Trader In The World Of Pirates!!!

At the same time, similar discussions to those in the 10th Division were unfolding across various squads in the Seireitei. 

Shinigami like Rukia, with the potential to become powerful assets, inevitably became the focus of competition among the divisions. 

This was a situation Byakuya could do little to prevent. 

Genius attracts attention everywhere. 

Once Rukia displayed her exceptional talent, it was only natural for her to catch the interest of captains from other divisions. 

Although the Kuchiki family is one of the most influential noble families in the Seireitei, many captains—renowned for their unique personalities and immense power—would not necessarily show deference to such noble status. 

In fact, several captains openly resented noble families like the Kuchikis. 

Wherever people gather, political dynamics arise—a universal truth across all worlds.

That said, among all the captains, the one most intrigued by Rukia wasn't the 10th Division's captain, who urgently needed manpower, nor Byakuya, who was burdened by his own concerns. 

It wasn't even the 7th Division Captain Sanji Komamura, who might take pleasure in seeing a noble embarrassed. 

It was none other than Rukia's "guide" and the captain of the 5th Division—Aizen Sosuke. 

---

"Oh? That Rukia... she has grown to such a level?" 

Aizen adjusted his glasses with a gentle push, a faint, enigmatic smile forming on his lips. 

"Fascinating. Truly fascinating..." 

He murmured to himself, deep in thought. 

He vividly remembered that while Rukia had demonstrated remarkable potential in her soul levels before, her current growth within just two months seemed implausible. 

A flash of white light glinted off Aizen's glasses, concealing his calculating eyes. 

"Could it be there are secrets within the four noble families that even I am unaware of?" 

"Or perhaps..." 

"Someone has tampered with Rukia's body?" 

Aizen, who had carefully bided his time in the Seireitei for centuries, could not afford any unexpected disruptions to his grand plans. 

"This anomaly is dangerous... I'll need to investigate thoroughly." 

With that, he gently rested his hand on the hilt of his Zanpakutō, 'Kyōka Suigetsu'. 

---

The next day. 

In a classroom at the Shin'ō Academy: 

"What?! We're going to the human world to observe Shinigami in action? Is this for real?!" 

Renji, the spiky-haired student, jumped onto his stool, shouting in excitement. 

The rest of the class, while less dramatic, erupted in a wave of enthusiasm. 

"Of course it's true! And Renji, get off the table immediately!" 

The teacher gave Renji an exasperated look as the student sheepishly sat back down. 

Clearing his throat, the teacher continued: 

"In order to help you better understand the duties of a Shinigami and prepare you to become capable officers, the Shin'ō Academy has received approval from Central 46..." 

"A month from now, Captain Aizen Sosuke of the 5th Division will lead your class on a practical training session in the human world." 

"Yes!!!" 

The classroom erupted in cheers. 

For these aspiring Shinigami, who viewed the work of the Soul Reapers as sacred and aspirational, the opportunity to witness their duties firsthand was thrilling. 

---

However, amidst the crowd, Linlin's eyes narrowed sharply at the mention of one specific name: 'Aizen'. 

"Is this a coincidence?" 

"No... it couldn't be a coincidence!" 

"Which means..." 

"Aizen has already noticed something unusual about Rukia?" 

Her expression darkened as her mind raced. 

While Linlin now had a reliable source of points and wasn't as flustered as she once might have been, the mention of Aizen left her wary. 

This time, she would tread carefully, ready to adapt to whatever might unfold. 

After all, the training session was still a month away… 

It wasn't just about how many points she could earn by regaining her strength. 

Even the 2,000 points she had on hand were enough to grant her a temporary ability strong enough to contend with Aizen's power. 

Thanks to her powerful cross-dimensional investigative abilities, Linlin had already discovered Aizen's secret laboratory located outside the Seireitei. 

Through careful observation of his peculiar activities, she had pieced together the nature of his Zanpakutō's ability: hypnosis. 

Not just any hypnosis—'absolute hypnosis!' 

Anyone, even captains of immense strength, who witnessed the release of Aizen's Zanpakutō would fall under his spell, with all their senses permanently controlled. 

Such an ability was both terrifying and unparalleled. 

Yet, disturbingly, no one in the Seireitei had noticed anything amiss. 

Or perhaps... 

Those who 'did' discover the anomaly had already been eliminated by Aizen. 

But... 

"Fortunately, I'm a dimensional merchant," Linlin whispered to herself, a sly smile tugging at her lips. 

The hypnotic seeds Aizen had planted in her mind had long since been neutralized using the power of her points, leaving no trace to alert him. 

In the face of the source's transcendent power, even Aizen's tricks were nothing more than child's play. 

---

Now, with the ability to counter Aizen's hypnosis, Linlin's perspective had shifted. 

She no longer thought about avoiding Aizen. 

Instead, she began to consider a new possibility... 

Could Aizen be recruited as a trader? 

And just how vast were the hidden resources accumulated by this shrewd schemer over nearly a millennium? 

The thought sparked a flicker of excitement in Linlin's eyes. 

For the first time, she found herself wishing she could fast-forward time to skip directly to the training session in a month. 

---

And so, a month flew by in the blink of an eye. 

For Shinigami, who live for thousands of years, a single month is but a ripple in the endless flow of time. 

But for Rukia, this month was unforgettable. 

---

'Smack!' 

"Winner—Rukia Kuchiki!" 

Kira raised the flag high, his eyes wide in disbelief as he took in the scene before him. 

There stood his friend, Rukia, holding a wooden sword, her posture firm and composed. 

On the opposite side lay their kendo instructor, sprawled on the ground with a stunned expression. His mouth hung slightly open, as though words had abandoned him. 

To be fair… 

The kendo instructor was 'completely' dumbfounded. 

It wasn't losing to a student that bothered him—after all, every generation sees its fair share of prodigies. 

Every few decades, or sometimes centuries, the Shin'ō Academy produced students capable of besting their teachers. 

Not long ago, a little white-haired boy had emerged. When he released his spiritual pressure, instructors like him wouldn't even dare to move—his strength was overwhelming. 

But Rukia was different. 

Her spiritual pressure wasn't particularly high. 

And yet… 

She possessed a physical prowess that defied explanation. 

Despite only just starting her Shunpo(Flash Steps) training, she was already faster than his eyes could follow. 

Even more baffling was her ability to anticipate his movements, countering his strikes with precise and devastatingly swift attacks that eventually overpowered him. 

He couldn't wrap his head around it. 

---

A while later, the kendo instructor finally rose to his feet, brushing off the dust. His gaze shifted to Rukia, a mix of regret and pride in his eyes. 

Regardless of the outcome… 

This extraordinary girl was still his student. 

"Rukia, you've beaten me," he admitted openly, his tone sincere. 

There was no point in denying it. 

With so many witnesses, the story of Rukia defeating him would undoubtedly spread across the Shin'ō Academy before the next class even began. 

Rather than pretend otherwise, he decided to acknowledge her accomplishment and maintain his dignity. 

On the other side, Rukia displayed equal grace. 

She bowed deeply, one hand gripping the wooden sword. 

"Thank you, Teacher, for your guidance and training," she said with heartfelt sincerity. 

"Whatever I've achieved today is thanks to you." 

After spending more than a month mastering noble etiquette, simple flattery came effortlessly to Rukia. It was second nature to her by now. 

The kendo teacher smiled warmly upon hearing her words. 

Whether the compliment was genuine or not, he chose to take it at face value. 

"Haha, you're quite the talented one!" he replied with a hearty laugh, accepting Rukia's praise without question. 

However, his tone shifted as he transitioned to a more serious topic. 

"By the way, Rukia, it's been a month since you received your 'Asauchi,' right?" 

[Note: Asauchi is a nameless Zanpakutō.]

"How's it going? Have you managed to create your own Zanpakutō yet?" 

"Uh…" Rukia hesitated, offering an awkward smile. 

"Not yet. There's no sign of it. It might take a little more time." 

"Hmm… that's not a bad thing." 

The kendo teacher nodded knowingly, his eyes glinting with a mixture of wisdom and anticipation. 

"The longer it takes for a Zanpakutō to manifest, the greater its potential. This could mean you'll have a truly exceptional one!" 

"Rukia, I can't wait to see what kind of mark you'll leave on the Seireitei after graduation!" 

"Ah… well…" 

Rukia smiled awkwardly again, inwardly reflecting on the truth of her situation. 

She knew all too well… 

The real reason her Zanpakutō hadn't manifested yet was simply because her spiritual pressure was insufficient. 

Although the teacher's comment about prolonged cultivation leading to greater power held some truth, it didn't quite apply to her. 

She had heard the school legend: Tōshirō Hitsugaya-senpai had created his own Zanpakutō almost instantly after receiving his 'Asauchi.' 

As for why she was being hailed as a "genius" by her teachers? 

It had little to do with her innate talent. 

Over the past month, she had benefited greatly from the resources of the Kuchiki family. 

---

To be fair, the Kuchiki family's traditions had their perks. 

Even though Rukia was merely an adopted daughter, she had been given the prestigious surname "Kuchiki." 

And her treatment within the family was akin to that of the clan leader's own sister. 

In the span of a month, Rukia had managed to exchange a staggering 3,000 points with Hermes. 

Although she regretted not being able to redeem the "magical Pokémon" Hermes had mentioned… 

With her prior 2,000 points, her total reached 5,000 points. 

She spared no expense, acquiring abilities like the "two-color Haki," the "Six Powers of the Navy," advanced martial arts techniques, swordsmanship experience, and more. 

She indulged in them all, relentlessly improving herself. 

---

Thanks to these investments, her combat skills reached new heights. 

Some at the academy had already started comparing her to the prodigious Hitsugaya Tōshirō. 

But there was a key difference between them: 

Toshiro had possessed immense spiritual power from the start. His journey was about learning to control and refine it over time, eventually allowing him to graduate early and become a Shinigami. 

Rukia's progress, however, was marked by incredible speed. 

In just three months, she had gone from knowing absolutely nothing to defeating the kendo teacher—a man who had once served as a vice-captain of a division—in pure swordsmanship. 

And she had done this without a Zanpakutō! 

This naturally sparked curiosity and excitement among her peers. 

Everyone was eager to see how quickly Rukia could master her Zanpakutō, unlock its 'Shikai(Initial Release),' and perhaps even achieve the illustrious 'Bankai(Final Release)!' 

---

After school, the rumors began to spread like wildfire. 

As the kendo teacher had anticipated, the entire Shin'ō Academy—and even much of the Seireitei—was buzzing with talk of the "genius girl" Rukia. 

"A prodigy who defeated the kendo teacher within three months of starting school!" 

Unfortunately for the kendo teacher, his name was lost in the shuffle. 

Even as part of the gossip, he was reduced to nothing more than a background figure in the tale of Rukia's meteoric rise. 

Upon returning to the Kuchiki estate, Rukia's first task was to greet her elder brother, Kuchiki Byakuya. 

Under Byakuya's gaze, which reflected a mix of shock and complexity, Rukia meticulously recounted her achievements at school that day. 

Once her report was finished, she left Byakuya in the sitting room, still stunned and lost in thought, and swiftly retreated to her own chambers. 

It wasn't until some time later that Byakuya finally spoke, his lips parting slightly as he murmured: 

"Rukia... defeated her kendo teacher?" 

This realization hit him with an unusual weight. 

After all... 

Even Byakuya himself, a prodigy from a noble family, had never accomplished such a feat during his own time at the Shin'ō Academy. Despite his natural genius, his instructors had always bested him in swordsmanship. 

What made this even more extraordinary was the fact that Rukia had only awakened her spiritual pressure three months ago. 

At that moment, any lingering doubts about Rukia's potential were completely dispelled. Her status as a bona fide genius was no longer in question. 

---

This day's events also solidified Byakuya's resolve. 

"It seems that living a peaceful life will not be an option for Rukia," he mused, his tone both resigned and determined. 

"In that case, I must intensify her training!" 

"Only by becoming truly powerful can she have a fighting chance to protect herself against future enemies." 

---

Byakuya's mind shifted to another matter. 

"Still... it has been a month since Rukia was presented with her 'Asauchi,' yet there has been no sign of progress." 

"If that's the case…" 

Byakuya closed his eyes and released a subtle wave of spiritual pressure. His lips moved faintly, uttering instructions in complete silence. 

Within moments, the head butler of the Kuchiki household bowed in acknowledgment, swiftly departing to carry out his orders. His destination: the residence of the most renowned spiritual food master in the Seireitei. 

---

As one of the great noble houses, the Kuchiki family had access to secrets known to few. 

For instance, they were well aware of the existence of the Royal Guard—Zero Division. 

This elite team, which served directly under the Spirit King, was composed only of the most exceptional Shinigami from the Seireitei. 

One of these members, Hikifune Kirio, had ascended to the Zero Division a little over a century ago. 

Before her promotion, Hikifune had served as the captain of the 12th Division and had pioneered the creation of 'spiritual food'—a miraculous culinary invention capable of permanently enhancing one's strength. 

Unfortunately, since her departure to the Royal Palace, no one in the Seireitei had been able to replicate her masterpieces. 

---

Over the years, however, some spiritual food artisans—though far less skilled—had managed to create dishes with mild but beneficial effects. 

These individuals were revered as spiritual food masters. 

Recognizing that Rukia's talent could no longer be concealed, Byakuya decided to take bold action. 

If hiding her abilities was impossible, then he would ensure that Rukia's potential was fully realized. He resolved to turn her into a true, unmatched genius. 

To achieve this, he was prepared to pour the Kuchiki family's resources—both wealth and influence—into her development. 

Byakuya firmly believed that the elders of the family would support his decision. 

After all, who wouldn't want to nurture and protect a rising star destined to achieve captain-level strength?