Bleach : I Need To Rizz To Become Stronger ?!-Chapter 67: The Final Year

Madarame Ikkaku had never imagined that Tachikawa Shin—the guy who had just outdueled him so casually—had already been assigned to... the Fourth Division.

Once he confirmed he hadn't misheard, his first thought was: Has Seireitei lost its mind?

A swordsman of that caliber, even if he didn't join the Eleventh, should be anywhere but Squad Four!

"You're not seriously saying you chose the Fourth Division, are you!?" Ikkaku blurted. "What the hell's good about that place? You've got swordsmanship like that and you're gonna waste it patching people up?"

Shin answered evenly, "My Zanpakutō happens to be of the Kaidō-type. So I'm fated to go to Squad Four upon graduation."

Both Ikkaku and Yumichika blinked, momentarily stunned. The same thought echoed in their minds:

How the hell is his Zanpakutō a Kaidō-type!?

Seeing their bewildered faces, Shin chuckled. "Surprised?"

"You're insane," Ikkaku said flatly. "Or a split-personality maniac."

He'd genuinely hoped Shin would come to Squad Eleven. Not just because the division would gain a monster, but also because he would've had a new sparring partner.

But now? That hope was dashed.

Ikkaku knew what it meant for a Shinigami to wield a Kaidō-type Zanpakutō—those were immediately funneled into the Fourth Division. No exceptions. Squad Four never got first pick during the recruitment rounds; they always had to make do with what other squads didn't want. So when they did get someone like this, it was locked in by default.

A storm of emotion brewed behind Ikkaku's shaved scalp.

"...Your swordsmanship—did the Academy teach you that?"

If this was standard for the Academy, maybe he'd regret never attending.

Shin smiled, eyes half-lidded in his usual calm. "More or less. But I'm absurdly talented. Most of it just came naturally."

Ikkaku looked at him, expression somewhere between exasperated and impressed.

Cocky little bastard.

But damn, if anyone had the right to be.

He hadn't even heard of this Tachikawa Shin until today. Probably because he didn't give a crap about the gossip that flew around Seireitei. But now he was going to have to ask Kaien what exactly he'd gotten him into.

As they left the Academy, Ikkaku grumbled, "So... what'd you think of him?" to Yumichika.

The Fifth Seat had observed the entire duel in silence, and his answer came without hesitation.

"His swordsmanship is... formidable."

"I noticed."

Yumichika shook his head. "No, I mean it's beyond what we imagined. We rely on brute strength and speed. We say it's swordsmanship, but in truth, our blades are just tools to hit harder and faster. But for him, the sword is alive. It's precision. He saw through your every move. No matter how you attacked, it never landed. The only way to beat him would be through overwhelming speed and power."

Ikkaku fell silent. That hit harder than any blade. His fighting style was practically identical to his Captain's—unrefined, all instinct and violence.

"But I watched closely," Yumichika continued. "He could've ended the fight at any moment. The only reason he prolonged it was to see the full extent of your strength."

"That's really starting to piss me off," Ikkaku muttered.

"But it's true. Matching blades with him isn't strategy. It's suicide."

Ikkaku grunted. "And the fact he can't join Squad Eleven makes it worse."

"...Maybe—" Yumichika started, then trailed off.

"Maybe what?"

"Nothing." Yumichika just smiled faintly.

Back at the Squad Eleven barracks, a blur of pink fabric streaked toward them.

"Baldi! You're back!"

Ikkaku's scalp throbbed at the nickname. Only one person in the entire division had the balls to call him that—and she was four feet tall, giggling, and deadly as hell.

He bit back a retort as Yachiru bounced around him. Yumichika snickered behind his fan.

"What the hell are you laughing at!?"

Behind Yachiru, a massive silhouette cast a long shadow.

"I've been looking for you two all afternoon. Where've you been?"

Shin hadn't been satisfied with the duel against Ikkaku. It hadn't scratched the itch. He'd wanted a real challenge—and he'd hoped Kaien would provide it.

But Shiba Kaien hadn't shown his face at the Academy once since that day. Shin suspected he was intentionally avoiding him.

After a heavy snowfall, the Academy entered its winter break.

Principal Namita once again asked if Shin wanted to graduate early, and once again, Shin declined.

Though he skipped class often, he never missed exams.

Neither Hisagi Shūhei nor Kani Sawa chose to graduate early either—they were sticking it out for the full final year with Shin.

Hinamori and Rukia also completed their academic year. As a side note, Abarai Renji had such abysmal grades in Kidō that his instructor nearly forced him to repeat the year. It became a running joke between him and the others.

Renji refused to repeat. He knew Kidō wasn't for him and flat-out dropped the course. By skipping the subject, he just barely managed to scrape by on his exams.

The Academy emptied out for the long holiday.

But Shin, as always, stayed. The Academy was home now.

Zaraki District held no warmth for him—just cold streets, hunger, and violence. He'd spent too many years brawling and scrounging for food, never knowing when he'd eat again.

Hisagi stayed too, out of loyalty and shared origin. Their stories weren't identical, but they rhymed.

Renji didn't go back either. Rukia, now a noble of the Kuchiki family, had no need to return to their home district—and with no one else there, Renji didn't see the point.

The Academy was quiet. Still.

Shin spent his days training with Shūhei. Occasionally, he coached Renji—who was shocked and grateful. His improvement was immediate.

Hinamori visited from time to time. She said it was to train—but it was clear her focus was on Shin.

Rukia, however, never came. Likely a result of the Kuchiki clan's strict rules.

Time passed quickly. Before long, the new term arrived.

As Student Council President, Shin had helped with the incoming admissions.

Scanning through the names, only two stood out.

Shiba Kaien had finally enrolled his little brother.

But more notably, this year's new intake included a once-in-a-century prodigy:

A boy named Hitsugaya Tōshirō.

He entered the Academy with a measured spiritual pressure level of Grade 6—stunning the entire faculty.