"To catch Captain Ichimaru Gin's Zanpakutō with his bare hand... that's monstrous."
"Unbelievable. So this is the younger brother of Captain Kuchiki?"
The surrounding Sixth Division members stood frozen, eyes wide with disbelief as they watched Shiraha grip Ichimaru Gin's blade mid-strike. None of them—despite their training—would dare attempt to catch Shinsō barehanded.
Byakuya Kuchiki, watching from a short distance, narrowed his eyes at the familiar figure wielding the gravity-bound Zanpakutō. He'd always been aware of Shiraha's diligence. The boy had rarely left the Kuchiki estate, yet every time Byakuya returned, he'd find Shiraha swinging his wooden sword tirelessly beneath the old banyan tree. That explosive display of captain-level Reiatsu earlier had been startling—but now this? It defied expectation.
"Shiraha," Byakuya said, voice low, eyes fixed on the blade, "that's your Zanpakutō's ability?"
"You sound surprised, brother. Don't tell me you never believed in me."
"There's no doubt in your diligence, Shiraha," Byakuya replied, a rare softness flickering beneath his glacial composure. "I'm only surprised by how far you've come."
Ichimaru Gin, meanwhile, seemed unfazed. "Well, I suppose that clears up the mystery. Captain Kuchiki, Captain Yinling, if that's all, I won't trouble you further."
Just as Gin turned to leave, a sharp chime echoed through Shiraha's mind—his system had triggered.
"Sign-in Task: Challenge Ichimaru Gin and remain undefeated for fifteen minutes. Reward: Fujitora's Smile Template +10%."
Shiraha's heart pounded. Challenge Ichimaru Gin? Undefeated for fifteen minutes? Risky, but the reward was immense—equal to five years of grueling daily training. And with Ichimaru yet to use Bankai, it was doable.
Without hesitation, Shiraha stepped forward and raised his voice. "Captain Ichimaru Gin, I challenge you to a duel."
Gin blinked. "Hm? You're challenging me, Shiraha-kun?"
Kuchiki Yinling appeared in an instant, face stern. "Shiraha, this is reckless. Stand down."
Byakuya moved to Shiraha's side silently, his presence alone reinforcing his disapproval. The surrounding squad members exchanged uneasy glances, clearly shocked that someone so recently awakened would provoke a captain.
Shiraha remained firm. "I need to understand my limits. How far am I from the true captain level? There's no better opponent."
Gin's usual sly smile returned. "Very well. I accept your challenge."
Yinling sighed. "Captain Ichimaru Gin, I ask only this—go easy on him."
"Of course, Captain Silver Ridge," Gin replied, already using Shunpo to flash across the ruined courtyard. Shiraha followed suit, matching the speed precisely, landing a dozen paces from Gin, his eyes locked forward, calm and unreadable.
"How long do you think Shiraha can last?" Yinling asked.
"With Reiatsu at that level, perhaps ten minutes," Byakuya answered, though uncertainty lingered in his voice.
"Your brother's Zanpakutō ability isn't ordinary," Yinling murmured, eyes gleaming. "Watch closely. He may surprise us all."
Gin smiled as he raised his hand. "Hadō #31: Shakkahō."
The crimson orb of energy erupted from Gin's palm, despite having skipped the incantation. Shiraha reacted instantly. Observation Haki flared as he sidestepped the spell with inches to spare. The blast roared past, exploding behind him and carving a crater into the earth.
"Even without incantation... that could kill a seated officer," Shiraha noted, sweat beading across his brow.
"Impressive dodge," Gin said. "But let's see how you handle this. Shoot, Shinsō!"
His blade surged forward in a flash of white light, extending at lightning speed.
Shiraha responded immediately. "Five times gravity."
Within ten meters around him, the gravitational field shifted. The velocity of Shinsō dropped noticeably, enough for Shiraha to trace its path with Haki. Armament Haki enveloped his hand as he snatched the blade mid-air.
Sparks flew.
"What?"
Gin's calm cracked as he watched Shiraha hold his extended Zanpakutō barehanded, pressure radiating from the contact point. A flick of his wrist, and he retracted Shinsō.
"You caught it with your hand... not your sword?"
"I'm disappointed," Shiraha said lightly, blood dripping from his palm. "Is that all, Captain?"
In truth, catching Shinsō had strained him. The impact left a wound despite his Haki. His Armament mastery was still basic. With stronger control, this wouldn't have happened.
"I suppose I underestimated Shiraha-kun," Gin said, eyes flicking to the bleeding hand. "This gravity ability... it's frightening."
"You'll understand it more now."
Shiraha's voice sharpened as he drew his blade. "Ten times the gravity."
A violet wave of Reiatsu burst from him, spreading in all directions. Everything around him groaned under pressure. Stone cracked. Debris folded inward. Squad members fell to their knees, crushed under the weight. Byakuya and Yinling, though composed, clearly felt the force.
Gin released his own Reiatsu to remain standing, his expression no longer playful. His legs sank inches into the earth, his haori rippling under the force.
"Where—"
Gin spun as Shiraha's voice whispered past his left.
Too slow.
Shiraha appeared behind him, blade lancing toward his back. Gin twisted and parried with Shinsō, but not in time to avoid damage. A tear split across his sleeve as the strike met steel. Sparks scattered again as Gin deflected the next blow. Shiraha pressed forward, relentless. One slash became two. Then ten. Then a hundred.
Gin met each with clinical efficiency, but his smirk had thinned. Every strike carried purpose and weight—not just from Haki, but from actual gravity Shiraha applied through weapon contact.
"Shiraha-kun," Gin said, stepping back as dust swirled, "you're stronger than I thought. You almost nicked me."
He surged Reiatsu, twisted Shinsō, and launched Shiraha backward with a precise parry. The young swordsman skidded across the stone, his boots carving furrows before he stopped.
"Phew... The power difference is clear."
Shiraha's arm trembled slightly as he exhaled. Sweat dripped from his jaw. Still, a sharp glint remained in his eyes.
Then, the system activated.
"Task Complete: Fujitora Template Progress +10%. Template Now at 30%."
"Abilities: Observation Haki – Advanced. Armament Haki – Intermediate."
"Exclusive Ability: Gravity Fruit – Intermediate Control. Capable of exerting 15x gravity within 5 kilometers, applying gravity to weapons and amplifying blows. Allows pinpoint gravitational pressure on targets through blade contact."
A new burst of spiritual pressure erupted from Shiraha. The air trembled. Cracks snaked across the ruined yard as even stronger Reiatsu surged outward.
Gin's pupils narrowed. "What the hell... his pressure just rose again?"
"I hope you're ready," Shiraha said, stepping forward. "Because now I'm serious."
"Fifteen times gravity."
The atmosphere warped as an invisible wave crashed down. Gin staggered under the increased load, and the ground beneath his feet crumbled, forming a crater around him.
Reiatsu flared again from Shiraha's right arm as his Haki intensified. Unlike before, his entire forearm was wrapped in shimmering energy, flowing seamlessly into the blade he held. His movements became more fluid, the force behind each strike magnified by his newly enhanced gravity control.
Now it was a real battle.
And the Seireitei would remember the day Kuchiki Shiraha stepped into their arena—not as the forgotten brother, but as a rising force too heavy to ignore.