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"That's right. I only recently obtained my Zanpakutō and haven't yet awakened Shikai," Shiraha said calmly, a faint smile lingering on his lips.

The captains gathered before him looked on as though they were staring at a myth made flesh. None spoke—none except Zaraki Kenpachi, whose battle-hungry expression flared with pure fanaticism. He looked ready to leap forward and resume their interrupted fight on the spot.

Even Ichimaru Gin, captain of the Third Division, and Hitsugaya Tōshirō, the prodigious captain of the Tenth, couldn't compare to Shiraha now—not in raw potential, nor in the oppressive might he had just displayed.

"It seems the Third Seat of Kuchiki was still holding back during his duel with Captain Zaraki yesterday." Ichimaru Gin was the first to break the silence, his usual grin curling as he spoke.

"Captain Ichimaru, I simply didn't want to destroy the Spiritual Arts Academy. That would've caused unnecessary trouble," Shiraha answered evenly, neither arrogant nor overly humble.

He paused, then spread his hands with a boyish innocence and added, "Besides, the Captain-General himself told me to demonstrate my full strength, didn't he?"

Yamamoto Genryūsai's stern features shifted slightly.

Shiraha was right. It had been Yamamoto who ordered him to show his full power. Yet he hadn't expected that power to level the entire First Division's headquarters and its surrounding structures. The sheer extent of destruction was staggering.

Now all that remained of the dojo was rubble and dust.

"Aha, Captain Kuchiki," Kyoraku Shunsui said as he approached Byakuya, tugging his bamboo hat lower over his eyes with a smirk. "That Zanpakutō ability of your younger brother's is downright terrifying. If it's this destructive before even reaching Shikai, I can't imagine what his Bankai will look like. Maybe he'll surpass Old Man Yama and his Ryūjin Jakka. Did you keep this hidden just to watch Yamamoto's expression twist into a frown?"

Despite the levity, there was real astonishment in Shunsui's voice.

If Shiraha truly wielded such devastating force without having unlocked either Shikai or Bankai, then once he did, he could indeed rival Yamamoto—perhaps even surpass him.

"I'm seeing it for the first time myself," Byakuya said, his voice calm but carrying a rare trace of surprise.

He remembered when Shiraha had first revealed his Zanpakutō's ability. It had seemed formidable, yes—but nowhere near this level. Now it made sense why Shiraha had set his sights on becoming a captain. With such terrifying potential, that ambition didn't seem arrogant. It seemed inevitable.

"No wonder he shattered the Spiritual Arts Academy's long-standing records," Aizen said quietly, adjusting his glasses. A gleam of unreadable intent flashed in his eyes. "Even his Zanpakutō alone could be inscribed in the history of the Soul Society."

"Indeed," Unohana Retsu agreed, her gentle smile hiding an undercurrent of calculating thought. "The more prodigies we have, the stronger our defenses become. It bodes well for the Soul Society."

"Kuchiki Shiraha... very intriguing," Soi Fon muttered with an interested glint in her sharp gaze.

"No wonder you, Captain, hold him in such high regard," Chōjirō Sasakibe said to Yamamoto from where he stood behind him.

Before the Captain-Commander could reply, a sudden commotion erupted as a dozen Shinigami rushed onto the scene, each dressed in squad uniforms.

"Captain! Captains! Seireitei has just suffered an attack—buildings around the First Division compound have collapsed!" the leading officer reported, worry etched across his face.

The captains exchanged glances—most of them directing amused, sidelong looks at Shiraha, the very instigator of the "attack."

"It wasn't an enemy strike," Yamamoto said in his deep voice. "It was caused by the Zanpakutō ability displayed by Kuchiki just now. Report—were there any casualties?"

"Reporting to the Captain-Commander," the squad leader said nervously, casting a quick, wary glance at Shiraha. "No deaths, sir. Some members sustained injuries from falling structures, but the casualties are light. However... all buildings within thousands of meters collapsed."

"No fatalities?" Yamamoto's tone sharpened. "Are you certain?"

Given the magnitude of Shiraha's gravity-based ability, only vice-captain level Shinigami should have survived exposure. To have no one die under that crushing force seemed... improbable.

"Captain, although I did use my Zanpakutō with full power," Shiraha said, stepping forward, "I only applied it within a hundred-thousand-meter radius and restricted its influence to buildings and captains. The surrounding unseated members were unaffected."

Yamamoto's eyes narrowed slightly. Shiraha's precise control of such devastating pressure had not gone unnoticed.

"Very well. Dismissed," Yamamoto said at last, gesturing to the squad.

The dozen Shinigami bowed deeply, then exited the shattered compound with brisk steps.

Yamamoto turned to face the gathered captains again and struck his staff hard against the stone. "All of you have now seen the strength of Kuchiki Shiraha. The choice of team is now his—and yours."

With that, the captains blurred forward with Shunpo, surrounding Shiraha.

"Hey hey hey! Come to the Eighth Division, Shiraha! Remember when you were little? I visited your house all the time!" Kyoraku Shunsui said, beaming and holding out an arm like a long-lost uncle.

He belonged to the upper nobility himself—not one of the Four Great Houses, but close enough to have long-standing ties with the Kuchiki Clan. In fact, Shunsui had frequently visited when Shiraha was just a child.

"Really now, Shunsui?" Ukitake sighed. "You're playing the nostalgia card?"

"Well, if you can use it, so can I," Shunsui replied, grinning shamelessly.

"Captain Shunsui," Shiraha said with a helpless smile, "you did visit often… but mostly to steal my grandfather's sake."

Several captains chuckled. The image of Kyoraku sneaking into Kuchiki Manor just to steal Silver Ridge's liquor was oddly believable.

"Ugh… well, that was a long time ago," Shunsui said, flustered, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish laugh.

Then Ukitake stepped forward, his kind smile tinged with the frailty of a recent cough. "Shiraha, it's been quite a while. You've grown quickly. When you were born, your grandfather handed you to me—I held you in my arms, you know. Why not join the Thirteenth Division? We could use someone like you."

Despite being born into a lesser noble house, Ukitake had a deep friendship with Kuchiki Silver Ridge. It was no surprise that the elder Kuchiki had trusted him enough to hold the infant Shiraha, or to recommend him in a letter.

And now, with his terrifying potential laid bare, every captain present knew Shiraha would soon have his pick of the Gotei Thirteen.

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