The Eleventh Division's recruitment standards for new members are vastly different from those of other Squads.
From the first Zaraki, Unohana, the Eleventh Division was designated as a specialized combat Squad.
In this Squad, combat ability became the standard by which everything was measured.
As long as one possessed sufficient strength, one could attain a high position.
Conversely, those who lacked it would naturally be eliminated.
This was the reason Unohana transferred to the Fourth Division.
Hundreds of years ago, she lost to Zaraki.
Therefore, she believed she was no longer suitable to continue serving as Zaraki and Eleventh Division Captain.
For the selection of Squad members, the Eleventh Division also adhered to similar principles.
Squad members were only selected from graduates with outstanding combat abilities.
However, since Aozaki Reiji became the Eleventh Division Captain, a new standard has been added: appearance.
Of course, strength remains the most crucial factor, but if strengths are comparable, appearance will also become one of the important considerations.
"What is your name, young lady?"
Aozaki Reiji asked with a gentle smile and a kind tone.
The girl heard the voice, looked up, her eyes showing a hint of nervousness and shyness, and she softly replied:
"Reiji-sama… oh no, Captain Reiji, my name is Hinamori Momo."
Aozaki Reiji lowered his head, carefully looked at the document in his hand, suddenly showed a surprised expression, and then burst into laughter:
"Sixteenth-grade spiritual power? A little genius, indeed! Accepted!"
Saying that, he unhesitatingly picked up the stamp on the table and firmly pressed it onto Hinamori Momo's file, indicating official acceptance.
Calling her a little genius was not wrong at all.
Ordinary Shin'o Academy students generally have twentieth-grade spiritual power upon graduation.
Those who surpass this level can be called geniuses.
However, there are also differences among geniuses.
Some geniuses have spiritual power in the teens upon graduation.
Some geniuses, upon graduation, are already Seated Officers, Vice-Captains, or even Captain-class!
Ichimaru Gin, sitting to the side, saw this scene, his mouth twitching slightly, somewhat speechless.
Isn't this an old acquaintance?
I've seen you two together in Rukongai many times.
Who are you trying to fool by pretending not to know her?
The girl's face flushed with excitement upon hearing that she was accepted.
She quickly stood up and bowed to Aozaki Reiji to express her gratitude, then turned and scurried out of the room.
Zaraki, sitting on the other side, looked at the departing girl's back and nodded slightly.
These past years, he had been studying with that Old Man.
Although he disliked it greatly, he persevered for the sake of fighting the man beside him.
Besides learning combat techniques, he was also forced to learn some general knowledge.
Sixteenth-grade spiritual power, very weak, extremely weak…
There's no fun in fighting her, completely not worth the effort.
Immediately after, a white-haired boy walked into the room.
His gaze fell on Aozaki Reiji, and he silently sat down with an unfriendly look in his eyes.
"What is your name, young man?"
Aozaki Reiji smiled and looked at the boy, asking enthusiastically.
Didn't you, this guy, call me here?
The white-haired youth looked at that irritating expression and said word by word:
"Tōshirō Hitsugaya."
Aozaki Reiji completely ignored the other party's gritted teeth, nodding with satisfaction:
"So it's the genius boy who graduated from the Shin'o Academy in one year. You barely qualify to join our Squad. Accepted."
Hearing this, Tōshirō Hitsugaya immediately felt a surge of anger.
But he quickly took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to punch Aozaki Reiji in the face.
He truly regretted it a little.
He had entered the Shin'o Academy only after listening to this guy's nonsense.
In this past year, both teachers and classmates praised him endlessly, calling him a genius boy.
When he graduated early this year, several Captains even personally invited him to join their Squads.
The one that tempted him the most was the gentle, amiable, and beloved Third Division Captain.
Looking at Aozaki Reiji's face, he now felt regret just thinking about it.
He truly felt like something was wrong with his brain to have rejected that Captain and come to the Eleventh Division.
With a feeling of remorse, Tōshirō Hitsugaya officially became a member of the Eleventh Division.
After several graduates were interviewed, a black-haired girl slowly sat down.
"It's Lulu!"
Seeing this girl, Kusajishi Yachiru immediately became excited and waved happily at her.
Feeling everyone's strange gazes, Rukia couldn't help but blush slightly, responding with a shy nod.
"Accepted."
Aozaki Reiji said without hesitation, this time not even bothering to pretend to look at the documents.
After Rukia left, a black-haired woman with straight bangs and a single braid followed.
As expected, Aozaki Reiji didn't even look and directly accepted her.
He also gave Nemuri Kurotsuchi the position of Captain's Secretary.
Ichimaru Gin had never even heard of this position, and it was clear it was Aozaki Reiji's sudden whim.
"Is this a selection for Squad members, or are your relatives and friends here for a team-building event?"
Ichimaru Gin looked at Aozaki Reiji with a speechless expression.
"Oh my, don't say that~"
Aozaki Reiji said with a smile:
"I am recruiting very seriously."
"Heh heh…"
Ichimaru Gin couldn't help but sigh, "You're serious about what?! You could at least pretend when Hinamori Momo came, but now you're not even pretending!"
"Hehe…" Aozaki Reiji scratched his head, "Sorry~"
"Forget it, do as you please."
Ichimaru Gin shook his head helplessly, "But is it really okay for you to do this?"
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Aozaki Reiji patted his chest, saying confidently:
"Do you think they're not qualified?"
Ichimaru Gin shook his head.
Of course they are qualified.
Each and every one of them, if placed in the Shin'o Academy, would be called a genius student.
He turned to look at Aozaki Reiji, only to see him watching Nemuri Kurotsuchi's departing back, grinning from ear to ear.
"This guy…"
Ichimaru Gin shook his head helplessly, "There's really nothing I can do about him."
"But geniuses…" Ichimaru Gin muttered softly.
Ichimaru Gin narrowed his eyes, looking at the graduates outside the window.
They were whispering and discussing.
Fortunately, this room was covered by a Kido barrier.
Otherwise, those brats outside would witness the darkness of the world today and would surely grow quite a bit!
Ichimaru Gin's gaze lingered for a few seconds on a red-haired man.
This person's Reiatsu was the highest among the remaining graduates.
"Abarai Renji?"
He recalled the graduate files he had looked through, muttering the name.
Five days later, over a hundred graduates had completed their interviews under Aozaki Reiji's strict screening.
.........
The bright moon hung high in the sky, casting silver light that illuminated the outline of the Aozaki Family mansion.
"Ouch, Sister, be gentle, it really hurts!"
Rukia looked at the bruises on her body and couldn't help but frown, complaining to Hisana.
Hisana shook her head helplessly, rolled her eyes at her, and gently scolded:
"It's good that you feel the pain. Didn't I tell you to hold back during training? This is the consequence."
Saying that, she picked up the special medicine developed by the Shinigami Research and Development Institute and gently applied it to Rukia's wounds.
"It wasn't easy for me to join the Eleventh Division, so of course I have to work hard!"
Rukia replied, grimacing, with a hint of stubbornness in her tone.
Hearing her sister's words, Hisana stopped her movements and sighed softly:
"If Reiji-sama sees you so injured, will he be happy?"
She knew deeply how important Aozaki Reiji was to Rukia.
Since entering the Aozaki Family, the two sisters had lived a happy life they had never experienced before.
And for Aozaki Reiji, Rukia was filled with gratitude.
It could even be said that Aozaki Reiji was the most important person in her life.
Therefore, when Hisana mentioned Aozaki Reiji, Rukia immediately became well-behaved and no longer argued.
As long as Aozaki Reiji was involved, it was undoubtedly her weak point.
"So, Sister, you have to keep it a secret for me. Don't let Brother worry. We owe everything we have today to Brother, and I want to repay him."
As she spoke, Rukia buried her small head in the pillow.
"Yes… thanks to Reiji-sama."
Hisana was startled, then nodded, muttering to herself.
Without that Lord, she would not have lived to this day, nor would she have been able to stay by her sister's side.