Chapter 51

Isane was also completely puzzled.

Aside from her mother and younger sister, she had never revealed the name of her Zanpakuto. If it weren't for Kiyone's big mouth earlier, she was actually prepared to keep it hidden forever.

At that very moment—

"Hey, Haruto!"

Byakuya frowned and carefully observed Haruto.

"What's wrong?"

Haruto naturally noticed Byakuya's unusual behavior.

"Your Zanpakuto, is it really not unleashed?"

"Why would I lie to you?"

Haruto smiled wryly and picked up the Zanpakuto beside him.

"The Shikai of Zanpakuto is something that most of the high- Seated Officers of the Gotei 13 can do. In comparison, the training for Dankū is much more difficult. I didn't hold back, did I?"

"..."

After a brief pause, the two voices spoke simultaneously:

Is there any possibility...?

Haruto, you've mastered the art of "Dankū"!?

The former came from Byakuya, while the latter was sent by Nanao —the night before the holiday officially started, Haruto came to her house to discuss his experience with the Raikōhō, and after two weeks, he had even learned the Dankū...

Not to mention where Haruto got the secret teachings numbered seventy-five or higher, it would take years just to learn these kinds of Kidō.

"Um."

Haruto first nodded to Nanao.

"I just learned it a few days ago, including the Raikōhō... and the No. 78 Zanka no Tachi. I'll share my experience with you when I have time."

Compared to the routine days at school, Haruto felt that he had made tremendous progress during the less than two-week break. When he first left the Ise Clan, Haruto could only barely use the Zanka no Tachi, but now, before school even Zanka no Tachi, he was already able to use it quite skillfully.

Of course, there is a big difference between being proficient and being an expert: Haruto's Zanka no Tachi still can't release his Reiatsu slashes very far, and it is currently still struggling within a meter range. Moreover, he cannot use it without the assistance of his Zanpakuto.

"... good."

Nanao quickly composed herself and nodded.

"Etc!"

However, the Ayaka on one side were really struggling to hold on.

Is today some kind of shocking event?

"You keep talking about Sixth-Class Spiritual Pressure and advanced Kidō... Has the level of the Shin'ō Academy risen to this level, or did I accidentally stumble into the Seated Officer meeting of the Gotei 13?"

Ayaka's tone was quite exaggerated.

She wasn't particularly concerned about her own strength or weakness.

When it comes to fights, having her unreliable older brother at home is enough to handle things; Ayaka describes herself as a strategist.

Not the kind of person who is resourceful and shrewd, but rather someone who hopes to have friends all over the world—just look at the geniuses gathered here today, and Ayaka knows that she made the right bet on Haruto.

However...

After hearing about increasingly exaggerated Rei'i Grade, even Ayaka couldn't help but feel an urge to become stronger.

If she were strong enough, she wouldn't even need to ask friends for help—it's not that she lacks talent, but rather that she focuses her energy on other things.

Ninth Class Reii is a level that, upon graduation, makes it easy to become Seated Officer in a certain squad; in squads where the competition isn't so fierce, one might even be able to snag a high-ranking Seated Officer in one go.

This achievement, which once brought immense pride to her parents, is now somewhat disregarded by Ayaka.

――――

Just as Ayaka was secretly making up her mind.

What came to mind?

Haruto asked Byakuya.

Kiyone had already picked up where Ayaka left off, and with her interruption, the atmosphere of academic rivalry between the two underachievers was instantly neutralized.

Although...

In any class they were in—no, as long as they weren't in front of these perverts—they would undoubtedly be top students.

"Is your Zanpakuto the type that doesn't change its form before and after liberation?"

"You're overthinking it."

Haruto interrupted Byakuya's thoughts.

"Then how do you explain what just happened?"

Byakuya glanced at Isane's Zanpakuto.

"I actually believed your nonsense before."

Haruto used to always brush him off by saying that his intelligence was very accurate.

"Now it seems..."

"Whether it's my Senbonzakura or Isane's Itegumo, you knew their names as if you were looking for them from the beginning."

"Could this be one of your Zanpakuto's abilities?"

"..."

Haruto sighed and denied it.

"I'm pretty sure my Zanpakuto hasn't been unleashed. As for how I know its name... if you don't trust my sources, just assume I have a similar talent."

"Besides."

Haruto then added.

"Knowing the names of all Zanpakuto, that is..."

He instinctively wanted to mention the monk and Ōetsu's names, but then suddenly realized that the existence of the Zero Division was a secret that they couldn't explain no matter what, so he had to change his words on the spot:

"That's your uncle's Zanpakuto ability, isn't it?"

Kōga Kuchiki's Zanpakuto, "Muramasa," Zanpakuto of such a high level that it's practically a bug in the system; knowing the names of other Zanpakuto is merely its most basic ability.

"... Do you know about his Zanpakuto's abilities?"

"What's the meaning?"

Byakuya's question startled Haruto for a moment.

"I don't even know what Kōga's Zanpakuto is called."

"..."

Haruto suddenly found himself in an awkward position, thinking, "Chang Wei, you still say you don't know martial arts?" Fortunately, Byakuya, who had already reached a certain conclusion in his heart, didn't delve any further... In Soul Society, which genius doesn't have their own secrets?

There's so much to discuss about the abilities and development of Zanpakuto alone.

"That's right!"

Byakuya's ability to change the subject was also quite awkward.

I'd completely forgotten about it if you hadn't mentioned it.

Soon, Byakuya got up and left, taking a bundle from his bedroom that was not much smaller than a bento box.

"What's this?"

Haruto knew from the touch that it contained books.

"Kuchiki..."

"No, it's a gift from your father and Kōga— "

Byakuya paused for a moment, then somehow changed his mind.

"Don't worry too much about it. Grandpa didn't mean anything by this. Just think of it as mutual appreciation between two geniuses in the Kidō."

Byakuya casually unfastened the knot on his bundle.

He didn't care about the outsiders here—although they weren't close to Byakuya, since Haruto considered them friends, there was no need to hide it... besides, this kind of thing wasn't so easy to come by.

"This is Kōga's self-created Kidō."

Byakuya explained.

"Apart from him, no one else has been able to successfully comprehend it yet, including my grandfather and father... and me too."

"Although it's not listed among the numbered Hadō, its destructive power isn't top-tier."

"However, considering the control time, release speed, and damage range, it is an astonishing work that surpasses most of the previous ' Hadō."

Its name is...

"Hyōga Seiran!"

――――

Two days ago.

"I'm back!"

Byakuya returned home, covered in sweat.

Although it's a side room, it's still the Kuchiki Clan's residence. Normally, Byakuya wouldn't dare to barge in so brazenly—but today, knowing that Ginrei Kuchiki had something to report to the First Division, he was able to be a little less formal.

However, just as Byakuya was about to open the sliding door to the Japanese-style room—

"Byakuya!"

The mother's voice came from inside the house just in time.

"Go change your clothes first."

"... good!"

Two minutes later, when Byakuya walked back in, he understood why his mother, who usually just tidied up silently, had called him back:

Today, we had a "guest" who wasn't too unfamiliar with us.

"..."

Byakuya nodded and bowed to the two of them.

"Auntie, Kōga."

This is the limit of Byakuya's ability to perform rituals:

Although Ginrei loved his daughter dearly, the Kuchiki Clan was, after all, a model of aristocratic families. Kuchiki Sōjun's sister did not actually hold a high position in the family, and Kōga, as a son-in-law who married into the family, was even subordinate to his wife.

Fortunately.

Unlike the old-fashioned members of the family, Kuchiki Sōjun, as the direct descendant of the family, did not care about these things.

Byakuya found a seat at the lower end of the table and sat down cross-legged without any hesitation.

How did you find the time to come over?

With Ginrei Kuchiki not at home, the Japanese-style room serves as a relaxing space where many Shibari rules can be temporarily set aside.

"What, Byakuya doesn't welcome him?"

Kōga's wife teased him with a smile:

"You used to pester me to play with you all the time when you were little. Don't forget who taught you the Kidō."

The Kuchiki Clan is not short of geniuses; even the young ladies from prominent families who do not need to go to the battlefield are skilled in excellent Kidō.

"... You said it was when I was a child."

Okay.

Kuchiki Sōjun interrupted the conversation between the aunt and niece.

"Kōga has come today to say goodbye."

"Saying goodbye?"