Karakura Town Suburbs, Abandoned Warehouse
"Tch, Urahara got his moment. I always knew he was hiding his strength," Hirako Shinji said, hanging upside-down from the rusty roof, envy clear on his face.
Through the warehouse's transparent screen, the Visoreds watched the ranking video.
Unlike Urahara's caution, the carefree Hirako didn't overthink, simply admiring Urahara's flair.
"You're right, baldy. Urahara was kinda cool," Sarugaki Hiyori said, hands on hips, chin raised. "But the ranking's just started—14 spots left! If he made it, why can't we Visoreds?"
She refused to believe she was inferior.
Urahara's Hadō 91 was impressive, but the Visoreds had Hollowfication—a trump card.
Hiyori was confident they'd shine if given the chance.
Nearby, Muguruma Kensei, lifting dumbbells, added, "Hiyori's right. By experience and strength, I'm not below Urahara. I'm sure I'm in the top 15."
Love Aikawa, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, and even the gentle Hachigen Ushōda, former Vice-Kidō Chief, agreed.
The Visoreds were certain they'd appear in the rankings.
The screen flickered back to life.
Subtitles appeared, signaling the next ranking:
[NO.14: Noble Glory, Byakuya Kuchiki]
"Huh?"
"Byakuya Kuchiki… that name sounds familiar," Hirako blinked.
"Idiot! Ginrei Kuchiki's grandson!" Hiyori snapped.
"No way! That kid in diapers swinging a sword a century ago? Him?!"
"Seriously? I don't buy it!"
The Visoreds doubted their eyes, rejecting the ranking.
In their memory, Byakuya was a talented youth, groomed by his grandfather, Ginrei Kuchiki, the former 6th Division captain.
But potential didn't equal strength.
No matter how gifted or well-resourced, surpassing them in a century to rank top 15 was absurd.
"Maybe it's a mistake," Hirako suggested. "The video's author is probably trolling."
"Likely," Kensei scoffed. "I heard from Yoruichi he's the current 6th Division captain. If he's that strong, she'd have bragged about it. No way he's this high."
"This ranking's rigged!"
"Let's see what Byakuya's got!"
The warehouse erupted in complaints.
The century-old captains refused to accept Byakuya's ranking.
---
Soul Society, 11th Division Barracks
The ranking stirred equal uproar in the Gotei 13.
"No way! Byakuya Kuchiki? That stoic guy?!"
Kenpachi Zaraki, in his white captain's haori and black shihakushō, arms crossed, looked baffled.
He was already skeptical of Urahara's ranking, as his reliance on Hadō clashed with Kenpachi's "slash-and-hack" philosophy.
Now, Byakuya making the list felt like a prank.
"Hehe, Ken-chan, that's a bit harsh. Byakuya's a captain too," Yachiru Kusajishi giggled from his shoulder.
"I get the Captain's mood," Ikkaku Madarame said, frowning. "Byakuya's strong, no doubt, but he doesn't know Hadō above 90, right? And compared to the Captain-Commander, Kyōraku, Ukitake, or Unohana… he's mid-tier at best."
His logic was sound—Byakuya wasn't first-tier.
"You forgot something," Yumichika Ayasegawa said, fluttering his lashes. "The list has 15 spots. Even with Urahara, all 13 captains could fit. The rest are probably captains."
In his view, the ranking was tailor-made for the Gotei 13.
With Aizen still loyal and the Espada and Visoreds unknown, captains were the strongest in his mind.
"Let's keep watching," Kenpachi said. "Maybe Byakuya's been hiding his strength."
He didn't care about Byakuya's rank—he just wanted the video to fast-forward to his own.
The screen shifted.
A scarred, pitted landscape appeared, littered with battle marks.
Clang!
Zanpakutō clashed, sparks flying.
"Shinigami, I'm sick of your smug face. Bankai versus Bankai—you've got no edge!" Ichigo Kurosaki, wielding Tensa Zangetsu, glared fiercely.
Opposite him, Byakuya stood arrogantly, surrounded by vibrant pink cherry blossoms.
"Here we go!"
"Another battle! But this place looks familiar," Ikkaku muttered, frowning.
"It's not just familiar—it's the Sōkyoku Hill!" Yumichika said confidently.