West Rukongai, District 40.
Seff moved through the lightly wooded terrain, weaving between sparse trees and grass that didn't quite qualify as a forest.
He was here for one reason: a Hollow had been spotted nearby.
It had already been a month since he escorted Yui safely back to his home in District 45. In that time, the scorching heat of summer had finally begun to fade, giving way to the first hints of autumn's cool breeze.
The air still held warmth, but it no longer clung so tightly to the skin, assuming, of course, that a surprise heatwave didn't show up.
In that single month, Seff's name had gradually spread across the districts. More and more people had begun seeking him out, requesting help with Hollow-related incidents.
To the residents of Rukongai, Hollows were no longer some distant myth or bedtime story. They had become a real, tangible threat, one that endangered not only day-to-day life but life itself.
It was like living on the edge of a rural village, where wild boars might occasionally raid your crops or attack people. Except Hollows weren't like wild animals. They didn't care about food or property. They weren't interested in anything but the souls of the dead, the people of Rukongai.
They hunted the helpless. They devoured the weak.
And with that danger so clearly before them, the people, desperate, out of options, began to do what desperate people always do: try anything. After all, the Shinigami, those lofty reapers in their black uniforms, were nowhere to be seen. But if a rumor spread about someone who could handle a Hollow, they'd come running on the off-chance it was true.
And this time, they were lucky.
Because Seff could kill Hollows, and he didn't mind doing so.
In just a month, Seff hadn't only gained fame. He'd also amassed a decent bit of wealth.
Given that Hollows were effectively natural disasters for the average soul, anyone who could reliably drive them off, or better yet, eliminate them, was treated like a miracle worker. Even if a single family couldn't afford to pay much, entire towns would pool their funds just to be rid of the menace. The sums weren't small.
Yui even joked that Seff was making more in a single day than their family business did in a week.
Of course, it wasn't jealousy, just idle observation. After all, anyone else who tried to do what Seff did would just end up dead.
Despite Seff's repeated insistence that he wasn't a Shinigami, the people had already made up their minds. Either he was one, or he was bound to become one.
The reason Seff remained in District Forty-Five instead of continuing deeper into Rukongai had to do with the information he'd picked up from Yui. It gave him a clearer picture of this world, especially of the Shinigami, and changed his plans.
To put it simply: the center of Rukongai was Seireitei, the realm of the Shinigami. And within Seireitei was the Shino Academy, where new Shinigami were trained. Seff would go there eventually. But not just yet.
After confirming it multiple times, Seff had learned that Shino Academy did have entrance requirements, but age wasn't one of them. Apparently, as long as a soul in the Soul Society didn't meet an untimely end, they could live for centuries. What counted as a hundred years here felt more like twenty or thirty in a human lifespan.
In other words, most souls stayed in their prime for a very long time.
There was no need to rush.
And besides, there was one more reason to stay a while longer:
Hollows.
Or more accurately, battle.
Most Rukongai souls who wanted to become Shinigami did it for two reasons: a better life, or greater power.
Seff figured his current life wasn't too bad. Given the era and the lack of technology, even radios, he wasn't expecting much in terms of entertainment. Living was enough.
But as for power...
He hadn't been fighting out of justice or compassion. He remembered what that first Hollow said right before it died, something about "His Majesty." That meant there were stronger Hollows out there. Stronger than what he'd faced so far.
Shino Academy might offer formal training. But Seff wasn't exactly starting from zero.
For some reason still unknown to him, he could summon and use the abilities of "Old Sephiroth", the iconic warrior whose skills had somehow become part of him.
That said, just being able to use those abilities wasn't enough.
He had to refine them. Strengthen them. Master them.
Early on, when food was scarce and the days were long, Seff hadn't been able to focus on training seriously. But now, with a stable home, steady income, and plenty to eat, he finally could.
And he wanted to make sure that by the time he did enroll in Shino Academy, he wouldn't have to abandon one path of training for another. Better to understand his current strength first, thoroughly.
Also... if he was being honest, Seff had always enjoyed playing the underestimated underdog.
If he could quietly develop his strength now, then once he entered the academy, he could breeze through rankings, win whatever tournaments they held, and shut down any upperclassmen who tried to belittle him. That sounded far more satisfying than starting from scratch.
Because let's face it: If you're going to play the fool, you'd better be a wolf in disguise, not just another sheep.
And strength? It always beat empty bravado.
So, while others wasted time rushing in and getting burned, Seff would take his time. Forge his own path.
Every day, he practiced his swings. Trained his body.
Accepted missions. Hunted Hollows.
Refined his instincts in real combat.
It was a healthy rhythm, and Seff could feel the results. His power was growing.
Of course, it wasn't all upside.
As he grew stronger, he started to realize something.
These towering, grotesque Hollows that terrified everyone else... weren't that different from the street thugs back in the outer districts.
One swing.
One clean cut.
That's all it took.
More often than not, he spent more time tracking them down than actually fighting. The battles ended so quickly it was hard not to wonder if the Hollows were just putting on a show.
It was getting... dull.
Still, he didn't stop. Not yet. As long as there were still Hollows worth killing, and commissions to earn, he would keep going.
Money wasn't everything.
But let's be real, without it, you were screwed.
Now, in this latest job, the area had been completely abandoned. Everyone had already fled, leaving only Seff advancing alone toward the location his client had marked.
Before long, he saw it.
A grotesque white creature oozing menace, completely out of place against the quiet backdrop of Rukongai.
A Hollow.
Seff had seen more than his share of them in the past month. Their warped, monstrous shapes were no longer surprising.
But this time, something did surprise him.
It wasn't the Hollow itself.
It was the fact that someone was already standing in front of it, before Seff even arrived.
Not fighting.
But standing tall, both hands gripping a sword.
A boy.
No more than twelve or thirteen.
He had soft, drooping bangs and a body that looked far too fragile to be on a battlefield.
And yet... he stood firm. Eyes locked on the Hollow ahead. Unshaken.
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• TL/N •
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
> Naruto: Mind Control
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed