A Shotgun Wedding

"Tokinada, what are you saying..."

The old men felt everything go black and instantly lost consciousness.

First Division Study Room.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto put down the report in his hand.

"Have Shunsui intensify his surveillance of the Five Great Noble Clans, focusing particularly on Tsunayashiro Tokinada and Tokoyo Misao."

"Yes, Lord Genryūsai."

Yamamoto stood up and walked to the balcony, looking towards the direction of the aristocratic district.

It took me a thousand years to bring peace to the Soul Society.

Anyone who tries to sabotage it will only be burned to ashes by my wrath!

Chapter 123 Shotgun Wedding

"Hyōryū Senbi!"

As Tōshirō Hitsugaya swung his blade, an ice spike shot from the tip, transforming into a tail covered in spikes, and hurtled towards the massive rock in front of him.

The moment the ice tail touched the rock, it enveloped it into a huge block of ice.

Crack, crack, crack—the sound of ice shattering rang out.

With a crash, the huge rock shattered and scattered on the ground along with the ice.

"Tōshirō, your development focuses entirely on using the power of ice to envelop the enemy; it's too one-dimensional."

On the sidelines, Tokoyo Misao offered his commentary.

"We still need to try other properties, such as sharpness, edge, weight, and temperature absorption."

"Try condensing the blade of the Hyōrinmaru into a hammer, and the head into a spiral cone shape."

"Huh?" Tōshirō tilted his head, but still obediently did as he was told, raising Hyōrinmaru with both hands.

Frosty spiritual energy burst forth from the blade, instantly transforming into ice blocks that spread, and in a moment, a massive ice drill appeared.

Without saying a word, he prepared to smash directly into the ground in front of him.

"No!" Tokoyo Misao's loud shout made him freeze in place.

Tokoyo Misao stepped forward and addressed the flattened base of the massive ice drill bit:

"Aren't you able to use powers like blizzards?"

"Hyōrinmaru's ability is to manipulate water vapor in the air. When this water vapor condenses into ice, it creates a temperature difference, and wind is one of the specific manifestations of this temperature difference."

"Try creating a powerful gust of wind behind the ice spike to propel it; that will be more effective."

As he spoke, he pointed with his finger at the perfectly smooth body of the ice spike.

"You can even add the same spiral grooves when condensing ice cones."

This way, you can not only use the spiral thrust to increase the power of your shot, but also launch this large ice drill as a projectile.

"Do you understand?"

Tōshirō's mouth was agape, and his small eyes revealed a great deal of confusion.

"Don't you understand? Didn't you read that comic book? The one about playing with drills?"

Tokoyo Misao turned around, walked to the bookshelf by the field, and took out a copy of "Tengen Toppa".

Turning to one of the pages, you see the protagonist using a drill to attack.

"You possess immense power, but lack the imagination to fully utilize it. Therefore, the comics and fantasy works of this World of the Living are excellent treasure troves of knowledge."

When Tōshirō saw the cover of that manga, his eyes lit up.

This is one of his favorite comics, and instantly the image of the protagonist using a spinning drill to attack the evil boss flashed through his mind.

At the same time, he gripped Hyōrinmaru tightly with both hands.

The enormous ice drill, which was originally connected to the blade, broke off at its base and floated in the air.

Then came a clicking sound, and spiral grooves appeared on the drill bit's body.

Then a crackling sound came from the air.

He systematically condensed the water vapor in the air into ice, creating a temperature difference that gradually formed wind.

He already had some control over the ice diamonds he created, and they spun faster and faster in conjunction with the wind they generated.

He was still thinking about the drill he'd seen in the comic book.

The ice diamond floating in front of the blade began to emit smoke; it was evaporating.

"That's enough, throw it out!" Tokoyo Misao shouted.

Tōshirō suddenly opened his eyes and roared forward:

"Awooo!!" He swung the blade down.

A loud bang was heard.

The ice drill transformed into a beam of energy, carving a long trench in the ground until it crashed into rocks a kilometer away, shattering them into fragments before dissipating.

"Whoa!" Tōshirō roared, raising his right hand high. "This is my drill that can pierce the heavens!"

Tokoyo Misao stood on the sidelines, smiling and nodding with great satisfaction as he watched Tōshirō.

This is truly his chief disciple.

What were we taught at the academy before? Feifei, Momo, Lemons.

None of them are passionate or talented. Tōshirō is the best. He's the one I've raised since he was a child.

"Tōshirō, were you like this before?" a clear voice rang out.

Rukia Kuchiki slowly descended the stairs, surveyed her surroundings, and began to speak:

"When did you dig such a secret base beneath Sōkyoku Hill?"

"I didn't dig this up. Anyway, nobody uses it now, so I'm just borrowing it."

Tokoyo Misao waved his hand and said to Tōshirō again:

What should we name this skill?

Tōshirō turned his head with a very serious expression. "Ice Dragon Drill?"

"Wouldn't that be imposing enough?"

"Secret Technique: Starry Ice Diamond?"

"This is acceptable." Tokoyo Misao nodded, approving of the name.

After all, Tōshirō's drill attack had not only plowed a long trench in the ground.

As the ice layer compressed and shattered during the rapid flight, many ice crystals fell along the way, resembling stars in the reflection of the air—a very fitting name.

Rukia saw the long trench in the ground and gasped.

I had vaguely heard a noise before I came in.

However, because this space was very well concealed, she thought that Tōshirō was just practicing some low-level Hadō before she came down.

"That's a really impressive move."

She said to Tōshirō, "You have fully acquired the abilities of a vice-captain."

"Vice-captain? You underestimate my prized disciple." Tokoyo Misao shook his head.

"I personally trained Tōshirō. If he's only at the level of a vice-captain, wouldn't that prove I'm incompetent?"

"Didn't you teach me too?" Rukia smirked, unable to resist retorting when she saw Tokoyo Misao's smug expression. "And you still haven't learned Bankai."

Misao held up a finger and shook it from side to side. "Fufu, no, most of the time you're still being taught by the teachers from the Kuchiki Clan."

He smiled at Tōshirō and said, "Let Rukia take a look."

"Yes, Brother Misao!"

Tōshirō adjusted his breathing, taking a deep breath, his chest arching, then returning to its original position with the exhale.

He gripped Hyōrinmaru with both hands, maintaining the basic stance of swordsmanship.

Meanwhile, the surrounding temperature gradually dropped.

"Could it be that Tōshirō really learned it?" Rukia's eyes widened in shock.

It's only been a few years since Tōshirō was personally taken back to the Tenth Division for training Misao Morisao.

He went from a clueless resident of Rukongai to a reserve captain capable of using Bankai?

Moreover, the other party is also a user of Kidō-type Zanpakuto, just like himself, who manipulates ice.

"Bankai-- "

"Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"

The air instantly turned cold, the temperature dropped below zero, and water molecules in the surrounding air continuously condensed into ice, which fell down as if it were snowing.

At this Tōshirō Hitsugaya's right hand was encased in ice, resembling a dragon's claw, and long ice crystal wings were growing from his shoulder blades on his back.

Above the wings float three petals, each composed of four ice crystals.

A chilling Reiatsu erupted from his body.

"It actually worked, but..." Rukia frowned and carefully sensed it.

She discovered that although Tōshirō had used Bankai, his Reiatsu was only slightly stronger than that of Hiyori Visored, whom she had met in the World of the Living world, and had not fully reached the Captain-level.

"You're right. Tōshirō isn't fully mature yet. He's only able to use Bankai because of his bond with his Zanpakuto."

"Therefore, the effect shown did not reach the true Captain-level."

"But don't underestimate Tōshirō just because of that."

Tokoyo Misao was very satisfied with his disciple Tōshirō.

Unlike Rukia, he knew what the ice crystal petals floating on Tōshirō's back represented.

"So, Brother Misao, demote Lieutenant Rangiku to the Third Seat, and I'll become the vice-captain."

Tōshirō opened his mouth with a smirk:

"That guy basically makes me do all the work, but he still gets the vice-captain's salary and bonuses. I'm getting ripped off."

Tokoyo Misao also bears some responsibility for this.

Because he delegated almost all the tasks, big and small, within the team to the vice-captain.

He will only personally handle documents that are exceptionally important and require his direct review.

Vice-captain Rangiku Matsumoto also delegated most of her work to Tōshirō, who was the Third Seat.

"Tōshirō, how many times have I told you, why do we need so many Seated Officer?"

Tokoyo Misao stepped forward and gently tapped Tōshirō's forehead.

"There are a total of twenty Seated Officer. Those with fewer than Third Seat chairmen are all your subordinates in terms of position. Why do you insist on doing all the work yourself?"

"Those guys are so careless," Tōshirō said softly, his head bowed.

It's not just because my colleagues are careless in their work.

Another aspect is that he knew he was young, but he received careful guidance from his Misao and directly became the Third Seat.

Therefore, he needs to demonstrate the ability to live up to this high regard and position.

We must not let others look down on us, and we must not let others think that Brother Misao has misjudged us.

"That's not right," Tokoyo Misao sighed, tapping Tōshirō's forehead again with his fingertip, and said softly:

"If you do everything yourself, your subordinates won't be able to do anything, they won't accumulate experience, and they'll never be able to grow."

Even if they do something wrong, as their superior, you should guide them and cover for them, understand?

Tōshirō remained silent for a long time before nodding slightly.