"Oh? Byakuya, how do you think so-called Strongest Zanpakuto are actually passed down?" Hearing Byakuya's words, Kyoya laughed: "For elemental types, it's undeniable. Any that can manipulate weather phenomena after Bankai are called the Strongest of their type."
"But what about other types?"
"The so-called Strongest means having absolute suppression over same-type abilities inferior to one's own."
"But this isn't obviously manifested externally… it's all about how one presents it, isn't it?"
"Your Senbonzakura can transform your Reiatsu into countless blade fragments the size of cherry blossoms and manipulate them. Calling it the Strongest Manipulation-type Zanpakuto, what's wrong with that?"
Here, Kyoya countered Byakuya's question: "If you deny it, then tell me, what Manipulation-type Zanpakuto can match Senbonzakura in the number of things it controls?"
Kyoya remembered that a hundred years later, when Ichigo and the others invaded the Seireitei, the 7th Division's Fourth Seat, Ikkanzaka Jirobo, who fought against Ishida Uryu and Inoue Orihime, claimed his Zanpakuto, [Tsunzakigarasu], is the Strongest Flight-type Zanpakuto.
He himself was also called [Kamaitachi Jirobo].
He said [Kamaitachi] was the title for the user of the Strongest Flight-type Zanpakuto.
In reality, the strongest Flight-type Zanpakuto was Byakuya's [Senbonzakura], but Byakuya disliked the sound of the title [Kamaitachi] and refused it.
From this, it was clear that after Byakuya became a Captain, the Great Spirit Book Gallery's record of his Zanpakuto must also list it as the Strongest Flight-type Zanpakuto.
Of course, Kyoya also knew that if he told Byakuya now that his Zanpakuto was the [Strongest Flight-type Zanpakuto] and would later be granted the name [Kamaitachi], Byakuya would likely refuse to acknowledge his Zanpakuto as the strongest Flight-type due to the name.
Therefore, Kyoya described Byakuya's Senbonzakura as Manipulation-type here, not Flight-type.
Since it was Manipulation, the title Kamaitachi obviously didn't fit Manipulation.
Once Kyoya's claimed Manipulation-type was recognized by Shinigami, the Great Spirit Book Gallery would naturally produce corresponding records.
Kyoya figured that by then, Byakuya wouldn't refuse to acknowledge being the owner of the Strongest Manipulation-type Zanpakuto.
"Strongest... Manipulation-type?"
"Correct."
Kyoya smiled, "How many Manipulation-type Zanpakuto there were in previous eras, I don't know."
"But in this era, the Manipulation-type Zanpakuto I know of number only three."
"The first belongs to the 7th Division's Ikkanzaka Jirobo. His Zanpakuto, [Tsunzakigarasu], can transform into over a dozen rotating blade segments, controlled like flying wheels to attack the enemy."
"Although the rotating blades of [Tsunzakigarasu] are dozens of times larger than the blades of your Senbonzakura, the number of blades isn't even on the same level as Senbonzakura."
Byakuya nodded, agreeing with Kyoya's words.
'Indeed, although Senbonzakura's blades were small, the number of blades it could manipulate, even in just Shikai, numbered in the millions.'
'After Bankai, it might reach numbers in the 'hundreds of millions'.
Tsunzakigarasu simply couldn't compare to Senbonzakura in this regard.
"The second is the current 10th Division's Lieutenant, Matsumoto Rangiku."
"Her Zanpakuto, [Haineko] is very similar to your Zanpakuto Senbonzakura in many aspects."
"However, although the amount of ash [Haineko] controls isn't inferior to Senbonzakura, the size of the ash particles is far smaller than Senbonzakura's blades."
"You tell me, if Senbonzakura isn't the strongest Manipulation-type Zanpakuto, then who is?"
"Tsunzakigarasu? Or Haineko?"
Byakuya shook his head.
From Kyoya's words, Byakuya could indeed feel that his Senbonzakura was more than a level stronger than these two Manipulation-type Zanpakuto.
"Be more confident, Byakuya."
"Your future achievements will certainly surpass your grandfather's. You will become the most qualified head of the Kuchiki Clan."
"Mmm."
Byakuya nodded seriously.
"Then go report to the 6th Division now. Set your grandfather's mind at ease sooner."
"Yes, Kyoya-sensei."
Byakuya bowed respectfully to Kyoya, then left the 11th Division's barracks with his transfer application.
"This is the Rukongai?"
Leaving the Seireitei for the first time, Haruko was very curious.
Compared to the Seireitei, the Rukongai had fewer suffocating rules. Anyone could play freely.
Of course, this was under the premise of not affecting others.
If an irritable person found you noisy, it wasn't impossible for them to start cursing loudly.
In the past, coming to blows was common.
But since members of the 11th Division were stationed long-term in the Rukongai, instances of random violence had decreased significantly.
After all, for most people in the Rukongai, a Shinigami's strength was absolutely not something they could challenge.
More powerful individuals tended to gather in the higher-numbered districts further from the Seireitei.
Correspondingly, the 11th Division's Shinigami stationed in those rear areas were also no simple individuals.
Placed in other divisions, these members would be qualified to compete for seated officer positions.
Of course, now, these people also held seated officer ranks within the 11th Division.
Kyoya had implemented the same ranking system for both the 11th Division inside the Seireitei and the one in the Rukongai.
Both had a Lieutenant and nineteen seated officers.
In other divisions, it wasn't unheard of to have multiple Shinigami holding the same seat number.
But having two or more Shinigami holding ranks from the lowest seat up to Lieutenant, like in Kyoya's 11th Division, was truly unique.
Compared to Haruko's curiosity, the astonishment in Koga's heart was no less.
After all, Koga had came from the Rukongai.
But the current Rukongai was also quite different from the one in his memories.
Firstly, the transportation.
Within the various districts of the Rukongai, many wide roads at least three meters across had appeared. One could often see horse-drawn carriages or rickshaws speeding along these roads.
Additionally, at regular intervals, there were shops called [General Stores] selling many items not available in the local district, of good quality and low price, with a constant stream of people entering and exiting.
For the better-supplied districts closer to the front, these things only added some surprises to their lives.
But for the higher-numbered districts further from the Seireitei, they were their lifeline.
At the very least, if you were willing to work, you could earn enough to buy the necessities for survival from these general stores.
"Koga, Haruko, at our current speed, we probably won't reach the outpost by nightfall."
"Next, I'm going to use Shunpo to speed up!"
Seeing the weariness on Haruko's face, Kyoya gave a reminder.
"Mmm, Captain Kyoya, please lead the way. I'll bring Haruko and follow." Koga responded immediately, scooping Haruko into his arms.
He knew Kyoya hadn't used Shunpo to travel immediately out of consideration for Haruko.
Now, after walking through two districts, Haruko had mostly adjusted to the Rukongai's environment, so it was time to pick up the pace.
"Mmm, then keep up!"
Seeing Koga's readiness, Kyoya nodded inwardly, then leapt into the air, flying towards the distance.
Koga's Reiatsu erupted, enveloping Haruko, before he used Shunpo to follow behind Kyoya.
"Captain Kyoya, when did all this actually begin?"
Even while hurrying, Koga could still observe the changes in the Rukongai beneath his feet.
The area they were currently in had been a zone of chaos just decades ago.
But now, it looked roughly similar to how District 10 or so looked in Koga's memory.
'In just the years since he left the Rukongai, Captain Kyoya had brought about such massive changes.'
'No wonder Captain Kyoya had been so confident when he spoke earlier about wanting to give the people of the Rukongai a new choice.'
'Forget the future… even now, the changes Captain Kyoya had brought to the Rukongai were enough to be remembered for two or three generations.'
As for the people two or three generations later...
Well, those accustomed to this new state of the Rukongai would likely take the current situation for granted, then seek to enter the Seireitei to pursue a future as 'elites'.
With this in mind, Koga's gaze towards Kyoya ahead held a few more degrees of respect.
After this incident, Koga's perspective on things had shifted.
Therefore, he could foresee that no matter what changes Kyoya brought to the current Rukongai, in a hundred years, or even less, they would likely suffer 'betrayal' from the Rukongai itself.
'How heartbroken would Captain Kyoya be then?'
As someone who had been betrayed by Ginrei, Koga knew the feeling of betrayal best.
And given the intelligence Kyoya had displayed, Koga didn't believe he couldn't foresee the cognitive shift in the Rukongai's people a century hence.
'How would Captain Kyoya handle himself then?'
Koga followed closely behind Kyoya, pondering how to break this future dilemma.
After a long while, an idea that seemed absurd but felt incredibly useful surfaced in his mind:
'Replace the Seireitei!'
'Only by doing this could the city Captain Kyoya built avoid being targeted by both the Rukongai's residents and the Seireitei.'
'No!'
Koga shook his head.
'What Captain Kyoya had told me was about giving the people of the Rukongai a new choice.'
'If Captain Kyoya replaced the Seireitei, not to mention the difficulty of opposing it, even if he succeeded, wouldn't the people of the Rukongai still only have the 'Seireitei' as their one option?'
'How could that be called a 'new choice'?'
'It would run completely counter to Captain Kyoya's 'dream'.'
Since he had now become Kyoya's subordinate, Koga would stand before him, becoming his shield!
If necessary, Koga would even strike the first blow in replacing the Seireitei, solely to prevent Kyoya from suffering betrayal.
'Grow stronger!'
'I must become strong enough to be Captain Kyoya's right-hand man.'
'At the very least, to assist Captain Kyoya in replacing the Seireitei, I need to reach a level where I can restrain three Captain-level opponents simultaneously!'
Kyoya, leading the way, sensed the fluctuation in Koga's Reiatsu and glanced back curiously.
From Koga's eyes, Kyoya could sense his 'resolve'.
Although he didn't know what Koga had figured out, Kyoya was pleased with his current change.
Whether in the Bleach World or One Piece World, those with lofty ambitions and the will to pursue their ideals achieve extraordinary things.
Koga possessing such resolve meant he certainly wouldn't slack in his training.
Kyoya suspected Koga's future achievements wouldn't be low.
…
"We're here."
In the distance, Koga saw a scene of numerous people bustling about, constructing buildings.
There, the central structure was already completed.
Compared to the Seireitei, this mere three-story building couldn't compare.
But this was the 11th Division's outpost in the Rukongai.
Simultaneously, it was also the future base for Kyoya's 'Revolutionary Army'.
"Kyoya-sama!"
As Kyoya landed, Ichinose Maki, sensing his Reiatsu, immediately came to the outpost's main entrance to greet him.
"Long time no see, Ichinose." Kyoya smiled and patted Ichinose's shoulder, "These years, you've worked hard."
"The Rukongai has undergone such great changes, you are the greatest contributor."
"Not at all. I merely acted according to Kyoya-sama's instructions."
"If we're talking about contributors, Captain Kyoya is the greatest." Ichinose shook his head.
Receiving Kyoya-sama's praise made Ichinose very happy.
But he didn't dare claim credit for transforming the Rukongai so significantly.
He was just a puppet executing Kyoya's orders. Without Kyoya's guidance, how could he have accomplished such things?
"And these two are?"
After exchanging pleasantries with Kyoya, Ichinose turned his gaze to Koga and Haruko.
From the Kenseikan on Koga's head and the red scarf around his neck, Ichinose recognized him as the future head of the Kuchiki Clan.
What puzzled Ichinose was that everything Kyoya was doing clearly went against the interests of the Seireitei's nobles.
'If Kyoya-sama weren't the [Kenpachi], possessing numerous privileges, anyone else making such significant moves in the Rukongai would likely have faced suppression from the Gotei 13.'
'Even so, what was the future head of the Kuchiki Clan, the foremost of the Four Great Noble Families, doing here?'
"Ah, let me introduce you."
"Koga, this is the Lieutenant of the 11th Division in the Rukongai, Ichinose Maki."
"Ichinose, this is Koga, a new comrade joining the 11th Division today."
Here, Kyoya glanced at Ichinose, feeling a somewhat guilty.
Honestly, Ichinose really couldn't hold onto the Lieutenant's position in the 11th Division...