After all, Hitsugaya currently possessed 4th-Class Reiryoku, equivalent to an elite Lieutenant, already meeting the minimum requirement to communicate with Hyorinmaru.
However, without an Asauchi, Hitsugaya couldn't enter his Inner World through Zanjutsu Meditation.
He could only passively wait for Hyorinmaru's call.
This depended on when Hyorinmaru wanted to emerge.
If Hyorinmaru wanted to come out early, it would naturally pull Hitsugaya into the Inner World as soon as possible through the connection between Zanpakuto and master.
But even if Hyorinmaru didn't want to emerge, once Hitsugaya's Reiryoku broke through to 3rd-Class, he could directly materialize Hyorinmaru and use its power.
"Additionally..."
"By becoming a Shinigami of the Seireitei, you would ultimately become a high and mighty figure. Even the nobles within Seireitei would have to bow their heads before you."
"But choosing to join under me, you would only have your own strength to make Rukongai better."
"If I discover you bullying ordinary people at will relying on your power, I might personally make a move to arrest, imprison, or even execute you."
"Toshiro, what do you think?"
"Knowing all this, would you still choose to follow me and join the Revolutionary Army?"
"Kyoya-sama, I still choose to follow you and join the Revolutionary Army."
This time, Hitsugaya didn't hesitate at all and directly chose Kyoya.
"Why?"
Although Rangiku was very satisfied with Hitsugaya's choice, she also wanted to know why he didn't choose the Seireitei to become a high and mighty figure but instead chose the Revolutionary Army.
After all, even if the Revolutionary Army did its best, there were still some people in this world who wanted to step on others to become superior.
They disliked nobles and hated the Shinigami of the Seireitei, not because they hated the Seireitei's noble system, but because they knew they weren't nobles nor powerful Shinigami.
If they had the chance to become superior themselves, they would naturally choose to become Shinigami of the Gotei 13.
This was why, even though Kyoya's Revolutionary Army had made many changes to the Rukongai, every year during the Shin'o Academy's recruitment, many people from Rukongai still went to take the exam.
Even, some who failed Baltigo Academy's graduation exam came to take the Shin'o Academy's exam and ultimately became Shinigami of the Gotei 13.
Moreover, because of the foundation they built at Baltigo Academy, even after joining the Gotei 13, they wouldn't be the lowest-level division's members.
"Toshiro, for you personally, joining the Seireitei is clearly better. Why did you still choose the Revolutionary Army?"
"Indeed, from a personal perspective, choosing the Seireitei to become a Shinigami is the optimal choice for me."
"But..."
"I remember Grandma and I had a very hard life when I was young..."
"However, I also know our lives have gotten better and better these years."
"At first, it was being able to eat our fill every day."
"Later, our dilapidated house was rebuilt into a wooden house that could shelter us from wind and rain."
"Grandma said it was all because of the Revolutionary Army's emergence that our lives improved."
"I can feel this."
"The Seireitei has existed for who knows how long, but Grandma still lived a hard life for most of it..."
"The Revolutionary Army has only been around for a few years, yet the Rukongai is infinitely better than before."
Although young, Hitsugaya could sense the changes in Rukongai over the years.
Going to Seireitei to become a Shinigami might eventually make him a big shot unreachable by everyone in the Rukongai-
But now, Hitsugaya wanted to follow by Kyoya's side.
Because he also wanted to let more people in the Rukongai, like his grandmother, live better, happier lives.
"If I can become a member of the Revolutionary Army and serve Kyoya-sama, I think Grandma would be very happy too."
"Alright."
Kyoya nodded, "Then let's wait."
"After your Grandma wakes up, bid her a proper farewell."
"After all, once you leave, you won't be able to return for at least three years."
"Ah? I can still come back to see Grandma?"
Hearing Kyoya's words, Hitsugaya was overjoyed but seemed unable to believe his guess. He asked Kyoya again, "Kyoya-sama, did you just say I can still come back to see Grandma?"
"Why not?"
Kyoya raised an eyebrow, "Baltigo isn't the Seireitei. We don't restrict the freedom of students or members."
"Actually, even after you join the Revolutionary Army, as long as you fulfill your duties, what you want to do is your freedom."
"If it weren't for considering teaching you to control your Reiatsu, even if you wanted to come back to see your grandmother tomorrow, it wouldn't be a problem."
"Sigh..."
Hitsugaya let out a light sigh.
"Earlier, Rangiku-san said grandmother got sick because of me, so I thought I could never see her again."
"Sigh."
Kyoya reached out and ruffled Hitsugaya's hair, "Ordinary people staying in a high Reiatsu environment for long periods will have their souls constantly oppressed by the high Reiatsu, causing their souls to continuously weaken."
"Plus, your Reiatsu can affect the external temperature, which is why your grandmother got sick as her health declined day by day."
"Once your control over Reiatsu improves, you can naturally come back to see your grandmother."
"However, even if you return, I don't recommend you stay with your grandmother for long periods frequently."
"After all, control over Reiatsu lets you actively restrain your Reiatsu from oppressing others, but the oppression based on soul essence still exists."
"For example, in Baltigo, although we don't restrict ordinary people from entering, those planning to stay long-term must have Reiatsu."
"Ordinary people without Reiatsu can only stay for a maximum of one year before being advised to leave Baltigo. They must wait at least three years before entering again."
"This is also to protect ordinary people's souls from being oppressed by high Reiatsu and suffering greater harm."
Hitsugaya nodded in understanding.
'Grandma had only lived with me for over a decade, and her health had already deteriorated.'
'The [Baltigo] Kyoya-sama mentioned must be a place where many powerful individuals with strong Reiatsu lived.'
'In such an environment, ordinary people without Reiatsu would indeed be easily harmed.'
In fact, this harm wasn't just spiritual… it could also include physical harm.
The Hollows in Hueco Mundo had the ability to sense Reiatsu, directly tear open space to create a [Garganta], and enter the Human World or the Soul Society.
Places with numerous Reiatsu were very likely to attract Hollows.
Especially those Hollows without intelligence, driven only by devouring instincts, wouldn't consider whether they could survive against so many powerful Shinigami.
They would simply follow their instincts, descend upon areas with concentrated Reiatsu, and hunt.
Baltigo had no research personnel, so it couldn't monitor Dangai in real-time. Therefore, Baltigo's guard soldiers usually only became aware of a Hollow's descent after sensing its Reiatsu upon arrival, then eliminated it as quickly as possible.
Although most Hollows were purified immediately upon arrival, some, due to distance, might take over ten seconds for the nearest soldiers to arrive. In those ten-plus seconds, people could be harmed.
…
They didn't have to wait long. In less than half an hour, Hitsugaya's grandmother woke up.
Upon learning that Hitsugaya could join the Revolutionary Army, the smile never left his grandmother's face.
For those with money and power, the changes in Rukongai didn't affect them much.
But for people like Hitsugaya's grandmother, orphans, widows, and those with little ability to work, the emergence of the Revolutionary Army had completely changed their lives for the better.
They were also among the most supportive of the Revolutionary Army in their hearts.
People from other social strata entering Baltigo Academy might be seeking power or authority, but those truly helped by the Revolutionary Army had the purest intentions for joining.
They had been caught in the rain and had also received the umbrella held by the Revolutionary Army.
Therefore, they joined the Revolutionary Army wanting to bring a better life to more people like themselves.
Of course, everyone had their own will.
Not everyone who received help from the Revolutionary Army wanted to join it.
And the Revolutionary Army never expected any reward from those it helped.
From beginning to end, the Revolutionary Army had only one goal-
To give the people of the Rukongai an additional choice when deciding their future!
Not just the one and only path of Seireitei.
Renji was like that.
If he hadn't met the Rukia and her sister, and been provoked by Rukia's actions, he would probably already be a second-year student at the Shin'o Academy by now.
...
"So big!"
For Hitsugaya, who had never seen the Seireitei, Baltigo was indeed the most beautiful city he had ever seen.
Tall buildings, wide streets, pedestrians coming and going, vehicles, and many shops filled with things he had and hadn't seen before...
Restaurants occasionally wafted out mouth-watering aromas.
Well-dressed people entered and exited izakayas, shops, amusement parks...
Additionally, soldiers in grass-green spotted military uniforms patrolled everywhere.
"Haha, this city was built by us bit by bit."
Hearing Hitsugaya's exclamation, Kyoya felt a sense of pride.
Having seen 21st-century cities, Kyoya was responsible for Baltigo's planning.
As for the construction, it was the result of the Revolutionary Army's collective efforts.
Kyoya wouldn't dare claim other aspects could compare to Seireitei-
But Baltigo's planning was much more rational than Seireitei's.
"Let's go, Toshiro."
"I'll get you enrolled first."
"Yes, Kyoya-sama."
Bringing Hitsugaya to Baltigo Academy, Kyoya directly placed him in this year's first-year Elite Class-
Unlike Renji.
Renji had some talent in physical combat and swordsmanship.
To compensate for his lack of a Zanpakuto, Kyoya focused on training Renji's physical combat, using the Rokushiki to build his foundation.
Hitsugaya didn't need such trouble.
He was the owner of the Strongest Ice-Type Zanpakuto, Hyorinmaru. To improve his strength the fastest, he didn't need to train his physique… he only needed to wait for Hyorinmaru's call.
Once Hitsugaya materialized Hyorinmaru, Kyoya would begin teaching him swordsmanship.
Well, it wasn't that Kyoya was unwilling to teach Hitsugaya physical combat, but if he remembered correctly, even by the time of the Thousand-Year Blood War, Hitsugaya's height hadn't increased much from now.
Such a stature was naturally at a disadvantage in physical training and combat.
Rather than letting Hitsugaya waste time training physical combat, it was better to devote all his energy to swordsmanship.
Of course, Hitsugaya's control over Reiatsu wasn't low either.
Naturally, he also had to delve into Kido.
"Train hard, Toshiro."
"And, pay attention to your fellow students."
"Barring any surprises, some of them will work with you in the future."
"Hmm, I will get along well with them."
Kyoya smiled.
His words to Hitsugaya weren't without target.
After recruiting Hitsugaya, Kyoya had already started considering forming the Revolutionary Army's Seventh Army.
Once Hitsugaya graduated from Baltigo Academy, he would directly become the Army Commander of the Seventh Army.
And Renji would become the Vice Army Commander of the Seventh Army.
As for Rukia, Kyoya would assign her to the General Staff, under Koga's command, to receive his guidance.
Before completing her Bankai Training, Rukia's strength wasn't particularly outstanding.
Compared to her talent in physical combat and swordsmanship, her Kido Talent was stronger.
And Koga's Kido was the strongest in the Revolutionary Army besides Kyoya's.
Additionally, the ability of Koga's Zanpakuto could greatly assist Rukia in practicing Bankai-
So having Koga become Rukia's teacher was the most suitable.
…
"Haa-"
"Soru!"
On the playground, Renji ran extremely fast on the track. The contact between his toes and the ground blasted out fist-sized shallow pits one after another.
If one observed carefully, they would notice that each time Renji's toes touched the ground, he would rapidly dash forward a distance, then switch to the other foot and repeat.
Clearly, Renji hadn't been slacking in his training during this time.
His training, though not yet the true Soru, already had the prototype of Soru.