So Toshiro set out to do just that. He went around to Squads 2,6, and 7 asking for their respective Captains' help to master an art in which they excelled at. Sajin of course agreed to help him no questions asked, however Byakuya and Soifon took some more convincing. Since Toshiro could not tell them of his real reason for training he instead humored them by saying he could only learn from 'The Best of the Best'. With that Soifon agreed to teach him in hand to hand combat while Byakuya agreed to shunpo.
The weeks passed and Toshiro was now training harder than ever. He continued his work with Yamamoto and the other's but as soon as that was done he was off to train in fighting, with a different day of the week devoted to a different type. And today was Tuesday so that meant swordsmanship.
So he meet Sajin at his own barracks in Squad Ten and the two began sparring. And even after these few weeks Toshiro noticed a great improvement. Being in much shorter stature than Sajin he had somehow managed a way to not let his handicap affect his fighting skill and was able to fight against Sajin and his massive size.
Toshiro swung his sword left and right as fast as lighting, sometimes even to fast than Sajin had no time to block.
After some time of sparring they stopped to rest.
"You've gotten better Toshiro." Commented Sajin as they sat down." And in such a short amount of time." Toshiro mused to himself. He had gotten better utilizing the new skills he was learning and combining them into a new fighting style. Combining the swiftness of his faster shunpo with new sword skill and unarmed combat." But I'd expect as much from the children prodigy." Sajin said taking Toshiro from his thoughts. The little Captain smirked in response.
But then the two were both startled as the wall before them suddenly blew up and as the dust subsided there stood Kenpachi with his sword on his shoulder.
"Was that really necessary?" asked Sajin. But Kenpachi paid him no mind and instead his eye rolled over and looked at Toshiro.
"You!" he said pointing at him." I've heard you wanted to learn better swordsmanship."
"Well yes." Nodded Toshiro.
"That is why he asked me." Sajin pointed to himself.
"Bah!" Kenpachi grunted." He may be able to teach you some flashing tricks but only I can teach you how to really fight." He lifted his sword up in the air." To use your raw power as a weapon!" And when he swung down his sword a blast of his energy went with it and flew straight for the other two Captains.
The two quickly jumped out of the way but the blast continued on a hit right into the side of Toshiro's barracks. The wall shattered as debris and smoke flew everywhere.
Rangiku poked her head out from the now destroyed wall, her face and hair covered with dirt.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" she yelled.
"Ha!" laughed Kenpachi to Toshiro. "You're in trouble." But Toshiro's attention was instead drawn to a clock laying on the ground. It read '5:10' and he could tell it was still working since the arms were moving. And that's when it suddenly hit him that he had a meeting with the Head-Captain at Five. He'd now lost track of time and was late.
"Oh shit!" he groaned as he turned and headed off.
"Hey!" yelled Kenpachi.
"Toshiro where are you going?" asked Sajin.
"I've got somewhere to be!" yelled Toshiro over his shoulder." Sorry to run off so soon but I'm already late!" And he quickly Shunpoed away leaving the two Captains behind. In the aftermath of his leaving they turned to each other.
"Wanna fight?" asked Kenpachi bearing his sword at the giant.
Toshiro shunpoed across the Soul Society and to the Squad One barracks, to the Head-Captain's office. Just as he was about to knock on the door it swung open and there stood the Head-Captain.
"Toshiro my boy." He said upon seeing him." Good you've arrived, follow me." He walked out the door. Toshiro thought confused followed after his mentor.
"Where are we going?" asked Toshiro.
"To a Captain's Proficiency Test."told Yamamoto." I am required to interview the applicant while three other Captains attend."
Toshiro followed after him." Yes, sir I know how it works. I myself had to do it, and I was present for Shuhei Hisagi's examination."
"Yes but you weren't paying attention." Told the old man calmly.
"WHAT?!" exclaimed Toshiro." H-Head Captain, I was perfectly aware of what was going on. I-I-"
"Save your breath, I'm not penalizing you for it. In truth it is a good thing that you were involved with Shuhei Hisagi's promotion, that means you have an idea of how these matters work. This time around you will just listen to the questions I ask and how I ask them, understand?"
"Yes, sir." Nodded Toshiro.
The two soon arrived at the place where the test would take place. Yamamoto opened the doors and to Toshiro's surprise nobody was there.
"We seem to be early." Commented Toshiro.
"Indeed. This will give an opportunity for another lesson for you." Yamamoto walked into the room and sat down.
"And what's that, sir?"
"Patience." Yamamoto told. Toshiro knew now that he was in for a long wait. He sighed and sat down next to the Head-Captain and the two began waiting. They waited and waited and waited, each mission ticking away annoyed Toshiro while the Head-Captain didn't seemed annoyed with it at all.
The seconds turned to minutes and the minutes to hours. After about two hours of waiting Unohana, Ukitake, and Shunsi arrived all within several minutes of each other. Toshiro was finally grateful as something was now about to get done.
"Captains." Greeted Yamamoto." Are you ready for this?"
"Yes Head-Captain." They replied taking a seat.
"Captain Hitsuguya will sit in on this in order to understand the test from my perspective."
"Yes, sir." The three acknowledged. Just then there came a knocking at the door.
"Come in!" called Yamamoto. Then the candidate walked into the room. He was a man of average size, lean and with red hair that went down to his shoulders.
"Leader of the Soul Societies Advanced Research division Seigen Suzunami." He introduced as he stood before as far as he could see four Captains.
"Take a seat." Ordered Yamamoto. Seigen nodded and sat down. It was now as he sat down that he saw Toshiro, sitting behind the Head-Captain. He locked eyes with the little Captain for several seconds. Ukitake, Unohana, and Shunsui all followed Seigen's eyes to Toshiro but Yamamoto did not." Something the matter?" he spoke up.
"No, sir!" Seigen said finally breaking eye contact with Toshiro and sitting up straight.
"Shall we begin?"
"Yes, sir!" Yamamoto took a breath before continuing.
"Tell me Seigen Suzunami, why do you think you deserve to be a Captain?" The questions and answers went on for about an hour. During this time Toshiro learned that Seigen was the former fifth seat of the first Division who was promoted from that rank nearly 60 years ago when he was put in charge of an advanced research team. It made sense then to promote him to the Captain of Squad 12 considering his background. Toshiro listened to questions asked and found them to very in-depth. But it wasn't so much the questions as it was the answers, and the answers were meant to explore the character of the one being asked them.
Once it was over Seigen was ordered out of the room and the Captains were left to discuss his future.
After he's left the room they all turned to Yamamoto.
"Well Captains, what do we think?"
"I like him." Answered Shunsui." He answered the questions confidently and never hesitated, in moments of crisis that's a good thing."
"And he's also a brilliant mind." Added Ukitake." His knowledge could be used to further efforts for the Gotei 13 on all fronts." When Yamamoto turned to Unohana she just nodded her approval. Then they all turned to the extra member in the room.
"Captain Hitsuguya." Said Yamamoto." What do you think?" Toshiro leaned forward.
"I agree with Captains Kyoraku and Ukitake." He told." His background makes him suitable for the 12th Squad Captain position." He fell silent for a short second." But I'm not so sure he's what Squad 12 needs."
"Are you speaking for yourself or on behalf of Mayuri?" asked Ukitake. Toshiro fell silently completely. Despite their rocky history Toshiro and Mayuri were good friends now and deep down it did annoy Toshiro to some sense to have someone replacing him at Squad 12.
"Is that all you have to say?" asked Yamamoto to Toshiro.
"Yes." He answered.
"Very well then." Said Yamamoto." Then we are all agreed, he shall he Captain of Squad 12." The Captains nodded, even Toshiro despite the circumstance understood the importance of filling the ranks and nodded." Captain Hitsuguya." Yamamoto ordered."Shunpo back to the First division and retrieve and 12th Squad Captain's cloak from Lieutenant Sasakibe."
"Yes, sir." Said Toshiro. And he did as he was told, using shunpo to get to the first squad and back. He couldn't have been gone for more than thirty seconds before he stood before the Head-Captain again, handing him the Captain's cloak.
Yamamoto took it and then turned to Seigen who was surrounded by his other proctors.
"Seigen Suzunami." Said Yamamoto." You are officially promoted to Captain of Squad Twelve." He handed him the coat which the new Captain took.
"Thank you, sir." He said as he swung it around his shoulders." I will do all the duties required of me as an officer of the Gotei 13."
"I believe you will Captain." Said Yamamoto." Your official promotion will be made tomorrow morning at the Captain's meeting."
"Yes, sir. I will be there sir." And with that the examination was over and Seigen was sent on his way while his proctors exited together.
"So I hope you found this session useful." Said Yamamoto to Toshiro." It may be a long time before we can do it again."
"Yes, sir. I did, sir."
"And I noticed you were very quick in your venture from Squad One and back. Your skills are improving."
"Yes, sir. I've been working very closely with the Captains you mentioned these past few weeks."
Yamamoto nodded." Keep up the good work, and someday soon I will teach you how to fight."
Note: Seigen Suzunami was a character that appeared in the game The 3rd PHantom