Bleach: Soi-Fon's Challenge Begins with Ultra Instinct

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General care clinic.

Sui-Feng lay sideways on the hospital bed with a languid look, chewing half an apple with complete indifference. Beside her, Omaeda was peeling another apple with a worried frown.

"Captain, are you really not going? This is your captain's seat we're talking about!"

"Not going," Sui-Feng replied flatly, shifting to a more comfortable position. "If he wants it, let him have it. If he can take it..."

Omaeda sighed. Sui-Feng's injuries had long since healed, yet ever since hearing Su Li would be taking the captain's assessment, she'd refused to leave the clinic. She ignored all team affairs, leaving nearly everything to Omaeda, who didn't dare bother Su Li with small matters like rosters and patrol rotations.

Though Su Li was the vice-captain, Omaeda wasn't very familiar with him. But after witnessing Su Li's terrifying power during the Menos Grande invasion, he now harbored a faint fear toward this seemingly untouchable vice-captain.

Sui-Feng had remained like this for nearly half a month—doing nothing but sleeping, snacking on melon seeds, or zoning out. Sometimes, her dazed expression would turn into a blush. Omaeda had no clue what was going on in her mind, and her refusal to participate in Su Li's assessment had left him helpless. Both of them were technically his superiors, and he didn't dare say a word.

Still, he stayed by her side loyally.

"Don't you really like your vice-captain? If he becomes captain, you should be thrilled, right?" Sui-Feng suddenly glanced at Omaeda, a strange smile playing at her lips.

Omaeda jolted. Pure trap question.

"N-No! Not at all—absolutely not!"

He wanted to crawl into a hole. Because truthfully, Sui-Feng had hit the nail on the head.

He did like Su Li—because Su Li was a future super-thigh of Soul Society. Maybe even now, the thickest one around.

"Ugh..." Sui-Feng snorted and flopped back down, crossing one leg over the other. "Honestly, I kinda do want to give that guy the captain's seat. That way, I wouldn't have to deal with all the headaches anymore. Without Lady Yoruichi around, this role just feels... hollow."

Her voice grew softer.

"Captain... back during the graduation match... you were serious, weren't you?" Omaeda asked tentatively. "You meant it, right? That if Su Li defeated you, you'd give him the position?"

Sui-Feng smirked faintly, eyes tinged with nostalgia.

"That was the plan. But the guy was just so annoying. Acting cool on purpose. I couldn't stand it. So when Central 46 put out the announcement, I didn't object. Hmph. I just want to see him get knocked down a peg."

Omaeda blinked in surprise. The tone... there was something odd about it. Was this that thing girls did when they teased boys they liked?

He shook his head violently. Impossible. Sui-Feng? Romantic feelings? No way. But... what if?

He didn't dare continue the thought. He lowered his head and kept peeling, sneaking glances at Sui-Feng now and then with a tangled heart.

---

School Martial Arena.

On the field, Su Li and Zaraki Kenpachi faced each other. The breeze rustled fallen leaves. The air was tense and heavy.

"Wait, wait. Captain Kenpachi, aren't you jumping the gun a bit? They haven't even chosen their opponent yet." Ichimaru Gin's sly voice broke the silence.

"Heh. Shut it, fox-face," Zaraki Kenpachi scoffed. "If you want to fight him so bad, beat me first."

Ichimaru's smile faded just a touch. "Oh? That's your angle... You're as direct as ever."

His hand moved slightly toward his sword, and the air grew colder.

"Hey! Know your place!" Sasakibe barked sternly, then turned to Su Li. "Vice-Captain Su Li, state your choice. Who will you challenge?"

All eyes turned to him.

"Pick me already! Quit hesitating!" Zaraki roared impatiently. "Men like us live to fight!"

Su Li paused. In truth, it didn't matter who he picked. After a full month of focused training, he felt confident facing any of them. Even Yamamoto—though challenging the Head Captain was, of course, out of the question.

Only one person was off-limits: Aizen.

Su Li knew he could probably beat Aizen now. But prematurely provoking him might disrupt the grand arc. Best to let Aizen follow the script—for now. Karakura Town would be his stage. Until then, he'd let Aizen dream of his own invincibility.

What Aizen didn't know was that the boy he studied so closely wasn't using strategy or luck. He was following a script. Many years later, locked away in endless Hell, Aizen would still lose sleep at the thought.

"I've decided," Su Li said, raising his gaze. "Since Captain Kenpachi wants to fight so badly, I'll honor his wish."

The arena fell into stunned silence. Kenpachi's name was synonymous with battle madness. His combat power ranked just beneath Yamamoto himself. And Su Li... actually chose him?

"Hahahaha! Kid, I respect that!" Komamura Sajin grinned.

"This guy's got guts," Shiba Isshin nodded.

"Though flashy, he's got backbone," Byakuya murmured, voice uncharacteristically soft.

"Good," Yamamoto stroked his beard, clearly pleased.

"Xiao Su, be careful! Ken-chan's super strong!" Yachiru shouted cheerfully from the stands.

"You really made me wait..." Zaraki muttered with a grin. Then, with a roar, he drew his Zanpakutō.

"I'm so happy!!"

His eyes flared with wild excitement. The beast was unleashed.

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