Chapter 84
Haruto understood Byakuya's meaning.
The Senju Kōten Taihō was not within the scope of Byakuya's training as defined by Ginrei Kuchiki. The Kuchiki Clan clearly had a special arrangement for this level of Kidō.
Mastering or perfecting any of the ninety-odd Hadō requires a tremendous amount of time—even someone as strong as Aizen, before breaking through the limits of Soul Reaper, could only relentlessly exploit the weakness of Kurohitsugi.
"That..."
Do you want the secret technique?
Haruto took out the Senju Clan's secret manual that he kept on his person.
He had already memorized all the contents of the secret manual, but as a lone individual, it had lost its value to Haruto.
Even if you were to teach it to someone else, what Haruto has in his head is definitely more reliable than any secret teaching.
"Forget about the secret technique. Find an opportunity to 'return' it to the Shiba Clan; you might get a better reward that way."
"Is that so..."
Byakuya essentially revealed a small piece of information to Haruto.
"Give!"
"Whoosh--thud."
Haruto tossed the Kidō Orb hanging on his Zanpakuto directly to Byakuya.
"You've been curious about this for a long time, haven't you?"
"It's all because you kept it hidden."
Byakuya carefully examined the Kidō Orb — Haruto had always hung it on the hilt of his Kidō Orb and hadn't bothered to conceal it, so it would be strange if Byakuya hadn't noticed it.
"Who told you not to ask?"
Haruto retorted directly.
"This is the Kyōmon's Kidō Orb, a special Bakudō that can deflect Reiatsu. Its difficulty of cultivation is even greater than that of the Dankū."
Before Byakuya could retort, Haruto continued to explain.
"Without the assistance of the Kidō Orb, I estimate that its learning difficulty would only be slightly lower than that of Hyōga Seiran."
Haruto accepted the Spirit Jewel Pill because he needed it.
However, as the saying goes, Haruto doesn't reciprocate, he will soon be tied to the Kuchiki Clan's chariot. Haruto doesn't dislike Byakuya, but since the Four Great Noble Clans are involved, and he has gradually gained some influence, he should try not to owe favors if possible.
"The six-month period has ended... cough, I absorbed quite a lot of Reiatsu, and although the cooldown time is over, I can't activate it yet; however, since your family can make Spirit Jewel Pills, you must have a way to quickly restore the Kidō Orb."
In this way...
Although Ginrei Kuchiki might be dissatisfied with him, he would actually gain a good impression from Kuchiki Sōjun.
There are still some differences in the principles of doing things between the older and younger generations.
"Good."
Byakuya happily accepted it.
"Although it's a self-created Bakudō I've never heard of before, with the aid of the Kidō Orb, it's not impossible to further develop it."
"..."
Outside the Seireitei.
Haruto waved goodbye to Byakuya.
Both the attack on the Mikazuki Clan and the dismantling of the auction in Rukongai pose a huge challenge to the security of Soul Society.
The members of the Gotei 13 have already mobilized throughout the streets with torches, and Haruto certainly wouldn't cause any trouble at this time.
"What a fulfilling day."
From daytime lessons with fifth-grade students to competitions with Munechika, and then to nighttime flower arranging parties and lively battles.
Today's experience was truly overwhelming.
"Dormitory..."
"It's too late to get back."
Byakuya went to the Shihoin Clan, and Haruto couldn't very well go with him, nor could he easily explain returning to the dormitory at this hour.
The curfew at the Shin'ō Academy has already passed.
"Never mind."
"Although it's a slightly roundabout route, North Rukongai is relatively safe... I'll treat tonight's walk as practice for Shunpo)."
Haruto prepared to go around the edge of Seireitei.
Due to several recent murders of nobles, the number of patrolling Soul Reaper in West Rukongai has increased significantly. In the east, the conflict between the Kuchiki Clan and Tsunayashiro Clan has attracted many spies from powerful noble families. Adding to this, today's robbery in South Rukongai...
In the vast Soul Society, it seems that only North Rukongai has been peaceful recently.
"Whoosh!"
Haruto vanished using Shunpo.
After a closely fought battle, he used Shunpo to run for fifteen minutes straight, and then spent his energy learning a new advanced Hadō.
Haruto wants now is to find a place to get a good night's sleep.
After walking for more than ten minutes along the buildings of varying heights --
"Whoosh."
Haruto had just come to a stop, suddenly jumped backward.
"Boom!"
The rooftop he was standing on collapsed instantly, and Haruto didn't even have time to react to what the hidden weapon that had attacked him was.
"!!"
I felt a cool breeze coming from the back of my neck.
"Buzz!"
Haruto instantly lowered his body and then performed three front flips to create distance.
"Snap."
With his right hand gripping the hilt tightly, the Zanka no Tachi was ready to be drawn in the next second.
But at this point, the attackers did not continue their attack.
"Splash."
The sound of metal slicing through the air tore through the air.
Haruto was finally able to see clearly what the first attack aimed at him was: a sword sheath bound by chains, which flew out from the collapsed half of the building and returned to the hand of the Soul Reaper who had launched the attack.
"A sneaky guy."
Facing Haruto head-on, the fierce-looking Soul Reaper, carrying his Zanpakuto, shouted:
"Give me your name immediately."
"Or..."
"Thump!!"
With a gentle swing of his Zanpakuto, the roof tiles were swept away as if ravaged by a hurricane.
"Go and have a leisurely chat with the little devils of Hell?"
That was a male Soul Reaper with brown curly, pompadour-like hair and an extremely muscular build.
The large gold chain at the open lapel gleamed even in the night, its brilliance comparable to the Kinpika of Tenjirō Kirinji.
On the side of his upper arm, the armband symbolizing his status as vice-captain was even more dazzling, clearly not the standard attire of the Gotei 13.
"..."
Such a striking outfit makes it easy to identify the person: Second Division Vice-Captain, Marechiyo Ōmaeda.
In this way...
The Shunpo of Shunpo just now can be explained:
Despite their enormous size, the Ōmaeda Clan has Stealth Force Site of Counter-Strike) for generations, and their skills in Shunpo) and Presence Concealment are exceptional.
And...
"Vice Captain."
Haruto narrowed his eyes.
As a veteran nobleman of Seireitei and the official vice-captain of the Gotei 13, Marechiyo Ōmaeda is far superior to the two "vice-captains" Haruto had previously dealt with.
The opponent did not unleash their Zanpakuto.
But even the subtle Reiatsu that appeared unintentionally, and the casually executed Shunpo, put immense pressure on Haruto.
Even at his peak, this is no match for Haruto.
"..."
Haruto removed his right hand from his Zanpakuto, slowly disengaging from his fighting stance: he raised both hands in a harmless manner, then removed the straw hat from his head.
"I am a student at the Shin'ō Academy."
The cloak covering his body was lifted Ikkaku, and his student ID was carefully removed.
"Class one every six years, Haruto."
"This is my identification."
Since the last court incident, Haruto, who finally has pockets on his clothes, takes them with him wherever he goes.
"Haruto?"
His Marechiyo Ōmaeda clenched by muscles and never relaxed, tightened even more.
Let me see...
He rolled up his Shihakushō cufflinks.
The arm armor, with its interlocking chainmail-like links, was entirely made of gold... Marechiyo Ōmaeda probably wore it as a bracelet.
"Clang!"
After searching for a few seconds, Marechiyo Ōmaeda flicked one of the "locks" lightly, and the translucent plain paper instantly unfolded in front of him.
"Whoosh!"
The two were not far apart, Haruto could clearly see the portrait on the "paper" and the name in the corner:
It was indeed Haruto.
"No wonder."
Marechiyo Ōmaeda glanced at Haruto a few times while comparing the plain paper.
"The spirit artifact you possess, was it a gift from Byakuya Kuchiki?"
"Huh?"
Haruto was momentarily taken aback by the other person's question.
"Really."
Seeing Haruto's reaction, Marechiyo Ōmaeda showed an "I knew it" expression.
"A spiritual artifact modeled after the Heavenly Bestowed Armaments, even if it only possesses a fraction of the original's power, is not something anyone is qualified to be granted."
Marechiyo Ōmaeda crossed his arms and continued, glancing at the surrounding buildings as he finished speaking.
"Where's Byakuya Kuchiki? Let him come out too."
"... Byakuya should be at the Shihoin Clan by now."
"Ha?"
Marechiyo Ōmaeda was also caught off guard by Haruto.