It truly had not been easy.
Ginrei Kuchiki, with his old bones, could finally retire.
Not long ago, Byakuya Kuchiki had successfully mastered Bankai and was preparing to formally take up the burden of becoming head of the Kuchiki clan, becoming its twenty-eighth head.
At the same time, Ginrei had also prepared to step down from his position as captain of the Sixth Division.
For many years, he had carried the heavy responsibility of maintaining the family's honor. But age spared no one.
His physical condition had gradually declined, making it difficult for him to continue serving as captain.
Even so, he still had confidence in his own abilities.
He believed that even if he no longer served as captain, he could still contribute to the family.
As for Byakuya Kuchiki, taking over the family's affairs would not be easy.
He had to face pressure from the clan members, and at the same time, he needed powerful strength.
Otherwise, he would only be an empty figurehead.
However, at this crucial moment, both Ginrei Kuchiki and Kōga Kuchiki would fully support Byakuya Kuchiki, helping him smoothly take control of the family's various powers.
Although Ginrei Kuchiki would no longer serve as captain, he would continue paying attention to the family's affairs and provide Byakuya with necessary guidance and advice.
After all, his status and experience within the family were irreplaceable.
With Ginrei Kuchiki's retirement, the Kuchiki clan welcomed a new chapter.
Where would Byakuya lead the family?
Kazuma frowned as he looked at Kōga Kuchiki in front of him and asked doubtfully.
"Today is the big day when Byakuya takes over as clan head. Why aren't you at the family estate? What are you doing here with me?"
Kōga scratched his head and laughed.
"Hehe… Master, there isn't anything interesting to watch about taking over as clan head. Besides, as the captain of the special unit, it's better for me to show my face as little as possible."
Kazuma raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
"Tch. I think you're just a little jealous that Byakuya gets to become clan head."
Kōga quickly waved his hands in denial.
"Master, I'm telling you, that's a slander! How could I possibly be jealous? If it were the old me, maybe I really would have felt a bit jealous. But ever since I witnessed your strength, I understood that so-called family status is not really useful. What matters most is becoming strong yourself. A family can actually become a kind of restraint instead."
Kazuma clicked his tongue and revealed a playful smile.
"Tsk, tsk. I have to say, Kōga, your awareness really is high."
Kōga gave a bitter smile and helplessly shook his head.
"Master, please stop making fun of me."
"All right, all right. Look at you, unable to take even a little teasing."
Kazuma smiled and waved his hand, then got to the point.
"Have you seen Byakuya's Bankai?"
Kōga was slightly startled, then shook his head.
"I haven't even seen his Shikai, let alone his Bankai. But Master, why are you suddenly interested in Byakuya's Zanpakutō?"
"I just heard that Byakuya's release is very beautiful and can turn his Zanpakutō into cherry blossoms. I kind of want to see it."
Kazuma crossed his arms, looking rather expectant.
"Huh? Beautiful? Is Bankai something you use just to look at? Master, somehow I can't even argue with that reason."
Kōga Kuchiki scratched his head helplessly.
"Kōga, think about it. If after your Zanpakutō released, pink cherry blossoms drifted around you in the wind, and then you held your lover while watching that sky full of cherry blossoms—just imagine that scene! That feeling! It would be impossible not to be swept away!"
Kazuma continued tempting him.
"Now that you mention it, that does sound pretty romantic."
Kōga Kuchiki could not help imagining it, but he quickly shook his head again.
"But that isn't my Zanpakutō…"
"That's easy!"
Kazuma's eyes lit up, and he chuckled.
"We just have Byakuya show it to us."
"Master?"
Kōga Kuchiki looked confused.
"Are you joking? How could Byakuya possibly show us his Bankai?"
"That's simple."
A sly smile appeared at the corner of Kazuma's mouth.
"We just say we want to test his strength and have a match with him. If that doesn't work, doesn't your Muramasa control Zanpakutō? When the time comes, just draw Senbonzakura out directly. Hehe, there are plenty of ways."
Listening to Kazuma's words, Kōga Kuchiki could not help feeling a little tempted.
He secretly glanced at Kazuma and muttered inwardly, 'Master's words do make sense, but why do I feel like I'm being used as a weapon?'
...
Before long, Kōga and Kazuma went together to find Byakuya.
"Uncle, Captain Kazuma, is there something you need from me?"
Byakuya looked at them, a trace of doubt in his eyes.
At first, Kōga Kuchiki was still trying hard to organize his words and think of a more tactful way to speak.
However, Kazuma could not stand his hesitation and impatiently spoke first.
"Byakuya! We came to congratulate you on inheriting the position of clan head. Also, we heard you learned Bankai already. Kōga wants to spar with you and see how strong you are after using Bankai. Right, Kōga?"
After saying that, he patted Kōga on the shoulder.
Byakuya looked at Kōga Kuchiki, then at Kazuma, his brows slightly furrowing.
"Spar? I just became clan head and there are still many matters I need to handle. I don't have time to spar."
Kazuma quickly said, "Oh, don't be such a killjoy, Byakuya. Just treat it as a way to relax. You can also let us witness your Bankai while you're at it. How about it?"
Kōga also added from the side, "That's right. As your uncle, I also want to see what level you and I have reached now."
Byakuya hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he still agreed.
"Very well. But we stop when the point is made."
...
At the Kuchiki family training ground—
As soon as the spar began, Kōga went all out, forcing Byakuya back repeatedly with his attacks.
Kazuma watched excitedly from the side, occasionally shouting a few words of encouragement.
Unable to withstand the pressure, Byakuya directly released his Zanpakutō.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
After Senbonzakura entered Shikai, its blade split into a thousand tiny blades invisible to the naked eye, slicing at the enemy from every direction.
As the blades flew, they reflected light, making them appear like a thousand scattering cherry blossoms.
The blade had broken down into countless tiny fragments.
Although they could deal great damage to the enemy, they would not cause massive bleeding, and the chance of destroying the enemy's vital points was not especially high, so its offensive power was somewhat lacking.
Looking at the cherry blossoms dancing all over the sky, Kōga pulled away from Byakuya.
Meanwhile, Kazuma kept praising how beautiful it looked from the side.
"Uncle, if you want to see my Bankai, then block this move first."
After saying that, Byakuya controlled the blades disguised as cherry blossoms and launched an attack against Kōga.
What made things awkward was that Byakuya's attack could not keep up with Kōga's movement speed at all.
The stream of cherry blossoms flew around like headless flies.
Pressed into a corner, Byakuya turned Senbonzakura downward.
After he released his grip, the Zanpakutō stood vertically and sank into ripples in the ground before disappearing.
At the same time, from the ripples in the ground on both sides, enormous blades rose up, numbering as many as a thousand.
Immediately afterward, those massive blades transformed into cherry blossoms and scattered together, their number far greater than in Shikai.
"Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
Byakuya finally used his Bankai—Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.
After this technique was displayed, Byakuya was just preparing to attack when Kōga suddenly shouted.
"Stop!"
Kazuma watched from the side, seemingly still wanting to watch more.
He excitedly said to Byakuya, "Not bad, not bad, Byakuya. Your Bankai really is strong."
After saying that, he grabbed Kōga and ran away, leaving Byakuya standing there in confusion.
Only after quite some time did Byakuya finally react and realize that they had only been teasing him.
He sighed helplessly and complained, "Honestly… At their age, they're still playing jokes on me."
However, by then, Kazuma and Kōga had already disappeared without a trace, leaving Byakuya alone on the training ground, furious but unable to do anything.