Captain's Reiatsu

"Captain! Why would you appoint a newly graduated student as a Lieutenant?" The 12th Division member, who was in charge of accepting applications from the graduates, immediately stood up out of surprise and asked his Hikifune Kirio right away upon hearing that Kimura Muyang was appointed as the 12th Division's Lieutenant.

"It's not that I doubt your judgement, Captain, but He just graduated today." Another man said as he looked at Kimura Muyang with disdain.

"It's 3rd Seat Suitaku."

"He's usually a quiet guy. Why did he go against Captain's decision all of a sudden? What happened to him?"

"Well, it can't be helped. He has served as the 3rd Seat for quite a while, and a newly graduated student comes out of nowhere and becomes his superior. I would've reacted the same way if it happened to me."

The Shinigamis from other Divisions couldn't help but gossip about the ruckus. After all, Suitaku Byakuya has served as the 3rd Seat for quite a while, and everybody liked him due to his collected demeanor, but he just snapped all of a sudden.

Kimura Muyang turned around to see who was so against him being appointed as a Lieutenant. He had an average build, shoulder-length black hair, and a gentle-looking face. The man's face also flushed, probably because he was too worked up.

However, he didn't seem that angry for someone who was against his Captain's decision for some reason. Even though Kimura Muyang realized something was off, he didn't know what was it with this man, so he racked his brain to find the solution for this problem.

"Do you have a problem with my judgement, Suitaku?" Hikifune Kirio said with a stern tone.

"I…"Suitaku Byakuya seemed panicked.

Hikifune Kirio herself was also shocked when Suitaku Byakuya suddenly protested. After all, he has been serving under her for a long time, so she knew him thoroughly, and she found it weird that he would question her judgement in front of everyone. However, after seeing him up close, she had a rough idea of the cause behind it.

"It's Li'l Hiyori, isn't it?"

Seeing Suitaku Byakuya's flushed face, Hikifune Kirio shook her head helplessly. Apparently, Hiyori put him up to this. Otherwise, a man like Suitaku Byakuya would never say such a thing.

While the rest didn't know anything, Hikifune Kirio nodded and gave Suitaku Byakuya a look that indicated she understood his reason. She then turned to Kimura Muyang and noticed that he seemed to be thinking about resolving this problem in his own way, so she decided to use this opportunity to see Kimura Muyang's strength for herself. Kyōraku did say that Kimura Muyang was even more skilled than an average Lieutenant without showing his true strength, but she was curious to see him going all out with her own eyes.

"How about it, Kimura?" Hikifune Kirio said, startling those who were curious about how she would deal with this matter.

Hikifune Kirio's question snapped Kimura Muyang back to his senses. He couldn't come up with a better idea other than defeating the man called Suitaku.

"Since Suitaku said that you just graduated and your skill isn't credible, take this chance to show everyone why you deserve this position. I think no one will be able to complain once they witness your true strength."

Hearing Hikifune Kirio's words, everyone nodded one after another. After all, one's skill and strength determined their worth as a Shinigami.

Even Hikifune Kirio shared the same opinion as he did. It seemed like there was no other solution other than defeating Suitaku Byakuya. He realized that one's strength spoke volumes. Even Zaraki Kenpachi, who didn't seem that bright and didn't even graduate from the academy, could become a Captain, so why couldn't he?

As he placed his hand on the hilt and took his stance, Kimura Muyang planned to show the man in front of him that he deserved to be a Lieutenant. After all, he'd be his subordinate from now on, so he had to make sure that there won't be any problem in the future.

"Kimura, keep it in moderation. Suitaku did this because Hiyori put him up to this." Hikifune Kirio whispered in Kimura Muyang's ear.

It all made sense to Kimura Muyang now. The man in front of him behaved strangely because Hiyori pitted him against Kimura Muyang, and Hiyori never made any move up until now because she rather wouldn't dirty her own hands.

Kimura Muyang glanced sympathetically at Suitaku Byakuya because he was kind of in the same position as him because of Hiyori.

Seeing Kimura Muyang seemed to understand his current circumstances, Suitaku Byakuya seemed relieved because it wasn't like he wanted to ruin his relationship with his Lieutenant in the future.

When everyone saw Kimura Muyang's hand was already on his Zanpakuto's hilt, they thought he and Suitaku Byakuya were about to duke it out, so they immediately backed off, leaving the stage to those two. However, when Kimura Muyang and Suitaku Byakuya looked into each other's eyes, they understood what happened and let go of their Zanpakuto.

"What the hell? Aren't you going to fight? We even cleared off the place for you guys."

"Yeah, that's right. Are you going to fight or not?"

"Well, it can't be helped. Even though he's a prodigy or whatever, he would be no match against a Seated Officer."

"Now that you said it, that makes sense…wait…what's with this amount of Reiatsu."

Kimura Muyang let go of his hand and stopped restraining his Reiatsu instead to overwhelm everyone. That way, he didn't have to fight.

An intense Reiatsu burst forth, overwhelming everyone in the vicinity except for a handful of High-Ranking Seated Officers.

"Oho? This is pretty impressive. Most people can't even move a muscle. This Reiatsu rivals that of a Captain. It seems that I underestimated him yet again." Kyōraku Shunsui was impressed by Kimura Muyang's Reiatsu, while the rest just gasped when they realized they couldn't move.

"This is really something else. It seems we can't just treat him as a rookie. He may be appointed as a Captain in a few years at this rate." Kuruyashiki Kenpachi shrugged his shoulder as he looked at Kimura Muyang.

"I'm pretty far, yet I can't even move. What about Suitaku Byakuya, who bears the brunt of this terrifying Reiatsu?" A Shinigami who thought that Kimura Muyang was no match to a Seated Officer earlier said.

Kimura Muyang immediately suppressed his Reiatsu after a quick demonstration of his strength. If he kept it up any longer, some students might be in danger, after all.

"It finally stopped." Ukitake wiped his forehead. "He really is not to be underestimated. His strength is the real deal."

Once the Shinigami earlier could move, he immediately turned his gaze at Suitaku Byakuya. He and the rest of the Shinigamis were shocked beyond belief when he found Suitaku Byakuya was still standing as if Kimura Muyang's intense Reiatsu didn't affect him at all.

"Did he left Suitaku out of it on purpose? Excellent control!" Hikifune Kirio looked at Kimura Muyang and secretly praised him, "At first glance, his Reiatsu just seems intense and out of control. It turns out he can delicately control his Reiatsu."

"And the most important thing is because Suitaku was still standing, he won't be humiliated among these crowds. Even though Suitaku is a gentleman, there would be a rift between them if he was overwhelmed by Kimura's Reiatsu. "

Suitaku Byakuya obviously realized what Kimura Muyang did just now. He also knew that Kimura Muyang deliberately spared him for his own sake. Judging from the state everyone was in, Suitaku Byakuya had no doubt that he wouldn't be able to withstand the Reiatsu at that level if Kimura Muyang let his Reiatsu burst forth without controlling it. He would be humiliated for sure if that was the case.

With that in mind, Suitaku Byakuya felt a little grateful to Kimura Muyang. He was a gentleman to begin with. He did this just because Hiyori put him up to this. Now that Kimura Muyang has demonstrated his strength and even went as far as showing mercy to him, he had no complaint whatsoever.

"I'm sorry for being rude earlier, and nice to meet you, Lieutenant!" Suitaku Byakuya bowed respectfully.

Seeing what Suitaku Byakuya did, the other 12th Division's member quickly followed suit and said, "Nice to meet you, Lieutenant!"

Kimura Muyang was slightly embarrassed seeing this many people welcomed and showed their respect to him all of a sudden, "It's alright, really. The same goes for you guys. Nice to meet you, too."