Stepping through the grand gates of the Sixth Division barracks, which were steeped in an aristocratic aura, a wave of noise, far different from that of the meeting room, washed over him.
It was no longer the quiet of reviewing documents, but a fervent atmosphere woven from the clashing of swords, the buzzing of surging spiritual pressure, and the irrepressible low murmurs of discussion.
Hiroki paused for a moment, his gaze piercing through the spacious front courtyard and landing directly on the central Training Ground.
"Oh? What's the situation?" His tone carried a hint of curiosity, but was mostly characterized by an expected calmness.
As expected, the commotion was coming from the Training Ground.
Ginjiro, the Third Seat who had been keeping an eye on the entrance, immediately jogged over, a look of helpless respect on his face.
"Reporting to Captain Hiroki! It's... Squad Member Kuchiki Byakuya is conducting a Seat Officer challenge!"
It really was that kid! A playful arc curved at the corner of Hiroki's mouth.
Hadn't he just been notified yesterday to report for duty as an "ordinary squad member"?
And today he couldn't wait to prove himself and start challenging for a seat?
He looked up into the field.
In the center of the grounds, Kuchiki Byakuya was wearing a brand-new Sixth Division shinigami uniform. His breathing was slightly hurried, and his fair, handsome face bore a faint flush and a stubborn refusal to lose, brought on by the battle.
The Zanpakuto in his hand had not yet reached Shikai, but the spiritual pressure flowing along the blade was clearly visible.
His opponent was a tall, steady-looking middle-aged Shinigami—someone who, in Hiroki's eyes, undoubtedly had the face of a minor character.
At this moment, the battle on the field was at a fever pitch.
Fifth Seat Fukaya was experienced and steady, his swordsmanship simple yet extremely effective.
He clearly wasn't holding back; every strike carried a significant amount of spiritual pressure, coming from tricky angles and constantly compressing Byakuya's space to evade.
Byakuya, relying on the solid foundation of the Kuchiki Clan and his own talent, moved like a nimble cheetah, dodging and weaving through the flashes of blades.
His Shunpo foundation was extremely refined and his speed was incredibly fast. He repeatedly avoided dangerous moves at the last possible second, and even seized opportunities to strike back with several sharp thrusts, drawing low cries of surprise from the spectating squad members.
"Which seat is Byakuya's opponent?" Hiroki asked with interest, his gaze never leaving the two fast-moving figures.
"It's Fifth Seat Fukaya, Captain." Ginjiro answered immediately.
"Oh, only the Fifth Seat?" Hiroki's brow quirked slightly, his tone carrying a faint, imperceptible hint of teasing. "He didn't directly challenge you, the Third Seat?" He remembered the records mentioning that Ginjiro used to be a confidant of Kuchiki Ginrei.
A simple, bitter smile appeared on Ginjiro's face. "The Captain is joking.
When Captain Ginrei was still here, I did indeed often accompany Young Master Byakuya... oh no, he's Squad Member Byakuya now, for sparring practice.
With Squad Member Byakuya's current combat experience, he is not yet a match for me."
There was no trace of disparagement in his words; he was merely stating facts.
"I see." Hiroki nodded understandingly. His gaze swept over the people at the edge of the field wearing Seat Officer armbands, and he naturally thought of the vacancy. "Then... what about the fourth seat?"
Ginjiro's expression instantly became somewhat awkward, and his voice dropped a few notches. "That... Captain Hiroki... among the personnel purged last night... was Fourth Seat Yamauchi..."
Hiroki: "..."
Well, this was a bit awkward.
On only his second day at the Sixth Division, his own purge had left the fourth seat position vacant, forcing Byakuya to "condescend" to challenge a Fifth Seat.
His expression remained unchanged, but he felt a bit embarrassed.
The situation on the field changed abruptly! Fifth Seat Fukaya deliberately left a flaw, slightly exposing his chest.
The young Kuchiki Byakuya, eager for victory, had a flash of light in his eyes. Thinking he had seized an opportunity, he lunged with a full-force thrust straight for the center!
However, this was exactly Fukaya's trap! His footwork changed mysteriously as his body slid half a step to the side as if merging with the ground. While narrowly avoiding the thrust, his prepared spiritual pressure suddenly wrapped around his blade!
"Bakudo #1: Sai!" A low-level Bakudo, cast instantaneously, precisely hindered Byakuya's wrist as he failed to pull back his momentum!
In a duel between experts, a single moment decides victory or defeat! It was that negligible hesitation that allowed Fukaya's blade to lunge from a tricky angle like a venomous snake!
Screech—!
Wood chips flew! Fukaya's blade didn't strike Byakuya's body, but at the critical moment, it slammed hard against the hilt connection of the Zanpakuto Byakuya had hurriedly raised in defense!
The massive force, combined with experienced spiritual pressure techniques, directly sent the Zanpakuto flying from Byakuya's hand!
The long sword spun and plunged into the nearby mud, vibrating on its own.
Byakuya's right hand was numbed by the counter-shock. He lost his balance, stumbling back several steps before finally falling onto his backside.
His handsome face instantly turned bright red, the flush spreading from his ears down to his neck. His eyes were a mix of intense shame, indignation, unwillingness, and a hint of daze.
The entire field instantly fell into a dead silence. There was only the lingering sound of the Zanpakuto hitting the ground and Fifth Seat Fukaya's heavy breathing.
"That's enough!" Ginjiro immediately announced in a loud voice, his figure flashing to appear between the two to prevent any possible follow-up. "The winner is decided! Fifth Seat Fukaya retains his position!"
According to the rules, if the challenger loses, the rankings remain unchanged.
Just then, a flat yet highly piercing voice rang out, clearly overriding the silence in the field:
"No." Hiroki took a step forward, his deep purple captain's haori looking exceptionally solemn in the sunlight.
His gaze swept over the seated Kuchiki Byakuya, who could not hide his disappointment, and then toward Fifth Seat Fukaya, who was panting slightly and waiting for the judgment.
"Fukaya is promoted to the fourth seat." His tone carried an unquestionable decisiveness. "Squad Member Kuchiki Byakuya will take over the Fifth Seat."
Ginjiro was stunned for a moment before he reacted—the vacant fourth seat needed to be filled, but the defeated Byakuya was being directly appointed as the Fifth Seat?
This... wasn't quite according to the rules, was it?
But seeing Hiroki's calm yet deep eyes, he immediately bowed. "Yes! Captain Hiroki!"
As for the former Fifth Seat Fukaya—now to be called Fourth Seat Fukaya—who had just won the match and was directly promoted to the fourth seat, his face was instantly flooded with immense surprise and disbelief.
He suddenly snapped to his senses and immediately bowed deeply toward Hiroki at an impeccable angle, his voice carrying irrepressible excitement and gratitude. "Thank you for your appreciation, Captain Hiroki! I will do my utmost to serve you!"
In stark contrast to his excitement was Kuchiki Byakuya, who was still sitting on the ground.
The surrounding squad members all subconsciously looked at this newly appointed Fifth Seat, who had just been directly promoted by the Captain, with either awe, curiosity, or envy.
Byakuya slowly stood up and brushed off the dust from his shinigami uniform.
He walked over, silently pulled up his Zanpakuto, Senbonzakura, and sheathed it.
He kept his head slightly lowered, his thin lips pressed tightly together, trying hard to suppress the flush on his face. However, the frustration of being easily defeated and the complex emotion of being "granted" a promotion made it difficult for him to be at ease.
Hiroki's gaze fell upon him, carrying a bit of scrutiny and an ineffable... playfulness that seemed to see through the ways of the world.
Byakuya took a deep breath and finally raised his head to meet Hiroki's gaze.
In those dark brown pupils, complex emotions surged for a moment before finally turning into an almost stubborn calmness, or rather, a proud protective color.
He gave Hiroki an extremely restrained nod, his voice even colder than the previous rain, as he dryly squeezed out two words:
"...Thank you."