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Chapter 354 B
🕑 Added 2025-05-21 15:02:01 +0000 UTCChapter 354
2-in-1 chapter:
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“Hmm?”
Rangiku was walking down the street when she spotted a familiar figure.
Slender and petite, with her signature onion-shaped hairstyle—it was none other than her junior in the Eleventh Division, Rukia Yurei.
Only, her aura had changed so much that Rangiku didn’t recognize her at first glance.
Usually, the girl carried a worried, gloomy expression. But today, she seemed like someone who had finally been freed from years of burden, almost like she'd undergone some kind of transcendence. Even her black-violet eyes seemed to shine brighter than usual.
“Rukia!!”
Rangiku raised her hand and waved toward the onion-haired girl.
“Ah, Third Seat Matsumoto!!”
Rukia turned around and gave her a respectful bow, her expression earnest.
Rangiku waved her hand dismissively and walked over.
“How many times do I have to say it? No need to be so formal with me—I’m not like Tōsen with that stick-up-his-ass personality. Just call me Rangiku.”
Once she reached Rukia, Rangiku leaned in curiously, cupped the girl’s cheeks, and examined her face.
“Mhm... I wasn’t imagining it. These eyes—much prettier than usual.”
“Something good happen, little one? Or did you find your life’s purpose?”
Hearing this, Rukia smiled.
“Yes, Rangiku-senpai. I’ve found my reason for living.”
“Oh? Spill it! I’m all ears!”
Rangiku’s eyes sparkled with excitement, completely hooked. What kind of experience could’ve caused such a transformation? Could it be... pink-colored maidenly feelings?
Her gossip-loving heart beat faster; her curious soul blazed hotter!
Under Rangiku’s watchful gaze, Rukia spoke seriously:
“From now on, I’m staying by the captain’s side.”
“No matter what happens—no matter how many dangers or obstacles lie ahead—I won’t flinch for even a second.”
“His goal is my goal.”
“Wherever the captain is, that’s where I belong!”
Rangiku: “...?”
She blinked, momentarily stunned.
The good news? She’d guessed right—the reason behind Rukia’s transformation was indeed a heart full of girlish affection.
The bad news? That heart was now set on Kaelith.
Damn it—what kind of succubus constitution does that guy have to keep attracting these naïve girls?!
Noticing Rukia’s puzzled look, Rangiku placed a hand on her shoulder and patted it.
“Rukia... this path you’ve chosen—it’s a path of carnage. Are you really prepared for that?”
Rukia nodded firmly. “Of course!”
Kaelith had said it himself—so long as she stayed by his side, he could keep growing stronger, climbing higher, and going farther.
If that was the case, then even if it meant being torn to pieces, she would never leave him!
Looking into Rukia’s eyes, ablaze with resolve, Rangiku found herself deeply moved.
What incredible determination...
No! Could it be that she, an older sister figure, was about to be outdone in devotion by a junior?
Rangiku lifted her chin and smiled brightly.
“Alright then—if that’s how it is, I’ll make up my mind too.”
“I won’t take a single step back either.”
“Let’s see who makes it to the end and wins his heart!”
Rukia looked slightly confused.
“Rangiku-senpai... can you really do that too?”
“?”
A throbbing vein popped on Rangiku’s forehead.
She reached out, grabbed Rukia’s cheeks, and tugged them back and forth.
“Little brat! Don’t go popping champagne halfway through the race! I’m still your senpai on this battlefield!”
“Uu…”
Rukia blinked in confusion.
Rangiku-senpai… also had the power to make the captain stronger just by staying near him?
Could it be… that Soi Fon-senpai, Vice-Captain Aizen, and the others also had this ability?
Now that she thought about it… no wonder the captain was so strong—he really had a lot of important people by his side…
Rukia smiled again.
Seeing her junior smiling smugly while getting her face pulled, Rangiku’s blood pressure spiked.
No good. She needed to speed up her romance strategy.
Kaelith marrying someone else? Absolutely not!
…
…
The World of the Living—Karakura Town.
Isshin Shiba stood in front of a full-length mirror, tidying his jacket and fixing his hair.
Once satisfied, he nodded and hopped onto his newly bought motorcycle, departing from the Ishida family mansion and heading toward Karakura school.
A few months ago, he had moved in with the Ishidas, where he met a girl named Masaki Kurosaki.
She was a distant relative of the Ishidas, and after losing her parents at a young age, had been taken in by the family.
Like Ryūken Ishida, Masaki was a pure-blooded Quincy—exceptionally talented. Despite her age, she already displayed remarkable combat ability.
To be frank, among all the living Quincies, Masaki would easily rank in the top five.
At first, Isshin merely sympathized with her circumstances, so he spent time with her, keeping her company.
But as time passed, he found her genuinely adorable.
Despite her misfortune, she remained pure and cheerful, like a ray of sunlight piercing through the darkness of the world.
Little by little, Isshin realized his feelings for her went beyond friendship.
He hesitated—not because of their roles.
Sure, Masaki was a Quincy, and he a Shinigami, but he’d never been a conventional one.
Being Captain of Squad Six meant little to him.
He only held the position to look after the Shiba Clan and help Kaelith and his teacher when needed.
What made him hesitate… was Ryūken.
Isshin could sense that Ryūken secretly liked Masaki too, even if he never showed it.
Being a proper gentleman, Isshin didn’t want to be that guy who stole another man’s girl.
But just as he was about to back off, an image of his teacher—Aizen—flashed through his mind.
...That’s right. Sensei said, “Those who accomplish great things must not be bound by trivial rules.”
Even if that clashed with the Shiba family creed, Aizen-sensei was never wrong.
How could a family creed be such a hindrance?!
After half an hour of internal struggle, Isshin steeled himself and began his operation to win over Masaki.
He started small—learning her hobbies, casually becoming part of her routine.
Using her bold, easygoing nature, he smoothly changed from calling her “Miss Kurosaki” to just “Masaki.”
He would share fun stories about Soul Society, sparking her curiosity about the Shinigami world…
Every little tactic, Isshin employed without hesitation.
At first, he felt guilty.
But whenever he thought of his sly and ruthless sensei, he’d quickly let it go.
Compared to Aizen, he was practically innocent.
Kaelith, that naiv—cough, kind man, was in Aizen’s grasp with no idea.
If his teacher could do that, then using some tricks to pursue Masaki was nothing, right?
Absolutely!
Heh heh!
Today’s plan was simple: pick up Masaki from school on his shiny new motorcycle.
As a lively and sociable girl, Masaki naturally had plenty of close friends.
He could picture it now—Masaki walking out of school surrounded by her girlfriends, laughter all around.
He’d ride up dramatically, engine purring.
Her friends would gasp, cheer, and start whispering about their relationship.
That would be his foothold—his first decisive victory in this campaign!
He was smiling smugly when a voice echoed in his ear: [Isshin, avoid the area ahead.]
Isshin blinked.
Sensei’s voice?
“What’s going on, Sensei?”
[That’s my testing ground. I deployed a powerful Hollow there to assess its stealth capabilities.]
[There’s a group of Quincies nearby—excellent test subjects.]
“?!”
Isshin’s pupils shrank.
“Sensei, that’s near Masaki’s school!”
[Masaki?]
In his lab, Aizen furrowed his brow and quickly ran through the name in his head.
Kurosaki Masaki… the pure-blood Quincy living with the Ishidas.
His data showed she had outstanding perception and combat ability.
Seeing Isshin’s reaction, Aizen grasped the situation.
He turned to a subordinate.
“Cancel the operation. Retrieve the White Hollow.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Arrancar operating the console quickly got to work.
A few seconds later, his expression changed.
“Report—Lord Aizen, the console can’t connect to the White Hollow. It’s rejecting all signals!”
Aizen narrowed his eyes.
After two seconds of thought, he spoke:
“Isshin, I’m sending you the White Hollow’s spirit pressure signal. Locate and retrieve or eliminate it.”
“Be warned: it’s a special test subject with high-level stealth and power comparable to a captain.”
“If necessary, use Bankai.”
A captain-level Hollow… gone rogue in Karakura?
Cold sweat ran down Isshin’s back.
Receiving the signal, he wasted no time—shedding his Gigai and sprinting toward Karakura High in his Shinigami form.
Aizen ended the call and tapped another button.
A moment later, the line connected.
“Lord Aizen?”
“Ulquiorra. Go to Karakura Town. Locate Isshin’s spiritual pressure and assist him.”
“Understood.”
Ulquiorra, dressed in a suit and filming a commercial, suddenly collapsed.
His soul exited the body and streaked toward Karakura.
As he flew, Aizen added:
“Move in the shadows. Avoid being seen.”
“If Isshin can handle it, stay hidden.”
“Yes.”
Ulquiorra didn’t question why—he simply obeyed.
He beat his wings and accelerated.
…
…
Outside Karakura High, students were pouring out the gates.
A group of girls walked together, laughing and chatting.
In their midst, a short-haired girl in uniform smiled and nodded.
Suddenly, she looked up, sensing something.
On a tall building, crouched outside a window, was a strange figure—like it was about to jump.
Masaki squinted and focused.
Her eyes widened in shock.
It wasn’t a person—it was a Hollow with a mask! Its body was mostly black, only the mask remained white.
Silver hair spilled down its back.
In its hand, it held a man’s soul—biting into it like a snack.
Masaki recognized him.
A Quincy who once visited the Ishidas—argued with Ryūken and was thrown out. To kill someone like that… this Hollow had to be at least Adjuchas level.
Maybe stronger.
Danger screamed in her instincts.
Far too strong. She couldn’t beat it. She had to warn Ryūken and the others—Isshin too!
Fighting the urge to draw her bow, she reached for her phone. But as she opened it, a chill ran down her spine.
She looked up. The Hollow on the 20th floor was staring straight at her.
Its mask twisted into a chilling grin.
Masaki’s eyes fell to its chest. The hole typical of a Hollow… was sealed by strange white matter.
What was that?
In the moment she froze, the black Hollow moved.
In a flash—it was right in front of her!
“Watch out!!”
Masaki grabbed the girls beside her and shoved them to the ground.
As they screamed, she flipped twice backward, putting distance between herself and the Hollow. The moment she landed, her Quincy bow was already drawn—an arrow loosed!
Whoosh!
The Hollow tilted its head slightly. The arrow flew harmlessly past.
It grinned wider.
“Much better…”
“You’ll taste far sweeter than the last one.”
The girls Masaki had protected began to stand, preparing to yell.
Then a gust of wind tore through.
They screamed, holding down their skirts.
One shrieked—her arm sliced by the wind!
They watched, stunned, as Masaki leapt into the air, double-jumping, dodging left and right. The spot where she had stood exploded—tiles blown skyward!
Wiping sweat from her brow, Masaki panted.
Too strong…
The Hollow wasn’t even serious, and she was already pushed this far. If this continued, she’d lose.
She had to consider the worst-case scenario.
Taking a breath, she steeled herself.
But just then—a roar:
“Burn, Engetsu!!”
“Getsuga—Tenshō!!!”
Both the Hollow and Masaki turned.
A man in a white haori, blazing with fury, charged like a beast. His Zanpakutō burned with searing flames—its crimson crescent soaring forward.
BOOM!!
An inferno erupted over Karakura High!
