Chapter 406

2-in-1 chapter:  

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Seireitei, Eleventh Division.

In Aizen’s room, he gazed helplessly at a certain individual lying in a coffin-like pod.

Kaelith layed peacefully inside the life-support capsule, hands folded over his stomach, a serene expression on his face.

Nearby, Hitsugaya Tōshirō kept summoning ice dragons with Hyōrinmaru to cool Kaelith down.

From yesterday afternoon until now, he had performed this task countless times.

If not for years of endurance training to prepare for emergencies, he would have collapsed by now.

Ukitake Jūshirō arrived carrying a few documents, intending to ask Kaelith and Aizen for their opinions.

But upon seeing the scene before him, he froze in surprise.

“What’s going on…?”

Looking at Ukitake, Aizen explained:

“To solve the transportation problem from Rukongai to Seireitei, this guy simultaneously projected 240 copies of himself from parallel worlds into all districts of Rukongai.”

“Although these projections lacked any significant power, the load was still unimaginable.”

“Not only that, he constructed 240 semi-permanent teleportation devices based on shadow ability, all at once.”

“If Yamamoto and I hadn’t been present to stabilize him, he wouldn’t be lying here—he’d be in the Fourth Division’s care.”

Ukitake: “……”

Decades ago, when he heard about Kaelith’s outrageous operations, he used to think: sometimes, his junior really was an incredible person.

Now, hearing about Kaelith’s insane feats, he no longer knew how to react.

This had surpassed anything he could comprehend.

Pulling over 200 versions of himself from parallel worlds, projecting them into reality… building over 200 teleportation gates from Rukongai to Seireitei…

Forget 200—he couldn’t even manage one.

So this was the realm Kaelith had spoken of before: the realm of the transcendent…

For a moment, Ukitake felt a tinge of envy.

But it wasn’t envy of the overwhelming power itself.

It was envy that Kaelith could use his power to act on his resolve and fulfill his promises.

Such a thing—past or future—perhaps only Kaelith could accomplish.

As for himself, there was something he could still do.

That was to give his utmost effort to help establish the council and its supporting infrastructure!

At last, after intense preparations, the first full Soul Society Council officially convened.

As part of the transitional committee, the Shiba family was responsible for logistical support.

But the person in charge was not Shiba Kaien.

It was Shiba Isshin, wearing a captain’s haori, his face bitter.

After receiving a threatening letter from Kaien, he initially planned to ignore it.

So what if he lost Ichigo? Not a big deal—he could just hand him over to Kaien.

Unexpectedly, Yuzu discovered the letter.

She took Karin to Masaki, pleading and crying for their brother to come home.

Between her husband and daughter, Kurosaki Masaki smiled and made her decision....

That was why Isshin was here now.

Watching the representatives from Rukongai entering the hall one after another, Kurosaki Isshin silently cheered them on.

Do your best, everyone!

Hurry up and complete this transition of power so I can retire in peace!

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“What! What did you say!”

In the First Division cafeteria, Kaelith stood at the counter, expression furious.

Behind the window, Sasakibe Chōjirō looked exasperated:

“Kaelith-sama, Captain-Commander Yamamoto’s special lunch has always been a single-portion meal—there’s never a second prepared.”

“If you want it, you’ll need to inform the kitchen tomorrow to prepare another portion for you. There’s none left today.”

Kaelith looked pained:

“How can this be… I’m the Acting Captain-Commander, and I can’t even taste the Captain-Commander’s special lunch!”

After thinking for two seconds, he suddenly broke into a grin:

“I’ve got it. I’ll just change my name to Yamamoto Shigekuni—then that lunch is mine, isn’t it?”

Sasakibe: “?”

Good—today’s Captain Kaelith still refuses to act like a normal person. I’m relieved.

Holding a tray of standard cafeteria fare, Kaelith sat down heavily at a table.

On the other side sat Yamada Seinosuke and Kuchiki Sōjun.

Seated next to Kaelith was Aizen.

The four of them sitting together in the cafeteria again made the scene feel like it was two hundred years ago.

Looking at the two across from him, Kaelith showed a sentimental expression:

“At this moment, I feel so moved.”

Hearing this, Kuchiki Sōjun nodded.

Yes, he felt moved too.

Old friends, gathering together again after all these years—what could be better?

But Seinosuke showed a wary look.

Kaelith definitely had something up his sleeve.

Sure enough, Kaelith continued:

“Seeing how these two fine sons have grown into such capable adults, I, as their father, can’t help but feel like shedding tears…”

Yamada Seinosuke roared and stabbed forward with his chopsticks!

Kaelith cackled, parrying with his own chopsticks, and the two engaged in a fierce duel.

Though Seinosuke’s strength was far inferior to Kaelith’s, as someone who wielded scalpels daily, he was quite skilled at these fine movements.

For a moment, Kaelith couldn’t gain the upper hand.

Suddenly, Kaelith’s gaze flicked downward.

Just as Seinosuke was about to seize the advantage, knocking Kaelith’s chopsticks aside to steal meat from his plate—he suddenly fell to the floor with a thud.

“?”

Seinosuke looked behind him in confusion but saw nothing.

Aizen: “……”

He had clearly seen it—a shadowy hand formed and yanked Seinosuke’s chair out from under him.

....Excellent. Today’s Kaelith still refuses to act normal. That’s reassuring.

While the four old friends dined and bantered, the atmosphere at the Sixth Division was much more awkward.

In the cafeteria, Ichigo wore a Shihakushō, carrying a tray as he sat down at an empty table.

Around him, many Shinigami snuck glances his way.

“Did you see… that’s the Captain’s kid.”

“Mm, I heard his name is Ichigo. He’s pretty handsome.”

“But I heard he calls himself Kurosaki, not Shiba.”

“Huh? Why?”

“No idea… maybe it’s some kind of chūnibyō.”

Hearing this, everyone nodded in understanding.

Hearing this Ichigo felt his eyes twitch.

You’re the chūnibyō! Your whole family’s chūnibyō!!

At most, chūnibyō means changing one’s name—not changing one’s surname entirely!

Originally, he should have been enjoying his middle school summer vacation now.

Before break started, he had already bought several new LSP4 games, planning to enjoy them thoroughly.

But then, his old man claimed he had urgent matters and couldn’t handle Sixth Division business, so he asked Ichigo to help out temporarily.

In truth, Ichigo knew exactly what was going on—his dad just wanted to use summer vacation as an excuse to take their mother and sisters on a trip.

Tch, the more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

It felt like he’d just been hit with Komamura-level frustration.

Suddenly, two figures approached, carrying trays and sitting beside him.

Ichigo raised an eyebrow at the sight of them.

“You two are… Gin and Byakuya?”

Their appearance surprised him a bit.

One was Captain of the Seventh Division, the other of the Ninth—what were they doing here in the Sixth Division cafeteria?

Ichimaru Gin smiled and nodded slightly.

Byakuya clicked his tongue:

“Don’t call me so casually—we’re not that close.”

“Oh, got it, Byakuya.”

“……”

Kuchiki Byakuya narrowed his eyes.

Ichimaru Gin looked at the orange-haired boy with interest.

“Kurosaki-kun, I heard you trained under Kaelith in the living world.”

“Yeah.” Ichigo nodded.

“That guy just showed up at my door, claimed I had Shinigami potential, and before I could react, stabbed me with a Zanpakutō to awaken my powers…”

Thinking of Kaelith’s past actions, Ichigo ground his teeth.

How could such a terrible adult exist!

Well, then again—his dad was much the same. Clearly a legacy from Kaelith.

Come to think of it, wasn’t his dad one of Kaelith’s people?

Naturally, none of them could be decent!

Looking at the two “peers” before him (not really), Ichigo finally found people to vent to.

Under Gin and Byakuya’s gaze, he vented furiously about Kaelith’s outrageous deeds.

Including but not limited to daily harsh training, all sorts of brutal trials, and devilish plans inflicted on him despite being only eight years old.

“Oh-ho…”

Ichimaru Gin kept his eyes nearly closed, smiling like a fox.

After hearing everything, he gently nodded.

“I see. I completely understand.”

“You get it…” Ichigo sighed, lamenting his lost childhood.

Eight years old—eight!

At that age, normal kids were still playing with mud and wetting themselves, while he was already swinging a giant sword to fight monsters.

How was that normal?

As he watched, Gin slowly put down his chopsticks.

“Indeed—you must be executed.”

“?”

For a moment, Ichigo thought he misheard.

“Uh… what did you just say?”

He couldn’t help asking.

Ichimaru Gin opened his eyes slightly.

“To monopolize Kaelith for an entire year, and even receive private training afterward… people like you, people like you…”

“Deserve a little punishment!”

Ichigo: “……?”

He turned to look at Byakuya, about to ask what was going on.

But at some point, Byakuya was already standing.

“Though you haven’t been a Shinigami for long, the fact that Kaelith thought so highly of you suggests you have some skill.”

“In that case, let us see it for ourselves.”

“The Sixth Division’s training ground was funded by the Kuchiki family—its scale and intensity are both sufficient. Let’s go there.”

Ichigo fell into thought.

What exactly was going on here?

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At the Sixth Division training ground, Ichigo rolled his shoulders.

Standing opposite him was Ichimaru Gin.

By now, he was no longer that reckless kid.

Seeing the white haori on Gin’s back, Ichigo was mentally prepared from the start.

Byakuya stood outside the arena, quietly watching.

Originally, he was going to serve as referee, but Rangiku Matsumoto happened to pass by.

When she heard that the son of the Shiba Captain was going to spar with two captains, she enthusiastically joined in.

Standing at the edge, Rangiku raised her arm:

“Everyone! The thrilling battle is about to begin!”

“The genius boy from the living world, son of Captain Shiba and more importantly, personally trained by Kaelith—Kurosaki Ichigo!!”

“Versus! The once-great prodigy of Shin’ō Academy, now Captain of the Seventh Division—Ichimaru Gin!!”

“What will be the outcome?! Who will walk away alive?!”

“Let’s wait and see!”

“Now… begin!!”

With Rangiku’s Kidō-enhanced shout, amplified like a loudspeaker, Ichigo moved.

Holding his large sword, he crossed most of the training ground in an instant, arriving before Ichimaru Gin.

No fancy tricks—he opened with a direct and powerful strike!

Although Gin had mentally prepared himself, knowing Kaelith wouldn’t have trained an unremarkable student, he was still surprised by Ichigo’s speed.

Originally, he planned to rely on Shinso’s range advantage to take the initiative.

Unexpectedly, Ichigo was this fast!

In that brief moment, he could only raise his short sword to intercept—

Clang!!!!

At the instant their blades clashed, sparks erupted.

Then, Gin’s expression changed.

In his stunned gaze, Ichigo’s strike was like a massive dump truck, hundreds of meters long and fully loaded, crashing down on his blade!

After a brief struggle, Gin was launched into the air, slamming into the reishi barrier with a boom!

Though he quickly recovered midair, landing steadily, the blood at the corner of his mouth betrayed the damage from that strike.

Outside the arena, Byakuya’s eyes widened slightly.

This Kurosaki Ichigo… was strong!

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