Chapter 12 – Health Condition
Surrounded by thousands of razor-sharp sakura blades hanging in the air like death itself, Kuchiki Byakuya could only manage a dry, bitter smile.
In the end, he chose to give up. Resistance now would be nothing but a futile gesture…
And yet, at that very moment, a thought crossed his mind.
Just whose Senbonzakura Kageyoshi was this, really?
His?
Or Tachibana Kyūjō's?
Why… why did this technique appear far more refined, more powerful—more alive—when wielded by Kyūjō than when used by himself?
— — —
The sword petals floating in that star-filled dimension stopped precisely one meter from Byakuya's body.
Not one petal advanced an inch farther.
With a simple wave of Kyūjō's hand, all the floating blades slowly dissolved into fine particles of light, dispersing into the cosmic horizon like glittering dust.
His Zanpakutō, which had taken the form of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, returned to its original shape—Mugen.
And with that, the illusion shattered.
The cosmos faded away, and once again, they stood in the private training grounds of the Kuchiki Clan.
This was the true nature of Kyūjō's Bankai: Infinity World (Mugen Sekai)—The World Without Limits.
Once activated, Kyūjō could simulate the Bankai of any opponent he had previously analyzed—
and in some cases, even enhance it beyond its original form, utilizing the boundless ability of his Zanpakutō.
The less the opponent understood their own Bankai, the more overpowering Kyūjō's version would become.
If his spiritual pressure surpassed theirs as well, then the difference in power became nothing short of terrifying.
However, against a master like Yamamoto Genryūsai, who had fully grasped the essence of his Zanpakutō across millennia—
Kyūjō himself wasn't certain whether his Infinity World could faithfully reproduce effects like Zanka no Tachi: Minami - Kaka Jūmanokushi Daisōjin.
Still, the most fearsome aspect of his Bankai wasn't its immediate power…
It was its memory.
Infinity World could record and store any Bankai it had faced.
Now that Kyūjō had fought against Byakuya, the power of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi was his to wield—
forever.
He could summon it again in a future battle, combining it with other techniques, creating new, devastating combinations.
Just imagine: a Bankai like that in the hands of someone as versatile and unpredictable as Kyūjō…
Terrifying, wasn't it?
Of course, the more intricate and powerful the Bankai, the more Reiatsu it consumed.
Take for example the brush-like Zanpakutō of Ichibe Hyōsube from the Zero Division—
which manipulated the concept of names itself.
Kyūjō suspected that even if he drained all of his spiritual power, he still wouldn't be able to replicate that ability.
— — —
"Kyūjō, that sword of yours... is that your Bankai?" Byakuya asked, eyes narrowed, voice filled with curiosity.
"Shiro-chan, I'll let you figure that out yourself," Kyūjō replied with a lazy tone, spinning his sword lightly in one hand. "Also, don't you think you used your Bankai a bit... recklessly? Try reflecting on how I used yours just now."
The jab struck home.
Byakuya froze, eyebrows twitching as he fell into thought.
He silently began replaying the earlier fight in his mind—every movement, every decision, every petal.
— — —
At that moment, Kuchiki Hisana walked toward them with a gentle smile.
She carried a tray containing a teapot of fragrant blossom tea, several elegant cups, and a plate of freshly made soft sweets.
"Byakuya, and you must be Tachibana-kun, right? It's a pleasure to meet you," she said warmly. "I'm Hisana, Byakuya's wife. I just finished preparing this tea and some snacks. Please take a break and enjoy them."
Her soft voice broke through the tension.
Byakuya blinked, then looked at her with tenderness, nodding slowly.
Kyūjō, naturally, didn't decline.
He took the tray and led the way to a small pavilion nestled within the family garden.
The three of them sat down together, enjoying the tea and sweets under the serene sunlight.
It was peaceful—almost like they weren't Shinigami, but just people.
But Kyūjō's expression turned serious.
He glanced at Hisana, his sharp perception already analyzing her condition beneath the surface.
"Byakuya," he said softly, "there's something wrong with Hisana's spiritual body…"
"…What?"
Byakuya immediately turned to him, anxiety creeping into his voice.
Kyūjō didn't wait for him to ask.
"Hisana, you came from Rukongai, didn't you? You may not realize it, but you actually have the potential to become a Shinigami," Kyūjō explained gently.
The words hit Byakuya like a slap.
His breath caught.
This truth—this hope—was something he had long buried under quiet regrets.
He had always known Hisana's soul was weak.
The lifespan of ordinary souls in Soul Society usually doubled that of humans, but hers…
Hers was fragile. Delicate.
He'd consulted the best Kaidō healers across the Gotei 13.
But every effort ended in disappointment.
And yet, he had never once considered asking Kyūjō.
Whether it was pride or denial, he had refused to acknowledge the man who defeated him every month could also heal better than any Division 4 expert.
Even after Kyūjō cured Ukitake Jūshirō's lifelong illness, Byakuya brushed it off as mere coincidence.
— — —
Kyūjō raised a hand, as if calming a troubled spirit.
"Relax, Byakuya. Her condition's not hopeless, but it is complicated."
He turned to Hisana again.
"The problem goes back to your time in Rukongai. Malnutrition and years of hardship caused damage to your spiritual body—long-term degradation, really."
"But I'll say this—your will to live is incredible, Hisana."
Kyūjō gave her a soft smile.
"Most souls in your condition would've already reincarnated. You? You endured. If it were someone else, their grave grass would be two meters tall by now—ah, sorry, I mean, they'd be long gone."
Hisana chuckled, while Byakuya shot Kyūjō a sharp look.
"But surviving in such a damaged state has side effects," Kyūjō continued. "Your spirit particle circulation burns out faster than normal."
"And to make matters worse… you're emotionally burdened, aren't you?"
"Negative emotions speed up Reiatsu loss. If this keeps going, your soul may not last another five years."
Hisana lowered her eyes.
Byakuya froze.
He knew she was weak—but not like this.
"Kyūjō!! You have to save her!"
Byakuya stood abruptly, gripping Kyūjō's shoulders.
"If there's anything—any way at all—tell me! I'll do it!"
Kyūjō placed a hand over his and gently pushed him back down.
"Easy. I didn't say it's impossible."
"The first step is helping her let go of that emotional weight. As for fixing the damage to her soul... we'll need help."
"If we work together, I believe we can restore her. And who knows—she might even awaken her Shinigami potential someday."
Byakuya's heart slowly steadied.
A glimmer of hope returned to his eyes.
"Who?" he asked, voice steady now. "Name him. If he's in Soul Society, the Kuchiki Clan will make any arrangements necessary. No matter the cost."
Kyūjō exhaled.
He raised a brow and smiled.
"No need to pull the noble strings. I just need to call him—he'll come. You know him, too."
"The guy's a little strange, wears a striped hat, runs a shady shop... ring any bells?"
Byakuya's jaw clenched.
"Urahara Kisuke."
Kyūjō grinned.
"Bingo."
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