Bleach: From Rugum to Thousand-Year Captain

When Tengetsu Sukusai heard Yamamoto say this, he probably thought that Yamamoto was trying to manipulate the captains. At least he wouldn't fall into Yamamoto's control.

However, from his perspective, as a helpless and adrift person with powerful strength as his foundation, he was not afraid of those things.

Since Tianyue Quezhai was not one of them, he could decisively give up everything.

But these captains are different. Apart from the first captains, all the Shinigami have a background, and everything they have experienced is both a bond and a weakness.

Of course, the life force trajectory of many captains, including most of the Grim Reapers, is entirely supported by these things.

Therefore, there is no need to elevate or belittle others by comparing and contrasting them; everyone has their own meaning and value.

The original captains were simply more 'pure' than the others.

Shikato Hakunsai remained silent for a long time before bowing to Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

"Captain-Commander Yamamoto, I came here only to ask for your attitude. Since you put it that way, I don't think it matters whether you are sincere or not."

"I, Shikatori Hakunsai, can only die on the battlefield. I must wield my Zanpakuto with honor and conviction, until the sword breaks and I die."

"This body is the Grim Reaper; once gone, there is no turning back!"

"Thank you for your help, Captain-Commander Yamamoto!"

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni did not want to look at Shikatori Hakunsai's bowing body any longer, as it reminded him of the days when he recruited heroes and fought in Rukongai.

I still remember that day, dark clouds covered the sun, the sky was gray, and only the cold wind cut through everything like a blade.

A chill swept across the earth, and a fine drizzle continued to pour down from the horizon, seemingly without end.

The drizzle soaked everything, forming curtains of water that blurred people's vision and made it difficult to see far into the distance.

Only the Sword Demon stands in the center of this heavy rain; all raindrops evaporate completely when they approach the Sword Demon, leaving no trace of it getting wet.

Upon witnessing this wondrous scene, the girl, who was sitting cross-legged in a corner of Rukongai, straightened her katana at her waist and stepped forward.

"How amazing, sir! Are you also a samurai? Would you be so kind as to witness the power of your sword?"

"Oh? Kids should stay away. Once you touch a samurai sword, you can never get it back, and trouble will follow."

"Hey old man, stop talking nonsense and draw your sword!"

Faced with a girl who is like a child, the sword demon cannot draw his sword to fight.

Killing children is like cutting off the future; it is a tragic act that even a sword demon would disdain.

But the girl, soaked by the drizzle, persisted, drawing her katana and unleashing a Tang Bamboo attack on the sword demon.

Such weak power could not possibly cause any harm to the sword demon; it was nothing more than a child playing house and waving a wooden stick.

If such power could harm the Sword Demon, then he wouldn't be the Sword Demon.

The girl, however, remained relentless, launching a fierce attack on the sword demon as if she had completely abandoned any defense.

Sword Demon realized that the girl was 'committing suicide,' and she was hoping that he would kill her. Sword Demon was somewhat curious.

"The samurai of Rukongai are all fighting, constantly slashing at each other. Betrayal, conquest, evil deeds, and slaughter—it's all for survival, for living."

"But you, child, why? Why are you in such a hurry to die?"

Upon hearing the sword demon's question, the girl stopped her suicidal attack.

The girl touched the blade directly with her hand, showing no fear of cutting her palm.

With a gentle pull, he cut his palm, but he didn't react at all, completely enduring the pain, clearly already used to it.

"I killed seventy-three people with this katana, each of them stronger than me. Perhaps it was for water, perhaps for food, perhaps for conquest, perhaps for beauty, in any case, I fought these samurai, if that can be called a fight."

"I was born in Rukongai. I don't know where I came from, where I'm going, or what the meaning of my existence is. Seeing everyone wielding swords, I also learned to wield swords."

"I can't get answers from those who died before me, those I cut down. But now, old man, do you, as a samurai, have the answer? What is the meaning of wielding a sword? I want to know!"

"Moreover, I can only still sense the swords in my hands. Although they are incredibly cold and real, they are a tangible existence. I can sense that you are very strong, and I will definitely find the answer here!"

The girl answered the sword demon very seriously, and was certain that the answer lay within the sword demon.

Sword Demon remained silent for a long time before holding the Blazing Fire Sword at his waist horizontally in front of his chest.

"Is there any point in wielding swords? To be honest, I really don't know."

"You're lying! I can tell you're lying to me! Lying to children isn't the act of a samurai."

The girl, holding a katana, faced the sword demon whose face revealed an extremely solemn and murderous aura, yet she showed no fear whatsoever.

Compared to death, not knowing the meaning of life, not knowing the meaning of wielding a sword in battle, is even more unsettling and bewildering.

There is no past, no future; all that can be done in the present is to wield swords and pour out one's restless soul. How tragic!

“I’m not lying to you. During my time walking through Rukongai, I’ve witnessed countless horrific scenes. Those without katanas struggle just as much, while those with katanas choose to end their long lives. It’s a world like hell, and living in such a world makes me feel uneasy and nauseous.”

"Back then, I wasn't strong enough, and I was even quite pathetic."

Sword Demon recalled the tragic state he had suffered when facing the ancient Hollow and couldn't help but sigh.

"But the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, we work when the sun rises and rest when the sun sets. No matter how bad my mood or what I encounter that day, when the sun rises the next day, I will only marvel at how warm the world is."

Sword Demon drew the Blazing Fire Sword and placed it in front of the girl, giving a forced smile.

"This is my partner. Its name is Ryujin Jakka. It's a very strange fellow, but surprisingly, we get along very well. And like me, it loves to eat roasted sweet potatoes, if it can eat them. It's my mirror, revealing my true soul."

"Hmm... Is this a knife? Why do I feel like it's making a sound?"

"Oh? You can feel it, interesting kid."

As she spoke, the girl reached out and rubbed the blade of the Blazing Fire Sword with her palm.

The sword demon did not refuse, allowing the girl to touch her companion.

"Ouch! It's so hot! How rude of it! Stupid knife!"

"You have overstepped your bounds."

"Hey! You scorching blade, can you answer my question? What is the meaning of wielding a sword...? Won't you tell me?"

"I already told you, it won't answer your questions like this, since I don't know either."

The girl and the sword demon stared at each other, neither willing to give in.

Seeing the girl's dissatisfaction, the sword demon found the child quite interesting.

She wasn't afraid of him at all, and even completely ignored the aura emanating from his body.

“Hey kid, how about we look for meaning together? It’s much faster for two people to ask about meaning than for one person to ask about meaning. That’s a difference of twice the speed.”

"I always felt like you were a bad guy who was kidnapping children. That's how all the samurai I killed acted."

"Tch, come if you want, don't come if you don't."

The sword demon sheathed his Zanpakuto and left, with the girl following behind, constantly using the sword demon's body as a shelter from the rain.

The two walked one after the other, gradually drifting further and further apart.

.......

Has Shikatori Hakunsai found the meaning of life? That's good. If so, then I can rest easy.

Becoming the Grim Reaper is something all heroes reject and all nobles refuse.

But only I, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, saw the sun. What a beautiful sun!

Warm the earth and bring light!

The so-called ugliness of the world is nothing more than a reflection under the sun, not worth mentioning.

Let's move forward together, carrying through the will born from the meaning we've found, Shikatori Hakunsai!!!

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni did not personally tell Shikato Hakunsai his true feelings; responding with silence was the most dignified and correct course of action.

Faced with Shikatori Hakunsai's bow, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni did not look at him again, but glanced at Tengetsu Susakusai.

"Shikatori Hakunsai can join the Gotei 13. As for which squad he should join, you can discuss it here."

After saying that, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni left the captain's meeting room without looking back.

Only the team captains remained, looking at each other in bewilderment.

What kind of mess is this?!

.......

Chapter 121 Vice Captain Shikatori

The Kuchiki and Ginryo were speechless. Deciding on the ownership of the Shiratori Bayunzai was truly a difficult task.

After all, they were just junior captains, and they had to call Shikatori "senpai" when he was in charge.

This first-generation captain is a formidable figure; anyone who dares to place her as a subordinate in their own squad would be defying the Heavenly Order.

Neither strength nor qualifications could subdue this person.

The only character who could overpower Shikatori Hakunsai was someone of her generation.

Captain Unohana is still in the Fourth Division and can't come, while Captain Ikuhara is keeping his eyes down and clearly not planning to get involved in this kind of thing.

Their attention then shifted to Tengetsu Sukusai and Shihōin Chiaki. Shihōin Chiaki felt uneasy under everyone's gaze, fearing that Shikatori Hakunsai would speak.

Chiaki Shihōin knew that even though he had worked closely with Hakunsai Shikatori for a period of time, Captain Shikatori was still his senior.

Moreover, it was precisely because Shikatori Hakunsai and Shihōin were too close that this negative influence occurred.

Even now, with Shikatori Hakunsai joining the Second Division and adding strength to Shihōin, it still can't match the terrifying control he had over the Seireitei decades ago.

However, Chiaki Shihōin still felt guilty and did not want the same thing to happen again.

Besides, he really had no way to make Lu Quba Yunzhai do things; that would be too strange.

Chiaki Shihōin could only turn to Tengetsu Sukusai for help, as only Tengetsu Sukusai and Captain Ikuhara could arrange for Shikatori Hakunsai.

Tianyue Quezhai didn't think Yan Yuanjinle would take charge, but he still nodded.

"In that case, Shikatori Hakunsai, my 13th Division is short of a vice-captain. How about I trouble you to serve as my adjutant?"

"Well... it doesn't matter, it's all the same wherever I am. Nice to meet you, Captain Amatsuki?"

Shikato Hakunsai drawled out the last syllable, and Tengetsu Sukusai did indeed feel something was strange, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it at the moment.

However, his 13th Division is very busy and he does need a strong lieutenant... well, a powerful one who can keep the 13th Division in check when he is not around.