Chapter 35

Kenpachi Zaraki shut his eyes tight, exhaled a puff of smoke, and passed out on the spot.

"Kenpachi Zaraki, you've got guts, daring to actually challenge the Head Captain?" Kyoraku Shunsui munched on melon seeds nearby, watching the show.

He clicked his tongue in amazement, grinning.

Hirako Shinji, Unohana Retsu, and Muguruma Kensei, among others, also stared at the charred, miserable Kenpachi Zaraki with speechless expressions.

They gave a slight shake of their heads.

Inwardly, they silently admired his courage.

Originally.

Kenpachi Zaraki had joined the Gotei 13 a few days prior, and on his very first day in office, he had killed the captain of the 11th Division.

From that, he got promoted and became the current captain.

But.

Of all things, he just had to challenge the Head Captain—wasn't that just asking for a beating?

"However."

"Kenpachi Zaraki's strength and Reiatsu are simply terrifying."

"Even without using Shikai or Bankai, his combat power is among the very best of the captains."

Hirako Shinji nearby sighed in admiration, looking at Kenpachi Zaraki and giving a slight shake of his head.

"Then, just how strong is that Kuchiki Senya who defeated him?"

"Heh."

"Kuchiki Senya only drew his blade once."

Kyoraku Shunsui chuckled lightly, while Unohana Retsu beside him gripped her sword hilt, a strong impulse welling up inside her.

The urge to cross blades with Kuchiki Senya.

Hirako Shinji and Muguruma Kensei all fell silent.

Originally.

They were perfectly fine being captains—how did they suddenly become the bottom of the barrel?

Muguruma Kensei in particular had the miserable fate of becoming everyone's unit of measurement for combat power.

Not far away.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni looked at Kenpachi Zaraki lying on the ground, his shirtless upper body a mass of knotted muscles covered in old scars.

In his hand.

Ryujin Jakka, capable of burning everything to ash and evaporating all the waters of Soul Society, had once again taken on the form of a cane.

Kenpachi Zaraki.

His potential was simply boundless—as long as you didn't kill him in an instant, he would keep growing stronger without stop.

And Kuchiki Senya, who could defeat Kenpachi so easily…

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni narrowed his eyes slightly. He absolutely had to seize this opportunity—such talent would be a waste not to recruit into the Gotei 13!

…….

030. Tonight is the moment of final victory!

Meanwhile.

The Kuchiki Clan.

Kuchiki Ginrei and Kuchiki Sojun.

As well as Kuchiki Bai Zai, who was practicing his sword swings in the courtyard.

All of them had heard the news.

Everything that had happened in Rukongai spread like a dream, pushing Kuchiki Senya's fame and talent to an entirely new height!

Kuchiki Senya's current strength had already surpassed that of the captains!

"Defeated Kenpachi Zaraki…"

"Worthy of being my son!"

Kuchiki Sojun laughed heartily; his originally frail body even straightened up considerably.

These past few days.

He had also seen Kenpachi Zaraki at Gotei 13 headquarters—the man who had arrived and immediately killed the incumbent Kenpachi to take over as captain of the 11th Division.

That man.

Was like a wild beast—endless slaughter, savage and ruthless.

His strength was also at the top tier among the captains.

But.

Kuchiki Senya had actually taken him down too? When did he get this strong?

Kuchiki Ginrei also nodded with a smile.

This kind of surprise.

Was simply like a pie falling from the sky.

It was as if they had originally thought Kuchiki Senya was a piece of gold, only to discover that inside the gold was an even more precious uncarved jade!

Kuchiki Senya drinking and carousing, slacking off every day—is there a problem?

Absolutely no problem!

As long as his strength is in place, let him do whatever he wants!

Bai Zai beside him, however, was drenched in sweat, a strong sense of unwillingness surging in his heart, along with a deep exhaustion.

Even the hand wielding his sword slowed down, his Dao heart unsteady.

He had cultivated bitterly on his own.

Even now, he had only just barely grasped Shikai, and Bankai was still a distant dream.

What exactly was going on with his older brother? Could it really be, just as he said, that one could grow stronger even while lying down?

Kuchiki Bai Zai began to doubt his life.

"However…"

"Senya still refused to inherit the captaincy of the Sixth Division."

Kuchiki Ginring shook his head.

He was already old, at the point of retirement.

Kuchiki Soujun was in frail health and could not shoulder the duties of captain.

These past two days, he had also gone once to Senya Pavilion, only to see Kuchiki Senya lying there drinking.

Enjoying songs and dances.

He had even used the clan to buy things like playing cards and other clever tricks in the present world!

All day long, besides drinking, he played cards with the girls!

It was simply decadent beyond words.

Refusing to inherit the captaincy of the Sixth Division — his decisiveness could not have been more thorough.

"Father need not mind either; with Senya's ability, taking up a captaincy would be as easy as reaching into a bag." Kuchiki Soujun said with a light cough, comforting his father.

Kuchiki Ginring nodded as well.

Anyway.

When Kuchiki Senya finally changed his mind, whichever captaincy he wanted, he could have.

Even the position of Head Captain…

Was not impossible!

"Then we'll wait another ten years. If Senya still doesn't agree, we'll pass it to Bai Zai." Kuchiki Ginring said with satisfaction, watching Kuchiki Bai Zai, who was cultivating alone in the courtyard.

"Then wait another ten years. If Senya still doesn't agree, pass it to Bai Zai." Kuchiki Ginrei watched with satisfaction as Kuchiki Bai Zai trained alone in the courtyard.

Bai Zai's level was also top-tier; having grasped Shikai at such a young age, he was among…

The most outstanding juniors in the entire history of the Kuchiki clan.

It was just that Kuchiki Senya was simply too monstrous…

Bai Zai could only ever play the younger brother before him.

Before him, Bai Zai could only ever play the role of a younger brother.

Tsunayashiro clan.

The Tsunayashiro family.