Bleach : I Need To Rizz To Become Stronger ?!-Chapter 104: Stirring the Waters

When Shin stepped out of the Head Captain's office, he found Kotetsu Isane still waiting.

"Yūne-nee."

"Did Vice-Captain Sasakibe want something from you?"

"It was actually the Head Captain. He called me in to discuss a few things."

Shin proceeded to recount everything that had just transpired inside — the upcoming Gotei Thirteen-wide inter-division sparring event and its stipulations.

Isane was visibly stunned by the news. "Shin... Was this your suggestion?"

Shin gave a slight nod.

Isane stood frozen for a moment, then a wave of anxiety swept across her. "Why didn't you consult with me beforehand?"

Shin chuckled softly. "I was going to, truly. But you've been so busy lately. And I've been swamped helping with Captain Ukitake's treatment... I guess it just slipped my mind."

Strictly speaking, he should have consulted with his vice-captain.

But Unohana had previously told him he could act freely on matters of internal development — which covered this initiative. novelbuddy.cσ๓

Isane's expression flickered with guilt. Shin's words, after all, subtly pointed to the distance she'd been keeping from him.

Shin added, "Either way, it's a good thing, right?"

Isane, however, looked uneasy. "But... in the end, everything hinges on the outcome of these matches. If we lose..."

Sparring against the other squads — that was, after all, the Fourth Division's weakest point.

Shin only smiled confidently. "You still have me, don't you?"

"..."

They returned together to the Fourth Division barracks and met with Captain Unohana to brief her on the developments from the vice-captains' meeting.

Unohana looked at Shin thoughtfully as she listened. Then, an odd little smile touched her lips.

"You're doing this just to reduce the workload on the Fourth Division?"

"Of course." Shin spread his hands innocently.

Unohana said no more, only offering a quiet, "Do as you like."

Captains of the Gotei Thirteen held immense authority within the Seireitei — often even above lesser noble houses. So long as they didn't act in open defiance of the law, their choices rarely met with real resistance.

That was why Unohana gave Shin so much leeway.

Two days later, Shin was summoned again to the First Division, this time by Vice-Captain Sasakibe. He wanted to discuss the formal logistics and rules of the inter-division tournament.

Shin had anticipated this and already prepared a written proposal.

After reading it, Sasakibe mused aloud, "When you proposed founding the Student Council at the Academy, didn't you submit a similar report?"

Shin smiled. "The more I prepare, the less trouble for you, right? I've even marked which parts the Head Captain has already approved. Everything else is adjustable."

Sasakibe tucked the document away. "Understood."

A week later, the First Division issued an official notice to all other squads:

A Gotei Thirteen Inter-Squad Sparring Tournament would be held mid-next month, hosted at the Fourth Division's training grounds. All Divisions were required to participate.

Each Division was to send three representatives. The highest-ranking participant could be a vice-captain, but if a squad did field a vice-captain, at least one of their three representatives must be a regular member who had not held any seated position within the past three years.

The only rule in combat: no killing. Injuries were acceptable — they were, after all, fighting in the most medically equipped squad's domain.

The Division with the most victories would receive a generous fund for squad development.

The Division with the most losses would assume full responsibility for cleaning the Seireitei for one year, a duty traditionally handled by the Fourth Division — until the next tournament.

The announcement stirred the otherwise tranquil Soul Society into a frenzy.

Some were confused. Some thrilled.

Many quickly pieced together the obvious: the Fourth Division was behind this. Why else would the matches be hosted on their turf — and why would the punishment involve a duty historically theirs?

Rumors spread swiftly, especially after word got around about the Fourth Division's previous matches with the Eleventh and Thirteenth.

But once the First Division issued an order, no squad had the right to refuse.

With just a month to prepare, each Division began training in earnest.

For once, Seireitei was alive with excitement. Nothing like this had ever occurred in the Gotei Thirteen's long history — a structured, full-scale tournament involving every squad.

Many looked forward to it with great anticipation.

Kaien Shiba paid Shin a visit during this time.

"Was this your doing?" Kaien asked without preamble.

"The Head Captain caught wind of my spars with your Division and the Eleventh," Shin replied. "Things escalated from there."

Kaien frowned slightly. "And the punishment for losing? That was your idea too, wasn't it?"

Shin tilted his head. "Is there something wrong with it?"

Kaien fell silent. "I don't know whether you meant it or not, but you're going to upset some people."

Shin smiled. "People? The only ones upset seem to be the ones who don't want to lose. My people? They're thrilled. If I win, they're even happier. As the Third Seat of the Fourth Division, shouldn't I do things that make my squad happy?"

Kaien sighed. "I don't know how to respond to that."

Shin leaned in with a teasing grin. "Worried the Thirteenth Division might lose... and have to sweep the streets?"

Kaien froze, then furrowed his brows. "If we lose... we'll have no complaints."

Shin laughed out loud. "Exactly! If nobody can argue the results, then it's fair. You can't please everyone — just the ones who matter."

Kaien stared at him for a moment, his expression shifting with sudden understanding. "Shin, you..."

"I didn't say anything," Shin replied, smiling ambiguously.

Kaien couldn't help himself. "I just don't understand. Why go this far? You don't have any personal grudges against them, do you?"

This young man, for all his background from the Rukongai, never struck him as resentful or bitter.

But Shin shook his head. "You're mistaken. I'm not against anyone. I just want to do good by the Fourth Division. But since you phrased it as them... shouldn't I be saying us?"

"..."

Kaien gave no reply.

He simply turned, and walked away.