Chapter 125 Just mentioning the Second Division Captain makes me feel a dull ache (Please subscribe)
"Yo~ Rukia!"
In the hospital room, a disheveled delinquent with red hair, his Shihakusho torn to shreds, sat somewhat uneasily on a small round stool some distance from the bed. He forced a smile and a greeting to Rukia Kuchiki, who was leaning against the bed.
"Insolent fool! Do you know this is a hospital only for nobles? Barging in like this will be punished! In serious cases, you might even be expelled from the team! What on earth are you thinking about all day?"
Rukia gripped the sheets tightly on the hospital bed, facing the red-haired delinquent, and spoke irritably.
"But... I didn't trespass! I told them my friend was in the hospital, and I came to visit him!"
The red-haired delinquent stared defiantly at Rukia Kuchiki lying on the hospital bed. He didn't believe he had done anything wrong by barging in. If wanting to see his sick friend was a mistake, then let the higher-ups of Soul Society punish him! But he would never admit his mistake!
"Fool..."
Rukia frowned slightly, her expression complicated, when she heard the red-haired boy still calling her a friend at a time like this.
Rukia.
Looking at Rukia's complicated expression, the red-haired boy felt a pang of pain in his heart. He wanted to say something, but couldn't find a good way to put it. Moreover, in this small hospital room sat Byakuya Kuchiki, who exerted immense pressure on him, making it impossible for him to say certain things to Rukia.
Silence fell over the ward once again, but this time, the atmosphere was not harmonious. It was completely different from the relaxed and peaceful state that Rukia Kuchiki and Byakuya Kuchiki had been in at the beginning. To be precise, it was the exact opposite... The silence now was a silence created by emotions that had been brewing to the extreme but were being deliberately suppressed.
I'll be right outside for a bit.
Byakuya carefully examined Rukia's face, seemingly understanding something. He stood up from the seat next to Rukia and spoke calmly.
"Brother..."
Rukia watched her brother prepare to leave and instinctively reached out her arm.
"Um?!"
Byakuya turned around and looked at Rukia with those gentle eyes.
"Thanks."
Looking at her outstanding older brother, Rukia finally withdrew her hand, extended it, and bowed her head in gratitude.
"Um."
Byakuya smiled slightly, gently patted Rukia's shoulder, then turned around, glared at the red-haired delinquent, opened the door to the ward, and walked out.
" Rukia... let's run away! Let's stop being dangerous Soul Reaper. Let's leave this place, leave Seireitei, and go back to Rukongai... I think Rukongai so big, no one will be able to find us."
The red-haired delinquent waited until Byakuya Kuchiki left before approaching Rukia. He sat in the chair that Byakuya Kuchiki had been sitting in and began to speak to Rukia.
"..."
Rukia lowered her head, choosing silence after hearing the red-haired boy's words—a silence that was itself a form of response.
"... Rukia..."
The red-haired delinquent looked at Rukia and instantly understood; Rukia had already given her answer.
"Hahaha... Rukia, I was just joking. I thought you were being really dull, so I told you a joke."
"How was it? Was my joke funny?"
After a moment of silence between the red-haired delinquent and Rukia, the tense atmosphere was broken by the red-haired delinquent's sudden burst of laughter.
"Pfft, hahaha... What? That's such a clumsy joke!"
Rukia burst out laughing upon hearing this, it was unclear whether she was referring to the red-haired delinquent's clumsy joke or whether the red-haired delinquent himself was genuinely clumsy.
"Yes! I'm so clumsy, I'm really so clumsy..."
The red-haired delinquent kept repeating Rukia's words, feeling a pang of bitterness in his heart.
"How's it going in Seireitei lately? Have you become a qualified Soul Reaper yet? Which division are you in now?"
Rukia spoke first, before the red-haired delinquent could continue.
"Hmm? Oh!"
"I'm currently working in the 11th Division. My colleagues there are all very kind to me, and I've learned a lot."
After hearing Rukia's question, the red-haired delinquent was first taken aback, then his eyes suddenly lit up, and he began to speak rapidly.
" The 11th Division? Weren't you chosen by Captain Aizen for the Fifth Division?"
Rukia looked at the red-haired delinquent with a hint of doubt in her eyes. The information she had gathered was that this red-haired idiot had incredibly good luck and had been chosen by Captain Sōsuke Aizen of the Fifth Division to go to the Fifth Division for training!
"Hahaha... that was all in the past. Because of my fighting in the Fifth Division, Captain Aizen recommended me to the 11th Division."
The red-haired delinquent blushed slightly as he spoke. It wasn't exactly something to brag about, but he was still happy because he knew from Rukia's words that she had actually been watching him from the shadows all along. Knowing that was enough for him.
You idiot!
Rukia helplessly covered her cheeks, angered by the red-haired delinquent's words. The Fifth Division was such a great team! Easy work and a good captain. In contrast, the 11th Division... wasn't that just a trap?!
"Actually, the 11th Division is pretty good. Being in the 11th Division will allow my strength to increase rapidly."
The red-haired delinquent kept explaining to Rukia.
"Strength?!"
Rukia's eyes flickered slightly when she heard the red-haired delinquent mention the word "strength."
"Um... that Rukia, she's..."
The red-haired delinquent suddenly paused, remembering what Rukia had just experienced. He realized he had probably stepped on a landmine, and awkwardly tried to explain, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"Yes, I know."
" Renji Abarai... you must strive to become stronger!"
Don't wait until you need the strength to protect what you love to realize you lack the strength to protect others.
Rukia Kuchiki gently shook her head. She understood the words of the red-haired delinquent in front of her. She knew the feelings of the red-haired delinquent, the boy named Renji Abarai, so she didn't want him to go down the same path as her. That feeling of helplessness in the face of despair was enough for her to have experienced alone.
" Rukia!" Renji Abarai looked at Rukia, whose eyes held an indescribable sorrow, and felt a pang of pain in his heart. He hugged Rukia tightly. " Rukia, you've suffered so much!"
"Um?!"
"Huh?!!"
After Rukia was hugged by Renji Abarai, her body slowly stiffened on the spot, and the next second, veins bulged on her forehead.
"You rude scoundrel!"
Rukia kicked Renji Abarai, who was hugging her, sending him flying.
"Ouch! What are you doing, Rukia!"
Renji Abarai feigns innocence, accusing the villain first!
"Damn it! You know perfectly well what you're doing."
Rukia glared at Renji Abarai and growled.
Isn't that energetic?
Renji Abarai glanced at the enraged Rukia and smiled slightly.
"Huh? Hmph! Pfft, hahaha... Are you an idiot?"
Rukia was taken aback by Renji Abarai's words at first, then realized what he meant, shook her head and laughed. This was truly the worst way to cheer her up.
"Hahaha... that's what everyone calls me."
Renji Abarai said smugly.
I didn't compliment you!
Rukia sighed; the child was beyond saving.
"By the way, Rukia! Which squad will you join after you've recovered?"
"I heard that Captain Kaien Shiba of your Thirteenth Division resigned and took all the blame upon himself."
Renji Abarai suddenly thought of something and spoke up.
"Captain Kaien resigned? Why?"
Rukia spoke excitedly after hearing what Renji Abarai.
"I'm not entirely clear on the specifics, but it seems to be a decision made by the Central 46 Chambers."
Unaware of the inside story and unaware that Kaien Shiba had done this on purpose, Renji Abarai believed that it was all a decision made by the Central 46 Chambers, the highest judicial body in Soul Society.
"Hateful!"
"It's all... my fault!"
Rukia pounded on the bed beside her, shouting angrily.
" Rukia... Rukia, should we sneak out of here and go see Captain Kaien Shiba?"
Renji Abarai looked at Rukia, whose body was trembling slightly, his eyes filled with heartache. After thinking for a while, he made a suggestion.
"Would you like to see Captain Kaien? Um..."
Rukia's eyes lit up after hearing Renji Abarai's words, but she lowered her head again the next moment.
"Forget it, I'm too ashamed to face Captain Kaien right now. I'll go and 'apologize' after I become stronger and gain more power!"
Rukia clenched her fists. She knew she needed power; she needed the power to protect everything.
" Rukia, would you like to join our 11th Division? Although our reputation might be a little lacking, our strength is definitely the strongest of all the divisions!"
Renji Abarai knew that their squad's Third Seat, Ikkaku Madarame, was a powerful wielder who had mastered Bankai. In other squads, this level of strength would make him a formidable figure capable of serving as a squad leader. There was also Yumichika Ayasegawa, who often joked around with Ikkaku Madarame and was in no way inferior to Ikkaku, as well as Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru Kusajishi, who were Kenpachi Zaraki powerful that they were practically impossible to observe. He believed that the 11th Division was definitely the strongest of the Gotei 13.
" The 11th Division?"
Rukia's eyes lit up after hearing Renji Abarai's words. If it was the 11th Division, known as the Attack Division, it was indeed a good choice. If she went, it would definitely transform her and make her stronger in a short time. However... Rukia already had a division in mind that she wanted to go to.
"Thank you. The 11th Division is indeed a good choice, but... I already have other options in mind."
"I plan to train with the Second Division!"
Rukia smiled slightly at Renji Abarai and began to speak.
" Second Division?!"
Renji Abarai never expected Rukia to go to that mysterious squad. To be honest, in all the years he'd been in Seireitei, he'd never seen what the Second Division Captain looked like. In the past, the people who represented the Second Division and interacted with his former Fifth Division were all petite girls. Renji Abarai remembered that the representative of the Second Division had looked at the members of their Fifth Division with the eyes of someone looking at trash, which had made him sulk for quite a while.
"That's right! Captain Kaien once told me that if I wanted to become stronger, joining the Second Division would be the best option."
Rukia nodded slightly. From the implication in Kaien Shiba's words, she could tell that the Second Division was incredibly powerful. A captain who was granted the privilege of not having to attend the Captains' Meeting by the Captain-Commander was a symbol of strength in itself.
"I... I understand."
Renji Abarai looked at Rukia's resolute eyes and nodded slightly. Although he was looking forward to the day when he and Rukia would be in the same squad, since Rukia had already made her decision, he had nothing more to say.
Renji Abarai chatted with Rukia for a while longer, and only left after Renji Abarai Byakuya Kuchiki to the ward.
Back in the 11th Division Renji Abarai didn't sit idle either. He still remembered the determined look on Rukia's face when she mentioned the Second Division. Although he couldn't help Rukia in this regard, he could at least ask the veterans in the division who knew about the Second Division Second Division beforehand to find out what kind of division it was and clear up any potential problems for Rukia in advance.
Speaking of the veterans in the 11th Division, Renji Abarai again sought out Ikkaku Madarame, who had been training him in combat skills.
" Ikkaku -san! I have something I'd like to ask you."
On the deserted streets of the 11th Division, Renji Abarai bowed deeply to Ikkaku Madarame and began to speak.
"What's up now? It shouldn't be time to exercise yet, right?"
After hearing what Ikkaku Madarame Renji Abarai, Ikkaku Madarame yawned and asked wearily.
Recently, Ikkaku has been feeling physically and mentally exhausted because he's been constantly being pestered by Renji Abarai for combat training.
Do you know about the Second Division of the Gotei 13?
Renji Abarai raised his head and spoke earnestly.
"Tsk~"
Upon hearing the words " Second Division," Ikkaku Madarame's expression immediately turned terrified, and beads of sweat continuously dripped from his head, a symbol of strength.
"Why... why did you bring up the Second Division?!"
"Could it be... that you've offended someone from the Second Division?"
"Ikkaku Madarame asked, his expression filled with terror."
"Forehead..."
This was the first time Renji Abarai had seen Ikkaku Madarame with such a terrified expression since joining the 11th Division. Only then did he truly understand the special nature and extraordinary nature of the Second Division. After all, to see a powerful wielder who had Bankai show such an expression, just how terrifying must this division be?! Did the Second Division have Shikai as common as dogs, Bankai everywhere?
"Because one of my companions is going to train with the Second Division, I want to know just how strong the Second Division really is!!"
Renji Abarai answered truthfully.
"What? Oh, is that how it is? Hahaha... You scared me!"
"If it's just training with the Second Division, that would be fantastic. The Gotei Second Division is unlike any other division. The current Gotei Second Division is completely integrated with the Stealth Force, a brand new Second Division. The five squad leaders from the original Stealth Force are now all serving as the Second Division's Seated Officer. That means your friend, no matter which squad leader he becomes a disciple of, will learn a lot. He might even reach my current level very quickly..."
Ikkaku Madarame explained to Renji Abarai.
"Squad leader? What's the strength of the squad leader of the Second Division?"
Renji Abarai's eyes widened in shock. An absurd premonition rose in his heart. He listened to Ikkaku's words, which seemed to imply that every squad leader of the Second Division possessed strength comparable to, or even greater than Ikkaku Ikkaku. This was truly strange, considering that Ikkaku Madarame was a master of Bankai.
"Each squad leader is at the level of a captain of the Gotei 13."
Ikkaku Madarame whispered, "This is Little Mimi; most people don't know it."
"This? This is terrifying! Just how powerful must the captain of the Second Division be to lead a Second Division whose members are all captains?"
Renji Abarai stared at Ikkaku Madarame in shock. He had thought that the 11th Division was already the strongest division in Seireitei, but he never expected that there was an even more terrifying Second Division. He simply couldn't imagine what kind of being could lead a super division whose multiple members had all mastered Bankai and possessed the strength of an ordinary division captain.
That Second Division Captain must have three heads and six arms, as terrifying as Ashura Doji from mythology!
"What kind of strength is that? Hmph, just mentioning the captain of the Second Division makes my chrysanthemum ache."
Ikkaku Madarame did not answer Renji Abarai's question. He gently raised his head, looked up at the sky, and the next second he felt a sharp pain in his anus.
"Mr. Ikkaku! Mr. Ikkaku, why are you bleeding from down there? There's so much blood! This is going to be a big problem! You have to pull yourself together!"
Renji Abarai, looking nervously at Ichigo Madarame 'Ikkaku Madarame, which were still oozing bright red blood, spoke.
"It's okay... it's an old problem!"
Ikkaku Madarame smiled slightly. Ever since he was stabbed by someone with Zanpakuto, that indescribable part of him had developed a problem where he would spit blood when he was nervous, especially when the Second Division and its Second Division Captain were mentioned, he would spit out an extra lot of blood from there.
"I'll take you to the hospital now."
Renji Abarai helped Ikkaku Madarame walk towards the infirmary.
"Thank you for your help. I never expected my butt to be so uncooperative. It was a real blunder."
Ikkaku Madarame looked somewhat regretful. He regretted the injury he had sustained to his buttocks, wishing he hadn't gone into that battle.
"Stop talking... You should get some rest. I'm looking forward to you continuing to train me!"
Renji Abarai, supporting Ikkaku Madarame, said, "Now that he knows how terrifying the Second Division Rukia went to is, he can no longer be lazy. He must be more diligent and become stronger!"
"I will not let anyone take what I cherish from me."
Renji Abarai recalled Rukia's words to him and secretly vowed to possess the strength to protect the one he loved.
(End of this chapter)