The Hōgyoku Is placed Within Me

Shiba's loud yell startled Shinji.

As he blocked, Shinji countered with a backhand slash.

Bang!

Shiba's eyes widened as he was sent flying, skidding tens of meters before coming to a slow stop.

"Wow… that's incredible. He actually sent the captain flying, and that's without a limited spiritual seal."

Matsumoto Rangiku, watching the battle from the sidelines, held her chin excitedly, her eyes sparkling as her chest rose and fell rapidly.

The limited spiritual seal is a restriction placed on vice-captain and captain-level Shinigami.

As mentioned before, because their Reiatsu is overwhelmingly powerful, even unconsciously, they can cause immense damage to the world and humans.

Thus, when vice-captains and captains come to the Human World, 80% of their Reiatsu is sealed.

In other words, their power is reduced to just one-fifth of their original level.

But this time, it was different.

Because the enemy was an Arrancar of the Adjuchas class, both she and Shiba had been sent to the Human World in their full power without the limited spiritual seal.

And yet, Kuchiki Shinji was able to fight evenly with Shiba at full power.

No one would believe this!

"Hey, Rangiku, can you at least save me some face as your captain?"

Shiba complained, looking a bit embarrassed. Then, with a sharp gleam in his eye, he said,

"For the sake of my vice-captain's impression of me, I'll have to get serious now, Shinji."

Boom!

The ground beneath him collapsed as Shiba vanished and reappeared behind Shinji. Instead of attacking with his sword, he curled his middle finger, making a flicking gesture.

"This is the education of love, kid!"

Shiba laughed heartily and flicked his middle finger.

BOOM!

It was like a bomb went off. That single flick caused a massive explosion. The shockwave alone obliterated the ground for dozens of meters, as if it had been plowed over.

"You dodged? That speed… Your Shunpo technique is already at the top level."

A flash of surprise crossed Shiba's face.

"Ittōryū: Raiburial. (One-Sword Style: Thunder Burial)"

A faint voice rang out.

With no unnecessary movements, Shinji seemed to pass through Shiba's body and reappear tens of meters away.

In the next second—

Lightning rained down from the sky.

Roaring thunder struck in a relentless bombardment, leaving no room to escape.

RUMBLE!

Dust rose from the ground.

Shiba stumbled out, his face dark. "Damn it, what kind of sword technique is that?!"

He really fell for it.

He thought Shinji's attack was a simple slash, but who knew it would turn out like this?

This brat was tricky and cunning.

"No one said the name of the move has to match the actual attack, right?"

Shinji tilted his head with a smirk.

Calling out a move's name to warn the enemy? That's ridiculous.

In the rising smoke—Shinji's eyes focused on the sword in Shiba's hand.

Compared to before, Zanpakutō had now taken on a fiery red hue. The handguard was engraved with simple hexagonal patterns, and two tassels hung from the handle's end.

That form… Shikai?

"This is my Zanpakutō, Engetsu. A flame-type blade. Underestimate it, and you'll regret it."

Shiba didn't immediately attack. The implication was clear—he was waiting for Shinji to release Shikai as well.

"What a troublesome captain."

Shinji sighed.

"So, you're finally getting serious?" Shiba chuckled.

"Nani?"

Matsumoto Rangiku was utterly stunned.

This wasn't serious already?

The attacks they exchanged earlier—each one could have killed her instantly.

And that wasn't serious?

So these two had just been warming up?

You two… can you at least consider the feelings of us weaklings?

"Everything… Everything turns to thunder.

Reiki."

As Shinji spoke his Shikai release phrase, his Zanpakutō transformed into its elegant Reiki form. The long, narrow blade gleamed like a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

But the crackling thunder coursing over it spoke of its sheer destructive power.

"A lightning-type Zanpakutō… That's pretty rare."

Shiba's eyes sharpened.

"Let's see just how far you've grown, Shinji."

With both hands gripping his sword, Shiba leapt into the air and swung down.

"Getsuga Tenshō!"

A surge of Reiatsu flowed into Engetsu, forming a massive blue-red crescent slash of pure fire and spiritual energy.

It came crashing down.

"Ittōryū: Thunder—Draw Sword Slash."

Shinji crouched slightly, fingers brushing lightly against his sword's hilt.

In the next moment—A blue-violet lightning flash streaked through the air.

Time seemed to slow.

A dazzling blue-violet light flashed past.

No one could react in time.

BOOM!

Thunder roared.

The collision of lightning and fire created a massive explosion, with shockwaves that felt like a category-12 hurricane.

The force obliterated the warehouse into dust.

"T-This… This kind of power…"

"Kuchiki Shinji was hiding this level of strength?"

Matsumoto Rangiku, already a mess from the wind, instinctively released her Zanpakutō, bracing herself against the force.

The powerful gusts tore at her Shihakushō, exposing more skin.

BOOM!

The explosion's aftershock began to settle.

Shinji vanished with Shunpo—and reappeared above Shiba.

"Ittōryū: Thunderclap!"

"It's useless."

Shiba raised his sword to block—But then his pupils shrank in shock.

"HEY, DAMN IT, SHINJI! CAN'T YOU FIGHT PROPERLY?!"

What the hell kind of "One-Sword Style" was that?!

This wasn't a sword technique—it was a trap.

Shiba had been baited.

BOOM!

A massive lightning column struck Shiba, drilling into the ground and cutting through everything in its path.

It didn't stop until it hit the barrier, causing the entire enchantment to quake violently.

Only then did the attack finally dissipate.

"H-Hey… Captain?"

Matsumoto Rangiku blinked in disbelief.

Did she see that right?

Her captain… got blasted away again?

"Cough… Your attacks are way too sneaky."

Shiba climbed out of the crater, dusting himself off before returning to the battlefield. He looked at Shinji, who was preparing to attack again, and quickly waved his hands.

"No, no, no! That's enough! It was just a spar, and if you keep going, the barrier's going to break!"

Shiba maintained a calm face—but internally, he was shaken to his core.

Like Matsumoto Rangiku said—He had no limited spiritual seal this time.

Yet Kuchiki Shinji—This sixth-generation Shinigami who had just graduated—Not only had formidable combat experience, but he was also highly skilled and could fight him evenly.

They were only using Shikai, and neither had gone all out—but still, it was a tie.

Kuchiki Shinji's Reiatsu was already at captain level.

A sixth-generation student reaching captain-class before even officially joining the Gotei 13?

If word got out…

The entire Soul Society would be thrown into chaos.

---

"Why don't I arrange something for you? What do you think about becoming the vice-captain of the 10th Division?"

In front of the warehouse that had just been completely leveled, Shiba Isshin spoke like a generous boss, squatting on the side of the road with a cigarette in his mouth, exhaling a puff of smoke.

He had taken a liking to Shinji's talent. If Shinji joined the 10th Division, then he could slack off even more!

The dream of slacking off wasn't limited to Shinji—Shiba Isshin had that dream too!

"Captain... I'm still alive, you know," Matsumoto Rangiku said bitterly.

"Oh, right, I forgot you were still here," Isshin replied.

Matsumoto Rangiku: "..."

Can you feel my death glare, you bastard?!

Matsumoto Rangiku took a deep breath, forcing an awkward yet polite smile. Her chest hurt from frustration. What was she supposed to do?

"Forget it, I still prefer a normal life. Just treat me like a part-time worker who clocks in and out."

Shinji quickly waved his hand.

Deadbeat, go away!

This guy was way too dangerous, trying to promote him out of nowhere. He needed to stay far away from people like that.

Besides, with Shinji's level of expert slacking, why would he want a promotion?

Even though he was from the noble Kuchiki family, the younger brother of Byakuya Kuchiki, and the future captain of the 6th Division,

Right now, he was still just the bottom-rung member of the 6th Division.

How could someone like that gain the trust of others?

"What a pity. If you'd joined, I could have lived an even more relaxed life. Such a shame, such a shame."

Isshin shook his head, sighing dramatically. Then, his expression suddenly turned serious.

"Hey, Shinji, no matter what happens, be careful."

He had targeted Kuchiki Shinji once three years ago, and even interfered in the soul burial practice at the Shino Academy three years later.

There were deep waters behind all of this.

"Ah, don't worry, Captain. I'll be careful," Shinji nodded slightly.

"Well then… want to grab a drink? The alcohol in the human world is way better than the stuff in Soul Society."

Isshin grinned, throwing an arm around Shinji's shoulder.

Shinji: "..."

Get your filthy hands off me, you bastard!

—

A few days later, Isshin was nowhere to be found at the stronghold, disappearing almost every day.

At first, he said he was going out for drinks. Then, he didn't even bother making excuses, just vanishing mysteriously.

Eventually, at Matsumoto Rangiku's insistence, he reluctantly returned to Soul Society.

But why the hell did this crazy woman, Matsumoto Rangiku, stay behind?!

Shinji sighed and glanced at a corner of the rebuilt warehouse.

Matsumoto Rangiku was standing in front of a mirror, adjusting her evening dress.

Her pale back was exposed, and her figure was impossible to ignore.

"By the way, Captain Isshin has returned to Seireitei. Why are you still here?" Shinji asked impatiently.

"Why? Isn't it nice to have me here for you to admire?" Matsumoto rolled her eyes and then pouted. "How sad… You heartless little bastard. And here I was worrying about you back in Soul Society..."

"Cut that out. You're creeping me out," Shinji shuddered.

Matsumoto Rangiku: "..."

You're too much, you bastard!

Matsumoto Rangiku's chest trembled with irritation, her lips twitching.

She was a force to be reckoned with among the vice-captains, known as Elder Sister Rangiku!

Do you even understand what Onee-san supremacy is?!

Rolling her eyes, she plopped down into a chair next to him.

"I'm not the captain. He's on official business this time. Now that he's done, he has to go back quickly, or the higher-ups will give him a lecture."

"Wait… So you're saying he might sneak back here again?" Shinji caught onto the subtext.

"Knowing the captain, he definitely will." Matsumoto Rangiku smirked and leaned in conspiratorially. "And besides, I think he's fallen for a human woman. But it looks pretty one-sided."

He's fallen for a human woman?

Shinji's heart skipped a beat.

Isshin… Could it be that he's taken an interest in Kurosaki Masaki?

No wonder he asked for her name.

And for the past few days, he'd been so mysterious, disappearing all the time. It seemed like he had something else planned.

"How do you know?" Shinji asked.

"Of course, because I followed him." Matsumoto Rangiku blurted out without thinking.

Shinji: "???"

You really are the head of the extreme Onee-san faction… I can't believe you.

"Ahem, I misspoke. I just happened to see him while I was out shopping," she corrected herself quickly.

Matsumoto Rangiku poked her own cheek and continued, "I'm using a Gigai now, so I occasionally go out shopping. While I was out buying clothes, I just happened to run into the captain."

A Gigai was essentially an artificial body—a vessel for a Shinigami's soul.

It was used when Shinigami needed to blend in with humans or move around incognito.

But for Isshin and Matsumoto Rangiku, Gigai had become their excuse to go drinking in the human world.

"Then," Matsumoto continued, shifting in her seat, "I just accidentally saw what happened. That girl wasn't paying attention to him at all. In fact, she had the words 'disgusting' and 'Are you a pervert?' written all over her face."

As she spoke, she suddenly burst into laughter, her body shaking.

Just imagining Isshin's awkward, rejected expression was too much.

"Such a mess..."

Shinji pressed his fingers to his forehead, sighing.

But then, he suddenly changed the subject.

"By the way, there's been something strange happening in Karakura Town lately. A lot of injuries, but no casualties. That's… a little odd, don't you think?"

----

I have finished The Draft Chapter's so from now on there will be 3 Chapter Per Week.

400 Stones— 1 Chapter

850 Stones— 1 Chapter