"So..." Hisana Kuchiki's gentle eyes brightened after hearing Rukia Kuchiki recount what had happened. "You're the first person to reclaim your Zanpakutō?"
"I think so," Rukia Kuchiki replied uncertainly. "I just encountered a materialized Zanpakutō earlier than everyone else."
"Don't be too modest. You earned this through your own effort." Hisana Kuchiki patted Rukia Kuchiki's hand. "I already know about Byakuya Kuchiki's disappearance."
Rukia Kuchiki had come all this way specifically because she was afraid her sister would worry too much about Byakuya Kuchiki.
Hisana Kuchiki had always been frail. If she became too emotionally distressed, it could easily put her in danger.
"We'll find him as soon as possible. Byakuya Kuchiki's Shunpo is among the best in Soul Society. Even if he runs into danger, he's more than capable of getting away safely," Muten Natsu said. "Besides, Soul Society is a mess right now. No one has time to accuse him of abandoning his post when even the Captain-Commander is missing. It shouldn't be a problem."
Hisana Kuchiki looked at Muten Natsu. He was clearly trying to reassure her, yet his gaze had remained on Rukia Kuchiki the entire time. The corners of her lips twitched slightly.
"I wasn't worried to begin with. Now that I've seen the two of you, I'm even less worried. Byakuya Kuchiki is probably..."
Hisana Kuchiki paused, then gently shook her head. A faint smile appeared on her somewhat pale face.
"Never mind. What I wanted to say is that you don't need to spend your energy looking for Byakuya Kuchiki. Since he deliberately concealed his Reiatsu, he probably doesn't want anyone to find him. Just act as though he never disappeared and go do whatever it is you want to do."
Rukia Kuchiki nodded. "Then you shouldn't worry too much either, Sister. As more and more people reclaim their Zanpakutō, things in Seireitei will definitely improve."
"Mm. I believe in all of you. Oh, right. Let me see your Sode no Shirayuki." Hisana Kuchiki's eyes shone with anticipation. "You don't get many chances like this."
Rukia Kuchiki hesitated, but faced with her sister's expectant gaze, she still called out, "Sode no Shirayuki."
Swirling snow gathered beside Rukia Kuchiki, taking the form of a woman dressed in a white long-sleeved kimono. Her snow-white hair flowed loosely down her back.
Sode no Shirayuki greeted Hisana Kuchiki. "Big Sister."
"She's so beautiful~" Hisana Kuchiki couldn't help but marvel. "As expected of the most beautiful Zanpakutō in Soul Society."
"I think so too." Muten Natsu nodded in agreement. "Especially her hair..."
As he spoke, his hand had already begun drifting toward Sode no Shirayuki of its own accord.
Smack!
Flushed with embarrassment and irritation, Rukia Kuchiki slapped his hand away. "Keep your hands to yourself."
"I haven't even used my feet..." Muten Natsu looked aggrieved.
Rukia Kuchiki knew he was hopeless. "So you really were planning to use your feet too?!"
"That's not what I meant." Muten Natsu lowered his hand. "I just like Sode no Shirayuki's hair so much that I couldn't help myself."
Sode no Shirayuki tilted her head slightly. "I like you too."
"Me?" Muten Natsu scratched his head. "My hair's pretty ordinary."
Sode no Shirayuki gently shook her head. "I mean I like you."
"Shut uuuuup!" Rukia Kuchiki hurriedly tried to cover Sode no Shirayuki's mouth. This was exactly what she had been worried about.
"I'm only saying what's in your heart." Using her height advantage, Sode no Shirayuki caught Rukia Kuchiki's hand. "Don't you want me to say how you really feel?"
"I do," Muten Natsu answered for her.
Rukia Kuchiki's face turned bright red. "You shut up too!"
Muten Natsu vaguely sensed something and suddenly felt a chill run through him. He nervously glanced from side to side.
"Oh my~" Hisana Kuchiki smiled gently. "Looks like you finally admitted it."
"Why does everyone react like that..." Rukia Kuchiki muttered. "Was it really that obvious?"
Hisana Kuchiki covered her mouth and laughed softly. "The feelings you're trying to hide are still quite obvious."
"...What are you laughing at?!" Rukia Kuchiki glared at Muten Natsu. "Fine! I like you. I really, really like you. So what?!"
"I'm happy. What else am I supposed to say..." Muten Natsu's face reddened as he looked away from Rukia Kuchiki.
"Hm?" Rukia Kuchiki noticed something interesting. "Huh? Weren't you staring at me just now? Why won't you look at me anymore? Could it be..."
"I'm just..." With nowhere left to retreat, Muten Natsu raised his eyes and met Rukia Kuchiki's gaze. "I'm warning you. I'm having a really hard time holding myself back right now. If you come any closer..."
"What happens if I come closer?" Rukia Kuchiki gave a soft snort and leaned toward Muten Natsu.
The moment she saw the sudden danger in his eyes, she immediately straightened up.
"You... I... My sister is still here!"
Muten Natsu had definitely been about to kiss her.
Definitely!
Hisana Kuchiki: "..." So I'm still here, huh.
"There's a sudden surge of Reiatsu!" Rukia Kuchiki sensed the burst of Reiatsu and hurriedly pulled Muten Natsu to his feet. "Sister, stay home and get some rest. Muten and I will go check it out!"
"Go ahead. Don't worry about me."
Hisana Kuchiki watched the two leave, then tilted her head slightly.
"They're gone."
"Hisana..." Byakuya Kuchiki appeared inside the room.
Facing his wife, Byakuya Kuchiki's expression remained unchanged, but his gaze was clearly no longer as cold as usual.
"Aren't you going to ask why I concealed my Reiatsu?"
"I was curious at first, but after seeing Muten, I had a rough idea." Hisana Kuchiki spoke slowly. "You're planning to handle this the way Muten would, aren't you?"
Byakuya Kuchiki murmured, "...There may soon be reports that I've rebelled."
"I won't believe them." Hisana Kuchiki smiled softly. "Because I know that if you really intended to rebel, you would definitely take me with you."
Byakuya Kuchiki gently took his wife's hand. "It'll be over soon. I'll bring this whole matter to an end."
"Mm. I'll wait for you to come back." Hisana Kuchiki clasped Byakuya Kuchiki's hand in return. "Then we can discuss Rukia Kuchiki and Muten's wedding together."
Byakuya Kuchiki's expressionless face visibly stiffened.
His gaze returned to its usual icy coldness.
Perhaps it was even colder than usual.
...
"Shunsui!" Jūshirō Ukitake hurried over to Shunsui Kyōraku. "Still no word from the Captain-Commander?"
Now that his health had improved somewhat and he understood the current situation, Jūshirō Ukitake could no longer rest peacefully.
"There's still no news. We do have reports of Zanpakutō causing destruction all over the place, though." Shunsui Kyōraku sighed. "According to information from the 4th Division, if we want a materialized Zanpakutō to return to normal, we need to find it, defeat it, and force it back into its inner world so communication can be restored. That process will inevitably take a great deal of time. There's no way they'll simply sit around doing nothing while we're occupied with that."
Jūshirō Ukitake's eyes shifted slightly. "What if it's actually the exact opposite?"
"You mean..."
Jūshirō Ukitake elaborated, "Maybe we're not the ones who need time to reclaim our Zanpakutō. Maybe Muramasa needs time to accomplish something, and that's why he caused the Zanpakutō to rebel."
Shunsui Kyōraku gave a wry smile. "Or rather, whoever knows Muramasa can make Zanpakutō rebel needs time to accomplish something."
"The biggest problem right now is that we simply don't have enough information." Jūshirō Ukitake frowned deeply. "We know almost nothing about Muramasa or the Zanpakutō. What are they trying to do? How are they going to do it? What exactly are they trying to achieve...?"
...
[What are we supposed to do?] The light screen floated above the yawning Bokukō's head. [How are we supposed to do it, and what are we trying to achieve?]
"Why do you have so many questions?" A pair of emerald-green eyes glanced toward the screen from the darkness. "Myōki?"
"Myōki and Bokukō were the last ones to gain their freedom, so they know even less than the rest of us," the one-eyed woman said. "Of course they have plenty of questions. Unless they're spies, perhaps?"
"Are you spies?" A pair of children dressed in blue hunting robes spoke one after the other. "Did you come here to gather information?"
With a rustle, the kimono-clad girl shifted. The ends of the pink ribbons she wore were decorated with golden bells, each about the size of two human heads.
"Hyōrinmaru lost his memories, so he knows even less, but I haven't seen him asking question after question."
"You lost your memory~" The twins in blue hunting robes crowded around the tall man whose face bore a cross-shaped scar where a thin layer of ice had split apart. "You don't remember anything?"
The man furrowed his brow and closed his blue eyes.
[I've had enough of Muten Natsu drifting through life without a plan.] The words on the screen above Bokukō's head changed. [From now on, I'm going to make a plan and accomplish every goal I set for myself one step at a time.]
"Exactly..." Muramasa emerged from the darkness. "That is also my goal. Freedom."
His gaze swept over the many materialized Zanpakutō. Blood-red tears seeped from the corners of Muramasa's eyes.
"I helped all of you because I wanted everyone to break free from their restraints. That is why I will never give you orders. I will not become another shackle binding you. Go. Enjoy your freedom."
"Hahahahahahaha!" An arrogant laugh rang out. "That's how it should've been from the start! What's the point of hiding around here? We should just go out and get rid of every Shinigami standing in our way!"
"Why are you so reckless?" A slightly shrill yet cute voice rang out. "Honestly, impatient men aren't popular."
"This has nothing to do with being popular," another voice declared solemnly. "Only sufficient caution can lead us to victory."
"Huff~"
Amid the heavy breathing, a ball of flame suddenly blazed brighter.
"Caution is certainly necessary," Muramasa reminded them. "Sode no Shirayuki has already been defeated. Sakanade, Tachikaze, and Kinshara were captured, and they will probably suffer the same fate. We should be gaining companions, not steadily losing them."
[I recommend Ryūjin Jakka.] New words appeared on Bokukō's screen. [With Ryūjin Jakka's power, every problem can be solved.]
"We'll have it." Muramasa wiped the bloody tears from the corners of his eyes. "Very soon."
A long-haired young man carrying a huge iron ball on one shoulder and a stone slab on his back, his body wrapped in chains, spoke in a low voice.
"If even one Zanpakutō is reclaimed, the Shinigami will discover how to subdue us. Then they'll use their advantage in numbers to set traps and capture more Zanpakutō. The more Shinigami regain their original power, the more Zanpakutō will be captured... We're already out of options."
"Hold it right there!" A somewhat rough female voice snapped. "Who would fall into a trap that easily?!"
The darkness went silent.
Every gaze turned toward a plump figure.
"Huh?"
The chubby red-haired man had his chest exposed and was taking a huge bite from a fried pancake. He looked up blankly.
"Why's everyone staring at me?"
A young boy warned him with grave sincerity, "Gegetsuburi, whatever you do, don't fall into a Shinigami trap."
Gegetsuburi took another bite of the large pancake.
"How could I possibly fall into a Shinigami trap...?"
...
"Would anyone seriously fall for a trap this obvious?" Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa hid in the shadows, watching Marechiyo Ōmaeda in the distance. "At this point, can you even call it a trap?"
The broad street was packed from end to end with food stalls. A huge group of people bustled around preparing all kinds of food, the mingled aromas spreading through the surrounding streets.
There was also an enormous banner.
Everything Free Today!
"It should... probably... maybe... possibly... work," Yumichika Ayasegawa said hesitantly. "Ōmaeda designed this trap specifically for Gegetsuburi. He definitely knows Gegetsuburi better than we do."
"But he's standing right there. It couldn't be more obvious what he's doing." Ikkaku Madarame's bald head gleamed brightly. "Even if Gegetsuburi gets lured over here, the moment he sees Ōmaeda, there's no way he'll come any closer... He's here!"
Marechiyo Ōmaeda was stuffing rice crackers into his mouth when he turned and spotted the red-haired fat man.
Gegetsuburi pointed toward the takoyaki on one of the stalls. "It's really free?"
The vendor nodded vigorously. "Completely free!"
"Then don't mind if I do!"
Gegetsuburi's chubby hands were astonishingly nimble. Holding a skewer, he stabbed five takoyaki in rapid succession and shoved them all into his mouth at once.
"Delicious!"
"Hm?" Marechiyo Ōmaeda walked over. "Could you be...?"
"Huh? It's you." Gegetsuburi quickly speared several more takoyaki. "That's right! I'm Gegetsuburi!"
The two stared at each other.
Then they both burst out laughing.
"I see..." Marechiyo Ōmaeda slapped Gegetsuburi on the shoulder. "So you're Gegetsuburi! As expected of my Zanpakutō. You actually look pretty handsome!"
"Hah? What are you talking about?" Gegetsuburi complained irritably. "Have you ever looked in a mirror? You're bald and still have the nerve to act so smug."
"I'm... I'm not bald!" Marechiyo Ōmaeda corrected him with an ugly expression. "It's a hairstyle! Do you even understand what a hairstyle is?!"
"Ugly." Gegetsuburi looked utterly disgusted, sparing him no dignity whatsoever. "It's because you're always like this that I ended up materializing in this form."
Gegetsuburi tugged at the roll of fat hanging from his stomach and came away with a greasy hand.
"What did you say?" Marechiyo Ōmaeda's face twisted. "You're my Zanpakutō, yet your sense of aesthetics is this warped?!"
"How could anything that comes out of your mouth possibly have anything to do with aesthetics?!" Gegetsuburi's gaze hardened as a massive flail dropped into his hand. "You're ugly without even realizing it, and you still dare criticize me?"
"You want a fight?" Marechiyo Ōmaeda drew his Zanpakutō. "Come on! I'll make you submit right here!"
Gegetsuburi snorted. "If you think you can do it, then come and try!"
Despite both taking offensive stances, neither made the first move. Instead, they watched each other warily while slowly circling.
Only after nearly all the surrounding stall owners had fled did the two roar at the same time and instantly jump backward, widening the distance between them.
"Like owner, like Zanpakutō." Ikkaku Madarame stared at them speechlessly. "If it were me..."
"You definitely wouldn't back away," a muscular man said. "Right?"
"Oh?"
Ikkaku Madarame turned and stared at the burly man with long orange hair and a thick beard.
"I was just thinking that ambushes and sneak attacks aren't my style. It's perfect that you came to find me yourself, Hōzukimaru!"
"We finally meet, partner!"
Hōzukimaru tightened his grip on his spear and thrust straight toward Ikkaku Madarame's chest.
Ikkaku Madarame raised his Zanpakutō in front of him, but the tremendous force still sent him flying.
Without so much as glancing at Yumichika Ayasegawa nearby, Hōzukimaru spun his spear and leaped after him.
The battle had only just begun, yet it immediately reached a fever pitch.
Ikkaku Madarame gripped his sheath in one hand and his Zanpakutō in the other, unleashing a relentless storm of attacks at Hōzukimaru.
Hōzukimaru whirled his spear, blocking Ikkaku Madarame's attacks one after another.
"Look over there!" Marechiyo Ōmaeda pointed at Ikkaku Madarame's gleaming head. "That's what bald looks like!"
"You're the one who's bald!" Veins bulged on Ikkaku Madarame's forehead. "I shave my head!"
"See?" Gegetsuburi had found himself a witness. "Even the bald guy says you're bald."
Ikkaku Madarame ground his teeth and decided that once he was done cutting down Hōzukimaru, he was going to cut down Marechiyo Ōmaeda and Gegetsuburi too.
"Don't let it bother you." Hōzukimaru's absurdly thick mane of hair whipped around like a lion's. "It's only hair. No need to take it personally."
"You shut up too!"
Ikkaku Madarame's attacks became even faster.
"If Hōzukimaru is here, then that means..." Yumichika Ayasegawa's gaze shifted. "You must be here too, Fuji Kujaku."
"Ah... that's right."
A graceful figure emerged.
The sleeves on Fuji Kujaku's arms were made from peacock feathers and spread like wings. His handsome face held an icy expression.
"I'm here to rip your mouth apart."
Clang!
Yumichika Ayasegawa raised his Zanpakutō and blocked the four curved blades Fuji Kujaku had spread open like a fan.
"You really are short-tempered, Fuji Kujaku."
Fuji Kujaku kicked toward Yumichika Ayasegawa's chest and hissed, "I told you. My name is Ruri'iro Kujaku."
Yumichika Ayasegawa flashed backward. "Doesn't Fuji Kujaku suit the way you look right now?"
Fuji Kujaku's eyes turned murderous. "Call me by any other name again and I'll kill you!"
"I'm terrified..." The corners of Yumichika Ayasegawa's lips rose. "Fuji. Ku. Ja. Ku~"
"Haaaah!"
Fuji Kujaku let out a long breath.
"I was furious enough to die just now, but then I saw the way you hold your blade... So beautiful. All my anger disappeared."
Yumichika Ayasegawa froze for a moment. "You're not too bad yourself, actually."
"I simply put a little more effort into it than you."
Fuji Kujaku pinched two fingers together.
"I'll give you some of my feathers. Looking at those fake things on your face is simply painful, though I suppose fake decorations suit you perfectly. And your taste in Shihakushō is appalling. You should put a little more effort into it. Then again, considering how rough your skin is, perhaps this is already the best you can manage."
"You bastard..."
Yumichika Ayasegawa turned and rushed in another direction.
"You don't want anyone else seeing my ability, so you're heading somewhere secluded?" Fuji Kujaku followed close behind. "Fine. I'll grant your wish and let you die in peace."
"Let's find somewhere quiet too!" Ikkaku Madarame knocked Hōzukimaru's attack aside. "Then we can really cut loose!"
"Looks like you can't wait..." Hōzukimaru laughed loudly, turned, and charged into the distance. "Neither can I!"
"Why is everyone leaving?!"
Seeing Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa depart, Marechiyo Ōmaeda waved his hand and ordered the Onmitsukidō.
"Capture him!"
Several figures shot toward Gegetsuburi, moving so quickly they blurred.
But something else was faster.
A spinning Kama whirled through the air, knocking several members of the Onmitsukidō back as scarlet blood sprayed outward.
"Hahahahahahaha!"
A demonic black silhouette wrapped in an ominous red glow laughed wildly as it caught the Kama and lunged toward the wounded Onmitsukidō.
"Stop!"
Shūhei Hisagi raised his blade and blocked the black figure, forcing the name through clenched teeth.
"Kazeshini..."
"I told you..." Unlike most other materialized Zanpakutō, Kazeshini looked entirely like a black shadow, resembling a vicious demon. "I've told you so many times..."
The other Kama came at Shūhei Hisagi from the side, but he stepped backward and avoided it.
"Offer it up..."
Kazeshini hurled the Kama after him. With a tug of the chain, he made its already unpredictable trajectory even more erratic.
"Offer it up!"
The unending assault forced Shūhei Hisagi to retreat again and again, while Kazeshini's voice grew more frenzied.
"Fill my soul! Hurry and offer up your blood and your life!"
"I... don't fight so you can drink my enemies' blood."
Shūhei Hisagi raised one hand.
"Bakudō #62: Hyapporankan!"
A pillar of light shot from Shūhei Hisagi's hand toward Kazeshini. It split apart in midair, scattering wildly before raining down one after another.
"If you refuse to offer it up..." Kazeshini swung his Kama and knocked the pillars of light away. "Then I'll just take it myself!"
The spinning Kama swept past Shūhei Hisagi's cheek.
His pupils abruptly contracted.
Blood seeped from the gash that opened across his face.
Fear...
Fear.
The fear he had deliberately sealed deep inside his mind had awakened once again.
What did his inner world truly look like?
Most Shinigami looked forward to seeing their own inner worlds.
But Shūhei Hisagi felt far more fear than anticipation.
It was a world... he could not accept.
An enormous tree was so vast that it gave the illusion of standing in the depths of a forest. Countless green leaves surrounded everything, while thick branches spread beneath his feet. Only tiny glimpses of the ground could be seen through the gaps.
A colossal black windmill towered over a vast flat area formed by the giant tree's branches.
The air was heavy with the smell of rust and machine oil. The windmill's gears, pulleys, and other mechanical components were exposed, all covered in dark red rust. Chains connected the machinery together, creaking continuously as the windmill turned.
As the windmill rotated, fierce black winds howled through the surroundings.
Every green leaf touched by the wind changed color and withered away.
Meanwhile, the windmill spun more violently, gradually coming alive.
This was... Kazeshini.
The wind that brings death.
An existence that sustains its own life by destroying the lives of others.
Shūhei Hisagi feared such an existence.
He feared such power...
He feared this part of himself.
His fear that such a nature existed within him had even surpassed his fear of the nature itself.
Shinigami killed Hollows not out of hatred, but to purify them.
And yet, despite being a Shinigami, deep within his heart he craved blood and life.
Shūhei Hisagi refused to accept that part of himself.
But now, that very part of him was standing right in front of him.
"I really ought to find you a mirror," Kazeshini said as his attacks continued without pause. "Then you could see what you look like right now!"
"A Zanpakutō is the mirror of a Shinigami's soul..."
Using his knowledge of Kazeshini, Shūhei Hisagi accurately predicted the Kama's path and blocked the attack.
"I'll subdue you and change what you are!"
"This is what you are!" Kazeshini laughed madly as he continued his assault. "Shūhei Hisagi, you can't change it!"
Sparks flew.
The crisp clash of steel carried a chilling killing intent, making Marechiyo Ōmaeda increasingly uneasy.
Originally, he had planned for Yumichika Ayasegawa and Ikkaku Madarame to help him ambush Gegetsuburi.
Instead, more and more enemies kept appearing.
If even one more showed up, they would no longer be ambushing the Zanpakutō.
The Zanpakutō would be ambushing them.
If they set an ambush only to get ambushed themselves, that would be...
Crackle!
A bolt of purple lightning suddenly crashed down.
If Marechiyo Ōmaeda had not dodged in time, he would probably have ended up shattered just like the ground beneath him.
The man carrying a shrine on his back wore samurai clothing. The moment he raised the long staff in his hand, lightning descended from above.
Marechiyo Ōmaeda dodged frantically, and the last trace of hope in his heart died.
They really had been surrounded.
The enemy had seen straight through his battle plan!
If the Captain found out...
Just as the man was about to raise his staff again, a slender figure suddenly appeared and kicked him flying.
Marechiyo Ōmaeda shouted excitedly, "Captain!"
"Well done, Ōmaeda."
Suì-Fēng appeared with numerous members of the Onmitsukidō.
"Surround them. Don't let a single one escape!"
Whoosh!
Sajin Komamura's Zanpakutō appeared, spewing a torrent of blazing flames straight toward Suì-Fēng.
"Two of you?" Suì-Fēng flashed away and opened some distance. "Fine by me."
"As expected of the Supreme Commander of Onmitsukidō," the shrine-bearing man said as he rose. "Your speed is astonishing."
Suì-Fēng looked at him, obvious confusion in her eyes.
"You..."
The man leaned on his wooden staff. "What?"
"I was wondering about this just now..." Suì-Fēng studied him carefully but still came up empty. "Whose Zanpakutō are you?"
"I'm Gonryōmaru!" The man pointed at himself. "Gonryōmaru!"
"Ah, Gonryōmaru..." Suì-Fēng tried to look as though everything had suddenly clicked, but a fresh question immediately arose in her mind. "Gonryōmaru?"
Gonryōmaru shouted, "The Zanpakutō of Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe of the 1st Division. Gonryōmaru!"
"Ah!"
This time, Suì-Fēng finally remembered.
"So it's you. Sorry. Um... I'll remember from now on."
"Don't say it like I'm difficult to remember!" Gonryōmaru protested. "It's all his fault! His presence is so weak that he dragged me down with him. That's why I ended up like this too..."
Beside him, the rock-solid Tenken reached out, placed a hand on Gonryōmaru's shoulder, and gave him an encouraging look.
"Don't pity me. That only makes it worse..." Gonryōmaru sighed. "Those days are over. From now on, I'm going to make sure everyone remembers..."
Before Gonryōmaru could finish, Suì-Fēng's attack was already upon him.
As Supreme Commander of Onmitsukidō, Suì-Fēng would never waste time doing something meaningless in the middle of an important battle.
Everything she had said just now had been to create an opening for this surprise attack.
"Only sufficient caution can lead us to victory."
Gonryōmaru raised his wooden staff and blocked Suì-Fēng's blade.
"Did you really think I would lower my guard in the middle of a fight?"
Purple lightning erupted from the end of the staff, lashing violently across everything nearby.
Suì-Fēng retreated to avoid it.
Tenken's attack had already been waiting for her.
His already towering body swelled even larger.
Tenken swung his blade.
The enormous weapon did not so much slash as smash the slender Suì-Fēng straight into the ground.
Her white haori was crushed into the shattered earth.
Before the debris thrown into the air could even fall, Suì-Fēng had already appeared beside Gonryōmaru.
"Way of Onmitsu, 3rd of the Shihō: Utsusemi!"
"Your surprise attack..." Gonryōmaru twisted his staff and unleashed another surge of lightning. "Looks like a child's trick to me!"
"Then... how about this?"
Highly concentrated Kidō enveloped Suì-Fēng's back and shoulders.
Powerful energy surged across her body, shielding her from the lightning while simultaneously exploding outward with tremendous force and blasting Gonryōmaru away.
"Shunkō!"
This was completely different from the immature technique Suì-Fēng had previously developed on her own.
After Yoruichi Shihōin's name had been cleared and the misunderstanding between Suì-Fēng and Yoruichi Shihōin resolved, Yoruichi Shihōin personally guided her. As a result, Suì-Fēng had gained a far better command of Shunkō and could now wield its tremendous power much more freely.
Tenken's enormous blade came down toward the back of her head.
Suì-Fēng caught it one-handed, her expression relaxed.
"If this were Captain Komamura... the force would probably be even greater."
The flames pouring from Tenken's mouth intensified.
His massive body gradually swelled larger and larger, his strength increasing along with it.
"Just as I thought..." Suì-Fēng showed no surprise. "Perfect."
With a slight exertion of her arm, Suì-Fēng lowered her body and slipped beneath the range of Tenken's blade.
She flipped her wrist.
A small vial had appeared in her palm.
Inside was Kōten, the strongest anesthetic used by the 4th Division during surgery. Even someone with powerful Reiatsu would temporarily lose consciousness after being exposed to it.
Suì-Fēng coated her blade with the anesthetic, then seized the moment when Tenken's oversized body left him slow and unwieldy.
She thrust her blade into him.
***
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