"Chojiro, what do you think?"
Although the news of Shiba Isshin's resignation as Captain came too suddenly, Yoriichi quickly reacted.
He turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on Chōjirō Sasakibe who was standing nearby, his eyes full of helplessness.
Just a few days ago, he still felt that Shiba Isshin had the responsibility of a Captain.
A few days later, he was about to abandon all the Shinigami and run away.
Let Shiba Kaien take over… Does this mean the Tenth Division will become the Shiba Clan's exclusive division from now on?
When did he learn Bankai?
He's too good at hiding it.
Upon hearing this, Chōjirō Sasakibe exhaled deeply.
He was equally surprised by the news, but as an old hand in the Gotei 13, he had experienced many storms.
At this moment, he replied with a serious expression, word by word, in a deep voice:
"I will act according to your wishes, Captain-Commander. If you believe Shiba Isshin should not do this, then he indeed should not."
"Although the current Gotei 13 does not lack Captain-level combat power, every Captain is an indispensable force."
Indeed, the reason he agreed to the two meeting before was that they had fifty years.
Now, to leave in four days, it was simply too fast.
After thinking for a moment, Yoriichi spoke, suggesting:
"Let's observe for a while. We can't condemn everyone at once."
"Shiba Isshin can resign from his Captain position, but he cannot leave the Soul Society before Shiba Kaien takes office."
"If Shiba Kaien fails the challenge, then the application shall be rejected."
After speaking, he looked at Chōjirō Sasakibe again, "Chojiro, what do you think of this order?"
"A brilliant insight, Captain-Commander." Chōjirō Sasakibe responded almost without hesitation.
It was as if delaying for even a second would be disrespectful to his position as Vice-Captain.
Seeing this, Yoriichi nodded, a look of approval on his face:
"Hmm… Since you think this order is appropriate, go notify Shiba Isshin."
"The Captain assessment is scheduled for seven days from now. Kurosaki Masaki leaves in four days, so the three-day difference will allow Shiba Isshin to calm down."
"Being too impulsive is not a good thing."
…
At the same time.
West Rukongai District 1, where the Shiba Family's residence is located.
"Big Brother, are you going to succeed as Captain?"
Shiba Kūkaku walked with hesitant steps towards Shiba Kaien, who was sitting under the veranda.
Her steps were light, as if afraid to disturb the quiet atmosphere, and her voice carried a hint of doubt and curiosity,
"Is it the Tenth Division? What happened to Uncle Isshin? Why is he giving the Captain position to you?"
Shiba Kaien slowly turned his head upon hearing this, a gentle smile on his face:
"It's Kūkaku. It's nothing, just that Uncle has a significant other…"
He paused slightly, seemingly weighing his words,
"Hmm, I can't be sure if it's a significant other, but in short, Uncle feels very guilty and wants to compensate her, which is why he chose to resign."
"A significant other?" Shiba Kūkaku was stunned.
She picked up the pipe she had just put down with difficulty and took a deep puff. The smoke passed through her lungs, and her mood finally calmed down a little.
She tentatively said, "So, the branch family will soon have an heir? Who is that woman? Do I know her?"
Shiba Kaien slowly stood up.
He walked over to Shiba Kūkaku, his gaze first sweeping over the pipe she carried with her. He sighed lightly, reached out, and took it away before saying:
"Smoke less of this; it's bad for your health."
"As for her, you probably don't know her. She seems to be from the Human World, and I'm not clear about her specific identity."
"In short, it's very complicated. An heir…"
He shook his head slightly, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes,
"How could it be that easy? My wife and I have been married for so many years, and we still don't have a child."
After speaking, he gently patted Shiba Kūkaku's shoulder, stepped forward, and walked towards the door, his casual tone continuing:
"Kūkaku, don't ask about this anymore. Come practice with me. Barring any surprises, the Captain assessment will most likely be a real battle."
"If I don't pass, Uncle will be in a lot of trouble, and it will be difficult for me to explain."
"Where is that kid Ganju?"
Shiba Kūkaku quickly caught up: "Probably with his friend. I think his name is Tōshirō Hitsugaya. Big Brother, you don't need to look for him; I'm enough."
Shiba Kūkaku is very strong. Because she dislikes using a Zanpakuto, she has invested a lot of energy into Kido and Hakuda, becoming extremely proficient in both.
Shiba Kaien, on the other hand, is proficient in Zanjutsu, and his Bankai is also a Zanjutsu type.
Therefore, the so-called practicing with him most likely means Shiba Kūkaku will maximize her dodging ability so that Shiba Kaien can fully utilize his Bankai's power.
After all, only by knowing the limits can one make adjustments based on them, making it easier to achieve maximum output with the least amount of spiritual pressure.
"Tōshirō Hitsugaya?" Shiba Kaien frowned, always feeling like he had heard that name somewhere.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, recalling… It should be one of the students that Captain-Commander Tsugikuni had taught before…
A hint of doubt arose in his heart. How could Ganju be playing with him?
Because he hadn't returned for too long, Shiba Kaien wasn't clear about the details.
But since Kūkaku said so, then let him be.
The two left the Shiba Family residence and walked towards the back mountain.
…
On the other side.
"Oh, I told you, I'm the boss of this area, why don't you believe me, kid?"
Shiba Ganju chattered endlessly to Toushiro, who was on vacation at home.
He was riding a wild boar, patted it, making a thumping sound, and then gave a thumbs-up, proudly saying:
"What a resounding sound! This is the Pig King of this area. Interested in finding one too, joining me, and becoming my underling?"
Tōshirō Hitsugaya's face was dark. If it weren't for the fact that the other party was a noble, he would have beaten him already; he was a bit too familiar.
Hinamori Momo couldn't help but laugh behind Toushiro.
As she fanned her grandmother, who was sitting in a rocking chair, she said with a smile:
"Shiro-chan, just go. It's a rare holiday, and I can take care of Grandma here."
"And I also want to see you riding a pig."
"Don't call me Shiro-chan." Toushiro had a headache. Riding a pig? He could clearly ride a dragon, why ride a pig?
He was already a Vice-Captain. If someone saw this embarrassing scene, how could he establish himself in the Soul Society?
Momo was really something.
He wanted to refuse directly and tell Shiba Ganju to go somewhere else, but the next second, his grandmother's words made him act.
"Toushiro, don't be shy. Go and get along well with your friend."
In the eyes of the elderly, there was no shame or not, only happiness or not. As long as her grandson could make friends, that was good.
Staying at home all day was indeed boring, and computers hadn't become widespread yet. Toushiro's personality was ultimately different from Hinamori Momo's.
Hearing this, Toushiro's eyes widened. Even Grandma…
"Shiro-chan, go." Hinamori Momo spoke again, following right after Grandma.
She was already impatiently waiting to see the scene of Toushiro returning on a pig.
It must be very interesting.
Perhaps he could even take a photo as a souvenir?
Toushiro opened his mouth, wanting to speak but holding back. Finally, he sighed deeply.
There was no other way. Since Grandma said so, he could only go.
As long as he could make Grandma happy, everything he did was worth it.
Ultimately, the holiday was just too boring…
…
"Where are we going?" Toushiro asked as they followed Shiba Ganju.
He looked at the lush forest ahead and couldn't help but frown,
"If I'm not mistaken, this should be private property."
"Hey, there's no such thing as private or not private; it's all just rumors."
Shiba Ganju said casually and carelessly. As he spoke, he easily swung the reins in his hand,
"It's just because my Shiba Clan is nearby, so people nearby think this is our family's territory, but it's not actually."
"The place I want to take you to is the back mountain. Few people go there, and I also have some things I want to ask you about."
Seeing such a serious Shiba Ganju all of a sudden, Toushiro was still a bit unaccustomed.
But very quickly, before he could even ask what he wanted to ask him, the next second, a majestic spiritual pressure erupted in the nearby forest.
Shiba Ganju's expression changed, and he muttered, "This is… Big Brother's spiritual pressure?"
"So strong! Is he fighting with Big Sister? No, Hitsugaya, I'm going ahead. You follow quickly!"
With that, he slapped the wild boar's backside hard. The wild boar grunted, spread all four hooves, and galloped faster, charging into the forest.
Seeing this, Toushiro became even more helpless.
What's going on…
However, this spiritual pressure…
Toushiro narrowed his eyes slightly.
"A Captain?"
"So unfamiliar…"
"Shiba Ganju's Big Brother?"
Although he didn't know Shiba Ganju's Big Brother, he was still very interested in a Captain-level battle.
He unhesitatingly drew Hyōrinmaru, which immediately transformed.
Toushiro's figure flashed, and he leaped onto the dragon's back. Hyōrinmaru flapped its wings and flew high, heading into the forest together.
Ahead, Shiba Ganju felt the faint chill coming from behind him and instinctively looked back.
First, a massive black object came into view, blocking the sky above his head.
Looking closer… This wasn't black; it was clearly a blue giant dragon!
Toushiro was standing on it.
Holy crap! Shiba Ganju was stunned, his eyes almost popping out.
What's going on with this kid? How could a dragon appear here in the Soul Society?
No wonder that girl was particularly interested in Hitsugaya riding a pig.
If it were him, he would also be interested. People usually travel by dragon.
Suddenly becoming a pig…
Is this what childhood friends are like? They can even accept such absurd requests. Why doesn't he have one…
Shiba Ganju was filled with envy, but there was nothing he could do; the other person's good looks were undeniable.
He sighed. As the wild boar galloped, the giant dragon flew overhead, and they quickly reached the forest.
Shiba Kaien's spiritual pressure had already climbed to its peak. He held a river in his hand and directly smashed it towards Shiba Kūkaku's head.
Even Toushiro, who was in the air above, could feel a suffocating pressure.
Like a thousand-meter tsunami pressing down on him.
—Impossible to resist.
This was Toushiro's initial judgment.
If he didn't use his Zanpakuto, he would probably be killed in one blow.
"…Water-type?"
After observing for a while, Tōshirō Hitsugaya quickly determined the type of Zanpakuto Shiba Kaien was using.
He let out a soft breath, thinking to himself, "Good, water-type is completely suppressed by ice-type. Even if he becomes a Captain, he probably won't be able to defeat me."
"As long as I'm not at the bottom."
Toushiro hated being at the bottom the most. Decades ago, as a youth, he firmly believed he would grow taller.
However, decades passed, and his height seemed to have stagnated, not changing at all.
It could be said that among all the Vice-Captains, he was the shortest.
So much so that some Shinigami, upon seeing him, thought he was a Freshman who had just entered the academy this year.
Every time he encountered such a situation, he felt incredibly stifled.
"Ganju, why are you here?"
Although Shiba Kaien below noticed Toushiro's presence, he only glanced up slightly and didn't pay much attention.
He looked at Shiba Ganju, who had arrived in a hurry, and immediately understood the identity of the Shinigami above.
But that dragon… is it Tōshirō Hitsugaya's Zanpakuto?
Biological type, ice-snow type?
This unique combination of Zanpakuto attributes sparked some interest in Shiba Kaien, because information is combat power.
He immediately stopped his sparring with Shiba Kūkaku and waited for Shiba Ganju's explanation.
Ganju immediately said, "Big brother, why didn't you tell us you were back?"
"This little brother Hitsugaya and I hit it off right away; we were just about to become sworn brothers."
Toushiro's face darkened again upon hearing this.
He lightly leaped off Hyōrinmaru, landed, and retorted,
"Sworn brothers? How would I know? Did you bring me here just to tell me this?"
"If that's the case, then I'm going back."
Toushiro was not good at making friends to begin with, let alone this kind of muddled swearing of brotherhood.
In his opinion, it was simply inexplicable.
Why would an upper-class noble be so casual?
"Ahem." Shiba Kaien seemed to sense Toushiro's resentment and quickly interrupted to ease the atmosphere,
"Ganju, stop joking. Hitsugaya-kun is not an ordinary Shinigami; he is a Vice-Captain, just like me."
"If you become sworn brothers with him, who will be the elder brother and who will be the younger brother?"
"I've told you many times to be more cautious before making friends…"
After a series of words, Toushiro's mood eased a bit, feeling that Shiba Kaien was not bad at all, completely without the condescending attitude of a noble.
Shiba Ganju, however, muttered softly to the side:
"Big brother, you know very well that I never look at their status when making friends, because no matter how high their status is, they can't compare to you."
"You are one of the Five Great Noble Families, the head of the Shiba Family, even if it's in decline now…"
Before he could finish, Shiba Kaien's expression instantly turned serious, interrupting him:
"Don't say things that are detrimental to unity. Although I am the family head and a noble, do you see any noble airs about me?"
"You too, don't always think about forming factions. Improving your own strength is the most important thing."
"Look at Kūkaku, she's only just over 150 years old and can already fight me to a draw…"
Only in front of his younger siblings would Shiba Kaien transform from a trustworthy Vice-Captain into a big brother who was like a father.
Shiba Ganju lowered his head, looking a bit ashamed.
Shiba Kūkaku, seeing this, walked to his side and, to avoid damaging his self-confidence, said directly:
"Big brother, it's useless to tell this kid these things. He never remembers those grand principles. Let me educate him with a loving iron fist."
With that, she reached out, grabbed Shiba Ganju's ear, and dragged him away.
"Ow, ow, ow~"
A series of wails echoed in the air, the sound gradually fading into the distance.
The wild boar was left behind, grunting a little lost.
Even Toushiro, who was usually not one to smile, slightly curved his lips at this sight.
"What a happy and lively family…"
A touch of emotion welled up in his heart, and at the same moment, Toushiro's gaze fell upon Shiba Kaien.
The latter noticed his gaze, paused slightly, and then suggested,
"Hitsugaya-kun, do you have any other important matters to attend to here?"
"If possible, could I ask you to help me test my Bankai?"
"If I'm not mistaken, your Zanpakuto should be ice-snow type, right?"
"My nemesis."
"I need it."
Toushiro subtly raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his eyes: "Shiba-dono, are you serious?"
He had never heard of such a request; a water-type fighting an ice-snow type…
Even if the opponent's spiritual pressure reached Third-Class Spiritual Power, one level stronger than his own, he probably wouldn't be his match.
Shiba Kaien nodded solemnly: "Of course, I've been looking forward to fighting a young genius like you, Hitsugaya-kun, for a long time."
"In seven days, I will be taking the Captain's assessment. If I can't even overcome my weaknesses, I will surely fail even if I participate."
"I cannot fail."
If he failed, Uncle Isshin would definitely not let him off, and at the same time, he would not let himself off.
Becoming a Captain was the Shiba Clan's only chance to maintain its current status and potentially grow stronger step by step.
The branch family could not represent the main family, but the main family could represent both the main and branch families; this was the mission entrusted to him by the entire clan.
Although Toushiro didn't know why Shiba Kaien said this, seeing the other's determined expression and the fact that he was about to be promoted to Captain, he found it hard to refuse.
Moreover, the more opportunities to fight against Captain-level masters, the better.
For him, this was an unexpected pleasant surprise.
Toushiro retracted his dragon-form Hyōrinmaru, and the giant ice dragon slowly dissipated, turning into shimmering ice flakes.
The surrounding temperature instantly dropped by several degrees again.
He looked directly at Shiba Kaien, his spiritual pressure surging.
A battle was about to erupt.
…
Dusk.
Boom.
With a flap of wings, Toushiro flew back, swaying on Hyōrinmaru.
He rubbed his sore shoulders, finally understanding what overwork felt like.
Too troublesome.
He truly couldn't imagine how difficult the Captain's assessment must be if even Shiba Kaien could fail.
He probably had to use his Bankai's strongest move, Hyōten Hyakkasō, to pass…
Toushiro let out a long sigh, thinking to himself:
"Soon. If I were to forcefully use Bankai now, I could only maintain it for ten seconds, and I'm still far from being able to use Hyōten Hyakkasō."
"As the most difficult and most powerful move, Hyōrinmaru said I needed to reach at least Third-Class Spiritual Power."
"Based on my training speed, I should be able to achieve it by next year."
Recalling his own experiences, Toushiro secretly cheered himself on.
When he returned home, he saw Hinamori Momo standing in the courtyard, holding a camera, her expression seeming to anticipate something.
At the sight, his face darkened for the third time.
…
"Oh, Shiro-chan, don't be angry, I didn't mean it. I just thought you looked especially cute riding the pig, that's why I did it."
Toushiro was angry and very difficult to appease. Hinamori Momo spent a lot of effort to gradually soothe his expression.
But as soon as the word "cute" was uttered, Toushiro felt that Momo was no longer as cute as she was when she was little.
He crossed his arms, not wanting to speak. Hinamori Momo, helpless, could only steer the conversation towards what Toushiro had encountered today.
Upon hearing these questions, coupled with his grandmother's persuasion, Toushiro's mood improved slightly, and he slowly began to recount his experiences of the day.
After he finished.
He instructed Hinamori Momo to keep it a secret.
Of course, due to rules.
He did not reveal the detailed abilities of Shiba Kaien's Bankai.
Hinamori Momo didn't mind, just knowing that Toushiro had fought a Captain today was enough.
Her eyes were full of envy as she murmured, "When will I be able to master Bankai?"
She lowered her head slightly, her expression a little dejected.
"Although I get along very well with Tobiume, we've always been friends. I simply can't make her completely submit."
This was what Hinamori Momo had always been troubled by; being too empathetic was also a problem.
Toushiro knew this, and so, hearing Hinamori Momo's murmuring, he directly told her not to rush, just to take her time.
There would be an opportunity.
"So when will that opportunity be?" Hinamori Momo blinked, asking confusedly.
Toushiro shook his head, his tone calm: "I don't know. It could be today, it could be tomorrow. Anyway, I will protect you."
"You don't need to worry too much, Momo. First, raise your spiritual pressure. Otherwise, even if you master Bankai, it will be difficult to use."
During Bankai, spiritual pressure is the fuel; stronger spiritual pressure allows for longer Bankai duration.
Toushiro was unable to become a Captain precisely because his spiritual pressure didn't meet the standard, falling a bit short.
Hearing this, Hinamori Momo sighed, resigned to her fate.
She thought to herself, if only she could protect Toushiro.
And what Toushiro was thinking was…
"I wonder if I can go observe the assessment site in seven days…"
…
Seven days passed in a flash.
When Shiba Kaien walked confidently into the assessment grounds, he immediately saw Yoriichi Tsugikuni and the other Captains who had been waiting for a long time.
A gentle breeze swept through, making everyone's clothes flutter loudly.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni gazed at him and said, "Shiba Kaien, you should understand the conditions for becoming a Captain, right?"
"I understand." Shiba Kaien stopped and replied.
There were only three.
Firstly, passing the Captain's examination witnessed by three or more Captains, including the Captain-Commander.
Secondly, receiving a joint recommendation from six or more Captains, and gaining the approval of three or more other Captains.
Thirdly, defeating a current Captain witnessed by two hundred active members.
These were the rules established since the founding of the Gotei 13.
Yoriichi nodded: "Good that you understand."
"Time is limited, so I won't elaborate too much. Because your seniority is insufficient and your identity is restricted, you cannot choose the latter two methods."
"Therefore, this Captain's assessment will adopt the first method."
"Do you have any objections?"
"No objections!" Shiba Kaien replied again, resolutely. He had already understood this when he arrived.
After all, he was not well-known and lacked connections, so obtaining joint recommendations from many Captains was almost impossible.
Defeating Shiba Isshin… because the two came from the same family, such an action would be too sensitive.
So, no matter how he looked at it, only one method remained, which was to challenge a Captain.
Shiba Kaien initially thought so, but the next second, Yoriichi Tsugikuni's words surprised him greatly.
"Good that you have no objections. Then I announce that your challenge opponent will be…"
Yoriichi Tsugikuni paused, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.
"Me."
Yoriichi Tsugikuni took off his Captain-Commander's haori and strode forward.
His movements were clean and decisive. "Use your full power. Don't be timid just because I am the Captain-Commander."
"Only by gaining my approval will your appointment as the Tenth Division Captain be met with no objections from anyone."
"This is also for the sake of your Shiba Clan."
"You should understand."
"Kaien-kun."