Seeing the man standing before them, Kurotsuki Renya's mind immediately supplied a name: Zaraki Kenpachi the captain of the 11th Division of the Gotei 13.
In Seireitei, he was infamous: after defeating the previous Kenpachi and claiming the title, he was recognized as one of the most dangerous combatants in Soul Society's history, his raw spiritual pressure unmatched in sheer brutality. His power was such that, even sealed, he could stand among the five most combat-specialized captains.
The towering figure before them, over two meters tall, wore the standard black shihakushō with the sleeveless haori of a captain, its ragged edges fluttering faintly. A black eyepatch — the unique one that suppressed his immense reiatsu — covered his right eye, but even so, the sheer pressure radiating from him felt like standing before a drawn blade aimed at their throats.
He simply stood there, and yet it felt as though the air itself pressed down, daring them to flinch.
When he spoke, his voice was low but carried the edge of impatience.
"Oi. Where the hell am I?"
The group froze. No one answered right away — every instinct screamed at them to avoid drawing attention from this predator in human form.
Finally, Abarame Suiren (A-San Jing Ai) managed to swallow and answer, her voice timid.
"This is… the food street, north district of Seireitei, Captain."
Zaraki frowned.
"Tch. How'd I end up all the way out here? …Yachiru, you know the way back?"
From behind his broad form, a small pink-haired girl peeked out, her grin bright and mischievous. Kusajishi Yachiru, the lieutenant of the 11th Division, cheerfully announced:
"Of course I know! You just took the wrong turn, Kenny!"
Renya felt a jolt of recognition. He knew Yachiru's story well — a child from the 79th District of Rukongai's Kusajishi area, adopted by Zaraki after their fateful meeting in the 80th District. She had never feared his murderous aura, and so he had taken her in as his own.
Renya's thoughts darkened for a moment, remembering events that lay far in the future — during the Thousand-Year Blood War, Yachiru would vanish after manifesting during Zaraki's battle, leading many to suspect that she was not a separate person at all, but rather the personification of Zaraki's zanpakutō. Her mysterious abilities, the Sanpōken (Three-Step Sword Beasts), summoned two strange, beastlike constructs… though only two appeared despite the name.
Renya had his theories. Those beasts could well be manifestations of her zanpakutō's power after materialization, much like how other zanpakutō spirits exhibited unique abilities in physical form. Whatever the truth, the bond between Zaraki and Yachiru was deep and irreplaceable. Thinking of her future disappearance, Renya felt a pang of regret.
Meanwhile, the captain and his lieutenant were already bickering lightheartedly as they wandered off, their presence receding like a receding storm.
The group collectively exhaled in relief.
Suiren muttered, still shaken:
"He's terrifying… even just standing there made my knees feel weak."
Jirō Takahashi (Jiliang Yihe) nodded.
"No surprise. That's the captain of the 11th Division — they're all about front-line combat."
Rukia smiled faintly.
"Who knows… maybe one of us will be a captain someday."
Renya glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Out of the five of them here, he knew — from history itself — that Rukia would one day become captain of the 13th Division after the war.
Suiren puffed up in mock pride.
"If anyone here's becoming captain, it'll be me."
Jirō ruffled her hair with a smirk.
"Not feeling the heat from you yet."
Suiren swatted his hand away with an indignant glare.
"You'll see! And when I do become captain, I'll make you my vice-captain!"
Jirō chuckled.
"I'll settle for just becoming a shinigami. That's enough for me."
Hisamori Senta (Hsien Mori) nodded in agreement.
"Same here. As long as I can serve in the Gotei 13, I'll be content."
Living in the outer districts of Rukongai, even in relatively peaceful ones, was nothing like the safety of the Seireitei. Law and order relied on local elders, and without the Gotei's protection, the weak were often preyed upon. Becoming a shinigami — and living within the walls of Seireitei — was the surest path to safety and stability.
Rukia smiled.
"Then let's all start by becoming regular shinigami first."
Kondō Kazuo agreed.
"Right. One step at a time."
Renya found it amusing. These people — future vice-captains and captains — were, for now, only students with simple dreams. Perhaps it was precisely because their goals were straightforward that they would one day rise so far.
Suiren broke the thought with her confident voice:
"No, I'm serious — I will be a captain!"
Renya chuckled.
"We'll see."
The group moved on, Rukia and Suiren leading, their banter drawing smiles from passersby. Jirō, Senta, and Kazuo followed, and Renya trailed at the back, quietly watching.
He was content in that moment — surrounded by friends, their laughter filling the evening air.
But deep down, a shadow lingered. In fifty years' time, Soul Society would face calamities one after another — and he could not help but wonder:
When that time comes… will I be strong enough to protect them?