BLEACH: Blade of Purification

The biting, cold wind grew fiercer. For some reason, a snowstorm far larger than usual was raging, howling as if to swallow the entire Seireitei.

Several Captains stood within the blizzard, each breath they took turning into a great cloud of white steam, only to be instantly scattered by the wind.

The heavy snow impaired visibility. By sight alone, they could barely make out the two figures standing in the storm. But this was no ordinary group of people; with their immense power, the snow was no real obstacle to their senses.

In the center of the vast training grounds, two figures—one old, one young—stood in opposition.

Like the spectating Captains, the two combatants wore loose, comfortable yukata. The fierce wind whipped at the hems of their robes, revealing the powerful, bare physiques beneath.

"Little one, it is not too late to regret this," said Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni from his side of the training grounds, his voice calm as he leaned on his long, massive cane.

The howling of the wind grew louder, yet his steady voice reached Ling Qing's ears without error. Yamamoto was not trying to undermine Ling Qing's will to fight; Ling Qing was not an opponent who required such petty tricks to defeat. This was a piece of advice—a sign of care for a junior of such immense talent.

"You have a long life ahead of you. There is no need to be so hasty, to take such a radical path. A mere Shikai is not something that will trouble you."

"Thank you for your concern, Captain-Commander," Ling Qing said, a slight smile gracing his lips. His voice, too, carried clearly to Yamamoto, and to the Captains spectating from the sidelines.

This small feat alone was enough for the observing Captains to realize the sheer level of Ling Qing's control over his Reiatsu. They had heard that it had been less than a single season since Ling Qing had come from the Rukongai to the Seireitei, and that he had never attended the Shin'ō Academy. Even if the Shihōin Clan had given him special instruction in Kidō, to achieve this level of control spoke of his astonishing talent.

And if the Shihōin Clan hadn't given him special instruction...

Even for the Captains, who had strangely grown accustomed to Ling Qing's terrifying potential, the thought was still frightening.

"Oh?"

Ling Qing raised a hand to his chest, his voice filled with unconcealed excitement. "The thought of crossing swords with a being like you, Captain-Commander... my heart can't help but pound with anticipation."

"Hmph. Good, boy. You have the same spirit as those ruffians from Squad 11."

Since Ling Qing had put it that way, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni closed his eyes and said no more, as if waiting for something.

Outside the training grounds, upon hearing Yamamoto's words, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki couldn't suppress his excitement and pumped his fist. So he wasn't the only one who thought so! Now even the Captain-Commander felt the same way. How could this boy not be the Kenpachi? If he didn't become the Kenpachi, I'd...

Then, Kuruyashiki suddenly felt an icy gaze fall upon him... He didn't need to turn his head to know who it was...

"Young Master Ling Qing!"

Suddenly, amidst the howling snow, a new figure appeared behind Ling Qing in the otherwise sparse training grounds of Squad 1. It was the Shihōin family's steward—Saitō Gotsuki.

In his hands, as he hurried over, he carried something else.

With both hands, he respectfully presented an astonishingly long tachi to Ling Qing. Saitō bowed his head slightly and said softly, "This is your Zanpakutō. I have brought it for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Saitō."

Ling Qing reached out and grasped the hilt of the Zanpakutō. With just a single arm, he effortlessly lifted the incredibly long blade—a weapon so large it would disrupt the balance of any normal user—and swung it with ease.

This was why Ling Qing and Yamamoto had been standing idly in the roaring blizzard instead of fighting. The grand bath was for bathing; no sane person would bring their sword with them while soaking. This was true for Yamamoto, for Ling Qing, and for the other Captains who had come along.

Originally, Shihōin Sōichirō had only wanted to greet Yamamoto and gauge his opinion. He never expected a casual comment from Shunsui Kyōraku to escalate the situation to this point.

It was as if their brains had been overheated by the bath, and on a whim, they had decided to run out for an armed duel without even changing their clothes.

The grand bath was close to the Squad 1 barracks, so Yamamoto had retrieved his Zanpakutō first. Ling Qing's was slightly delayed, delivered personally by Saitō Gotsuki.

Having delivered the Zanpakutō, Saitō should have withdrawn. But after a moment's hesitation, he overstepped his bounds and spoke.

"Young Master Ling Qing, regarding this duel with the Captain-Commander... would you please reconsider?"

When Saitō had first heard that Ling Qing was to fight the Captain-Commander, he thought it was a joke. Once it was confirmed to be true, he had rushed to deliver Ling Qing's Zanpakutō, but his mind had been in a daze the entire way. He couldn't help but wonder what illness had befallen both Shihōin Sōichirō and Ling Qing himself.

Otherwise, why would Sōichirō have gone to such great lengths to bring Ling Qing into the Shihōin family? Otherwise, why would Ling Qing, a sane young man, agree to such a thing? How could these two have come up with such a method of suicide?

Even more ridiculously, the Captain-Commander had actually agreed to the duel.

Here and now, Saitō felt that even if he was overstepping, even if he might be punished later, he had to persuade Ling Qing not to act on this madness.

Unfortunately, Saitō's intentions were good, but he did not know what was truly on Ling Qing's mind.

Ling Qing himself was also pondering what Shihōin Sōichirō was planning. But as he had said, once he knew his opponent was Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, the issue of achieving Shikai no longer mattered. All he wanted now was to fight the founder of the Gotei 13.

He didn't think he could win against Yamamoto as he was now. But whether he could win and whether he wanted to fight were two different things.

"Mr. Saitō, don't you think the arrow is already nocked... and must be fired?" Ling Qing said with a smile, nodding gently to Saitō. He understood and appreciated the man's concern. "Please, stand back with Sōichirō... with the Head of the family. It's about to become unsafe here."

"Young Master Ling Qing...唉 (Sigh)."

With a final sigh, Saitō Gotsuki did not leave. Instead, he did as Ling Qing said and moved to a position half a step behind Shihōin Sōichirō, casting a slightly reproachful look at his master. Saitō hadn't known Ling Qing for long, but in that short time, he had grown quite fond of the boy.

From that perspective, Shihōin Sōichirō, who had decided to adopt Ling Qing against all clan tradition after knowing him for only half a month, seemed even more out of his mind.

Shihōin Sōichirō paid no mind to Saitō. The battle was about to begin, and his full attention was now fixed on the old and young figures on the training grounds.

Yamamoto glanced at the exceptionally long blade held in Ling Qing's single hand.

"A Zanpakutō often reflects a part of its user's character. While your blade itself seems unremarkable, its exaggerated length could be described as ostentatious."

He then looked at Ling Qing's left hand, which held the sword.

"A Shinigami who has achieved Bankai must learn to control their Reiatsu, lest their Zanpakutō grow to the size of a mountain. Yet, you have not even achieved Shikai, and your blade is already of such an absurd scale. This can only mean that the density and volume of your Reiatsu far exceed that of an ordinary Shinigami. You are far more interesting than I had imagined."

"Thank you for the compliment, Captain-Commander."

The blade reflects the man; that was Yamamoto's meaning. Ling Qing had no intention of explaining the origin of his sword. It was better to simply accept the praise.

Raising his blade, Ling Qing took his stance.

"Out of respect, I will make the first move!"

The moment the words left his lips, like a flash of lightning, the snow between Ling Qing and Yamamoto was instantly cleaved in two!

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