Yumichika was secretly shocked.
At the Shin'o Academy, the only one who could rival him in Zanjutsu was Ikkaku.
Moreover, having already completed the nurturing of his Zanpakuto and learned its name, Yumichika believed that even among the seated officers of the Gotei 13, he and Ikkaku were among the top-tier.
However, his battle with Rangiku made Yumichika discard his arrogance.
Unlike Ikkaku, who focused on 'power', Yumichika's Zanjutsu leaned toward 'sword speed'.
Unfortunately, Rangiku was the same.
And Rangiku's sword speed was even faster than Yumichika's!
Every attack Yumichika launched was blocked by Rangiku, unable to deal any real damage to her.
"Tch!"
On the main viewing platform, Zaraki had initially been quite interested in this challenge.
However, the more he watched Rangiku and Yumichika fight, the more irritated he became.
He enjoyed battle, but he despised one-sided fights.
If he were the one fighting on the field right now, whether it was Rangiku or Yumichika, they would both be weaklings he could easily defeat, or even kill, with a single swing of his sword.
Especially since neither Rangiku nor Yumichika's fighting style was one Zaraki particularly liked.
Moreover, with Zaraki's keen eyes, he could tell that Rangiku wasn't even taking the fight seriously.
"Boring!"
If it weren't for the fact that his own battle was coming up next, Zaraki might have already left.
"Wow, Ku-chan is having so much fun~"
In contrast, Yachiru, who is perched on Zaraki's shoulder, was the complete opposite.
As the mascot of the 11th Division, Yachiru was closest to Rangiku and could be considered the person who understood her best. Right now, Rangiku wasn't serious at all.
"Tch."
Zaraki clicked his tongue but didn't say anything more.
Just as he enjoyed life-and-death battles, others might prefer holding back in fights to have fun… there was nothing wrong with that.
In the sky, Kyoya watched Rangiku's performance and shook his head.
He could guess what Rangiku was thinking.
However, Kyoya also knew her personality well.
If he didn't force her to train, the current Rangiku would absolutely slack off.
The problem was, in the future, whether it was the battles between the Gotei 13 and the Espada or the war between Shinigami and Quincies over the 'legitimacy' of their existence, Rangiku, as a Shinigami, wouldn't be able to avoid the conflict.
Even Captain-level Shinigami had fallen in those battles, and the Gotei 13 had been nearly wiped out...
Kyoya was strong… that was undeniable.
But the enemies of the future were also formidable opponents not to be underestimated.
Aizen, Yamamoto, Ichibe, Yhwach...
Any one of them, if Kyoya were to face them directly, would require his full attention.
And their subordinates would naturally have to be dealt with by Kyoya's own forces.
In terms of personal strength, Kyoya could likely ensure his victory against any of them.
But if his subordinates weren't strong enough and ended up being killed by the Espada, the Captains of the Gotei 13, the members of the Zero Division, or the Quincy's Schutzstaffel, that would be an unacceptable outcome for Kyoya.
Others, he might not care about as much.
But for Rangiku, he at least wanted her to reach Captain-level strength before he could rest easy.
Or rather, he wouldn't truly begin his plans until Rangiku had reached that level.
In a way, Kyoya felt he and Aizen were quite similar.
The difference was that Aizen was waiting for Kisuke's Hogyoku, while Kyoya was waiting for Rangiku's growth.
Aizen wanted to replace the Soul King and become the 'God' standing upon the throne of heaven.
Kyoya, however, wanted to transcend the Bleach World and become a 'God' with a higher existence than the Soul King…one who could truly operate beyond the confines of the world itself!
So, seeing Rangiku half-heartedly dealing with Yumichika, Kyoya raised an eyebrow and transmitted his voice directly to her ear using Reiatsu.
"Rangiku, right now, you are the fifth seat of the 11th Division."
"And those watching your battle aren't just veteran members who know your strength… there are also new recruits who joined the 11th Division today and know nothing about the power of a fifth seat."
"Have you ever considered the consequences if they mistake the strength you're displaying now as the true level of the 11th Division's fifth seat?"
After hearing Kyoya's words, Rangiku's expression changed.
Indeed, right now, she wasn't just representing herself… she was representing the 'fifth seat of the 11th Division'.
If their fellow division's members didn't understand their true strength, they might make fatal misjudgments when facing powerful enemies.
For example, if Matsumoto Rangiku were leading a team on a mission and encountered an Adjuchas-class Menos Grande, with the support of a few capable seated officers, they might still be able to hold their own against it.
But if the squad members underestimated Matsumoto Rangiku's strength, several scenarios could play out when she gave orders.
With her true power, Matsumoto Rangiku could hold off an Adjuchas for a while.
But if the team believed she stood no chance alone and assumed she was sacrificing herself to buy time for their escape, they might refuse her orders, insisting on staying and fighting to the death alongside her… leading to a total wipeout.
Alternatively, if they thought she couldn't possibly withstand the Adjuchas, they might flee without seeking reinforcements or staying to fight, leaving Rangiku and the others to die… only the deserters surviving.
Clang!
With this realization, Rangiku's left hand, which had been loosely gripping her sword, tightened. The force behind her swing instantly doubled.
With just this one strike, Yumichika's Zanpakuto was knocked aside, leaving him wide open. Rangiku followed up with a kick that sent him flying back several meters.
"Sorry, Yumichika-kun."
"Though I'd love to play around a little longer, it'd be a huge problem if the new recruits got the wrong idea about the strength of the 11th Division's upper-ranked officers."
"So from now on, I won't hold back."
"Are you ready to face the fifth seat of the 11th Division?"
Yumichika clutched his stomach but didn't respond.
Rangiku's kick had been more of a warning than a serious attack.
But for Yumichika, the speed and power she had just displayed were beyond what he could currently handle.
"Heh… Seems I've been underestimated."
Yumichika gripped his Zanpakuto with both hands again, pointing the tip toward Rangiku.
"Bring it on!"
Whoosh!
The moment the words left his mouth, Rangiku closed the distance instantly, her blade tracing a silver arc toward him.
Clang!
Yumichika raised his sword to block, but the sheer force sent him flying. His feet left the ground before he skidded back several meters, leaving two deep grooves in the earth before finally stopping.
'Such power!'
Yumichika's hands trembled, his palms stinging as if they were about to split.
'I can't block this!'
Though it was just one strike, Yumichika knew that if her speed and strength remained at this level, three more hits would shatter his grip entirely.
Therefore, when he saw Rangiku attacking again, Yumichika immediately released his Zanpakuto.
"Bloom, Fuji Kujaku!"
With his shout, a violent surge of Reiatsu erupted from his body, nearly tripling in intensity. At the same time, his Zanpakuto underwent a dramatic transformation.
First, the blade curved, taking on a crescent-moon shape like a scythe.
Then, the blade split… replicating itself until three additional blades fanned out like a peacock's tail feathers.
Now, Yumichika's Zanpakuto, Fuji Kujaku, resembled a four-pronged, fan-like weapon.
Clang!
Their Zanpakuto clashed again, but this time, Ayasegawa Yumichika held his ground… unharmed and unmoved.
"Oh?"
Rangiku raised an eyebrow, "Your Zanpakuto's ability is quite something."
She knew exactly how much force she had put into that strike.
Though she hadn't yet reached the level of a Great Swordsman despite years of training, her Reiatsu and swordsmanship, honed relentlessly by Kyoya, placed her among the strongest in the 11th Division.
Even among lower-ranked seated officers, few could block her attacks unscathed.
But Rangiku could feel it… the moment her strike landed on Yumichika's Zanpakuto, the force had been split into four separate impacts.
Thus, Yumichika only actually endured one-fourth of the attack's full force.
From this, it seemed his Zanpakuto's ability was to disperse an opponent's striking power, weakening the damage he received.
As for whether it could also gather and amplify his own attacks by threefold, Rangiku didn't know.
But given the unusual shape of his Zanpakuto, she decided to stay cautious.
With his Reiatsu tripling and his attack power potentially increasing threefold, this version of Yumichika did have the qualifications to fight her seriously.
"But… sorry."
"This isn't your stage right now."
"So—"
"Growl, Haineko!"
With her soft incantation, a pale glow radiated from Rangiku's body.
Compared to Yumichika's violent Reiatsu surge, her Reiatsu appeared far more subdued.
On the surface, it might have seemed like Yumichika was the more imposing one.
But those watching understood… this control over Reiatsu meant Rangiku's mastery was above his.
Ssshhhk-
Thud.
In an instant, countless wounds erupted across Yumichika's body. Blood sprayed as his vision darkened, and he collapsed face-first, staining the ground crimson.
"Yumichika!!"
Ikkaku couldn't hold back his shout.
He braced his hands against the railing, ready to leap into the arena-
But-
"Member of the 11th Division, no one is allowed to interfere in another's battle until the fight is over!"
Kyoya's figure had somehow appeared behind Ikkaku, his right hand resting on Ikkaku's shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.
"If anyone violates this rule, the other spectators are permitted to execute the one who broke it."
"Were you just trying to defy the 11th Division's rules?"
The pressure from Kyoya's grip made cold sweat drip down Ikkaku's forehead.
Though it was just Kyoya's single hand, to Ikkaku, it felt heavier than a mountain. Under that hand, even the slightest movement seemed impossible.
Only after Kyoya finished speaking did Ikkaku feel some freedom return to his head.
"My apologies, Captain Kyoya."
Even though Kyoya's intervention had stopped him from actually entering the arena,
Ikkaku wouldn't make excuses for his actions.
"It's fine. After all, you didn't actually break the rules."
Kyoya lightly lifted his hand and said to Ikkaku, "But next time, my intervention might not just be stopping you."
"Understood!"
For those who break the rules, the consequence isn't just prevention… it's execution.
Seeing that Ikkaku had calmed down, Kyoya said nothing more.
In a flash, Kyoya appeared in the training grounds.
Kneeling beside Yumichika, Kyoya's hands glowed with a green light, enveloping Yumichika.
A minute later, Yumichika's Reiatsu stabilized, and his wounds healed under Kyoya's Kaido.
"Alright, this fifth seat challenge is concluded… Matsumoto Rangiku wins!"
After standing up, Kyoya announced the result of the battle and waved toward the stands.
"Two of you, carry Ayasegawa to the 4th Division."
Though Kyoya's mastery of Kaido was more than enough to fully heal Yumichika,
as the captain of the 11th Division, Kyoya's image was one of overwhelming, unstoppable strength.
Displaying too much skill in Kaido might shift people's perceptions of him.
"Wait-"