Chapter 62: The Gratitude of the Kuchiki Clan

First Division Barracks.

After being met and escorted back by members of the Third Division, Shin was subsequently brought here to assist the Shinigami with their official report.

Shin did not hide anything and roughly recounted the battle. He knew the barrier team definitely had recordings; it had been the same last time.

After finishing his account of everything that had happened, the Shinigami in charge of recording asked Shin, "Do you have any enemies?"

Enemies?

Hearing this, Shin actually thought about it seriously. There had been quite a few back in the Zaraki District of Rukongai, but he had never returned there since coming to the Shinigami Academy.

"No," Shin said. "The black cloak that person wore concealed both his spiritual pressure and his face. It was strange; from beginning to end, I never saw his true appearance."

"We have already roughly narrowed down the suspects."

"Who?" Shin asked, somewhat surprised.

"That will have to wait until we make a final determination."

The Shinigami finished writing, packed up his things, stood up, and said, "Thank you for your hard work, and thank you for your cooperation. Also, thank you for stepping forward once again in times of danger to protect your fellow classmates."

"This is only what I should do."

Upon returning to the Academy, many people had gathered in the Student Council office. Some had been waiting here ever since returning from the Living World, while others had rushed over to check on him upon hearing the news.

Seeing Shin return, the crowd swarmed him all at once.

"Shin!"

"President!"

Shin glanced at the crowd and chuckled, "Why is everyone here? Nothing happened. Didn't we already see each other at the Senkaimon when we returned from the Living World just now?"

Everyone eagerly expressed their concern, and Rukia even thanked Shin for saving them.

Shin replied to them one by one, then pacified everyone and told them to disperse.

Before long, only Shin and Shuhei remained in the office.

Shuhei looked at Shin and said softly, "Sometimes I suspect whether you possess some kind of precognition. You never participated in Living World practical training before, but the only two times an incident occurred, you happened to join."

Hearing this, Shin laughed out loud and said, "It's a good thing you didn't say I have some kind of bad-luck constitution."

Shuhei sighed and said, "Anyway, thanks to you once again this time. If the Senkaimon had been destroyed back then, we might have all drifted into the Dangai and died at the hands of the Kototsu."

Shin simply replied, "You would have done the same if you were in my shoes."

Shuhei asked again, "By the way, who was behind the trouble this time? Did you get any clues at the First Division?"

Shin pondered, "Not clear for now. It will require some time to investigate."

Shin was also feeling puzzled about this. An accident had already happened once before; what method would Aizen think of to cover it up and gloss over it this time?

However, before leaving the First Division, they had said they had already locked onto a suspect. Could this have been arranged by Aizen in advance?

Thinking too much about these things was of little use. Shin did not yet have the ability to contend with Aizen. However, he hadn't suffered much loss in either incident. The person who fought him this time, even if they survived, their injuries should not be easy to recover from.

"Was the person who fought you strong?" Shuhei inquired.

"Their strength is considered the strongest I've ever encountered," Shin pondered. He guessed that because the opponent had a Soul-Limiting Seal, their spiritual pressure was restricted by eighty percent, and they hadn't even used their Zanpakuto, so it wasn't the opponent's full strength at all.

Even so, the combat power displayed surpassed that of an ordinary lieutenant.

His own spiritual pressure level was still only at the Fourth-Class Spiritual Might, while the weakest captain was at least Third-Class Spiritual Might. That person could only use twenty percent of their spiritual pressure, yet they still displayed strength exceeding the lieutenant level.

Even considering factors like combat experience, this was enough to show that the gap between Fourth-Class Spiritual Might and Third-Class Spiritual Might was vastly significant.

Shin's current spiritual pressure level was Lv35, and he had no idea how many more levels he needed to raise to reach Third-Class Spiritual Might.

In the afternoon.

During class, someone suddenly knocked on the office door.

"Please come in."

The person who entered was somewhat beyond Shin's expectations, and he even recognized him.

When the Kuchiki family came looking for Rukia previously, this person was present—an elderly man wearing white robes, with hair and a beard as white as snow, and wearing round spectacles. The difference was that right now, his face was plastered with a smile.

Seeing the visitor, Shin couldn't help but chuckle. He didn't stand up, only saying, "Here to see Rukia? She's in class."

The elderly man from the Kuchiki family smiled cheerfully and said, "We are not here to see the young lady, but rather you."

"Me?"

"I heard that during this Living World practical training, you stepped forward at the moment of crisis when the young lady was in mortal danger. We are here specifically to express our gratitude."

Shin raised his eyebrows slightly, then leisurely rose from his chair and gestured to the seats inside the office.

"Please sit."

With that, he went to pour him a cup of water.

"I was the team leader at the time, and I was merely doing my part. Besides, I wasn't only saving Rukia."

The elderly man from the Kuchiki family said, "Regardless, you saved the young lady's life, which is a great favor to the Kuchiki family."

Shin looked at the old man with a smiling expression, saying, "I'm rather thick-skinned. Since you've put it that way, I'd like to ask how the Kuchiki family plans to thank me."

"Lord Shin is naturally gifted and a rare, exceptional youth. You should have no fondness for vulgar things like money, therefore..."

Shin widened his eyes, "Who said I don't like it!"

Hearing this, the Kuchiki family's elder froze in expression.

Shin said with unconcealed joy, "Money is a good thing! As you know, I come from Rukongai, and I've always been short on money."

"..."

Though speechless, the elderly man from the Kuchiki family pondered for a moment before speaking, "In that case, please ask Lord Shin to wait another day. Tomorrow we shall prepare a proper gift of gratitude and return."

He hadn't actually brought any money or valuables with him this time, mainly because he hadn't expected Shin to say something like that.

"Easily done, easily done."

Evening at the Kuchiki family estate.

After Byakuya Kuchiki returned, he learned from the elder about their visit to see Shin that afternoon.

"He wants money?"

The elder replied, "That was his response. When I mentioned that he probably wouldn't care for money, he showed a mercenary and greedy expression. If the young lady spends too much time with such a person, I'm afraid..."

Byakuya Kuchiki's expression remained calm as he simply said, "Just have it sent to him tomorrow."

Seeing that his young master had already made up his mind, the elder dared not show the slightest disobedience. He murmured a "Yes" and then stood up to withdraw.

Byakuya Kuchiki sat in place for a moment longer, then stood up, left the room, and headed toward the courtyard where Rukia lived.

Nearing nightfall, there were still two figures flashing and shifting, engaged in a fierce duel within the courtyard.

The two didn't seem to notice Byakuya Kuchiki, but passing servants hurriedly bowed in greeting.

Byakuya Kuchiki raised his hand slightly, signaling them not to make a sound.

Seeing Byakuya Kuchiki quietly watching the two practicing in the courtyard, a servant spoke in a low voice, "Lady Rukia engages in rigorous cultivation every day upon returning from the Shinigami Academy, never slacking off. Today is the same; she hasn't rested once from the moment she returned."

Hearing this, Byakuya Kuchiki remained silent. His expression was detached, as if emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure would never appear on his face. After standing in place for a moment, he turned and left.

In the courtyard, Rukia had been maintaining this high-intensity training for a long time. At this moment, she felt her entire body exhausted beyond measure. While dashing forward, she suddenly felt her body turn limp, and she collapsed to the ground.

Seeing this, her Hakuda teacher immediately stepped forward, "Lady Rukia, let's stop here for today. Continuing further might produce the opposite effect."

Rukia barely managed to stand up, feeling that she had reached her limit as well, so she said, "Alright then. Thank you for your hard work today, Teacher Furukawa."

"It is merely my duty. Please get some rest, Lady Rukia."

This person was a retainer of the Kuchiki family. Although Rukia called him teacher, his attitude in response was extremely respectful. After bowing, he left the courtyard.

Rukia let out a long sigh, and the waiting servant immediately stepped forward to hand her a towel and tea.

She felt that her strength was far too weak, not even considered particularly outstanding in Class A. It was only because she had four private tutors from her family teaching her that she managed to maintain her grades in the upper tier of the class, but there was still a gap compared to top performers like Renji, Hinamori, and Kira.

She also wished her strength could be great enough to actually help out in a crisis.

Rukia still remembered her assessment when joining the Student Council. Last night, she had truly wanted to stay behind and face the enemy together with the president, but she also knew that staying behind would only cause trouble.

If only she were a little stronger, just a little stronger...