C17 His Big Brother's Face Turned Black

As the bandages came off, Shiba Taku's snoring broke free, swelling into a symphony that ebbed and flowed, plunging the once noisy hall into a sudden hush. The crowd had gathered to witness the perseverance of a severely handicapped examinee triumphantly passing the exam. But now, they sensed something amiss.

"He's not drunk, is he?" A voice cut through the silence, probing the souls of those gathered with its unexpected chill.

They looked at Shiba Taku, sprawled on the stretcher, unscathed – a stark contrast to their expectations. "Burp, honey, start with my feet when you massage me, not my body. I'm too susceptible to temptation," he slurred, his words heavy with alcohol, puncturing the aura of determination they had imagined around him.

Kyoraku Shunsui, who had been unwrapping the bandages, felt as if ten million alpacas were stampeding through his mind. He now grasped why Lucia had warned him to be ready.

Confronted with this unforeseen turn of events, Kyoraku Shunsui was tempted to deliver a swift cut to end the charade of the inebriated man before him. "The nerve of this guy, pretending to be a drunkard to gain our sympathy. We've been queuing all morning for this assessment," someone ranted.

"What severely handicapped determination? It's all nonsense. I was moved to tears for nothing."

"To come to the exam drunk? This person has no respect for the Shinoreijutsuin's Reaper examination and doesn't deserve to take part at all."

The examination hall descended into pandemonium.

If Taku could see the tumult, he'd likely retort, "Your grandmother's the stubborn one. You're all just too caught up in the drama." But Taku, in his drunken stupor, was clearly detached from worldly concerns.

Lucia and Abarai Renji, the unwitting accomplices, were left reeling. And Kyoraku Shunsui, who had been ready to bend the rules for Shiba Taku, now nursed a throbbing headache.

He was tipsy but not quite drunk—until now.

He even started off by massaging his feet as if he were his wife.

What a total mess.

As the thought crossed his mind, Kyoraku Shunsui instinctively glanced at Nanao Ise, considering the flask of wine still hanging from his waist. Her response was a simple, gentle shake of her head.

It looked like his plan was doomed to fail after all.

As someone who loved his liquor, Kyoraku Shunsui had never anticipated that getting drunk could backfire so badly.

Now, he had learned his lesson.

"Hehe, this young man from the Shiba Clan is quite the character, getting drunk right before the exam. I do admire his ability to obliterate a malevolent spirit with a single punch. But in his current state, I doubt he's fit to take on the responsibilities of a Soul Reaper," Ichimaru Gin commented, eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with icy amusement. "Given the general consensus, I believe there's no need for an exam. We should just revoke his eligibility outright."

His words sent a shockwave through the crowd, disrupting the charged atmosphere.

Many had been eager to voice their disdain for Shiba Taku's stubbornness and strip him of his assessment rights.

Yet, no one had expected a captain to actually voice such dissent.

This was a far cry from their own grumbling and complaints.

"Captain Ichimaru, your remarks seem a bit excessive. Let's not forget that the Shiba Clan's examination rights were personally authorized by Captain Kuchiki. Making such a hasty decision seems quite improper," Aizen remarked, taking a sip of his tea. "Besides, everyone here aims to join the Shinoreijutsuin. Your suggestion would effectively sever the Shiba Clan's future prospects. I propose we wait for him to sober up and then conduct a proper test. Should he prove to be a prodigy with exceptional spiritual energy, akin to Kaien Shiba, it would be a significant loss for our Court of Pure Souls."

Aizen's calm words created a palpable tension against Ichimaru Gin's cold stance.

Yet, as Aizen openly highlighted the Kuchiki Clan's involvement in this affair, Captain Kuchiki, who had remained silent until now, grew visibly colder.

"There's no need for a test; he's exactly to my taste. I've made an exception and recruited him into my Eleventh Division."

The gruff voice echoed from outside the door.

As the towering figure with a hedgehog-like head, Zaraki Kenpachi, approached, the onlookers quickly stepped back.

In that moment, it was clear to everyone that the majority of the Soul Reapers present were there for the young man who had taken down an evil spirit with a single punch.

The fact that he was an exception raised the question: what else was special about this youth?

"Captain Zaraki, that's quite the bold move. But such exceptions require approval from the head captain. Deciding on your own to add him to the Eleventh Division is rather rash," Ichimaru Gin said with a dry chuckle, pulling out an intelligence report.

"Seems I forgot to mention, I'm from the Third Division's support team. I was there half a day ago when this kid took out the evil spirit."

"I routinely checked his spiritual particle density with a Spiritual Pressure Detector and, regrettably, he only has the strength of three bamboo, far below the threshold for admission to Shinoreijutsuin."

"In other words, he's not cut out for your Eleventh Division."

Kyoraku Shunsui's face soured as he glanced at the intelligence map in Ichimaru Gin's hand.

He had hoped that bringing in a Zaraki Kenpachi would secure his prize.

He hadn't anticipated Ichimaru Gin stepping in.

Now, with the information publicly disclosed, even a backdoor entry was blocked.

"Yes, you're right. I have no intention of joining the Eleventh Division. I plan to stay with my wife in the Thirteenth Division," Taku interjected abruptly.

His quiet words stunned everyone, particularly the fellow captains in the Soul Reaper ranks, who immediately understood the significance of Taku's mention of a 'wife.'

Considering Taku's earlier foot-pinching and his blatant declaration, Abarai Renji lost his temper.

"You insolent fool! We brought you here for the exam, and you dare spout such nonsense? Captain Zaraki wasted his time considering you for an exception. I got you in, and I can just as easily throw you out." With that, Abarai Renji lunged to grab Taku.

However, as soon as he stirred, Taku leapt up like a salted fish flipping over, his movements sudden and swift. His nose twitched, and he reached straight for Kyoraku Shunsui's waist.

"Good wine, who would've thought? If there's wine today, then today's the day to get drunk. Wife, warm up some wine for me," Taku declared, snatching the wine pot and popping the cork with a loud 'pfft'.

Completely inebriated, he was blissfully unaware that his brother-in-law's face had darkened, a frosty scowl setting in, as he teetered on the edge of a murderous rampage.