Bleach: The Path to Transcendence

Seireitei, Thirteenth Division Barracks, Kido Training Room.

"Hado No. 33 - Sokatsui!"

A petite figure flashed, the black shihakusho outlining Rukia Kuchiki's somewhat meager figure. With a crisp shout, she thrust her slender right palm forward.

"Boom!"

Azure flames erupted instantly, accurately striking the dummy in front. The binding barrier attached to the dummy in advance was rendered useless in the face of this azure flame.

"Bang!"

The dummy shattered, fragments flying. Rukia looked at the power of her attack, the corners of her mouth slightly raised. Her hard work over the past few days had not been in vain. The chantless Sokatsui had finally reached the level she expected.

"Yo, pretty capable, Rukia!"

A hearty voice came from the doorway, interrupting Rukia's thoughts.

Rukia turned back in surprise, seeing the tall and upright Kaien Shiba leaning against the doorframe, looking at her with a smile.

"K… Kaien-sama!"

Rukia's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, her voice even trembling slightly.

Since joining the Thirteenth Division, Kaien-sama had always been her most solid support. Back then, she hadn't even graduated from the Shin'ō Academy when Byakuya Kuchiki directly brought her into the Thirteenth Division as his adopted sister.

This unconventional treatment naturally attracted a lot of criticism. Those rumors about her using connections and going through the back door were like sharp blades, almost drowning her.

It was Kaien who always stood by her side, patiently guiding her and encouraging her.

Kaien Shiba walked in, habitually ruffling Rukia's hair with his large hand.

"Being able to train Sokatsui to this extent in three months, even I'm a little jealous of your Kido talent."

"N… No, Kaien-sama is overpraising me."

Rukia lowered her head, not daring to look directly into Kaien's eyes.

"But…"

Kaien suddenly changed the subject:

"Being good at Kido alone isn't enough. A Shinigami's battle requires Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō – none can be missing! Next, I'll teach you Zanjutsu!"

Before the words finished, Kaien Shiba tossed a wooden sword, which Rukia immediately caught.

"Yes, Kaien-sama!"

This was a personal lesson from Vice-Captain Kaien-sama, an opportunity that many ordinary soldiers would desperately seek.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

The two held wooden swords in the training room, engaging in close combat.

An hour later, the two sat on the ground. Rukia wiped the sweat from her forehead and said:

"Thank you, Kaien-sama…"

Rukia's voice was a little weak.

"What are you thanking me for? Supporting team members is what I, as a Vice-Captain, should do."

Kaien Shiba grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth.

The sunlight shone through the window onto his face, making his smile particularly bright. Rukia stared at that vibrant face, momentarily lost in thought.

"Kaien-sama, if he weren't married, that would be great…"

Such a thought suddenly popped into Rukia's mind.

Then she shook her head, thinking to herself.

"No, no, Kaien-sama is kindly guiding me, how can I have such dirty thoughts! How can I have such thoughts, I'd be so sorry to Miyako-nee!"

......

At the same time, on the Eleventh Division's training grounds.

"Roar, Zabimaru!"

Renji Abarai roared, the Zanpakuto Zabimaru in his hand extending in an instant, shooting towards Ikkaku Madarame.

Ikkaku Madarame's bald head shone in the sunlight. He grinned, his Hozukimaru not showing any weakness, rotating into a circle, blocking Zabimaru's surprise attack.

Then the two tacitly moved forward at the same time, engaging in close combat.

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

The sound of metal clashing resounded endlessly. The two figures crisscrossed, fast as lightning, the shadows of swords and spears stirring up gusts of wind.

"Ah-choo!"

Suddenly a gust of cold wind blew past, Renji Abarai's nose itched, and he sneezed a solid sneeze, his movements slowing down by half a beat.

Ikkaku Madarame's eyes lit up, seizing this opportunity. Hozukimaru, like a snake spitting its tongue, pierced towards Renji Abarai's chest with lightning speed and overwhelming force.

"Clang!"

At the critical moment, Renji Abarai barely managed to block this crucial blow with Zabimaru, but the huge impact still made him retreat several steps, his chest churning with blood.

Renji Abarai steadied his figure, rubbing his nose.

"The weather's getting colder, I still need to add a hat…"

......

The peaceful days did not last long. Three months later.

The bizarre disappearances of souls in the Rukongai became increasingly rampant, and the entire Soul Society was shrouded in a cloud of panic. Each Division sent out elites, but the investigation results were like stones sinking into the sea.

"Creak—"

The door of the conference hall was pushed open, and Miyako Shiba, who had been out investigating, appeared at the door.

"Third Seat Shiba, you're back! Any progress in the investigation?"

A team member immediately greeted her and bowed respectfully. Miyako Shiba, Kaien Shiba's wife, was not only beautiful but also had a gentle personality. Everyone in the team respected her.

"Pfft!"

What responded to him was a hand that pierced through his chest.

"Y… You…" The team member's eyes widened, looking in disbelief at the 'Miyako Shiba' in front of him. That familiar face was now twisted and deformed, with fangs bared. Where was the gentle Third Seat Shiba? She was clearly a vicious demon devouring people!

"Hehehe…"

'Miyako Shiba' let out a chilling, eerie laugh, grabbed the team member's neck, and began to devour him greedily.

"En… Enemy attack!"

The team member used the last of his strength, struggling to shout,

"Hado No. 33 - Sokatsui!"

"Boom!"

Azure flames exploded in front of the conference hall door, like a huge firework, blooming in the sky above the barracks.

"What's going on?!"

Jushiro Ukitake was discussing countermeasures with Kaien Shiba in the back, and Rukia Kuchiki was listening in. Suddenly hearing the explosion, the three sensed the unusual spiritual pressure fluctuation at the same time.

"It's Sokatsui! Something's happened!"

Rukia Kuchiki exclaimed.

The three immediately rushed to the scene, but all that met their eyes was the empty Thirteenth Division uniform on the ground, and the remaining smell of blood in the air.

"Damn it! One step too late! If I wasn't sick, I could have saved him!"

Jushiro Ukitake's face was unusually pale, and his breathing seemed a little rapid, obviously his old illness had flared up again. If he hadn't coughed up blood at the critical moment just now, he would have been able to arrive in time to save this team member.

"That… that figure just now… was Miyako!"

Kaien Shiba's voice trembled, his eyes instantly bloodshot, filled with bloodshot veins. He stared intently at the direction in which 'Miyako Shiba' disappeared.

"Kaien! Calm down!" Jushiro Ukitake tried to stop him.

Kaien Shiba seemed not to hear, abruptly pushing Jushiro Ukitake away, his eyes red, looking like a madman!

"That's Miyako! My wife! She was taken by that monster… I must kill it!"

Before the words finished, Kaien Shiba rushed out like an arrow from a bow, his speed so fast that he even left afterimages in the air.

"Kaien-sama!"

Rukia Kuchiki looked worried, looking at Kaien Shiba's back, and immediately chased after him.

"Whoosh!"

Seeing this situation, Jushiro Ukitake couldn't care less about the pain in his lungs, enduring the urge to vomit blood, and followed up with shunpo.