Chapter 190

"Do you believe that Captain-Commander Yamamoto would dare to go to Baraggan right now to find Hueco Mundo and avenge being trampled on to reach the Soul King Palace?"

It's not that the Captain-Commander has no temper.

If it weren't for maintaining stability in the Three Realms, and if Baraggan hadn't shown a "live and let live" attitude, Old Man Yamamoto would have burned him and his palace to the ground with Ryūjin Jakka.

"..."

Byakuya essentially acquiesced to his statement.

Haruto's statement was rather polite—if he really had that ability, the monk would have flown down from the Soul King Palace, either inviting him to join the Zero Division for a "promotion and riches," or directly kidnapping him to be a Reiatsu decomposition and purification device.

What's the next step?

The two of them strolled around the yard of the Kuchiki Clan.

A year ago, Haruto certainly wouldn't have acted so leisurely... Even the Kuchiki Clan might not have allowed him to leave the guest room.

This is the change in status brought about by strength and achievements.

"Rest."

Haruto said, his hands behind his back.

"Ah?"

"This month has been mostly spent cultivating and spending time with Lily, so I need to take some time to relax."

"... Isn't 'spending time with Lily's relaxing?"

"The Eighth Division treats this as a mission, so why isn't it considered work for me?"

Haruto's reasoned and well-founded counter-question is indeed true...

It's hard to believe.

Certainly.

Most importantly, the Kuchiki Clan has recently taken a series of actions, taking advantage of the death of Seirin Tsunayashiro to suppress the latter to the point of being unable to raise their heads.

Haruto was naturally relieved of some pressure—calling Byakuya to the World of the Living was a very wise choice; otherwise, at the meeting when they first returned to Soul Society, which was attended by almost all the captains of the Gotei 13, there might have been some comments that were detrimental to Haruto.

Although he was not qualified to participate, he knew from Byakuya's account through Ginrei Kuchiki how serious the standoff was at the time.

By the way...

The team captains present were all well aware that Haruto's report was problematic, but considering personal relationships and the fact that the matter involved the conflict between the Kuchiki Clan and Tsunayashiro Clan, they all wisely chose to remain silent.

"Then I won't keep you company."

Byakuya had no intention of relaxing with Haruto and the others.

"You've been cooped up at home for quite a while, haven't you?"

Byakuya knew all too well how much Haruto loved to play around when he first arrived at the Shin'ō Academy; if Byakuya hadn't been so restless at home, Ginrei Kuchiki wouldn't have agreed to let him into the Shin'ō Academy.

"You've only reached level four after all this time. If you waste any more time... I'm different from you; I still have plenty of room to improve."

Byakuya wasn't boasting.

His advancement was not forced; after successfully reaching the Fourth-Class Spiritual Pressure, he had plenty of room for further improvement.

"Although you say it with such pride, I'm actually far from reaching my limit."

Haruto immediately interrupted Byakuya's rising emotions.

"... Does anyone speak?"

"You learn very quickly."

It seems that increasing political points can also improve one's eloquence.

"Tch, all you can do is pull off a few more tricks."

"Have you forgotten what I just said about why Seirin Tsunayashiro lost so badly?"

"... Waiting for me here??"

"You dug your own hole, and you're blaming me for this?"

While the two were chatting idly, they had unknowingly arrived at the door of the Kuchiki Clan.

No need to see me out.

"Thank you!"

After saying goodbye to the Kuchiki Clan, Haruto was still considering whether to go to the Eighth Division to find Ayaka first, or to wait for Isane in the Fourth Division.

"Fourth Seat Haruto!"

--Then they saw panicked soldiers shouting loudly from across the street.

This is the private territory established by the Kuchiki Clan; not just anyone is qualified to set foot here.

"Whoosh!"

As soon as Haruto landed with his Shunpo, the Haruto nearly pounced on him.

"Oh no! Fourth Seat Haruto!"

"Get to the point... don't wipe your snot on my clothes."

The 11th Division has come knocking!

"... What?"

Volume 1: 115, Mountain, Tiger, Monkey

Is the 11th Division going to overthrow the Heavenly Generals?

Don't they have any self-awareness about their own level?

It's true that only a few of the Thirteenth Division's Seated Officers remain, but they were all the high- Seated Officers in the entire division who were taken down...

Wrong.

That seems to be the reason.

As the most renowned combat unit among the Gotei 13, the 11th Division has been quite active in the history of Seireitei; the successive generations of Kenpachi were all incredibly strong, turning the 11th Division into overconfident fighters.

You can tell by looking at the number of Seated Officers in each squad.

The 11th Division is unique in that it has multiple Seated Officers of the same rank... For example, among the lower- Seated Officers in Reii, who are ranked between 10th and 19th, there are more than 20 officers in total. This also shows that more members of the 11th Division can achieve Shikai than those of other divisions, and their overall combat strength is also stronger.

So...

They probably don't really understand the current generation of arrogant and domineering captains, and still think they're as strong as before.

By the way.

Because of the 11th Division's bravery and skill in battle, they have always looked down on the other divisions; in the past, they had a "refined and easy-going" captain above them to keep them in check, but after it was replaced by Kiganjō, this pure brute, his true nature was completely exposed.

Where?

"It's right here in the Thirteenth Division barracks!"

"Let's go then, it won't take much time anyway."

Haruto didn't want to get involved in these trivial matters, but it seemed that the Thirteenth Division really didn't have anyone who could make a decision:

Captain Ukitake went to Rukongai, where the "Mimihagi" who saved him years ago lived, and Third Seat Shiba, worried about his health, went with him.

On Kaien's side, the Shiba Clan proposed to the Central 46 Chambers that they request an order to lift the confinement order—because of the death of Seirin Tsunayashiro, the Tsunayashiro Clan had temporarily adopted a defensive posture and did not have the extra energy to deal with this matter.

There's a good chance that Kaien Shiba will be released, but the process will take some time.

As for the 11th Division...

Kanmuri Yasu, an acquaintance, is currently not with the team.

After nearly a month of healing all his injuries, he was immediately assigned to a new batch of Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force —it's worth mentioning that, according to the official announcement from Seireitei, this was already the umpteenth "last" batch— the 11th Division was also leaderless, and judging from their troublemaking attitude, it was likely that a new Seated Officer had taken over and wanted to stabilize his position by demonstrating his power.

After all, if even the captain could be beheaded and replaced, the lower- Seated Officers and soldiers would naturally follow suit. Those without ability or courage would have been removed long ago by the wrath of the authorities.

Since that's the case.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to leave a deep impression on the 11th Division.

The Thirteenth Division, training grounds on the edge of Seireitei.

"Bang!"

Amidst the light of the exploding Shakkahō, a figure clad in Shihakushō emerged without warning, his Zanpakuto—

"Clang!"

The powerful impact sent Sentarō Kotsubaki flying far away, just as he drew his sword after unleashing the Shakkahō.

"Hey! Hey!"

"Is this all the Kidō) the Thirteenth Division has to offer?"

"Has your Seated Officer not eaten yet?"

The shouting, accompanied by a clicking tongue, came from what was clearly the direction of the 11th Division —among the two camps both dressed in Shihakushō, even the Thirteenth Division, with its home-field advantage, was far less imposing than the former.

"Sentarō Kotsubaki."

The Seated Officer who defeated the Shakkahō was named Genya Sakurai, the newly promoted Third Seat of the 11th Division after the Quincy annihilation war. Due to a severe shortage of manpower, and the fact that the greatest remnant of the Lichtreich had perished together with the genius of the Tsunayashiro Clan, the battle against the Quincy in the World of the Living had come to a temporary end.

"Admit defeat, you are no match for me."

"It's not over yet!"

Sentarō Kotsubaki stood up from the ground.

For the same reason, the Thirteenth Division also selected a group of outstanding Soul Reaper from among its many members to be promoted to the rank of Seated Officer.

The most outstanding one should be Sentarō Kotsubaki, who is the only member who directly sat in the 10th Seat.

That's why.

After the Sixth Seat, Kajōmaru Hideasa, replaced Haruto and was sent to the World of the Living to take charge of specific tasks, he became the only capable Seated Officer in the Seireitei within the Thirteenth Division. Even knowing that he was no match, he had to fight.

After all...

The 11th Division's fight was ostensibly a friendly sparring match between divisions.

Sentarō Kotsubaki Zanpakuto horizontally in front of him, and the Flow Reiatsu continuously gathered from his palms towards the Zanpakuto.

"If wisdom is connected," Pure Water " has no fragrance!"

Sentarō Kotsubaki was the first to complete his Shikai.

To be honest, his Zanpakuto ability is quite rare, possessing multiple effects including enhancing focus and mental resistance.

It is extremely efficient as a training aid, but it is not a suitable Zanpakuto for combat.

"Pure Water?"

After seeing Sentarō Kotsubaki's Shikai, Genya Sakurai's gaze became much more serious than before.

"I heard that your vice-captain and Fourth Seat all use water-type Zanpakuto... That shouldn't be the tradition of the Thirteenth Division, right?"

Judging from the name alone, it's difficult to understand the abilities of this Zanpakuto, so it's normal to consider it a water-type Zanpakuto.

And that's the purpose behind Genya Sakurai...

"Coincidentally, I also know a little about water systems."

Genya Sakurai Zanpakuto into the ground!

Genya Sakurai a bit troubled by Sentarō Kotsubaki's unwillingness to admit defeat—his personality didn't quite fit the 11th Division, and his appearance was too delicate. To prevent his colleagues from misunderstanding, he even got a super greasy slicked-back haircut.

This provocation was initiated in order to solidify his position in the 11th Division.

To this end...

He must deliver a decisive and overwhelming victory.

"Bang!"