["You saw it, Shaoling."]
Her father gently stroked Suì-Fēng's hair.
["The princess of the Shihōin Clan, born into the Tenshi Heisōban. Sooner or later, she will become the leader of the Executive Militia. One day you will serve under her and give your life for her. Do you understand, Shaoling?"]
Standing below, Suì-Fēng looked up at the magnificent figure on the high platform, surrounded by attendants.
The golden tassels of her hair ornaments swayed softly, reflecting the brilliance of the setting sun. The princess with golden eyes walked forward with measured steps, layers of ornate robes flowing over one another.
Radiant like a heavenly being.
That was the first time Suì-Fēng saw Yoruichi Shihōin.
Although both were nobles, the difference between their families was immense. Unlike the Shihōin Clan, one of the Four Great Families, the Fēng Clan was a lower noble house whose members had served for generations as executioners and assassins.
Every member of the clan had to join the Executive Militia and devote their entire life to it.
Those who failed to enter the Executive Militia would be exiled by their own kin.
As the ninth generation, Suì-Fēng was the youngest of six siblings. After joining the Executive Militia, she abandoned the name Shaoling Fēng and instead took the name Suì-Fēng, a title once used by her great-grandmother.
Of her five older brothers, two died during their first mission, two during their second, and one during his sixth.
Suì-Fēng mourned their deaths.
At the same time, she felt ashamed of their weakness.
Yoruichi Shihōin.
The twenty-second head of the Shihōin Clan and the first woman to ever hold that position.
Noble. Magnificent. Possessing strength far beyond ordinary people.
She had everything Suì-Fēng longed for.
Suì-Fēng admired that noble figure from afar until her seventh year in the Executive Militia, when she finally had the chance to meet her face to face.
The noble princess was now within arm's reach, leaning casually in the seat of the clan head in a posture so relaxed it almost seemed improper.
["Suì-Fēng is willing to devote her entire life to protecting the Supreme Commander..."]
["Don't call me that. It sounds too cold and distant."]
Yoruichi Shihōin shifted her posture, her slightly curled short hair swaying lightly.
["Use something a bit more casual instead. For example... Yoruichi-sama."]
["Th... that wouldn't be appropriate!"]
Suì-Fēng panicked.
["Addressing the Supreme Commander like that..."]
Yoruichi Shihōin simply looked at her.
There was something in her eyes that was difficult to describe.
Disappointment. Pity. Sympathy. Helplessness.
Or perhaps... sorrow.
["Then... I will call you Yoruichi-sama."]
Under that gaze, the rigid seriousness in Suì-Fēng's voice faded without her noticing.
["Would that be acceptable?"]
["Ha! You're such a stubborn girl. Fine, do as you like."]
Yoruichi Shihōin rested her elbow on her knee and leaned forward slightly.
["I called you here because I admire your strength. What you call me doesn't matter. I'm looking forward to what you can do, Suì-Fēng!"]
["Yes..."]
Suì-Fēng felt her face heat up uncontrollably.
["Yes!"]
Finally... she had drawn close to that figure.
It was somewhat different from what Suì-Fēng had imagined.
Yoruichi Shihōin had none of the restrained arrogance typical of nobles. Instead, she was so casual that it almost felt excessive.
She would eat together with her subordinates and even reach over with her chopsticks to steal the meat from Suì-Fēng's bowl.
She would play with Suì-Fēng's freshly cut short hair and tease her by brushing her own hair against Suì-Fēng's flushed cheeks.
She executed missions perfectly, yet would secretly drag Suì-Fēng to deserted places to play hide-and-seek.
She was the noble head of the Shihōin Clan.
And she was also the Yoruichi-sama Suì-Fēng admired.
Then... she disappeared.
Without even saying goodbye, she vanished from Suì-Fēng's life.
The next day, Central 46 issued a formal charge.
Assisting Kisuke Urahara, Captain of the 12th Division and Director of the Research and Development Institute, who had been sentenced to exile, in escaping, and subsequently fleeing to avoid punishment.
In light of this, Yoruichi Shihōin was stripped of her positions as Supreme Commander of the Onmitsukidō and Commander of the Executive Militia.
She would never again be reinstated.
A hundred years ago, she left without a word.
A hundred years later, she stood within arm's reach.
...Over the past century...
"I..." Suì-Fēng pulled free from Yoruichi Shihōin's warm hand. "I've already surpassed you! I'm stronger than you!"
A fierce wind wrapped around her body as Suì-Fēng launched a relentless assault. Her strikes blended Hakuda techniques with the power of Kidō, crashing toward Yoruichi in a storm of attacks.
"I'm no longer the person I used to be! After being cut off for over a hundred years, your power should have weakened, while mine has grown stronger and stronger!"
Attack after attack failed to land. Suì-Fēng shouted in frustration.
"But why! Why can you still stand in front of me! Why can you still block my attacks! Why can you..."
Tears spilled from her eyes uncontrollably. Suì-Fēng slowly stopped attacking, her voice trembling with grievance.
"Why... didn't you take me with you back then... Yoruichi-sama?"
Yoruichi Shihōin opened her mouth, but no words came out.
BOOM!
Atop the cliff, a violent surge of Reiatsu shot into the sky.
Between pale pink blades, black flames roared. Byakuya Kuchiki's figure flickered repeatedly, moving so fast that it blurred beyond recognition.
The Hell's Eye on Muten Natsu's forehead spun rapidly. Byakuya Kuchiki's speed was simply too great, and it continued to increase. The naked eye could no longer follow him. Only the Hell's Eye could forcibly lock onto his movements.
The eyeball, with pitch-black sclera and crimson pupils, spun in an eerie manner beneath bulging veins. In just a few breaths, it rolled backward seven times.
Sparks burst from the scales on Muten Natsu's back. He swung his blade behind him, but the strike only tore through an afterimage.
At this moment, he resembled Sajin Komamura earlier, surrounded entirely by the flickering presence of Byakuya Kuchiki.
Ink-black blades and hellfire clashed wildly, yet Byakuya Kuchiki always managed to find an opening. His sword thrust straight toward Muten Natsu's forehead.
Black ripples spread open in front of him, blocking Byakuya Kuchiki's blade.
Then...
BOOM!
The ripples suddenly transformed into a ring of black fire that surged forward, crushing everything in its path. It swallowed Byakuya Kuchiki's figure, leaving a hole burned straight through his chest.
The Captain's Haori burned away in the raging hellfire as Byakuya Kuchiki appeared behind Muten Natsu.
Way of Onmitsu, 3rd of the Shihō: Utsusemi.
Like a cicada shedding its shell, it leaves clothing behind to make the opponent believe the attack has landed, while the user uses the opening to counterattack.
If possible, Byakuya Kuchiki would rather not use this technique.
After all, it was something he learned from Yoruichi Shihōin when he was young.
Every time he used it, it reminded him of the humiliation he felt when Yoruichi toyed with him back then.
Using Utsusemi to escape, he adjusted his position with Senka and launched a counterattack.
The combination of these two techniques could reverse the flow of battle in an instant.
If his opponent were not Muten Natsu.
Violent black flames poured out from the scales, erupting in all directions without discrimination.
Byakuya Kuchiki stepped back in advance, avoiding the flames. Then he closed the distance again. Before the scales could fully shut, he thrust his sword straight into the gap.
The closing scales clamped down on the blade.
Muten Natsu swung his sword in a horizontal slash.
Byakuya Kuchiki released the hilt and retreated lightly, drifting backward amid swirling flower petals.