Chapter 17: Old Matters Resurface - Bleach: This Captain Is an Uchiha

Yato nodded thoughtfully.

Since enrolling half a year ago, he had immersed himself in growing stronger and studying, nearly forgetting about the Soul-Cutter Sword.

Now, it seemed that although he did not know why the Shiba Clan had taken so long to come looking for him, they had come in the end.

"Shiba?"

Byakuya Kuchiki, who had been brooding beside him, came back to his senses at that moment.

"Yato, what do those people want with you?"

Uchiha Yato briefly explained the history behind the blade in his hand, and Byakuya frowned repeatedly as he listened.

"Yato, if you do not mind, I will go with you."

"Uh, is that necessary? I heard the Shiba Clan's people are pretty decent..."

The young noble put his Kenseikan back on, tidied his appearance, and snorted softly.

"They appear bold and loyal, but they are worms gnawing at the rules, spreading chaos and lawlessness."

Yato looked at his companion in surprise.

In the half year he had known Byakuya, this was the first time he had heard such harsh, cutting words from him.

But on second thought, it was understandable. The Kuchiki Clan was the foremost of the Five Great Noble Houses and valued rules above all else. The entire clan had devoted enormous effort to the stability of Soul Society and stood as defenders of the existing order.

The Shiba Clan, meanwhile, was bold and righteous, often acting outside convention. They revered freedom and even seemed faintly dissatisfied with how the Soul King was being handled.

Put mildly, this meant freeing a pitiful criminal. Put seriously, it meant completely overturning the order of the Three Realms!

There was no way the Kuchiki and Shiba Clans could have a good relationship.

Still, none of that had much to do with Yato. Nor would he refuse a friend's kindness. He merely patted Byakuya on the shoulder, and the two followed the teacher toward the reception room.

As they neared the reception room's doors, Yato heard laughter from within.

"Hahaha... so Uchiha Yato is a true genius, then?"

"Youth really is wonderful."

"Principal Hasegawa, do you know which division Yato wants to join after graduation? How about the Thirteenth Division? Our Captain Ukitake is an absolutely wonderful person."

"Ah, Principal, do not bring up my promotion to vice-captain. It is too troublesome, and a position that important requires more experience..."

The teacher leading them stopped, made a brief report, and Yato and Byakuya pushed the door open.

Besides Hasegawa Shinya and Fujita Ayaka, there was also a young man inside.

He was tall, with handsome, heroic features, short black hair, and deep smoky-blue eyes. On his left wrist was a tattoo of the Shiba Clan crest, the Cracked Fallen-Heaven Whirlpool.

—Kaien Shiba, the current Third Seat of the Thirteenth Division!

"Principal."

The two boys greeted him upon entering.

Then Byakuya retreated to one side with his Soul-Cutter Sword in his arms. As he did, he glanced at Kaien Shiba with a clear warning in his eyes.

He had only come to support his good friend, and it was not his place to interfere too much.

Kaien Shiba naturally recognized the eldest young master of the Kuchiki Clan and understood the friction between their families. He was unmoved, merely chuckling twice.

Principal Hasegawa cleared his throat.

"This is the holder of that Soul-Cutter Sword, Uchiha Yato... Yato, this is Shintora Shiba's older brother, Kaien Shiba. He graduated from here five years ago and is now the Third Seat of the Thirteenth Division."

"Lord Shiba." Yato bowed to Kaien.

"I am deeply grateful that you came here in person."

"Hey, hey, hey." Kaien Shiba waved his hands repeatedly.

"You are still young, so do not bother with that formal nonsense. Our family moved to Rukongai because we hate noble rules. Just call me Senior."

"Yes, Senior Kaien."

"That is more like it. Young people should have spirit. Do not learn from those stiff old-fashioned types."

Byakuya Kuchiki, who was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, raised an eyebrow and snorted inwardly. He knew Kaien Shiba was mocking him.

Still, Kaien Shiba was a bold and upright man. He did not continue tangling with Byakuya, instead turning to Yato with an exceptionally serious expression.

This rising genius of the Gotei 13 lowered his head and bowed, his voice more solemn than ever before.

"Then, Uchiha Yato, I request to examine your Soul-Cutter Sword. May I?"

His attitude was earnest and sincere, beyond reproach. Combined with his status as one of the Five Great Noble Houses and as the dead man's elder brother, the request was perfectly reasonable. No one could refuse.

So Yato untied Scarlet Eye and handed it to Kaien Shiba.

"My condolences."

Kaien nodded and stroked the blade.

From the guard to the hilt wrapping, he examined every detail clearly, and memories surfaced bit by bit.

The first time his younger brother received an Asauchi, he had eagerly run over to spar with him. That was when Shintora, who had always seemed mature beyond his years, revealed a childlike side for the first time.

"Big Brother, I will use this sword to achieve Shikai and Bankai. Then Uncle Isshin from the branch family, you, and I will become famous throughout Soul Society. The three of us will all become captains!"

"Then we will save the Soul King, reshape the order, and let everyone live freely together! After all, Hollows have hearts too..."

Those past events still seemed to echo in his ears.

But when he saw this sword again, they were already separated by life and death.

Kaien Shiba's eyes reddened, and his arm trembled slightly.

"That is right. This is the sword..." He paused, then continued.

"Yato, what is her name?"

"Scarlet Eye."

"A beautiful name. It suits you well."

Kaien Shiba's expression was filled with overwhelming grief.

"I should have come much sooner."

"Three years ago, Shintora took part in the Academy's combat exercise and was unfortunately surrounded by Menos Grande. Not even his body was recovered, and the Asauchi in his hand vanished as well."

"My little brother..." He paused before continuing.

"My younger brother, Shintora Shiba, was more talented than I was. Before he was even old enough to enroll in Shin'ō Academy, he could cast Kidō in the fifties without incantations, and he had mastered our family's secret sand techniques to perfection!"

"After entering Shin'ō Academy and receiving an Asauchi, he could have achieved Shikai within months and risen to greater heights. Yet only two weeks after enrolling, he died during a combat exercise."

"The Academy's report stated that an Adjuchas-class Menos Grande had appeared, causing the entire squad my brother was in to be wiped out."

"Of course I did not believe it. An Adjuchas? Even if my brother could not defeat one, he could have escaped. Even the head of the Shihōin Clan had praised his Flash Step!"

"Fortunately, half a year ago, I received news from the Hueco Mundo Hunting Corps that they had found that Adjuchas. So I took a long leave and went to investigate, but the result..."

Even a bold man like Kaien Shiba wore a dark expression now, his teeth grinding audibly.

"The fighting in Hueco Mundo was fierce. That Adjuchas had already been devoured by a Vasto Lorde and vanished from existence."

"I felt no satisfaction. I only hated that I could not personally kill my enemy."

Kaien Shiba's Reiatsu surged like the sea. With his emotions in turmoil, everyone in the reception room felt oppressed and suffocated.

"The dead cannot return to life. As his older brother, I should inherit Shintora's will, but this Asauchi of his..."

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Old Matters Resurface