On the surface, there seemed to be two paths laid out before Kyōraku, but Kyōraku had never been the sort of man to waver between two sides. From the moment he muttered the words "baseless accusation," he had already made his decision.
The instant he raised his head and met Yamamoto's gaze, his resolve became even firmer.
"Forgive me, but the Gotei Thirteen refuses this order!"
Kyōraku's eyes were unwavering. The very first thing he did after becoming Captain-Commander was defy an order from the Soul King Palace.
Ichibē had only just shown a displeased expression when Kyōraku swiftly added, "The Gotei Thirteen exists to protect the Seireitei. Ichigo Kurosaki is a Substitute Shinigami. Not only has he never harmed Soul Society's interests, he has saved its residents many times, while also carrying out the duties of a Shinigami in the World of the Living."
"As Captain-Commander of the Gotei Thirteen, I have no reason to issue an order to arrest Ichigo Kurosaki—and I never will!"
Kyōraku's tone was just as forceful. In fact, he practically shouted the final words.
"Tsunayoshi, I think I heard my name?" Ichigo asked, somewhat puzzled.
Orihime nodded as well. She had always been especially sensitive whenever Ichigo's name was mentioned.
"Let's wait and see first…" Tsunayoshi suspected that Kyōraku had deliberately shouted those last words to warn them. Kyōraku knew they were hiding nearby.
Faced with Kyōraku's hard stance, Ichibē responded with even greater force. "And what if I tell you that Ichigo Kurosaki concerns the safety of Soul Society, and even the safety of the Three Worlds? What choice will you make then, Captain-Commander?"
"Can you tell me how you intend to handle Ichigo Kurosaki?" Kyōraku asked in a low voice.
"That is not something you need to concern yourself with."
Ichibē folded his arms, showing no intention of explaining. "If the Gotei Thirteen will not do it, then Squad Zero will do it personally."
Cold sweat gathered on Kyōraku's back. Just as he was wondering how to talk his way out of this, Ōetsu's voice cut in.
"You're shouting your resolve that loudly… Don't tell me this Ichigo Kurosaki kid is nearby?"
Sensing the grave expressions around him, Ōetsu instead began moving about theatrically. "Looks like I guessed right! That's the genius of Ōetsu Nimaiya!"
Before Ōetsu's words had even fully fallen, Ichibē erupted with a powerful burst of Reiatsu that swept through the surroundings.
Kyōraku and Yamamoto moved at the same time, stepping in front of the place where Tsunayoshi and the others were hidden.
But they were still one step too slow.
Ichibē's Reiatsu blew apart the concealing bushes, revealing Ichigo and the others, who had been watching from the sidelines.
"It seems the Gotei Thirteen's position is quite clear now."
Ichibē looked expressionlessly at Yamamoto. "The successor you chose does not seem particularly outstanding."
"The fact that Shunsui Kyōraku will command the Gotei Thirteen from this point onward is already settled."
Yamamoto's stance was equally firm. As far as replacing the Captain-Commander was concerned, informing the Soul King Palace was already a gesture of respect. The Soul King Palace had no authority to interfere with personnel changes within the Gotei Thirteen. As for Central 46, the one body that could interfere, it had already been wiped out.
"Then Squad Zero will handle this personally."
Ichibē had no interest in arguing with Yamamoto. Ichigo Kurosaki had already appeared. Capturing him was the priority.
The moment Ichibē spoke, the other four members of Squad Zero vanished.
They appeared around Ichigo and the others, blocking off every route of escape.
The atmosphere instantly became tense. Ichigo and his group all assumed combat stances, warily watching the four members of Squad Zero.
By contrast, Tsunayoshi remained rather calm.
"Well, since the captains have invited us over, let's go and see what exactly is going on."
With Tsunayoshi taking the lead, the others relaxed their movements slightly. Tsunayoshi walked forward with both hands in his pockets, silently crushing the small device hidden inside.
Although he did not know exactly what had happened between Kyōraku and the others, judging from Squad Zero's attitude, the situation was extremely unfavorable for their side. He needed to call for help.
The item in Tsunayoshi's pocket was a signal transmitter. It was a tracking device Urahara had placed on him. If Tsunayoshi's location signal disappeared, Kisuke Urahara would immediately come over.
Under Squad Zero's encirclement, Tsunayoshi's group walked over near Yamamoto.
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto, did the Gotei Thirteen need something from us?"
The moment Tsunayoshi opened his mouth, he placed the matter on the Gotei Thirteen and avoided mentioning Squad Zero altogether.
"This old man is no longer the Captain-Commander. The current Captain-Commander is Shunsui Kyōraku."
Using Yamamoto's words as an opening, Tsunayoshi immediately moved over to Kyōraku and congratulated him.
"Congratulations, Captain Kyōraku. You've been promoted. Remember to treat us to drinks."
Kyōraku understood. Tsunayoshi and Yamamoto were playing dumb. But with Squad Zero right in front of them, he could not completely ignore the issue, so he chose to state the problem directly.
"Mr. Tsunayoshi, these are the esteemed members of Squad Zero. They seem to have business with Ichigo Kurosaki."
Tsunayoshi immediately understood. Ichibē had come for Ichigo.
But why?
During the Thousand-Year Blood War, Ichibē had a reason to seek out Ichigo and treat him well. On one hand, he regarded Ichigo as a possible substitute for the Soul King. On the other, he was counting on Ichigo to eliminate the troublesome Yhwach.
But right now, Yhwach had not even shown his tail yet. What exactly was Ichibē trying to do by looking for Ichigo?
He couldn't really be planning to use him as a sacrifice already, could he?
"You are Ichigo Kurosaki, correct? Come with us."
Ichibē stared at the tall orange-haired boy in the crowd. His tone was not kind at all. In fact, it was rather cold.
"Who are you? And what do you want with me?"
Ichigo was no pushover either. His reply was equally forceful. Someone who could not speak properly had no right to expect his respect.
"We're Squad Zero, the Royal Guard who protect the Soul King Palace. Congratulations, you've earned the right to be promoted to Squad Zero. Come with us to the Soul King Palace, little Ichigo."
Ōetsu stepped forward as he spoke. His playful hip-hop tone made him sound far more comfortable to deal with.
"Promoted to Squad Zero?"
Kyōraku's words shattered Ōetsu's attempt to smooth things over.
"Forgive my bluntness, but why would you choose a human instead of selecting someone from within the Gotei Thirteen?"
And he clearly intended to expose the issue further.
"Also, if this is a promotion, why did you order us to arrest Ichigo Kurosaki?"
The moment the word "arrest" was spoken, the atmosphere on the scene instantly grew tense.
Ichigo's friends from the World of the Living all assumed battle stances, aiming themselves at the surrounding Squad Zero members.
Tsunayoshi's heart sank as well.
Arrest.
That meant Ichibē intended to treat Ichigo as a living lynchpin—no better than a sacrifice. That was troublesome.
The hand Tsunayoshi kept in his pocket dialed the emergency contact on his phone: Isshin Kurosaki.
Isshin Kurosaki was the person Tsunayoshi trusted most. No one else came close. Previously, because his own parents had not entered the supernatural world, there would have been no point contacting them if he encountered danger.
By contrast, Isshin possessed captain-class strength. He was also a great benefactor of the Kurosaki family, and the two families had been close since childhood. Naturally, Isshin Kurosaki became the person at the top of Tsunayoshi's emergency contact list. Even Kisuke Urahara ranked behind him.
Seeing these juniors actually dare to resist them, Tenjirō immediately became displeased.
"Ōetsu, what's the point of explaining this and that to them? The target is right here. Just grab him!"
With a whoosh, Tenjirō moved to capture Ichigo with the speed he was most proud of.
Suddenly, a burst of Reiatsu erupted from within the group.
"Shunkō! Raging Stream Kick!"
Tatsuki, who had already been close to Ichigo, unleashed her power without hesitation. Carrying a torrent of water with her, she kicked toward the space behind Ichigo.
Tenjirō was indeed fast. However, as the direct disciple of the Flash Goddess, Tatsuki's speed was not slow either.
On top of that, Tatsuki had already been preparing herself while Ōetsu and the others were talking. Since she knew their target was Ichigo, she had predicted their move in advance. Under those circumstances, Tatsuki forcibly kept up with Tenjirō's speed.
The moment Tenjirō landed behind Ichigo, Tatsuki's foot was already coming at him.
He was forced to meet Tatsuki's strike with his fist. Caught off guard, he was kicked back a distance.
Tatsuki's Reiatsu was like a signal.
Chad's Brazo Derecha de Gigante swung toward Kirio Hikifune. Kirio calmly pulled out her rice paddle and blocked Chad's attack.
Senjumaru Shutara used the six mechanical arms behind her to catch the six Heilig Pfeil fired by Uryū.
Ōetsu even pulled out a hammer and clashed head-on with Ichigo's Getsuga Tenshō.
The sudden eruption of combat created an opening in the encirclement formed by the four Squad Zero members.
As they attacked, several of them glanced discreetly toward Tsunayoshi. As long as Tsunayoshi gave the signal, everyone would immediately flee and return to the World of the Living.
Tsunayoshi naturally noticed their questioning looks. He shook his head almost imperceptibly.
Escaping back to the World of the Living was not a good choice. If Squad Zero truly wanted to capture Ichigo, then running anywhere would be meaningless. It would only bring disaster to Karakura Town.
"Don't get worked up, don't get worked up…"
Tsunayoshi moved continuously between everyone with Shunpo, Sonído, and Hirenkyaku.
He pressed down Tenjirō's restless body, threw the voluptuous Kirio Hikifune back to Tenjirō's side, then flashed his blade and cut through the threads Senjumaru had fired. Finally, he appeared between Ichigo and Ōetsu.
"Everyone, calm down. We can talk this out. Esteemed members of Squad Zero, may I ask what you intend to do after arresting Ichigo?"
For the moment, Tsunayoshi stabilized the scene.
The combat strength he displayed in that instant forced the members of Squad Zero to take him seriously. The fact that he could so effortlessly neutralize their attacks proved that his strength was not beneath theirs.
After reaching that conclusion, Ōetsu and the others were shocked.
In their impression, within the Seireitei, the only person who could be compared to them was Yamamoto.
Yet now, some young brat had appeared out of nowhere. He did not look very old. How had he cultivated to a level that was not inferior to theirs?
No wonder the new Captain-Commander was so polite to him.
"Who are you? I don't think I've seen you among the Gotei Thirteen before. Kirio, do you know him?" Ōetsu asked.
He asked Kirio Hikifune because she had been the most recent member promoted to the Zero Division, so she knew more of the Shinigami currently in the Seireitei.
"No. I have not seen him either," Kirio Hikifune answered.
With that, Ōetsu could draw a conclusion.
A genius who had emerged within the last hundred years.
Unconsciously, Ōetsu's gaze fell once more on the blade Tsunayoshi had just sheathed.
How strange.
He had never seen the two Zanpakutō on Tsunayoshi before. It gave him the same feeling as Zangetsu, the sword carried by Ichigo.
"Me? My name is Tsunayoshi Sawada. I'm Ichigo's friend. Since you're making a move against Ichigo, of course I have to ask about it."
Tsunayoshi showed what he believed was a friendly smile.
However, that friendly smile had no effect at all.
Squad Zero's question was immediately thrown at him.
"Tsunayoshi Sawada? Why have I never heard that name before?"
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