Chapter 317: Big Brother Has Become Gentler
"You bastard, what kind of nonsense are you spouting!"
Satoru widened his eyes: "Although you're a treacherous schemer with ulterior motives, full of wicked ideas and cunning plots... we've been old friends for decades!"
"Even if you forget everything and become a complete idiot, I'll still take care of you in Las Noches!"
Hearing Satoru's words, Szayelaporro was momentarily stunned.
After a brief moment of surprise, he couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.
"Lord Mikami, you truly are a good person."
"Hmph, the most shining righteous character across the Three Realms is undoubtedly me."
Satoru crossed his arms and accepted the compliment without any trace of shame.
To witness Szayelaporro's final moments... ahem, to witness Szayelaporro's crucial step, Satoru followed him to the laboratory.
Under his watchful gaze, Szayelaporro entered the sealed chamber.
With a series of beeping sounds, strange Reiatsu fluctuations emanated from within.
Looking at the empty chamber on the other side of the machine, Satoru suddenly recalled the mind-body swapping machine invented by Masaki in the original Pokémon series...
Before long, both chamber doors opened simultaneously.
Two Arrancar stepped out from within.
One had golden hair with sharp, beast-like eyes.
The other had pink hair, resembling Szayelaporro before the split, though the powerful aura around him had almost completely vanished.
Satoru assessed the strength of these two Arrancar.
The golden-haired one was an advanced Adjuchas.
The pink-haired one was almost on the verge of falling below the Adjuchas level.
With such weak strength, they weren't even qualified to serve as Fracción, let alone Privaron Espada.
Looking at the two before him, Satoru took a deep breath.
"Szayelaporro?"
The pink-haired Arrancar turned his gaze toward him.
He frowned, as if trying to recall something.
After a few seconds, he tentatively asked: "Lord... Mikami?"
"Yes, it's me."
Satoru nodded. "Do you remember what happened before?"
Szayelaporro shook his head, appearing confused.
Seeing this, Satoru didn't press him.
He called for another Arrancar and instructed him to take care of Szayelaporro, telling him to summon Satoru immediately if any problems arose.
Receiving a direct order from Satoru, the Arrancar was overjoyed and immediately vowed to protect Szayelaporro's safety even at the cost of his own life.
Leaving the room, Satoru shook his head.
The perverted scientist had turned into a fool - he wasn't sure whether this was a good or bad thing.
But regardless, he remained the perverted scientist of his Las Noches - that would never change.
Watching Satoru's retreating figure, Szayelaporro slowly lowered the hand covering his head, revealing a relieved expression.
...
...
"Hah!!"
"No strength! I can't hear you at all!"
"With such a weak voice, you still want to become a captain?!"
"Again!!"
"Hahhhhh!!!!"
"Good! Very spirited!!"
In the Kuchiki Clan courtyard, Satoru sat lounging in a reclining chair, rocking back and forth while issuing commands.
Not far away, Kuchiki Byakuya gripped a bamboo sword with both hands, continuously swinging it forward.
This bamboo sword was custom-made by Satoru from Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
It had two remarkable functions.
The first was weight adjustment.
When infused with Reiatsu, the sword could increase its weight dozens of times.
Only Satoru Mikami could use the weight adjustment function; Byakuya himself couldn't lighten it.
The second function made Byakuya even more desperate.
As long as this sword remained in his grasp, it continuously devoured his Reiatsu, leaving him weak and powerless.
Under these dual buffs, even a simple action like brandishing the sword felt like torture to him.
"I can't do it, Satoru! I have no strength left at all!"
Byakuya couldn't help but cry out.
Satoru lounged in his chair and chuckled, "You were shouting so loudly earlier—how could you be out of strength?"
"?"
Wasn't I forced to shout by you?
Byakuya felt an overwhelming urge to curse Komamura.
He turned his head to the side:
"Father! Say something!"
Sōjun Kuchiki stood by the courtyard, watching his son's miserable state with a gentle smile.
"Keep it up, Byakuya."
It's no use. This useless father is completely unreliable.
The light faded from Byakuya's eyes as he became Satoru Mikami's plaything.
After training, Satoru had the Kuchiki Clan's chefs prepare a lavish feast. Only three-quarters of the dishes were his own favorites; the remaining quarter were all Byakuya's preferred foods.
Under Byakuya's delighted gaze, the two feasted heartily.
After the meal, Satoru took Byakuya out.
They visited the Sixth Division and the East First District of Rukongai, bought some snacks, greeted the local residents, and enjoyed a harmonious time.
Finally, under Satoru's lead, they arrived at the Eleventh Division.
Byakuya held a chicken skewer and looked over happily:
"Satoru, what are we doing next?"
"Hmm, it's about time."
Satoru looked up at the sun and nodded.
Then, he smiled at Byakuya:
"There are three hours until dinner. Let's fight to the death."
"?"
Byakuya was baffled, wondering if he had misheard.
Satoru drew his sword.
"Time limit: before dinner. Area restriction: within the Eleventh Division barracks."
"During this time, I will hunt you down."
"Whether you run, resist, fight head-on, or use hidden weapons and traps..."
"Survive by any means necessary."
"Survive, and we'll eat together tonight."
"Fail to survive, and you'll become dinner tonight."
As he drew his blade, Satoru grinned, revealing a eerie smile.
Feeling the murderous intent in the air so thick it seemed tangible, Byakuya's eyes widened, and goosebumps rose all over his body.
This guy is serious!!
Without hesitation, he turned and fled.
"Zehahahaha!! Don't run! Prepare to die!!!"
Satoru raised his sword and gave chase.
Around them, a dark red aura seemed to spread, filling the air with the scent of blood.
Passing Eleventh Division members all smiled and glanced sideways.
"Is the boss training a newcomer?"
"His methods are quite gentle."
"As expected of the boss—he's become so kind!"
Byakuya: "?"
Is there something wrong with me, or with this world?
...
...
After dinner, Sōjun Kuchiki picked up a lantern and prepared to check on his father.
Along the way, he suddenly saw two figures slowly emerging from the darkness.
Sōjun frowned slightly and looked closer.
At that sight, he couldn't hold back a gasp.
"Byakuya?!"
Sōjun hurried over.
Kuchiki Byakuya, clad in his Shinigami Uniform, was covered in blood and wounds all over his body.
After quickly checking to confirm there was no life-threatening danger, Sōjun looked at the person following behind.
"Satoru... what's going on?! Were you attacked?"
Satoru Mikami tilted his head.
"How could that be? Right now in Soul Society, aside from our teacher, who would have the capability to cut someone up like this right under my nose?"
"Then Byakuya..."
"I did it."
"?"
Sōjun Kuchiki widened his eyes, thinking he must have misheard.
He looked at Byakuya, then back at Satoru Mikami.
"Is this supposed to be training? Is... is it necessary to go this far?"
Satoru Mikami looked at him quietly.
"Teacher Sōjun, time waits for no one."
"Looking at the bigger picture, an era is coming to an end."
"Looking closer, the Wandenreich could arrive at any moment."
"Byakuya only suffered cuts under my care."
"If we lose to the Quincy, there's only one outcome."
Though Satoru didn't specify what that outcome was, Sōjun understood his meaning.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.
Just then, Byakuya raised his hand, interrupting him.
"Father, there's no need to worry."
"To protect the Kuchiki Clan, to protect you and Mother, these minor injuries mean nothing."
"Moreover... I trust Satoru. If he believes this is necessary, then I will do it."
Seeing Byakuya's resolute expression, Sōjun was initially surprised.
Then, complex emotions surfaced in his eyes.
Yes... once upon a time, at Shin'ō Academy, he had looked at Satoru with similar conviction and feelings.
But as he grew older, with a wife and child, he had gradually become softer.
His first reaction upon seeing Satoru train Byakuya was actually to question its necessity.
For a moment, he flushed with shame.
Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder.
Sōjun looked up to see Satoru Mikami smiling at him.
"Don't worry, Teacher Sōjun."
"When that day comes, I'll be at the forefront."
"Unless I fall, I won't let anyone else steal the chance to save the world."
With a hum, he withdrew his hand and headed toward Ginrei Kuchiki's room.
As he opened the door, he seemed to remember something and turned back.
"I'll go in first. Don't follow me."
"Wait until I say you can enter."
"No peeking!"
After giving the father and son a warning look, Satoru slowly pulled his head into the room and closed the door.
Staring at the closed door, the two exchanged bewildered glances.
They were stunned—just whose house was this anyway?
...
...
"Hmm... boy, you're here again?"
Hearing the door open, Ginrei Kuchiki turned to look.
"I don't like that 'again'—it makes it sound like you're tired of seeing me because I visit too often."
Satoru raised an eyebrow.
"I, the charming Satoru, am loved by all, adored by flowers! Countless beauties dream of stealing a kiss from me!"
Ginrei scoffed. "This old man is no beauty... What, do you have that kind of appeal among men too?"
Hearing this, Satoru fell into thought.
Various daily scenes from the Eleventh Division flashed through his mind.
A few seconds later, he shuddered and quickly shook his head, dispelling the horrifying images he'd just recalled.
"Let's not talk about that... Let's proceed with today's experiment."
Watching Satoru expertly attach various materials to his arms and chest, Ginrei couldn't help but voice his confusion.
"Boy, what exactly have you been doing to this old man these days?"
"I know my own body best. Treatment is meaningless now—not even Captain Unohana, or even that person from the Zero Division, can change that."
"All this effort you're putting in is utterly useless."
Satoru shook his head without responding.
He placed one hand on Ginrei's arm while adjusting the instrument with the other.
To make it operable by one person alone, Aizen had designed this machine to be extremely user-friendly, with only a few buttons. All slightly complex data was stored to be processed slowly by him after the experiment.
Including this time, Satoru had already come four times.
During Satoru's operation, red crosses repeatedly lit up on the instrument screen.
Ginrei Kuchiki was quite familiar with this cross symbol.
During the previous three visits when Satoru had come to bother him, the instrument had consistently displayed this symbol.
After what felt like an eternity, just as Ginrei Kuchiki was about to fall asleep, a green checkmark finally lit up.
Seeing this checkmark, Satoru curled up the corners of his mouth.
"Success."
"What succeeded?"
Ginrei Kuchiki opened his eyes.
He was very curious about what Satoru had been doing all these days.
After all, this old bones of his had little practical value left.
Even if Satoru's evil team had developed a machine that could resurrect his corpse and deploy it for battle, it would be utterly useless.
Putting aside other considerations, in a direct confrontation, Satoru alone could handle several of him.
Under Ginrei Kuchiki's gaze, Satoru chuckled.
"Old man, rejoice."
"At this very moment, I, Satoru Mikami, have developed the Soul Society's first Heavy Reishi Purification Device!"
Heavy Reishi Purification Device?
Ginrei Kuchiki was momentarily stunned.
Heavy Reishi... he was aware of it.
Once a Shinigami reaches Third Class Reiatsu or higher, the Reishi composing their body becomes a special, harmful existence that cannot integrate into the Three Realms.
Since realizing he had become an old man, this had become his greatest inner demon.
Every time he thought about how after his death, everyone would hold a ceremony to send his soul to hell, Ginrei Kuchiki felt complex emotions.
He could understand it, accept it, but couldn't help feeling sorrowful.
Hearing Satoru's words, his eyes suddenly widened.
Purification... could it mean?
As if guessing his thoughts, Satoru laughed heartily and proudly declared:
"Exactly as you're thinking!"From now on, Captain-class strong individuals won't need to undergo the Soul Funeral Ceremony to be sent to hell after death.""
"With my device, even Captains can be purified into ordinary Reishi and return to the cycle of the Three Realms!"
"!!!"
Ginrei Kuchiki's eyes widened, showing an expression of disbelief.
Satoru wanted to boast more, but he saw tears streaming from Ginrei Kuchiki's eyes.
"Thank you."
Looking at the man who had been just a boy when they first met, but now wore the white Captain's Haori, Ginrei Kuchiki spoke these two words in a soft yet profoundly solemn voice.
"Satoru-kun, back in the day, I once promised you that the Kuchiki Clan would support you to become a new Great Noble."
"At that time... you refused my proposal."
"I thought it was your youthful arrogance, and that you would someday regret that decision."
"Now, I'm slowly understanding."
"The title of Great Noble might be the highest honor for us."
"But for you, it probably doesn't mean anything at all..."
He slowly sat up.
"Sōjun was truly fortunate to have a friend like you."