Shikai

09 Shikai

"20,000 kan, Ryōma"

"35,000 kan, Ryōma"

"50,000 kan, Ryōma"

"10,000 kan, Kentarō"

Sai sat dumbfounded on his mattress when he saw the officer around him started to bet on Ryōma' and Kentarō fight.

It was as if they had anticipated the fight would happen without a doubt.

"No wonder none of them came out to challenge the 9th seat." Sai muttered alone as he stared on the field.

"50,000 kan, Kentarō." Sai also put his bet.

****

****

The clashes increasing intense as the time went on. The pace kept on increasing as both of them started to use Shunpo.

"Clang!!!"

"Clang!!!"

"Clang!!!"

"Clang!!!"

"Boom!"

Kentarō was sent flying after many clashes.

"Ptui. Okay. Warm up is over." Kentarō stood up from the floor as he spit some blood.

"Dammit. You still want to do this?" Ryōma entered a pose as his reiatsu spiked once more.

Sensing the big reiatsu spikes on both of them, Sai was shocked. He turned to Naoki, "Shikai? 9th and 8th seats had already reached shikai?"

"Well, all single seats currently had already reached shikai. It wasn't the same case a few years ago." Naoki answered after some thoughts.

Hearing the answer, Sai silently nodded and watched the fight.

"Lit up. Bakuhatsu Shōgeki (Explosive Impact)" Kentarō released his shikai.

"Cool down. Shiro Kitsune (White Fox)" Ryōma also called for his shikai mode.

Both of them immediately clashed as soon as they released their shikai.

The clashes between the white blizzards and exploding sword kept on happening. Bloods splashed out as they kept injuring each other. It was until Ryōma had the upper hand and slashed down Kentarō to the floor, the fight stopped.

One bloody body was lying on the floor and one more person stood up in front of him with bloods all over his body.

"You know what? I had enough of this. Next year, I'll be resting." Ryōma spoke to the lying Kentarō before turning to the stage.

"I lost this round." He said before slowly walking out of the field.

Before he could reach the stage, Ryōma finally fell to the ground unconscious.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a person stood beside Ryōma.

"They'll need some rest for a few days." the Captain of the 4th Division, Retsu Unohana suddenly arrived.

"You are here. How rare Unohana san" Kuruyashiki greeted her.

"Chief Yamamoto notified me." Unohana smiled as she took Ryōma to the side.

****

Against the 7th and 6th seats, no one came forward to challenge them.

When Sai stepped forward for his turn, the people around the field immediately focused on him.

They were whispering to each other as Sai was walking to the field.

"Challenges for the 5th is opened." Touma announced.

As soon as he announced that, a shinigami stood up from his mattress.

The 10th seat officer, Takada Hiro came out to the field.

"I have to say, I really don't know why Captain values you so much, but I really want to see your strength first handedly" Hiro grinned as he walked toward Sai.

"I really want to know that too." Sai spoke and drew his zanpakuto.

Hiro releasing his reiatsu and disappeared from his position.

"Clang!"

As soon as he appeared in front of Sai, Hiro didn't hesitate to attack lethally.

Deflecting Hiro, Sai immediately counter woth faster attack.

The fight started fast and intense as both of them show their skills.

Even with his counter, the audience could see Sai was on the defensive side. As for Sai, he silently analysed his opponent.

After a few clashes, Sai already had Hiro set of strength in his hand.

While he didn't have much fight as a shinigami, his century of combat experiences helped him to understand his opponent.

Suddenly, Sai changed his stance and evaded Hiro's attack. At the same time, his zanpakuto slashed sideways before he passed Hiro.

Stopping his movements, Sai lowered his zanpakuto before turning his body towards Hiro.

!!!

Blood splashed and Hiro falled to the ground.

Twirling his zanpakuto, Sai silently sheated his zanpakuto.

The crowds were awed by Sai's finisher. While he had always counted Hiro, none of his moves ever hit Hiro before. So he was always seen to be in a passive position.

However, Sai who was always in the passive position suddenly showed an explosive skill and finished the fight with one lethal attack left many of them in aw especially the new recruits.

"As a person who kept on skipping his zanjutsu lessons, that's a rich set of zanjutsu skills." Sitting next to Yutou, Hoshi spoke.

"Not only that, his stances and movement also spoke for his experience" Yutou analysed.

"I doubt if that was the only reason Kuruyashiki put him there. There must be more in him." Yutou added.

"His next opponents aren't going to be easy. We'll see." Said Hoshi as he kept his eyes on the field.

****

Even though he didn't need the rest, Sai took the 10 minutes to rest for his next plan.

Seeing Sai was meditating on the field. Kuruyashiki squinted his eyes.

After the 10 minutes rest, another opponent walked to the field.

Seeing the 7th seat, Yoshimoto Hanae was walking into the field, Sai had a deep breath.

While he didn't know why Kuruyashiki put him in that kind of position, he really didn't want to care whether he in in 5th seat or the 7th seat.

As far as he remembered, losing the fight as a person who was challenged didn't put him in position that he need to be the assistant to the challenger.

Whether he was in 5th or 7th seat, he was going to act independently under the Captain. So he was going to admit his defeat and occupied the 7th seat.

Standing in front of Hanae, Sai spoke up.

"I..."

"Wait"

As Sai was just about to admit defeat, Kuruyashiki cut him of his words.

Sitting on his seat, Kuruyashiki stared at Sai with straight face.

"I really don't understand why you behave like this. But, if you lose your seat without any effort, you are out of my Division." As if he was seeing through Sai's idea, Kuruyashiki gave his ultimatum.