Rukia arrived at Squad 13 feeling unsettled and disoriented, though she maintained a composed demeanor while training with her squad.

Kaien, ever observant, noticed the poor girl who looked exactly like Byakuya's late wife. He could sense that Rukia was more withdrawn than usual.

Suddenly, he decided on a plan to lift the team's morale and announced a group mission to defend a village in the east from a hollow attack.

Rukia stood alert alongside her teammates and followed the group. However, she had no real experience fighting hollows—her only encounters with them had been through book illustrations.

When they arrived at the scene, the team coordinated to protect the villagers. But soon, an overwhelming influx of hollows began to appear, one after another.

During the chaos, a massive hollow attacked Rukia, sending her sword flying from her hand. Though she had plenty of street-fighting experience, she had never faced anything like a hollow. Her heart pounded in her chest as she realized she had nowhere to run.

Is this the end? she wondered, frozen in terror, her heart thundering in her ears.

Just as the hollow lunged for her, it suddenly dissipated, the threat vanishing in an instant. Standing where the hollow had been was Kaien—he had saved her.

Rukia stared at him, her breathing gradually returning to normal. She had truly thought that would be the end.

"Are you okay, Rukia?" Kaien asked, concern in his voice.

Rukia gingerly got up from the ground and retrieved her sword. "Hai… arigatou, Shiba-fukutaichou," she replied, her throat dry, her body still trembling from the near-death experience.

All around her was chaos—fighting and carnage that bore no resemblance to the gang fights she had once known.

Rukia was visibly shaken, realizing how unprepared and incapable she had become in this world.

After the mission concluded, Rukia retreated to a forested hill near the Squad 13 training grounds. She needed time to process her weakness, her inability, and the overwhelming weight of it all—the Kuchiki clan, the hollows, everything.

Out of nowhere, Kaien appeared, offering her a drink.

Rukia accepted the cup, murmuring a quiet thanks.

"Is this about your brother?" he asked, his tone probing but gentle. The question hung in the air, unspoken but clear: Is Byakuya treating you right?

Rukia remained silent, not knowing how to respond.

Kaien studied her expression, guessing that she was struggling with Byakuya's cold and distant attitude. He knew, too, that Byakuya had requested that Rukia never be promoted—a demand that the Gotei 13 had to honor because of an ancient treaty signed with the noble clans a thousand years ago. The agreement barred the Gotei from interfering in noble affairs.

Though Rukia wasn't particularly talented, Kaien could see her potential. With the right guidance, he was certain she could become one of the Gotei 13's finest fighters. But Byakuya's decree tied their hands, and even Captain Ukitake couldn't defy it.

Kaien scratched his head in frustration, annoyed at Byakuya's stubbornness. He saw how Byakuya was treating Rukia like she was a fragile imitation of his late wife. In doing so, he was stifling her growth and snuffing out the spark of potential Kaien knew she had.

But as her superior, Kaien couldn't allow that to happen.

Over the following days, he devised a training plan to help the new recruits—including Rukia—unlock their potential. He was determined to nurture her abilities, regardless of the limitations placed on her.


Byakuya learned of Rukia's near-death experience on the battlefield from the shadow guards he had discreetly assigned to protect her.

Why would a lieutenant bring an unranked shinigami into combat?

His anger burned beneath the surface, but his outward demeanor remained cold and composed. The thought of Rukia in such danger unsettled him, though he refused to show it.

Without delay, he summoned Kaien to his office. The lieutenant arrived, his casual confidence intact, and met Byakuya's sharp gaze without hesitation.

"What were you thinking?" Byakuya's tone was icy, each word carefully measured. "Taking an unranked shinigami into battle was reckless."

Kaien, however, remained unfazed. "She needs to learn how to protect herself," he replied nonchalantly, meeting Byakuya's piercing stare head-on. "The battlefield is the best place for that."

Byakuya's jaw tightened, but Kaien's unwavering determination gave him pause. Reluctantly, he relented. Though he didn't fully agree with Kaien's methods, he allowed the lieutenant to continue overseeing Rukia's training, trusting that he would ensure her safety.

Days turned into weeks. Byakuya found himself growing accustomed to Rukia's absence at meals. She left early in the morning and returned late at night, often looking exhausted but strangely content.

He began noticing her from the window of his study—how her steps seemed lighter as she headed to her squad, a faint trace of excitement in her demeanor. It was a side of her he had never seen before.

The shadow guards continued to report on her progress and well-being, though they could only observe from a distance. Kaien had strictly forbidden them from interfering with Rukia's training, a condition Byakuya reluctantly accepted. He trusted Kaien to push Rukia but to keep her safe.

As the days passed, Byakuya couldn't ignore the quiet shift within himself. Watching Rukia grow, he began to wonder if perhaps Kaien's methods were exactly what she needed to flourish in a world that demanded strength.


Rukia grew more confident in her abilities and noticeably happier, a change that did not escape Captain Ukitake's attention.

Kaien, recognizing her huge potential, began training her one-on-one. Her progress was undeniable—she was on the verge of awakening her Shikai, a feat achieved by only a select few ranked Shinigami.

Despite her exhaustion, Rukia found herself smiling as she swung her sword. It was the third day of relentless training, and she could feel her Zanpakutō responding, its essence gradually transforming.

For the first time, she felt truly content. The icy aura surrounding her was no longer unsettling but comforting, as if the cold itself embraced her growth.

to be continued...