Shiba Kaien

In the noble circles of the Seireitei, there is a specific technical term for the concentration of spiritual pressure.

It is called "Rei-i," or Spiritual Might.

This is used to quantify the strength of a Soul Reaper.

Spiritual Might is divided into twenty ranks. A standard squad member must be at least twentieth rank; anything lower is considered no different from an ordinary soul in the eyes of the Soul Society's nobility.

A lieutenant is fourth or fifth rank.

Third rank and above is the captain level.

Ordinary souls in the Soul Society do not need to eat; they can survive on water alone.

Only souls capable of sensing reishi need to consume food.

Consuming food with a Spiritual Might equal to or higher than one's own can naturally replenish the spiritual pressure consumed by the body.

Thus, for lieutenants and even captains—the top combatants of the Soul Society—how to rapidly replenish spiritual pressure becomes a significant issue.

One must understand that the abundance of spiritual pressure is directly related to the duration of a battle.

Take Bankai, for example.

Captains do not easily use Bankai during combat because it consumes spiritual pressure much faster than Shikai.

Although the power is greater, it is generally difficult to sustain.

But if one could replenish spiritual pressure while consuming it during Bankai... wouldn't that extend the duration of the Bankai?

However, substances with a Spiritual Might of fifth rank or higher do not naturally exist in the Soul Society.

Anything above fifth rank requires diligent cultivation to achieve.

Therefore, unless they use Kaidō to recover, captains have no way to rapidly restore their spiritual pressure.

But not everyone possesses the mastery of Kaidō that Captain Unohana does.

Currently, Aoto's grilled Hollow thigh can be considered food of the fifth rank, which is more than enough to supplement the spiritual pressure of a lieutenant.

Even if captains were to eat it, it would replenish their spiritual pressure faster than ordinary food.

But not everyone can accept it.

After all, eating a Hollow runs completely contrary to the values of a typical Soul Reaper.

"It's fine as an emergency ration, but large-scale promotion? Forget the fact that there aren't enough Gillian thighs to go around; I'd be lucky if the Central 46 didn't send someone to arrest me! Hey, hey, don't eat it all! I don't have much stock left."

Seeing Shiba Kaien's insatiable appetite, Aoto, who had just been feeling a bit sentimental, immediately felt the pinch and moved to stop him.

"What kind of guest comes to someone's house empty-handed and eats all their food?"

As Aoto fretted, Shiba Kaien looked quite satisfied, picking his teeth with a toothpick. "I think you're overthinking it. When Captain Hikifune creates Mod Souls, she has to consume her own spiritual pressure. You didn't even use your own! You didn't pay much of a cost, so why the long face?"

"Besides, if you don't promote it, then don't! Since you've already extracted the spiritual veins belonging to the Hollow, it has no trace of a Hollow's flavor. Just release it in small quantities and claim it's something you researched yourself. No one has ever tasted a Hollow thigh before; just say it's something you can only produce in small batches by consuming your own spiritual pressure. Trust me, plenty of people will be fighting over it."

"I get it, it would become something like a soldier's ration pill." Aoto stroked his chin. "Kaien, you are much more cunning than I am."

"I grew up in the noble circles, after all. If I hadn't developed a few tricks, I would have been framed long ago!" Shiba Kaien drank another cup of wine. "Not every noble is as benevolent as Captain Ukitake!"

Aoto added, "Or perhaps Captain Ukitake is the exception."

Shiba Kaien expressed his deep agreement.

"Forget it, let's not talk about that!" Shiba Kaien suddenly remembered something else. "Aoto, how about that matter I mentioned to you last time? My sister is an adult now! How about you become my brother-in-law? There really aren't many people who can keep her in check!"

"Uh..." Aoto immediately pictured the young woman with the large chest who smoked a dry pipe.

No, no, he couldn't handle that.

"Forget it! I have no intention of marrying into your family!" Aoto shook his head repeatedly. "Your sister will surely find someone better!"

"There really aren't many!" Shiba Kaien was still very worried. "After she causes trouble, there are very few people who dare to give her a good slap! Aoto, why don't you just help an old classmate out? You don't have to marry in; I can even provide a generous dowry!"

"Why does it feel like you're treating your sister like a hot potato? You're even willing to pay to get rid of her? Be careful, or I'll tell her what you said and make sure your marriage plans fall through!"

Draining his last cup of wine, Aoto lamented that he hadn't bought enough.

Aoto's final counter-threat was highly effective; Kaien finally stopped trying to sell his sister to him.

As a classmate, Shiba Kaien knew many of Aoto's secrets.

Including the secret of his hidden Zanpakutō.

Shiba Kaien felt that Aoto would definitely become very strong in the future, certainly stronger than he, who hadn't made any progress in over a hundred years.

If Kūkaku could be with him, Shiba Kaien would feel at ease.

Unfortunately, it didn't work out.

Once he finished the entire pot of wine, he lay down on the rocking chair nearby.

"You certainly claimed that fast enough!"

Aoto helplessly went into the house to fetch the other rocking chair.

The two young men, who were hundreds of years old but still physically youthful, began to enjoy the moon after their drinking session.

The moon in the Soul Society really never changes, does it!

It was not until the rhythmic clacking of the night watchman's wooden clappers drifted in from outside that Shiba Kaien realized how late it had become.

By this moment, he had completely sobered up.

It was late; time to head home!

However, just as he stood up, he suddenly felt a sense of foreboding and said, "Aoto, if something should happen to me in the future, please help look after my family..."

"Yo, why has Vice-Captain Shiba suddenly turned so sentimental?" Aoto's expression remained unchanged. "Are you aging prematurely? Or is it that you're not performing well in that department? Talking like a loser before you're even married!"

Whatever Shiba Kaien might have wanted to say next was completely stifled by Aoto's sharp retorts.

"You're the one who's not performing!"

A man could not show weakness in this regard!

But Aoto just laughed loudly.

After finishing his laugh, Shiba Kaien left Aoto's home.

Once he was certain that Shiba Kaien had completely departed, the fake smile on Aoto's face slackened entirely.

Original self, oh original self, you really have handed me a difficult problem!

Hueco Mundo, Las Noches.

The King of Hueco Mundo remained seated upon his high throne.

However, the Adjuchas below the dais had already dispersed!

He rested his skeletal head upon his palm, staring at the empty space before him as if he were watching a fine play.

But it did not take long for that spectator's expression to vanish.

Because the person he had summoned was arriving.

In the empty space below, an arm suddenly reached out from thin air, and then a Hollow with bat-like wings and a human-sized body stepped out.

His dark green eyes and fully covering mask made his identity clear.

He was a Vasto Lorde.