Even if Ukitake Jūshirō's mood didn't improve after visiting the exhibition, at the very least, he had bought a ticket, contributing to the Soul Society's GDP. That alone was enough to make Uehara Shiroha feel better about the whole situation.
Kyōraku Shunsui chuckled at the thought. "That's a good idea. I'll give it a try." He then raised his head, flashing his usual carefree smile. "But, Brother Shiroha, there's one more thing I need to trouble you with."
At the No. 1 Training Ground of the Court Army Headquarters, Uehara Shiroha and Kyōraku Shunsui stood facing each other.
This training ground was massive, equipped with cutting-edge facilities and surrounded by multiple layers of powerful barriers. These weren't just ordinary defensive measures—each barrier had been personally crafted by Uehara Shiroha himself. The average Bankai wouldn't even leave a scratch, and not even the strongest spiritual pressure could penetrate its defenses.
Kyōraku Shunsui glanced around, marveling at the sheer luxury of the place. He let out a low whistle. "Compared to this, our 8th Division's training ground looks absolutely shabby."
For someone as laid-back as him—who actively avoided unnecessary work—the idea of expanding his division's facilities had never even crossed his mind. Compared to Uehara Shiroha, who had built an entire Court Army Headquarters from the ground up, Kyōraku seemed like an overpaid slacker.
Uehara Shiroha, however, didn't see what the big deal was. "It's simple," he said flatly. "You just need hands."
If manpower was an issue, all he had to do was head to Rukongai and shout twice—people would come running. If it was money he needed, he could just take it from the noble families. It wasn't that difficult.
Just as he was thinking about it, a familiar system prompt suddenly appeared in his mind.
[Congratulations! You have completed the daily task: "Chat for 30 minutes." Reward: Observation Haki +1, Seven Flash +1!]
The moment the message appeared, his mind was flooded with insights—new knowledge on Observation Haki and the Seven Flash Sword Technique poured into his consciousness.
Almost immediately, he felt a transformation occur.
His Observation Haki had undergone a fundamental shift, advancing from mere accumulation to a qualitative breakthrough. His body's energy flow surged, and his aura subtly but undeniably changed.
When the transformation was complete, Uehara Shiroha's Observation Haki had become far more powerful—both in range and depth—more than ten times stronger than before. He could now effortlessly cover the entire training ground with his sensory field.
But what truly surprised him was the unexpected images that started appearing in his mind.
In those visions, he could see Kyōraku Shunsui speaking—but in reality, Kyōraku hadn't even opened his mouth yet.
His eyes widened slightly as he quickly pulled up his character panel. As expected, the system displayed:
[Observation Haki: Perfect Level]
For the past six months, he had dedicated nearly all of his shadow clones to the development and training of Observation Haki. And now, that investment had finally paid off.
His Observation Haki had awakened the ability to foresee the future.
At this point, sneak attacks were nothing more than a joke to him. His survivability had reached its absolute peak.
More importantly, upon reaching the perfect level, Observation Haki had even greater potential for evolution. He couldn't wait to explore its true limits.
At the same time, Kyōraku Shunsui noticed something was different about Uehara Shiroha.
Though he couldn't sense any spiritual pressure fluctuations, he could feel the shift. It wasn't something that could be measured with standard Shinigami perception.
It was something beyond that.
As someone who had spent centuries honing his instincts, Kyōraku could tell that Uehara Shiroha had just experienced some sort of breakthrough—one that made him even more unpredictable and elusive.
He sighed, shaking his head with an amused expression. "Brother Shiroha… this is getting ridiculous. You were already powerful enough, and yet you just keep casually breaking through to even higher levels."
He smiled wryly. "How are the rest of us supposed to feel about this? Sometimes, I wonder if you're actually the Soul King's illegitimate child."
Kyōraku Shunsui was no slouch—he was widely regarded as one of the most talented Shinigami in history. Yet, compared to Uehara Shiroha, he might as well have been ordinary.
Under this kind of talent disparity, even calling himself an "ordinary person" felt like a compliment.
Uehara Shiroha chuckled. "When I think about sparring with you, Kyōraku-san, the pressure makes me unconsciously stronger."
Kyōraku groaned, rubbing his temples. "Spare me, Brother Shiroha. I already regret challenging you."
"But the sparring isn't the main reason you called me here, is it?" Uehara Shiroha's eyes sharpened slightly.
The training ground was completely empty—not a single spectator.
With the sheer privacy of the location, it was obvious that Kyōraku had something important to discuss.
Kyōraku exhaled deeply before nodding. "You're right."
He hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "I have a strong suspicion that Shiba Kaien's death is related to the previous Hollowification incident."
His expression darkened. "And… there's a very high chance that the Tsunayashiro family is involved."
Uehara Shiroha listened quietly.
"As far as I know," Kyōraku continued, "the Tsunayashiro family has been conducting Hollowification experiments in secret for years. That alone makes them incredibly suspicious."
The more he thought about it, the stranger Kaien's death seemed. On the surface, it looked like a tragic accident, but certain details just didn't sit right with him.
After piecing together scattered clues, Kyōraku was convinced—Shiba Kaien's death had been orchestrated.
"I think that's highly likely," Uehara Shiroha agreed without hesitation. He wasn't surprised in the slightest.
After all, during the Travel Disaster Incident, Kyōraku had already suspected that Tsunayashiro Tokinada was involved.
Of course, his suspicions back then may have been partly influenced by Aizen's manipulations, but it still spoke volumes about how much Kyōraku distrusted the Tsunayashiro family.
Kyōraku's voice turned more serious. "The past hundred years have been too peaceful—so much so that it feels… unnatural. And after the mass crisis induction incident a year ago, I'm convinced that something terrible is brewing."
He looked at Uehara Shiroha and gave a warning. "Brother Shiroha, be careful. And make sure Nanao stays on high alert as well."
That was why he had suddenly wanted to spar with Uehara Shiroha today.
It wasn't just about training.
It was about preparing.
There was an enemy nearby, but he couldn't detect them.
And that sense of powerlessness unsettled him.
Uehara Shiroha smirked, his fighting spirit igniting. "I'll keep that in mind. Now… let's get started!"
To him, the problems Kyōraku was worried about weren't problems at all.
But if sparring would put Kyōraku's mind at ease—then so be it.
Besides, he was eager to test his newfound future sight in actual combat.
Sensing his intent, Kyōraku's grip tightened on the two swords at his waist.
His Zanpakutō, Katen Kyōkotsu—one long, one short—were ready for battle.
Uehara Shiroha's gaze locked onto them.
[Katen Kyōkotsu] was widely regarded as one of the most notorious Zanpakutō in the world of Bleach—a blade with an affinity for wind-based slashes and spectral abilities.
Throughout the history of Soul Society, there had only been three true dual-wielded Zanpakutō still in existence:
Sōgyo no Kotowari – Wielded by Ukitake Jūshirō, though technically a single sword before its Shikai, making it not a true dual Zanpakutō in the strictest sense.
Katen Kyōkotsu – Wielded by Kyōraku Shunsui, a genuine twin-blade Zanpakutō before and after its release.
True Zangetsu – Wielded by Kurosaki Ichigo during the Thousand-Year Blood War, the only naturally occurring dual-bladed Zanpakutō.
However, there was a hidden secret behind Katen Kyōkotsu.
Originally, it had been a single sword. But in order to conceal the Ise Family's Hakkyōken, Kyōraku Shunsui had split it into two distinct blades. The short sword, Kōkō, secretly housed one of the legendary Hakkyōken, allowing Kyōraku to disguise its true nature.
This meant that the only truly natural twin-bladed Zanpakutō in history was Ichigo's Zangetsu because his dual swords represent two separate aspects of his soul.
Despite this, Kyōraku Shunsui had mastered Katen Kyōkotsu to an absurd degree, developing several incredibly dangerous abilities in its Shikai and Bankai.
His Bankai, in particular, was infamous for its ability to overcome insurmountable odds, allowing him to defeat stronger opponents despite having a disadvantage.
It was no exaggeration to say that Kyōraku Shunsui had maximized Katen Kyōkotsu's potential, much like how Bartholomew Kuma had fully developed the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi in One Piece.
A complex, deceptive Zanpakutō like Katen Kyōkotsu could only be properly wielded by a cunning strategist like Kyōraku Shunsui.
The wind rustled through the training grounds as Kyōraku's pink haori fluttered behind him. His bamboo hat cast a faint shadow over his eyes as he tilted it slightly, preparing for battle.
Then—he moved.
In an instant, his Shunpo cut across the battlefield like a blur, closing the gap between him and Uehara Shiroha in mere moments.
Flash!
A gleam of silver light streaked through the air.
Before the wind could even catch up, Katen Kyōkotsu's long blade had already sliced toward Uehara Shiroha's arm—and at the same time, the short sword, Kōkō, was positioned for a follow-up sneak attack.
Their sparring history was extensive—both warriors knew each other's combat styles well.
Kyōraku was keenly aware of how insanely sharp Uehara Shiroha's perception was.
He also knew that Uehara wasn't just skilled in one or two disciplines—he had mastered countless forms of Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Kidō, and Hohō, each one terrifying in its own right.
Against an opponent like this, Kyōraku had to take the initiative.
However, Uehara Shiroha was just as familiar with Kyōraku's fighting style and the tricks hidden within Katen Kyōkotsu.
As the swords descended, Uehara vanished in a blur.
Shunpo!
He sidestepped effortlessly, avoiding the first strike, and with a swift counterattack, he swung his blade in a razor-sharp arc aimed directly at Kyōraku's midsection.
Clang!
Kyōraku barely deflected the attack, retreating a few steps. His expression grew serious, his sharp eyes gleaming with intensity.
Shiroha had improved.
In their past sparring sessions, Uehara had never been this comfortable dealing with his attacks.
Seeing this, Kyōraku tightened his grip on his swords and focused his mind. There was no room for holding back.
He launched his next attack—this time, at full power.
The two swords in his hands became a blur of silver, moving in a relentless flurry. Each strike flowed seamlessly, like mercury pouring across the battlefield—fast, fluid, and merciless.
This kind of aggressive offense was only possible because of Kyōraku's mastery of Shunpo. His footwork was not only fast but also covered incredible distances, allowing him to strike from unpredictable angles.
Uehara Shiroha observed Kyōraku's movements carefully.
His sharp eyes picked up a hidden rhythm—a subtle pattern woven into the relentless storm of attacks.
"Well done!" Uehara Shiroha praised, his voice carrying a hint of admiration.
Kyōraku's strikes weren't just random attacks—they were carefully crafted, perfectly synchronized.
Each slash and feint forced Uehara's movements into a precarious position, limiting his escape routes.
This wasn't just swordsmanship.
This was the experience of a seasoned veteran, refined over centuries of battle.
However—
Kyōraku's deadly assault still had weaknesses.
To the naked eye, his offensive pattern appeared flawless—but in Uehara Shiroha's vision, enhanced by Observation Haki, he could see the future.
The outcome had already been decided.
Flash!
The images in his mind showed him exactly where Kyōraku's next two swords would land.
He saw the gaps—the hidden openings Kyōraku himself was unaware of.
Without hesitation, Uehara Shiroha thrust his blade forward.
It was nothing flashy—no exaggerated movements or excessive force.
It was a simple, natural motion, like a gentle stream flowing downhill.
Yet, in that seemingly ordinary strike, lay the ultimate truth of swordsmanship.
Effortless precision.
Perfect timing.
At first glance, his counterattack seemed too simple, even underwhelming.
But in reality, it was a strike that transcended all excess—a return to the fundamentals in their purest form.
And it was devastating.
Before Kyōraku could react, the blade slipped past his defenses and drove straight for his vitals.
Kyōraku Shunsui dodged swiftly, his instincts screaming at him.
"That was close—too close!"
A split second slower, and the tip of Uehara Shiroha's blade would have pierced his throat. He had felt it—the faint, chilling brush of steel grazing past his skin.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
It wasn't just the speed of the attack that unnerved him.
It was the sheer weight of it.
Not in terms of physical force, but a spiritual pressure so immense it seemed to bear down on his very soul. The blade that frightened even gods and ghosts had, for the first time in a thousand years, made Kyōraku feel genuine fear.
A simple strike, yet it carried an incomparable sense of oppression.
And it wasn't just the pressure of overwhelming power—no, it was something else.
For the briefest moment, Kyōraku felt completely exposed—as though every thought, every action, every slight shift in his stance had been laid bare before Uehara Shiroha's eyes.
As though the future itself had already been decided before he even moved.
It was an unsettling realization.
This was the first time he had ever felt this sensation.
On the other side of the battlefield, Uehara Shiroha was analyzing the exchange.
"He actually reacted in time? Brother Kyōraku's combat experience really is extraordinary."
Even with his Observation Haki at its peak, Kyōraku had still managed to barely dodge at the last possible second. His reaction speed, honed through centuries of battle, was truly exceptional.
Still, the brief skirmish had been enlightening.
Through this actual combat test, Uehara Shiroha had grown more comfortable with his newfound ability. He now had a clearer grasp of the precise mechanics of foreseeing the future.
And his conclusion?
It was broken. Absolutely unfair.
Even Kyōraku Shunsui, a thousand-year veteran, could barely fight at 30–40% of his full capability against it.
Over there, Kyōraku Shunsui seemed to have realized something as well.
His expression shifted slightly, and his movements became more cautious.
Gone was the reckless approach of pure swordplay and high-speed Shunpo.
Instead, he incorporated Kidō—mixing spellcasting into his attacks to create an unpredictable rhythm, hoping to throw off Uehara Shiroha's foresight.
At this level of combat, both fighters were absolute masters.
One was a warrior with thousands of attribute points enhanced, countless training hours accumulated through shadow clones, and a perfected combat system.
The other had a thousand years of accumulated battle experience, a sharp strategic mind, and innate combat instincts honed through countless wars.
As a result, their battle rhythm was astonishingly fast.
For a moment, it seemed as though multiple figures of Kyōraku and Uehara Shiroha were clashing in midair, their silhouettes splitting and overlapping in rapid succession.
The sky flashed with silver and crimson, and the air crackled with the sound of clashing steel.
At the same time, both combatants unleashed powerful Kidō spells, their incantations blurring together as explosions and streaks of energy lit up the battlefield.
The spiritual pressure waves generated by their battle slammed against the barriers surrounding the training ground—yet those barriers, forged by Uehara Shiroha himself, held firm.
It was like an indestructible reef standing against a raging storm.
But while Kyōraku Shunsui fought harder, Uehara Shiroha felt himself becoming more relaxed.
And on the other hand—
Kyōraku Shunsui felt increasingly disturbed.
He had thrown everything he had into this battle.
He had calculated every movement.
He had carefully crafted every attack sequence.
And yet—nothing worked.
Every time he tried to create an opening, Uehara Shiroha would somehow destroy his advantage before it even formed.
It was as if fate itself was stacked against him.
Like there was an unseen force watching from above, ensuring that his every move was futile.
It was a crushing, invisible pressure—the kind that could easily break an ordinary captain's resolve.
By this point, Kyōraku Shunsui had already determined one thing:
"This isn't just heightened perception. This isn't just 'strong intuition.' This is something completely different."
Even Tōsen Kaname's spiritual perception, despite its unnatural sensitivity, wasn't anywhere near this terrifying.
No.
This was something on an entirely different level.
The fight raged on.
Two figures—one clad in pink, the other in white—collided in midair over and over again, neither giving an inch.
Then—
With a sudden burst of energy, Kyōraku Shunsui landed and swiftly clashed his twin swords together.
A crisp metallic clang rang out.
Fwoosh!
A massive white spiral hurricane erupted from Kyōraku's Zanpakutō, surging forward in a devastating torrent.
This was one of Kyōraku Shunsui's special techniques—a move so strong that it could even restrain the wolf pack of Coyote Starrk.
This attack wasn't just fast.
It carried a binding force, restricting movement while also delivering immense offensive power.
It was both attack and defense in one.
The wind howled, tearing through the air as it surged toward Uehara Shiroha.
Yet—
Uehara Shiroha did not move.
He neither dodged nor blocked.
He simply stood there.
Because through Observation Haki, he had already seen the outcome.
"This move isn't meant to kill—it's meant to restrict movement. No need to dodge."
Sure enough—
The raging hurricane whipped past his body, leaving him completely unharmed.
Kyōraku's eyes widened in shock.
"What…?"
Seeing Uehara completely unshaken, he finally spoke, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Before, I had my suspicions…"
He exhaled, gripping his swords tighter.
"But now I know for sure—"
His eyes locked onto Uehara Shiroha, his mind racing.
"Brother Shiroha's ability… it's beyond anything I've ever seen."
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