Cause I love showing Hitsugaya as awesome.

Disclaimer: This chapter would be canon.


Chapter Eight: The Results

"That was… surprising."

"…Yeah."

"…I did not expect him to have grown so much."

"It has been 25 years since he was last tested."

"Yeah."

"…"

"You know the truly frightening thing?"

"Sir?"

"He still hasn't fully matured."

"…What?!"

"His human equivalent age would probably be around 14."

"…What."

"Yeah. He looks like an adult but his abilities are still growing."

"…"

"…I once made an estimation during the Winter War that in 100 years he would be stronger than me."

"Sir?"

"I'd like to amend that."

"What do you mean?"

"He will not only be stronger than me but more powerful in every aspect. And it has already happened."


The news that the tenth squad had completed all the required tests (including the captain) and had finished filing everything, had spread, like everything else in Soul Society, like wildfire.

Jealous squads had passed by the tenth squad entrance and watched with pained expressions the relaxed, happy expressions of those inside, before slinking off to file their own paperwork with sour expressions.

The 11th squad had actually tried to recruit (spelled 'intimidate') the free Shinigami to file their own paperwork. Hitsugaya had personally responded to the threat, sending the Shinigami back to their barracks with frostbite and a healthy appreciation for other captains.

By the following week, even the repairs were done and the entire squad was left with the strange sensation of having a legitimate break. For the first time in the living memory of the entire squad, they had absolutely no work to do other than the customary guard duty.

Some chose to train, unhappy with their results. Some chose to relax. Many small parties/gatherings had taken place due to the time off. Matsumoto was a part of each one, bringing the sake.

The eleventh seat officer of the first squad walked into the barracks during one of the particularly loud parties. It was evening so Matsumoto took that as a legitimate excuse to get everyone drunk.

He walked quickly to the captain's office. Knocking, he opened the door to find it empty. He blinked, finding it odd that for the first time in years, he entered the tenth division's captain's office to find Hitsugaya-taicho not there.

He stopped a passing Shinigami to ask him for the location of his captain.

He followed his instructions to the training field, where there were a fair amount of Shinigami trying to overcome their discovered weaknesses. He looked around but couldn't find the tell-tale flash of spiky, white hair.

"Goto-san!"

Matsumoto, only slightly tipsy, had apparently made her way outside.

He nodded in greeting. "Matsumoto-fukutaicho."

She ignored his formal tone and slung an arm familiarly over his shoulder. "You should come to the party. We are celebrating! We have absolutely no more work until another division finishes their tests!" She lowered her voice to a drunken whisper, which was just a raspy and slurred normal volume. "I have it on good authority that we won't have to worry about that until next month!" She grinned and offered him the half-empty sake bottle she had in her other hand.

He refused and gently pried her arm off his shoulders. "I'm looking for your captain. I have his scores." He lifted the sealed file in his hands.

Matsumoto paused mid-drink. Sobering up surprisingly fast, she turned her full attention to him. "I'll take it to him." She smiled sweetly and raised a hand for the file.

He shook his head. "I know you just want to see the results." He had learned long ago how to deal with the vice-captain of the tenth division. "I need to hand this to Hitsugaya-taicho personally so I can report back. And then I'll be done with paperwork until these tests are over." He added with a small grin.

He was not normally this casual but he had known Matsumoto for a very long time and he was in a good mood. Filing all the results had been ridiculously easy thanks to their thoughtful alphabetizing ahead of time. He was looking forward to his own vacation.

She pouted. "You don't trust me?" She tried to push out her chest to bribe her way but (although he was still a guy and very much appreciated the view) he had developed a resistance to her and shook his head.

"Just tell me where he is and I'm sure he'll let you know. It's not like it's that big of a secret. Another couple of weeks and it will be public knowledge.

Scores like these were compiled into one main file that could be perused by everyone. Just the overall scores, not specifics in case it fell into the wrong hands.

She huffed and grumbled. "Fine. He's probably in the community garden. He's been spending a lot of time there this past week." Goto nodded and headed towards the gardens, leaving Matsumoto to look after him with a somber expression.

She was curious to his scores but more than that, she was worried about her captain. He had been spending a lot of time there. With no paperwork to do or anything else to oversee or do, he had been like a zombie, having no real purpose, just wandering around. He sat in silence alone doing nothing but staring off into space. She never thought that she would wish for the days when he had paperwork, if just to see him doing something.

Every division had a community garden, a quiet place that could be visited by any squad member. It was a place to destress and find some peace away from the Shinigami life. Some squads took better care of their gardens than others. The eleventh squad garden was little more than rocks and weeds as they rarely if ever bothered looking for 'peace'.

He was there, just sitting on one of the benches, staring sightlessly into the pond.

"Hitsugaya-taicho."

He didn't look up. Goto wasn't offended. Hitsugaya never responded to anyone anymore.

"I have the results from your captain's skill test." He offered him the file. Hitsugaya took it wordlessly, still not looking up from the water. With a bow, he left.

Hitsugaya looked down at the file. He broke the seal. On top of the stack of papers was a note, written in Kyouraku's hand.

Hitsugaya-kun

I was very impressed by your score. There is a breakdown of how we graded each part based on the new grading system. I think we underestimated just how strong we've grown. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that you are one of the highest scorers.

You also get the honor of have a request fulfilled. Come to me when you know what you want. Congratulations!

Kyouraku

He skimmed through the new grading system, familiarizing himself with how it worked. It was similar to the last one, the same basics for each part. The main change was the grading curve. It was still out of 600 but the individual points were weighted differently.

Mentally calculating his previous score of 500 based on the new score came out to something around 150 or lower.

With that in mind, he flipped the page. The top page was the hexagon that gave a visible representation of the score with its breakdown of points awarded.

Offense: 95/100

Defense: 90/100

Mobility: 100/100

Kido/Reiatsu: 100/100

Intelligence: 90/100

Physical Strength: 90/100

Total score: 565/600

He might have been pleased. If he cared.


Three months later and all but the 11th squad had finished and filed all their results. Work resumed like normal. Which meant paperwork had resumed. Which meant Hitsugaya was once again at his desk, filling out another report and signing another form.

Matsumoto's helpfulness when doing the paperwork had ended after that first day. Hitsugaya had expected it would.

The woman in question opened the door and strode in the office.

"Taicho, we have the request we want you to make to Kyouraku-soutaicho."

Hitsugaya signed his name and looked at report of konso's preformed in the last month.

"It was decided unanimously that we want to be the lead division for major conflicts."

Hitsugaya paused in his reading. He looked up. Matsumoto was standing stiffly at attention, looking defiantly at a spot above his head.

After a moment of silence as he considered the request, he spoke up. "I will let Kyouraku-soutaicho know." Matsumoto looked at him in surprise. She had evidently thought that he would argue or something against her.

He rose from his desk. "This is not a request that he can grant just because we wish it. If you want that honor than you must earn it. I expect a detailed plan on how you plan on training the division in order to be worthy of this request by the end of tomorrow. You may get help from the others. Their input may be invaluable."

He left a shocked Matsumoto behind.


The first division was still in disarray, having to wait for the other divisions to finish before they could even begin their own examinations. Their version of disarray was much more controlled than the others, centuries of practice letting them know how.

He walked through the main office. The officers at the desks nodded respectfully as he passed. He knocked on the door of Kyouraku's office.

"Come in."

Kyouraku's desk was completely hidden in paperwork, Ise standing faithfully next to him, making sure he stayed on task.

"Ah! Hitsugaya-kun! To what do I owe this pleasure?" His relief at the distraction was as obvious as Ise's annoyance.

"I have my division's request for being the first to complete the tests."

Kyouraku raised his eyebrow, clasping his hands in front of him. "Very well. If it is in my power, I will grant it. I did promise."

"It was apparently a unanimous decision. They want the honor of being the lead division in major conflicts."

Both of the officers in front of him looked shocked.

"I admit, when I offered the award, that was not what I had in mind." Kyouraku chuckled softly.

"I understand that you might have reservations but I would not have presented this request if I didn't think that my division could handle it. They have proven to me that they are organized and efficient. I have seen all their scores and believe that their abilities are sufficient. I left my officers in charge of drawing up a training regime to further improve individual and group proficiency. I will have to you by the end of the week."

There was a long pause after his words, Kyouraku gazing at him with a look of deep concentration as if sizing him up. Hitsugaya returned the stare unblinkingly.

Finally, Kyouraku said, "Very well."

It was his turn to receive Ise's expression of shock. Hitsugaya, however, simply gave a small bow and turned to leave.

"I expect you to personally oversee their training, Hitsugaya-taicho." Hitsugaya paused for a half-second before continuing through the door, shutting it behind him.

"You can't be serious!" Ise exclaimed, the second the click was heard. "That's not something that you can just give to any division just because they ask for it! It's a case to case basis. Or the first division leads-"

"Nanao-chan. I believe that the tenth division is more than capable of leading." He raised a hand to stop her protests. "They are the most well-rounded division, unlike the eleventh or twelfth. They have more than just a strong core group of fighters, their strength spread pretty evenly throughout their ranks. Their tests were satisfactory, their totals being one of the highest in all of Gotei 13. And they proved by being the first that that they are more than capable of working quickly and are very organized. His idea for the teams within his division is truly revolutionary."

Ise was silent at his explanation. He gave another small chuckle. "And besides, so far, Hitsugaya-kun has the highest score among any of the captains. By over 100 points."

"That's just because you haven't taken the examination yet." She was quick to rebuff.

He laughed. "I appreciate your commendation, Nanao-chan, but I don't even know if I will get a higher score. In fact, I'm sure I won't. Not only does he have his natural intellect going for him but he is much younger. He has the vitality of youth that I lost many centuries ago."

Ise continued to protest this but Kyouraku was lost in thought, contemplating the most powerful and youngest captain in possibly the history of the Gotei 13.


Just a short one. I think the next one will have more action. Or not. We'll see how many reviews I get.