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For someone like Shiraha, joining the Sixth Division made sense—it was a clear path, backed by both his lineage and strength, and with the vice-captain position still vacant, he could have stepped into it effortlessly. But becoming a captain? That was another matter entirely. The current captain of the Sixth Division was Byakuya Kuchiki—his own elder brother. Challenging him for the position wasn't just unrealistic; it bordered on impossible.
"You turned down the Sixth Division... just because of that?" Kuchiki Ginrei asked, brow deeply furrowed, his disbelief evident.
Byakuya, quieter but no less concerned, added, "You could still join and wait. When another captain eventually steps down, you'll be more than qualified by then. There's no reason to rush."
But Shiraha's answer was unwavering. "Grandfather, Brother, you don't need to persuade me. I've already made up my mind."
He had no interest in waiting. Waiting meant wasting precious time, and by the time another captain resigned, it would likely coincide with Aizen's defection—an event Shiraha had long since calculated into his plans. By then, he would have already reached 100% synchronization with his first template. If the system task to become a captain remained incomplete by that point, it would be meaningless. And beyond that, Shiraha believed—with every fiber of his being—that his strength was already enough to secure a captain's seat now.
Ginrei exhaled heavily, clearly restraining himself from saying more. He had raised Shiraha, knew his temperament well, and had seen that same resolute look too many times before. When Shiraha made up his mind, there was no turning him.
After a thoughtful silence, Byakuya narrowed his gaze slightly. "If you're that determined... have you already learned Bankai?"
The question hit the room like a thrown blade, sharp and unexpected. Even Byakuya, who was normally reserved in judgment, felt the need to ask it. Defeating Zaraki Kenpachi wasn't something any ordinary Soul Reaper could do. It wasn't something even most captains could do. For someone who had only recently obtained a Zanpakutō, it seemed impossible—unless, of course, Shiraha had already awakened Bankai.
Ginrei's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait—Bankai? Shiraha, be honest. Have you really attained it?"
Under normal circumstances, Ginrei would have dismissed such speculation outright. Bankai wasn't something achieved casually—it required a decade or more of training. Even Byakuya himself had needed close to eight years to master it. But Shiraha had slain a mid-tier Menos Grande solo and bested Kenpachi Zaraki in a head-on battle. Could it be...?
"You're overthinking it," Shiraha said evenly, his expression calm. "I haven't reached Bankai. I haven't even achieved Shikai."
That revelation stunned them both.
No Shikai? Not even the Zanpakutō's name?
Ginrei's eyes darkened with concern. "You mean... you don't even know your Zanpakutō's true name?"
"I don't," Shiraha admitted, feigning frustration with practiced ease. "I've only had my Zanpakutō for a short time. I can channel its abilities, but it hasn't spoken to me."
It was a partial truth—just enough to remain believable. The stick-blade Shiraha wielded wasn't truly a Zanpakutō. It had no soul, no name, no awakening. It was merely a vessel, a disguise for his true power: the manipulation of gravity. If the truth ever surfaced, if Soul Society discovered that his abilities didn't come from his blade, Aizen would notice... and once Aizen took interest, the consequences would be fatal.
"Then how are you able to wield such destructive power without even a Shikai?" Ginrei asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't know," Shiraha answered, wearing a look of uncertainty. "I'm still trying to understand it myself."
Byakuya's eyes softened, his tone thoughtful. "Perhaps your Zanpakutō is unusually powerful. Some spirits take longer to respond to their wielders—especially when their inner essence is vast or unstable."
Ginrei considered the idea, his expression easing. "That may be it. You've only had your Zanpakutō for a little over a month. I let my excitement get the better of me."
He now recalled the details clearly—how Shiraha had only recently awakened the sealed Asauchi into a functioning Zanpakutō. The fact that he'd gained such immense Reiatsu and power in such a short time was already beyond anything Soul Society had seen. Perhaps the spirit of the blade simply hadn't responded yet. Perhaps it was waiting.
"Well," Ginrei said, his tone more tempered, "this part of your path you must walk alone. Not even I, nor your elder brother, can guide you through your connection to your Zanpakutō."
Shiraha nodded, silently thankful that they'd drawn their own conclusions.
Ginrei's smile returned, smaller but genuine. "And since you're determined to become a captain, I won't try to stop you. But are you aware of what that entails?"
"I know one of the conditions," Shiraha said with a brief nod. "To defeat the current captain in battle before two hundred active Soul Reapers. That's how Zaraki Kenpachi became the captain of the Eleventh Division."
Ginrei stroked his beard thoughtfully and leaned forward. "Correct. That's one path. But there are two others."
Byakuya remained silent beside him, listening closely.
"The second method," Ginrei continued, "is to pass the official captain's proficiency exam under the witness of at least three captains—one of whom must be the Head-Captain."
Shiraha absorbed the information, considering the implications carefully.
"The third path," Ginrei concluded, his voice steady and authoritative, "is nomination. If six captains recommend you and three of the remaining seven approve, then the appointment is confirmed."
Shiraha's eyes narrowed slightly, mind already weighing the risks, options, and strategic advantages of each route.
"Those are the three ways," Ginrei said at last. "Succeed at any one of them, and you will wear the haori of a captain."
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