"No, you did it."
Seeing Ikkaku so disheartened, Zaraki, on the contrary, broke into a grin.
Zaraki reached out and grabbed Ikkaku's Hozukimaru, pulling it away from his chest.
Then, Ikkaku saw it… tiny droplets of blood blooming on Zaraki's chest.
Though Zaraki's own regenerative abilities would close the wound soon, there was no denying it: Ikkaku had managed to wound him.
"Kid, you've earned the right to make me draw my sword."
Hearing these words, Ikkaku's head snapped up, his eyes locking onto the faint streak of blood on Zaraki's chest.
"Ha… hahahaha-!"
Ikkaku burst into wild laughter.
He'd done it!
Sure, it might've just been a scratch, barely worth mentioning against Zaraki's monstrous endurance… like scraping off a layer of dead skin.
But a hit was a hit!
In that moment, Ikkaku felt an overwhelming clarity, as though he'd fulfilled a lifelong dream, his very soul feeling lighter.
This shift in his spirit caused his own Reiatsu to surge noticeably.
"Not bad."
Kyoya nodded approvingly.
No matter the world, life-and-death battles were the fastest path to growth.
Though, strictly speaking, the fight between Ikkaku and Zaraki couldn't be called a 'life-and-death struggle', for Ikkaku, it had been a battle to defend his pride.
Now that he'd proven himself, his spirit had broken through, and it was only natural for his Reiatsu to rise.
Of course, that was easy to say. In reality, very few Shinigami could achieve breakthroughs in the heat of battle.
For most, the so-called 'breakthrough' after a desperate fight was just the full unleashing of potential they hadn't fully tapped during training.
If a Shinigami didn't train diligently in the first place, even a sudden power boost in a life-or-death situation wouldn't grant them true control over that strength.
And for seasoned fighters, unmastered power in battle only led to fatal openings.
"Kid…"
Zaraki slowly drew his Zanpakuto and asked Ikkaku, "I acknowledge you as someone worthy of making me unsheathe my sword."
"If you don't want to die as a nameless corpse beneath my sword, tell me your name!"
Ikkaku grinned widely, 'The 11th Division really was an interesting bunch.'
'Captain Kyoya only gave his name to those he deemed worthy.'
'Lieutenant Zaraki, on the other hand, did the opposite, he actively asked for the names of those strong enough to die by his hand.'
'Seemed like I'd have to adopt some of my superiors' styles in the future.'
"Madarame Ikkaku!"
"My name is Madarame Ikkaku!"
"Madarame Ikkaku, huh?"
"I'll remember it."
Zaraki nodded, then raised his Zanpakuto and said, "I am Zaraki, Lieutenant of the 11th Division."
"If you die by my sword, at least you won't have the regret of not knowing who killed you."
"Come."
Boom!
Ikkaku's Reiatsu erupted once more as he stared intently at Zaraki.
For some reason, Zaraki found the scene oddly familiar.
Tilting his head in thought, it suddenly clicked.
A few years ago, when he'd fought Kyoya, the situation had been much the same.
Except back then, he'd been the one at the disadvantage.
So, he wondered how had Kyoya viewed him back then? Was it the same way he now saw this kid, Ikkaku?
"Heh."
Zaraki's lips twisted into a savage grin.
Then, his Zanpakuto came down-
Shing!
Squelch!
Ikkaku's Hozukimaru was cleanly severed in two, and a spray of blood erupted from his body.
Thud.
After swaying for a moment, Ikkaku could no longer stand. He collapsed to the ground.
Swish!
Kyoya's figure instantly appeared at the center of the training ground. Raising his hand, he cast Kaido on Ikkaku to stabilize his injuries.
"Zaraki, you held back?"
After sensing the extent of Ikkaku's wounds, Kyoya looked up at Zaraki with a faint smile.
Hearing Kyoya's question, Zaraki let out a derisive snort.
"Hah, this guy just happened to be strong enough to survive my sword, that's all."
Without waiting for Kyoya's response, Zaraki pointed his Zanpakuto at him.
"Hey, Kyoya. I kept my promise and fought this guy."
"So now, isn't it our turn to fight?"
"Now, now, no need to rush."
Seeing Zaraki like this, Kyoya waved his hands dismissively: "You can see he's pretty badly hurt… I need to treat him first."
"Besides, didn't we just fight last month?"
"Don't tell me you've made enough progress in just a month?"
"You know how it is—if you haven't improved enough, I won't hold back. I'll really kill you."
"You don't want to die by my hand before reaching your peak, do you…?"
"Tch."
Zaraki's lips twisted into a savage grin, but in the end, he sheathed his Zanpakuto and turned to leave the training ground.
Indeed, in the years since Zaraki had joined the 11th Division, he'd challenged Kyoya to a fight whenever he had the chance.
Even Kyoya found Zaraki's battle-crazed nature exhausting.
To carve out some time for himself, whether to rest or train, Kyoya had made a deal with Zaraki.
After challenging Kyoya once, Zaraki had to wait at least three months before issuing another challenge.
And in every battle, if Zaraki's growth didn't meet Kyoya's expectations, Kyoya would actually kill him.
This forced Zaraki to fight with absolute desperation every time, accelerating the unlocking of his subconscious-sealed Reiatsu.
In just a few short years, Zaraki had reached the high-tier of 2nd-class Reiryoku, just a step away from its peak.
This was also why even someone as strong as Ikkaku, who had achieved Shikai, could only barely scratch Zaraki's skin.
Meanwhile, Zaraki's casual swing had left Ikkaku severely wounded.
Though part of it was due to Ikkaku not yet reaching his full potential, it was still clear that Zaraki was far stronger now than he had been at this point in Kyoya's memories.
Once Ikkaku's injuries were stabilized, Kyoya withdrew his Reiatsu.
"Alright, everyone."
"This seat challenge ends with Lieutenant Zaraki's victory!"
"As expected… Lieutenant Zaraki is still as overwhelming as ever."
After Kyoya announced the results, one of the observing division's members couldn't help but sigh with such emotion.
While Kyoya was undoubtedly stronger than Vice Zaraki, after all, Zaraki had challenged Kyoya multiple times and lost every single one, the sheer presence Zaraki exuded was far more intimidating.
Even if they couldn't fully perceive the details of their Captain-level figures' battles, the sheer pressure of their clashing Reiatsu was enough to tell the difference.
However, in the hearts of the squad members, Zaraki is still far more terrifying than Captain Kyoya.
There's no helping it. When fighting Kyoya, no matter what, he would at least use swordsmanship to defeat them. Moreover, before finishing the fight, he would point out flaws in their techniques, giving them a new direction for training afterward to grow stronger.
But battles with Zaraki were just bizarre.
Facing their attacks, Zaraki couldn't even be bothered to defend, letting them strike him freely.
Yet, what filled them with despair was the fact that aside from Kyoya, not a single person in the entire 11th Division could so much as scratch Zaraki.
On the other hand, a casual swing from Zaraki would send them flying.
In short, fighting Zaraki offered no real experience… just pure, unadulterated despair.
"Hey, you all only see Lieutenant Zaraki's strength, but it seems you're overlooking that newcomer who challenged him."
"Right, that guy's also a monster. He actually managed to wound Lieutenant Zaraki..."
Hearing this, many of the Shinigami immediately recalled that the new top graduate who had just joined the 11th Division was also frighteningly strong.
"Tch, looks like the 11th Division is going to get even livelier from now on..."
"Ikkaku!"
Yumichika flashed into view beside Ikkaku and Kyoya with a quick Shunpo, swaying slightly and nearly collapsing again.
"Hey, you're still injured. Until you're fully healed, you shouldn't be moving around so recklessly."
Rangiku arrived right after, scolding Yumichika.
These two newcomers were really such a handful.
But she forgot that Yumichika challenging her and Ikkaku challenging Zaraki were both things she had subtly orchestrated.
Still, Rangiku had at least some conscience.
So, before Yumichika fully recovered, she felt it was her responsibility and duty to take care of him.
"Sorry."
Yumichika shook his head, not a hint of remorse in his tone.
Even though he could sense Ikkaku's Reiatsu had stabilized, seeing it with his own eyes was the only way to truly ease his mind.
Kyoya saw right through Rangiku's little scheme.
He glared at her, but all she did in response was scratch her head and grin foolishly.
"Whatever…"
Kyoya shook his head and didn't press the issue.
Lately, Rangiku's training intensity had been a bit excessive.
And while she would go to great lengths to slack off when not training, once she started, she never skipped a single part of the regimen Kyoya had set for her.
"Rangiku, these two are your mess."
"From now on, they're your responsibility."
"Whether you use Kaido on them yourself or send them to the 4th Division for treatment, I expect to see them back on duty in three days at most."
"Hahaha, leave it to me, Captain!"
Hearing this, Rangiku winked at Kyoya and responded with a bright smile.
"In three days, I'll hand them back to you, good as new!"
"And not just them… you too!"
Kyoya glared at Rangiku and said, "Captain Shiba from the 10th Division told me their Lieutenant was severely injured recently and might retire. He asked if our division had any suitable candidates."
"Coincidentally, the 11th Division just gained two talented recruits like Yumichika and Ikkaku."
"If your progress doesn't satisfy me soon, I'll toss you over to the 10th Division to be Shiba Isshin's Lieutenant!"
"Nooo, Captain Kyoya-"
Rangiku's face immediately fell, and she looked at him with pitiful, pleading eyes.
The sight left the freshly awakened Ikkaku and Yumichika utterly stunned.
A Lieutenant… that was a high-ranking position in the Gotei 13.
Even in the Seireitei, a Lieutenant's status was no lower than that of an ordinary noble.
Yet here in the 11th Division, Rangiku, who is only the fifth seat, was being considered for a Lieutenant's position in another division.
And from the way Kyoya and fifth seat Matsumoto spoke, the two could see they genuinely looked down on Lieutenants of other divisions.
'Had Captain Kyoya just referred to sending her to the 10th Division as 'tossing' her there?'
What did 'toss' imply?
Only something unwanted, something seen as worthless, would be 'tossed away'.
Clearly, in their minds, even a fifth seat of the 11th Division was far superior to a Lieutenant elsewhere.
Yumichika and Ikkaku exchanged glances, both seeing excitement in each other's eyes.
They had joined the 11th Division to fulfill their promise to Kyoya.
Now, it seemed they had made the right choice.
"No negotiations."
Kyoya shut down Rangiku's pleading without hesitation.
At this point, he had already taught her everything she could learn in the 11th Division.
Even in swordsmanship, Rangiku was just one step away from breaking through to the level of a Great Swordsman.
If she crossed that threshold, combined with her Zanpakuto's abilities, she would possess strength comparable to a Captain's.
Even against a Captain who used Bankai, as long as their abilities weren't a direct counter, she'd at least be able to hold her own.
But if she didn't make that breakthrough, staying in the 11th Division wouldn't do her much good.
The Breath of All Things was, above all, about enlightenment.
Rangiku wasn't a natural at body enlightenment. To grasp the Breath of All Things, she had to rely on her own insight.
She needed to experience more… more of life, of people, of the world, and integrate those realizations into her swordsmanship to achieve true growth.
That was precisely why, when Isshin made his request, the first person Kyoya thought of was Rangiku.