"You mean you're going to be promoted to Lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division?"
The blade slashed into Uchiha Yato's nose bridge, yet it was as though it had passed through empty air. The black pinwheel in the boy's eyes slowly turned, and his body became tangible once more.
Whoosh!
He cleaved open the bandit's chest, then turned back with a smile.
"Congratulations, Kaien."
Wielding a trident, Kaien Shiba killed no slower than he did. With a sweep of the deep-blue vortex, he could shatter several enemies' internal organs at once.
"Actually, Captain Ukitake has brought up my promotion to Lieutenant many times. The last time was during this year's graduation season at Shin'ō Academy, but I always felt my training was still lacking and that I couldn't shoulder such responsibility."
"Oh? Then why did you agree this time? Did Miyako Asano say she wouldn't consider marrying you unless you became a captain-level officer? Hahaha..."
"Stop making fun of me, Yato." Kaien casually cast a Kidō spell, blasting apart a bandit attempting to sneak up behind them, before continuing, "It's because of the Tenth Division's recent situation. I feel like I have to do more."
"Kaien, too much sense of responsibility will affect your judgment. And didn't you say that Shiba Kazuo, head of the Shiba Clan's branch family, was a dependable elder... Huh?"
Yato's blade stopped in midair without falling any farther.
The rogue before him had already dropped to his knees, tossed his sword aside, and repeatedly kowtowed as blood poured down his face.
Looking farther out, every bandit and ronin had laid down their weapons and knelt, signaling complete submission and abandoning all resistance.
"Tch." Uchiha Yato frowned. After hesitating briefly, he sheathed his Soul-Cutter Sword.
Since they had surrendered, there was no need to kill them all.