Kyōsuke Kuchiki Stolen Away Again
Then she compared Kyōsuke Kuchiki's speed and age...
A trace of frustration suddenly welled up in her heart.
Just who was the Flash Goddess here?
They hadn't seen each other for a few years. How had this kid suddenly gotten so powerful?
"What kind of genius is this guy made of?"
"He's improving way too fast."
Hearing Yoruichi mutter, Tessai Tsukabishi said nothing. He merely pushed up his glasses.
To be honest, he understood exactly how she felt!
He had been Kidō Chief for so long without finding a way to innovate Kidō, and then this guy came along and whipped out several self-created Kidō in rapid succession.
He was curious what this guy's brain was made of, too!
By now, Retsu Unohana had directed her squad members to treat Kiganjō.
Two Fourth Division Soul Reapers who had been standing by nearby took a brief look, then shook their heads at Unohana.
He was already cold!
One of the squad members couldn't help sneaking a glance at Kyōsuke Kuchiki, who was reviewing the entire battle.
The Fourth Division Soul Reaper couldn't help grumbling inwardly:
Compared to Kiganjō, who kept shouting about fighting and killing, this guy's the real ruthless one.
Kiganjō had shouted through the entire fight, yet he couldn't even touch the hem of his opponent's clothes.
Kyōsuke Kuchiki hadn't said a single harsh word, but he had killed without a trace, delivering a fatal blow in one strike.
The difference was clear!
At that moment, Kyōsuke Kuchiki was dealing with his crowd of fanboys and fangirls.
He wasn't overly pleased with himself for killing a captain so decisively, nor was he too worried.
After all, everyone had seen that Kiganjō had provoked him first.
His opponent had been bent on dying, so he could only grant his wish.
In fact, the captains, even the Captain-Commander, didn't have much to say about Kiganjō's death.
On the contrary, they were happy to have gained a companion with limitless potential.
The captains all understood that no matter how lofty their ideals and glory were, without strength as their foundation, they were hollow.
Thus, they warmly welcomed Kyōsuke Kuchiki's addition to their ranks.
As for Kiganjō, who was that? They hardly knew him!
But just then, the Captain-Commander's commanding voice rang out.
"Kyōsuke Kuchiki... did you deliberately kill a colleague?"
Kyōsuke looked up to see Genryūsai Shigekuni standing before him. He hadn't noticed when the old man had appeared.
Looking at the imposing old man, whose hair and beard were both white, the young Soul Reapers gathered around Kyōsuke Kuchiki swallowed, not daring to breathe too loudly.
"Absolutely not. Captain Kiganjō was too strong, and I couldn't hold back in time. It was an accident."
"It's as simple as that."
Kyōsuke Kuchiki did his utmost to disassociate himself from it.
Even facing the immensely intimidating Captain-Commander, he was still in the mood to look elsewhere.
He happened to see several meaningful gazes.
With Kiganjō being carried away under a white sheet and Kyōsuke Kuchiki completely unscathed, the captains' meaning was clear.
Keep pretending!
Kyōsuke Kuchiki met their gazes with a completely unruffled expression.
It really was simple, both the course of events and the outcome.
He had been killed with a single slash by a student who had just graduated, and his opponent hadn't even used any extra tricks.
As captain of the 11th Division, Kiganjō's strength really was somewhat lacking.
Moreover, he had a bad temper and was difficult to manage...
At that thought, Captain-Commander Yamamoto paused, then spoke in a deep voice.
"I understand."
"According to the 11th Division's rules, the one who kills the captain may take his place and become the new captain."
"And gain the name Kenpachi."
"Kyōsuke Kuchiki... no, I should call you Kenpachi now."
"Someone will deliver the captain's haori to the Kuchiki residence."
"..."
Genryūsai Shigekuni delivered those words as smoothly as if he had rehearsed them countless times, without stumbling once.
Kyōsuke Kuchiki froze for a moment, dumbfounded.
Captain of the 11th Division?
Kenpachi?
Wait, who wants such a boring position?!
One of his reasons for joining the Kidō Corps was to become Kidō Chief as soon as Tessai Tsukabishi and Hachigen Ushōda defected!
Then he would be on equal footing with Genryūsai in no time, the leader of one of Seireitei's three great organizations, with both status and manpower at his disposal.
Add to that his status as a member of the Kuchiki main family, and even the Central Forty-Six Chambers wouldn't be able to order him around.
If he were his own boss, grinding proficiency would be more convenient and faster, too.
After grinding up his proficiency in the Eight Extraordinary Skills, he could simply sit back and wait for Aizen to make his move.
His easy life could be even more carefree than a salted fish's!
Being a captain might seem like freedom, but he would still be working for someone else.
Working for someone else was impossible. Absolutely impossible. Not in this lifetime.
Whoever wanted to be Kenpachi could have the job; he certainly wouldn't!
"Captain-Commander, I think I'll pass!"
His earlier composure instantly gone, Kyōsuke Kuchiki hurriedly waved his hands.
"My personality is completely unsuited to being a captain."
"Besides, I've already chosen to join the Kidō Corps!"
"As for the name Kenpachi... why not just let the vice-captain take over, like the Ninth Kenpachi?"
"You're the one who killed Kiganjō. According to the rules, you should be the next Kenpachi."
"The Ninth Kenpachi was merely an exception."
Genryūsai Shigekuni's expression remained unchanged, but he found it somewhat strange.
How could a Soul Reaper refuse to be a captain and insist on joining the Kidō Corps instead?
"Kuchiki, stop making a fuss."
"..."
Chapter 49: Kyōsuke Kuchiki Stolen Away Again
Captain-Commander, are you kidding me?
Who's the one making a fuss here?!
Hearing Genryūsai Shigekuni's words, Kyōsuke Kuchiki was nearly speechless.
In all of Seireitei, couldn't he find another successor to Kenpachi?
If all else failed, couldn't he just pull out that Fourth Division Captain standing behind him and be done with it?
But before he could speak, Tessai Tsukabishi spoke up from the side.
"Lord Genryūsai, I also disagree with Kuchiki becoming captain of the 11th Division."
"Lord Kuchiki has already joined our Kidō Corps."
"If he switches to the 11th Division halfway through, it'll put me in a difficult position."
Hearing this, Genryūsai Shigekuni glanced over at him indifferently.
"Hasn't he yet to officially join?"
"There's still time."
"Besides, the one who kills Kenpachi gains the name Kenpachi. Those are the rules."
"Rules are made by people. Wasn't the Ninth Kenpachi an exception to the way the name Kenpachi is inherited?"
Tessai Tsukabishi, usually low-key and modest, was unusually resolute and refused to yield an inch.
What a joke. He had finally found a Kidō genius; how could he possibly hand him over to the Gotei 13?
No matter who came to snatch him away today, he would never let go!
With that thought in mind, Tessai Tsukabishi continued at once, without the slightest hesitation.
"Besides, Lord Kyōsuke is unwilling to join the 11th Division."
"He fought Captain Kiganjō only because the captain attacked first. He had no choice but to defend himself."
...Self-defense?
At that word, the captains' mouths twitched.
They looked at Kiganjō, who had long since gone cold on the ground, and fell silent.
Forget it. He had been there, so he was right. If he said it was self-defense, then it was self-defense.
That explanation, however, clearly failed to convince Genryūsai Shigekuni.
He struck the ground hard with his cane, cutting Tessai Tsukabishi off.
"In any case, Kuchiki has killed Kiganjō, the Tenth Kenpachi. The name Kenpachi is rightfully his."
"Hehe, what are you saying, Captain-Commander?"
Tessai Tsukabishi wore a kindly smile.
"The 11th Division's rules say he may inherit the name Kenpachi, not that he must."
"As a Soul Reaper, gaining the position of captain right after graduation is a great honor. What does he have to be dissatisfied with?"
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's eyes shone as he grew serious, a rare occurrence.
An ordinary person really couldn't withstand that imposing presence.
Facing the strongest Soul Reaper in a thousand years, Tessai Tsukabishi felt a little apprehensive himself.
But for the future of the Kidō Corps, he held firm.
"Captain-Commander, forgive my presumption, but with Lord Kuchiki's talent for Kidō, joining the 11th Division would be the greatest waste."
"..."
Tessai Tsukabishi and Genryūsai Shigekuni went back and forth, beginning to fight over him.
For a moment, everyone stared at the two of them in disbelief, unable to get a word in.
Looking at strength alone, no matter how strong Kyōsuke Kuchiki was, he was only Captain-level right now.
At most, his strength was above that of an ordinary captain, around the level of a mid-tier captain.
His Zanpakuto's abilities were all very ordinary. It was a pure enhancement type, and it could only increase his power fivefold.
Such talent and potential were certainly worth recruiting, but nowhere near enough for the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and the Kidō Chief of the Kidō Corps to fight over him!