My name is Haruki Yamashita.
I’m forty-two years old, and my profession is Shinigami.
I currently serve as the 6th Seat in the Thirteenth Division.
As a Seated Officer, I am quite powerful; as long as someone isn’t Vice-Captain level or above, I can beat them.
But right now, I’m panicking.
Three newcomers joined the Squad today, and one of them, a noble-looking beauty, is from the Kuchiki Family.
Since I have no fondness for nobles, I let my mouth run and said, ‘You probably got in through connections.’ Then, she dragged me to the front with one hand.
As the 6th Seat, I actually had no power to resist her at all.
Looking at the girl with the “kind” face in front of him, Haruki Yamashita broke into a cold sweat.
Although he really wanted to refuse the girl’s demand, the jeering from the crowd below forced him to abandon that thought.
“Damn it, these guys just want to see the world burn.
And Vice-Captain Kaien, why are you joining in the cheering too?
You weren’t like this before!”
Seeing Kaien Shiba raising both hands in approval to the side, Haruki Yamashita ranted wildly in his heart.
But as the 6th Seat, he really couldn’t bring himself to lose face by refusing a battle invitation from a newcomer, even if this newcomer’s strength was far superior to his own.
Haruki Yamashita feigned composure and said, “Of course!
I don’t believe your strength is greater than mine!” Seemingly convinced by his own words, he continued, “If you beat me, I’ll give you my position as the 6th Seat.”
“Really?” Rukia expressed great joy.
She had been worrying about how to obtain a Seated Officer position, and now someone had come to deliver it to her.
“Of course it’s true.
I, Lord Haruki, am a man of my word!”
Kaien Shiba, who had been watching the scene from the side, spoke up: “Since there’s to be a duel, we can’t stay here.
Let’s go to the training grounds.” This suggestion was met with unanimous agreement from everyone in the room.
In the Soul Society, where entertainment was scarce, Shinigami found great pleasure in watching others fight when they weren’t training themselves.
“I have no requirements.
It won’t take much effort anyway, so anywhere is fine,” Rukia said calmly.
She wasn’t boasting; she truly could back it up.
When she had dragged this 6th Seat up earlier, she had already gauged his approximate level.
His Spiritual Pressure was only slightly stronger than that of a normal Seated Officer.
“You brat!” Haruki Yamashita was clearly enraged by her dismissive words.
*I know my strength isn’t equal to yours, but you shouldn’t look down on people like that!* Haruki Yamashita, who originally hadn’t wanted to duel, changed his mind.
Even if he couldn’t win, he wouldn’t make things easy for this girl.
Shinigami fight Hollows; they are a group of people who could lose their lives at any moment.
Everyone has a streak of ruthlessness in their heart, as one cannot survive long without the corresponding mindset.
The group arrived noisily at the training grounds.
The area was vast, used for training in group combat and large-scale Kido maneuvers; ordinary dojos couldn’t accommodate so many people making a scene together.
“Then, once both parties are ready, we can begin.
Note that this match is for demonstration only; you must not take the other’s life.
Violators will be personally sent by me to Central 46 for judgment!”
Kaien Shiba stood between the two and spoke, then left the space to them.
“Thirteenth Division 6th Seat, Haruki Yamashita, reporting for duty,” Haruki Yamashita said, drawing his Zanpakuto.
“Thirteenth Division, Rukia Kuchiki, reporting for duty,” Rukia followed by announcing her name.
After the exchange, Rukia was in no rush to strike, standing quietly in place just like Byakuya used to.
“Make your move.
If you don’t strike now, you won’t get another chance,” Rukia said faintly.
Those words acted like a signal.
Haruki Yamashita lunged fiercely at Rukia, but she dodged with ease.
Having missed his strike, Haruki Yamashita did not give up, lashing out with a succession of rapid slashes.
His storm-like offensive was neutralized one by one by Rukia’s exquisite footwork.
At this moment, Haruki Yamashita felt like he was fighting the air; he couldn’t touch her at all.
Feeling toyed with, he shouted in desperation, “If you have the guts, stop dodging and fight me fair and square!”
As soon as he said it, Haruki Yamashita felt regret.
It was normal to dodge an opponent’s attacks; how foolish did one have to be to tell someone not to dodge?
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Rukia actually stopped moving and said, “Fine, since you said so yourself, don’t blame me for bul—” Before she could finish, Rukia instantly appeared in front of Haruki Yamashita, holding Sode no Shirayuki with one hand and thrusting it toward his neck.
“—lying you.” Only then did the last part of Rukia’s sentence leave her mouth, but Haruki Yamashita didn’t dare move an inch.
The tip of Sode no Shirayuki was pressed completely against his neck, as if it would pierce his throat if it moved forward even a fraction.
The cold blade caused cold sweat to pour down his body, and he didn’t even dare to breathe heavily.
It wasn’t until Rukia withdrew Sode no Shirayuki that he suddenly collapsed forward, supporting himself on the ground with both hands.
“Well?
Are you convinced?” Rukia asked.
Having witnessed that overwhelming power, how could he dare say no?
He hurriedly replied, “I’m convinced, I’m convinced.
I am no match for you.”
“And the matter of the seat?”
“Uh, you are the 6th Seat now.”
Having received a satisfactory answer, Rukia nodded, then turned to the onlookers and asked, “Is there anyone else who is unconvinced or thinks I got in through connections?”
The watching Shinigami were silent.
They truly hadn’t expected this newcomer to instant-kill their 6th Seat in a single move.
At this time, no one was stubborn enough to go up and look for trouble; they all shook their heads.
Kaien Shiba was also extremely surprised.
He had heard from his Captain that Rukia Kuchiki was very strong, beyond that of an average Shinigami, but he didn’t expect her to be *this* strong—to one-shot a Seated Officer.
Furthermore, the speed she had just displayed was already on par with his own, and looking at how effortlessly she used it, her true speed was likely even faster than his.
“Alright, the battle is over.
The winner is Rukia Kuchiki.
According to the agreement made before the duel, she will serve as our Squad’s new 6th Seat.
Everyone, return to your posts; our division still has many matters to handle.”
After all, the welcome party was just a formality to let the Squad members get to know the newcomer.
Now that they knew her and had seen a duel, they were satisfied.
No one refused their Vice-Captain’s order, and they each returned to their posts.
After all, there was work to be done, and if they didn’t finish, their pay would be docked.
After everyone had left, Kaien Shiba said to Rukia, “Rukia, come with me for a moment.” He then led Rukia to the Vice-Captain’s office.
“Even though Captain Ukitake told me you were strong, I really didn’t expect you to take the 6th Seat on your very first day.”
“Mhm, I didn’t expect this either.
I thought it would take me a while to get a seat,” Rukia agreed.
She was truly surprised to get the 6th Seat, but it was a good thing as it accelerated the progress of her transmigration plan.
“To be honest, though, getting the 6th Seat now isn’t the best timing.
According to the schedule, Haruki Yamashita was supposed to be stationed in the Human World in a week.
It’s too late to change the time now, as there are simply too many places in the Soul Society that need guarding,” Kaien Shiba said with a wry smile.
“So, in a week, I’ll be going to the Human World for garrison duty?
As my job as the 6th Seat?” Rukia asked.
“Yes, and the garrison period is five years.
So you have one week to prepare, and you’ll need to stay in the Human World for five years.
However, you can come back to rest during major holidays,” Kaien Shiba explained.
“Well, it doesn’t matter to me.
Since I took the position, I have to do the work; I’m clear on that.
But being stationed in the Human World actually comes with holidays?”
“Of course.
As the Squad responsible for garrisoning the Human World, our Thirteenth Division has a complete holiday schedule.
After all, Shinigami need rest too.”
After they talked for a while, Kaien Shiba took out a map and said, “This is the layout of the Thirteenth Division barracks.
I’ve marked your room on it, though I expect you won’t stay here often.
After all, the environment of the Kuchiki Family is much better than here.”
Rukia didn’t say anything to Kaien Shiba’s teasing.
She knew the guy in front of her was just making a casual observation; after all, Kaien Shiba was also a noble.
At this time, the Shiba Family had not yet fallen into decline due to the disappearance of Tenth Division Captain Shiba Isshin and the death of Kaien Shiba.
As the head of the Shiba Family, what kind of grand scenes had he not witnessed?
A bit “late” today, but no matter.