Kyoya wasn't talking nonsense with this statement.
Hitsugaya was truly a deserving 'genius'.
Even before starting any training, his unconsciously leaked Reiatsu could affect the surrounding temperature.
When tested at the Shin'o Academy, he had 4th-Class Reiryoku, the same as Shiba Kaien's.
But Shiba Kaien was the head of the main Shiba Clan and had undergone arduous training since childhood.
Hitsugaya was just an ordinary birth from Rukongai with no training at all.
Not long after entering Shin'o Academy, he called out the true name of [Hyorinmaru].
After joining the 10th Division, he directly became the third seat. After Isshin was lured away from the Seireitei by Aizen, he even became the Captain of the 10th Division.
In the Fake Karakura Town battle, Hitsugaya fought against the Tres Espada, Tier Harribel.
Moreover, during the battle, Hitsugaya wasn't at a disadvantage… instead, he once suppressed Harribel.
The protagonist Ichigo was beaten into self-doubt by Ulquiorra Cifer only after his first Resurrección, showing Hitsugaya's caliber.
When Kyoraku fought the Primera Espada, Coyote Starrk, he also said that Hitsugaya might catch up to him in a hundred years.
One must know that Kyoraku was valued by Yamamoto and even became the second Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 after Yamamoto's death… he himself was a genius.
His Reiryoku must have reached 1st-Class at that time.
This meant that in Kyoraku's view, Hitsugaya could absolutely break through to 1st-Class Reiryoku within a century.
Of course, another reason Kyoya wanted to recruit Hitsugaya was that he possessed the [Strongest Ice-Type Zanpakuto].
Without needing an Asauchi as a medium, Hitsugaya could materialize Hyorinmaru himself.
"Eh?"
Kyoya's statement left Rangiku speechless.
She had thought Kyoya wouldn't believe her, and she could then bring the white-haired kid to prove her point.
"You believe me?"
"Of course I believe you. Why wouldn't I?"
Kyoya smiled, "If you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, I don't think you'd know someone's unconsciously leaked Reiatsu could affect the surrounding temperature enough to freeze people to death, right?"
Rangiku opened her mouth but couldn't say anything.
Indeed, if she hadn't seen it herself, Rangiku would never have imagined someone's Reiatsu could freeze people to death.
Was Kyoya a genius?
Was Gin a genius?
But neither of their Reiatsu had given Rangiku such a feeling.
From this perspective, perhaps the little guy she discovered was an even greater genius than Kyoya and Gin.
"Let's go. Where is he?"
"Eh?"
"So urgent?"
"Of course. Time is short."
"Starting training a year earlier can make him much stronger."
"One year for a genius is more important than ten or even a hundred years for others."
"Eek!"
Rangiku stamped her foot, "I hate you geniuses the most."
Honestly, if Gin and Kyoya weren't her family, Rangiku didn't know how jealous she would be of them.
Both graduated from the Shin'o Academy in a year or less and later became Captains of the Gotei 13.
And her?
She was still just the Lieutenant of the 10th Division.
It wasn't that Rangiku hadn't sought guidance on Bankai training from the three Captains: Gin, Isshin, and Kyoya.
With her current strength, Rangiku could easily defeat her Zanpakuto, Haineko, and make it submit.
But unfortunately, Rangiku's Zanpakuto, Haineko, didn't have the potential to support her Bankai Training.
Unless Rangiku broke through to 3rd-Class Reiryoku and used her stronger Reiatsu to help Haineko materialize, she might be able to achieve Bankai.
However, given Rangiku's talent in Reiatsu, it might take another hundred years to possibly break through to 3rd-Class Reiryoku.
That is to say, if Rangiku wanted to improve her strength in the short term, she could only focus on physical combats, swordsmanship, and Kido.
Among these three, it was only because she received much targeted guidance from Kyoya that she had an advantage in swordsmanship.
Precisely because of this, Rangiku's trips from Seireitei to Rukongai had become more frequent in recent years.
She also wanted to stand alongside Kyoya and Gin, not just rely on their protection.
If possible, she even wanted to protect Kyoya and Gin in return.
But due to her talent, Rangiku's progress was often mocked by Kyoya.
However, although she felt much envy and jealousy towards 'geniuses', Rangiku knew what was important.
As for what Gin was doing, since neither Kyoya nor Gin had disclosed it to Rangiku, she didn't know the specifics, but she did know that even with Gin's current strength, exposure would be very dangerous.
As for Kyoya's side, the changes in Rukongai over these twenty-plus years were something Rangiku, who frequently traveled there, naturally understood well.
Therefore, rather than bringing the white-haired genius boy she encountered today into Seireitei, Rangiku preferred to send him to Kyoya to add new vitality to the changes in the Rukongai.
Immediately, Rangiku didn't hesitate and led Kyoya to the location where she had encountered the boy today.
...
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Hitsugaya tucked the quilt tightly around his grandmother.
But the expression on his face didn't improve.
His grandmother's health was getting worse and worse.
If he hadn't met that orange-haired big sister today, Hitsugaya would probably have thought his grandmother was just old, in poor health, and might soon reincarnate.
But the words of that female Shinigami today made Hitsugaya realize that the person making his grandmother sick was actually himself.
'Grandma was old and couldn't take good care of herself alone.'
'Now she was sick again...'
'If I left Grandma, given her current physical condition, she wouldn't last long.'
'But if I didn't leave, Grandma would remain in a low-temperature environment, her health continuously deteriorating, and she also wouldn't last long.'
Hitsugaya was now in a dilemma.
And...
Hitsugaya also had some worries.
He was still young, and his heart was filled with uncertainty about where to go and what to do if he left grandmother.
What would his grandmother's future, his own future, be like?
Inexplicably, a delicate face appeared in Hitsugaya's mind.
That was the face of his childhood friend, Hinamori Momo.
He remembered the last time Momo came to see him, she seemed to say she was studying at the Shin'o Academy, training hard to become a Shinigami.
And the orange-haired woman who found him today was also a Shinigami.
'Perhaps I could go to the Seireitei, take the Shin'o Academy's entrance exam, and become a Shinigami?'
Just as Hitsugaya was pondering his and his grandmother's future, Kyoya and Rangiku had already arrived.
"Hey, Toshiro, are you still here?"
As if unaware she was a stranger not familiar with the homeowners, Rangiku pushed open the door boldly and entered the house with Kyoya.
Kyoya was momentarily stunned, then smiled and followed Rangiku inside.
He had forgotten that Rangiku was naturally outgoing.
If not for that, he might not have survived the hardest times following behind her.
However, it had been a long time since he'd seen this side of Rangiku with others, which made Kyoya somewhat nostalgic.
'Had it been over twenty years since I left the Seireitei?'
"It's you?"
Hearing a familiar voice, Hitsugaya turned around and saw the female Shinigami from this morning bringing a tall, imposing man into his home.
"You are?"
"Hello, Toshiro."
"My name is Kyoya."
Nodding and smiling at the puzzled Hitsugaya, Kyoya glanced at the elderly woman on the bed, covered with two quilts yet still shivering from cold, occasionally coughing.
"Your grandmother's condition isn't very good."
"I am confident in my skills in Kaido. If you trust me, may I provide some treatment for your grandmother?"
"Really?"
Although Hitsugaya didn't understand what Kaido was, he knew what treatment meant.
Immediately, Hitsugaya quickly stood up and bowed to Kyoya, "Kyoya-sama, please treat my grandmother."
"As long as you can heal grandmother, I am willing to do anything you ask."
Before this, Hitsugaya had been somewhat uncertain about his future.
But now, Kyoya's appearance lit a lamp in Hitsugaya's confused heart.
If his grandmother was healed and he followed this man named Kyoya, both his grandmother and he would have much better situations.
His grandmother wouldn't get sick from the cold because of him anymore.
And serving Kyoya would become Hitsugaya's goal for the future.
Kyoya, at this moment, had no idea of Hitsugaya's thoughts.
He quickly stepped forward, extended his hands hoverin) over Hitsugaya's grandmother's quilt. Green Reiatsu bloomed in Kyoya's hands.
Hitsugaya's grandmother was just an ordinary person, so her body couldn't withstand much Reiatsu.
Coupled with her advanced age and inherently poor constitution, Kyoya's Kaido had to be extremely precise, not harming her body while restoring the parts affected by the cold, which was very difficult.
After all, the slightest mistake from Kyoya could injure her body with Reishi.
Shinigami have Reiatsu, so even if their bodies conflict with the Reishi of Kaido, it isn't severe.
Treating ordinary people and treating Shinigami are two different concepts.
Fortunately, Kyoya's control over Reishi had always been very high.
One could even say 'perfect'.
But it still required some time.
As pale green light merged into Hitsugaya's grandmother's body, both Rangiku and Hitsugaya could clearly see her complexion improve.
Her pale face gained some color.
The coughing sounds also became less frequent.
Over ten minutes later, Kyoya dispersed the Kaido light from his hands.
"That should be enough."
"However, your grandmother has been ill for some time. Although I've healed her, she still needs some rest to fully recover."
"Thank you, thank you..."
Hearing Kyoya's words, Hitsugaya bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
"By the way, Toshiro."
"Rangiku told me she already explained your situation to you."
"So, what are your thoughts about your future life?"
"Hmm."
Hitsugaya nodded, "Actually, before you came, I was considering whether to go to Seireitei to become a Shinigami..."
"But now, I want to follow you to repay your kindness, Kyoya-sama!"
"This..."
Kyoya was taken aback.
He hadn't expected that before he even spoke, Hitsugaya had already decided to come with him.
"Toshiro, before making your choice, you have the right to know what it means."
"Although I'm happy you chose me, I can't let you lose new options just because I healed your grandmother."
Next, Kyoya explained the situation of the Shinigami of the Gotei 13 in Seireitei and the Revolutionary Army to Hitsugaya.
"Toshiro, you have immense talent."
"And from your Reiatsu affecting the environment, I suspect the power nurtured within you is the Strongest Ice-type Zanpakuto."
"If you choose to enter the Shin'o Academy, you will undoubtedly become the Captain of some division in the Gotei 13 in the future."
"But if you join the Revolutionary Army, since we have no Asauchi, you would need to rely on your own power to materialize the Zanpakuto within you."
"That is to say, entering the Seireitei, you might complete the nurturing of your Zanpakuto within a year, learn its name, and become a seated officer or even Lieutenant-level powerhouse."
"While joining the Revolutionary Army, only when you reach Lieutenant-level strength can you learn your Zanpakuto's name and materialize it as your own Zanpakuto."
Undoubtedly, entering Seireitei would allow Hitsugaya to master Hyorinmaru's power faster.
In Baltigo, the time for Hitsugaya to control Hyorinmaru would certainly be delayed.
But even delayed, according to Kyoya's prediction, it wouldn't be by much.