Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

Yamamoto Genryūsai's words lingered in Seiya Arima's mind throughout the entire day.

The idea of creating his own fighting style sounded daunting, but it made sense.

When he thought about it… all the strongest individuals had their own unique abilities that set them apart from the rest.

Take Unohana, for example.

She wasn't just any captain. The legendary warrior known as Unohana Yachiru had slashed her way across the Soul Society a millennium ago. Her swordsmanship wasn't simply borrowed techniques—it was said that she had mastered and surpassed every known school of combat, eventually developing her own style.

And then there was Yamamoto himself.

The old man had spent nearly half a year training Seiya, passing on the fundamentals of the Genryū—a style Yamamoto himself had pioneered.

As for other captains...

Urahara Kisuke had created his own spells and kido techniques.

Shihōin Yoruichi was a master of an entirely unique approach to hand-to-hand combat.

Kyōraku Shunsui? Cunning, manipulative, and always hiding more than he showed.

Even the more obscure captains weren't to be underestimated.

Jūshirō Ukitake, for instance, might have seemed frail, but there was no doubt he was one of the most formidable fighters of his time.

Meanwhile…

The captains who didn't stand out as much? Those were the ones who seemed to rely solely on their bankai without any distinguishing features of their own.

It was almost as if…

There was a clear line dividing the truly exceptional from the ordinary.

"So… if I want to break my limits, I need to create something unique?" Seiya mused.

The realization left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Why the hell am I comparing myself to senior captains anyway?"

After a moment of self-reflection, Seiya pulled up his personal stats.

[Swordsmanship: 60]

[Hand-to-Hand Combat: 60]

[Shunpo: 60]

[Kido: 50]

Compared to where he had been a year ago, Seiya was unrecognizable. He could confidently say that most vice-captains wouldn't stand a chance against him if he went all out.

And if he focused on just one attribute—like his hand-to-hand combat—he could probably crush most opponents of the same rank without breaking a sweat.

But...

He was stuck.

The 60-point cap felt like an invisible wall. No matter how hard he trained, none of his stats would budge past that threshold.

Seiya had tested his full strength in private. Though he hadn't undergone any official assessment, he estimated his current level to be around Fourth-Class Spiritual Pressure.

That meant he was hovering just below captain-level.

If that theory was correct…

Then he was just one step away from breaking into captain-level territory.

Sitting cross-legged in the dojo, Seiya gazed down at his hands in thought.

"Should I enter a meditative state and try speaking with Sāgara Ryū?"

The idea wasn't without merit. His zanpakutō spirit might be able to shed some light on how to move forward.

Closing his eyes, Seiya focused his thoughts…

Inside his inner world, the towering figure of Sāgara Ryū was already waiting for him.

Clad in a traditional shinigami uniform, the dragon spirit wasted no time hopping onto Seiya's shoulders and yanking his hair.

"HAH? You expect ME to know how to break your limit?"

The zanpakutō spirit wasn't in the mood for deep conversations.

Instead, he leaned forward, knocking on Seiya's skull as if it were a drum.

"Listen here, you lazy human! You've got to train harder! Get stronger faster! I want to see my true power unleashed!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Seiya winced in pain as the dragon spirit continued to pound his head like a bongo.

"Ow, ow, ow! Okay, okay, stop hitting me already!"

He sighed.

Why did I end up with such a troublesome partner?

After a few more rounds of playful bickering, Seiya exited his meditative state, rubbing his temples in frustration.

Back in the real world, Seiya opened his eyes with a tired expression.

"No progress… again."

The more he thought about it, the more he realized his current approach wasn't working.

Bankai was the next major milestone on his journey, but to achieve that, he first needed to reach Third-Class Spiritual Pressure.

In other words…

The path to bankai required breaking through his current limits.

It was like applying for a job that required prior work experience.

But…

"How the hell am I supposed to get work experience if I've never had a job in the first place?"

The whole thing was a frustrating cycle.

Seiya sighed and crossed his arms, his expression filled with worry.

"Still troubled, Seiya-kun?"

A familiar voice cut through the silence.

Seiya turned to see Chojiro Sasakibe, the First Division's vice-captain, standing at the entrance to the dojo.

Dressed impeccably, as always, Chojiro carried himself with a dignified, gentlemanly air.

"You've been sitting here all morning," Chojiro observed. "Any luck finding a solution?"

Seiya stood and offered a respectful bow.

"Unfortunately… no."

Chojiro chuckled softly.

"You're as honest as ever."

He stepped inside, his gaze sweeping across the dojo before returning to Seiya.

"How long has it been since you started your internship with the First Division?"

Seiya blinked at the sudden question but quickly did the math.

"Seven months, give or take."

"Ah… how time flies."

Chojiro's expression softened with nostalgia.

"As one grows older, the passage of time becomes more abstract. The changing of the seasons is often the only reminder that we're still moving forward."

Lowering his gaze for a moment, Chojiro then looked Seiya directly in the eye.

"Seiya-kun, how about joining me for a little outing?"

An invitation from the First Division's vice-captain?

It wasn't something Seiya could easily refuse.

However…

He glanced outside, noticing the late afternoon sun casting warm, golden light over the courtyard.

"Are you sure it won't interfere with your tea time, Chojiro-san?" Seiya teased with a playful grin.

To his surprise, Chojiro burst out laughing.

"You've been paying attention, haven't you?"

The older man stroked his mustache, visibly pleased.

"Well then, how about we share a pot of tea before we head out?"

Seiya chuckled.

"That sounds perfect."

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates