Chapter 137
Even a vice-captain couldn't use Hadō of the 80s, but after becoming vice-captain, he immediately brought out a high-ranking Hadō of the 90s?
Who would believe that?!
Even though Lisa Yadōmaru already possessed Captain-level strength, she had not fully mastered any high-level Kidō. While this was partly due to her lack of Kidō in Kido, it couldn't be explained by such an absurd reason as "she naturally learned them after leveling up"!
"Haruto..."
Just as Lisa Yadōmaru was about to press further...
"Lieutenant Yadōmaru!"
Kuchiki Sōjun interrupted her.
"... What advice does Lieutenant Kuchiki have for me?"
I dare not accept your instruction.
Kuchiki Sōjun still wore his usual gentle smile.
"I just feel..."
"A genius from the Shin'ō Academy in Rukongai who could unleash the Senju Kōten Taihō even at the Fifth-Class Reii— "
"This answer is sufficient to satisfy either side."
Although the explanation just now didn't mention the Kuchiki Clan at all, Kuchiki Sōjun's attitude was already very clear:
Haruto, who is capable of slaying Adjuchas, deserves the Kuchiki Clan's protection... along with the secret of his Zanpakuto's release.
Otherwise.
Haruto's Zanpakuto abilities will inevitably be exposed to everyone today.
"Rotten--"
"Lisa!"
This time, it was Shinji Hirako who interrupted Lisa Yadōmaru.
"... Shinji?"
"Let's leave the important matters to the higher-ups to handle... Does Lieutenant Yamada have anything to add?"
Halfway through the conversation, Shinji Hirako suddenly shifted the topic to Kiyōnosuke Yamada, who was still healing everyone.
"No, I was just on assignment from Central 46 Chambers to help with the treatment."
Upon hearing Kiyōnosuke Yamada's reply, Shinji Hirako turned back to look at Lisa Yadōmaru:
"Do you understand, Lisa?"
"... All right."
Lisa Yadōmaru Yagyuumaru waved her hand helplessly.
She glanced at Nanao, who was still unconscious in the Tōzanshō, but whose Reiatsu had completely stabilized.
"It was originally a job that the Captain Kyōraku secretly pushed aside."
"Since you've all said so, there's no need for me to disagree... It's none of my business anyway."
"But."
Lisa Yadōmaru changed the subject.
"Lieutenant Kuchiki."
"Tomorrow is the graduation ceremony for the sixth-year students of the Shin'ō Academy."
It wasn't that he was hostile, but rather that he spoke with a hint of warning:
"With your stance today, if he still wants to join the Sixth Party—"
"I have no intention of inviting Haruto to join the Sixth Division."
"??"
Kuchiki Sōjun's answer was truly unexpected.
Even Haruto cast a curious glance at him; he had assumed it was all a foregone conclusion... along with becoming a lower-ranking noble.
"As for Haruto... what's your opinion?"
"..."
He was facing the gaze of Kuchiki Sōjun.
"You're right."
Haruto quickly understood what he meant.
The ideas of this future leader of the Kuchiki Clan are quite different from those of Ginrei Kuchiki.
What can Haruto do if he joins the Sixth Division?
Even if Ginrei Kuchiki steps down and Kuchiki Sōjun becomes the captain, the only candidate for vice-captain is Shiro.
Zai alone.
Even Kōga, who was the son-in-law of the Kuchiki Clan, was only a nominal Seated Officer.
Haruto, a candidate with the potential to be a captain, was only placed in the Sixth Division as a regular member.
Seated Officer?
What a waste of talent!
Having another Captain-level ally in the Gotei 13 would be far more valuable than doing this.
"Sixth Division..."
"Let me catch up with Kōga first."
Haruto replied.
Volume 1: Chapter 84, Gotei 13
He will not join the Sixth Division.
This isn't a bad thing for Haruto; at least he doesn't have to worry about being constantly watched by the Tsunayashiro Clan like Kōga Kuchiki.
And.
Haruto will not be completely tied to the Kuchiki Clan's war machine.
There are many factions within the Kuchiki Clan, and even the powerful head of the family cannot make decisions with a single word, let alone an outsider like him.
Didn't you see that even Kōga Kuchiki doesn't have much of a say?
But.
Kuchiki Sōjun's approach wasn't entirely correct:
Haruto didn't actually intend to hide his Zanpakuto abilities.
"Seisen"
Haruto's Zanpakuto name.
The ability to unleash power is easy to understand: it imbues the target with a "Flow" attribute, which manifests externally as a flowing Zanpakuto.
However, in practical applications, there are many ways to play with this "Flow": the attributes given by the Seisen, just like the forward and reverse flow of water, have two completely different effects: "Light and fast" and "heavy and heavy".
With the former enhanced by the blade, cutting through the Hierro of the Menos Grande is as easy as cutting into butter.
With the latter reinforced by the back of the blade, the incredibly sturdy Visored, along with the skull, crumbles at the slightest touch.
This is the most basic manifestation of the Seisen's power.
And...
This is just the simplest chopping motion using Seisen.
If Zanpakuto is used to enhance other abilities, it can produce extraordinary effects: the enhanced Shunpo "Taki" possesses an incredibly fast movement speed approaching that of Sonído, and the latter...
Unparalleled agility and flexibility.
The enhanced Raimeisan "Oboro"—the move Haruto used to distract Adjuchas in battle—possesses a deceptive quality that even Captain-level struggle to lock onto, capable of deceiving both sight and perception, yet its release requirements are much simpler than those of Utsusemi.
Shunpo Haruto uses it a lot.
Raimeisan is relatively rare.
However, regardless of proficiency, Seisen's abilities can be easily integrated into it: cutting off Adjuchas's enhanced Zanka no Tachi completely demonstrates the ultimate in "lightness".
Seisen's operability is really too strong.
So.
Even if Seisen's abilities are revealed, Haruto doesn't care, which will only cause his opponents to misjudge Haruto strength.
The only drawback at present is that the "range" of the Flow is somewhat limited, which is not yet sufficient for long-range Kidō attacks.
However, this problem can be improved as Haruto's understanding of Zanpakuto deepens.
Moreover...
This doesn't seem to be the whole story of Seisen.
In summary
The Zanpakuto is excellent; Haruto is very satisfied.
However, he still had many doubts in his heart:
Haruto understood Seisen, Seisen responded to Haruto —but shouldn't the abilities derived from Zanpakuto be a reflection of the wielder's soul?
Haruto...
He felt that his personality wasn't that similar to Seisen's, or perhaps they complemented each other?
"My Zanpakuto is most likely 'my' Seisen."
Once you understand this...
A small, unrealistic hope arose in Haruto's heart: perhaps, having merged with two souls, he would be able to truly wield dual swords.
After all.
His basic qualities, apart from his physical abilities, are already doubled.
After advancing to the Fifth-Class Reii, apart from the crucial Reiatsu concentration which was at the Vice-Captain-level, Haruto's perception, Reiatsu, mental strength, physical fitness, etc., were already not much different from those of Captain-level.
These are Haruto's true trump cards now.
Certainly.
The above only refers to the basic combat strength compared to the Captain-level.
If you include his most important Zanpakuto, Bankai, Haruto would still be instantly killed by Captain-level, since Bankai's amplification is at least five times.
The next day.
North Rukongai, Ayaka Kurumadani's house.
"Smack!"
The crisp sound of clapping hands together echoed outside the "door".
"That's enough, everyone."
Hoshino Kurumadani, who was presiding over the ceremony, put down the gohei (ceremonial hat) and tassels he was holding.
"The funeral procession ends here. Leave the rest to me."
The clothes and belongings left behind by Teacher Mutsuki Haruto.
There are many places in Soul Society where Soul Reaper are buried. Because their Reishi dissipates very quickly after death, most Soul Reaper's eternal home is not much better than a capsule hotel in the World of the Living.
The largest Gotei 13 cemetery, followed by the individual cemeteries of each division, and then places like the Ayaka family residence.