BLEACH: SURVIVAL SYSTEM

In Japanese culture, hierarchy and honor hold significant importance. Even though the third seat ranks just below the vice-captain, the gap in strength remains undeniable.

As the saying goes, "A single step in official rank can crush a person," and Abarai Renji considers himself the immediate superior of Akira. Furthermore, Japanese culture has a strong tradition of social drinking, making it an unspoken rule for subordinates to offer a toast to their superiors at celebratory gatherings.

However, as the banquet nears its end, Akira shows no intention of offering a toast. This, naturally, irritates Renji—immensely.

Noticing Renji's frustration, the room falls silent as all eyes shift toward Akira. At this point, he can no longer ignore the situation.

"What? Is there a problem?" Akira asks casually, wiping his mouth.

"Hmph! Don't you know what comes next? Let me remind you—" Renji beckons him with a finger. "Come over and make a toast. That's the rule."

"Rule?" Akira raises an eyebrow. "I don't recall seeing that in the Gotei 13 regulations."

Renji falters—after all, such unspoken customs aren't officially documented. His face flushes with frustration before he lets out a dry laugh.

"Tch… So you've really gotten full of yourself after a single promotion! Looks like I'll have to put you in your place today!"

Akira exhales and speaks calmly. "Before that, let me give you a warning." His eyes glint coldly. "I haven't caused you any trouble. For your own sake, don't create trouble for yourself."

Renji's temper flares, amplified by the effects of alcohol. "Big talk! You're really asking for a lesson today!"

With that, he stands up, gripping the hilt of his Zanpakutō.

"Vice-captain?!" The division members react in shock—no one expected the situation to escalate this far.

But Akira remains unfazed, his voice turning frigid. "The last person who said they'd teach me a lesson… doesn't speak anymore."

A chilling silence falls over the room. The words cut deep, like a blade through ice. The assembled Shinigami can't help but recall the brutal fate of Kuchiki Takuto. Even Renji, despite his bravado, feels a bead of cold sweat trickle down his back.

(Wait… if he really fights seriously, I might not be able to handle it…)

Realizing he may have pushed too far, Renji hesitates. However, backing down now would be humiliating.

"Enough. That's enough."

At that moment, a calm yet authoritative voice cuts through the tension—Kuchiki Byakuya. His gaze lands on Renji, and though his expression remains unreadable, the weight behind it makes Renji stiffen.

Backing down now would make it seem as though the captain himself had to step in to save him. It would be an outright admission that Byakuya also believed he wasn't capable of winning.

"Captain, don't worry, it's just friendly sparring." Renji quickly pivots, seizing an opportunity. "We're all part of the Sixth Division—there's no need for a life-or-death battle. We just won't use our Zanpakutō."

A clever excuse. On the surface, it seems like a gesture of restraint, but in reality, it's a calculated move to tilt the fight in his favor. The division members immediately pick up on Renji's ploy, murmuring among themselves.

"He's targeting Akira's weakness."

"Without his Zanpakutō, he won't be as dangerous."

"Renji might actually have the upper hand this time."

Their thoughts mirror Renji's. Without a blade, Akira's formidable power would be limited. A barehanded fight would seemingly level the playing field.

"Alright then."

To everyone's shock, Akira accepts without hesitation.

Even Byakuya, who had expected him to refuse, raises an eyebrow slightly.

(Has he let his emotions cloud his judgment?) Byakuya wonders silently.

Renji, however, grins. This was his chance. If he could thoroughly defeat Akira in front of the entire squad, no one would ever question his authority again.

"Good! That's the spirit!" Renji clenches his fists, stepping forward. "Then, let's see what you've got!"

With that, he lunges forward, unleashing a precise Hakuda strike.

Of course, "precise" is only relative to Renji's standards. To Akira, his movements are riddled with openings.

In the blink of an eye, Renji lunged forward, but Akira was already making his move.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A flurry of blows erupted as Renji unleashed his melee attacks, but each one was expertly blocked. Akira's defenses were flawless, his movements precise.

Then, with a single decisive strike—

"Bang!"

His fist broke through Renji's guard and connected squarely with his face.

"Pfft!"

Blood sprayed from Renji's mouth as he was sent flying, crashing hard into the courtyard.

A stunned silence followed—then an uproar.

"What… what just happened?!"

"Impossible!"

"Vice-Captain Abarai was overpowered so easily?!"

Gasps of disbelief echoed among the gathered spectators. Byakuya Kuchiki's sharp gaze narrowed as he observed the fight.

He knew Renji's strength well—his Hakuda (hand-to-hand combat) skills, while not his primary focus, were formidable for a vice-captain. Yet, against Akira, Renji's attacks seemed almost amateurish.

"Just from those few exchanges, it's clear… Akira's Hakuda is on a completely different level."

Byakuya silently assessed the gap between them. Even among the Gotei 13's vice-captains, Akira's mastery of Hakuda stood at the peak—perhaps only a breath away from a captain's level.

"Damn it! This can't be happening!"

Staggering to his feet, Renji wiped the blood from his nose, his disbelief giving way to burning determination. He refused to accept this humiliation.

Akira stepped forward casually, unfazed. Renji gritted his teeth and charged again, unleashing a relentless barrage of attacks.

But it was futile.

Akira stood firm like an immovable boulder. No matter how fast or ferocious Renji's strikes became, none could find their mark. Instead, each of Akira's counterattacks landed with surgical precision—every blow wearing Renji down.

"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"

The brutal rhythm of fists meeting flesh continued, and when the dust settled, Renji was left battered and bruised.

In stark contrast, Akira remained composed, not a single scratch marring his form.

"Bang!"

A final devastating kick struck Renji's stomach, forcing him to double over and vomit everything he had just eaten.

"Damn it—ahhhhh!"

Overcome with frustration and desperation, Renji roared and reached for his Zanpakutō.

"Don't disgrace yourself further!"

A voice cut through the chaos.

Byakuya Kuchiki appeared in an instant, using Shunpo to place himself beside Renji. With a firm grip, he held Renji back.

"If you are forced to draw your sword in a Hakuda fight, the battle is already lost."

Byakuya's cold voice left no room for argument.

"Abarai—you have been defeated."