Chapter 189

--In terms of personality, these two get along extremely well.

Under Shunsui Kyōraku's consistently lenient approach towards girls, he specially granted Ayaka a vacation to accompany Lily to visit the Seireitei; even Lily's expenses in Soul Society were largely reimbursed by the Eighth Division.

Speaking of which...

It seems that more than half of the funds for the Eighth Division are provided by the Kyōraku Clan.

"Ayaka is one of them too!"

Reluctantly leaving Isane's chest, Lily quickly became entangled with Ayaka.

What should have been a somewhat sentimental farewell turned into a joyful and laughter-filled moment thanks to the two of them working together. If it weren't for Byakuya's impatient eyebrows practically pressing down to his eyes...

"I'm leaving now!"

After another half hour of delay, Lily finally stepped through the Senkaimon.

Be careful on the road!

The Kuchiki Clan's Senkaimon isn't something just anyone can use.

Lily's ability to gain such influence stems not only from her favor with the Eighth Division, but more importantly from Haruto's current value.

"Then I'll head back to the Eighth Division to report for duty."

Playing with Lily was also part of the mission. After Lily left, Ayaka still had to put together a report and submit it. The reason for having the intelligence team take charge of this task was partly to deepen their understanding of the West Branch Bureau.

The Seireitei is relatively closed off and rarely sends people to Reverse London for exchanges.

"Okay, you're busy..."

Before Haruto could finish speaking, Ayaka interrupted him with a laugh.

"I'm not busy, I'll be back in a bit."

"..."

Haruto was genuinely taken aback.

"Seriously, are all you Eighth Division this free?"

"Of course, it's because both the captain and vice-captain are very capable."

"..."

That's true.

Lisa handled the surface work of the Eighth Division very well, while the hidden troubles had already been resolved by Kyōraku long beforehand—the two had been working together in the Eighth Division for over a hundred years, so their level of understanding was naturally extraordinary.

"Okay, go early and come back early."

Haruto was speechless.

"Then I..."

Isane is also preparing to return to the Fourth Division.

Although the number of wounded in the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force has not decreased, the workload of the Fourth Division has actually been reduced considerably because the 11th Division has taken on too many Seated Officers in the World of the Living.

Only then did Isane have time to ask for leave to see her friend off... Of course, given Isane's current position in the Fourth Division, it seems she didn't need to ask anyone for leave.

Captain Unohana and Lieutenant Yamada are busy every day. The Third Seat, Iemura Yasochika, who ranks ahead of Isane, is mostly responsible for the general affairs of the Fourth Division —including cleaning the Seireitei and communicating with other divisions—and is a rather steady and reliable brooding man.

Therefore, in terms of routine medical treatment that is not particularly urgent, Isane is basically the first person in charge of the Fourth Division; and because of the Kotetsu Clan's prestige in the Fourth Division, Isane's position has also received the support of many veteran members of the Fourth Division.

"Isane!"

Ayaka, who hadn't gone far, shouted at Isane.

"I'll come find you at the Fourth Division later, let's come back and play together again~"

"..."

Ayaka is, after all, a legitimate Seated Officer of the intelligence team, so she knows a lot about the situation within the Fourth Division... she might even know more than Isane, who only focuses on the injured.

"Good."

That was the only response Isane could give.

"Then I'll take my leave first."

Isane continued what she hadn't finished saying earlier.

"I 'Shunpo you?"

"No, no need!"

Can you Shunpo to send someone away?

A blush instantly spread across Isane's face.

--Because of Ayaka's interruption, Isane was instantly reminded of something that was inconvenient to discuss in detail.

The posture.

"I'll go back and give you some instructions, I'll be right back."

"Whoosh!"

Before Haruto could answer, Isane's figure had already disappeared from sight.

"Her Shunpo seems to have improved quite a bit."

Byakuya remarked from the side.

"... No wonder you didn't find a wife until you were hundreds of years old."

Haruto muttered something very quietly.

"What!?"

Byakuya frowned, realizing that things were not so simple.

"I didn't say anything just now, are you hallucinating?"

"... I can't be bothered to argue with you."

Only Byakuya and Haruto remained in Senkaimon.

Come to think of it, it's been a long time since they've had a private chat.

I haven't had time to ask you before.

Byakuya spoke first.

What is the Seirin Tsunayashiro?

Byakuya paid considerable attention to this genius of the Tsunayashiro Clan, who was on par with Kōga Kuchiki.

Although he didn't say it explicitly, he had long regarded Kōga Kuchiki as a target he needed to surpass.

"Genius."

"Her Bankai is truly powerful, but she relies too much on her Zanpakuto's abilities and probably doesn't have much experience in fighting from a disadvantageous position."

Haruto's words were not the polite remarks he made during the report.

"Judging from my intuition, when we both reach the Third-Class Reii level, she will definitely not be your match."

"Really?"

Byakuya's tone was a bit strange, almost making Haruto hallucinate that it was a fake "Son-doo"—the sudden praise made Byakuya a little uncomfortable.

Do I need to flatter you?

Haruto rolled his eyes at Byakuya.

"Seirin Tsunayashiro's Zanpakuto ability is related to the absorption and release of Reishi, and its enhancement is basically limited to improving its sharpness."

"With the same Reii, your Shunpo is faster than hers, and Senbonzakura's ability completely counters Hoshihami. Winning isn't anything special."

Haruto wasn't just making things up.

Aside from her Zanpakuto, most of Seirin Tsunayashiro's abilities were not acquired through her own training; it's normal for Captain-level Shinigami to have such a performance, since most Soul Reaper consider their Zanpakuto to be the foundation of their survival.

However, for Soul Reaper with a more specific goal, being unable to fight simply because their sword is countered is a truly mind-numbing form of sloth.

"Then I..."

Byakuya was about to speak when Haruto interrupted him:

"Your Kidō is inadequate; Muramasa of Kōga counters all Zanpakuto."

Haruto knew what Byakuya wanted to ask without him even saying a word.

"... All right."

"It seems it's time to put the Kurohitsugi on the cultivation schedule."

Advanced training in the higher levels of the Hadō, above level ninety, can only begin at the Captain-level; but given Haruto's example and Haruto heartfelt evaluation just now, Byakuya felt that his genius might not be so bad after all.

"That's right!"

Byakuya suddenly realized.

"You previously said that Seirin Tsunayashiro might have come into contact with their family's inherited Zanpakuto?"

"Right."

Haruto nodded in affirmation:

"Leaving aside the Stealth Steps and the Kurohitsugi, she did indeed use the Shiba Clan's Getsuga Tenshō, which should be a closely guarded secret of the Shiba Clan."

You might be mistaken about that.

Byakuya, however, rejected Haruto's idea.

"Um?"

"The Getsuga Tenshō is something that outsiders without the true blood of the Shiba Clan can at most imitate in appearance; its true essence can never be learned."

Byakuya explained:

"Seirin Tsunayashiro..."

"Since she regards Getsuga Tenshō as her final, deadly technique, it likely means that she possesses the true bloodline of the Shiba Clan."

"The Tsunayashiro Clan has coveted this for a long time; it's not something that can be obtained simply through technology."

You mean?

Before Byakuya could finish speaking, Haruto already knew what was going on.

"Yes, Seirin Tsunayashiro is very likely a Tsunayashiro and Shiba Clan member, which explains why she holds such a special position in the Tsunayashiro Clan."

"... Is the Golden Seal Noble Assembly not going to handle this matter?"

Intermarriage between the Four Great Noble Clans was considered a complete taboo by the Golden Seal Noble Assembly.

"An illegitimate child."

"Otherwise, the Tsunayashiro Clan wouldn't have had so much anger but nowhere to vent it."

Byakuya casually made a couple of sarcastic remarks.

"Oh, right."

"I remember you mentioned before that when dealing with that Quincy, you used the Sklaverei to absorb the Reishi of three Captain-level?"

"That's right."

The key to the battle against Schubert was Haruto's extraordinary Sklaverei; otherwise, it would have been another bitter fight.

"Then wouldn't that mean you could make Captain-level Reiatsu of Third-Class Reii return to Soul Society Reishi after death?"

It was rare for Byakuya to ask a question so befitting of a high-ranking nobleman.

You're overthinking it.

Haruto shook his head with a wry smile.

"The Third-Class Reii replicated by the Vollständig is ultimately different from that of a true Captain-level being."

"If I had that ability..."