Rangiku's Test

Tenth Division barracks.

"Captain, you're slacking off again."

The moment Matsumoto Rangiku entered the captain's office, she caught the scent of alcohol hanging in the air. Documents lay carelessly piled across the desk, alongside several plates of snacks and a bottle of sake.

The current captain of the Tenth Division, Shiba Isshin, was sprawled on the floor beneath his desk, snoring away.

With a helpless sigh, Matsumoto Rangiku walked over and planted her foot on the face that looked especially irritating at the moment.

"Mm?"

Shiba Isshin groggily opened his eyes, only to see the angry face of his beautiful and captivating lieutenant.

"Rangiku."

"Captain, did you finish yesterday's work?"

Shiba Isshin scratched his head as he sat up. "Work? What work?"

"Captain!"

Shiba Isshin awkwardly got to his feet, apologizing as he said he would deal with it right away.

Matsumoto Rangiku let out a heavy sigh and began cleaning up the mess on the desk.

She suddenly noticed several documents she had never seen before and picked them up for a closer look. "What's this... the Student Council?"

Shiba Isshin shot to his feet and snatched the documents straight from her hand.

"It's nothing."

Matsumoto Rangiku looked suspicious. "Captain, is there something in the Division that I, your lieutenant, am not allowed to know?"

Shiba Isshin laughed it off. "I said it's nothing. Just some unimportant little matter."

Matsumoto Rangiku helplessly folded her arms beneath her ample chest. "Anyway, hurry up and handle your work."

Rather than putting the documents in a drawer, Shiba Isshin tucked them directly into his robe.

Then he seemed to recall something and asked Matsumoto Rangiku, "What was the name of that Spirit Training Academy student you wanted to recruit into our Division?"

"Tachikawa Shin. Captain, could you please pay more attention to Division affairs? Once all the talented people get snatched up by other Divisions, there'll be no one left to share your workload. Are you trying to work me to death?"

"Tachikawa Shin..." Shiba Isshin muttered the name to himself.

Seeing that he had suddenly taken an interest, Matsumoto Rangiku began explaining Tachikawa Shin's basic background.

"He came from Gokō District in District 80 of the Rukon District. I met him while carrying out a mission some time ago. I found that his spiritual pressure was quite high for an ordinary soul, so I recommended that he enter the Spirit Training Academy and become a Shinigami."

"Gokō District..." Shiba Isshin clicked his tongue. He knew exactly what sort of place that was.

The Rukon District was divided into districts numbered one through eighty, encircling the Seireitei. Yet every district was different. District 1 was closest to the Seireitei, with good security, pleasant living conditions, and abundant food. District 80, on the other hand, was the farthest away. Nothing grew there, famine was everywhere, and for the sake of survival, people killing and preying upon one another was commonplace.

"What kind of person is he?" Shiba Isshin asked again.

After thinking for a moment, Matsumoto Rangiku said, "A genius. He's currently a fourth-year student at the Spirit Training Academy, and he got perfect scores in all four subjects: Zanpakuto, Kidō, Hoho, and Hakuda. He's especially skilled at swordsmanship. In his third year, he defeated his Kendo Instructor. But he's also a slippery one. I invited him to join our Tenth Division after graduation and promised him the 23rd Seat, but he turned me down."

"Someone even you couldn't handle?" Shiba Isshin was astonished. He glanced at his lieutenant's remarkable assets and privately wondered whether this Tachikawa Shin fellow was a normal man...

Matsumoto Rangiku caught the implication in his gaze, and a vein bulged on her forehead.

"23rd Seat..." Only then did Shiba Isshin remember that the 23rd Seat in his Division had recently retired due to illness.

"Isn't that a little low? You said he's a genius, Rangiku. Think about the geniuses from the past—their later achievements were all extraordinary. At the very least, he should be given an Upper Seat Officer position."

The so-called Upper Seat Officers referred to the Third Seat through the Tenth Seat, elite Shinigami who could already participate in core Division duties.

Matsumoto Rangiku was surprised by how highly Shiba Isshin regarded Tachikawa Shin. "But there aren't any vacancies among our Ten Seats. Besides, I've seen his academy records. He doesn't even have his own Zanpakutō yet."

Shiba Isshin waved a hand dismissively. "There's only so much the academy can teach. Most Shinigami only obtain their own Zanpakutō after joining a Division. And didn't you say he was slippery? How can you be sure you know all his secrets?"

Matsumoto Rangiku hesitated as well. After all, the captain had the final say in such matters.

"Then... which Seat?"

A smile appeared on Shiba Isshin's face. "You can go talk to him again and see what he wants. The academy's on break now, isn't it? He should have plenty of free time."

After the final exams, Spirit Training Academy students who had not yet graduated received a fairly long break. However, considering that some students came from the Rukon District, the academy still provided room and board, leaving them free to decide whether to stay.

During the break, many of the academy's classrooms and training grounds sat vacant and were available for students to use. They needed to register before doing so, though. If they damaged any facilities during that time, it would be recorded, and they would gradually repay the costs after graduating and becoming Shinigami.

Inside an empty kendo classroom, the ringing clash of metal echoed again and again. Two figures darted about in rapid footwork, advancing and retreating as they fought fiercely.

Though it looked like a fierce battle, a closer look would reveal that one side was training the other.

"Too slow, too slow, Shūbīng! Do you know that your entire body is full of openings?"

"With this little strength, you still have the nerve to say you didn't graduate early because of me? Don't expect me to appreciate it."

Hisagi Shūhei gritted his teeth at the taunts, gripping the Asauchi in both hands as he desperately tried to reach the figure before him.

Yet his opponent could always anticipate his next move. Or rather, the gap in their reaction speeds meant that every strike Shūhei made was effortlessly neutralized.

Another attack missed. Seeing his opponent flash to his side, Hisagi Shūhei, already somewhat exhausted, slashed horizontally at him.

Xin raised an eyebrow slightly. This time, he neither dodged nor parried. He merely held his blade upright.

Clang!

With a crisp metallic ring, the Asauchi in Shūhei's hands was knocked free and sent flying. His palm split with pain, trembling uncontrollably.

He stared blankly at the Asauchi lying on the wooden floor for several seconds before suddenly collapsing onto the ground, gasping for breath.

Xin sheathed his Asauchi, then leisurely walked to the side, picked up a water flask, and tossed it over.

Only after taking a deep drink did Hisagi Shūhei's breathing settle somewhat. He looked at Xin, who was idly spinning his blade in flourishes, and panted, "I really regret staying at the academy over break."

Xin glanced at him sideways with a smiling expression. "You were the one who asked me to train with you. You can't take even this much of a setback?"

Hisagi Shūhei did not know how to answer. He lay flat on the floor. Losing to Xin was not embarrassing to him in the slightest; he had never beaten Xin in the first place.

But what truly frustrated him was that no matter how hard he worked, he seemed incapable of even seeing Xin's back, let alone catching up. Even now, he had no idea what Xin's true level was.

"Xin, just how strong are you?"

Xin replied, "What fun would it be if I told you? Find out for yourself slowly, Shūbīng. If there comes a day when you make me use my full strength, I'll be very happy—and I'll give you my heartfelt praise."

The moment he finished speaking, a slow round of clapping suddenly sounded through the quiet classroom.

"That was a really cool thing to say."

At some point, the classroom door had been pushed open. A figure leaned half-sideways against the doorframe, looking in. Sunlight streaming from outside happened to fall across her shoulder. Her golden hair gleamed like silk, while her graceful curves resembled an artwork painstakingly sculpted by a master, every line revealing a woman's softness and strength. Her deep V-neck exposed the fullness that belonged solely to her, brimming with health and confidence.

Her lovely face carried a smile that was not quite a smile, seductive without being gaudy.

Miss Matsumoto...

Upon recognizing the visitor, Hisagi Shūhei sprang up from the floor and stood straight in nervous haste.

"Lieutenant Matsumoto!"

When had Miss Matsumoto arrived? Did she see how badly I lost...?

A flood of thoughts flashed through Hisagi Shūhei's mind, before he suddenly realized something and looked toward his friend beside him.

She came for this guy again, didn't she!

Matsumoto Rangiku removed her shoes at the doorway. She walked in with unhurried steps, the lieutenant's armband of the Tenth Division on the sleeve of her black Shinigami Robe. A white sash was tied at her waist, and a Zanpakutō with a dark red sheath rested slung across her back.

"What brings Miss Rangiku to the Spirit Training Academy?"

Xin spoke with a surprised look. It had already been a month since they last met.

He had lived peacefully over the past month, passing the fourth-year final exams at the Spirit Training Academy as usual. Though perhaps many things had happened somewhere beyond his knowledge.

"Nothing to do, so I was just wandering around." Matsumoto Rangiku's beautiful eyes rested on Xin. One hand suddenly pressed against the hilt of the sword at her waist, and her smile brightened.

"I saw your sparring just now, and it made my hands itch a little. Would you mind exchanging a few moves with me?"

Hisagi Shūhei, who had been standing as rigidly as a statue nearby, could not help swallowing. His gaze shifted uncertainly between Matsumoto Rangiku and Xin.

He knew Xin was strong. Had Lieutenant Matsumoto noticed it too and wanted to test Xin's true ability?

Xin laughed. "Miss Rangiku, don't joke around. You're the lieutenant of the Tenth Division, while I'm just a student at the Spirit Training Academy. You can't bully me like this."

But Matsumoto Rangiku gave him no chance to refuse. She directly drew her sword and held it horizontally before herself in a reverse grip. "It's only a spar, Student Xin. Getting to fight a lieutenant is a rare opportunity. You should cherish it."

The instant she finished speaking, Matsumoto Rangiku was already upon him. She moved with ghostly speed. Before Hisagi Shūhei could even see how she had moved, he heard the metallic clash of blades.

With no time to marvel, he quickly retreated to the edge of the classroom and cleared the space for them.

Seeing Xin block her swift strike, Matsumoto Rangiku flashed a radiant smile.

"Not bad."

With a light leap, she withdrew to a position roughly three meters away from Xin and fixed her beautiful eyes on him.

"Are you ready? Here I come."

Seeing that there was no avoiding it, Xin sighed inwardly and raised his Asauchi. Matsumoto Rangiku's purpose in coming here was obvious, and this sudden challenge was not difficult to understand.

The last time Shiba Kaien had asked whether he was willing to join the Tenth Division as its Third Seat. The captain of the Tenth Division, Shiba Isshin, was Shiba Kaien's uncle, while Matsumoto Rangiku was the Tenth Division's lieutenant.

She had come to test his worth.

A Shinigami's ultimate achievements were directly tied to strength. No matter how extraordinary one's intelligence or wisdom might be, if one lacked strength, one was destined not to go far.

It was difficult to determine how capable Xin's mind was, but confirming his combat ability was exceedingly simple.

The blade in his hand trembled faintly, then swept out a flash of white before his eyes. His body did not move, yet that strike happened to block Matsumoto Rangiku's thrust.

When Matsumoto Rangiku saw her attack blocked, her beautiful eyes narrowed. This guy's reactions are pretty fast.

Her white-socked feet stepped across the floor, making nearly imperceptible sounds as she shifted. The instant she found her footing, her Zanpakutō swept out sharply. Wherever its cold gleam reached, another blade met it.

Clang!

Having a slash blocked was commonplace in combat, but Rangiku could not shake a strange sense of discomfort.

She was the lieutenant of the Tenth Division and had been a Shinigami for decades. In terms of spiritual pressure, speed, and physical ability, Xin could not compare to her.

The only advantage Xin possessed before her was swordsmanship!

Unwilling to accept it, Matsumoto Rangiku turned her blade and delivered another powerful chop.

These sword moves looked plain and unadorned, containing nothing but speed and strength that completely surpassed Xin's.

Xin did not block this strike. He took two steps back at just the right moment, narrowly avoiding it.

But Matsumoto Rangiku suddenly stopped where she stood instead of continuing her attack. Her beautiful eyes flickered uncertainly.

Xin's gaze shifted slightly at the sight. Did she notice?

Matsumoto Rangiku suddenly grinned. "If you really have the skill, why not show it directly?"

She had indeed noticed that something was off. As a lieutenant, she had naturally fought countless battles. She was faster, yet Xin could always move before her.

Xin had seen completely through her swordsmanship.

Xin's expression remained unchanged. He neither confirmed nor denied it. "Miss Rangiku, if you can make me use all my strength, I'll give you my heartfelt praise."

Matsumoto Rangiku's gaze darkened slightly.

Arrogant!

She moved once more, faster than before, her sword intent sharper as it aimed straight for Xin's chest.

She refused to believe that he could still anticipate her attack this time. Even if he could, there was no way he would be able to react in time.

Xin was merely a Spirit Training Academy student. For her, a lieutenant, to lower herself so much as to spar with him—and even use a portion of her real strength—seemed somewhat improper upon reflection.

Perhaps Xin's words had provoked her just now. Or perhaps she remembered how he had repeatedly rejected her invitations to join the Tenth Division.

Fortunately, Matsumoto Rangiku still held back slightly with this strike, lest she truly injure Xin.

Clang!

A harsh metallic shriek rang out.

The narrow blade before her blocked her sword once again, and blocked her vision as well. Its surface reflected her face, reflected her slightly widened pupils.

Behind the blade, the corner of that person's lips seemed to curl into an indistinct smile. His voice was neither hurried nor slow, casual and unrestrained.

"I've seen through you, Miss Rangiku."