...
Upon hearing Kuchiki Byakuya's words, Kuchiki Ginrei's blood pressure rose.
He had originally thought the child would come in to discuss something important, but instead, it was such a childishly selfish request.
He didn't want to be a Vice-Captain; instead, he wanted to enroll in the academy?
Was he treating the duties of a Shinigami as a game?
It was fortunate that Kuchiki Ginrei generally disliked scolding; if it had been Genryusai who heard these words, he surely would have given Byakuya a severe lecture.
His mood becoming somewhat complex, Kuchiki Ginrei slowly put down the brush in his hand.
Under the dim lamplight, he gently exhaled a breath of stale air, then raised his eyes to look at Byakuya, uttering two words with solemnity:
"Denied."
"Why?!" Kuchiki Byakuya was utterly bewildered. In his memories, his grandfather had always been very fond of him.
It was just going to school; the position of Sixth Division Vice-Captain wasn't indispensable for him.
Wouldn't it be the same if someone else took it for six years?
The refusal came too abruptly and decisively, like a pre-determined answer, leaving no room for negotiation, making Byakuya temporarily unable to accept it.
Kuchiki Ginrei's tone remained steady, but upon closer listening, it contained a subtle yet undeniable hint of sternness:
"There is no 'why.' Denied means denied. Byakuya, stop acting like a child."
"You should understand the purpose behind these arrangements we've made."
"The Kuchiki Clan needs a strong successor in his prime. Although Byakuya's body has recovered, his temperament is too soft."
"He is suitable to be a Captain, but not suitable to be the clan head."
"But precisely, the position of clan head needs to be linked with the position of Captain; only then can our family's standing and foundation be stable..."
At this point, Kuchiki Ginrei's gaze shifted slightly, and a touch of melancholy appeared on his aged face.
After another long sigh, he placed both hands on the desk, stating an established fact:
"I have already discussed this thoroughly with Byakuya."
"Once you become a Vice-Captain and mature, understanding the many affairs within the Sixth Division, both the Captaincy and the position of clan head will be inherited by you."
"Now, you say you don't want to be a Vice-Captain..."
"Byakuya, in your eyes, is the future of the family less important than your personal whims?"
"You are no longer a child."
Upon hearing these words, Kuchiki Byakuya immediately fell silent.
He had not anticipated that the seemingly trivial matter of becoming a Vice-Captain was actually tied to the future of the Kuchiki Clan.
Could he say that the family's future was unimportant?
Clearly not.
Unlike Hisana's situation,
he was first and foremost a member of the Kuchiki Clan, and only then a Shinigami. After all, his ancestors were one of the Five Great Noble Families; no matter how willful he was, he couldn't deviate from that.
His expression was somewhat dejected, yet even so, to let him watch Hisana potentially interact with other boys...
Byakuya simply couldn't do it.
Seeing Byakuya's conflicted expression, Kuchiki Ginrei roughly guessed what he was thinking and sighed softly.
Click.
Kuchiki Ginrei picked up his brush again, writing characters to cultivate his mind and character.
At the same time, he seemingly casually offered Kuchiki Byakuya another option:
"Becoming a student, you likely cannot do."
"The position is unsuitable, and your identity is also unsuitable."
"However, becoming a teacher, after you become the Sixth Division Vice-Captain, might have some possibility."
"Some practical courses within the Spiritual Arts Academy are typically taught by Shinigami of Vice-Captain rank or higher as temporary teachers."
"Your Shunpo is excellent; you've even mastered Yoruichi's Utsusemi. Why not give it a try?"
No one knows a son like his father, and the same applies to a grandson.
Since he understood that the root cause of Kuchiki Byakuya's abrupt action lay with Hisana, then the heart's ailment naturally needed to be cured with medicine for the heart.
However, the motive for enrolling was too obvious, completely lacking the demeanor a nobleman should possess, instead resembling an overturned vinegar jar...
The head of the Kuchiki Clan, no matter how pure his feelings, should not act in such a way.
But after becoming a teacher, the situation would be completely different.
Teacher-student? Such a concept doesn't exist in the Shinigami world.
Not to mention, sometimes some students are even older than their teachers.
Therefore, in Kuchiki Ginrei's view, this was perhaps the least boundary-crossing and least abrupt approach within the rules.
Upon hearing this, Kuchiki Byakuya's eyes immediately lit up, and he instantly declared that his grandfather was the best.
As the saying goes, 'mountains and rivers doubt no road,' why did he have to be a student?
Thinking about it carefully, being a student was indeed too restrictive, with many inconveniences and constraints.
But if he became a teacher, in the future, if he saw any student trying to get close to Hisana, he could legitimately call them to his office.
He could either subtly hint at them or directly state his stance, making those students with ill intentions retreat in the face of difficulty.
This way, most of the troubles around the two of them could be avoided.
Furthermore, he was a high-ranking nobleman.
Even if those students wanted to complain to their elders, they would be completely helpless.
Because, it is only right and proper for a teacher to educate students.
Thinking of this, Kuchiki Byakuya left the study room filled with joy.
His mind was now entirely focused on becoming a Vice-Captain as quickly as possible, and then immediately applying for the position of Shunpo teacher, wishing he could achieve his desire at once.
He had never imagined that the Shunpo he had honed by playing hide-and-seek with Yoruichi would actually come in handy on this day...
In the study, watching Kuchiki Byakuya's excited departing back, Kuchiki Ginrei gently shook his head.
Still too impatient, this child. Hopefully... a period of teaching will make him more composed.
After all, in front of other nobles, one must always maintain one's composure.
As the saying goes, 'a woman adorns herself for her admirer,' and why should it be any different for men?
The principles are all interconnected.
...
Time flew by, like a white steed streaking across a gap.
The day of Kuchiki Byakuya's succession as the Sixth Division Captain and the twenty-eighth head of the family arrived as scheduled.
And on that very same day, a new Shunpo teacher joined the Spiritual Arts Academy.
Indeed.
Previously, Shihouin Sennich was also extremely proficient in Shunpo, but no matter how skilled he was, he was just one person, and at the same time, due to the Shihouin Clan, there were certain constraints.
Shihouin Sennich had served as a teacher for decades, training many talents for the Gotei 13, and the favor Yoriichi Tsugikuni had bestowed upon him by resurrecting him was almost repaid.
Therefore, to prevent the quality of future graduating students from declining too severely, the more teachers, the better.
When Kuchiki Byakuya went to apply, it was almost a smooth ride.
Soon, this news reached Yoriichi Tsugikuni's ears, and he was slightly surprised.
But then, recalling Hisana's existence, that surprise turned into understanding.
Regardless of Byakuya's personality, just such a devoted attitude was worthy of appreciation.
Knowing that becoming a student might disturb Hisana, he cleverly sought a solution from the perspective of a teacher...
It could both strengthen the entire Seireitei and his actions wouldn't seem out of place...
If he had thought of this method himself, then Yoriichi would indeed look at him with new eyes.
In the days that followed, Yoriichi Tsugikuni continued to observe Kuchiki Byakuya without revealing his thoughts.
He found that Byakuya had indeed become much more composed compared to before, although he would occasionally lose his temper.
But it was always directed at those noble male students who tried to get close to Hisana with ill intentions...
It must be admitted that when it came to protecting his own, Kuchiki Byakuya was unsurpassed.
Even those nobles who tried to cause trouble were rebuffed by him one by one.
Speaking disdainful words in a calm tone.
After observing for three months, Yoriichi Tsugikuni's approval of him increased by a few points.
Arrogance was fine; arrogance towards others was precisely a form of protection for Hisana.
Moreover, Byakuya had the right to be arrogant—he and his father were, after all, different.
The difference was that Kuchiki Byakuya had no one he particularly wanted to protect; for the sake of the family, a gentler personality was naturally better.
Only this way could he forge good relationships, make more friends, and allow the family to receive assistance in all aspects.
But Kuchiki Byakuya didn't need friends; with his father and grandfather supporting the family, he could completely do what he wanted.
Just like now, silently guarding Hisana like a knight...
Time thus quietly flowed by, day by day, in a routine of peaceful days and occasional ripples.
One day.
The Spiritual Arts Academy welcomed a rare holiday.
It was springtime, and Yoriichi Tsugikuni had originally planned to take his family to the Human World to view cherry blossoms. Unexpectedly, Kuchiki Byakuya also appeared in the Human World.
The reason was that he had taken on a mission related to the Human World, to investigate whether a certain seal in a particular place showed any abnormalities.
The location was Karakura Town.
...
South Rukongai Third District.
Abarai Renji and Kira Iziru walked together.
As one of Kira Iziru's few friends, the two had often supported each other in their daily lives.
Therefore, even when Renji requested to stay at Kira's house for a few days, Kira Iziru did not refuse.
He knew Renji was an orphan and even more unfortunate than himself.
The two walked and chatted, their conversation intermittent, and soon arrived at Kira's house.
As they approached the door, they saw a tall figure busy in the courtyard—Gyomei Himejima was vigorously chopping firewood.
Thwack!
Sensing the two's return, Gyomei Himejima stopped his movements, slowly raised his head, and looked towards outside the house.
After a few months apart, he noticed that Kira Iziru seemed much more cheerful than before; a faint smile often adorned his once somewhat introverted and shy face.
—That's good.
Was the person beside him his friend?
Rare red hair...
It's worth mentioning that, through his interactions and communication with neighbors over the past few months, he had gained a general understanding of the Soul Society and the Shinigami.
He also knew about the existence of Reiatsu...
Although he wasn't sure what level of Reiatsu he possessed, occasionally, some strong individuals who came from the more remote areas were no match for him...
With just an axe, he could cut through the opponent's Zanpakuto.
Because of this, Gyomei Himejima subtly showed a tendency to become the strongest in this area.
"Apprentice?"
A moment later, after dinner, everyone sat together, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
Abarai Renji looked at Gyomei Himejima with sincere eyes, gathering his courage, and spoke the request he had been mulling over for a long time.
Gyomei Himejima was slightly startled upon hearing this.
Since entering the Soul Society, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.
After all, although some Rukongai residents knew he was strong, they dared not approach him due to the difference in physique.
His appearance was also extremely imposing; even when he was a human, no Demon Slayer Corps member was willing to become his successor.
If the first impression is bad, how can there be further contact and understanding?
Now...
"Amitabha..."
Recalling various past events, Gyomei Himejima clasped his hands together, tears silently streaming down his face.
This scene, though somewhat perplexing to Abarai Renji, he did not comment further.
He simply stood there quietly, waiting for Gyomei Himejima to respond.
This monk is very strong; that was Renji's first impression. And as a student from the ordinary class, it's incredibly difficult to stand out...
To repay Yoriichi Tsugikuni's kindness, he couldn't easily miss any opportunity to become stronger...
Even if it turned out to be a false hope in the end.
At least...
He had tried.
...
The air seemed to freeze, falling into a long silence.
After a long while, Gyomei Himejima finally accepted Abarai Renji as his disciple.
This wasn't solely because Renji's sincerity moved him; it was more so because he recalled memories from his past as a Human.
Once upon a time, he deeply disliked children, but Tanjirou's appearance completely overturned his preconceived notions about them.
The current Abarai Renji was quite similar to the former Tanjirou.
From their appearance, both were around fifteen years old.
Their personalities and hair colors were also very close.
Hopefully...
This child wouldn't disappoint him.
Of course.
As his master, Gyomei Himejima didn't forget to remind Abarai Renji that his training would be extremely arduous.
Neither ordinary people nor common souls could endure it.
Abarai Renji responded solemnly that it was fine, as he was not afraid of hardship.
He thought, no matter how arduous, how arduous could it be?
However, on the day of training, he realized he was wrong.
And he was ridiculously wrong.
"I don't know what you learn in school, but as my disciple, I have only one requirement."
"That is, your physical fitness must meet the standards..."
At the foot of a mountain near South Rukongai, a waterfall roared.
Gyomei Himejima stood by the waterfall, clasped his hands, and softly stated the upcoming training content:
"Endure the waterfall's scour for ten seconds to pass..."
"This is the first step, to test your basic physique."
"Only after passing this stage can the next training begin..."
Gyomei Himejima did not intend to teach Abarai Renji the pure Stone Breathing Technique.
Through Transparent World, he could see that Renji was not suited for this Breathing Technique.
So, he could only settle for the next best thing: first strengthen his physique.
At the same time, he would observe his courage and perseverance, as not everyone could endure the suffering brought by cultivation.
The waterfall here couldn't knock him unconscious; this was Gyomei Himejima's conclusion after careful calculation.
However, even though Gyomei Himejima was confident, Abarai Renji's face remained ashen, filled with disbelief.
What was going on?
Why did the first test involve standing under a waterfall?
With his small build...
Forget ten seconds, he probably couldn't even last one second...
A thought of retreat flashed through Abarai Renji's mind, and his steps slightly faltered.
But then he remembered the purpose of his apprenticeship, and finally gritted his teeth, resolutely agreeing.
With a nervous heart, Abarai Renji stepped into the waterfall.
Only when he truly entered the waterfall did he realize that it wasn't as terrifying as he had imagined.
Ten seconds passed in an instant, and after coming ashore, a more systematic training officially began.
Given that his physical fitness and courage had met the standards, the subsequent training for lung capacity and strength could perhaps be appropriately increased in difficulty.
Gyomei Himejima knew that Renji wouldn't stay here for too long, as he still had school to attend...
But no matter what, since he had accepted him as a disciple, he had to fulfill his duty as a master.
Even with limited time, he had to do his best to improve Renji's strength as much as possible within these few short days.
Although challenging, this was by no means an impossible fantasy...
...
...
In the Human World.
Kuchiki Byakuya gazed at the instructions on the Divine Messenger, muttering to himself:
"A seal? I never thought there would be traces of the Kuchiki Clan preserved here in Karakura Town..."
"What exactly is sealed by this seal that needs to be checked annually?"
"Why am I only finding out about this now?"
Layers of doubt arose in Byakuya's mind. Logically, the Kuchiki Clan's duties had always been unrelated to the Human World.
Even when Aizen invaded Seireitei, the Sixth Division led by the Kuchiki Clan merely guarded the vicinity of the Noble District.
Facing such an urgent crisis, they acted this way, let alone trivial matters in the Human World...
Thinking about this, although he found the matter somewhat strange, he merely frowned slightly and didn't take it too seriously.
After all, he didn't know what his grandfather and father had experienced back then...
It's better to follow the mission requirements and head to the designated location first.
Byakuya let out a soft breath, then his figure flickered, instantly disappearing from where he stood.
Next, when his figure reappeared, he suddenly saw Yoriichi Tsugikuni and his group.
And Yoriichi and the others also saw him almost at the same time.
Their gazes met, and for a moment, the atmosphere became slightly awkward.
Kuchiki Byakuya: "..."
Oh no!
It seems I've been mistaken for a stalker...
Why is Hisana here?
If I say I was just passing by, would you believe me?
Hisana looked disbelieving.
She silently held her forehead, a feeling suddenly arising in her heart that this guy always seemed to appear by her side inadvertently, as if he were omnipresent.
—What is he trying to do?
After Byaku descended from the sky, coughed twice, and explained, everyone realized that he had arrived in the Human World on a mission.
It was a bit of a coincidence.
But upon closer thought, it was actually quite normal.
Karakura Town wasn't large, and considering his status as a teacher and Vice-Captain, he probably could only leave Soul Society to perform missions during holidays...
"So..."
Hisana stared at Byakuya and suddenly asked, "Is your appearance here truly just a coincidence?"
"Of course." Byakuya responded, feigning composure. He knew in his heart that he absolutely couldn't show any weakness now, or he would be seen as a pervert.
Following someone even when they're on a trip...
What else could that be but a pervert?
If word got out, it would bring utter disgrace to the Kuchiki Clan.
Hisana, relieved, replied:
"I see, then it's fine. Let's go together. It seems your route is the same as ours?"
Byakuya wasn't entirely sure if their paths were the same.
He looked at Hisana with slight hesitation, then turned to Yoriichi Tsugikuni, and finally, could only reluctantly accept Hisana's invitation.
What if it wasn't on the way? Checking the seal a few days later wouldn't be a big deal.
It's not as if nothing happened for the past few centuries, and now that it's his turn, something unexpected would occur, right?
He wasn't a harbinger of disaster, where events would happen wherever he went.
Along the way, Kuchiki Byakuya recounted the details of the mission he was handling.
In his opinion, this was not an important matter, and Yoriichi Tsugikuni, as a high-ranking noble, had the right to know such things.
Perhaps Yoriichi knew about past events related to this mission.
Unfortunately, after listening, Yoriichi shook his head, stating that he had never heard of the existence of the seal...
However, speaking of events related to the Kuchiki Clan that were still unknown, Yoriichi did recall one instance.
"Kuchiki Kōga."
"Kuchiki Kōga?" Kuchiki Byakuya frowned slightly upon hearing this name. Who was that?
Was there such a person in the Kuchiki Clan?
It sounded somewhat familiar.
He seemed to have vaguely heard this name when he was little, but after growing up, no one ever mentioned it again, and his impression had completely faded.
"You don't know him?" Yoriichi looked at Byakuya, suddenly feeling strange. Kuchiki Kōga almost became Kuchiki Byakuya's uncle by marriage...
Even if Kuchiki Kōga made some mistakes back then, Byakuya, as an important figure in the Kuchiki Clan, shouldn't have no impression at all...
"Should I know him?"
Byakuya responded with a frown, feeling as if their current conversation was separated by a veil, carrying an indescribable strangeness.
It was as if Yoriichi Tsugikuni, as an outsider, understood the Kuchiki Clan far more deeply than he, the next head of the family.
What exactly was going on?
The confusion and doubt in Kuchiki Byakuya's heart grew even stronger.
Seeing this situation, Yoriichi roughly understood what was happening.
But he didn't continue to explain, because neither his grandfather nor his father had told Kuchiki Byakuya.
It would be out of line for him, an outsider, to speak of it...
The conversation between the two gradually lessened, and the atmosphere became heavy.
Not long after, everyone arrived at a beautiful, sunny place with cherry blossoms fluttering.
Some laughter appeared beside Yoriichi Tsugikuni, breaking the heavy atmosphere.
Kuchiki Byakuya, filled with deep doubt, silently opened his Divine Messenger and saw that the sealed location was not far from here.
Knowing that Yoriichi Tsugikuni was unlikely to tell him the truth, Kuchiki Byakuya decided to finish the mission as quickly as possible and return to Soul Society to ask his grandfather or father about Kuchiki Kōga.
From Yoriichi Tsugikuni's tone, it seemed he had a close relationship with him...
How could that be?
He had barely left the Kuchiki Clan's compound.
The only people he could be related to were the current family members.
And the current family members were just himself, his father, his grandfather, and his aunt—four people.
It couldn't be his mother, could it?
Even to this day,
Kuchiki Byakuya didn't know the true reason for his mother's death, and the name Kōga didn't sound like a female name either...
His thoughts were in disarray.
As a result, when Kuchiki Byakuya approached the sealed location, the spiritual pressure he subtly emitted inadvertently touched the heart of a certain sleeping Zanpakuto.
It was a subtle sensation.
Muramasa, sealed underground with Kuchiki Kōga, suddenly showed signs of awakening at this moment.
However, Kuchiki Byakuya, who was currently on his mission, was completely unaware of all this.