Bleach: Starting with Marrying Retsu Unohana

Araki looked at Byakuya and explained why Byakuya was not fit to be the captain.

"..."

Although Byakuya didn't know who the names Araki had just mentioned were, he knew his father, Kuchiki Sōjun, very well!

Byakuya knew perfectly well that his father, Sojun, was currently undergoing intensive treatment for his frail health. Once his father's condition was resolved, Byakuya would indeed have no advantage over his father...

And most importantly, his father is currently in his prime and obviously won't retire from the 'Gotei 13' just like that. So, who will be the captain and who will be the vice-captain between him and his father?

Although Byakuya wasn't particularly attached to the captain's position, becoming the captain of the Gotei 13 was one of the requests he made to his grandfather to save Hisa, and Byakuya didn't want to break his promise to his grandfather.

"Please teach me, Captain-Commander Araki!"

Thinking of this, Byakuya gently lifted the plain white robe he was wearing, knelt down on one knee in front of Araki, and asked Araki for help.

"Are you going to ask me to be your master?"

Araki frowned as he watched Byakuya's actions.

"Greetings, Mr. Araki!"

Upon hearing this, Byakuya seized the opportunity. He lightly shook his plain robe, knelt before Araki, and bowed to him.

"You kid..."

Araki's eye twitched slightly when he saw Byakuya's action.

"Alright! Now that you've already performed the apprenticeship ceremony, if I continue to be reserved, wouldn't I seem unreasonable?!"

"Since that's the case, I'll accept you as my disciple. However, I don't have much time to teach you, so I'll just accept you as a nominal disciple..."

Araki looked at Byakuya and spoke calmly.

"Thank you, Araki-sensei."

"So, Araki-sensei, how will you teach me?"

Byakuya looked at Araki and asked.

"I've already told you I don't have time to teach you."

Araki answered truthfully.

"Then this..."

Byakuya was puzzled again. If Araki didn't have time to teach him, then wasn't his apprenticeship ceremony just a waste? Or was Araki planning to give him, the student, special treatment? Byakuya wasn't the kind of person who liked to take shortcuts! Of course, if he really had to take shortcuts, he wasn't entirely against it for his beloved Hisana, so he might make a slight compromise, cough cough…

"Alright then! I'll take you to the 'Spirit King's Palace'."

Araki thought about it for a moment and then made a decision.

"what?"

Byakuya was stunned. Could he really just go to the legendary 'Spirit King Palace' at will?

"Once you arrive at the 'Spirit King Palace,' someone will teach you."

Araki spoke frankly to Byakuya.

"No, this..."

Byakuya was still somewhat hesitant at this moment.

"Don't hesitate any longer, the car to the 'Spirit King Palace' is about to depart!"

Araki didn't give Byakuya any time to hesitate and immediately activated 'Sleep Intent' on him. Originally, Sleep Intent was an ability used by Captain-level Shinigami against Shinigami below Captain-level. Simply put, it uses spiritual pressure to put the opponent to sleep, and this move is only effective if the difference in spiritual pressure is too great.

This simple move of inducing sleep, when wielded by the powerful spiritual pressure of Araki, became so potent that even the captains of the Gotei 13 found it difficult to withstand...

Almost the instant Araki used his ability, Byakuya Kuchiki's eyes rolled back and he fell into a deep sleep, collapsing onto the ground with a 'thud'.

"Let's go~"

Araki carried the unconscious Kuchiki Byakuya and headed straight for the Shiba family's territory.

About twenty minutes later, when Byakuya woke up, he found himself tied to a chair and placed inside the 'Heavenly Pillar Carriage'.

"what happened?"

At this moment, Byakuya still seemed unable to comprehend the situation before him.

"ignition!"

Araki then gave the command to Kukaku beside him to ignite the fire.

Byakuya then realized something was amiss.

"wait wait wait……"

"Kukaku-nee, please wait a moment! I still have something to say..."

Byakuya watched as Shiba Kukaku, torch in hand, drew ever closer, beads of sweat beading on his forehead. This was the first time he had ever felt fear from someone in the Shiba clan.

Of course, many years later, when a member of the Shiba clan with the surname Kurosaki arrived in the Soul Society, Byakuya's ill-fated relationship with the Shiba family had only just begun...

"Sorry, Byakuya-kun, these are all the Captain-Commander's orders."

As she spoke, Kukaku brought the torch closer to the fuse.

"..."

Byakuya's face turned green at this moment.

"too slow!"

However, just as Kukaku was about to ignite the Shiba Cannon, Araki appeared beside Kukaku in a flash. He first snatched the torch from Kukaku's hand in front of Byakuya, then opened the side door of the Heavenly Pillar Chariot and kicked Kukaku inside as well.

"Eh?!"

At this moment, Kukaku, who had been thrown into the Heavenly Pillar Carriage by Araki and was staring blankly at Byakuya, was completely dumbfounded.

"goodbye!"

Araki then welded the doors of the Heavenly Pillar Carriage shut and lit the torches.

"Damn it, Old Deng! Are you messing with me? This is completely different from what we agreed on..."

Immediately following, Shiba Kukaku launched into a tirade of insults.

The Heavenly Pillar Carriage was blasted into the sky by the Shiba Cannon.

"This is a rare opportunity, why don't you go to the 'Spirit King Palace' and train there too!"

Araki watched the Heavenly Pillar Chariot fly away and immediately felt a sense of comfort throughout his body.

There was no other way; Byakuya in the Soul Society Rescue Arc was too weak, so Araki directly requested that Byakuya fight in the Blood War arc! This effectively sent Byakuya to his dorm ahead of schedule...

"Then what happens next..."

Araki stretched comfortably before heading back to the 'First Division' to find Uno Retsu.

the other side……

Not long after the chariot had been flying in the sky, it came to a stop on the path leading to the 'Spirit King' with a roar.

"Could this be the 'Spirit King's Palace'?!"

As soon as the gates of the Heavenly Pillar opened, Byakuya and Kukaku felt an overwhelming spiritual pressure descend upon them. The terrifying pressure caused their expressions to change drastically, and cold sweat poured from their foreheads.

"As expected of the 'Spirit King's Palace'! I'm afraid even breathing would be difficult for beings whose Spirit Might is below the third level!"

Byakuya muttered to himself.

"What are you thinking? This isn't the 'Spirit King's Palace', kid!"

Just as Byakuya was muttering to himself, a cheerful voice suddenly rang in his ears, attracting all of Byakuya's attention.

A man with an afro and wearing a white haori inflatable vest stood outside the Heavenly Pillar Carriage, smiling and greeting Byakuya and Kukaku.

Good morning, boys and girls!

"I am the most popular member of the 'Zero Squad', Nimaiya Oetsu~"

The man addressed Byakuya and Kukaku, revealing his identity directly.

"'Zero Squad'! The legendary royal secret agents?!"

Upon hearing this, Byakuya and Kukaku exchanged a glance, then exclaimed in shock.

"Huh? You guys seem pretty shocked~"

After hearing what Byakuya and Kukaku said, Wang Yue smiled.

"After all, this is the first time we've ever met members of the 'Zero Squad'!"

Byakuya answered truthfully.

"The legendary 'Zero Division's' fighting power far exceeds the combined strength of the 'Gotei 13'. I wonder if it's true or not?!"

At this point, Kukaku began to recount a rumor.

"First of all, the combat power of our 'Zero Division' is above the combined strength of the 'Gotei 13'. I can tell you this very clearly, and it is absolutely true!"

"Secondly, Byakuya, you just said it was your first time seeing members of the 'Zero Squad,' right? Let me tell you the truth, that's absolutely impossible..."

"Because your 'Gotei 13' Captain-Commander Araki, and the 'Spiritual Arts Academy' Dean Genryusai, are also members of our 'Zero Squad'~"

After listening to what Kukaku and Byakuya said, Wang Yue, usually a talkative person, replied in a strange speaking rhythm.

"Araki-sensei and Headmaster Genryusai are also members of the 'Zero Squad'!"

"Then this rumor is not surprising, it's not surprising at all..."

Byakuya and Kukaku were utterly shocked by what Wang Yue had said.

"Alright, you've asked all your questions. Now it's time to begin training."

"Araki should have already told you about the rules of the 'Spirit King's Palace,' right?"

Wang Yue asked Byakuya and Kukaku.

"rule?"

Byakuya and Kukaku were immediately stunned.

"The rule of the 'Spirit King Palace' is that there are no rules!"

"Everything must be done according to the wishes of our 'Zero Squad'~"