Boom!
What terrifying spiritual pressure! Is this the power of someone above Captain-level?! Barely enduring the pressure from Kirinji Tenjiro's spiritual pressure, Ichiro felt a surge of shock. He became even more aware of the importance of Spirit Food in increasing spiritual pressure.
A Soul Reaper's battles were battles of spiritual pressure.
That saying was a classic. Ever since he'd crossed over, Ichiro had placed great importance on it. But this was the first time he'd faced such a situation himself...
At the same time, for the first time, he felt the urge to give everything he had to improve!
Whether it was strength, knowledge, or status!
He didn't want to be held down by others anymore!
He wanted to stand up!
No, you don't...
Suddenly, the sound of a door opening and closing rang out in Ichiro's mind. The words that came from it cooled the inexplicably roused excitement in his heart. That was right—he really didn't want to...
In his first life, just as he was about to achieve everything he'd hoped for, he'd died...
In his second life, not long after becoming a State Alchemist, he'd died...
Now he was in his third life. He hadn't succeeded yet, but he was afraid...
Whoever became captain was a damn dog!
No, he couldn't even become lieutenant!
These thoughts had been carved deep into his soul ever since Ichiro woke up in the Soul Society again. He'd more or less achieved fame and success in his first two lives. There was no point going through it all again.
Compared with that, he'd found something more interesting...
Exploring the truth of the world...
Only after he'd explored the truth of the world could he consider himself successful. And the truth was endless!
He, Tenshin Ichiro, was claiming this bug for himself!
"Dream... huh... Ha~" Ichiro's body swayed. He looked up at Kirinji Tenjiro, revealing the emotions in his eyes in full for the first time, shining with a brilliance he'd never shown before. "I want... to tear away... the world's mask... and see... this world's... eternal... unchanging... truth!"
"!!!" Kirinji Tenjiro and the captain stared at Ichiro in shock. They'd considered many possible answers—wealth, power, strength—but this one had never crossed their minds. Based on Ichiro's usual behavior, he didn't seem like someone with such lofty ideals.
But the emotions shining in Ichiro's eyes weren't false. After living for hundreds of years, they knew how to read people.
"..." After a moment of silence, Kirinji Tenjiro suddenly withdrew all his spiritual pressure. Looking at Ichiro, who was gasping for breath, he smiled. "You're pretty good."
At his words, Ichiro smiled too. He was beginning to understand that his sudden loss of emotional control had probably had something to do with Kirinji Tenjiro. It was likely some kind of test.
At the thought, Ichiro felt a wave of lingering fear. If they hadn't asked him about his dream, he might really have fallen for it. He was confident he could earn the Seireitei's trust again, but that would inevitably disrupt his plans.
If he became captain, it'd be over. He had no time to deal with administrative work.
Fortunately, he'd passed. They would still keep an eye on him, but he figured they wouldn't test him again. After all, human nature was the one thing that couldn't stand up to scrutiny.
For example, that classic line...
"You're testing a cadre with this?"
What it really meant was, "That's not enough to tempt me. If the temptation were strong enough, almost nobody could resist." The Seireitei surely understood the principle of trusting the people they employed.
"Ichiro."
"Hm?"
"Well done."
Faced with the captain's praise, Ichiro rubbed the back of his head and smiled.
"I still have a few things to discuss with Tenjiro. Wait for me outside, and we'll head back together. I have a few things to tell you."
"Yes, Captain!"
After Ichiro left the training grounds, Kirinji Tenjiro grinned around a wooden stick. "Retsu, that kid has a bright future."
"Mm."
"You're planning to train him to become Squad 4's captain?"
"Mm."
"Mm... That'd be fine, I suppose, but I think you'd be better suited to lead Squad 4. This kid belongs in the Kido Corps. His talent for Kido is outstanding, and the truth of the world, huh? Ha~ He's just like those old men! Hahaha!"
"Mm."
"Haha—" Kirinji's laughter cut off abruptly. Looking at the silent captain, a bead of cold sweat slowly trickled down his forehead. "Retsu... You haven't said a word since just now. What's... going on?"
"Phew~"
As Kirinji spoke, an inexplicable aura rose from the captain. The braid that had been bound in front of her loosened, and she tilted her head back!
"Gulp!"
Kirinji swallowed, his voice trembling slightly as he asked, "R... Retsu, what are you..."
"Why did you use your spiritual pressure to bully Ichiro just now without asking me? I don't remember us discussing that beforehand..."
Kirinji's eyebrows twitched. He said nervously, "I... I... I was just... just joking. Right, right, I was only joking. It worked better that way, ha~ ha~ That's right."
The captain smiled, her hair loose, and released an even more intense killing intent. "Then I'll joke around too..."
"Clang!"
"Ah!"
"Hm?" Ichiro looked back in confusion as he left the mansion. Had he just heard a scream? He shook his head with a laugh. "How could that be? This is the noble district, and those two are here. Who'd be that bold?"
A little while later, the captain came out in high spirits. She called to Ichiro, then led him toward the academy.
"Ichiro, things have been a little chaotic lately. Stay at school for the time being, and don't go to the squad headquarters."
A flicker passed through Ichiro's eyes as the recent strange events connected with the scattered pieces of information he remembered from the original story. He nodded. "Understood. I'll be careful."
"Mm. By the way, when are you planning to graduate? Do you still want to finish your studies? There's no one at Shino Academy who can teach you anything now."
"Mm, that's true, but I haven't finished building my combat system. After I graduate, I probably won't have much free time. There are quite a few things I need to study. I have to keep learning Kido, organize the incantations for Kaido, and build my combat system. Most importantly, I still can't achieve Shikai with my Zanpakuto. I can clearly hear her voice, but I always get stuck on the name at the most crucial point. Sigh~"
Counting them off on his fingers, Ichiro sighed. Achieving Shikai with his Zanpakuto worried him most. He had solutions for everything else, but he had no idea how to deal with this...
"Shikai? Don't rush. Since you can hear her voice, you'll be able to do it eventually. Besides, you haven't had your Zanpakuto for long. You have plenty of time."
"Mm." Ichiro nodded, though there was one thing he hadn't told the captain...
The voice of his Zanpakuto was getting quieter...
It wasn't that his Zanpakuto had stopped speaking. He just couldn't hear her...
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