Bleach: Reborn — Chapter 152 - Come On In, the Water's Fine

"Cap~~tain~~ please, just help Hinamori's big brother~"

Night had fallen over the 10th Division barracks. Inside the captain's office, Isshin Shiba sat with a thoroughly blank expression, eyes practically rolled back in his head, as his lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto shook him by the arm. She'd been at it for nearly ten minutes.

"Alright, alright. Enough shaking." Isshin rubbed his spinning head. "At least tell me what's going on."

About half an hour earlier, Wayne and Rangiku had arrived at the 10th Division together and found Isshin in his office. The moment they stepped through the door, Rangiku launched into a full barrage of wheedling, hoping her captain would help Wayne out. She hadn't breathed a word about the actual situation, though. Whether he agreed or not could wait. First: shake him dizzy.

"How am I supposed to help if I don't even know what this is about?" Isshin massaged his temple and pushed the clinging Rangiku away.

"Here's the situation." Wayne respectfully handed over the letter and the vial.

"Oh?" Isshin's eyebrow lifted at the two items. He began reading. His expression turned grave within moments. Setting the envelope down, he laced his hands before him and sank into a brief silence.

Rangiku stood aside without interrupting. She knew the captain had entered work mode, no more making a fuss. Wayne simply stood before Isshin, quietly studying the man who would one day be the protagonist's father.

In the manga Wayne remembered, this oblivious dad's backstory hadn't been covered in much detail. What he knew was this: Isshin was head of the Shiba branch family. Not long after the missing-captain incident, he had become captain of the 10th Division, and the family behind him had entered its golden age. But the good times didn't last. Aizen's schemes sent Isshin to the World of the Living, where he encountered White, and Masaki Kurosaki. Aizen, playing an unlikely matchmaker, let that accident run its course. It led to the birth of Ichigo Kurosaki. It also drove Isshin Shiba out of Soul Society.

Isshin's departure left the great Shiba house to be devoured by countless mid- and minor-ranking nobles. In the end, only a single residence remained in West Rukongai. Everything else was sold off. Through years of political struggle, his family died or fled, until only his nephew Kaien Shiba was left, escaping pursuit with his younger sister Kukaku and youngest brother Ganju. A noble house of the age, fallen.

Hah... to think I'd be leaning on the Shiba name before their fall. Wayne mused inwardly. Human or Hollow, he had never imagined himself tangled in a struggle of vested interests. But here he was. He had no choice but to find a way to stabilize things first.

After a long silence, Isshin finally spoke. "The Nishikawa family is a representative mid-ranking noble house. Their individual strength is nothing to fear. The difficulty is that they can rally quite a few smaller houses. Combined, their power is enough to arm-wrestle even the Four Great Noble Houses."

His tone was heavy. "Tsukishiro Hinamori — this letter of yours carries weight on the surface. But even handled well, it won't deal any truly deep damage to the Nishikawa family. I want to ask you: how far do you intend to take this?"

Wayne understood. He was a nobody from Rukongai who had stumbled into a noble power struggle. Whether he wanted to protect himself or strike a decisive blow, his choice mattered. It also determined whether Isshin had any reason to sacrifice family interests to shelter this young seedling before him.

"I'm just a nobody. I have no footing in a war between noble houses. All I ask is to keep myself and my family safe." Wayne's expression was solemn.

"I've looked into your background. You arrived in Rukongai only a few months ago — not even half a year. Momo Hinamori, who came with you, is the only family you have from there. Beyond her, there's an old woman who grows watermelons and a white-haired kid you're close with. Are they the ones you want to protect?" As the standout first-year talent at Shin'ō Academy, the captains had long since compiled a full profile on him. Naturally, they hadn't overlooked Shiro-chan's family either.

"Yes." Wayne nodded once.

"Momo Hinamori is no concern — she's already a student at the academy. As for the watermelon-growing household..." Isshin let the words trail off, as if waiting for Wayne's reaction.

Wayne let out a long breath. "Captain Shiba. Let's make a deal." He'd thought it over and decided to lay things out plainly.

"Oh?" Isshin's interest was piqued. The student before him wasn't looking to attach himself to anyone, he wanted to reach his goal through a transaction. Ambitious.

"To be honest, I owe a debt to Yui Mizusue, 7th Seat of the 4th Division. Joining the 4th Division in the future is something I couldn't in good conscience refuse. So if you're hoping I'll join the 10th Division, that's nearly impossible. For that reason, I can only offer a different bargaining chip."

"And what chip is that?"

"My future."

"Hmm?" The answer caught Isshin off guard. "Go on."

"Right now I'm just a first-year student. But in the future, I believe I can become a Soul Reaper who stands on his own. By then, I expect I'll be of use to you."

"You're writing me a blank check." Isshin didn't sound angry, if anything, he seemed amused. "Since it's a blank check, lay your chips out plainly. Let me know exactly what you intend to do."

"The Shiba family is one of the Four Great Noble Houses. Yet the captain is head of the branch family, not the main house." Wayne spoke without mincing words. That single sentence made Isshin's gaze narrow, his expression turning serious. Clearly, this brat knew something about his family's internal affairs.

"As far as I know, the Shiba main house hasn't produced anyone of supreme strength in a very long time. After you succeeded as 10th Division captain, the main house's attitude toward the branch house shifted to something closer to apprehension. I imagine your nephew Kaien Shiba is feeling considerable pressure over at the 13th Division right about now."

"You know quite a bit about my family." Isshin's expression had already turned displeased.

"Investigation works both ways. You've got a thorough grasp of my situation, naturally I had to understand what stands behind you. Otherwise, how could I dare come here seeking your support?" Eyes closed, Wayne paid no mind to the faint Reiatsu Isshin was now radiating. He pressed on. "When the head of the main house is weaker than the head of a branch house — even if you yourself care nothing about it — the main house still feels the pressure. At that point, to balance power between the two sides, the main house essentially has two options: strengthen themselves, or weaken their opponent."

"Keep going." Isshin straightened slightly in his seat. As head of the branch house, he had never stopped to consider whether becoming captain had brought his family prosperity or pressure. They all bore the name Shiba. No matter what, they were connected by blood. So when Wayne spoke those words, Isshin instinctively found himself wanting to listen.

"My bargaining chips are these. Within the next five years, I will do three things." Wayne extended one finger. "One. Izuru Kira and I are close. His family isn't among the powerful noble houses, but it is a noble family nonetheless. Within five years, I will help Izuru demonstrate his strengths, take hold of his family, and have them become a vassal to the Shiba main house, strengthening it. A piece on the board, drawing the main house and branch house closer and maintaining balance between the two."

He paused, then extended a second finger.

"Two. I can't join the 10th Division. But within five years, I will cultivate an outstanding newcomer to join the 10th Division and help you handle affairs within it."

A third finger.

"Three. Within five years, I will bring my own strength above the top five seats of the 10th Division. And I promise that for as long as I remain in the Seireitei, I will support the Shiba branch house and protect your descendants. Even if your descendants wish to claim the main house in the future, I will stand on their side."

"Enough!" Isshin's brow furrowed tightly. "Your ambitions are too large."

"I'm only trying to protect myself. To keep myself and my family safe, I don't mind using methods that aren't entirely above board." Wayne lowered his hand. "Besides, you haven't taken a wife yet, have you? Who can say how the future will unfold? Is it not a fine thing to find your future child a bodyguard who'll be at least vice-captain level?"

"Hmph. You think becoming a vice-captain is that easy?" Isshin was displeased. He glanced at Rangiku beside him and hastily added, "Reiatsu level isn't everything, it's only one condition. Beyond that, one needs outstanding ability to handle all manner of affairs. What I value most about Matsumoto is her handling of... ahem, ahem, ahem." He broke into a sudden coughing fit to cover his awkwardness.

"In any case, these blank checks of yours look promising, but they're far too distant. For promises like these, you expect me to pressure an established mid-ranking noble house? I don't see any tangible benefit."

"That's simple. I just need to drag you in with me." Wayne smiled faintly. "Captain Shiba, please seal off the Reiatsu in this room."

As though he already knew Wayne was about to show him something, Isshin raised a hand and swept it out, enveloping the entire room in his own Reiatsu. Wayne began slowly raising his. One level. Two levels. The pressure kept climbing, all the way to the level of a Seated Officer within the top twenty before he stopped. Reiatsu at its peak, Wayne drew his katana. Rippling layers of Reiatsu crawled up the blade.

"Captain Shiba. Forgive my rudeness."

He shot forward in a single explosive step and swung a full-force strike straight at Isshin.

CLANG!

The sharp ring of metal. Isshin caught the blade barehanded, effortlessly stopping Wayne's thunderous slash.

"This Reiatsu level... you already have the capability of the top twenty seats." Isshin's gaze warmed with approval. "No wonder you said you had a chance of reaching the top five within five years. Turns out that was a conservative estimate. I underestimated you." He paused. "But how long can you maintain Reiatsu at this level? I heard you used some kind of secret technique?"

"Guidance I happened to receive from a senior. They passed on a special secret method of Reishi circulation, it can briefly amplify Reiatsu intensity. Roughly ten minutes." Wayne told a casual lie. Showing Isshin this level of strength was sufficient for now. If he truly forced out his full power, his Reiatsu would nearly rival the 3rd or 4th Seat level, and Isshin would likely report him up the chain immediately. That wasn't good. At this stage, he couldn't let the old man or heavyweights like Aizen focus their attention on him. A measured degree of notice was enough.

"Hmm... with a boost like that, you should be able to break into the top four, shouldn't you?" Isshin stroked his chin in thought. "But what does any of this have to do with dragging me in?"

"Are you aware of the betting pool around the Ranking Tournament?" The corners of Wayne's mouth curved into a satisfied smile.

Over the next hour, through Wayne's vivid explanation and Rangiku's enthusiastic embellishments, their thoroughly swindled Captain Isshin Shiba was successfully dragged in.

"If the Captain-Commander finds out, he'll definitely have my head." Isshin covered his face and, with a pained expression, handed a thick stack of personal funds over to Rangiku.

"Don't worry, Captain, only the three of us know. We make money together." Rangiku gave her captain a flirtatious wink. "If things go smoothly, we'll make quite a tidy profit. Then the captain can live a little more comfortably, right?"

"Ugh... go on, go on. Before I change my mind." Isshin waved his hand and shooed Rangiku out of the office, leaving Wayne alone.

"Well then. Our preliminary deal is settled. How do you want me to help you? Join my family, or become my retainer?"

"Retainer suits me fine. I prefer to remain free." Wayne spoke with neither deference nor arrogance. "Over the next five years, I will fulfill my promises. Within those five years, I hope Captain Shiba will grant me a degree of protection. After five years, I will return with bargaining chips substantial enough to satisfy you."

"Hmm... if that's the case..." Isshin acknowledged the deal, rose from his seat, and walked over to Wayne. He handed him a small protective charm and an armband.

"This is a charm I made myself. In a critical moment, tear it apart, the talisman inside will save your life, and I'll receive the signal. The armband bears my Shiba family crest: the Collapsing Falling Vortex. Wear it, and the noble houses will know you are a retainer of the Shiba family."

"Very well. Thank you, Captain Shiba." The shift in address signaled Wayne's acceptance of the deal. "Then, as we just discussed, after five years, I will deliver on my promises and part ways with the Shiba family. And as for our wager: eighty-twenty split. The money goes to you. The Ranking Tournament prize goes to me."

"Ah. Deal."

Dear Vasto Lorde readers, happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

➤ Next: The Quarterfinals