NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Inside his personal training space, Uehara Shiroha could sense his shadow clones diligently honing their skills. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he felt more at ease.
Stepping outside, he took a few casual Shunpo strides and arrived at the Eighth Division's barracks in no time.
The First Division bore the responsibility of leading the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, conveying the resolutions of the Central 46, and overseeing official meetings.
Meanwhile, the Eighth Division specialized in intelligence gathering—monitoring the Rukongai districts, compiling reports on Seireitei's various squads, and essentially serving as the eyes and ears of the First Division.
Due to their closely linked roles, a dedicated liaison officer was required to facilitate communication between the two divisions.
That person happened to be Uehara Shiroha.
Through this position, he had naturally become well-acquainted with Kyoraku Shunsui, the Eighth Division's captain.
Over time, they discovered that their personalities, temperaments, and interests aligned perfectly.
One enjoyed slacking off and drinking sake. The other… also enjoyed slacking off and drinking sake.
Thus, their friendship was inevitable.
Frequent visits led to familiarity, and before long, Uehara Shiroha and Kyoraku Shunsui became drinking buddies.
Of course, unlike the perverted old man, Uehara Shiroha had no ulterior motives. He was merely studying the cultural customs of Soul Society while efficiently completing his daily tasks.
On the way to the Eighth Division, Uehara Shiroha encountered no obstacles.
With practiced ease, he reached the captain's office and entered.
Upon seeing him, Kyoraku Shunsui pretended to be hard at work but quickly abandoned the act as he greeted him enthusiastically:
"Shiroha, you're here? What's that? A drink? No, no! Lisa will kill me!
…Wait, why did you already open the sake?
That's top-grade liquor! I got this bottle after serious effort from an old hermit in the mountains!
Alright, alright, just one glass… No more than that!"
Half a day later…
Lisa Yadōmaru, who had just returned from her duties, noticed something odd.
The division members' gazes felt off.
Her heart sank.
Could it be…?
That guy again?!
Without hesitation, Lisa flashed into the captain's office, her mind already prepared for the worst.
Then, she saw it.
Kyoraku Shunsui was swaying drunkenly, singing an indecent tune.
And there, sitting comfortably, was Uehara Shiroha—completely relaxed and smirking.
They had done it again.
Lisa clenched her fists.
Hard.
Her patience snapped.
A large part of the reason she had been drowning in work was because of these two!
Her voice boomed through the office:
"CAPTAIN, TAKE YOUR JOB SERIOUSLY!!
AND STOP DRINKING DURING WORKING HOURS!!"
Uehara Shiroha, with practiced ease, immediately shifted the blame:
"This has nothing to do with me! I just opened the bottle!"
Kyoraku Shunsui gave a sheepish smile and tried to pacify her:
"Ahaha… Lisa-chan, don't be so harsh. It was just a moment of happiness… I'll punish myself with three drinks, and I promise this won't happen again."
"Ha!?"
Lisa's glasses-wearing, seemingly quiet demeanor shattered in an instant.
A terrifying aura of doom radiated from her petite frame as she slowly drew her Zanpakutō, Haguro Tonbo.
"YOU TWO—ENOUGH!!"
Realizing that violence was about to commence, Uehara Shiroha made a swift exit, disappearing with a Shunpō.
As for Kyoraku Shunsui?
He was on his own.
The sounds of pleas for mercy echoed behind him, but Uehara Shiroha remained steadfast in his decision.
Better his survival than both of them suffering.
The wine was finished, the salted fish lifestyle preserved, and the mission successfully completed.
Perfect.
[System Notification]
[Congratulations! You have completed today's daily task. Reward: +1 Reiatsu, +1 Sun Breathing proficiency]
Uehara Shiroha felt a subtle shift in his Reiatsu.
A slight boost, but in Soul Society, Reiatsu is everything.
Battles between Shinigami were battles of spiritual pressure.
The strong overwhelmed the weak—sometimes, a mere glance was enough to erase someone from existence.
Aizen's sheer presence alone had rendered Renji, Hitsugaya, and Komamura completely powerless back then.
In this world, absolute Reiatsu meant absolute authority.
Moreover, the stronger one's Reiatsu, the longer their lifespan.
More time meant more missions, more missions meant greater Reiatsu, and greater Reiatsu meant even more time.
A perfect cycle of power.
Even if his innate spiritual pressure wasn't as monstrous as Aizen's, Uehara Shiroha knew he could still grow infinitely stronger through daily tasks.
This was the exact realm that Aizen had once dreamed of reaching.
Additionally, his Sun Breathing proficiency had increased.
With a single daily task, he had gained deeper insight into its twelve forms.
His strength had improved yet again.
This was the true power of his system.
As long as he stayed alive long enough…
And continued his daily grinding…
He would eventually reach the peak of Soul Society.
In Bleach, Reiatsu classifications were as follows:
20th-Class: Ordinary squad members
10th-Class and above: Eligible for seated officer positions
8th-Class and above: Minimum requirement for Shikai
5th & 4th-Class: Vice-Captain level
3rd-Class: Captain level
Most importantly…
A Shinigami with 3rd-Class Reiatsu could live for a thousand years.
With only daily tasks, Uehara Shiroha could max out every ability effortlessly.
One million daily quests?
Who could possibly compete with that?!
Meanwhile, Back at the Eighth Division…
Kyoraku Shunsui had sobbed himself sober.
Lisa, his ferocious vice-captain, had refined her "physical sobering" technique to perfection.
Watching Uehara Shiroha's hasty retreat, Lisa muttered, her tone filled with irritation:
"Tch. He ran fast. He got off easy."
Kyoraku sighed dramatically.
"You two sure get along well."
Lisa shot him a glare.
"…We are just ordinary book friends. Don't misunderstand."
It was true.
Lisa often visited bookstores to buy and read literature—she was a serious and proper bookworm.
At least, for now, she hadn't fallen into the world of… more peculiar literature.
Since Shiroha frequented the same bookstores, they had simply grown familiar with each other.
Kyoraku smirked knowingly.
"Oh? Just book friends, huh?"
Lisa adjusted her glasses, looking unbothered.
Then, without another word, she flicked her pigtail and left.
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