A month had settled into the rhythm of Kisaragi's new life within the Second Division. The initial ripples of disbelief and skepticism surrounding his appointment as the Fifth Seat had largely smoothed over, replaced by a tangible, if still somewhat reserved, respect. His demonstration in the training grounds had been a stark declaration, a language of power that the pragmatic members of the Onmitsukido understood implicitly.
Today's mission was a seemingly straightforward affair: a routine patrol of the outer sectors of the Rukon District. Captain Shihōin had emphasized the need for vigilance, even in the absence of recent major incidents. "Keep your senses sharp, Shiba," she had instructed, her golden eyes holding a knowing glint. "The shadows often conceal the most significant threats."
Kisaragi led a detachment of six seasoned members from the Inner Court Troop. Their movements were fluid and silent, years of operating in the clandestine world of the Onmitsukido having honed their efficiency to a razor's edge. The early hours of the patrol passed without incident. The spiritual landscape of the outer Rukon District was a tapestry of varying densities, the faint echoes of departed souls mingling with the more potent energies of the living. Kisaragi, his senses constantly scanning the subtle currents of reiatsu, found the monotony of the task a deceptive lull.
"All clear, Fifth Seat," one of his subordinates reported, his voice a low murmur that barely disturbed the stillness of the surrounding forest.
"Maintain vigilance," Kisaragi replied, his gaze sweeping across a seemingly tranquil village nestled in a small clearing. It looked peaceful, the thatched roofs of the simple homes bathed in the soft morning light. He had thought this mission would be an easy one, perhaps concluded before midday. Fate, it seemed, had other plans.
A sudden, violent spike in malevolent reiatsu tore through the serene atmosphere, like a discordant note in a silent symphony. Kisaragi's senses flared, his hand instinctively tightening on the hilt of his Zanpakuto. Moments later, the horrifying scene erupted before them. Fifteen to twenty grotesque Hollows, their forms twisted and their hunger palpable, were tearing through the village. Their guttural roars and the terrified screams of the villagers shattered the morning calm.
"Engage!" Kisaragi's command was immediate, his Zanpakuto already clearing its sheath in a flash of silver. He moved with lethal grace, a blur of motion as he cut through the lesser Hollows. His six subordinates, though momentarily stunned by the abruptness and ferocity of the attack, reacted with the ingrained discipline of the Onmitsukido. Their Zanpakuto flashed in unison, their coordinated strikes swiftly felling the weaker adversaries. The initial wave of Hollows, though numerous, proved little challenge against the honed skills of the Second Division operatives.
But the air soon thickened with a far more potent, suffocating dread. Three Hollows emerged from the shadowed edges of the forest, their spiritual pressure immense, their forms radiating a palpable aura of power. Adjuchas-class Hollows. Their appearance within the boundaries of Soul Society was an exceptionally rare and deeply troubling event, a stark violation of the natural order. Kisaragi's eyes narrowed, a flicker of grim recognition in their depths. The last time he had faced an Adjuchas, during his tumultuous year at the Academy, it had been a brutal, desperate struggle, a victory snatched from the jaws of defeat. He had grown immeasurably stronger since then, but the memory of that desperate fight served as a stark reminder of the inherent danger these beings possessed.
A visible wave of alarm rippled through Kisaragi's men. The oppressive reiatsu of the three Adjuchas was suffocating. "Fifth Seat," one of them urged, his voice strained with fear, "we must fall back and report this at once! Three Adjuchas… this warrants a Lieutenant or even a Captain's immediate attention!"
Kisaragi's grip on Byakko tightened, his stance unwavering. "Negative. Our priority remains the safety of the civilians. I will hold them off. Your task is to ensure every single villager reaches safety. That is an order."
His subordinates were torn. Their loyalty to their new commander was growing, but the sheer scale of the threat was undeniable. "But Fifth Seat… you cannot face three Adjuchas alone…" another protested, his voice barely a whisper.
Kisaragi's gaze was resolute, his eyes radiating a cold, unwavering determination. "Every second we spend debating is a second these Hollows have to slaughter the innocent. I will buy you as much time as I can. Now, move! Get them out of this village. I expect you to return with reinforcements swiftly. Understood?" His voice brooked no argument, the authority of his position and the gravity of the situation lending weight to his command.
Reluctantly, their faces etched with concern, they obeyed. They had witnessed a glimpse of Kisaragi's power in the training grounds, but this was a threat of an entirely different magnitude. "We will return with reinforcements immediately, Fifth Seat! Please, hold on!" their promise hung in the air as they turned to shepherd the terrified villagers towards the relative safety of the surrounding woods.
As the retreating group scrambled to escape the ravaged village, one of the Adjuchas, a hulking monstrosity with razor-sharp claws dripping with viscous black ichor, lunged towards the fleeing civilians. But Kisaragi was already in motion, a flash of silver as he intercepted the attack. His Zanpakuto collided with the Hollow's massive arm, the impact sending shockwaves through the air and the Adjuchas skidding several feet back, its bestial roar echoing in frustration.
"Get them out of here! Now!" Kisaragi roared at his retreating men, his voice a stark warning.
Once his subordinates and the terrified villagers were a safe distance away, disappearing into the dense foliage, Kisaragi finally turned his full attention to the three Adjuchas. They were formidable, their combined reiatsu pressing down on him like a physical weight. He decided to assess their individual fighting styles, engaging each in brief, intense clashes. His Zanpakuto moved with a fluid, deadly grace, parrying their powerful strikes, deflecting their snapping jaws and lashing limbs. He noted the raw power of the first, the surprising agility of the second, and the unsettlingly cunning intelligence that seemed to emanate from the third.
The Adjuchas, in turn, were visibly surprised by the Shinigami's resilience. A mere Fifth Seat holding his ground against their superior forms, his movements precise and his spiritual pressure surprisingly potent. They had expected an easy meal, a swift slaughter. This unexpected resistance ignited a primal fury within them.
Realizing they held no easy advantage, a malevolent intelligence flickered in the Hollows' eyes. The air around them crackled with a gathering, ominous energy. The three Adjuchas simultaneously roared, their grotesque mouths contorting as they began to charge their Cero. Blasts of raw, destructive energy, tinged with the sickly green hue characteristic of their kind, began to coalesce at their maws.
Kisaragi's reaction was instantaneous, his eyes widening in recognition of the impending, devastating attack. "Bakudō No. 81. Dankū!"
A shimmering, translucent rectangular barrier of immense spiritual energy materialized before him, its intricate lattice of spiritual particles humming with defensive power. The speed and potency of his Kidō casting were a testament to his rigorous training.
The three Ceros slammed into the Dankū simultaneously, the force of the combined impact shaking the very air around them, the ground beneath Kisaragi's feet trembling. The barrier groaned audibly under the immense strain, the translucent surface rippling and distorting, but it held, stubbornly deflecting the combined assault of the Adjuchas-class Hollows.
The Hollows were visibly stunned, their bestial eyes wide with disbelief. Their most potent attack, a simultaneous barrage of Cero, completely negated by a Kidō from a single Shinigami? Before they could fully process this unexpected development, Kisaragi vanished in a burst of blinding Shunpo, reappearing silently and swiftly behind the three lumbering figures.
"Bakudō No. 61. Rikujōkōro!" Six beams of brilliant golden light erupted from his outstretched hand, striking the Hollows' torsos with pinpoint accuracy. The beams solidified into glowing restraints, instantly binding the three monstrous beings in place, their movements abruptly halted.
"This should hold you… for a fleeting moment," Kisaragi stated, his voice calm and measured despite the adrenaline still coursing through his veins.
Without a fraction of a second's hesitation, his focus shifted. Gathering a significant amount of spiritual energy, the air around him crackled with azure light, he raised his free hand. "Hadō No. 33. Sōkatsui!" A torrent of brilliant blue fire erupted forth, a searing wave of pure, concentrated energy that engulfed the three bound Adjuchas.
The Hollows roared in agony, their monstrous forms writhing against the golden restraints as the intense heat and overwhelming spiritual pressure consumed them. The air filled with the stench of burning flesh and the screeching cries of the dying beasts. In mere moments, their powerful Adjuchas-class forms were utterly annihilated, reduced to nothing more than wisps of dissipating black smoke and the lingering scent of scorched earth.
Just as the last vestiges of the Hollows' malevolent reiatsu faded from the air, a familiar spiritual pressure arrived, rapidly approaching. Lieutenant Marenoshin Ōmaeda appeared at the head of a group of ten additional Shinigami, Kisaragi's six men following closely behind, their faces etched with relief and lingering fear. Their arrival coincided precisely with the casting of Rikujōkōro, and they witnessed firsthand the devastating power of Kisaragi's Sōkatsui, a mid-level Hadō executed with such immense force and precision that it instantly and completely vaporized three Adjuchas-class Hollows. The reinforcements stared in stunned silence at the scorched remains and the calmly standing figure of Kisaragi, their shock compounded by a stark realization: throughout the entire, intense battle against three Adjuchas-class Hollows, the Fifth Seat of the Second Division had never once released his Shikai. His Zanpakuto at his side, a silent testament to the untapped power he possessed.
Lieutenant Ōmaeda, his usual blustering demeanor completely absent, stared at the scene with wide, disbelieving eyes. The sheer efficiency and raw power Kisaragi had displayed were beyond anything he had witnessed from a seated officer, let alone one who had transferred from the healing-focused Fourth Division. His initial resentment had been completely obliterated, replaced by a dawning understanding of the true depth of Kisaragi's abilities.
Snapping out of his stunned stupor, Ōmaeda's training took over. "Fifth Seat Shiba!" he called out, his voice now carrying a note of genuine concern. "Are you injured?" His eyes scanned Kisaragi's form, searching for any sign of harm.
Kisaragi shook his head, his expression still calm. "I am unharmed, Lieutenant."
Ōmaeda immediately turned to his subordinates. "You ten! Fan out! Secure the perimeter! Leave no trace of these Hollows behind. Investigate thoroughly! There may be other survivors hiding. Report anything you find!" His orders were sharp and decisive, the earlier incredulity replaced by a focused urgency. He then turned back to Kisaragi, a newfound respect evident in his gaze.
"Fifth Seat… that was… extraordinary. To defeat three Adjuchas without even releasing your Zanpakuto…" He trailed off, unable to fully articulate his shock and awe. The whispers that had followed Kisaragi's appointment were about to transform into a roar of astonished recognition. The quiet healer had revealed a power that resided in the shadows, a power that even the seasoned veterans of the Second Division were only beginning to comprehend.
Ōmaeda swallowed hard, his eyes still fixed on the scorched patch of ground where three Adjuchas had just been obliterated. "Fifth Seat," he began again, his voice now carrying a tone of genuine respect, "I… we clearly underestimated you." He gestured towards the silent forms of Kisaragi's initial six-man squad, who were watching their commander with a mixture of awe and pride. "Your men spoke highly of your abilities, but… this… this is beyond anything we anticipated."
Kisaragi simply nodded, his usual aloofness returning to mask the exertion he had subtly exerted. "The mission was to eliminate the threat and ensure the safety of the civilians. That objective has been met." He sheathed Byakko, the polished surface sliding silently into its saya.
One of Ōmaeda's subordinates, a lean Shinigami with sharp eyes, returned from his scouting. "Lieutenant! We've secured the perimeter. No other Hollows detected. We've also located a small group of survivors hiding in the village well. They are shaken but unharmed."
"Good work," Ōmaeda replied, his attention immediately shifting to the rescued villagers. "See to their immediate needs. Provide them with what comfort we can until we can arrange for their transport back to a safer sector." He then turned back to Kisaragi, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Fifth Seat, we need to report this… unusual occurrence immediately to Captain Shihōin."
Kisaragi nodded in agreement. "Indeed. The appearance of three Adjuchas in such proximity to a civilian settlement is highly irregular. There may be a larger pattern at play." A flicker of concern crossed his features, his mind already considering the implications of Aizen's potential early manipulations.
The journey back to the Second Division barracks was undertaken with a newfound sense of camaraderie. The initial tension and skepticism that had greeted Kisaragi's arrival had been decisively shattered. The members of the Onmitsukido, pragmatic and valuing results above all else, had witnessed firsthand the quiet power that resided within their new Fifth Seat. The whispers that followed Kisaragi now carried a tone of awe and respect, the "healer from the Fourth Division" now spoken of in hushed, almost legendary terms.
Upon their return, Ōmaeda immediately dispatched a detailed report to Captain Yoruichi, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the encounter and Kisaragi's decisive actions. Kisaragi himself provided a supplementary report, detailing his observations of the Hollows' behavior and the lingering sense of unease he felt regarding their appearance.
Later that evening, Kisaragi was summoned to Yoruichi's personal quarters. The atmosphere there was relaxed, the usually tense air of the Second Division barracks replaced by a more informal ambiance. Yoruichi was perched gracefully on a windowsill, sipping tea, her golden eyes sharp and assessing.
"So," she began, a playful smirk dancing on her lips, "I hear you had a rather… eventful patrol, Shiba."
Kisaragi offered a slight bow. "Indeed, Captain. We encountered three Adjuchas-class Hollows in the outer Rukon District."
Yoruichi raised a delicate eyebrow. "Three? That is… unusual. And you handled them… without releasing your Zanpakuto, according to Ōmaeda's rather breathless report."
"That is correct, Captain," Kisaragi confirmed, his tone matter-of-fact. "Their threat level, while significant, did not necessitate it."
A low chuckle escaped Yoruichi's lips. "Didn't necessitate it, you say? Most seated officers would be pushed to their limits against even one Adjuchas. You took on three simultaneously and… evaporated them with a mid-level Hadō. You certainly have a way of making an entrance, Shiba."
"My priority was the safety of the civilians and my subordinates, Captain," Kisaragi replied, his gaze steady.
Yoruichi hopped down from the windowsill, her movements as silent as a falling leaf. She circled Kisaragi slowly, her eyes scrutinizing him. "You've been holding back, haven't you? Even in our sparring sessions."
Kisaragi remained silent, neither confirming nor denying her observation.
A knowing smile spread across Yoruichi's face. "Smart. Calculated. I like it. You understand the value of keeping your true strength concealed. That will serve you well in the shadows." She stopped before him, her gaze intense. "This incident… it's troubling. Three Adjuchas appearing so close to a populated area… it suggests a deliberate action, or at the very least, a significant disruption in the balance."
"That is my concern as well, Captain," Kisaragi agreed. "It felt… unnatural."
Yoruichi nodded slowly. "I will personally look into this. The Onmitsukido will delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding this incident. Your quick thinking and decisive action saved lives today, Shiba. You have proven your worth to the Second Division, and to me." A hint of genuine respect colored her tone. "Continue to be vigilant. The shadows are stirring, and we need every sharp eye we have."
Kisaragi bowed his head. "Understood, Captain."
As he left Yoruichi's quarters, a sense of grim satisfaction settled within him. He had proven his capabilities, not through boastful displays, but through decisive action in the face of danger. The trust of his new division was beginning to solidify, and he had earned the respect of his enigmatic Captain. But beneath the surface of this small victory, a deeper unease lingered. The appearance of the Adjuchas felt like a harbinger, a subtle tremor before a larger earthquake. And Kisaragi knew, with a chilling certainty, that the shadows were indeed stirring, manipulated by a hand far more sinister than any rampaging Hollow. His true test was yet to come.