Chapter 2 – The Unexpected Revelation
After wandering around Eastern Rukongai's District 11 for half a day, Tachibana Kyūjō finally stumbled upon a small, empty house.
Upon asking around the neighborhood, he learned that the previous owner had reincarnated a few years ago.
That was all the confirmation he needed.
He decided to settle there.
(In Rukongai, when souls die of natural causes, they are reborn in the Human World.)
The house wasn't large by any means. Of course, there was no kitchen, bathroom, or bathing area like back on Earth.
The lack of a kitchen wasn't an issue. Ordinary souls in Soul Society didn't need food to survive.
The air and water here were rich in spiritual particles—Reishi—enough to sustain the existence of most spirits without any need for nourishment.
And if you didn't eat, well… nature didn't need you to relieve yourself either. As for bathing? That was a luxury most Rukongai residents could only dream of.
Especially in the outer districts, people often fought viciously just for access to clean water.
Even though District 11 wasn't considered poor, for the average soul, taking a bath was still a rare luxury.
Of course, Seireitei had public bathhouses and taverns—Kyūjō had seen them in the manga.
As for whether Shinigami needed to relieve themselves… Kyūjō genuinely had no idea.
— — —
Sitting cross-legged on a worn tatami mat inside his new humble abode, Kyūjō clenched his fists tightly, feeling the solid sensation of his grip.
He couldn't help but marvel at it all.
"This world of the Shinigami really plays by a different set of rules…"
"A body made of spirit particles and soul… yet I can still bleed, get wounded, and even breathe. I wonder… does this body qualify to become a Shinigami?"
(Spirits in Soul Society do breathe. Even Ukitake Jūshirō once nearly died from lung disease at the age of three.)
"The spiritual particles in this world… they're kinda like the Natural Energy from Naruto's world. Both are everywhere in nature. But even so…"
Driven by curiosity, Kyūjō decided to test out the training methods he'd learned in his previous lives.
He sat in meditation for hours.
…Nothing.
Not even the faintest spark of energy surfaced.
He let out a quiet sigh.
It was clear now—this world's rules were entirely different.
Despite looking like an ordinary human, this body wasn't made of flesh and blood. It was a spirit form—a soul, constructed purely from Reishi.
And even though it looked solid, it wasn't.
Trying to use human-based training techniques on a spiritual being like himself…
Yeah, no wonder it didn't work.
In this world, the only way for spirits to grow stronger… was by increasing their Spiritual Pressure.
Reiryoku. The source of it all.
The higher your pressure, the stronger your spiritual body became.
— — —
"Spiritual Pressure… huh…"
Kyūjō repeated the words softly, his eyes narrowing as something clicked in his mind.
His Breathing Technique 4.0 had helped him absorb Natural Energy back in the Naruto world.
So then… what about spiritual particles?
They were energy too, right?
Could his Breathing Technique still function in the world of Shinigami?
Holding onto that hope, Kyūjō adjusted his breathing posture and began using Breathing Technique 4.0—this time, with his current spirit body…
And then—!!
He felt it.
A surge of spiritual particles—abundant and powerful—rushing gently into his body.
His expression lit up with pure joy.
But that wasn't even the best part.
The energy wasn't just flowing into him.
It was… repairing him.
Ever so slowly, those spiritual particles were beginning to mend the fragmented structure of his soul.
The process was painfully slow—so slow it was almost unnoticeable—but still, it was progress.
And for Kyūjō, that was everything.
His breathing technique could be maintained indefinitely. Even if it took hundreds or thousands of years…
He would make it work.
As long as the spiritual particles kept restoring his soul, he would eventually return to full strength—no matter how long it took.
On his very first day in this world, he had already found a solution to his deepest problem.
Kyūjō smiled wide, his chest light with relief.
…Though a moment later, he calmed down.
At the current recovery rate, full restoration might take centuries… or even a millennium.
Could his spirit form last that long?
After thinking it through, Kyūjō reached a clear conclusion: before relying too much on external methods, he needed to understand the power system of Soul Society.
Learning how to manipulate spiritual particles, understanding their nature—those things would be essential if he wanted to heal faster.
And if he could already absorb spiritual particles… didn't that mean he had the talent to enter the Shin'ō Academy?
He wasn't entirely sure, but it was worth trying.
Besides, among all the different paths to power in this world, Kyūjō naturally gravitated toward the Shinigami way.
Not for any complicated reason, really.
Just because…
It looked cool.
…Okay, maybe that was more the author's preference.
Shinigami fought with Zanpakutō, spiritual blades that embodied their soul.
And for Kyūjō—a swordsman who had trained in countless lifetimes—there was no profession more fitting.
Not to mention, life in Seireitei was way more comfortable than in Rukongai.
For someone like Kyūjō, who absolutely loved food, the lack of delicious meals here was nothing short of torture.
As for Aizen Sōsuke—the genius antagonist of this world, currently residing somewhere in Seireitei—Kyūjō wasn't worried at all.
If memory served, Aizen's Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu, had the power to manipulate all five senses through absolute hypnosis, right?
But would that even work on him?
That technique was eerily similar to the Genjutsu from the Kurama Clan back in Naruto's world.
And Kyūjō had already awakened Infinity—a perfect counter to any form of sensory manipulation.
Aizen was a mastermind, no doubt. His mastery of Kyōka Suigetsu pushed it to unimaginable levels.
In the hands of anyone else, that sword probably wouldn't be half as terrifying.
After all, a Zanpakutō always reflected its wielder's soul.
But unfortunately for Aizen…
Against Tachibana Kyūjō, such tricks were useless.
— — —
Now that we've reached this point, it's necessary to first break down the various branches of power that exist in this world.
The first is the power system of the Shinigami—the Gods of Death.
A Shinigami's main power revolves around their Zanpakutō, a spiritual weapon that acts as the core of their strength.
Each Shinigami possesses a unique Zanpakutō. At the beginning, it takes the form of an Asauchi—a plain, ordinary katana with no abilities of its own.
But over time, as the wielder bonds with the blade, the Zanpakutō awakens its true power.
The first stage of that awakening is called Shikai. When a Shinigami learns the true name of their Zanpakutō and calls it forth, the blade transforms—revealing its distinct form and unique ability.
The shape and powers of a Shikai differ from person to person, reflecting their soul and character.
The second stage—its final form—is Bankai. This is a far more advanced manifestation that unleashes the full might of the Zanpakutō.
Bankai isn't just a technique—it's a complete embodiment of mastery over one's blade. Reaching this level typically places a Shinigami at a power equivalent to a Captain in the Gotei 13, the Thirteen Court Guard Squads of the Soul King's military.
But unlocking Bankai isn't easy.
It can't be rushed. It isn't something that can be copied or taught in a week. It's the result of intense training and a deep, personal understanding of one's sword spirit.
Just look at Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto—his Bankai displayed a monumental difference between what it was a thousand years ago and how it evolved later.
Or Hitsugaya Tōshirō, whose youth limited him from fully stabilizing his Bankai. What he wielded was a form not yet matured.
Besides their Zanpakutō, Shinigami also train in four core combat disciplines:
Zanjutsu – the art of swordsmanship. This focuses purely on physical technique using the Zanpakutō without relying on its special abilities. Notable masters include the first Kenpachi, Captain Yamamoto, Kenpachi Zaraki, and Gin Ichimaru.
Hakuda – unarmed martial arts. Close-quarters combat using nothing but one's body. Experts include Yamamoto, Yoruichi Shihōin, and Soi Fon.
Hohō – high-speed movement techniques, with Shunpo being the most famous. It allows users to flash-step across vast distances in an instant. Top users include Yoruichi, Soi Fon, and Yamamoto.
Kidō – spiritual arts, activated through incantations and spiritual control. Kidō is split into two major branches:
Hadō (Way of Destruction) – offensive spells used to attack or obliterate targets.
Bakudō (Way of Binding) – defensive or restraining spells used to bind, seal, or shield.
Powerful Kidō practitioners include Sōsuke Aizen, Tessai Tsukabishi, and Hachigen Ushōda.
— — —
Next is the path of the Quincy.
Their abilities stand in direct contrast to the Shinigami.
While Shinigami purify Hollows—returning their souls to the cycle of rebirth—Quincy eliminate Hollows entirely, erasing their existence.
This fundamental difference has caused long-standing conflict between the two.
The world of Bleach is divided into three realms: the Human World, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo (home of the Hollows).
Disrupting the balance in one inevitably affects the others. That's why, even though Soul Society could overpower Hueco Mundo, they never sought its destruction. Wiping out Hollows would collapse the natural order, dragging both the human realm and Soul Society into chaos.
Roughly two hundred years before the main story (which is now), the Shinigami launched a large-scale purge of the Quincy, following repeated violations in the human world.
Only a few pure-blooded Quincy survived the onslaught carried out by the Gotei 13.
Most Quincy use spiritual bows as their main weapon, formed by gathering and shaping spiritons—ambient spiritual particles in the air.
Their unique ability lies in breaking down and absorbing spiriton-based matter, allowing them to manipulate spiritual particles far more freely than Shinigami.
They also developed movement techniques akin to Shunpo. One of them is Hirenkyaku, which uses spiriton flow beneath their feet to achieve blinding speed.
In the future, under Yhwach's leadership, Quincy forces would evolve into terrifying beings with supernatural powers far beyond what's currently known—but that's a story for another time.
— — —
The third power branch is the Fullbringers, introduced later in the Bleach storyline as a modern-day power system.
Fullbringers are humans born with traces of Hollow energy, inherited when their parents were attacked by Hollows.
They awaken powers that draw out the essence of objects they deeply care about—transforming and empowering those items.
Fullbring is described as the "power of love"—manipulating the soul within inanimate matter.
— — —
The fourth and final force: the Hollow.
When humans die, their souls—known as Pluses—begin to wait for passage to the afterlife. However, if grief, regret, or trauma are too strong, or if they're exposed to outside influence… their souls corrode.
They fall into darkness, becoming Hollows—savage spiritual monsters that devour other souls.
Hollows roam between the human world and Soul Society, often retreating to Hueco Mundo, their domain.
They feed on each other as well, evolving as they consume more.
Once their power surpasses a certain threshold, they become Menos, divided into three classes:
Gillian (Menos Grande)
Adjuchas
Vasto Lorde
— — —
Among them, Vasto Lorde are said to rival the strength of a Gotei 13 Captain—though that, of course, depends on the individual.
It's worth noting that not all Captains are created equal.
Some may have just awakened their Bankai, while others—like Yamamoto—have fought across a millennium. Naturally, their Bankai differ vastly in both maturity and destructive potential.
— — —
After spending several days wandering through Eastern District 11 of Rukongai, Tachibana Kyūjō finally confirmed—thanks to his Infinity perception—how one could enter Shin'ō Academy.
Apparently, the enrollment requirements weren't too strict. As long as a person had the potential to become a Shinigami, they could apply.
Even better—District 11 had a local registration branch.
…Or so he thought.
Unfortunately, this year's application window had just closed.
Which meant… he would have to wait a full six years for the next opportunity.
Yes. Six years.
The curriculum at Shin'ō Academy lasted six years, and they only accepted new students when a full class graduated.
Was there any other school that only opened admissions once every six years?
Could Kyūjō accept that?
Surprisingly…
Yes. He could.
— — —
Six years later...
Time passed in a blur.
Life in Soul Society turned out to be far more peaceful than Kyūjō had expected. The residents of District 11 lived in quiet harmony, free from fear or oppression.
In fact, during those six years, not a single major conflict broke out. Even petty arguments were rare.
Kyūjō hadn't encountered a single character from the main Bleach storyline. That made sense—Rukongai was vast, and the current timeline was long before the events of the series began.
Most likely, many familiar names—Renji Abarai, Rukia Kuchiki, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Momo Hinamori—hadn't even been born yet.
As far as Kyūjō recalled, all of them were under two hundred years old during the main timeline.
Other major characters were probably still residing in Seireitei, the inner city of Soul Society.
As for Kyūjō?
He didn't even qualify to step foot in that realm yet.
Sure, if he traveled to one of the upper districts, he might've stumbled across someone recognizable…
But Kyūjō didn't have time for that.
He had spent those six years as a complete hikikomori—secluded in his small home, diligently practicing his Breathing Technique to absorb spiritual particles.
Slowly, steadily, he worked to repair the core of his shattered soul.
And all the while…
He waited.
Waited for the day that Shin'ō Academy would open its gates once again.
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