Chapter 53: The much-anticipated captain assessment, how strong is the strongest genius?

The unexpected reward of the SR-ranked Mind Gem was a pleasant surprise, immediately pushing Uehara Shiroha's potential to a whole new level.

With just a bit of further development, an item of this caliber could easily reach the Transcendent Level.

After all—

Squad Zero,

The Perfect Royal Guard,

Blood War-enhanced Quincy Elites—

All of them were at the Transcendent Level.

And above them stood the Pseudo-Spirit King Level Shinigamis—

Ichigo Kurosaki with his True Bankai

Soul King-powered entities

Compared to them, Uehara Shiroha still had a long way to go.

But—

He had time.

There were still long time left before the Thousand-Year Blood War began.

During this time, he could farm daily tasks, accumulating a massive amount of attribute points.

And once the main plot kicked off, he could grind special missions for even greater rewards.

By that time—

Crushing the Royal Guard? Defeating the so-called strongest Shinigami?

It wouldn't be a dream.

It would be inevitable.

At that thought, Uehara Shiroha felt completely at ease.

With a flick of his hand, he pulled up his task log.

First, the daily task summary—

[Completed 25,263 daily tasks in total, earning 50,526 random attribute points.]

Not bad.

Then, he checked the special missions he had completed so far.

[Special Mission 1 - Visit Rukongai] → Reward: Shadow Clone (B-Rank Ability)

…

[Special Mission 10 - Become the Commander-in-Chief of the Court Army] → Reward: Seven Sets of 3D Maneuvering Gear (D-Rank Item)

[Special Mission 11 - Accept Hinamori Momo and Rukia Kuchiki as Apprentices] → Reward: Ten Sets of Black Battle Suit (B-Rank Item)

[Special Mission 12 - Awaken the True Name of Zanpakutō & Unlock Second-Stage Bankai] → Reward: Mind Gem (SR-Rank Item)

Looking at the past fifty years, he had only received three special missions.

And frankly, the first two rewards were garbage.

The Black Battle Suit at least had some value.

And, well—Shihoin Yoruichi and Matsumoto Rangiku looked amazing in it.

It was form-fitting, enhancing every curve where it should.

Even a serious person like Uehara Shiroha had to admit—

The temptation was undeniable.

The defense wasn't bad either.

Unless you were a top-tier Captain, breaking through its protection in one hit was impossible.

In essence, it was a one-time absolute defense.

But the real problem was…

It was too revealing.

For Shihoin Yoruichi and Matsumoto Rangiku, that was fine.

They were "old drivers" who had no shame and would occasionally play along—going as far as wearing the suits for some "combat practice" with him.

But the three apprentices—

Ise Nanao,

Hinamori Momo,

Rukia Kuchiki—

All refused outright.

They blushed, insisting it was too embarrassing.

Which, to be fair, was understandable.

But then there was Hinamori—

Considering she once worshipped Aizen and believed in his "absolute defense", it made sense she wouldn't see the need for a black bodysuit.

Still, a little fan service never hurt anyone.

Then there was the 3D Maneuvering Gear…

That reward was pure trash.

What was he supposed to do?

Send his Court Army to fight Hollows by cutting their napes?

If this were Attack on Titan, maybe it would've been useful.

But in the world of Bleach?

A single Shunpo was a thousand times better.

Without hesitation, Uehara Shiroha had dumped the gear into storage, never bothering to look at it again.

Fortunately, those worthless rewards were just padding.

The real jackpot was the Mind Gem.

With this, he had everything he needed to become unstoppable.

Gazing at the faintly glowing Mind Gem, Uehara Shiroha made a silent resolution—

"In the next fifty years, I'll aim for at least 100,000 attribute points."

"I'll grind more special missions."

"And then, I'll survive the Thousand-Year Blood War… by doing nothing."

That was the dream.

That was the goal.

Inside the office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Court Army, Uehara Shiroha sensed a familiar spiritual pressure approaching.

Moments later, the door creaked open, and a young female subordinate entered, bowing respectfully.

"Commander-in-Chief," she announced. "Captain of the Eighth Division, Kyoraku Shunsui, has come to visit!"

Uehara Shiroha nodded.

A few seconds later, Kyoraku Shunsui strolled in, his bamboo hat tilted lazily over his face, his pink haori fluttering slightly.

He let out a whistle of amazement as he took in the room.

"Man… every time I come here, it gets more and more extravagant," he remarked.

Back when Uehara Shiroha first proposed the Hueco Mundo Base and the Court Army, nobody had believed it would work.

Not even Kyoraku Shunsui.

Still, he had fully supported Uehara Shiroha.

At worst, it would have saved his little brother from boredom.

But somehow, against all expectations—

Uehara Shiroha had built an army.

A highly disciplined, extremely powerful force.

Shunsui couldn't help but wonder—

Just how did this little brother pull it off?

Uehara Shiroha waved a hand dismissively.

"It's nothing more than a small project," he said.

Then, without hesitation, he cut to the chase.

"It's not even evening yet, brother. You came here with official orders, didn't you?"

His current position— Third Seat of the First Division and the Commander-in-Chief of the Court Army —placed him above most captains.

Not just anyone could summon him.

Kyoraku Shunsui chuckled.

"Heh. This time, it's actually good news," he said, his tone filled with mischief.

"Come on, don't keep them waiting too long."

Uehara Shiroha didn't even need to see Shunsui's expression to know—

It was definitely not "good" news.

At best, it would be annoying.

At worst, it would be troublesome.

But considering how great his day had been, he figured—

Why not?

He could handle a little trouble.

After all—

Today, he was in a damn good mood.

Draped in a moon-white haori over his black Shihakushō, Uehara Shiroha stepped out of his office calmly.

The Shihakushō symbolized his status as a Shinigami, while the moon-white haori was the exclusive uniform of the Commander-in-Chief of the Court Army.

For ordinary Imperial Army soldiers, only a moon-white emblem adorned their uniforms.

As he walked past them, the Imperial Army Shinigami gazed at him with admiration, their eyes sparkling with reverence.

To them, Shiroha Uehara was a living legend.

Walking alongside Kyoraku Shunsui, the two chatted casually, their conversation completely unrelated to work.

Instead, they were discussing—

"new tea" varieties in the latest Flower Street establishments.

As seasoned connoisseurs, both had deep knowledge in this area and often compared notes.

Because of this, Ise Nanao, the Deputy Commander of the Court Army, frequently complained that Kyoraku Shunsui had led their Commander-in-Chief astray.

Every time, Kyoraku Shunsui felt wronged.

"Who led whom astray?" he would grumble.

Truthfully, even he wasn't sure.

However, now that Ise Nanao had practically become the Vice Captain of the Eighth Division, her attention was fully focused on Uehara Shiroha.

She had even begun favoring his company.

So naturally—

Kyoraku Shunsui could only suffer in silence.

With their Shunpo carrying them swiftly, they soon arrived at the Captain's Hall.

The moment Uehara Shiroha entered the spacious and transparent hall, he could feel all eyes turn toward him.

He glanced around as he walked forward.

Familiar faces filled the room.

At the front, the old man sat with his eyes closed, appearing as if he were dozing off—unmoving, calm, and as intimidating as ever.

Among the gathered Captains, he spotted:

Sui-Fēng – The "upgraded version of Madam Rong."

Unohana Retsu – The first Kenpachi, known for her "gentle and caring" nature… at least on the surface.

Aizen Sōsuke – The "Seireitei Gentleman Swordsman", hiding a world of deception behind his glasses and polite smile.

Komamura Sajin – The "Warm and Furry Protector."

Tōsen Kaname – The "Budget Blind Monk."

Shiba Isshin – The "Future Three-Kid Dad."

Zaraki Kenpachi – The "Berserker Version of Zoro."

Kurotsuchi Mayuri – The "Fatherly Love is Like a Mountain" type of lunatic.

And, as expected—

Ukitake Jūshirō was present in spirit as always.

Among the crowd, two figures stood out.

Byakuya Kuchiki – cold, expressionless, exuding his usual noble arrogance.

Gin Ichimaru – his eyes narrowed into mischievous slits, hiding something dangerous beneath his fox-like grin.

So that's what this is about.

Uehara Shiroha immediately understood—

These two were the main event.

At this point in the timeline:

Shūhei Hisagi had already joined the Ninth Division, where he was receiving his second life mentor's teachings under Tōsen Kaname.

Aizen had successfully recruited Kira Izuru, Abarai Renji, and Hinamori Momo into the Fifth Division.

After evaluating them, Aizen found that Renji was too wild and refused to follow orders—so he had thrown the redhead into the Eleventh Division instead.

Now, after years of preparation, Aizen had determined that Kira Izuru and Hinamori Momo were ready.

And so, he had pushed Ichimaru Gin forward—recommending him for Captain of the Third Division.

Today was Gin's captaincy test.

And Uehara Shiroha could already guess Yamamoto Genryūsai's plan.

Same old routine.

Throw him into the fire.

Force him to make a contribution.

Despite his calm demeanor, the other Captains felt somewhat irritated just looking at him.

Why?

Because even though he was only a Third Seat, they all knew—

Uehara Shiroha was definitely not weak.

Some even suspected he was stronger than most Captains.

More importantly—

He was the Commander-in-Chief of the Court Army.

Which meant that, in terms of rank, he was technically equal to the Captain-Commander himself.

They didn't care about titles.

But the freedom he enjoyed?

That was something to be jealous of.

While they worked tirelessly every day, bound by rules and duties—

Uehara Shiroha spent his time drinking, enjoying life, and roaming between realms.

He had access to every secret location in Soul Society, and could even enter Hueco Mundo at will.

No obligations. No restrictions. A high salary.

This was Kyoraku Shunsui's dream job.

Yet, even now, most captains couldn't figure out why the noble families—normally so strict and controlling—let Uehara Shiroha run free.

Only Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Kyoraku Shunsui, and Aizen Sōsuke had an idea.

Even Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni had his doubts, but at his age, he simply didn't care enough to investigate further.

At that moment, the old man slightly opened his ancient eyes, glancing at Uehara Shiroha.

Then, in his deep, commanding voice, he spoke:

"Commander Uehara, I have summoned you today regarding the appointment of Ichimaru Gin as Captain of the Third Division. I believe it would be fair for you to serve as his examiner. Do you accept?"

The hall fell into silence.

Uehara Shiroha chuckled.

"No objections," he replied, his tone relaxed.

"Think of it as catching up with an old classmate."

Just as the matter seemed settled, a new voice interrupted.

A cold, commanding presence stepped forward.

Byakuya Kuchiki.

"Captain-Commander, Commander Uehara," he began, his tone calm yet firm. I have recently taken command of the Sixth Division. However— I also wish to take the test to prove myself."

Silence filled the room.

It was unnecessary for Byakuya to take a test.

As the head of the Kuchiki Clan, his position as Captain of the Sixth Division was practically guaranteed.

Yet, he insisted on taking the trial.

And Uehara Shiroha knew why.

This wasn't just about proving himself.

It was about challenging him.

A thick, almost tangible bloodlust filled the room as Kenpachi Zaraki stepped forward, his left eye glowing red with excitement.

He bared his shark-like grin, staring directly at Uehara Shiroha with unrestrained battle hunger.

"I doubt Uehara Shiroha's ability!" Zaraki roared.

His voice boomed through the hall, shaking the air itself.

"I challenge him! If he wants to be the examiner, then he better prove himself—by beating me first!"

The room erupted into chaos.

Kyoraku Shunsui secretly chuckled.

This bastard…

Mayuri Kurotsuchi sneered. "Idiot. This isn't even about you. Why are you so damn eager?"

The ever-"warm-hearted" Aizen stepped in, his voice smooth and reassuring.

"Captain Zaraki," he said with his usual gentle yet calculating tone, "we all recognize your strength. However, I believe Commander-in-Chief Uehara is equally… trustworthy."

Suì-Fēng's expression turned ice cold.

"Captain Zaraki, watch your words!" she snapped. "Are you questioning the Captain-Commander's orders?" But despite her harsh words, even she was curious about the outcome of such a fight.

Zaraki ignored her completely. His killing intent rose even higher, filling the air like an impending storm.

"I don't care about all that!" he growled, his grin widening.

"I just want to kill Uehara Shiroha—or be killed by him!"

Across the room, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni let out a quiet sigh, closing his eyes once more.

He didn't seem interested in this farce at all.

Instead, he turned to Uehara Shiroha and asked in his usual deep, ancient voice—

"Commander Uehara, what do you say?"

Uehara Shiroha shrugged nonchalantly.

"It doesn't matter," he said casually.

"One duck, or a group of ducks—it's all the same."

For a moment, silence filled the room.

Then—

Zaraki let out a loud, crazed laugh, his spiritual pressure surging wildly.

The surrounding air distorted, cracks forming in the floor beneath his feet.

The other Captains had varying reactions.

Kyoraku Shunsui chuckled, rubbing his chin in amusement.

Kurotsuchi Mayuri remained indifferent, his golden pupils cold and analytical.

The others watched with undeniable curiosity and anticipation.

Because in all these years, no one had ever seen Uehara Shiroha go all out.

Decades ago, during the Battle of Hueco Mundo, Uehara Shiroha's power had left a lasting impact on Soul Society.

He had become known as "Soul Society's Greatest Genius."

Even now, his name still carried weight.

Yet…

Despite all the hype, no one had actually seen him fight seriously.

Compared to the prodigy of the Tenth Division, Hitsugaya Tōshirō, Uehara Shiroha's reputation was even greater—

But many had doubts.

After all—

He was so young.

He had shown no exceptional talent during his time at Shin'ō Academy.

And for the past several decades, he had lived a life of luxury—

Drinking, painting, playing music, carving sculptures…

To outsiders, it looked like he had wasted his potential.

Could someone who rarely trained still keep up with Captains who had fought constantly?

Suì-Fēng, in particular, doubted it.

She remembered how terrifying Uehara Shiroha was during the Battle of Hueco Mundo.

Back then, she had felt despair—as if she would never surpass him.

But now?

She had trained endlessly, fought on the front lines, and pushed herself to her limits.

Meanwhile, Uehara Shiroha spent his days drinking and chasing women.

Surely…

She had surpassed him by now.

Right?

The captains gathered at the No.1 Training Ground—a place designed to withstand their full power.

Because when Captains fought, their spiritual pressure alone was enough to obliterate lesser Shinigami.

Vice-Captains and lower-ranked officers were forbidden from watching close up.

Not only for their safety, but also to protect the secrecy of the Captains' Bankai.

Kyoraku Shunsui ran a quick check on the protective barriers surrounding the field.

"Solid," he nodded approvingly. "This should hold just fine."

Kurotsuchi Mayuri scoffed. "Of course. I designed it."

"Even if several Captains attacked it at once, they wouldn't break it."

From the side, Shiba Isshin folded his arms.

"Is that so?" he mused, tempted to test that theory himself.

But after a moment, he let it go.

Instead, he turned toward the two fighters standing in the middle of the arena.

In the center of the field—

Uehara Shiroha stood calmly, facing his opponent.

Ichimaru Gin.

Gin's usual sly smile remained in place, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Uehara Shiroha was the first to speak.

"Gin," he greeted casually. "Been a while."

Gin let out a low chuckle, tilting his head slightly. "I never expected we'd be fighting like this," he sighed.

"To be honest, I heard Shiroha-kun killed many Hollow decades ago. Your strength is frightening."

His voice lowered slightly, almost mocking.

"I'm starting to regret graduating early."

Uehara Shiroha's expression didn't change.

"You're being too humble, Gin."

Then, in a smooth, almost poetic tone, he added—

"Fruits on a tree hang around for a few years longer than the seeds of weeds."

"But in the end, the former grows into a towering giant, while the latter…"

He let the words linger, glancing at Gin.

The meaning was clear.

Gin's smile stiffened slightly, though it remained in place.

"Ah, that stings, Shiroha-kun."

His voice dropped into a whisper, so low it was nearly inaudible.

"Sometimes… I really do envy you."

For the first time, his usual serpent-like grin faded, replaced by a cold, unreadable expression.

Uehara Shiroha tilted his head, watching him closely.

Because in that moment—

For just a fraction of a second—

Gin seemed utterly serious.

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