Bleach : I Need To Rizz To Become Stronger ?!-Chapter 101: Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni

Kyōraku Shunsui accepted the asauchi with a curious expression, studying it closely. But no matter how carefully he examined it, he couldn't detect anything abnormal.

He handed the blade back to Shin and asked, "Do you know what it is?"

Shin shook his head lightly. "All I saw was a strange black, hand-like creature. I originally intended to destroy it, but it turned out to be far more troublesome than I anticipated. While I was suppressing it, it suddenly slipped through and... entered my Zanpakutō. I've been confused and uneasy ever since, and I planned to study it carefully."

What he said was seventy percent fiction, thirty percent truth. The point was to make it clear: he hadn't known in advance what that hand truly was.

Shunsui hadn't witnessed the events with his own eyes, and Ukitake had been on the brink of death—barely conscious enough to see anything beyond spiritual projections.

"Mimihagi..." Ukitake murmured faintly.

Kyōraku gave him a glance and sighed. After a moment's hesitation, he said to Shin, "There's something I need to tell you in advance. The hand you saw—that was the Right Hand of the Soul King. And now that it's inside your Zanpakutō, I have to report it."

"The Soul King's right hand..." Shin's brows furrowed. After a long silence, his eyes grew colder. He turned to Kyōraku.

"Captain Kyōraku, you said you were giving me advance notice. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Kyōraku was stunned speechless.

"And what happens to me now?" Shin asked.

Kyōraku had no answer.

He was in the wrong, and he knew it. He hadn't expected Shin to go this far. That the Soul King's Right Hand would end up sealed inside the boy's blade.

"You'll be fine," Ukitake said weakly. He tried to raise a hand toward Shin, but lacked the strength.

"I promise you," Kyōraku quickly added.

The truth was, the existence of the Soul King's Right Hand was one of the most closely guarded secrets in all of Soul Society. Not even the Central 46 Chambers knew about it. When Kyōraku said "report it," he meant telling one person only—Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, the Commander-General.

Shin's expression wavered—anger, suspicion, resignation. In the end, he sighed.

"Whatever. I've already come this far. Worst case, you just take my Zanpakutō from me."

He glanced at Ukitake and muttered, "Still... guess it wasn't all for nothing."

Then he turned and walked out.

Kyōraku gave a bitter smile. "We didn't handle that very well."

"No one could've predicted it would end this way," Ukitake said gently. "That Mimihagi would leave my body... and end up sealed in Shin's Zanpakutō. But... what about the Head Captain?"

"Don't worry." Kyōraku nodded firmly. "I'll explain everything to old man Yamamoto. Shin saved your life. There's no way I'll let him be punished for that."

Ukitake closed his eyes and smiled. "Then I'm relieved."

Outside, on the wooden walkway of the Fourth Division barracks, Shin stretched his arms overhead. He'd expended a lot of energy earlier, but it had all ended safely.

As for the Soul King's Right Hand, he wasn't actually that worried. If needed, he could just hand over the asauchi.

And he didn't believe Kyōraku or Ukitake would let anything happen to him.

That whole act earlier—pretending he hadn't known what the black hand was—had been calculated. He wanted to prevent anyone from suspecting he had wanted the Soul King's power from the start.

Shiba Kaien approached and stood beside him.

Shin gazed out at the courtyard.

"You know, when you take a good look at it, our Fourth Division barracks really are the most beautiful in the Gotei Thirteen."

Kaien nodded. "Agreed."

Then he added, "Shin, I owe you again."

Shin turned his head, smirking. "Again? When did you owe me the first time?"

Kaien chuckled. "..." freёweɓnovel.com

Shin continued, "Come on, friends don't keep score. But if you insist... maybe I'll milk that favor for the rest of your life."

Kaien looked sideways at him. It was odd—Shin was far younger than him, probably even younger than Ikkaku. But even so, Ikkaku willingly followed him around, calling him "Big Bro Shin."

After spending this much time together, Kaien had long since stopped treating him like a junior.

He laughed aloud. "You're right. What are friends for, if not to bother each other?"

And so, Ukitake Jūshirō took up residence in the Fourth Division, continuing his recovery. Shin had done all he could—now the rest was up to Unohana.

Since Kaien couldn't stay by Ukitake's side all day, he assigned the two Third Seats of the Thirteenth Division to take turns watching over him.

Kiyone, Ukitake's younger sister, was perfectly at ease here in the Fourth Division—after all, her elder sister was the Vice-Captain.

It didn't take long before word began spreading through Seireitei: Ukitake's illness had been cured.

Though the truth was, treatment was still ongoing, the news raced through the ranks.

Two days after the operation, Shin received a Hell Butterfly summoning him to the First Division.

He instantly grew tense, rose, and left the Fourth Division barracks.

Upon arriving, he was first greeted by Sasakibe Chōjirō.

"Vice-Captain Sasakibe."

"The Head Captain is waiting for you." Chōjirō didn't say more.

Shin followed him into a chamber.

As he stepped inside, he saw him—a towering, regal figure sitting with calm authority.

Bald, ancient, with a deeply lined face and a crossed pair of scars on his forehead. His eyebrows were long and white, as was the thick beard that fell to his waist.

The founder of the Gotei 13. The creator of the Shin'ō Academy. The wielder of the strongest fire-type Zanpakutō. The strongest Shinigami in a thousand years.

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.

Shin cast a glance at the kneeling Kyōraku, then stepped forward.

"Tachikawa Shin, reporting. Greetings to Head Captain and Captain Kyōraku."

Yamamoto's gaze was calm as he gestured to a cushion nearby.

"Sit."

Shin sat without hesitation.

Yamamoto's voice was slow and deep. "You cured Jūshirō?"

"Not fully," Shin replied honestly. "But Captain Ukitake's condition has greatly improved. It wasn't my work alone—Captain Unohana was instrumental in the procedure. She's the one continuing his treatment now."

Yamamoto nodded slightly. His spiritual pressure was fully suppressed; only his natural gravitas remained. Shin didn't feel any threat—just the weight of presence.

"You are aware now of the Soul King's Right Hand," Yamamoto said. "Have you thought about what consequences await you?"

Shin paused, then spoke plainly.

"I have. But I believe what I did was a good thing. After all, I helped save Captain Ukitake. I don't think you'd punish me for that."

At that, Kyōraku's expression twitched strangely.

This kid...

Even Yamamoto's brow lifted slightly in surprise.