Chapter 2 Year 1878

All of this is just to maintain his existence and grow stronger!

Because of the journey he has been on, Tsukizuki indulges his desires with a certain reckless abandon.

 Rangiku, a soul living in the desolate Hanakure district, has the qualities of a Shinigami. However, the spirit particles in the atmosphere aren't enough to sustain her. Just as she was on the verge of starving, she encountered Tsukizuki, who was collecting protection fees on the street.

"Kid, what's your name?" Tsukizuki asked, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu, as if he had seen this before.

"Rangiku… Matsumoto Rangiku…" Her frail form gave out a weak reply.

Without much thought, Tsukizuki handed her some food he had scavenged, pulling her back from the brink of death — and securing himself a beautiful future wife.

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"Aizen-sama, are you interested in him?"

In the shade of a tree, a blind man with brown-tinted lenses and a visor watched Tsukizuki ruthlessly take down opponents in the street.

"Interested? No, that man is already mine. In my operations in the 62nd District, he's been quite helpful."

Aizen opened a file in his hand, which contained Tsukizuki's profile.

Name: Tsukizuki

Age: 20

Origin: Human Soul from the World of the Living

Area of Responsibility: Hanakure, 62nd District, East Rukongai

Reiatsu Level: 17th Class

Evaluation: Appears friendly and casual, extremely indulgent, yet ruthless and ambitious.

Note: Has the potential to be a Lieutenant.

"Tōsen, this is his final assessment," Aizen remarked, picking up his pen and making changes to the file.

Tsukizuki's reiatsu level was updated to 16th class, and the note about his potential was changed to Captain level.

"You seem to think highly of him. Do you want him by our side?" Tōsen, unable to see, could sense Aizen's attitude from his tone.

"Four years ago, when I first saw him in Hanakure, his reiatsu was below 20th class — the level of an insignificant soul," Aizen said, glancing at the assessment in the file.

"But in four years, he has reached the level of 16th class, equivalent to that of a regular Shinigami."

"The most crucial part is that he's a human soul, surviving in Rukongai. Such talent is rare and shouldn't remain here."

"So, you're sending him to the Shin'o Academy?" Tōsen inferred.

With a gentle smile, Aizen nodded, exuding a warmth that naturally drew people in.

"Exactly. His potential shouldn't be buried here; he belongs in Seireitei."

Tsukizuki grabbed a soul by the neck, lifting them up. Looking towards the large tree in the distance, he couldn't see anyone, but he knew someone was watching him.

He felt a rush of excitement, not because he was about to enter the Shin'o Academy, but because he was one step closer to the Hōgyoku.

After being noticed by Aizen in the 62nd District, Tsukizuki had stayed there, hunting souls with Shinigami potential and stealing their spiritual power for Aizen. Besides trading them for resources, he did this to get closer to Aizen, hoping to find an opportunity to acquire the Hōgyoku.

After all, he was in the year 1878!

The Hōgyoku experiments hadn't officially begun. This was a rare treasure capable of manifesting the desires within one's heart.

Aizen was still in the stage of gathering materials for the Hōgyoku, and the fusion of the Hōgyoku was still a century away.

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni was still the strongest Shinigami, alive and robust.

Among the Arrancar, there were at most three: Starrk, Lilynette, and Ulquiorra. Yhwach hadn't yet invaded the Soul Society, and Ichigo Kurosaki wasn't even born…

In this era, wars between Shinigami and Quincy in the World of the Living continued, while noble heirs in the Soul Society vied for power, and assassinations were frequent. In Hueco Mundo, Hollows ceaselessly struggled to fill the void in their hearts. The Three Realms were filled with chaos and strife!

He didn't have grand ambitions; he only sought to obtain a Hōgyoku to strengthen his power. That wasn't too much to ask, right?

Ignoring the blood all over the ground, Rangiku walked calmly up to Tsukizuki, unfazed by the gory scene, as she had long grown accustomed to it.

Living in the 62nd District, they were destined to face such situations.

"Tsukizuki, we should go. The Shin'o Academy selection is about to begin," she said, bouncing up to him energetically.

Tsukizuki tossed aside the last opponent, catching the leaping Rangiku in his arms, a faint smile on his lips.

"How could I forget? I just wanted to earn a bit more living expenses before we left," he replied, ruffling her hair.

Although she wasn't yet a full-grown beauty, she was truly adorable.

"You say that as if we'll pass the test for sure…" Rangiku pouted, nudging his chin with her head. "Stop messing with my hair! I took ages to get it just right today."

With a chuckle, Tsukizuki lifted her onto his shoulder and called out, "Alright, boys, strip them clean! Don't leave a single thing behind!"

"Yes, Boss Tsukizuki," his underlings replied, swiftly and skillfully carrying out his orders.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the twenty-odd souls from the 63rd District who had tried to claim their territory were stripped bare.

Tsukizuki collected the spoils and, with Rangiku and Gin by his side, headed towards Seireitei.

Passing through streets of ever-improving conditions, he looked up at the grand buildings looming above, vastly different from the harsh Rukongai.

At that moment—

Boom!

Dust filled the air as a massive stone wall fell from above.

A large, burly figure with short black hair stepped out, a radiant smile on his face.

"So, you're all here to try for the Shin'o Academy, huh? I'm the Guardian of the East Gate, Jidanbō of the Seireitei. If you want to enter, wait here. Once you pass the test, you'll be allowed beyond this point," Jidanbō said, observing the crowd before him. He opened the stone gate with a smile, and a team of Shinigami instructors from the academy, dressed in black, emerged.

Taking advantage of the moment, Tsukizuki slipped through the crowd and approached Jidanbō, tugging on his sleeve.

Jidanbō glanced at Tsukizuki's open palm, noted the coin that had appeared there, then discreetly pocketed it.

"Tsukizuki, what brings you to District One? Another business deal?"

"I'm not here for business this time," Tsukizuki chuckled. "I'm here to take the Shin'o Academy entrance exam."

"So, you've finally decided to become a Shinigami? With your reiatsu, you could've taken the test long ago. I'm surprised you waited this long," Jidanbō commented, sounding regretful.

"But that means no more side earnings for you," he added, chuckling.

"Come on, you're one of Seireitei's Four Gate Guardians. Surely you're not that short on cash?"

"Don't even mention the Four Gate Guardians — I'm just a doorman. The monthly pay is modest, and my wife's always comparing herself to the noblewomen," Jidanbō sighed, shaking his head as he glanced at the coin.

"You wouldn't show up empty-handed. What do you need the money for this time?" he asked.

Tsukizuki threw an arm around Jidanbō's shoulder. "Come on, we're practically brothers. I just wanted to confirm, this year's entrance exam should be the same as usual, right?"