As their thoughts drifted, the battle between the two gradually approached its end.
Although the course of the battle differed somewhat from what Yoriichi had expected.
For example, Hirako Shinji hadn't used his Bankai at all.
But overall, it wasn't a major issue.
Hinamori Momo looked puzzled by the situation.
She asked Yoriichi a question, and although Yoriichi couldn't give a complete answer due to confidentiality, he still explained briefly and concisely:
"It's simple. It's probably because Hirako Shinji's Bankai is useless in a one-on-one fight."
"Sakanade is just such a Zanpakuto."
Its Shikai inverts the five senses, and its Bankai inverts cognition, turning enemies into allies and allies into enemies.
However, if there's no third person in the field, this ability naturally becomes ineffective.
Yoriichi paused, recalling Sakanade's abilities, but didn't explain more.
He cautioned Hinamori Momo:
"You just need to understand that Toushiro had the advantage of terrain and human relations in this battle, which is a rare and special circumstance."
"In multi-person battles, Hirako Shinji is still very strong. Never underestimate any Shinigami who has mastered Bankai."
"Remember this, Hinamori."
"Yes..." Hinamori Momo's voice was soft.
She understood this was the Captain-Commander's warning to her, and also to Toushiro.
It was meant for her to convey to Toushiro, reminding him not to be careless in future battles.
But for some reason, even such serious words felt strangely heartwarming when they reached her ears.
She remembered it deeply, then quickly refocused her thoughts to watch the battle.
As time went on, the situation on the field became clearer, showing a one-sided trend.
Hirako Shinji gradually ran out of options against Toushiro's overwhelming ice and snow offensive.
Eventually, his body was covered in wounds from the ice and snow erosion, and he reluctantly chose to surrender.
Hirako Shinji had no idea that ice and snow abilities could also attack from within his own body.
If not for that, he could have maintained his Shikai state until Toushiro's Reiatsu ran out...
Unfortunately, there are no ifs in this world.
This fighting style was too cunning.
He coughed a few times, spitting out some dark red ice shards, his face growing paler.
Serving as a Captain for two hundred years, it was his first time suffering such serious injuries.
Fortunately, this was just a sparring match. If it were a real battle in the wild, and the ice and snow were a bit more intense, he might have been finished there.
Staggering, almost unable to stand, Hirako Shinji was about to use Kaido to treat himself.
At that moment, medical personnel quickly came onto the stage and, without a word, carried him away.
Not far away, seeing Hirako Shinji surrender, the short-tempered Hiyori originally wanted to go on stage and give him a fierce flying kick.
But seeing this scene, even with her immense anger, she couldn't help but freeze.
Was he really that badly injured? She didn't see much blood, so why was he being carried away?
No, she had to follow and see.
It wasn't that she didn't trust the medical staff.
It was just that, given Hirako Shinji's personality, he was entirely capable of bribing medical staff to fake serious injuries to avoid her retaliation.
She hurried out of the training ground, but before leaving, she glared fiercely at Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who stood on the stage with a smile on his face.
She snorted coldly in her heart.
"Hmph, you brat, the world is small, we'll meet again someday."
...
Toushiro was immersed in the joy of victory, completely unaware that Hiyori had set her sights on him.
After releasing his Bankai, despite his exhaustion, he eagerly turned to Hinamori Momo, showing her his victory.
Hinamori Momo saw his smile and managed to force out a response, though her smile held a hint of distraction.
She had noticed Hirako Shinji's miserable state and also caught Hiyori's hostile little gesture before she left.
In her understanding, if Hirako Shinji and Hiyori truly had a good relationship, Hiyori would definitely not let it go.
Because... Hirako Shinji had lost too humiliatingly.
Would she retaliate against Toushiro? And in what way?
Everything was unknown.
She secretly decided to remind Toushiro about it later.
Although this might just be her worrying unnecessarily, what if there really was an unforeseen turn of events?
Taking a deep breath, after this incident, Hinamori Momo's resolve to cling to the Captain-Commander's leg grew even stronger.
Captain... she couldn't even imagine. Losing was one thing, but winning could lead to such trouble.
No wonder, apart from the martial Eleventh Division, other divisions still rarely had Shinigami choose the first challenge method.
She hoped Toushiro could successfully take over as Captain.
Before that, she would take care of her grandmother.
She moved a few steps to the right, closer to the Captain-Commander.
At this moment, Yoriichi Tsugikuni announced the end of the battle.
As the crowd gradually dispersed, Yoriichi Tsugikuni led Hinamori Momo off the stage to meet Toushiro and informed him that the succession ceremony would be held five days later.
After saying that, Yoriichi left.
Hinamori Momo said a few words to Toushiro about Miss Hiyori, intending to leave with Yoriichi.
Just then, Toushiro called out to her.
"Momo, do you plan to change divisions?"
"Now that I'm about to become the Fifth Division Captain, I'm new here and unfamiliar with the place. I need someone to help me."
"You..."
"I can't..." Hinamori Momo shook her head like a rattle-drum, decisively refusing.
"Toushiro, I understand your thoughts and attitude, wanting to make the Fifth Division our home."
"But the problem is, I've never had any intention of moving."
"You know me, for Grandma's sake, I'm not willing to take risks, let alone both of us taking risks together."
"If something happens, who will take care of Grandma?"
Toushiro was momentarily speechless, his lips slightly parted, wanting to speak again.
But the words caught in his throat, and he found he couldn't find any reason to refute Hinamori Momo.
Why was he becoming Captain? Of course, it was to give Hinamori Momo and her grandmother a better life.
But if he died, all of it would be meaningless.
And if Hinamori Momo joined him and acted with him, and even he died, could Hinamori Momo survive alone?
Clearly not.
Feeling a little down, as Captain, he could no longer think as naively as before.
Everything had to be considered based on reality before a final decision could be made.
Helplessly, he could only temporarily let go, allowing Hinamori Momo to remain in the 1st Division.
This way, at least they could leave a glimmer of hope for each other.
He sighed deeply, no longer trying to persuade Hinamori Momo.
Out of respect for his senior, he planned to visit Hirako Shinji in the Fourth Division and try to resolve his grievances with Hiyori at the same time.
Seeing this, Hinamori Momo also turned and left the training ground.
She did not regret refusing Toushiro's proposal.
In her heart, her grandmother's position was irreplaceable, far above Toushiro's.
Unless Toushiro truly matured one day, reached First-Class Spiritual Pressure, or her grandmother passed away peacefully, she would never consider transferring divisions again.
...
"Are you really sure?"
Yoriichi had heard the conversation between the two behind him clearly.
He turned to look at Hinamori Momo, who was following closely behind him, with a hint of inquiry in his eyes:
"Although Toushiro's words were a bit thoughtless, his invitation to you was very sincere."
"If you're worried about your grandmother, I can bring her to Seireitei."
"At the same time, even if you two encounter an accident, I can use Kisuke's spiritual body technology to create two Clones to fulfill your duties on your behalf."
"The elderly lady is over three hundred years old this year; what she likely wants to see is a house full of children and grandchildren."
At these words, Hinamori Momo's steps paused slightly, and she couldn't help but sigh in her heart, the Captain-Commander was truly "thoughtful," even arranging their posthumous affairs so thoroughly.
Unfortunately, this kind of thoughtfulness was not what she desired.
Even if a Clone resembled the person, it was ultimately not the person.
She gently shook her head, her expression calm and firm:
"I've made my decision. I apologize, Captain-Commander."
"Regardless of whether Toushiro's feelings are sincere, in work, one should think with a work-oriented mindset."
"You also said before that I've grown up. It's okay to be a little willful when I'm young, but I can't be willful anymore when I've grown up."
"I believe Toushiro can continue to progress and grow even without my help, because he is a genius."
A genius?
Yoriichi gently shook his head. The world was not lacking in geniuses.
Which Shinigami who became a Captain wasn't a genius?
However, since Hinamori Momo had said so, and even used his own past words to refute him, Yoriichi found it difficult to continue persuading her.
Chōjirō Sasakibe, who was following beside them, listened selectively to their conversation.
Upon returning to the 1st Division, with everything settled, Yoriichi returned to work.
Chojiro also handed Hinamori Momo a pile of documents for her to process.
Hinamori Momo didn't feel tired; everything was for her grandmother, and besides, there weren't many documents.
With computer assistance, work that normally took five hours to complete could now be done in three hours.
The remaining time was naturally used for free activities and self-improvement.
She thought to herself, this place is much more fulfilling than the Fifth Division.
Renji hasn't returned yet. She wondered how he and Rukia were getting along...
...
Somewhere in Seireitei.
An underground arena.
The light was dim.
Rukia drew her Zanpakuto, looked at Renji, who was still somewhat dazed in front of her, and said seriously:
"Stop spacing out, attack me quickly. Let me see how much you've learned while being with Brother Byakuya during this time."
Behind them, Yoruichi Shihouin stood with her arms crossed, watching the confrontation between the two, a playful smile appearing on her face.
When Rukia came to her, she was a little disbelieving, because she hadn't expected Rukia to become like this.
She was exactly like herself when she was young.
She wondered if this kid named Renji could withstand the pressure Rukia brought.
...
Her thoughts drifted back to the past, and Yoruichi Shihouin unconsciously revealed two fangs.
Then, a metallic clanging sound came, and she quickly snapped back to attention.
Not far away, Rukia and Renji drew their swords against each other, then charged together with determination.
Clang!
The force was so great that it could be heard throughout the entire underground space.
From Yoruichi's perspective, facing Rukia's series of attacks, the kid named Renji was barely defending.
Because Rukia was small and agile, her Zanjutsu relied on speed.
Therefore, it was difficult for someone as tall as Renji to deal with such an opponent unless he had a strength advantage.
But as it happened, Rukia's strength was also considerable.
Her seemingly light footwork was like a heavy hammer hitting the ground, directly crushing the rocks beneath her feet, the tremor rising like an earthquake.
Boom!
Yoruichi narrowed her eyes slightly. Even though it wasn't the first time she had seen such a scene, a strong sense of shock and emotion still surged within her.
"Breathing Technique... it's truly incredible. One stomp like that could easily kill an elephant, couldn't it?"
"It's a pity I was born into the Shihouin Clan and have been practicing combat techniques since childhood, so my breathing rhythm is already set. Otherwise, I would really like to learn this."
She herself had tried to learn Breathing Technique, but no matter how long she practiced, she could never grasp the essentials.
The only reason Suì-Fēng could learn it back then was because she had only recently joined the Correctional Force. Hence, most of the young Shinigami in Seireitei currently mastering this technique were relatively young.
She was envious but helpless. Fortunately, this technique couldn't enhance spiritual pressure, so Yoruichi gradually let it go later on.
"I'm a technique-oriented Shinigami. A direct clash of power isn't suited for me. It's better to focus on Hakuda and Kido. Besides, I've already completed my Raijin form…"
As she thought, her mind wandered again, "By the way, can lightning and water fuse?"
The battle between the two on stage grew more intense. Yoruichi didn't need to look closely; with her years of experience, she could roughly predict the outcome of the fight.
After a long while, a deafening roar, powerful enough to shatter the arena, suddenly erupted, startling Yoruichi awake.
She instinctively looked up, only to see the once sturdy arena now in pieces, with shattered rocks flying everywhere like cannonballs.
Amidst the rolling dust, two blurry figures continued to exchange blows tirelessly.
Though the taller Renji was repeatedly forced back, he remained as steady as a rock, never falling, even after fighting for so long.
"Rukia, I admit your strength is on par with mine, but my improved Stone Breathing has been practiced for so long; it's not for nothing."
"In terms of stamina, I dare say I am the strongest among the younger generation in Seireitei."
"Your stamina should be giving out soon, right?"
"Annoying," Rukia snapped, but she was secretly surprised. She realized she had truly underestimated Renji.
She hadn't expected this guy, who usually kept quiet, to give her such a big surprise in battle.
Stone Breathing has always been known for its endurance and resilience.
After improvements, it was strengthened in all aspects, making it a true all-rounder.
This was also why Rukia had been unable to break through in Zanjutsu.
Rukia indeed felt somewhat tired. She was breathing slightly, her chest rising and falling, and slowly stopped her offensive movements.
The surrounding smoke quickly dissipated with the strong winds generated by their clash.
Yoruichi Shihouin looked over, and with just one glance, her lips curved into a smile again.
Renji's condition wasn't as good as he claimed.
Perhaps because Rukia's attacks were too fierce, his tiger's mouth was covered in blood, and crimson streaks slowly flowed down the sword hilt.
And Rukia's condition wasn't as bad as Renji claimed either.
At most, she looked like a Human World human after sprinting 50 meters—tired, but her gaze remained firm.
Both sides still had reserves, but neither could initiate another attack.
Rukia watched a few drops of blood trickle from Renji's hand, and she smiled faintly:
"What, you can really tough it out, huh? If I hadn't stopped attacking, you'd be the one giving out right now, wouldn't you?"
"You even know how to use psychological tactics?"
She couldn't see Renji's condition in the smoke, so she could only judge his state through his words.
She hadn't expected to be fooled by Renji's composure. This was truly…
"Very good." Rukia nodded with satisfaction. "It seems under Brother's guidance, you've truly grown."
"I'll concede that you are the strongest in terms of stamina among the younger generation at this stage."
"Next, Renji, let's compare spiritual pressure. It's been years; let me see the fruits of your hard work."
These seemingly reasonable words, when they reached Renji's ears, made him hesitate and shake his head: "No."
Rukia paused: "Why not?"
"Why? No means no. We don't have any grudges, do we?"
Renji was confused. "Why do you want to fight me as soon as you return? Zanjutsu is one thing, but what's the point of comparing spiritual pressure?"
He didn't understand because Rukia hadn't told him the reason.
And Rukia had her reasons for doing this.
Once she told him, Renji would deliberately show off during the fight, which would lead to errors in judgment.
At this moment, the situation was at a stalemate.
Rukia really wanted to explain, but this act of testing a potential husband was too awkward to voice midway through.
Her conflicted gaze turned to Yoruichi, seemingly asking for help: Was there any way to break the deadlock?
Yoruichi smiled. She walked forward, went to Renji's side, pulled him aside, and whispered a few words.
When she returned, Renji was re-energized, looking eager to start.
Rukia was stunned.
—What's going on? What did Miss Yoruichi tell him?!
It definitely wasn't anything romantic, otherwise Renji wouldn't be acting so openly.
Although she wasn't clear on the situation, it was great that Renji was willing to give his all.
After the battle ended, Rukia narrowly won. She approached Yoruichi, who was watching the match, and asked, "Miss Yoruichi, you…"
Yoruichi interrupted, "Don't speak. I know what you want to ask. Don't worry, I didn't reveal your purpose."
"I just told him that this battle was arranged by Yoriichi Tsugikuni to test his strength."
"You know he admires Captain-Commander Tsugikuni."
"Facing such a request, he naturally wouldn't refuse."
Rukia breathed a sigh of relief: "Is that so? That's good then. Thank you, Miss Yoruichi."
"Don't thank me, it's no trouble at all." Yoruichi waved her hand, then put an arm around Rukia's shoulder, leaned in, and whispered,
"Instead of thanking me, why don't you tell me your thoughts? Did you gain anything from the battle just now?"
"You're not really going to let him become a member of your Tsugikuni Clan, are you?"
"That kid looks a bit foolish. Can he handle important responsibilities?"
"Of course, I'm not nitpicking, nor do I think your judgment is flawed."
"I just feel that a Shinigami like you, who lacks nothing, doesn't need to be so fixated on one person."
"…" Rukia was silent for a moment. This posture of being embraced and whispered to made her a little uncomfortable. She gently shook her head:
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Yoruichi, but I want to make my own decisions about my affairs."
"Although Renji is foolish, his sincerity is enough."
"Unlike those nobles, who are all skilled in scheming. I dislike them. Only Brother Byakuya is an exception."
"Indeed." Yoruichi didn't deny this point. Byakuya wasn't skilled in scheming because he didn't need to be.
His elders had paved his path, and he only needed to follow the steps to inherit the Kuchiki Clan and become a Captain.
This led to Byakuya remaining pure and unblemished to this day, an anomaly among nobles. It was normal for Rukia to aspire to a husband of his type.
However, people like him were ultimately a minority, which was why she valued sincerity so much, perhaps.
Yoruichi said no more. She released Rukia, secretly sighing that the kid Renji was truly lucky.
If Rukia hadn't told him about this yet, he would probably be jumping for joy.
Fate is truly unpredictable…
…
Fourth Division. After treatment by Retsu Unohana, Hirako Shinji's injuries finally began to slowly improve.
However, his pale complexion and weak aura still showed that he was severely injured.
Hiyori walked into the sickroom and, seeing him in this state, raised an eyebrow:
"Baldy, what happened? How did you get so badly hurt?"
"Is that kid's Zanpakuto really that strong?"
This made it difficult for her to bully him.
She'd wait until he fully recovered.
Hirako Shinji heard the voice and slowly opened his eyes. He recalled the battle he'd just had and sighed: "Very strong. I lost fair and square."
"Hiyori, you're not thinking of causing him trouble, are you? I advise you to forget about it."
"Lest you embarrass yourself and drag Miss Hiyori down with you."
Hearing this, Hiyori's eye twitched, and she suppressed her anger:
"In your eyes, am I really the kind of person who can't distinguish right from wrong?"
"Aren't you?" Hirako Shinji retorted.
Fighting is strictly forbidden within the Fourth Division; this was a rule Retsu Unohana had set years ago.
Not to mention he was currently an injured patient.
Therefore, as Hiyori struggled to suppress her impulse to act, a sudden chill ran down her spine, a coldness instantly spreading throughout her body.
It felt as if something terrifying was staring at her.
She didn't need to turn around to know.
Retsu Unohana was right behind her.
Clenching her fist, she finally gave up. Hiyori sighed helplessly:
"You're right, but I just can't stand it. How can a kid who's been training for less than a century defeat you?"
"I'll never forget that smug smile of his. It's truly humiliating. And you, Hirako, you were carried out in the end."
"It's truly pathetic."
"Do you know what the Shinigami outside are saying about us now? They say we old-timers only have seniority but no strength."
"I really want to punch them hard, but…"
"No need to be angry, Hiyori." Hirako Shinji watched Retsu Unohana leave the sickroom, shaking his head and interrupting her,
"Times are moving forward, and it's normal for us old-timers not to keep up, because we've reached our limits."
"That kid Toushiro is Captain-Commander material. At such a young age, he already possesses third-grade spiritual power. When I had third-grade spiritual power, I was over three hundred years old."
"And him? Ninety-something."
"A four-fold difference."
"We have to accept our fate, Hiyori."
Hiyori didn't want to accept her fate. She was younger than Hirako Shinji, so naturally, she wouldn't give up easily.
But if she wanted to get revenge, she couldn't find any effective way…
Her heart was filled with conflict.
Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.
Hiyori opened the door and her face instantly darkened, because the visitor was Tōshirō Hitsugaya.
…
Meanwhile, Hinamori Momo stretched after finishing her duties, intending to spar with some seniors.
But before she could find anyone, she suddenly heard a piece of news.
The Captain-Commander's daughter had apparently enrolled in this year's Spiritual Arts Academy.
Due to reforms in the teaching mechanism, she would be visiting the Gotei 13 tomorrow morning.
The first place to visit would be the 1st Division.
Because of this, Hinamori Momo felt a little uneasy.