Chapter 316 Rukia Kuchiki's Bankai (Please Subscribe) "How boring..."
Kūkaku Shiba sat in the office of the Gotei Thirteenth Division, looking at the sunlight shining through the window, feeling tired and sleepy.
As the captain of the Gotei Thirteenth Division, Kūkaku Shiba has experienced far too much, and she is now tired of this kind of life!
Perhaps it's time to leave my post.
Kūkaku Shiba was thinking this, she suddenly looked at Rukia Kuchiki, who was sitting next to her and constantly reviewing documents.
" Rukia..."
Kūkaku Shiba looked at Rukia with a malicious smile.
"Um!?"
Rukia Kuchiki, who was reviewing documents while holding a calligraphy brush, looked up upon hearing this.
"Is there anything I can help you with, Captain Shiba?"
Rukia Kuchiki asked Kūkaku Shiba a question.
"Do you ever think about becoming a squad leader?"
Kūkaku Shiba rested her chin on her hands, looked at the adorable Rukia Kuchiki, and asked.
"Squad leader!? Aren't I already one?"
Rukia Kuchiki didn't understand what Kūkaku Shiba meant. If it was just about being a captain, wasn't she already one of the captains of the Gotei 13? Even if she was a vice-captain, she was still a captain.
"I meant the captain!"
Kūkaku Shiba smiled at Rukia Kuchiki.
"Ha!?"
Upon hearing Kūkaku Shiba's words, Rukia Kuchiki's eyes widened in shock, and she even dropped her pen onto the table.
Hehe~
"I've made my decision. You will be the captain of the Gotei Thirteenth Division."
Kūkaku Shiba smiled lightly and made the decision on behalf of Rukia Kuchiki without her consent.
"Etc..."
"Wait, isn't this a bit too sudden?"
Rukia Kuchiki felt that Kūkaku Shiba's decision was made far too quickly, exceeding her expectations.
Kūkaku Shiba was always a squad leader who acted on a whim, but even so, Kūkaku Shiba's decision at this moment still exceeded Rukia Kuchiki's expectations. The main reason was that Kūkaku Shiba Rukia Kuchiki hard to accept.
In short, this is my decision.
"Besides, Rukia, haven't you already been able to use Bankai?"
"If that's the case, then it wouldn't be a big deal if you took over as the squad leader from me, would it?"
Kūkaku Shiba crossed his arms in front of his chest and announced.
"Although I have indeed mastered Bankai, but..."
"This is different. Now, the vast majority of lieutenants in the Gotei 13 have mastered Bankai."
"People like Renji, Shūhei, and Ikkaku, as well as Captain Gin Ichimaru and Captain Love Aikawa, who were originally squad captains, have all mastered Bankai. So, it's almost the norm for a lieutenant to master Bankai in the Gotei 13."
"Besides, I still have many shortcomings..."
Rukia Kuchiki continued to explain, and in short, she felt that she was not yet qualified to be the captain.
"Indeed, you still have many shortcomings."
Kūkaku Shiba nodded slightly; she agreed with this point.
"I knew it..."
Rukia Kuchiki breathed a sigh of relief. She was actually a little unaccustomed to being placed on the same level as her brother, Byakuya Kuchiki.
"It's precisely because you have this or that shortcoming that you should gain more experience as the captain of the Gotei 13 ~"
"Besides, this is already a decision made by this captain!"
"You should understand that once I've made a decision, it's absolutely not allowed to be changed!"
With his hands on his hips, Kūkaku Shiba announced that Rukia Kuchiki would be appointed as the captain of the Gotei Thirteenth Division.
"Isn't that a bit too domineering?"
Rukia Kuchiki complained, as if she were blaming Kūkaku.
"That's just how domineering I am!"
Upon hearing this, Kūkaku Shiba felt no shame whatsoever; instead, she wore a smug smile. Yes, she was domineering, so what?
"Just stay a good squad leader!"
Kūkaku Shiba vigorously ruffled Rukia Kuchiki's onion-shaped hair, whistled smugly, and turned to leave.
"Snort..."
Rukia Kuchiki's cheeks were puffed up with anger, like a balloon, and she was helpless in the face of Kūkaku Shiba's departure.
Although Rukia Kuchiki was a little nervous, she couldn't refuse the position of captain of the Gotei Thirteenth Division.
After leaving the Thirteenth Division, Kūkaku Shiba arrived at the Shiba Clan compound.
"Hey, Kaien- nii! What's wrong with Ganju Shiba?"
After entering the house, Kūkaku Shiba immediately went to find Kaien Shiba, who was watering the flowers and plants in the back garden.
"I'd say I've barely grasped the Shikai!"
Upon hearing this, Kaien Shiba turned around, looked at Kūkaku Shiba, and spoke softly.
"So, you're already eligible to serve as a vice-captain in the Gotei 13, right?"
Upon hearing that Kūkaku Shiba had mastered Shikai, Ganju Shiba breathed a sigh of relief. The biggest problem that had been blocking her way was that the Shiba Clan, one of the Five Great Noble Clans, lacked a successor. If she were to choose to leave the Thirteenth Division, there would be no place for the Shiba Clan in the Gotei 13. In other words, if Kūkaku Shiba wanted to leave the Gotei 13, she would have to place at least one of the Shiba Clan's vice-captains in the Gotei 13.
This was originally impossible, because the Shiba Clan simply didn't have any extra fighting power. Isshin Shiba and Ichigo Kurosaki could be ignored, since they were both in the World of the Living. As the former captain of the Gotei 13, Kaien Shiba certainly couldn't return to the Gotei 13. So, the only person the Shiba Clan could send was Ganju Shiba.
Mentioning Ganju Shiba, Kūkaku Shiba felt speechless. As a direct descendant of the Shiba Clan and a member of the Five Great Noble Clans, Ganju Shiba hadn't inherited the immense Spiritual Pressure inherent in the Shiba Clan bloodline. It was laughable. The chance of a direct descendant of Five Great Noble Clans not becoming the captain of the Gotei 13 was smaller than the chance of someone being struck by lightning three times in a row and surviving. Yet, this the Miracle happened to Ganju Shiba!
Therefore, some people consider Ganju Shiba and Sōgo Shihoin to be the two the Miracle children of the Five Great Noble Clans. One is so weak that he doesn't seem like one of the Five Great Noble Clans, while the other is so powerful that it's like he bought a cheat code!
But thankfully, Ganju Shiba has lived up to expectations—no, it should be said that the Shiba Clan's foundation is still strong enough—and has actually managed to give Ganju Shiba Spiritual Pressure comparable to a squad lieutenant and control his Shikai. This is truly a stroke of good luck amidst misfortune.
Where is he now?
Kūkaku Shiba asked Kaien Shiba where Ganju Shiba was at that moment.
"That guy's lying in the dojo! After learning Shikai, that brat Ganju Shiba thought he was all back to normal, so he went to challenge everyone, and got a good beating."
Kaien Shiba shook his head helplessly. As a vice-captain for over a century, Shiba Miyako would be old enough to try learning Bankai in another ten years or so. How could Ganju Shiba, a greenhorn who had just learned Shikai, possibly challenge him? It would be strange if he didn't get beaten up badly.
"I'll go take a look..."
Upon hearing this, Kūkaku Shiba turned and walked towards the dojo.
"..."
Kaien Shiba watched Kūkaku Shiba's departing figure without saying a word, and continued watering the flowers and plants.
"Crack~"
Kūkaku Shiba arrived at the dojo, pushed open the door, and saw Ganju Shiba lying on the wooden floor of the dojo, panting heavily.
"Hey! Ganju! Does being a member of the Shiba Clan mean you have to give up after just one setback?"
Kūkaku Shiba walked up to Ganju Shiba and asked.
"Sister! I've finally mastered Shikai! I'm not useless anymore!"
When Ganju Shiba saw Kaien Shiba, tears welled up in his eyes. He had successfully proven his talent; he was not a useless person.
"..."
Looking at Ganju Shiba's hopeless eyes, Kūkaku Shiba fell silent. She didn't say anything at the moment. She knew that it was the pressure that these geniuses put on Ganju Shiba Ganju Shiba caused him to give up on himself. Anyone born into a family where their older brothers and sisters, uncles and cousins are all geniuses and monsters, and they themselves are the only ones who can't do anything, would probably fall into depression.
"Hmm! You've made something of yourself..."
After a long silence, Kūkaku Shiba spoke softly to Ganju Shiba in the gentlest way she had ever been.
One month later...
After confirming Kūkaku Shiba Rukia Kuchiki as the new captain of the Gotei Thirteenth Division and Kaien Shiba as the vice-captain, Kaien Shiba began to work on his Gotei Thirteenth Division.
It took her a whole month to prepare the personnel and venue for the squad leader's assessment!
After all, the Soul Society had just experienced an ultimate war, and almost half of Seireitei was reduced to ruins. Even with the Soul Reaper's high efficiency, it still took them nearly a month to complete their training.
"Phew~"
Outside the examination hall, Rukia Kuchiki took deep breaths, adjusting her rhythm and easing the pressure in her heart.
"I'm in!"
"Greetings, examiners! I am Rukia Kuchiki from the Thirteenth Division!"
Rukia Kuchiki nervously pushed open the door, and then she saw three people inside who were very familiar to her.
The three captains in charge of the assessment were Byakuya Kuchiki, the captain of the Sixth Division who was her older brother; Tōshirō Hitsugaya, the captain of the Tenth Division who was much younger than her; and Sougo Shihouin, who had not been a captain for many Sōgo Shihoin.
"Yo~ Rukia, you've arrived!"
When Sōgo Shihoin saw Rukia, he smiled and greeted her.
" Captain Sōgo Shihoin!? What are you doing here? Weren't you no longer the captain?"
Rukia Kuchiki stared wide-eyed at Sōgo Shihoin.
"There's no other way; the Soul Society is currently short of enough personnel!"
"Having nothing better to do, Shunsui Kyōraku asked me to come and oversee the assessment!"
Sōgo Shihoin revealed a harmless smile.
Is it possible to do it this way?
Rukia Kuchiki smiled helplessly at Sōgo Shihoin, but seeing the familiar faces in the room, she wasn't too nervous anymore.
" Rukia Kuchiki!"
At this moment, Byakuya Kuchiki had remained silent until then, suddenly opened his mouth.
"Brother!"
Rukia Kuchiki instinctively straightened up and called out to Byakuya Kuchiki."
Don't call me "elder brother"!
Byakuya Kuchiki shook his head.
You must call me "Examiner"!
Byakuya Kuchiki emphasized the importance of the form of address; after all, they were the Kuchiki Clan, a model of nobility, and of course, they had to strictly adhere to the requirements.
"I understand, elder brother. From now on, I will address you as 'Examiner'!"
Rukia Kuchiki clenched her fists. All she could say was that Byakuya Kuchiki truly lived up to his reputation as her older brother—he was indeed strict!
"Excellent! This is the epitome of nobility!"
"But Rukia, don't think that just because I'm your older brother I'll go easy on you!"
"On the contrary, as your older brother, I will conduct the assessment even more rigorously!"
Byakuya Kuchiki looked at Rukia's resolute expression and nodded slightly. He was very satisfied with Rukia's firm determination at this moment.
What on earth are these two siblings up to!?
"Should Rukia call him 'brother'?! Or should she call him 'examiner'?"
Tōshirō Hitsugaya stared speechlessly at Byakuya Kuchiki and Rukia Kuchiki, the brother and sister duo. He simply couldn't understand whether Byakuya Kuchiki wanted Rukia Kuchiki to call him "brother" or "examiner."
You mean Byakuya Kuchiki wants Rukia to call him "Examiner-sama"? But he keeps referring to himself as Rukia's older brother...
So what on earth is going on here?! Is this the thought process of the Five Great Noble Clans? Aren't they all incredibly intelligent? I'm in love, in love...
Tōshirō Hitsugaya's little head seemed a bit confused, perhaps because he was too young.
"Come on! Show us!"
Sōgo Shihoin looked at Rukia Kuchiki and spoke softly.
"OK!"
Rukia Kuchiki nodded slightly and drew her Zanpakuto from her waist.
Everyone says that Rukia Kuchiki's Zanpakuto is the most beautiful Zanpakuto in the entire Soul Society, and that's absolutely true!
Sode no Shirayuki...
The snowflakes that fell from the sky that day adorned the whole world with a silver-white coat. Anyone who has seen it once will surely say it is so beautiful!
" Bankai! Hakka no Togame!"
The instant Rukia Kuchiki Bankai unleashed her Bankai, small snowflakes began to fall from the air throughout the room.
A woman, completely covered in snow and as white as an ice sprite, appeared before Byakuya Kuchiki, Sōgo Shihoin, and Tōshirō Hitsugaya.
"So beautiful!"
The three of them looked at Rukia Kuchiki in front of them and uttered in unison what they truly felt at that moment.
The girl, as pure as snow, was indeed extremely beautiful!
"This temperature! It's truly remarkable!"
As an expert in ice and snow, Tōshirō Hitsugaya looked at Rukia Kuchiki, who resembled a snow woman, and nodded repeatedly. In the entire Soul Society, no one understood ice and snow better than him. Even he gave Rukia Kuchiki the evaluation of being amazing, which meant that Rukia Kuchiki was really very powerful at this moment.
"It's an excellent Bankai, but also an extremely difficult Bankai! A single misstep could be fatal; it's a very dangerous Bankai!"
Byakuya Kuchiki nodded repeatedly. He was a very strict person, but it must be said that even someone as picky as him had to give the Bankai in front of him the word "excellent"!
(End of this chapter)