Bleach: Azashiro

After I met zanpakto, a week passed. Every day before going to bed I entered the inner world and tried to get to know my zanpakto better. Last time we met, I tried to find out her name, but she refused to say it until I started my journey. And I accepted it, because so far, all my actions were just preparation.

I've changed a lot in the last 9 years of training, I didn't look like a little boy anymore. I could be confused with a teenager of 16-18 years old. I was still thin and had pale skin. The hairstyle hasn't changed either. I was an exact copy of my father, only younger.

Today is the day of the appointment of the new head of the Shihoin clan and our family has been invited. Initially, I didn't want to go, but the duty of the heir obliges me. I hope I find at least something interesting there.

***

My parents and I walked through the streets of Seireitei, surrounded by guards accompanying us. People parted in front of our procession, some even bowed. Those who live here understand that their safety is ensured by clans, so they have gained the respect of ordinary residents. Of course, they also had a fear of noble families, but usually certain families or their representatives are afraid.

On the way, people in shihakusho patrolling the streets often caught their eye. There were also those who sat in a restaurant or read a book while drinking tea at the table at the entrance to the establishment. Shinigami working for council 46 or noble families often vacation in seireitei and the early districts of Rukongai.

At the entrance to the Shihoin estate, representatives of the clan were already waiting for us along with the guards. Members of the covert operations squad flashed on the roofs of neighboring buildings. Approaching us closer, a tall, slender, middle-aged black man came out to meet us, he had short, disheveled blond hair, a purple hairpin hung from the left side, and gold earrings hung on his ears.

-Not seen Deichi-san for a long time, glad you accepted the invitation, ahaha-at the end, laughing his head up, he said hello to my father.

-Haa, Chika-kun can be quieter. Congratulations, I hope you don't waste all the clan's money on jewelry, my father answered him with a wide smile.

The head of the Shihoin clan choked after my father's words. Mom looked at all this, hiding her smile over her sleeve. And I just stood and looked at them, not understanding what was happening.

Apparently my father and the new head of the Shihoin clan knew each other well. This gave me hope that the evening would not be as boring as I initially expected.

-Hmm, I don't understand what you're talking about, let's go have a better drink, I have sake from the Omaeda clan. - hugging his father by the shoulders and dragging him inside, this character. - Opa, who is this?

Turning sharply, Chika looked at me, attracting the attention of all the people around us.

-My name is Akihiko Azashiro, Chiko-sama. My congratulations will also be nice to meet you. - I introduced myself and bowed, as etiquette required.

-AHH, so you're the kid that Dachey's been telling me all along. And you are not bad, strong. How 16 are you? - this guy rammed around me, almost screaming.

-I'm 14.- closing my eyes, I answered.

-Oh, Keigo-san's replacement is growing, eh!? - after his words, the views of the rest of the Shihoin clan changed, they began to look at me more carefully and evaluate me. Is this how they trust his assessment? I feel like a painting in a gallery, it wasn't very pleasant. - I haven't seen each other for a hundred years, how prettier you are. You're not tired of this boring guy yet, maybe come back to us?

-Ahaha, no thanks, I'm fine with everything. And yes, congratulations on your appointment. All you have to do is find your wife. - after her words, Chika shuddered, and the rest began to laugh, including members of his clan. - Okay, let's go, I haven't seen Hoko for a long time.

"Yes, yes, come in, and I still have to meet the Kuchiki clan", Chika waved his hand, as if driving us away.

-See you inside, Chief of the Ahaha Clan. - to the laughter of my father and the grumbling of the head of the Shihoin clan, we left.

Chika Shihoin is at first glance a rather casual, perhaps eccentric person. But he gave me a feeling of strong oppression and danger. The only one I can compare him to is my grandfather, but even he felt weaker.

-That man, very strong. - I felt a hug from my back and I heard my zanpakto whisper. Having conveyed to her a feeling of gratitude, I followed my father, looking around.

The tables were filled with various dishes and delicacies, sushi, sashimi, caviar, dishes with vegetables and rice. Food was filled with spiritual power by growing vegetables and fish in an environment of increased spiritual strength; just one piece could give the ordinary soul a feeling of extreme satiety and a small increase in reirek.

Among the members of the noble families gathered here, the food did not evoke delight or desire, they were all accustomed to such food. Some may afford to eat such dishes every day, but even among lower families it is not uncommon to see food filled with spiritual power on the table.

The guests divided into groups among themselves, drinking wine and informally discussing something among themselves.

Women were at a distance from their husbands and suitors, whispering about gossip in the seireite and the company of souls, about methods of maintaining their figure and means of beauty.

The men established business relationships, negotiated the supply of their products or washed the seeds of their competitors. Some discussed their training and discoveries along the Shinigami path, but there were few such people.

-Heard the Kobayashi and Nakamura families were involved in the 15th district riots. Is it really that itching for them? -

-You've got to understand, they want more, they're not happy with the current state of affairs. But if they go too far, they will quickly be put in their place.-

-They hurt Ito's family, most of their stores were destroyed. I think if they don't ask for help, Kobayashi and Nakamura won't leave them alone.-

The Ito family is engaged in the cultivation and sale of some medicinal herbs; they were the lowest noble family, only because they lacked knowledge. They grew 4-6 types of medicinal herbs and made decoctions from the bottom for the residents of Rukongai. Families that deal with medicinal herbs in Seireitei did not even pay attention to them.

-It's not yet clear how this will all end, but I saw the head of Clan Ito today.-

The rest laughed after these words. It was clear to everyone present why the head of the clan arrived here. They need to find a protector soon or the Ito family may cease to exist.

***

Sitting at the table, the head of the Shihoin clan, Chika and his friend Deichi Azashiro, communicated pleasantly. At times, Shihoin's loud laughter could be heard from their table. People approached them, congratulating them, but did not dare to stay and interfere with the communication of the two heads of strong clans. Even though Azashiro was not a noble noble family, the strength and influence of their clan was comparable.

The Azashiro rose to prominence during the past chapter, Keigo Azashiro. For 100 years, he has held the position of captain of the Kido detachment. His son, before becoming head of the family, served in the covert operations unit. There he met his future wife and made friends with the new head of the Shihoin clan.

The Azashiro family is known for their knowledge of kido. They sold their services to install barriers and amulets. They had the most complete library on kido practices, spells, spell creation descriptions, mishaps, and ways to create barrier-enhancing objects. All this knowledge, accumulated over hundreds of years, is stored under the strongest barriers and only members of the main branch of the clan have access to it.

All this allowed them to stand on par in strength, influence and knowledge with five noble families.

-Aki, come. - Noticing the figure of his son nearby, Daichi called him. After waiting for his son to approach them, he continued. - Sit down. My friend suggested taking you into his squad. At one time, I also served with him in the secret operations detachment, but here it's up to you to decide.

"Do I have time to think?" Akihiko did not want to give his consent right away, he knew too little about this detachment.

-Yes, sure. I will always be glad to see you in my squad. - instead of my father, Chika answered him.

-Hello, my name is Hanae Ito. I apologize for interrupting. If possible, I would like to talk to you Deichi-dono. - their conversation was interrupted by an old man who bowed deeply. While waiting for an answer, he stood without straightening his back. At the same time, two friends looked at him and looked at each other.

"I'll go find my niece, she must be running somewhere again". - getting up from the table and casually walking towards the hall, Chika left without turning around, waving goodbye to them. Sighing at the behavior of his friend Daichi, he again noticed the old man.

"Well, let's talk". - inviting him to sit down, the head of the Azashiro family told him.

"I would like to ask for help and take a vassal oath". - the old man immediately said, he saw no point in ranting again. Everyone already knew the deplorable state of his family and he had neither the desire nor the strength to delay such conversations.

"Hmm, how many family members and servants do you have left?" answered Dachey, reacting calmly, to such direct words of the old man.

-There are four left in Ito's family, me, my daughter and her children. There are about fifty servants, five of them Shinigami. - The head of the Ito clan did not hide the plight of the clan and told the whole truth. To survive their family, they needed a patron and started a new relationship with lies, he did not want to.

"I see what you think Akihiko is?" I decided to ask my son Deichi for his opinion.

"I don't know much about it, but we need to see what they have to offer", Akihiko replied.

At that moment, a young girl walked quickly to their table, not paying attention to the oblique glances of the people whom she was almost rushing past. Everyone sitting at the table immediately noticed her as soon as she came closer, which is why she suddenly faded and blushed, and lowered her head.

-Sorry.- She seemed to have just realized she was acting inappropriately and could have interrupted her grandfather's important conversation.

After her words, silence reigned for a few seconds. Father and son looked at each other, as if asking if you knew her. But they found a similar misunderstanding of the situation in each other's eyes. At this time, the old man sighed loudly, as if not believing, in the behavior of his granddaughter.

-Please forgive her. My granddaughter, Yasuko Ito. - Hanae Ito said in a doomed voice, pointing his hand in her direction.

"And this is the head of the Azashiro clan and his son, Deichi Azashiro-dono and Akihiko Azashiro-san", he already introduced his interlocutors to his granddaughter.

-Sorry for interfering. I guess I'll go. - not finding a place for herself and realizing that she had interfered with her grandfather's actions, she wanted to leave as soon as possible.

-Go already. - hearing her grandfather's words, she turned around and again, not paying attention to anyone, ran to the other end of the hall. - Eh, I apologize again, she was always like that.

-Father-Akihiko called him, showing with all his appearance that he wanted to talk to him alone. None of them paid attention to the girl's behavior. If Daichi just didn't care and didn't pay attention to her, then his son managed to feel the girl's spiritual strength and this interested him.

-Hanae-san, if I may. - out of politeness, Deichi asked permission to leave, from the head of the Ito clan. After waiting for the nod, father and son retreated to a secluded corner, where they would not be reached by other people's eyes.

"Did something happen?" the father immediately asked how they disappeared around the corner from everyone.

-Yeah, that girl, she's a shinigami and she's got a lot of potential. I think it's worth accepting their offer, if only because of her. - expressed his thoughts about the Ito clan, Akihiko.

"Did you like her?" Dachy seemed to be hit on the head, his son never showed his attention to other girls, and then asks to save the clan, because of one of its representatives.

-No, I don't care about her. But she has great potential, Akihiko replied, with the same calm expression on his face.

-Potential, huh? - Daichi muttered, fading into his thoughts. At this time, Akihiko did not stop him from thinking, he himself was not sure whether one girl with potential was worth so much effort. - Okay, I will order my guard to check her and if he confirms your words, we will accept Ito's family.

Testing the potential of shinigami is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. First of all, it is worth paying attention to the amount of his spiritual strength and his age. The second method is already more complex. You need to feel the quality, strength or level of spiritual strength, call it what you want. There were cases when shinigami had little spiritual power, but the energy itself was denser and stronger than others.

A qualitative increase in spiritual strength in shinigami usually occurs after acquiring shikai and bankai. In the process, usually along with quality, the quantity increases. But there are exceptions; there are souls born with spiritual power of a higher level than all others.

You don't have to look far for an example; Akihiko Azashiro is just such a soul. He was born with a large amount of reireku, as well as the quality of the most spiritual power inherent in people who have mastered shikai.

In the company of souls, such people were protected and tried to tie them to themselves or to their family. They were considered rare talents. If they are allowed to develop and not limited, then they are guaranteed to reach the bankai.

The Azashiro family was no exception, they have a clan, only one Shinigami took possession of a bankai and this is Keigo Azashiro. Getting a would-be bankai user in hand while insulting two lower noble families was a good deal.

Returning to the table at which the head of the Ito clan was sitting, Deichi ordered his guard to check the girl from the Ito clan and immediately report. The fate of Ito's family will depend on the results of the audit.

Thinking about the deplorable situation of someone else's family, the head of the Azashiro clan could only shake his head. He felt sorry for them, but no matter how much he felt sorry for them, Dachy was not ready to just help them. If he decides to take them under the protection of the Azashiro clan, it will mean that he will make himself two enemies in the form of the families responsible for the plight of the Ito clan.

"Deichi-dono, are you ready to give me an answer?" the old man asked somewhat rudely, waiting for Deichi and Akihiko to sit down at the table.

-So far, no. - the old man was disappointed by this answer, but he understood everything. As soon as Hanae Ito wanted to say goodbye and go look for the head of another family, Deichi continued. - I am waiting for my subordinate's report, as soon as he returns, I will be ready to respond to your proposal.

-Thank you-thank him Hanae, realizing he was too hasty and somewhat rude. One could understand him, as the old man himself thought, he did not have much time to enlist support.

After five minutes of waiting for the conversations, the security guard sent by Daichi returned.

-Daichi-sama, I checked her out. The girl has about the same amount of spiritual power as me. - the guard whispered in Daichi's ear. It was noticeable that he himself was surprised by the result.

"Okay, free". - Having let his subordinate go, Deichi waited until he moved a sufficient distance so as not to hear their conversation and continued. - Hanae-san, I will accept your offer.

-Thank you, Deichi-dono.- the old man hastily stood up from the table to bow and thank him.

"It's okay, you should thank my son, because he saw potential in your granddaughter". - smiling at the old man's behavior, Dachey turned his attention to his son.

"Thank you, Akihiko-san", he bowed again, but in the direction of the young man.

"Well, since we decided this, now I would like to know the state of your family's business and territories", clapping Daichi's hands, I decided to learn more about the state of Ito's family.