"Captain Kyoya!"
"Captain Kyoya, have the Ryoka been dealt with?"
As soon as Kyoya and the others returned to the 11th Division, the division's members who had been gathered and ready for deployment immediately surrounded him, eagerly asking questions. From their tone, Kyoya could sense a hint of dissatisfaction.
It couldn't be helped… the members of the 11th Division lived for battle and combat.
A mission involving Ryoka breaching the Seireitei was a rare occurrence, happening only once in several decades, if not a century.
And any Ryoka capable of breaking into the Seireitei were undoubtedly strong.
But since Kyoya had taken action, no matter how powerful the Ryoka were, they must have already been dealt with.
Their question was born from a faint hope… that perhaps Kyoya had found the opponents unworthy and left them for them to handle.
"Ah, it's already been taken care of."
As the Captain of the 11th Division, Kyoya was well aware of what his division's members were hoping for.
Seeing the disappointment on their faces, Kyoya grinned and continued, "However, on the way back, I ran into two fighters whose strength is no less than those Ryoka, and I invited them to join the 11th Division."
With that, he gestured to Zaraki, who stood behind him, and the small girl perched on his shoulder, Yachiru.
"This is Zaraki, and the little girl on his shoulder is Kusajishi Yachiru."
"I'll take them to complete their registration first. If any of you are bored, you're welcome to… 'exchange pointers' with them."
"Just a heads-up… Zaraki and Yachiru are incredibly strong. If you want to spar with them, make sure to have at least a seated officer from the 4th Division on standby."
"What?!"
At Kyoya's words, the Shinigami of the 11th Division erupted in shock.
Zaraki's imposing physique alone was intimidating, and the Reiatsu radiating from him was no less oppressive than Kyoya's.
But Yachiru was so tiny, so they wondered how could she possibly warrant such high praise from their Captain?
However, Kyoya wouldn't lie to them.
Besides, this was the 11th Division.
The division's members frequently challenged and sparred with each other.
A false reputation would quickly be crushed under the feet of stronger fighters.
Only genuine strength could earn one a solid place in the 11th Division.
"Hehe, hi, everyone~"
"Do you all want to play with Ken-chan?"
Faced with such a large crowd, Yachiru wasn't the least bit nervous. Instead, she cheerfully greeted them.
"Aww, what an adorable little girl!"
Hearing Yachiru's voice, Rangiku's eyes lit up, and she immediately stepped forward, reaching out toward Yachiru with both hands.
"I'm Matsumoto Rangiku, the fifth seat of the 11th Division. You can call me Rangiku-nee, okay?"
"Hi there, Ku-chan~"
Yachiru grinned at her.
"Call me Rangiku-nee."
Rangiku pinched Yachiru's cheeks playfully.
"Alright, Rangiku, first things first… let's get Zaraki and Yachiru registered and arrange their barracks."
'Rangiku is so bold that she actually dares to ask Yachiru to call her Rangiku-nee?'
Yachiru had appeared by Zaraki's side after he was already an adult. Though she looked like a child, she was far from being one.
In terms of age, Yachiru was at least two or three hundred years old.
But then again, appearances and ages in the Soul Society were… complicated.
Take Unohana, the 4th Division's Captain, for example.
She was the original Kenpachi of the Gotei 13, a contemporary of Zero Division's Kirinji Tenjiro and Yamamoto.
Kirinji's promotion to Zero Division granted him the [Oken].
As long as the detached palace of the Soul King Palace remained intact, he would exist beyond life and death.
Yet, while Yamamoto had aged to the point where his physical strength was only 60% of his prime, Unohana remained in her peak condition.
In the Bleach World, one could never judge someone's age by their appearance.
"Ugh, you're so naggy, Captain Kyoya!"
Rangiku had been about to play with Yachiru when Kyoya interrupted her, earning herself an eye-roll.
Still, she wouldn't neglect her duties just because of that.
"Yachiru, come with me. I'll take you guys to get registered."
"Hey."
Though Rangiku had said she'd take them to register, Zaraki didn't move. Instead, he locked eyes with Kyoya.
"When do I get to fight you?"
"What?!"
"This new recruit is challenging Captain Kyoya right off the bat?!"
"That's not surprising. This guy's Reiatsu is too overwhelming, far beyond even Lieutenant Ichimaru's..."
"Maybe… this guy actually has Captain-level strength."
Otherwise, Captain Kyoya wouldn't have personally invited him to join the 11th Division."
"True. Over all these years, the only one Captain Kyoya ever personally invited was Lieutenant Ichimaru…"
"With Lieutenant Ichimaru's talent, he might be able to reach Captain-level strength within ten years."
"Anyone Captain Kyoya takes an interest in definitely isn't ordinary."
"Forget the big guy… even that little girl, Yachiru, gives me a dangerous vibe…"
After hearing Zaraki's words, the division's members' eyes gleamed with excitement.
Kyoya was simply too strong.
Over the years, though Kyoya had kept his promise as Captain, dedicating one day each month to training the division's members, only Gin had the courage to draw his sword against him.
Now, it seemed the 11th Division had gained another Captain-level Shinigami. Through him, they might finally get a glimpse of Kyoya's true power!
"As for me…" Kyoya smirked, "Once you're officially registered as a member of the 11th Division and we've gathered at least two hundred division's members, you can challenge me anytime."
"But you took quite a beating from Captain Aikawa today. That might affect your performance."
"I'd suggest heading to the 4th Division after registration and asking their Captain to heal you."
"I'll make sure the members are ready. Once you've recovered, you can challenge me for the title of 'Kenpachi' whenever you want."
Zaraki frowned.
In all his years, he had never once sought treatment for his injuries.
Aside from the life-or-death battle he had as a child against Unohana, no fight had ever left him seriously wounded.
His battle with Aikawa today was the worst injury he'd suffered in a century.
After all, Aikawa with his Bankai wasn't weak.
And Zaraki wasn't the type to dodge.
When faced with an enemy's attack, Zaraki preferred not to evade… but to crush it with his sword!
Thanks to his monstrous Reiatsu, even without releasing his Zanpakuto, his subconscious had partially unlocked his power, allowing him to overpower Aikawa.
But before that release, Aikawa's spiked club, and the flames it unleashed in Bankai, had dealt significant damage.
For Zaraki, only attacks that threatened his life could force his subconscious to unleash more power.
And though his Reiatsu had accelerated his healing, the injuries still lingered.
In the heat of battle, his fighting spirit would be enough to allow him to unleash even greater strength despite being injured.
But now, with his bloodlust cooled, the wounds were a genuine hindrance.
"If you don't know the way to the 4th Division, I'll take you there myself."
"Hmph."
Zaraki snorted coldly, but didn't reject Kyoya's proposal.
In his eyes, Kyoya had earned the right to demand his best.
"Heh…"
Kyoya didn't mind Zaraki's attitude.
If anything, he was looking forward to the moment Zaraki and Unohana met again.
He wondered what kind of expressions would they make.
After becoming captain of the 4th Division, Unohana had discarded the name 'Yachiru' and suppressed all traces of her bloodlust and malice, transforming into the most beloved Captain in the Gotei 13.
In Kyoya's memory, Unohana usually exuded the serene grace of a Yamato Nadeshiko… an almost dreamlike elegance.
But whenever she shared a scene with Zaraki, the cold glint in her narrowed eyes was unmistakable.
Interestingly, both Unohana and Zaraki considered themselves the loser of their legendary battle.
Unohana had sensed that, during their fight, Zaraki had progressively sealed his Reiatsu to prolong the thrill of combat, matching her blow for blow.
In the end, she had defeated him through sheer Zanjutsu.
But the realization that her opponent had held back shattered her pride… how could she still call herself Kenpachi if her enemy had to weaken himself just to keep the fight even?
So after that battle, Unohana abandoned the title and sought out Kirinji to master Kaido.
Even her Zanpakuto was likely remade by Oetsu using Kirinji's hot springs, courtesy of the Zero Division's influence.
Everything she did was to prepare for the day she would face Zaraki again… stronger than ever, so she could fight him at his full power and give him the battle he truly craved.
The same goes for Zaraki.
Lost in the ecstasy of battle, he never realized his subconscious had sealed his power.
All he knew was that his fight with Unohana had been the most exhilarating of his life.
But after his defeat, she hadn't killed him.
Therefore, Zaraki felt that he was too weak, so weak that he was not worthy of being killed by her.