CH 21: CHILLING IN THE LIBRARY
[Shin’o academy, Library]
“How many times did I tell you? Stop ditching class.”
Looking disapprovingly at Gojo, Nanao complained once again.
She had enough on her plate when dealing with her own captain, but it seemed that without knowing, she had added another problem next to her.
Putting back the book he was holding before taking another one, Gojo simply gave a short laugh without even raising his head. Currently, he obviously didn’t wear his glasses nor his blindfold. After all, no matter how powerful his eyes were, he wasn’t absurd to the point that he could read with something covering them...
Seeing him like this, Nanao gave up and turned toward Toshiro who was sitting next to him, “Please, no matter what happens, don’t grow up like him.”
Toshiro could only nod awkwardly.
Nanao had met all of Gojo’s companions, and even though all of them were somewhat awkward around her because of her rank and temperament, they all understood that, deep down, Nanao was a kind and gentle woman.
Though she was somewhat strict. In fact, the closest to Nanao after Satoru wasn’t Toshiro, but Momo. Generally, she would also be present in the library but she was currently held back since she and Kira were the representative of class 1's first years.
“Satoru nii-san, you should really calm down. I have overheard some of the students while coming here, and it seems like your fight with Kairo-sensei is already known to all the students and teachers. Your infamy is continuing to grow.”
“Hum… And so?”
This time, the two of them were stumped.
Feeling the silence around him, Gojo sighed. He knew that they were worried about him. Though having people worry about him was really a foreign feeling.
“Look, what was my goal in entering the academy?”
“Learning more about Kido and the basic knowledge from the academy.”
“And what am I doing right now?”
“...”
“See? Means and objectives. People always get entangled in what they shouldn’t. Currently, I have basically succeeded in my goal. So, this academy has nothing to teach me anymore.”
Gojo wasn’t joking. His status as a student had never been something he attached importance to. All he wished for was to obtain information and knowledge.
“In fact, you could even say that the academy is more of a liability currently.”
After all, as a student, even though he had access to a large amount of information, he also had many restrictions on what he could learn.
As such he needed to upgrade his rank, which meant becoming a shinigami.
“If it wasn’t because of the outing that will happen in the real world in two weeks, I would have already applied to graduate.”
He already had some grasp of Zanjutsu, and even though he didn’t awaken a Shikai yet, having a Shikai was never the goal of that class. Otherwise, 99% of the students would never pass.
Sighing, Nanao decided to not insist. After all, she knew that Gojo wasn’t a lazy man. He just had his priorities straight and discarded absolutely everything that wasn’t necessary.
What’s more, she had to admit that the new technique he had created really intrigued her.
After all, the women from the Ise family were unable to bond with an Asauchi, and she wasn’t an exception to the rule.
Because of this, she seriously lacked means of attack. But if she could learn his Black flash…
‘Well, it isn’t that easy.’
It had taken one week since their meeting for Gojo to create Black flash, but even he had some trouble controlling it.
“Hum, well, I didn’t call you today just to scold you.”
“Heh!? Seriously? Don’t stop, please. I must admit that being looked at coldly while being scolded by a glasses-wearing beauty has a charm of its own.”
Toshiro suddenly shivered at Nanao’s cold stare, but Gojo simply laughed, “Haha, perhaps stopping is better. Wouldn’t want to awaken some weird fetishes. right?”
Nanao could feel her headache growing, Gojo was really an attractive man, and she had to admit that he didn’t let her be indifferent. Thankfully, each time she felt some feelings growing, he would destroy those budding feelings with his weird jokes.
“Could we talk seriously, please?”
“Sorry, sorry, I will be serious. So, what is the matter?”
After making sure that he wouldn’t continue with the joke, she began seriously, “Did you decide which division you will join?”
Nanao knew that Gojo’s previous words were right. At his current level, he could graduate any time he wanted. In fact, with his talent in Kido and Hakuda, he could even enter any department he wished and could even be given a seat.
This was how talented he was.
Gojo took another book and said nonchalantly, “Well, I do have an idea in mind. But I am open to suggestions. Do you want me to enter your division?”
“To be honest? No. My captain is already a pain. I wouldn’t be able to take it if I had to add another one.”
“Ouch! I feel my heart breaking at those hurtful words. Shiro, don’t you think she is too mean? You will join the same division as me, right?”
“Haha...” All Toshiro could do was give an awkward laugh while averting his eyes.
“To think that even my little brother would discard me. Sigh, what a cruel world. Oh? The ice beauty smiled?”
“You must be mistaken.”
“No, I am sure I saw it. Nothing can go past my eyes. But seriously though, why the question?”
“In about ten years, the current captains of the 6th and 3rd division will step down. This will create a vacuum in many divisions.”
“Oh? You want me to gun for the captain position?”
Nanao hesitated a little before nodding. "I know it’s absurd, but I feel like if it’s you, it shouldn’t be hard. At worst, you could become vice-captain or third seat. Though you can’t become the captain of the 6th division.”
"There's nothing I cannot do.”
“I am serious. Currently, there are two candidates for the position. Vice-captain Byakuya Kuchiki was already chosen to replace Captain Ginrei Kuchiki. He was already judged to have all the qualifications, so it’s just about him waiting now.”
“Ah, nepotism at its finest.”
“Not really. Not even one of the four greatest noble houses can choose a captain. To become one, you need to fulfill some conditions.”
“Such as?”
“The first one and the most common is the demonstration of the Bankai. This needs to be done in front of at least three captains, including the commander. The second way is harder since you need to be recommended by 6 out of the 13 captains and then get accepted by another 3 out of the seven remaining. The final way is the hardest and simplest at the same time. You simply need to beat the captain under the witness of at least 200 members of his squad.”
Saying she frowned, “Frankly even if you become as strong as a captain, I don’t advise you to choose this one. Aside from the 11th division where it's basically a tradition for the new captain to kill the old one, if you become a captain using such a way, you won’t be able to make it run smoothly.”
She really couldn't understand those muscle heads of the 11th division.
The 11th was overall the strongest division. Each captain of such a division should have been a precious resource.
But the current captain, Zaraki Kenpachi was the 11th Kenpachi.
Meaning that 10 captains died before him.
This was incredibly wasteful and stupid in her opinion. But she had neither the power nor the drive to protest against such a tradition.
“Hmm… Anyways, you talked about two candidates, right? That Kuchiki, whatever guy gunning for the 6th division. So what about the 3rd?”
“It’s Byakuya. Byakuya Kuchiki.”
“Yeah, yeah. Byakuya. Who cares about that? So, who is the second dude?”
*Sigh* “The candidate for the position of captain in the 3rd division is the vice-captain of the 5th division. Gin Ichimaru.”
----
[Seireitei, 2nd division.]
Currently, Soi Fon was seated on the chair of the leader of the Fon family and as such did not wear her captain cloak.
The Fon family was a noble family affiliated to the Shihoin family.
Normally, the current leader of the Shihoin family, Yushiro Shihoin, should have taken the position as captain of the 2nd division.
But, even though he was an incredibly talented young boy who would without a doubt reach his sister's level given enough time. As of now, he still didn't have the strength required to stand as a captain.
Currently listening to the reports, Soi Fon was at first a little bored, but she immediately straightened when she heard about Gojo and his feat.
In the first place, Kairo Fon was no pushover, so for him to lose in a contest of speed and techniques showed just how much Gojo had grown in such a short time.
But for him to create a technique that looked like Shunko?
She believed that no subordinate of hers would provide fake information so she did not doubt it.
This made his worth in her eyes rise even more.
'Perhaps I should send him a special invitation?'
It was pretty common for special students to be allowed to participate in missions with some official shinigamis.
This was because having experience beforehand was always a good thing.
What's more, the case of Gin Ichimaru had already left a precedent. So it wasn't a problem.
It was just that she had already been refused once.
She didn't have the face to be refused a second time.
'Hmm… What should I do?'
--
(AN: So let's be clear. On Nanao's thoughts about the 10 previous Kenpachi having died before Zaraki. We all know it isn't entirely the truth, but Nanao does not. Anyway, I hope you liked the chapter.)