken back and will have to find another way.

To put it bluntly, there are less than six thousand Shinigami in the entire Soul Society, while the number of souls capable of performing some kind of spiritual trickery is in the millions, which shows how rigorous the selection process is.

This year's graduates... a total of seventy-six, which is a normal number.

Although it sounds a bit harsh, the purpose of having the head officer, deputy captain, or even captain preside over the recruitment is actually to give the newcomers something to look forward to, to give them the illusion that "I am actually being valued to this extent," and thus motivate them to work hard.

In a sense, this could also be considered a form of PUA...

Before the students arrive at the recruitment fair, the academy will have them choose their preferred squad in advance to avoid any trouble. Of course, this is entirely voluntary. Before signing the induction papers, it doesn't matter if they ask every squad. Mima is a typical example of someone who had a preliminary selection but changed his mind halfway through.

"Don't worry, just keep good records."

Mima comforted Nanao with a word, then struck Commander Ikari's classic pose, facing the graduates who had spontaneously lined up in front of their seats with a deep expression.

This year, he doesn't plan to actively seek out outstanding newcomers. As long as they aren't too bad or have terrible character, he'll take anyone who comes to him on their own initiative. It's all about fate.

The first to arrive was a burly man dressed like a ronin, wearing only half of his shirt, with several conspicuous magatama tattoos on his bare left arm, and his eyebrows were also distinctively curled upwards—his spiritual pressure level was probably around the seventh rank of spiritual power... If he only had this level at this age, it would be difficult for him to improve much more in the future.

"Ah, very good."

Mima nodded with a smile and, as usual, asked, "Name?"

"I am Enjoji Tatsufusa, and I am the twenty-fourth in this class."

The burly man arrogantly stood with his hands on his hips and boasted, "My strength is no less than that of the captain or even the vice-captain! It would be an honor for the Eighth Division to let me join!"

Mima: "...?"

This guy has really made me insecure... I'm the interviewer, right? Why is he acting so arrogant, like he should be sitting down and I should be standing and being interrogated? Is there really nothing wrong with the education at the Shinigami Academy? How could they produce such an outrageous piece of trash?

...Wait, Enjoji Tatsufusa?

Oh... he remembers this person.

He was that minor character who only appeared in a few panels in the manga, but became the third seat of the 8th Division more than a hundred years later. He was incredibly arrogant with his words, but his skills were terrible. He was defeated by Chad with a single punch and never appeared again after that.

I wonder what Shunsui's mindset was in promoting this idiot to the third seat... Will the Eighth Division be so short-handed a hundred years from now...?

Mima's lips twitched a few times. After a moment of contemplation, he pointed to Kenpachi Zaraki on the other side of the hall and said earnestly, "Since you are so powerful, perhaps you shouldn't take up a civilian position in the division. Look, over there is the newly appointed captain of the 11th Division, Captain Kenpachi Zaraki. He is in dire need of elite soldiers who can take on a hundred men. Why don't you go over there and find a better position?"

"What? The Eleventh Division is participating in the recruitment event this year too?"

"It's an unexpected situation."

Mima smiled as he looked at Enjoji Tatsufusa, whose face showed interest: "From my perspective, I don't want to see a gem wasted. The strong should naturally have a place to go, don't you think?"

"Hmph, you're right."

Enjoji Tatsufusa smiled and continued to arrogantly go after Kenpachi Zaraki.

Mima: "..."

—It seems this guy's arrogance isn't acting; he genuinely doesn't know his own limitations.

After the strange beginning, the next person to apply for the job was a young woman with a sinister aura. She was dressed properly and had a good appearance, but her complexion was so weak that it looked as if a gust of wind could blow her over, which made people feel a little uneasy.

"Name?"

“Shutara…Shutara Ayamaru.”

Mima: "?!"

What the hell? Say your last name again.

He looked up in shock, concealing his emotions, and carefully examined the astonishing man—black hair, red eyes, seemingly afflicted with some kind of chronic illness, resulting in a relatively weak spiritual pressure level, barely reaching the ninth rank of spiritual power.

Apart from that, there's nothing particularly special about it.

But her surname is Shutara, the Shutara class.

Is it a coincidence? Who else in Soul Society shares the same surname as Shutara Senjumaru, the "Great Oriole Master" of the Zero Division?

It seems highly unlikely no matter how you look at it...

Mima cautiously asked the next question: "Why did you choose the Eighth Division?"

Shutara Ayamaru replied in a low voice, "I am not good at physical strength and fighting. Only clerical work is more suitable for me... so I can only choose between the 8th Division and the 5th Division. Captain Kyoraku is a well-known veteran, so I chose the 8th Division."

After saying that, she handed over a stack of resumes, proving that she had participated in some related work during her student days and was able to immediately devote herself to her job upon joining. It also stated her background—a commoner from Rukongai, and that her surname was just a pure coincidence.

Everything seems to be fine... there's no reason not to accept it.

Conversely, even if this guy does have some problems, it's better to keep him under my supervision.

"Good, you passed."

Mima took an induction form from Nanao and handed it to Shutaro Ayamaru: "Fill this out, and you'll be a member of the Eighth Division."

Shutara Ayamaru silently took the paper and went to the table next to him to fill it out.

The interview continues.

After the two amazing individuals, the other graduates seemed unremarkable. A total of seven people approached the Eighth Division this time, and Yama accepted everyone except Enjoji Tatsufusa, leaving only one person behind.

The last person's shihachi costume had been modified, with an inner hood so large it could cover half her face. To onlookers, all they could tell was that she was a woman with an excellent figure.

Mima, still smiling, asked, "Name?"

"Lu Qu Ba Yun Zhai."

The man replied.

Chapter 189: You're going to take the blame for this!

Let's rewind a little, to about ten minutes ago.