Tsunayoshi smiled as he gently patted Jirō on the head, took back the returned katana from its mouth, and sheathed it.
"Shiro, can we talk properly now? I really don't mean any harm," Tsunayoshi called out to Hitsugaya Tōshirō.
Hitsugaya fell silent for a moment. If Tsunayoshi had wanted to, whether it was that earlier strike or the moment Jirō returned the blade, he could have inflicted serious damage.
"Then what about Captain Zaraki?" Hitsugaya asked as he landed in front of Tsunayoshi.
"That guy only knows how to fight. If you don't take him down at the start, things get troublesome later."
Tsunayoshi used Shunpo to appear beside Zaraki Kenpachi. Rain-attribute flames scattered down, and under their calming effect, the bleeding from Kenpachi's wounds immediately stopped.
"Thank you, Little Blue," Kusajishi Yachiru said politely. She called him that because the rain-attribute flames he used were always blue.
Tsunayoshi chuckled softly, crouching down as he replied gently, "My name is Sawada Tsunayoshi. Vice-Captain Kusajishi, please take care of me."
"Oh, so it's Tsuna. Ken-chan didn't enjoy that fight much—let's have another one next time," Yachiru said as she hoisted Zaraki onto her back.
"You know the way to Squad 4, right?" Tsunayoshi asked.
"Of course! I go play with Hana all the time."
Seeing her confidence, Tsunayoshi wasn't reassured at all. If he remembered correctly, the reason Zaraki always got lost… was because of Yachiru. If she went alone, even if his flames ran out, she might not find Squad 4's gates.
"Shiro, could I trouble you to escort the injured to Squad 4?" Tsunayoshi asked, standing up.
"Is this your way of sending me away?" Hitsugaya asked coldly.
"There's another option," Tsunayoshi replied, resting his hands on the hilts of his twin blades. "I knock you down, and have Yachiru carry you there instead. By then, you should have enough energy left to give directions."
Hitsugaya's grip tightened. So far, Tsunayoshi had only used the katana associated with the dog—he hadn't touched the one tied to the swallow at all.
From the earlier fight—howling intimidation, claws, biting, retrieving thrown weapons—everything was tied to canine traits. By that logic, the other blade must embody the swallow's characteristics—at the very least, speed and agility.
Which meant… if Tsunayoshi truly intended to cut him down, Hitsugaya wouldn't even be able to rely on his speed to stall the time needed for his ice petals to fall.
Since there was no winning either way, Hitsugaya released his Bankai, returning Hyōrinmaru to the sheath on his back.
"There are many Captains in the Seireitei stronger than me."
Tsunayoshi caught the underlying warning and released his Bankai as well.
"I'll say it again—we mean no harm."
"No harm?" Hitsugaya sneered. "Then can you explain why a Hollow's Reiatsu disappeared in this area?"
"…That…" Tsunayoshi hesitated. At present, the relationship between Shinigami and Hollows was still irreconcilable.
Hitsugaya didn't press further. He stepped forward, lifted Zaraki onto his back, and said, "I will report everything here to Squad 1."
"See you," Tsunayoshi replied, vanishing with Shunpo. By the time Hitsugaya reported in, they'd have plenty of time to act.
"Tsuna left, Shiro."
"Call me Captain Hitsugaya!" he snapped, correcting her yet again.
"Lieutenant Matsumoto, could you stop following me?"
Because Chad's Reiatsu was so obvious, as long as Rangiku Matsumoto moved in that direction, Yoruichi had no way of shaking her off.
"My apologies—duty calls," Rangiku replied, her hand resting on her Zanpakutō. Drawing it or not made all the difference—once unsheathed, it meant she was officially making an arrest.
"Hm? Looks like the kid's finished over there," Yoruichi said with a grin, sensing Tsunayoshi's Reiatsu settle.
She never believed Tsunayoshi would lose to Hitsugaya. There was only one outcome—he had already dealt with him and was on his way here.
Rangiku's expression shifted slightly. Against Yoruichi alone, she could stall with words, relying on their past ties to the Seireitei. But against two Ryoka… that was another matter.
It was absurd. The order had been clear—Captains and Lieutenants were to engage intruders together. So why was she the only one facing two by herself?
At that moment, from Chad's direction, a massive surge of Reiatsu erupted. Yoruichi turned—and saw a gigantic black-armored warrior towering within the Seireitei.
Sajin Komamura had released his Bankai.
"Yo, Rangiku, still here?" Tsunayoshi appeared nearby, forming a pincer with Yoruichi.
Rangiku slowly drew her Zanpakutō. She had never felt this much pressure before. One against two… did she stand a chance?
"We're all just doing our jobs—no need to go this far. Shiro already went to Squad 4. Aren't you going to check on him?" Tsunayoshi said casually.
"Captain? He's injured?" Rangiku's attention snapped instantly. Without hesitation, she dashed toward Squad 4.
"Pretty clever," Yoruichi remarked. Whether Tsunayoshi was telling the truth or not, retreating was clearly her best option.
Just as Tsunayoshi and Yoruichi were about to head toward Chad, a voice came through the communicator:
"Anyone there? This is Tatsuki—I've been targeted by Squad 2!"
The two exchanged a glance.
"Logically, I should go," Tsunayoshi said. "But Squad 2 is practically your domain, Yoruichi-san. What do you think?"
Historically, Squad 2 and the Shihōin Clan were inseparable. Tsunayoshi didn't believe Soi Fon had completely taken control in Yoruichi's absence—unless the entire squad had been instructed by the Shihōin head not to interfere.
Thinking of Soi Fon's almost fanatical attitude toward her, Yoruichi sighed. "Fine. I'll go."
"Tatsuki, can you hear me? Yoruichi-san is on her way. Don't fight Soi Fon head-on—watch out for her Nigeki Kessatsu."
"Understood. I won't act recklessly," Tatsuki replied, moving swiftly through a forest.
"I'm heading out," Yoruichi said.
"They're both your disciples—don't play favorites, Yoruichi-san," Tsunayoshi added.
She stumbled slightly, shooting him an annoyed glance before vanishing.
Once she left, Tsunayoshi also moved toward the giant warrior in the distance. From afar, he could see Chad's white Reiatsu blasting forward toward Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō.
At dawn, Chad (Yasutora Sado) noticed that patrol forces within the Seireitei had increased drastically. The density of Shinigami searches made it impossible to evade them easily.
Left with no choice, he had already fought through several encounters.
Fortunately, the Shinigami he met weren't particularly strong. He hadn't even needed to use Fullbring—his fists alone were enough to knock most of them down.
Unfortunately, under Squad 1's orders, none of them fought stubbornly anymore. They immediately reported to seated officers and above.
The ones who engaged Chad were from Squad 7, the inner court guards—and soon, their Captain Sajin Komamura and Lieutenant Iba Tetsuzaemon arrived.
Komamura was a towering man wearing a helmet, while Iba—with his sunglasses and open-chested outfit—reminded Chad of a yakuza from the Human World.
"So you are one of the Ryoka who invaded the Seireitei?" Komamura said. "Surrender and come with me."
"Squad 7…" Chad glanced at the number on the Captain's haori. "Sorry. For the sake of my promise to my friends, I can't give up here."
Helping Ichigo save Rukia—that was a promise all of them had made.
"To stake your life on a promise…" Komamura slowly drew his Zanpakutō. "I find that admirable."
A man who lived by loyalty and righteousness, Komamura couldn't help but see Chad in a new light.
"Captain Komamura, please wait," Iba stepped forward. "Allow me to test his strength first."
Komamura did not stop him. Instead, he sheathed his blade again, allowing Iba to act on his sense of duty.
The moment Iba drew his sword, he released it. The blade flared outward in a V-shape from the hilt, with a protrusion along its edge—its shape resembling the character "卜."
He charged.
Chad didn't dare underestimate him. Light surged across his right arm as his Fullbring activated, transforming it into the massive, red-and-black armored arm of a giant.
Spiritual pressure burst from his right shoulder.
Chad didn't understand the concept of "testing." Training under Kensei Muguruma had taught him one thing—if he didn't go all out from the start, he'd just become a punching bag.
So he struck immediately—
A full-powered punch.
The Giant's Strike.
Komamura's expression changed instantly. In a flash, he pulled Iba back and drew his Zanpakutō.
"Roar—Tenken!"
A massive arm materialized beside him, gripping an enormous blade as it swung down toward Chad's surging azure Reiatsu.
The clash between the Giant's Strike and Tenken sent shockwaves of spiritual pressure rippling outward. Squad 7 members were forced to take cover behind Komamura to withstand the aftermath.
As the blue Reiatsu faded, none of Squad 7 were injured under his protection. But Komamura didn't even spare them a glance—he vanished with Shunpo.
"Trying to flee in front of me—isn't that a bit disrespectful?"
He reappeared, blocking Chad's path.
Chad had already prepared to escape the moment his attack ended. With Bringer Light, he planned to launch himself in any direction the instant Komamura's attention wavered.
Where he'd end up didn't matter—anywhere was better than facing a Captain.
But Komamura saw through it instantly and intercepted him with superior speed.
Chad said nothing. He raised both arms before his chest, gathering power again. Reiatsu flared from his right shoulder as he charged forward once more.
"Tenken."
A colossal arm descended again.
Komamura's Shikai allowed him to manifest parts of the giant's body—usually the sword-wielding arm—delivering overwhelming force capable of cracking the earth with a single strike.
Chad, who took pride in his own body, had developed his Fullbring around it—pouring everything into raw strength.
This—
was a contest of pure power.
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