Chapter 221
"The report to Seireitei must be difficult to write, right?"
"..."
Shinji Hirako's silence was tantamount to acknowledging Haruto's statement.
"My knife is very fast."
Haruto glanced at Seisen was lying flat on the tatami mat beside him.
"Perfect for dealing with a divine weapon like the Scorching Water Mirror."
"... Using a Water-type Shikai to attack the current captain, I don't think your report will be easy to fabricate."
Shinji Hirako clearly didn't want Haruto to take the blame for this.
After all, he felt he owed this junior a lot for what happened to Mutsuki Shōkaku back then.
Moreover, what Shinji Hirako said is also correct:
At least he could come up with a Bankai counter it, while Haruto could only use his Shikai to fight Bankai; although the Central 46 Chambers members often made foolish moves, it wasn't so easy to deceive these guys who had experienced countless deceptions.
"No, it's the rules system."
Haruto shook his head and smiled.
"??"
While everyone was surprised, they didn't actually find anything strange about it.
Zanpakuto capable of consecutively defeating three formidable Captain-level — Seirin Tsunayashiro, Baishin, and Ganryū Ryūdōji —could hardly be just an ordinary Flowing Water type.
"... Your enemy is no weaker than Kusaka Clan's. Is it really a good idea to expose your Zanpakuto's abilities so easily?"
"That's because our new trump card is almost ready."
"You--"
Haruto's bombshell revelation left everyone's eyes widening in shock.
"Soon, 'soon,' understand?"
Haruto, please cool everyone down.
"How long is fast?"
Shinji Hirako pressed on—though it was somewhat impolite, he needed to confirm this fact.
"It's only been a matter of the last few years."
"... Shouldn't we keep a low profile during this time?"
The ability to Bankai is extremely important to Soul Reaper. If they prematurely reveal their strength and meet with misfortune before Bankai...
Shinji Hirako absolutely did not want to bear such psychological pressure again.
"Don't worry."
"I said the new trump card is almost ready, not that all the old ones have been revealed!"
"..."
Haruto's hurtful words silenced Shinji Hirako completely.
Five years.
There are so many things Haruto can do.
Haruto didn't even bother mentioning his Shikai mastery of his Zanpakuto. Compared to himself five years ago when he fought against Baishin and Ryudoji, although there hadn't been any improvement in the quality of his Reiatsu, both his basic attributes and combat skills had undergone earth-shattering changes.
"Captain Seigen."
Haruto turned to look at Seigen Kyōshiba.
"I have no objection."
Seigen Kyōshiba nodded in agreement.
The members of the Gotei 13 have already done so much for the siblings, so of course he wouldn't raise any further objections.
"That's great... Let's practice over at the bridge once we get some more replies."
"Oh, right."
Haruto casually added.
"Please make sure you fight me with all your might, preferably squeezing out every last drop of your Reiatsu."
"... Only in this way can we meet the requirements for using that Reigai?"
Seigen Kyōshiba gave him an "I understand" look.
"No."
Haruto shook his head and denied it.
"This is the only way to ensure..."
"You won't really get killed by me."
Volume 1: Chapter 133, Whether Someone Dies or Not, It's Up to Me
"Bankai!"
Seigen's Zanpakuto is named Shiden.
Although it cannot manipulate celestial phenomena like the Sasakibe, it is renowned for its extremely powerful attack power among the many lightning-type Zanpakuto.
"Destroy all my enemies, Shiden Raikō!"
After Bankai, the blade is completely covered in fierce lightning, easily turning any target it touches into charred remains.
Perhaps influenced by the Sasakibe, the new generation of captains wielding lightning-type Zanpakuto all like to imbue their swords with techniques originally intended for ranged combat, which are used for horizontal slashes: the power is indeed greater, but the danger also increases accordingly.
Faced with Seigen's Bankai, Haruto countered with just one move:
"Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō"
And then...
Karakura Town experienced a long-awaited thunderstorm.
That's it.
First Division Barracks.
The Captain-level meetings, which used to be held only once every few decades, have been happening quite frequently lately, which indirectly shows how troubled the Soul Society has been recently.
Haruto knelt on one knee with one fist clenched and reported to Captain-Commander Yamamoto, who was sitting at the head of the table. This was the first time he had seen Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, and also the first time he had seen so many captains gathered together.
"..."
After Haruto finished broadcasting the scene, the entire meeting room fell into a long silence.
"Fourth Seat Haruto."
"Hi!"
Honestly, it actually feels pretty good to shout a couple of times in a place like this.
"May I say that you have already reached the Captain-level?"
Captain-Commander Yamamoto's voice was neither favorable nor unfavorable.
"No."
Haruto quickly denied.
"When I fought him, the fugitive Seigen Kyōshiba had lost one-tenth of his strength, and he could barely maintain his Bankai."
"..."
Being forced to do it doesn't mean it's impossible.
Lightning-type Zanpakuto are known for their aggressive fighting style. You can use the No. 88 Lightning Cannon to directly withstand Seigen Kyōshiba's Bankai, and you still dare to say you don't have Captain-level strength?
--Hey bro, what's wrong with you? Are you enjoying your Fourth Seat and don't want to move, or are you looking down on all the captains here?
There was definitely more than one captain present who thought this way.
Are you sure the above experiences are true?
In situations like this, only Captain-Commander Yamamoto can keep things in order... Just pretend nothing happened.
"Truly true!"
Haruto nodded decisively.
"... The one from the Kusaka Clan, you may come in."
"?"
After a brief hesitation, the main door to the First Division's conference room slowly opened again.
Elegant attire, white fur, and red eyes.
His tall, slender figure was paired with a dignified and imposing demeanor.
If it weren't for the occasional glint of gloom in his eyes, he would be a perfectly handsome young man according to popular aesthetic standards.
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto."
The newcomer gave a slight bow to Shigekuni Yamamoto, who was sitting in the center of the conference room.
He then strode forward as if no one else was there, completely ignoring the captains around him.
"..."
Haruto didn't even need to turn around to know who was there:
Kusaka Clan, wielder of the divine artifact Mirror-Sheltering Jewel, Captain-level Soul Reaper --
En Kusaka.
Without considering any unforeseen circumstances, it was impossible for anyone else but him to have Seigen Kyōshiba in Seireitei.
"Any objections to the examination of the body?"
"..."
After frowning and pondering for a moment, En Kusaka Yuen shook her head in response to the Captain-Commander's question:
"No."
Whether dead or alive, the captured fugitive will definitely be brought back to Soul Society, especially since he is Captain-level Soul Reaper who cannot be restored.
The body of Seigen Kyōshiba, brought back by Haruto, was not only confirmed by both the Fourth Division and the Seireitei Research Institute, but the Kusaka Clan also sent people to track and examine it—all the conclusions were...
No problem.
That was Seigen Kyōshiba's body.
Even if En Kusaka harbored doubts about this, he couldn't possibly raise them in front of the Captain-Commander: that would be tantamount to turning against both the Fourth Division and Twelfth Divisions at the same time... The older sister who could be the captain of the Gotei 13 was not like a down-and-out like Seigen Kyōshiba; neither of them were easy to mess with.
Not to mention...
As a member of a priestly family, En Kusaka, who has a deep understanding of the history of Soul Society, is well aware of the kind of murderous individuals he would provoke by doing so.
"Only."
En Kusaka changed the subject.
I have a few questions...
"I wonder if Fourth Seat Haruto could answer my question?"
"..."
Haruto looked up at Shigekuni Yamamoto, who was sitting at the head of the table, with an expression that said he left the decision entirely to the Captain-Commander.
"You ask."
Shigekuni Yamamoto certainly wouldn't refuse such a small favor.