A New Party:
I prepared to try to deflect the energy blast, but before it went off, Shinrai and Guntei rushed in, both hitting Nazuno's arm up. The energy was shot straight up in one huge burst. I was really glad I didn't have to deal with that.
"Didn't you hear the captain!" Shinrai shouted at Nazuno. "He said you won! You didn't need to actually fire that!"
"You're right, I didn't." Nazuno said as released Tetsutoge and sheathed it. "But you two hit my arm, releasing the energy. I wasn't going to actually fire."
"Sure you weren't." Shinrai growled as he and Guntei sheathed their Zanpakto.
"So Sanju," Guntei said as he came over to me, "What's with your Zanpakto? I thought you had an earth type?"
"I would also like to know about that." Shinrai said as he finished glaring at Nazuno. "How can you do that? I even fought you and you used two different Shikai, and now here you have a third."
"Well, I don't quite know how to explain it, but whenever I feel like I can't win with how I'm fighting, Shiyouso seems to come up with a new solution." I laughed a little. "It's like I'm the main character in a manga. Whenever I look beat, I do something new to win." I sighed. "But Nazuno proved that wrong. I still have a lot to learn."
"Well, don't beat yourself up to much." Nazuno said. "I was a lieutenant once, and the Hollowfication only made me stronger. Come on, the crowd's already leaving, what do you three say about a four way spar? No Shikai's."
"I'm game for that." Guntei perked.
"Of course you are." Shinrai chuckled. "It wouldn't hurt to train a little."
"Yeah, seeing as we're all probably going to Hell soon." I commented. They all stared at me. "What?"
"Why would we be going to Hell? That's outside our jurisdiction, you should've learned that." Shinrai said.
"Besides, there's nothing wrong with it right now." Guntei said. It then hit me that the captain's were keeping this little dilemma under wraps. I face palmed on how stupid I had been. Of course they would keep the matter of Hell confidential. I groaned, who knew how much an information leak like this would backlash.
"Well, are we doing this or not?" Nazuno asked, like none of what we had said mattered past his own wants. I looked up and smiled.
"Sure, why not? I don't think the eleventh squad would mind three extra people fighting."
…
It was near dusk when the four of us finally called it quits. Everyone else had already left the compound, but we had just kept going. We had spared as pairs, doubles, three-on-one, and free for all. Nazuno practically won every match he was a part of, even with only using a large knife. If I had to count, I probably would have died over 200 times from the three of them. I was proud of the one time I overtook Nazuno in a one-on-one, and only that one time.
Shinrai and Guntei really knew how to deal with each other, and they also knew how to work together. When Guntei, Shinrai, and I teamed against Nazuno, we actually had a chance of winning. When we all called it quits, I could hear a man clearing his throat from the side. I was actually surprised, I wasn't expecting anyone to actually be waiting for us to finish.
"Sanju, Guntei, Shinrai, and Nazuno. The Head Captain has asked to see the four of you." An older gentleman with a thin mustache and gray hair reported. The other three immediately straightened up, especially Nazuno. The man turned and left, and we followed after him.
"Why are you guys acting so scared?" I asked as we followed the man.
"We're not scared, it's just respect." Shinrai said.
"Speak for yourself, I'm scared out of my skin." Nazuno whispered.
"Why's that?" I asked, curious now.
"Because that's the lieutenant of squad one. He's directly under Head Captain Yamamoto." Guntei said.
"And this is the first time the Head Captain has even wanted to see me since I came back." Nazuno added. I could see what made them respect/fear this man. If he was anything like the Head Captain, then he sure had to be something. On the side, this being the fourth time I'd been fetched today, he was the highest one in rank. This had to have been important.
We came back to the same base that Captain Soi Fon had carted me off to in the first place, but instead of the long room, the lieutenant escorted us to an open sided room. I was long and had nothing but the desk the head captain was sitting behind and a few support pillars. We all lined up single file in front of the captain at attention. He seemed to have been doing nothing but waiting for us, because I saw no papers on his desk, nor had he been putting any away.
"I'm sure you're all wondering why you are here." The Head Captain started. "To be quite honest, I don't have a legitimate one." That shot confusion through all four of us. Why would we be called here for no reason? "Now, that doesn't mean I called you here for no reason, just not a legitimate one. The truth is, we can't sustain a connection to Hell." Now only Guntei and Shinrai were confused, Nazuno was catching on. "We are having increasing reports of souls with invisible chains around the human world. With what we have encountered before, we have come to the conclusion these are escaped souls from Hell." Guntei and Shinrai were both glaring at me now from the corners of their eyes.
"Since we cannot establish a stable link, we need an infiltration squad. One that can get in and get out without problems. Squad two may be well versed in speed and stealth, but not so much as in strength. And from reports of the fights with Denizens, no ordinary Soul Reaper can beat them. Even teams have a difficult time. So you four have been selected for this mission.
"Guntei Moritor and Shinrai Midoten, you are known as one of the greatest tag teams since the time of Captain Ukitake and Captain Kyoraku. Now, neither of you are as powerful as the captains, but that shouldn't be necessary.
"Nazuno, from recent reports, you've been having a harder and harder time controlling yourself. You are here as an outlet for that pent up energy. Do not expect this as a break. Vizards are just as capable as normal Soul Reapers. Prove this.
"And you Sanju, are to lead them." Was all Head Captain Yamamoto said to me. This immediately made all four of us break formalities with a loud "WHAT?" But it seemed the captain had been expecting this reaction. When we all finally settled down, Shinrai pronounced his concern.
"Why Sanju of the four of us? Of us, I am the one of highest rank, not counting Nazuno's position. If one of us were to fall, Sanju wouldn't have somewhere to report to." He pointed out. It was all very well and good; I had no experience in leadership or the chain of command. If any of the three of them were left behind, I wouldn't know who to tell.
"But out of the four of you, who do you all mutually trust the most?" Captain Yamamoto asked. That made Shinrai stop and think, in fact it made us all think. "If you were to have Nazuno or Guntei as leader, would very well follow them? Or if any of you would be left behind, who would be the first to help?"
"Why do you assume that would be me sir?" I asked, completely confused. He had said it himself; Guntei and Shinrai knew each other and trusted one another more then either Nazuno or myself. But to my question, I saw the captain give me a small smile.
"I tested you myself. You have what it takes to be a leader. Or do you not remember after passing out?"
"That's what that was? You made me pass out to see if I was a suitable leader? That has got to be one of the craziest things I have ever heard!" I started to yell. I was angry; all of this was insanely stupid. The other three looked at me like I was mad, but the Head Captain merely chuckled.
"And that is exactly why. You question what is to be done, but stick to your answer. Even when I pressured you, you were determined to do as I had asked. Now I ask directly, will you lead this party?" Captain Yamamoto asked sincerely.
"I will, but only after you answer one question." I replied.
"Oh? And what would that be?"
"Why did you make it so that I knew these three?" I asked sincerely. And the captain did something that surprised all of us, he out right laughed.
"I didn't, that was all coincidence." He said. "Now, you all need to go to an old friend."