Seeing the person approaching, a name immediately surfaced in Kurotsuki Renya's mind, and he called out respectfully:
"Vice-Captain Shiba Kaien."
Standing behind him was none other than Shiba Kaien, Vice-Captain of the 13th Division under Captain Jūshirō Ukitake.
Kaien frowned, his voice edged with irritation.
"…So you're Kurotsuki Renya, right? What are you doing tearing up this place? This is where I come to train."
Renya blinked. Only then did it dawn on him that the northern slopes of Rifu Mountain in the 3rd North District were Kaien's usual practice grounds. It was here that Kaien often trained alone, away from the bustle of Seireitei.
Despite the decline of the Shiba Clan, once one of the Five Great Noble Houses, their legacy still held weight. Their ingenuity had given rise to countless innovations, including the legendary Fireworks Cannon, which launched massive Tenchūren carriages to the Royal Realm.
And though their political status had fallen, their combat prowess had not. Kaien stood as Vice-Captain of the 13th Division, his wife, Shiba Miyako, serving as the 3rd Seat of the same Division. Even separated branch members of the family, like Shiba Isshin, had risen to the rank of Captain in other divisions.
At this point in time, however, the Shiba family still resided in Seireitei, their pride unbroken.
Realizing his mistake, Renya quickly bowed.
"Senior Kaien, I didn't know this was your training ground. My apologies—I truly didn't mean to intrude."
Kaien let out a short sigh, waving it off.
"Forget it. Just… look at this mess. Deep gouges, trees blown apart… You really went all out. But I'll admit—your Zanpakutō packs a hell of a punch. I could see the lightning splitting the sky from half a district away."
Renya scratched his cheek, slightly embarrassed.
"Senior Kaien's Zanpakutō is also incredible."
Indeed, Kaien's Zanpakutō, Nejibana, was one of the rare elemental types. Upon Shikai release, it transformed into a trident capable of manipulating massive waves and crushing foes with overwhelming torrents of water.
If Kaien had lived beyond this point in history, his strength would have rivaled any future Vice-Captain—Madarame Ikkaku after attaining Bankai, Renji Abarai after Hihiō Zabimaru, or even Hisagi Shūhei with Kazeshini's matured release.
Kaien smiled faintly.
"Let's not compare blades right now. I've heard you're close to Kuchiki Rukia?"
Renya nodded immediately.
"When I was still in Rukongai, it was Sister Rukia who saved my life. She told me it was you who always looked out for her in the 13th Division. I owe you thanks for that, Senior Kaien."
Kaien's expression softened.
"She's one of my squad, of course I'll look after her. But… she's clumsy as hell. Still hasn't unlocked her Shikai properly."
Renya smiled confidently.
"Believe me, she will. And when she does, her Zanpakutō will be among the most powerful."
He was right. Sode no Shirayuki, once mastered, would become a blade of unrivaled elegance and lethal frost. Its Shikai techniques like Some no Mai, Tsukishiro froze all within a white circle, while Rukia's Bankai, Hakka no Togame, would one day unleash a pillar of freezing light capable of dropping the temperature to absolute zero—even if only for a few seconds, at terrible risk to her body.
Kaien chuckled softly.
"Hope you're right. She'll need that strength one day."
He pointed toward the far peak.
"If you're going to train here again, use that mountaintop over there. It's mostly bare rock, fewer trees to destroy."
Renya bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Senior Kaien."
Kaien drew Nejibana, the blade gleaming faintly with moisture.
"Alright, that's enough chit-chat. I came here to train too."
Renya's eyes sharpened. He licked his lips unconsciously and said,
"Then… how about a spar, Senior Kaien?"
Kaien blinked in surprise.
"You want to spar with me? You nearly stood your ground against Captain Zaraki not long ago. I'm not sure I'd be much of a match. And let's be honest—your lightning element has a natural advantage over my water."
Renya shook his head.
"Then what if I don't use my Zanpakutō?"
Kaien raised a brow.
"Without your Zanpakutō? You mean… straight Hakuda and swordsmanship? You're serious?"
Renya grinned.
"You can release your Zanpakutō if you want, but I won't. Let's see how far I can push myself."
Kaien narrowed his eyes, a spark of interest lighting in them.
"You underestimate me if you think you can win that way. But fine… since you're so insistent, I can't back down now."
He leveled Nejibana and spoke the release command:
"Rankle the seas and skies—Nejibana!"
The blade elongated, reshaping into a massive trident taller than Kaien himself, nearly three meters long. At once, torrents of water swelled around him, crashing in layers like the endless tide.
Renya's eyes lit with anticipation. His Shikai could contest Captains, but this was different—what could he do without it?
His body surged with raw blue lightning, converging along his legs and right arm. Sparks danced violently as spiritual power surged through his limbs.
Kaien's eyes widened.
"What the—? That energy control…"
In the blink of an eye, Renya vanished, reappearing at Kaien's back, blade aimed for a strike.
Boom!
Water erupted like a living shield, Nejibana's waves rising instantly to intercept. Kaien twisted his body with practiced ease, swinging the trident toward Renya's head.
The clash of steel and water pressure sent shockwaves across the training ground.
Renya countered, vanishing again, this time appearing above Kaien. He dove, Zanpakutō poised downward—only to find the trident waiting for him.
Damn… he baited me.
Kaien had deliberately left an opening above his head, forcing Renya to take the bait. The moment he descended, Nejibana's point lunged upward, ready to pierce.
Renya twisted in midair, narrowly avoiding the thrust, but was immediately hammered by surging waves that engulfed him completely.
The ocean itself seemed to swallow him. The water sphere compressed, crushing inward with brutal force.
Boom!
A burst of lightning tore through the waves as Renya forced his way out, skidding across the rocky ground. His clothes were drenched, his breathing ragged. Though uninjured, he knew it was over.
Renya lowered his Zanpakutō and bowed.
"Senior Kaien… I lost."
Kaien relaxed Nejibana, shaking his head.
"No… I couldn't land a single hit on you either. Let's call it a draw."
Still, he was quietly astonished. Renya's raw speed, strength, and combat sense without Shikai already surpassed most seated officers. Were it not for Nejibana's water domain, Kaien himself might have been cut down.
Renya smiled faintly.
"Thank you for the match, Senior Kaien. I've learned a lot."
As he turned to leave, Kaien called out behind him.
"If you're looking for training partners… come find me anytime. Training alone gets boring. A rival of your caliber might be exactly what I need."
Renya's lips curved into a grin.
"Then I'll be back. Next time, I'll push myself even harder."
And with that, Kurotsuki Renya disappeared into the distance, sparks trailing faintly in his wake.
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