"Aspiring to greatness and tempering yourselves through relentless effort. Since the day I founded the academy, you are the first students I have personally appointed as Captains." Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto lifted his cane. "I am proud of you. You are like my own children. I have always believed that although our spirits may differ, the path we walk is the same."
His fingers tightened. The wooden staff shattered, revealing the Zanpakutō hidden within.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto gripped the hilt. "And now… I feel nothing but regret."
Jūshirō Ukitake frowned deeply.
"Genryūsai-sensei…"
"Enough. There is no point in saying anything more." Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto drew his Zanpakutō. "Make your move."
Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake drew their blades at the same time. Their Zanpakutō swung forward, yet Yamamoto blocked both attacks effortlessly.
The Haori draped over his shoulders did not even slip. With a simple sweep of his arm, the aged Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto sent both men flying.
"What exactly are you trying to do?" Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's voice turned stern. "You face me in battle and still refuse to release your Zanpakutō?"
"Does this fight really have to happen?" Shunsui Kyōraku adjusted the straw hat on his head. "Old Man Yamamoto…"
"Silence!"
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto cut him off sharply.
"Those who turn a blind eye to justice… this old man will never forgive them."
Shunsui Kyōraku truly did not want to fight Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
"To uphold our own justice… wasn't that what you taught us, Old Man Yamamoto?"
"The one who taught us to pursue it with everything we have…" Jūshirō Ukitake added, "was you, Sensei!"
"You cast aside the justice of the world and still dare speak of personal justice!"
"Then what exactly is this 'justice of the world' you speak of?" Jūshirō Ukitake demanded. "Genryūsai-sensei!"
"Why can't you understand… I've already said it."
The Captain Haori drifted away with the wind. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto removed the upper half of his Shihakushō, revealing a body covered in scars and packed with powerful muscle. His hunched posture straightened.
"Anything more is pointless. Come."
The old man murmured quietly.
"Reduce all creation to ashes… Ryūjin Jakka!"
Blazing flames erupted wildly from the blade, sending Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's long white beard billowing in the air.
Roaring fire surged upward, raging and rolling as it turned the surroundings into a blazing inferno.
This was only Shikai, yet it already displayed a terrifying power surpassing the might unleashed by the Sōkyoku.
Everywhere the eye could see was searing flame. The cold sweat forming on Jūshirō Ukitake's forehead evaporated instantly.
When was the last time he had seen Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto like this?
Anyone who witnessed it even once would have that fear carved deep into their soul.
Even in Shikai, the overwhelming Reiatsu radiated heat intense enough to scorch the sky itself and scatter the clouds.
Where the blade passed, everything in the world was reduced to ashes.
This was the Zanpakutō said to possess the greatest offensive power among all Zanpakutō.
The oldest flame-type Zanpakutō.
Ryūjin Jakka.
Violent flames followed the arc of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's swing, gathering obediently behind him into a blazing ring.
Illuminated by the infernal light, the old man looked like a demon risen from hell.
"What? You still aren't going to release your Zanpakutō?"
Flames coiled around him as waves of scorching heat rolled outward. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto gazed at his prized students.
"I doubt you intend to sit there and quietly accept being reduced to ashes."
"There's no helping it." Shunsui Kyōraku stepped forward. "Let's go, Ukitake."
Jūshirō Ukitake looked at Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and slowly closed his eyes.
The moment he saw the scars covering the old man's body, he understood what his teacher meant by the world's justice.
For a thousand years, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto had protected the stability of Soul Society with this very body.
That stability had not come easily. And once he had secured it, he refused to let it be destroyed.
Anyone who attempted to disrupt the balance of Soul Society became his enemy.
Even if maintaining that stability required personal sacrifice.
This was the conflict between the justice of the world and one's own personal justice.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto upheld the world's justice through his own justice, and what he demanded of himself, he demanded of others as well.
As for how he enforced that belief…
One only had to look at the scars on his body.
Strength spoke more clearly than words ever could.
Just as Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto had said, once conflict reached this point, nothing said afterward would matter.
Only the victor had the right to declare their justice.
Jūshirō Ukitake tightened his grip on his Zanpakutō.
"All Ye Waves, Become My Shield. All Ye Thunder, Become My Blade. Sōgyo no Kotowari!"
His Zanpakutō split into two blades. Branch-like extensions grew from the backs of the swords, and their hilts were connected by a red cord adorned with five wooden tags.
Shunsui Kyōraku held one Zanpakutō in his right hand while drawing the short blade at his waist with his other hand. Crossing the two swords, he spoke.
"The Flowery Winds Become Disturbed, The God Of Flowers Sings, The Heavenly Winds Become Disturbed, The Devil Of Heaven Sneers. Katen Kyōkotsu!"
The twin blades transformed into broad curved swords with circular gaps near the tips, red tassels tied to their hilts.
Unlike the unusual case of Muten Natsu, Sōgyo no Kotowari and Katen Kyōkotsu were the only pair of twin Zanpakutō in all of Soul Society.
Even while standing as enemies, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto could not help but praise them.
"Your bearing hasn't faded at all."
Shunsui Kyōraku's lips twitched slightly.
"Much appreciated."
"Are you… ready?"
Jūshirō Ukitake answered in a steady voice.
"Anytime."
The three moved at the same moment.
Flames surged skyward!
...
Blades rushed toward Muten Natsu from every direction. Their tips spun visibly, their destructive power clearly far greater than before.
Watching the far denser swarm of blades, Muten Natsu's figure flickered. He appeared beside Byakuya Kuchiki.
"Thanks… for your shadow."
The sparse blades from earlier had not cast enough shadow for Muten Natsu to activate Shadow Stealth.
But with so many blades filling the air, even thin ones cast deep shadows.
Clang!
Petals gathered in Byakuya Kuchiki's hand, forming the shape of a long blade that blocked Muten Natsu's strike.
"You have another move?"
"This…" Byakuya Kuchiki said calmly, "is Senbonzakura's true form."
Countless petals rose into the sky, transforming into thousands of pink blades that floated in the air. They formed four circular layers around the battlefield, trapping the two of them inside.
"Senkei. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
Muten Natsu's eyes flickered as he quickly took in the entire battlefield. He raised his hand and swung Bokukō toward Byakuya Kuchiki.
Byakuya Kuchiki opened his hand, catching a second blade that dropped into his palm, and blocked the strike once more.
Muten Natsu immediately kicked forward.
Byakuya Kuchiki reacted faster. He lifted his foot and pressed against Muten Natsu's knee, forcing the leg down.
As a noble, Hakuda was a mandatory part of elite education.
Scales spread across Muten Natsu's body as Hellfire erupted.
With a second burst of strength, Muten Natsu slammed forward and forcibly sent Byakuya Kuchiki flying backward.
Byakuya Kuchiki adjusted his posture midair and landed lightly on the ground.