"Arata-kun, what kind of Shinigami do you want to be?"
That question forced Arata into deep thought.
Ever since he came to this world, he had been occupied with constantly increasing his strength and fulfilling the system's judgments.
He had almost never thought about that question.
Did he want to sit high above like Aizen?
Or protect the important people around him like Ichigo?
Or would he destroy everything rotten and regressive in this world?
For now, he couldn't grasp the answer.
But there was one thing he was completely certain of.
"I just want to become strong enough, strong enough that no one can stand in my way or influence anything I want to do," Arata said, carefully choosing his words.
"A very pure idea."
Unohana Retsu listened quietly, and a complex emotion flickered in her eyes.
"But you must understand that even someone as powerful as the Supreme Captain can be bound by various external factors."
Arata grinned: "In that case, I'll become stronger than the Captain-sama."
The one who speaks may not mean it seriously, but the one who listens may take it very seriously.
Unohana Retsu stared at him silently for a long time, then smiled faintly with a special meaning.
"Alright, enough about that topic. Hurry up and go to the 11th Division. Captain Zaraki has already sent people several times to rush you."
Arata then remembered that, according to his schedule, he had to go to the 11th Division this week for combat training with Kenpachi.
"Looks like I need to prepare to be squeezed dry."
After saying goodbye to Unohana Retsu, Arata immediately rushed toward the 11th Division.
Before he even entered the doors, deafening yelling and sounds of fighting could already be heard from inside.
"Hahahaha! Come on, more!"
"Captain Zaraki, please, be a little gentler!"
"Ikkaku, stop talking nonsense. If you can't stand up, we move on to the next!"
When he pushed open the doors of the hall, the sight that met his eyes was Kenpachi Zaraki smashing Ikkaku and tossing him aside.
Madarame Ikkaku crashed heavily right at Arata's feet, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, but his face was full of excitement.
He didn't look the least bit like a seriously injured man, his fighting spirit was still at its peak.
"Arata, you finally came!" Kenpachi turned and looked at Arata at the door, and his single eye gleamed with excitement.
"I was starting to think you didn't dare show up. Good timing, the fight with Ikkaku stretched me out a bit, but it didn't satisfy me at all."
Arata smiled helplessly: "How could I not come? It's an honor for me to fight with Captain Zaraki."
"Quit yapping." Kenpachi waved impatiently. "Fight me now! I've been waiting too long!"
To the side, Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika, who had already recovered, tactfully moved aside to watch the fight.
Yachiru Kusajishi sat in the stand that the soldiers had specially built for her, cheerfully munching on konpeitō, as if watching a play.
By the window, a group of soldiers were crowded together observing.
They too wanted to see how the duel would end between their captain and this talented young man who had only just graduated this year.
Arata took a deep breath and slowly approached Kenpachi.
"Captain Zaraki, please!"
The moment Meigetsu left its sheath, it felt as if the temperature in the entire hall dropped by several degrees.
"Interesting!" Kenpachi grinned and also drew his jagged Zanpakutō.
"Let's see how strong you are now!"
There was no unnecessary introduction between the two, the fight could start at any moment.
Kenpachi immediately used shunpo, appeared before Arata, and swung downward!
Clang——!
Arata raised his sword to block, and the powerful impact transferred through the blade to his palms and arms, making his forearms tremble.
So strong!
His pupils slightly contracted; before he had time to think of a counter, Kenpachi's attack had already crashed down again like a storm.
Slash, cleave, stab, swing.
Seemingly just ordinary, random attacks with no pattern, but they almost completely took Arata's breath away.
It was entirely different from previous fights with Unohana Retsu—it was like fighting a rampaging beast!
Every one of Kenpachi's strikes carried the power to crush everything in front of it; Arata didn't dare go head-to-head, and could only dodge using power release techniques and shunpo, searching for an opening to counterattack while evading.
Boom–!
Boom–!
When Kenpachi's blade couldn't reach Arata, it crashed heavily into the floor of the hall, each strike leaving a dent the size of a basketball.
"Don't just dodge!" Kenpachi growled in frustration after a series of attacks failed to hit their target.
He slashed down with full force again, leaving another deep gouge in the floor.
How could he not dodge? Even if Muguruma Kensei went up against him, he might not be able to block such blows head-on.
Arata narrowed his eyes slightly, lowered his body, and shifted his weight forward, using the moment to slip in from the side.
Meigetsu drew a graceful arc through the air, aimed directly at the vital spot under the ribs.
However, the opponent seemed to have predicted the move in advance, he turned and blocked Arata's strike with the back of his blade.
"Too slow, kid!" Kenpachi grinned and kicked Arata in the stomach.
Arata quickly pulled his sword back to defend, but was still thrown several meters backward.
He rolled across the floor a few times, then quickly stood up; in the next moment, a metallic, sweet taste of blood rose in his throat.
"Not bad, you can take a kick from me." Kenpachi swung his sword and looked at Arata with a trace of acknowledgment in his eyes.
"But if that's all you've got, don't even think about leaving here alive today."
Arata wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze growing sharper.
To the side, Ikkaku stared at their battle, not realizing that his forehead was already drenched in sweat.
But although he said he was watching, in truth his eyes could no longer keep up with their speed.
"Yumichika, do you think the captain used even half the strength against me that he's using now?"
"Half? You overestimate yourself, Ikkaku." Yumichika, standing beside him, wore a serious expression with not a trace of intent to spare his friend. "When the captain trained with you, I'm afraid he didn't even use a fifth of his strength."
"Ugh!" Ikkaku shuddered in frustration, completely covered in goosebumps, staring at Arata with disbelief.
"Arata, that kid is seriously messed up…"
"He's a true genius. He's in a completely different realm from us ordinary folks." Yumichika shook his head and sighed.
On the battlefield, Arata held his Zanpakutō crosswise across his chest, his right hand resting on the blade.
"Captain Zaraki, may I use Shikai during regular sparring?"
Faced with an opponent like Kenpachi, Arata felt there was almost no way to fight using only basic power.
He lagged in all aspects from strength to speed, there was no chance of a breakthrough through direct clash.
"Hahahaha! Not to mention Shikai, even if you know it, feel free to use Bankai!" Kenpachi laughed in excitement.
"Hey, hey, hey! Arata, don't do anything stupid! In the Soul Society there's a strict rule that Zanpakutō must not be released inside the Seireitei!" Hearing that, Yumichika immediately jumped in to stop them, afraid that these two lunatics might truly go all out.
He knew well how terrifying Arata's combat record was; if he actually released Shikai, the entire 11th Division might be leveled during their fight.
"Tsk! Boring!" Kenpachi cursed in annoyance.
"In that case, shall we end today's sparring here? Next time I'll ask the Supreme Captain to approve us fighting outside Rukongai. What do you say, Captain Zaraki?"
Arata was also full of fighting spirit and for a moment forgot the rule that Zanpakutō must not be released freely within the Court.
"Hmph! Then don't forget, next time we'll fight for real!"
After the first round of the duel, Arata stayed in the 11th Division.
He also wanted to see how the 11th Division conducted their daily training; that would help him better plan his own teaching methods in the Shinō Academy in the future.
———
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