"Captain training plan? So you're doing this kind of thing in secret?"
After arguing with Rukia for a while, Matsumoto Rangiku sneakily leaned over while Shinji wasn't paying attention. She laid her head on his shoulder and glanced at the plan in his hand.
At the very top of the list was the name: Hitsugaya Tōshirō.
"Hmm? Hitsugaya Tōshirō? Never heard that name before."
Rangiku rested her fingers on her chin and looked upward, deep in thought. With a bit of blush, this pose could easily get her into trouble, it was that dangerously cute.
After a few seconds of trying to recall the name...
She shook her head.
Never heard of him.
So… why did Kuchiki Shinji put him on the plan~?
And also, what exactly is this "Captain Training Program"? Training … captains?
Could someone like Hitsugaya Tōshirō become a captain?
Rangiku looked suspicious and crawled forward to grab Shinji's hand, glancing at the second name on the list.
"Eh??? Little Rukia-chan?"
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Rukia was on the list?
"Nani… me?"
From the corner of the room, Rukia walked over with a slightly flustered expression, pointing at herself.
"This really is a plan to train future captains?"
Rangiku looked into Shinji's eyes with doubt, her face now inches from his.
Hitsugaya Tōshirō? Never heard of him.
Rukia? She's only been in the 13th Division for a month.
You're training them to be captains?
"What, you think I'm joking?"
Shinji shot a sideways glance at the blond beauty clinging to his back.
Completely clueless.
She thinks Hitsugaya's unknown just because she's never heard of him?
She thinks Rukia looks too soft and frail, like she'd get blown away by the wind, and, well, flat-chested.
But she has no idea.
Hitsugaya Tōshirō was born with monstrous spiritual pressure, a true outlier among Shinigami. He's a special genius, destined for captaincy.
And his Zanpakutō, Hyōrinmaru, is the strongest Ice-type Zanpakutō.
Once fully mastered, it's no less powerful than Ryūjin Jakka, the legendary flame blade of Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
And as for Rukia,
She might seem like a clueless airhead, but she's insanely talented.
Her Zanpakutō is known as the most beautiful in all of Soul Society.
And once she attains Bankai, her strength will change dramatically.
Not to mention, her Bankai will make her super healthy and strong in the future.
Shinji liked that.
If being healthy means more Rukia, then of course he'd want to help her grow.
So what if Bankai is risky for her? Shinji had the Hōgyoku, didn't he?
He could use it to accelerate Rukia's Bankai awakening, boost her Reiatsu, and get her to captain-level fast.
At the same time, the Hōgyoku would be integrating with Shinji as well.
Two birds, one stone.
He'd been planning this for a long time.
"Still… it's kind of weird. Why would Captain Shinji suddenly want to train new captains?"
Rangiku sat down beside him, looking puzzled.
He just didn't seem the type.
He always dumped the work on her and slacked off, definitely not someone ambitious.
"Oh, because I want to retire."
Shinji answered casually, then immediately froze.
Oops, slipped out.
"Aha, I knew it!" Rangiku gave him a "knew-it" look.
Totally made sense. Everyone else fought to become a captain, but Shinji saw it as a burden.
Of course, he just wanted to slack off in peace.
Rangiku could see right through him.
He was powerful, sure. But he hated responsibilities.
"Well, let's just pretend I didn't say that. If the Old Man finds out, I'm getting chewed out again."
Shinji scratched his nose, half-laughing.
It wasn't his imagination. The Captain-Commander definitely had high expectations of him, almost like a mentor with a student.
He shook his head. Nah, too far-fetched.
Shinji glanced at the little dumb Rukia, then reached out and pinched her cheek.
The moment he did
Rukia's entire face turned bright red like steam was coming out of her. Her voice shrank to a whisper: "W-Why are you staring at me like that…?"
"Rukia, I'm transferring you to the 10th Division."
Shinji said while still rubbing her cheek.
Rukia was just a regular foot soldier in the 13th Division. Nothing special, same level as a cannon-fodder grunt like Saito.
But Rukia was different.
She was born into the noble Kuchiki family, had decent talent, and some backing, enough to be treated a little better.
Still, not nearly enough to rise high on her own.
So bringing Rukia to his squad was natural.
She was his little sister, no one would question it.
"Eh???"
"T-Transfer me to the 10th Division… to be by your side?"
Rukia's face went even redder, fidgeting nervously beside him.
She was so tiny, barely even 1.5 meters tall.
Even while seated, Shinji could easily reach over and stroke her head.
"You don't want to?"
Shinji raised an eyebrow.
Bringing Rukia over was part of his master plan.
With his help, she'd grow rapidly, power up to full potential.
Then Shinji could finally retire and do fishing all day.
What? You won't let me retire?
Too bad. He'd just slack off until he got replaced.
Two captain-level Shinigami in the 10th Division, no one could argue he wasn't dispensable.
His plan was flawless!
"Of course I want to! I… I leave it to you."
Rukia twisted her fingers, her voice soft and sweet.
"Wait, what about me?!"
Rangiku suddenly sat up straight, clapping her forehead.
Listed in the Captain Training Plan:
Hitsugaya Tōshirō — some random kid she's never heard of.
Rukia — a newbie Shinigami who's only been here a month.
And her?
Clearly this heartless bastard forgot her again.
Just thinking about it made her mad.
Hunting mode: activated.
"Shinji, you bastard! You did this on purpose, didn't you?!"
"I'm fine with you raising Rukia. I get it. But you'd rather raise some no-name like Hitsugaya than me?! You total jerk!"
"Look at my face! Look into my eyes!"
"Am I not pretty enough? Or not obedient enough?"
Matsumoto Rangiku's voice was trembling with frustration.
"Touch your conscience and say it, you bastard!"
"Is it just because I don't throw myself at you like Rukia does?"
Watching Rukia's flustered expression, Rangiku blackened on the spot. She was furious.
"Rangiku, listen, your situation is different from theirs."
Shinji struggled a bit but gave up and looked her straight in the eyes.
...Not gonna lie, she was still very eye-catching.
"Where do you think you're looking, you bastard?! Go to hell!"
Rangiku slapped him and sat down hard, her chest heaving. "Explain. I want a real explanation!"
He left all the work to her and disappeared to slack off, and now, now he forgets about her in his so-called "captain training plan"?
How was she not supposed to feel betrayed?
She felt tears sting her eyes. She wanted to cry. No,she wanted to beat him up.
Maybe both.
"Hey, listen to me. I'm serious, your situation is different."
Shinji placed his hands gently on Rangiku's shoulders, his eyes sincere.
"I investigated your case. You were attacked when you were very young, right? That attack damaged your soul. Your Reiatsu, it's incomplete."
"With your Reiatsu the way it is, you can't achieve Bankai. You understand what I'm saying, right?"
Shinji paused after that.
"Ah… you knew?" Rangiku muttered, voice low.
A bitter smile played across her lips. She brushed her long golden hair from her face.
"Yeah... I was attacked as a kid. So that's what it was. That attack… took part of my Reiatsu away?"
So that's why.
All this time, years of effort, never reaching Bankai, even though her talent wasn't bad. Even though she worked hard.
So it wasn't that Shinji didn't think of her.
He had.
Her heart softened.
"Your case is special. I'll find another way to help you reach Bankai." Shinji said, eyes deep.
But that wasn't the whole truth.
Yes, Matsumoto Rangiku's Reiatsu was incomplete.
But there was more, something even she didn't know.
Her Zanpakutō, Haineko, turned into ash.
Gin Ichimaru's Bankai? The same.
Their Zanpakutōs… were similar.
The truth was: Rangiku's Reiatsu came from Gin.
Just like Rukia gave part of her Reiatsu to Ichigo, it was Gin who gave Rangiku the power to become a Shinigami. He passed part of himself to her.
"The Soul King…" Shinji murmured to himself, brushing his fingertips across his chest.
Rangiku's Reiatsu was targeted by Aizen.
But Aizen didn't care about her Reiatsu, it was just a bonus.
His real goal?
He wanted what was sealed inside Rangiku's body, A fragment of the Soul King.
More specifically, the Soul King's fingertip.
That's right.
A piece of the Soul King's body was hidden in Rangiku all along.
And Hōgyoku… was a fusion of human wishes and Soul King fragments.
"If I collect more of the Soul King's body… I might be able to accelerate Hōgyoku's evolution… and mine along with it."
Shinji's thoughts deepened.
The Soul King's main body was sealed in the Royal Palace, but his limbs and organs were scattered across the realms, most already had hosts. Sensitive ones.
For instance, Jūshirō Ukitake, Captain of the 13th Division, had the right arm of the Soul King sealed inside him.
"I need to get stronger."
"Collapse: Stage Three. I need to reach that fusion state, fast."
Shinji's palm tightened on Hōgyoku.
As if resonating with his will, the fusion between Hōgyoku and his soul began to accelerate. More power surged into him.
"Captain Shinji?"
"Hey, Shinji, you bastard?"
Rangiku waved her hand in front of his face.
"What?" Shinji blinked, snapping out of it, and caught her hand.
"You were zoning out like crazy. What were you thinking about?"
Rangiku didn't even mind her hand being held. She winked and teased:
"Anyway, Captain Shinji, my Bankai, I'm counting on you."
"Yeah, I know." Shinji nodded, then suddenly stood up.
Rangiku looked at him suspiciously.
"Hey, where are we going?"
"I'm off to start paddling—err, I mean, I'm continuing my Captain Training Program. Also going to handle Rukia's transfer to Squad 10."
---
In a wooden house tucked away in a quiet corner of Rukongai...
"Bed wetter, come eat some dried persimmons."
Hinamori Momo walked in, holding a sun-dried persimmon.
"You idiot!, Don't call me Bed wetter, And I hate dried persimmons!"
Hitsugaya Tōshirō shouted, rolling around on the floor like a lazy cat.
"Aww, really? But they're delicious!" Momo smiled.
Of course, she knew Tōshirō hated persimmons. But teasing him was half the fun.
Sitting cross-legged, she began eating and chatted softly.
"You know, there's been a lot happening in Soul Society lately. Crazy stuff. Even Adjuchas-level Hollows are being made lieutenants now."
"Let me guess... 10th Division again?"
Tōshirō rolled his eyes.
He'd already heard the rumors a thousand times.
In the Captain's assessment, someone crushed two captains in battle, even killed one who had violated orders.
Then brought back an Adjuchas-level Menos Grande, who was then accepted by the Captain-Commander himself and promoted to vice-captain.
Outrageous.
Even more ridiculous, the Adjuchas apparently looked like a child and had no combat experience.
"Yup, Captain of the 10th Division again, Kuchiki Shinji." Momo clasped her hands, eyes shining with admiration.
A month ago, Shinji had saved her.
She had witnessed his growth firsthand.
Hitsugaya's mouth twitched in annoyance.
Jealousy?
Maybe a bit.
Bang, bang, bang!
A knock on the door interrupted them.
Momo got up to check, opened it, and froze.
Her pupils shrank in shock.
Tōshirō got up, grumbling as he scratched his head.
But the moment he saw who it was, he froze too.
That uniform…
That woman with the huge bust was a Shinigami?
Then behind her…
A man stood there.
Tall. Elegant. Cloaked in a white haori. Refined, but laid-back—like he carried nobility with ease.
A gust of wind blew past, lifting the edge of his cloak,
"That number… That's a captain's haori?!"
Hitsugaya's eyes trembled in disbelief.
Gotei 13, Captain of the 10th Division…?!
This man was, Kuchiki Shinji?!
Even someone like Tōshirō, not yet a Shinigami, had heard of this man.
One of the thirteen—those legendary figures standing at the very top.