Under the guidance of the kendo instructor, Rukia and Renji gradually stepped off the stage, moving to opposite sides of the team.
Although they were all students in the same class, distinctions between nobles and commoners remained evident. This divide was the primary reason Rukia had lost contact with Renji and others after joining the Kuchiki family.
Back in line, Renji rubbed his sore backside and muttered, "What on earth is Rukia eating to become so strong all of a sudden?"
"Perhaps this is the influence of the noble families," he added under his breath.
Nearby, the golden-haired Kira couldn't help but laugh at Renji's embarrassed state. Noticing Renji's sharp gaze, Kira quickly pursed his lips and offered a thoughtful comment instead.
"Well... truthfully, Rukia's strength hasn't increased all that much. The reason she managed to defeat you lies entirely in her exceptional swordsmanship."
"Maybe that's why the Kuchiki family has remained so prosperous and dominant among the Four Noble Families," he mused. "Even with her current level of skill, Rukia's guidance in kendo speaks volumes about their capabilities."
Renji nodded, a sigh escaping him. "Yeah... it really was the right choice for Rukia to join the Kuchiki family."
Hearing Kira's analysis, Renji couldn't help but feel emotional. Although he could no longer interact with Rukia the way he once did, watching her grow stronger filled him with genuine comfort.
However, neither of them noticed the amused Linlin behind them, who was barely containing her laughter.
"The sword skills of the Kuchiki family?" she thought. "Please."
Linlin didn't deny the possibility of great swordsmanship in the world, but from her observations, most battles relied on raw power or the magical abilities of Zanpakutō. That was how someone like her, with zero talent in swordsmanship, managed to appear competent in class.
Rukia's newfound strength wasn't due to natural growth. It came from the thousand points she had traded, which she had used to incorporate the memories of legendary swordsmen into her own kendo skills.
Though Rukia's own coherence and talent issues prevented her from mastering her personal style of swordsmanship, these borrowed memories allowed her to handle novices with ease—like a butcher wielding a cleaver against a chicken.
Reflecting on this, Linlin's gaze drifted to Rukia.
Last night, Rukia, trusting Hermes, had exchanged all the resources prepared for her by the Kuchiki family for points—a total of two thousand. She had officially become a member of the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce.
However, due to Linlin's absence, there hadn't yet been an opportunity to present Rukia with her Rotom mobile device.
And under the constant surveillance of the Kuchiki household, Rukia couldn't risk redeeming Pokémon with inexplicable origins. It was a shame, but Hermes had guided her well. She spent 1,000 points on kendo experience, 500 on Armament Haki, and 500 on Observation Haki. These upgrades boosted her overall strength to roughly level 25—already surpassing many ordinary Shinigami who had graduated from the Shin'ō Academy.
And this was all without a Zanpakutō.
If Rukia were to obtain her own Zanpakutō, her strength would skyrocket. She could easily reach the rank of a seated officer in a standard division.
It was astonishing. In less than two months at the Shin'ō Academy, Rukia had reached a level that took others years to achieve.
Such was the power of dimensional exchange.
In the training arena, groups of students continued their combat drills.
But at this moment…
The kendo instructor, who also served as the referee, had long since abandoned any intention of teaching. His focus was entirely on Rukia.
Although her spiritual pressure was only average for a genius, her growth within just two months of enrolling was remarkable. From an ordinary civilian, she had risen to a level that could no longer be ignored.
Once Rukia awakened her Zanpakutō, even if she didn't reach the once-in-a-millennium level of a prodigy like Toshiro Hitsugaya, she was certain to become a vice-captain-level figure. And under the right circumstances, she might even ascend to captaincy within a century.
The kendo teacher had already missed the chance to guide a genius like Hitsugaya. He was determined not to miss Rukia.
However… given Rukia's current status, he decided against voicing his thoughts immediately. Instead, he resolved to visit the Kuchiki family's mansion after class to discuss her future.
Half an hour after kendo class concluded…
At the Kuchiki family mansion.
Byakuya Kuchiki, the current head of the family, frowned as he regarded the kendo teacher sipping tea before him.
"You want Rukia to wield a Zanpakutō in advance?" Byakuya's voice was calm, but his fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest of his chair, betraying his inner turmoil.
Since adopting Rukia as his sister, Byakuya had deliberately distanced himself from her affairs, entrusting her development to other family members. His reluctance stemmed from his strict adherence to noble rules, as well as a deeper, unspoken agreement with the powers that be: no one could disrupt the protocols of nobility without consequence.
Byakuya had made significant sacrifices for Rukia to join the family. Yet, his only wish was for her to live peacefully, to take the place of his late wife and carry on her memory.
But now, events had taken a turn beyond his control.
Byakuya had never expected that his wife's sister—someone with no apparent combat talent—would emerge as a rare Shinigami prodigy. Her exceptional skills in kido, her adept swordsmanship, and her strong spiritual pressure… Each of these traits alone might not be remarkable. Together, however, they marked her as a standout figure of her generation.
Such prominence came with its risks. Byakuya had originally planned for Rukia to take a clerical role after graduating, shielding her from danger for the rest of her life. Yet her sudden display of extraordinary swordsmanship left him conflicted.
On one hand, he was bound by the rules and traditions that shaped his identity. On the other, he was haunted by his late wife's wishes.
Byakuya's fists tightened on his knees as he wrestled with his thoughts. Ultimately, he knew that no matter how much he tried to shield her, Rukia's talent would chart its own course.
Destiny had already decided her path.
"Regarding Rukia cultivating a Zanpakutō in advance…" Byakuya's voice cut through the air, slow and deliberate. "I agree."
The kendo teacher, hearing this solemn pronouncement, smiled with satisfaction. He interpreted Byakuya's demeanor as a reflection of the Kuchiki family's commitment to Rukia, unaware of the emotional storm behind it.
After a few formal pleasantries, the kendo teacher departed, leaving Byakuya to prepare for his duties at the Sixth Division.
What neither of them noticed was that, next door to their meeting, in Rukia's bedroom…
A rabbit plush, hidden in the shadows of a closet, wore an eerie smile. A faint glow emanated from its eyes, staining them an ominous red.
...
...
"Zanpakutō…"
Far across the Seireitei, Linlin—still sitting through a Reiatsu Control Theory class—suddenly grinned as though she'd just heard some particularly intriguing news.
All Homies created by Linlin possessed unique, special abilities. Just as Prometheus could breathe fire, and Zeus could summon thunder, Hermes, though lacking great destructive power, had one exceptional trait: its long, slender ears could pick up sounds from a specific range.
Though this range was modest—nothing compared to the island-wide auditory prowess of Enel's Observation Haki—it was more than enough to cover the entire Kuchiki family mansion.
At this moment, no conversation or secret within the Kuchiki estate escaped Hermes' perception. Faithfully, Hermes relayed all its findings to Linlin through Rotom, her mobile phone.
---
"I see," Linlin mused, scrolling through the updates. "So that's how these Zanpakutō, synchronized with their wielders' souls, come into existence."
"No wonder that little girl, Momo Hinamori, mentioned students gaining their own Zanpakutō after the second grade."
"So, according to the Shin'ō Academy's curriculum, they distribute these Nameless Zanpakutō to students from the second year onward?"
"They cultivate these blades by imbuing them with their soul resonance?"
"Interesting..."
---
During the class break, Linlin lowered her head, secretly tinkering with her mobile phone. As she reviewed the detailed reports from Hermes, a wild idea began to take shape in her mind.
"If I can acquire the method for creating Nameless Zanpakutō—or better yet, use points to mass-produce them—then wouldn't I effectively control the foundation of an entire power system?"
She recalled a particular clause from Leo's updated 'Dimensional Merchant Manual' that stood out:
'[If a dimensional merchant successfully develops a complete, stable, and unique power system and incorporates it into the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce's mall system, they will be rewarded with 100,000 to 5,000,000 points. This contribution will also count towards the merchant's performance evaluation.]'
In the pirate world, no such structured power system existed; everyone simply relied on their unique abilities. Because of this, Linlin had struggled to fully grasp the concept of a "power system" prior to her dimensional travels.
But upon entering this world and joining the Shin'ō Academy, she had begun to understand the rules of this game.
"If I can completely master and systematize this power framework called [Death] in this world," she speculated, "the Chamber of Commerce might reward me handsomely."
And there was more…
From the subtle aura of Aizen and the enigmatic presence of those ancient figures, Linlin had a strong hunch:
The rewards for systematizing the Death God's power system would far exceed her expectations!
If she succeeded, the points from the Chamber of Commerce might allow her to instantly complete her internship and become an official dimensional merchant!
An intermediate merchant was still a distant goal for her, but even becoming an official merchant came with one critical advantage: the ability to recruit 'dimensional investigators'!
While she'd only be allowed to recruit one, that alone would be enough. The next time she ventured into a new world for trade, she wouldn't have to endure the fear and vulnerability she'd felt during her first visit.
For Linlin, this was the most enticing possibility!
Having faced real danger and the constant need for vigilance, she never wanted to experience such helplessness again!
---
As the teacher at the podium explained techniques for casting kido spells above level ten, Linlin's eyes sparkled with determination.
It was the same glint she used to have when eyeing a particularly tempting dessert.
"Following Rukia and the others to the Shin'ō Academy was absolutely the right decision!"
Linlin licked her lips and muttered to herself,
"Now, the next step in the plan is..."
"Study hard and make progress every day!"
"Once I've fully understood everything about the Shinigami, I'll secretly train Rukia and other traders..."
"Guide them to grow stronger, turn them into my eyes to explore the world, and completely reconstruct the Shinigami power system for submission to the Chamber of Commerce!"
---
Time passed day by day.
It wasn't long before someone noticed a peculiar detail about the students of Class 2066—there was a girl who always carried a dagger.
The genius of Class 2066: Rukia Kuchiki!
Her sudden rise brought an unprecedented liveliness to the long-quiet Seireitei.
---
10th Division Barracks – Captain's Office
"A new genius, huh?"
A boy with stark white hair and the height of a grade-schooler slowly raised his head, an intrigued glint flashing in his sharp eyes.
This was none other than the captain of the 10th Division, the celebrated prodigy of the Seireitei—Hitsugaya Toshiro!
Opposite him, a generously proportioned woman with wavy orange hair lounged casually on the sofa, her tone playful as she gossiped:
"They say she mastered spiritual pressure within two months and was deemed a genius by the Shin'ō Academy—already comparable to an ordinary Shinigami!"
"And just a month later, she was adopted by the Kuchiki family and became the foster sister of the clan head himself..."
Matsumoto Rangiku, the 10th Division's Vice Captain, waved a newspaper dramatically before bursting into exaggerated tears.
"Seriously, what is this!?" she exclaimed.
"One day, she's just a refugee from Rukongai, and the next, she's adopted by a noble family and crowned a genius. This kind of luck is completely ridiculous!"
"You don't even dare to do that in novels!"
"..."
Hitsugaya Toshiro's expression look blank and he looked at Rangiku, who had an unhappy look on her face.
"Why do you care about other people's fate?"
"So, is the information in this newspaper true?"
"It just so happens that the 10th Division is short of manpower right now, and there are no very capable chief officers."
"If it's appropriate, you can go and fight with this person. Let's talk to someone and let her prepare to graduate early and join the 10th Division."
Toshiro, who had just become captain a few years ago, said while rubbing his temples.
Dealing with a lot of messy documents every day, and preventing his vice captain from causing trouble, he was simply worried.
Rangiku, on the other hand, closed the newspaper and retorted:
"Hey, hey, my captain, what are you thinking about?"
"She is a member of the Kuchiki family, how could she come to a place like us who are all Rukongai refugees?
"10th Division!"
It could be seen that Rangiku's jealousy towards Rukia had spread over her chest and erupted outwards.
Thinking about how hard she worked back then, she got to where she is today step by step.
But a talented girl appeared randomly and was evaluated by the media as "this girl has the qualifications to be a captain."
How could Rangiku accept this?
It's just that...
unlike Rangiku, Toshiro, as the captain, is very natural in this regard.
"She just have the power of an ordinary Shinigami in the first two months of school. This is nothing. Why are you so weird?"
"And who stipulates that nobles cannot join the 10th Division and must join the 6th Division!?"
"Before there is any result, anything can happen!"
"Remember to ask someone to communicate with this girl Rukia."
"Hai Hai!!!"
Rangiku's chest trembled, and she muttered dissatisfied:
"In front of a 'great' genius like you who has the strength of a captain, the names of genius and low-level talent are all meaningless…"
"I can't compare to you anyway."
As she said this, Rangiku stood up lazily and walked out of the office. Go and arrange the new tasks assigned to her by the captain.