"Lieutenant Zaraki, I don’t know what Makoto Kibune did, but don’t you think you went a little too far?"
In the tense atmosphere, Shūsuke Amagai raised his voice, fully embodying the image of a concerned superior. Anyone witnessing this scene wouldn’t suspect he had ulterior motives.
"He wanted to listen to him. That ans he challenged . I simply accepted," Kenpachi Zaraki replied with an indifferent smirk, glancing at him dismissively.
Upon hearing this, the surrounding squad mbers imdiately lost interest.
A challenge is a challenge—if you take a beating, you take it standing.
That’s the rule of the 11th Division.
If you’re weaker, you find a way to get stronger. Complaining that soone else is too strong is aningless.
Kenpachi Zaraki’s expression remained calm.
He felt no guilt whatsoever for severely injuring Makoto Kibune.
If it had been a long-ti comrade, he wouldn’t have exactly felt sad, but maybe there’d be so reaction.
But for soone like Makoto Kibune, a newcor he barely knew? Not worth the emotional investnt.
Honestly, if it weren’t for Masatsuki Aozaki’s order forbidding the killing of teammates at random, he would’ve cut the annoying bug down on the spot.
"This squad..."
Noticing the abrupt shift in the atmosphere, Shūsuke Amagai felt a twitch at the corner of his eye.
What the hell was wrong with this squad?
That guy just slashed his own subordinate!
And no one had anything to say about it?!
How is soone like this even a Lieutenant?!
He had assud Masatsuki Aozaki was just an idiot, but it turned out his approach to squad managent was downright ruthless.
Just then, there was a soft "swish."
Yachiru Kusajishi crouched by the fence, eyeing Makoto Kibune, who was already unconscious. She shook her head with a smile.
"This guy’s so weak, but he still dared to challenge Ken-chan. Gotta admit, that’s pretty brave."
"Lieutenant Amagai, don’t worry, soone’s already gone to inform the 4th Division," Ayasegawa Yumichika said, giving Yachiru a sideways glance.
He imdiately noticed—she hadn’t given this new Lieutenant a nickna.
"Huh, this guy hasn’t even challenged , and yet he went straight for the Lieutenant? I’m really being underestimated."
Ikkaku Madara strode over, his Zanpakutō resting on his shoulder, his expression fierce.
"If I get the chance, I wouldn’t mind giving this newbie a lesson myself."
Listening to everyone’s comnts, Shūsuke Amagai’s eye twitched again.
"...Thank you, Lieutenant Kusajishi, 10th Seat Ayasegawa. Sorry for the trouble Makoto Kibune has caused."
He bowed slightly before swiftly carrying Makoto Kibune away from the training grounds.
His next stop—the 4th Division.
Not just because he was imrsed in the act.
The wounds on Makoto Kibune’s shoulder and chest were deep, serious injuries.
If he didn’t receive treatnt soon, with his level of strength, he might not make it.
...
"Damn, that was quite the commotion. Seems like this batch of newcors is sothing else."
From the nearby Lieutenant’s office, Tōshirō Hitsugaya gazed out the window, speaking with an air of seniority.
"Hopefully, they know when to rein it in. Too much energy can easily lead to injuries," Gin Ichimaru remarked, his eyes narrowing as he stood behind Hitsugaya.
"...And?"
Hitsugaya shot him a wary glance.
Gin peeked at him, flashing a friendly smile.
"Hurry up and finish your squad duties—training continues tonight."
At those words, Hitsugaya’s expression instantly fell.
I’m still growing, you know.
Handling squad duties is one thing.
But why the hell has my training load doubled all of a sudden?!
I barely get enough sleep as it is.
What if I stop growing?!
Damn you, Masatsuki Aozaki—joining this squad was the worst decision ever!
...
World of the Living, Jūreichi, Karakura Town.
Masatsuki Aozaki strolled idly down the street with Nemu Kurotsuchi, bored out of his mind.
Shopping for girls was like gaming for boys—irresistible.
Since the modern era, the World of the Living had changed at an astonishing pace.
By the 1980s, this country had entered an era of unprecedented prosperity.
Just a few years ago, this once-overlooked island nation had risen to beco the world’s second-largest economy.
Recently, people were even talking about buying up all of Arica.
Masatsuki Aozaki, however, couldn’t care less about such daydreams.
What interested him was how this increasingly dazzling world was starting to resemble the one in his mories.
Give it a few more decades, and if he ever got the chance to visit the great western nation of this era, he might see familiar sights.
Compared to the Seireitei, where the scenery had remained unchanged for millennia, the rapid evolution of the World of the Living was far more captivating—especially to the girls.
And so, escorting them on shopping trips had more or less beco one of his routine leisure activities with his lovers.
...
Inside a won’s clothing store, Masatsuki Aozaki found a seat and watched as Nemu Kurotsuchi tried on outfits.
Buying things in the World of the Living was always a hassle for them.
As souls, they needed to wear Gigai to interact with ordinary people.
Fortunately, with the Reishi Converter working alongside the Senkaimon, they could bypass so of the usual inconveniences—at least they didn’t have to worry about bringing their purchases back to Soul Society.
Masatsuki Aozaki’s Gigai, of course, was crafted in his own likeness.
He was soone who understood how to make use of his natural advantages.
There was no way he’d deliberately make himself look unappealing and scare away the cute girls.
Ignoring the JD, JK, JC, and JS girls snapping pictures of him, he sprawled out lazily on the seat and sighed.
"Shopping really is exhausting."
It was sothing he’d never expected.
He was beyond life and death, yet sohow, even he could get worn out from shopping.
...
He wasn’t sure how much ti had passed when a sudden commotion broke out nearby.
"I told you, I’m not going back! Staying holed up in that place every day is unbearable!"
"But, Young Lady, your current situation is too dangerous! You absolutely cannot let those death squads find you!"
"Yes, even though the Gigai can conceal your Reiatsu, there’s still a risk of exposure. It’s much safer to stay inside the barrier."
"I don’t care! I refuse to believe they’d dare make a move in broad daylight—it would alert the Gotei 13."
Not far away, a young blonde girl with delicate features was arguing loudly.
At first glance, she seed to be in her teens.
She wore an oversized high school uniform, giving her a rather adorable appearance.
The two n standing behind her exchanged glances, letting out helpless sighs.
The leaner one was Ryūsei Kenzaki.
The tall, muscular one was Rusaburō Enkōgawa.
They were also known as Kenryū and Enryū—both loyal retainers of the Kasumiōji Clan.
Watching their princess acting so recklessly, a bitter smile crept onto their faces.
Rurichiyo Kasumiōji might not understand the gravity of the situation, but they did.
This wasn’t a leisure trip—they were fugitives.
For years, the elders of the Kasumiōji Clan had suffered relentless suppression at the hands of Gyōkaku Kumoi.
Naturally, tensions had reached a breaking point.
Seizing the opportunity, Gyōkaku Kumoi launched a purge under the na of the clan head.
He even planned to eliminate Rurichiyo herself and seize total control of the Kasumiōji Clan.
Now, they were being hunted by the death squads he had sent after them.
Just as they were contemplating their next move, a thick mist spread across the street, swallowing everything in sight.
"This presence... It’s Kumoi’s death squads!"
Kenryū and Enryū’s expressions changed drastically, their pupils shrinking as they quickly stepped in front of Rurichiyo.
Reacting imdiately, they discarded their Gigai and drew their Zanpakutō, ready to unleash them at a mont’s notice.
Figures erged from the mist, and the battle was on the verge of erupting.
The assassins, wearing ninja-style uniforms layered with samurai armor, drew their blades and charged.
Their weapons, each uniquely shaped, were clearly different from the standard Zanpakutō.
These were the signature weapons of the Kasumiōji Clan—
Bakkōtō.
"Damn it, they found us so quickly!"
"Bloom Madly, Benishidare!"
Kenryū roared, gripping his blade with both hands as pink petals blood from its surface.
"Rock, Daichimaru!"
Enryū followed suit, releasing his Zanpakutō. The long sword glead before morphing into a pair of massive black gauntlets.
Even with their weapons released, they dared not relax.
They were outnumbered by a dozen elite assassins.
And releasing their Zanpakutō was no special advantage—
They knew the Bakkōtō were not true Zanpakutō, but they still possessed similar release abilities.
"Damn it! They’re launching an attack here of all places—aren’t they afraid Soul Society will find out?!"
Kenryū gritted his teeth, blocking the strike of an oncoming assassin.
anwhile, Rurichiyo Kasumiōji was in a panic. She ran frantically, eventually stumbling into the nearest shop.
And in her blind escape...
She inevitably tripped.
Just like a cliché scene straight out of an ani—
She fell right onto a man who was casually resting inside.
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