Chapter 44

Squad House.

"So, you just went to Hueco Mundo and came back with two Adjuchas, no, Adjuchas-class Arrancar?"

Pointing at the two obedient Arrancar in the corner, Kyoraku Shunsui's face was full of disbelief.

Since when…

Was it this easy to find captain-level combat power?

At this moment, Kyoraku Shunsui's emotions were in complete turmoil, something that couldn't be expressed by a mere curse word.

A month ago…

Shinji was just a student at the Shin'ō Academy, a member of the 10th Division, and Kyoraku was the captain of the 8th Division.

Now, a month later…

Shinji was already the captain of the 10th Division. And Kyoraku was still the 8th Division captain.

After that....

Shinji picked up a little Arrancar loli with seemingly no combat ability, only to find she wasn't weak at all, just that her Reiatsu had been lost. As soon as she regained enough Reiatsu, she transformed into a Vasto Lorde-level, Menos Grande in minutes.

And now...

Shinji skipped work, slacked off, and wandered into Hueco Mundo.

Then came back with two more Arrancar, both with captain-level combat power, just like Nel!

Why?!

Why does Kuchiki Shinji get all the good stuff?!

I can't live like this!

I'm a professional slacker too, so why can't I find anything?

Could it be… because I stay home all day?

Kyoraku Shunsui stared at him enviously.

He wanted a team of powerful subordinates like this too.

"These two are Nel's subordinates. I went to Hueco Mundo this time to bring them back."

Glancing at the Captain-Commander, Shinji explained:

"As for their loyalty, you don't need to worry. They'll never betray Nel."

For Pesche and Dondochakka, who treated Nel as their monarch, even if she asked them to die, they would do so without hesitation.

Loyalty wasn't even in question.

"Hmm…"

After a brief moment of thought, the Captain-Commander stared deeply at them.

Under Pesche and Dondochakka's nervous gaze, he finally spoke:

"This old man will grant them legal status."

"But, 10th Division Captain, to minimize unnecessary disturbances, it would be best for the Vice-Captain Nel's subordinate officers to wear clothing that covers their bodies."

Not betraying Soul Society was one thing.

Avoiding public panic was another.

"Understood. I'll arrange for them to wear full-body uniforms."

Shinji nodded.

He had already considered this. Even if the Captain-Commander didn't mention it, he would've done it.

Unlike Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande like Nel, whose appearance was almost entirely human,

Pesche and Dondochakka, who had regressed to the Adjuchas level, looked very out of place.

If they weren't covered, they'd definitely cause a commotion.

It was inevitable.

"I also want to pick up a girl like Nel who can transform…"

Sighing, Kyoraku Shunsui suddenly rubbed his chin. "But raising a daughter isn't bad either, it gives a sense of accomplishment."

Though his little Nano-chan couldn't compare to a powerful like Nel…

Still, do you understand the joy of raising a daughter?

No, you wouldn't.

But I do.

So you can't understand my happiness.

Kyoraku thought with satisfaction.

"It's like you even have a daughter, you single mutt know nothing."

Shinji looked at him with disgust, mocking him.

Kyoraku Shunsui: "???"

Captain Yamamoto: "???"

That's a bit much!

Are you implying something?

What's that supposed to mean?

Rolling his eyes, Kyoraku pointed to the stone that had solidified from melted sand.

"That Adjuchas-class Arrancar research specimen, send it to Captain Unohana of Squad 4 later."

Shinji replied casually.

"What did you say? An Adjuchas-class Arrancar research specimen?"

Kyoraku raised an eyebrow, walked over to the stone, and knocked on it.

Inside, it looked like a corpse was encased.

He seemed thoughtful.

"That's the 8th Espada, Szayel Aporro, of the Arrancar army from Las Noches."

At that moment, Pesche proudly raised his hand: "Our Lord Shinji not only killed him, but even crushed the 5th Espada, Nnoitra!"

Shinji: "…"

Pesche, you melon-headed freak!

I worked so hard to keep a low profile, and here you are, exposing everything!

Thanks a lot, you bastard!

Resisting the urge to slice this idiot in half,

Shinji forced a smile:

"Eh, Captain Kyoraku, Captain-Commander, don't listen to him. I just took a casual stroll through Hueco Mundo. How could I possibly kill two Espada, right?"

"He's obviously exaggerating. Don't take him seriously."

But Pesche shook his head quickly:

"I swear, everything I said is true. Dondochakka and I saw it with our own eyes!"

"Nnoitra sensed Nel-sama's Reiatsu and tried to kill her, but he was instantly killed by Lord Shinji."

"Even Szayel Aporro, who arrived later, didn't stand a chance."

"Lord Shinji is a true powerhouse."

Pesche looked on with admiration, clearly determined to speak up for Shinji.

Shinji:

Say another word and I'll bury you alive!

With a murderous glint in his eyes, Shinji quickly switched tones:

"Eh, don't listen to him. I didn't do any of that. I just walked through Hueco Mundo. There's no way so much happened, right?"

"And besides, there's no proof I defeated those Espada."

Shinigami don't act without evidence, right?

Even if the Captain-Commander wanted to promote someone, it needed to be reasonable.

No credit! I'm a proud slacker, I'll never ask for merit!

"Isn't this the proof?"

Kyoraku pointed at the stone with a puzzled look.

That Adjuchas-class research specimen? Pretty solid evidence, huh?

"You shut up!"

Shinji's face stiffened. "Get over here, I need to buff you with a headshot."

Kyoraku Shunsui:

Don't get mad just because I told the truth!

Why can't I speak the truth?

"Enough!"

At this moment,

Captain Yamamoto struck the ground hard with his staff.

The atmosphere instantly turned tense.

He glanced at Shinji and Kyoraku, then said sternly:

"You're both captains of the 8th and 10th Divisions, why are you causing such a ruckus?"

Unknowingly, the old man had shown his usual strictness.

Kyoraku muttered under his breath: "But Shinji's the one who wanted to buff me first…"

Captain Yamamoto: "Huh?"

Shunsui: "...Never mind."

Yamamoto turned to Shinji, then said slowly:

"Kuchiki Shinji, Captain of the 10th Division, I've understood what you said."

"In light of your actions, though you didn't admit them, they will cancel out the offense of going to the Human World and Hueco Mundo without permission from me and Central 46."

"No punishment, and no commendation either."

Hearing this, Shinji nodded with satisfaction.

Now that's more like it.

Credit? Absolutely not.

What do I slack off so hard for? To enjoy being a carefree salted fish!

"Then, Kuchiki Shinji, Captain of the 10th Division, take this stone to Squad 4 and give it to Captain Unohana."

"As for the identities of those two subordinates, Vice-Captain Sasakibe will handle the paperwork."

Shinji nodded, gestured to Pesche and Dondochakka, and left the squad house with the now-sleeping Nel.

Some time later…

Leaning against the door, Kyoraku Shunsui looked at his old teacher and asked:

"Hey, Old Man Yama, don't you think you're spoiling Kuchiki Shinji a little too much?"

Upon hearing this, Captain Yamamoto's eyes opened slightly.

"Indulgence...?"

"Rather than indulgence, I would say I'm giving him time to grow," Yamamoto said slowly. "Kuchiki Shinji may be the most talented Shinigami in Soul Society's history."

"You're placing that much hope in him? Looks like you're going soft for a genius, old man-Chan."

Kyoraku Shunsui scratched his head and continued, "But don't spoil him too much. What if he goes astray and turns into another Kuchiki Hibiki?"

"Kuchiki... Hibiki."

Captain Yamamoto's eyes grew distant.

Another prodigy from the Kuchiki Clan, so very excellent.

"In comparison, I think Shinji is even more gifted than Hibiki... and far more dangerous."

At that, Kyoraku Shunsui laughed lightly.

"Well, but with Shinji's personality, I doubt he'd do anything as extreme as what Hibiki did. Still, if he's left too unsupervised, he might pull off something that'll give us all headaches."

He recalled Shinji's desperate attempts to avoid gaining credit, his aggressive loafing, and his refusal to be promoted.

Kyoraku Shunsui chuckled.

"How can a slacker like him possibly have ambition?"

"He still needs time. I don't mind giving him that time," Yamamoto said, lowering his gaze. "Shunsui... haven't you noticed? His personality is quite similar to yours."

"Ah, in a way, yeah. I guess he is kind of like me."

Kyoraku adjusted his bamboo hat, then suddenly pointed at Yamamoto and shouted:

"Old man Yama, did you just smile?!"

"You're imagining things."

Captain Yamamoto was expressionless.

"No way, you definitely smiled just now! I'm shocked, this is the first time I've seen you smile in all these years."

Kyoraku looked deadly serious.

"Kyoraku Shunsui, you're mistaken."

Captain Yamamoto's face twitched ever so slightly.

"Impossible, I'm not that senile yet!"

Kyoraku insisted.

"So now you're saying I'm the senile one?"

Captain Yamamoto's tone turned dangerous.

"Uh, no... must've been my old eyes…"

After a short, awkward silence, Kyoraku backed down.

---

After arranging for Nilu to escort Pesche and Dondochakka back to the 10th Division, Shinji dragged a massive two-meter stone to the 4th Division barracks.

"Ah, it's Captain Kuchiki Shinji!"

Several passing Shinigami bowed in greeting.

"Thanks for the hard work."

Shinji smiled and continued on with the stone.

"Captain Shinji smiled at me, did you see that?!"

"What are you saying?! He clearly smiled at me!"

"Stop talking. Draw your sword. Captain Shinji is mine!"

A few female Shinigami were chattering excitedly.

Since the 4th Division was a medical corps, most of its members were women. The few male Shinigami tended to be in support roles due to non-combat Zanpakutō abilities.

---

"..Captain Kuchiki Shinji, are you..."

At that moment, the 4th Division's Lieutenant, Kotetsu Isane, passed by and asked nervously.

Despite being nearly 1.9 meters tall and having a slender build, Isane had a rather timid, introverted personality.

"I came to deliver something useful for research to Captain Unohana Retsu," Shinji said, pointing to the giant stone.

"Ah, thank you, Captain Shinji."

Isane bowed her head nervously.

Though she and Shinji were somewhat familiar, Shinji's sudden promotion had created a sense of distance. The boy from the Kuchiki estate had somehow become a Division Captain. It was almost surreal.

"Don't mention it. Could you tell me where Captain Unohana is?"

In Soul Society, scanning for spiritual pressure (Reiatsu) to find someone was considered rude, especially dangerous if it involved someone like Zaraki Kenpachi, who might just show up swinging.

So Shinji refrained and asked politely.

Thinking of the black-bellied nature of Unohana Retsu, and the infamous fates of Shiba Isshin, Kyoraku Shunsui, and Jūshirō Ukitake...

Shinji felt his scalp go numb.

Caution is the only way.

"Captain Shinji, please follow me."

Isane gave a shy smile and led him deeper into the team headquarters.

---

They arrived at the Captain's Lounge.

Thanks to Isane's guidance, Shinji entered without issue.

Opening the door...

There sat Unohana Retsu, the very picture of grace.

Wearing a pristine white kimono, she knelt neatly with her hands folded at her abdomen, back straight, and a serene smile on her face.

Mature and composed, she was elegant without seeming seductive, majestic in a way few could match.

No wonder men like Shiba Isshin, Kyoraku, and Ukitake had all fallen for her.

It just never ended well.

"It's been a while, Captain of the 10th Division."

She smiled warmly. "Last time, I specifically asked you to visit me more often. It seems you didn't take that to heart at all."

Shinji: "…"

It's starting.

I'm not ready yet. Why do I feel so nervous?!

Anyone who attracted Unohana Retsu's attention was doomed.

Black-bellied demon, no, witch!

Forcing a polite smile, Shinji replied:

"Ahaha... what are you saying, Captain Unohana? As you know, the duties of a captain keep one very busy… so I simply haven't found the time—"

"Captain of the 10th Division, let's not pretend."

"As far as I know, you're just like Captain Kyoraku of the 8th Division, lazy and constantly leaving work to your lieutenant."

Her tone remained gentle, but an aura of menace, like a blood-soaked demon, began to radiate from her.

Then she rose slowly and walked to the door.

From her sleeves, she pulled out two delicate hands and quietly closed the door.

Shinji: "…"

Wait. You know that much about me?!

And why are you closing the door?!

You're scaring me even more now!