News of Uehara Byakuya’s single-sword slaughter of fifty Hollows reached the Seireitei.
This time, Uehara Byakuya truly became famous.
Whether they knew him before or not, now everyone knew who he was.
The captains and vice-captains buzzed with discussion.
“That Uehara Byakuya, how strong is he?”
“He killed fifty Hollows with a single sword. Is he captain level?”
“A captain at twenty!?”
“I was still playing in the mud when I was twenty…”
“It’s said that Uehara’s Seventh Seat’s Zanpakuto is the same as Captain Kensei’s, permanently released…”
“Are permanently released Zanpakuto really that terrifying?”
“He can instantly freeze fifty Hollows with just his Shikai. That’s probably the strongest ice-type Zanpakuto, right?”
“Another monster has appeared in the Gotei 13!”
As for Uehara Byakuya’s fans, they were practically all shouting in unison, “He’s so cool, Lord Uehara!”
…
In the First Division’s tea room, upon receiving the battle report, Shunsui Kyoraku’s tea sprayed all over Jūshirō Ukitake.
“This…” Jūshirō Ukitake was speechless, forgetting to even wipe the tea from his face.
Then they locked eyes, their faces full of shock.
A captain before the age of thirty!
They had underestimated Uehara Byakuya. They had thought this kid only had the “potential of a captain,” but his strength was nearly at the level of a “captain commander!”
…
In the Technical Development Bureau, Nēmu Kūrōda quickly obtained the battle footage from that time.
In his private laboratory filled with strange devices, Nēmu Kūrōda stared intently at the fifty frozen Hollows in the video.
After a long pause, he slammed his fist on a device:
“Damn it! Why can’t I detect any residual Zanpakuto Reiatsu?
Why are all these permanently released Zanpakuto so peculiar?
It seems I’ll have to go there myself. It’s a good opportunity to get some backup organs for 【Sleep Five】.”
…
In the Sixth Division barracks, the now very young Byakuya Kuchiki turned to his grandfather, Ginrei Kuchiki: “Grandpa, I want to go to Hueco Mundo!”
He gripped his 【Senbonzakura】 tightly as he spoke.
“Byakuya, don’t doubt it. You’re a genius,” Ginrei Kuchiki said with a heavy heart.
“If you’re going to Hueco Mundo out of responsibility, you could join the expeditionary force.
If it’s for competition, then it’s meaningless.”
Due to the tragic case of his son-in-law, Rūkia Kuchiki’s failed education, Ginrei Kuchiki had chosen to let Byakuya grow freely and never harshly reprimanded him.
“A genius?” Byakuya Kuchiki had never doubted it before, but now he was a bit uncertain.
…
When Uehara Byakuya and Ise Nanao returned to the temporary expeditionary force headquarters, everyone’s attitude had changed.
After a great victory, the Shinigami seemed more relaxed, with less seriousness and tension.
Their gaze towards Uehara Byakuya was filled with shock and admiration, no longer with the earlier doubts and disdain.
This was the benefit of strength.
As for Uehara Byakuya himself, he remained the same, his pace leisurely, like strolling through the entertainment district, effortlessly carefree.
He didn’t seem to think killing fifty Hollows was anything remarkable, nor did he care about the change in everyone’s attitude.
Just then, Kyōraku Shunsui’s uniquely flamboyant voice sounded: “Our great hero has returned!”
Especially when he saw the vastly changed Nanao Ise, his smile became even more dazzling.
They had only been apart for a short while, but Nanao Ise had undergone an astonishing transformation, changing from a rookie into a seasoned warrior.
As he spoke, Kyōraku Shunsui handed Uehara Byakuya a small sake jar: “Limited conditions, please understand!”
“Good sake!” Uehara Byakuya’s eyes lit up, and he took a swig, drinking it down in one gulp.
The mellow sake flowed down his throat, and instantly a large amount of spiritual energy and particles began to surge within him.
After just one drink, Uehara Byakuya’s depleted spiritual energy and stamina immediately recovered considerably.
This rare treasure had extremely low annual production, and you couldn’t even buy it with money.
Generally, only Shinigami captains and noble families had an allocation.
“Nanao, you’ve been fighting all day, you must be tired. Go and rest for now!” Kyōraku Shunsui could see that although Nanao Ise’s spirit was good, her stamina and spiritual energy had reached their limit.
Nanao Ise looked at Uehara Byakuya, who nodded at her.
Thus, after saluting the two, she went off to rest.
After Nanao Ise left, Kyōraku Shunsui exclaimed in amazement:
“Byakuya, you’ve been hiding your talents so well. You’re a captain at twenty. I wonder if Yama-jiji was that strong when he was young…”
Having a sudden invincible trump card under the leadership of the general commander was extremely gratifying.
He suddenly felt the pressure ease up and started considering how to arrange Uehara Byakuya.
Uehara Byakuya set down the empty sake jar and burped, saying:
“Kyōraku, I know you have a lot on your mind right now.
But I have to regretfully tell you, I’m going to act independently from now on.”
“Why?” Kyōraku Shunsui was a bit puzzled.
Before they left, they had agreed to advance together.
Hueco Mundo was dangerous, but if they worked together, there was basically no chance of failure.
Uehara Byakuya shrugged: “Plans are easily disrupted by change. I’m going to storm into the Hollow Forest and hold the Hollows back. Otherwise, the squad’s losses will be too great.”
He could also brush up on his military merit and Shinigami authority while completing the special mission, which was not bad.
“Byakuya, you’re doing a lot for us!” Kyōraku Shunsui painfully pulled out another jar of sake.
Based on his understanding of Uehara Byakuya, this time, the old boy had really gone all out.
Most people wouldn’t have this kind of influence. It must be because of his “big face.”
Uehara Byakuya took the sake jar without hesitation.
The two then discussed the current situation and future strategies.
Actually, there wasn’t much to discuss.
Uehara Byakuya had long known that even if there were people behind the scenes, as long as the expeditionary force maintained a numerical advantage, then the Hollows wouldn’t be a threat.
In Hueco Mundo, Hollows were tough to deal with.
But in terms of high-level combat power, one Kensei Muguruma and one Kyōraku Shunsui could practically overwhelm everything.
Plus, Hollows weren’t good at coordinated warfare.
So the outcome of this war was already predetermined. The difference was only whether the Shinigami side would be a bitter victory, a minor victory, or a great victory.
Therefore, the best strategy was to utilize the Shinigami’s advantages of strict discipline and unified operations and steadily advance.