A Battle Between Geniuses / What Kind of Monster Has the Kuchiki Clan Produced?
Kyōsuke Kuchiki froze at Byakuya Kuchiki's words.
What was that supposed to mean?
Sōsuke Aizen couldn't have gone out of his way to find Byakuya just to get me into the Fifth Division, could he?
But then he noticed the almost imperceptible trace of concern in Byakuya's eyes.
He immediately relaxed and smiled.
"As a member of the Kuchiki Clan, I'd definitely rather stay in the Sixth Division."
"If there's a division I want to join, I'll say so myself. You don't need to worry."
"Mm, good."
Byakuya Kuchiki nodded calmly.
"Congratulations on finally awakening your Shikai and obtaining your own Zanpakuto."
"Oh, it's nothing worth mentioning. Compared to your magnificent and powerful Shikai, big brother, mine still falls a little short."
"That isn't necessarily true."
His expression grew a little more serious as Byakuya Kuchiki spoke.
"An enhancement-type Zanpakuto may be plain and unadorned, but it's the most practical kind and relies most heavily on its wielder's personal strength."
"It suits your talent for Kidō very well."
Kyōsuke Kuchiki couldn't help feeling a little surprised.
Was Byakuya encouraging me?
It seemed his big brother really did care about how he was doing.
"Thank you, big brother."
"Mm. Good luck in the seated officer competition. I hope you do well."
"I will!"
After seeing Byakuya Kuchiki off, Teacher Ōuna returned, and Kyōsuke Kuchiki and Gin Ichimaru asked their Special Class One homeroom teacher if they could skip ahead to sixth year and join this year's seated officer competition.
Considering that staying at the academy really wouldn't do much more to help them improve, he agreed to let them skip ahead.
Chapter 11: A Battle Between Geniuses
A few days later, Kyōsuke Kuchiki and Gin Ichimaru moved straight into sixth year.
They became students on the verge of graduation.
In the blink of an eye, the sixth-year seated officer competition was drawing near.
There were quite a few outstanding sixth-year students. Even if they couldn't become Seated Officers, they were more than capable of becoming the backbone of their divisions.
Competition in the seated officer competition had already been fierce.
Now, with the addition of two super geniuses, Kyōsuke Kuchiki and Gin Ichimaru,
There was clearly no need to spell out how exciting this competition would be.
When Kyōsuke Kuchiki entered the competition grounds, he raised his head slightly and swept his gaze around.
Even the VIP seats on either side were packed with nobles and Soul Reapers of Seated Officer rank or higher. Not a single seat was empty.
In the nobles' stands, Kyōsuke Kuchiki spotted Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain-Commander Yamamoto, Shunsui Kyōraku, and Jūshirō Ukitake.
He grumbled inwardly, So many captains came. Do captains really have that much free time? Don't they have work to do?
"Even though I've seen them many times, the Captain-Commander and the captains are still so imposing! I almost don't dare go near them."
A deep, teasing voice rang out as a tall man suddenly walked over, a pair of broad, square glasses on his face.
"Grand Kidō Chief Tsukabishi."
Everyone was a little taken aback.
As the Grand Kidō Chief, a man who could cast number ninety Kidō instantly, his duties were usually extremely demanding. It was rare to see him here.
To be honest, some of them hadn't seen him in a long time.
"Tsukabishi, you're here for the young master of the Kuchiki Clan, aren't you?"
Jūshirō Ukitake greeted him with a smile.
"Captain Ukitake." Tessai Tsukabishi nodded in greeting before continuing.
"Exactly."
"He nearly leveled the academy with nothing but number thirty-one Hadō. I'm very curious what kind of Kidō he'll use in the seated officer competition."
"Then sit down and watch with us."
Shunsui Kyōraku smiled and patted the seat beside him.
"I also asked Captain Unohana to come. I wonder when she'll get here."
"Hm? Is she coming too?"
Tessai Tsukabishi looked a little surprised.
"It's only a student seated officer competition. Surely there won't be any serious casualties?"
"That's not necessarily true."
Recalling the boy's immense Reiatsu and calm demeanor, Jūshirō Ukitake shook his head.
"Let's just hope things don't get too out of hand."
"The academy can't take that kind of punishment."
Seeing that everyone agreed, Tessai Tsukabishi grew even more curious.
He said no more and looked down at the arena.
"This really is quite a sight."
Raising an eyebrow, Gin Ichimaru turned to Kyōsuke Kuchiki, whose expression was calm as ever.
"Young Master Kuchiki, it looks like a lot of people have high hopes for you."
"Sit down. The competition's about to start."
Kyōsuke Kuchiki replied casually and went to find himself a seat.
Thanks to his good looks, formidable strength, and gentle personality, his classmates liked him a great deal.
Several of them immediately gathered around him, their eyes full of admiration, and asked which of their classmates he thought would do best.
As they chatted, the seated officer competition officially began.
All manner of Shikai appeared one after another.
After yet another match had been decided—Kyōsuke had lost count of how many—
Gin Ichimaru rose leisurely to his feet behind Kyōsuke Kuchiki.
At the sight of the genius student who had possessed Tenth-Class Rei'i upon enrollment, the nobles and members of the Gotei 13 immediately perked up.
"That level of Reiatsu... incredible, truly incredible."
"It's only been three months, and this guy is already close to lieutenant level."
"I hear he's already attained Shikai. That's astonishingly fast."
"Do we even need to watch this fight? The outcome goes without saying."
"..."
As it turned out, Gin Ichimaru was more than strong enough to thrash most of Shin'ō Academy's students.
Kyōsuke Kuchiki hadn't even exchanged five sentences with the cute-looking girl beside him before the teacher acting as referee announced Gin Ichimaru's victory.
His sixth-year opponent hadn't even managed to touch the hem of the silver-haired boy's clothes.
But Gin Ichimaru didn't leave the arena surrounded by Sekkiseki. Instead, a faintly playful smile appeared on his face.
...Is this guy looking to stir up trouble?
Sensing the lingering gaze on him, Kyōsuke Kuchiki raised his head.
The next second, Gin Ichimaru's voice reached his ears.
"Teacher, as I recall, the rules of the seated officer competition say"
"that we can choose whoever we want to fight, and they can't refuse, right?"
"Uh, that's right, but who do you want to challenge, Ichimaru?"
Gin Ichimaru's narrowed eyes finally opened a little, revealing blue-green irises.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Why, the Kuchiki Clan's genius, Young Master Kyōsuke, of course."
He bowed slightly and made an inviting gesture.
"Please."
"..."
The atmosphere throughout the arena instantly grew heated. Every gaze fell on Kyōsuke Kuchiki as everyone waited for his response.
Under the eyes of the entire crowd, Kyōsuke Kuchiki rose calmly and used Shunpo to land in front of Gin Ichimaru, giving his answer through action.
"That readily?"
Gin Ichimaru was a little surprised.
"Haven't you always wanted a serious match?"
Kyōsuke Kuchiki smiled, his tone so gentle that he sounded nothing like someone who had come to fight.
Gin Ichimaru licked his lips, his voice cold and challenging.
"Careful, Kyōsuke. Don't die on me."
Hearing their exchange, the referee hurried to one side.
Once he saw that both of them were in position, he waved his hand and called out.
"You may begin."
As his voice faded,
Kyōsuke Kuchiki suddenly looked at Gin Ichimaru, the smile at the corner of his mouth unchanged.
For some reason, it seemed to carry a faint trace of mockery.
"With you as you are now?"
"..."
The present Gin Ichimaru was not yet the terrifying narrow-eyed man he would become a century later.
To be honest, Kyōsuke Kuchiki hadn't taken Gin Ichimaru's challenge seriously at all. The outcome was already decided, with no room for doubt.
But he was a boy at heart too. Now that he'd been challenged to his face, how could he not throw a few mocking words back?
That single sentence seemed to anger Gin Ichimaru. He opened with a killing move.
"Shoot to kill, Shinsō!"
Powerful Reiatsu erupted in an instant. The Zanpakuto in his hand suddenly thrust forward, crossing the dozen-odd meters between them in the blink of an eye and darting straight toward Kyōsuke Kuchiki!
"What incredible speed!"
Everyone was startled.
"It's almost as fast as Shunpo!"
Byakuya Kuchiki, who was also watching, stirred at once and instinctively gripped the Zanpakuto in his hand.
Chapter 12: What Kind of Monster Has the Kuchiki Clan Produced?
As everyone marveled at Gin Ichimaru's blindingly fast Shinsō thrust, Kyōsuke Kuchiki suddenly made a shocking move on the stage.
He raised his hand and reached toward it barehanded.