With the arrival of the Head-Captain, all members of the 11th Division were soon summoned.
Though the reason for his visit had not yet been formally stated, the more perceptive Shinigami already sensed that Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto must have come with important news concerning their division.
The squad had continued to function, albeit under temporary leadership. But in truth, without a formally appointed captain, there had been a visible vacuum. While each division of the Gotei 13 followed its own doctrine, the 11th Division, in particular, was infamous for its resistance to orders not issued by their own captain. No matter how highly ranked, if the other captain wasn't Kenpachi or directly their superior, they were simply dismissed.
But Yamamoto was different.
He was the founder of the Gotei 13 and its supreme commander, a man whose strength was not only recognized but feared. Even Zaraki Kenpachi, wild and uncontrollable as he was, had a level of subdued respect for Yamamoto, however begrudgingly. To the warriors of the 11th Division, Yamamoto was one of the few figures who embodied power in its purest form—raw, absolute, and unquestionable.
As all assembled, nearly a hundred Shinigami gathered in the expansive courtyard outside the 11th Division's barracks. Silence fell the moment Yamamoto stepped forward, tapping his ornate staff onto the ground. The sharp, resounding crack echoed like thunder, stilling all murmurs.
With commanding presence, the Head-Captain spoke in a resonant voice, his words concise but unmistakably firm:
"It has been several months since Zaraki Kenpachi was imprisoned in Muken. The seat of the 11th Division captain has remained vacant since then."
"A few days ago, the Captain Qualification Assessment was carried out by myself, Captain Kyōraku of the 8th Division, and Captain Ukitake of the 13th Division. The subject of this assessment was Vice-Captain Gosuke Shigure."
"The results of the evaluation were unanimous. Gosuke Shigure has been deemed fit to bear the title of captain and succeed the mantle of Kenpachi."
"Central 46 has reviewed and formally approved the appointment."
"From this day forward, Gosuke Shigure shall serve as the official captain of the 11th Division."
"That is all."
The declaration was powerful in its brevity, yet its impact was immense. The silence that followed was not one of reverence, but stunned disbelief.
"No way... Gosuke passed the captain's test?"
"You've gotta be kidding!"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd like a wave. Many of the 11th Division's rougher and rowdier Shinigami had always considered Gosuke Shigure a capable vice-captain—loyal, meticulous, dependable—but few had genuinely expected him to rise to the level of a captain, let alone one worthy of the Kenpachi title. When Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe had first come to summon him for the assessment, it had stirred plenty of talk, mostly disbelief.
Though Shigure had led in Kenpachi's absence, many assumed it was simply a temporary measure, not a sign of readiness for promotion.
Now, with the Head-Captain himself delivering the news, that disbelief began to melt into amazement. And yet, the 11th Division being what it was, amazement quickly turned into loud, chaotic commentary. Voices overlapped, arguments sprang up about whether Shigure really had the strength to wear the haori, and familiar rivalries reignited on the spot.
Yamamoto, used to the unruly nature of the 11th Division, did not attempt to restore order. His task was complete. The official appointment had been made, and his presence was no longer required. With a glance at Shigure, he gave a slight nod and turned to leave.
Shigure stepped forward.
Facing the gathered division, a small grin played across his lips as he called out, "You all better get used to calling me 'Captain' from now on. I don't want to hear that 'Vice' nonsense anymore."
A beat passed.
Then, unexpectedly, there were no jeers—just silence, followed by subdued laughter and a few approving nods. Despite their bluster, the division respected strength and resolve. Gosuke had stood by them, kept the unit together during Kenpachi's absence, handled their missions, kept discipline (as much as anyone could), and bore the 11th Division's chaos without flinching.
Most important of all—he had earned it. Not through favoritism, but through recognition by Yamamoto and Central 46.
He hadn't killed to take the title, like Zaraki before him, or risen from nobility, like Kuchiki Byakuya. He had risen through the ranks, the same way most of them dreamed they could.
Even some of the more grizzled Shinigami muttered quietly among themselves.
"Gosuke, you've really grown."
"If Captain Tsuruyashiki were still alive, he'd be proud."
Before dying, Tsuruyashiki had entrusted Gosuke's future to Zaraki Kenpachi, despite being the one slain by him. He had hoped Kenpachi would at least look after the boy. That had not quite happened. But Gosuke hadn't needed protection—he'd forged his own path. Now, he stood not as someone's protégé, but as a Kenpachi in his own right.
…
The shihakushō—the black uniform worn by all Shinigami—represents their departure from the common souls of Rukongai. It is not merely clothing, but a symbol of duty.
The Zanpakutō is the weapon of the Shinigami, an embodiment of their soul. It existed long before standardized training, before the founding of the Spiritual Arts Academy. At that time, combat knowledge was passed down informally, and those capable of wielding Zanpakutōs were few but powerful.
Roughly 2,000 years ago, Yamamoto founded the Shin'ō Academy. The scattered arts of swordsmanship (Zanjutsu), hand-to-hand combat (Hakuda), Kidō, and Shunpo were codified into a system taught to new recruits. Discipline followed chaos.
However, the uniformity we now see—the black garb of the Gotei 13—did not exist until 800 years ago. During the Quincy invasion, Soul Society faced its greatest existential threat. In response, Yamamoto formed the original 13 Court Guard Squads—composed not of peacekeepers, but of ruthless killers. The shihakushō became their battle dress, modeled after the prototype worn by the Royal Guard.
Captains, the strongest among them, wore the white haori, a sign of both distinction and burden.
In time, the Quincies were defeated. But the threat had revealed Soul Society's vulnerability, and the noble families backed the creation of the Gotei 13 as a standing military force. Since then, Shinigami became the recognized guardians of balance.
Which brings us to today.
Gosuke Shigure, having received his official appointment, went to receive his haori—the white captain's cloak, sleeveless and bold, bearing the kanji for "Eleven" on the back. The garment was more than fabric. It was tradition. A weight he now carried with honor.
He did not inherit it through conquest, as Zaraki had, nor through bloodline. He earned it through perseverance.
From the boy shadowing Tsuruyashiki, to the vice-captain stabilizing a feral squad, to now—the 11th Kenpachi.
And the battle had only just begun.