"Swift as the wind, steady as the forest, fierce as fire, immovable as a mountain—
elusive as shadow, striking like thunder!!"
One morning several months later, Shiba Kaien stood on the open training grounds in front of the 13th Division barracks, swinging his Zanpakutō as he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Yes! Swift as the wind, steady as the forest…"
More than fifty newly recruited Shinigami followed his movements in neat formation, swinging their Asauchi in rigid unison while chanting loudly.
"…"
Fūjin Taichi held his Zanpakutō with both hands, repeating the same overhead downward slash again and again. Only when Kaien called out the next command did he switch movements, once more falling into an endless loop of repetition…
Before long, time slipped by amid the sweat pouring from the Shinigami. In the blink of an eye, noon arrived. The blazing sun hung high in the sky, pouring scorching heat down upon the land.
"Alright! That concludes today's training! This afternoon, we'll begin learning and mastering the next set of tactical maneuvers! Dismissed!"
Kaien shouted, one hand on his hip.
"Yes…"
The Shinigami on the field responded weakly. Clearly, the excitement and enthusiasm they'd felt upon joining the 13th Division had long since been ground away by months of repetitive "wood-chopping" drills.
"Idiots! Sweat more during training so you bleed less in battle! What's with those dead looks on your faces?!"
Kaien roared angrily.
"Vice-Captain Kaien, we already learned these basic movements back at the Shin'ō Academy. There's no need to keep training them!"
A male Shinigami complained.
"Oh? What's your name?!" Kaien snapped.
"Kudō Kyūji!" the man shouted back.
"Good. Anyone else dissatisfied with this morning's training?"
Kaien asked coldly as he swept his gaze across the group.
"Me!"
"Me!"
"Me!"
In no time, nearly every Shinigami raised their right hand. Only Kuchiki Rukia and Fūjin Taichi, standing at the very back, were whispering to each other as if debating something.
"Very well. Since you all think basic training isn't important, then this afternoon's lessons are canceled!
I'll assign all of you to patrol squads, where you'll assist veteran Shinigami in purification operations across Soul Society!"
"That's great!!"
The fifty-plus new Shinigami jumped with excitement, each rubbing their hands together, eager to make a name for themselves in battles against Hollows.
"Idiots…"
Kaien sighed inwardly.
Purification missions meant confronting terrifying Hollows—work filled with unpredictable dangers. Every Hollow differed in cunning, type, size, and ability; these were threats far beyond what inexperienced rookies could handle.
And in extreme cases—especially beyond the 80th District of Rukongai—there was even a chance of encountering a Menos Grande.
Those were enemies only vice-captain-class Shinigami or above could defeat. Ordinary Shinigami wouldn't even have time to run if they met one.
But looking at the overly excited rookies before him, Kaien knew full well that they weren't listening to a single word he'd said.
"In that case, if you want to go, then go.
After all, pale, powerless lectures are no match for a blood-soaked lesson."
Having made up his mind, Kaien began assigning the new Shinigami to fill vacancies in the 13th Division's existing patrol structure:
"Kudō Kyūji, Haibara Sui, Shiraha Mantō — West Patrol Squad, Unit 1."
"…"
"Kakadō, Kusahara Rin, Uchiha Taika — South Patrol Squad, Unit 5."
"…"
"Sakuragi Kusamichi, Rukawa Matsu, Akamizu Inkō — North Patrol Squad, Unit 20."
"…"
"Kuchiki Rukia, Fūjin Taichi, Kurumadani Zennosuke — East Patrol Squad, Unit 16!
After lunch, report to your assigned patrol squads!" Kaien shouted.
Upon learning their assignments, the rookies immediately shed their earlier lethargy. After finding their squadmates, they excitedly left the barracks one after another.
Soon, only Fūjin Taichi, Kuchiki Rukia, and a middle-aged Shinigami with a rat-like face remained inside the 13th Division barracks.
"Miss Rukia, my name is Kurumadani Zennosuke. I look forward to working with you!"
The greasy-looking man with frizzy, explosive hair approached Rukia with a grin.
"Ah—hello, Kurumadani!" Rukia quickly replied.
"Oh? I'm just a Shinigami from Rukongai, Miss Rukia. You don't need to be so formal. Just call me Kurumadani—or Zennosuke!"
He said shyly, scratching his head.
"Uh… Kurumadani, you don't have to be so distant either. Just treat me as your comrade—call me Rukia!"
Rukia said, sweat trickling down her face.
"How could I possibly do that?! Miss Rukia is the adopted daughter of the Kuchiki family—the foremost of the Four Great Noble Houses! Your status is far too exalted. How could I dare address you by name…?"
"Th-Then do whatever you like!"
Seeing that Kurumadani Zennosuke insisted on addressing her with honorifics, Kuchiki Rukia could only sigh softly and say no more.
"Then you must be Fūjin Taichi, right? I've heard about what you did at the Shin'ō Academy!"
Kurumadani turned toward Taichi and spoke.
"Oh? And?"
Taichi didn't even lift his eyelids, replying casually.
"I remember your graduation evaluation clearly:
Fūjin Taichi — Hakuda 80, Swordsmanship 99, Kidō 96, Shunpo: Good!
To be honest, your results were already outstanding… Some seated officers in certain divisions don't even compare to you.
But do you know why you didn't become a seated officer?"
Kurumadani stared intensely at Taichi.
"I don't know, and I don't care to know."
Taichi already understood that there was a kind of under-the-table manipulation in Seireitei's division assignments. Hearing it brought up again, he couldn't be bothered to respond seriously.
"Hehehe… You probably have no idea at all, do you?"
Kurumadani cautiously glanced around, then lowered his voice.
"I heard that originally, the 3rd Division had nominated you to become a vice-captain-level Shinigami…
But for some unspeakable reason, Captain Ichimaru removed your name from the list.
Do you know why?"
"Because of some unspeakable reason, obviously. Didn't you already say that?"
Upon hearing that he had nearly been recruited as vice-captain by the "squinty-eyed guy" from the 3rd Division, Taichi was both shocked and terrified—every hair on his body practically stood on end.
Yet his expression remained calm and indifferent, as if he truly didn't care, as he replied coolly.
"No… that's not it."
Kurumadani shook his head, then suddenly sighed.
"It's because you offended the youngest successor of the Tsunayashiro family."
"The Tsunayashiro family?
One of the Four Great Noble Houses of Soul Society, alongside the Kuchiki, Shihōin, and Kasumiōji family?!"
Rukia exclaimed in shock.
"Yes, Miss Rukia."
Kurumadani nodded solemnly, then looked toward the silent Taichi.
"And what's more—you definitely know that person. His name is Tsunayashiro—"
"You mean Tokio? Right?"
Taichi tilted his head slightly, giving Kurumadani a strange look.
"No… not him."
Kurumadani shook his head once again and said quietly,
"That man's name is Tsunayashiro Tokinada—the half-brother of Tsunayashiro Tokio."
"Who?"
Taichi looked utterly confused. The name Tsunayashiro Tokinada rang absolutely no bell—
Is this actually a character from the series?
"Tsunayashiro Tokinada—the final heir of a branch family of the Tsunayashiro clan, the one that oversees the Great Spirit Library!
I heard that he once joined the Gotei 13 in his early years, but not long after, he inexplicably murdered both his comrades and his wife, Kakyō—
According to the criminal codes of Soul Society, a Shinigami as deranged and heinous as Tsunayashiro Tokinada should have been sentenced to Sōkyoku execution…
But after strong intervention from the Tsunayashiro family, Central 46 did not pass down a severe sentence.
Instead, he was merely confined within the Tsunayashiro manor for one hundred years…"
Rukia slowly recalled.
"What? He's that bad?"
Taichi looked at Kurumadani in disbelief, only to find the man's face equally grim—
clearly confirming that everything Rukia had said was true.