"Ichibē, you really do predict things like a god."
Looking at the collective rebellion of the Gotei Thirteen, Senjumaru showed not the slightest trace of panic. Ichibē had already granted every member of Squad Zero the ability to undo the Blood Oath Seal. Her Bankai was especially suited for fighting many opponents at once. More people simply meant weaving a few more tapestries of fate.
Ichibē's expression shifted between dark and light.
Emotionally speaking, he truly wanted to sweep up all these disobedient things in one net. But in reality, the operation of Soul Society still required these captains to maintain it. If he killed them all at once, there would be no way to replace so many people.
Shunsui Kyōraku, that slippery fellow, had surely thought of this as well. That was why, after his subordinates stated their positions, he immediately changed his approach.
This was not rebellion.
This was the entire Gotei Thirteen forcing the Soul King Palace's hand.
"There's no need to think so much, Ichibē. Just suppress them all."
There were also hot-tempered people within Squad Zero. Tenjirō understood Ichibē's concerns.
"Everyone, go all out. As long as they have one breath left, I can preserve their lives!"
This was the confidence of Tenjirō Kirinji, the Hot Spring Demon.
Since the subordinates refused to obey, they could simply be beaten down first. With him here, there was no need to fear anyone dying by accident.
With Tenjirō's assurance, Ichibē immediately felt much more relaxed. Just as he was about to make his decision, Tsunayoshi's voice came from the crowd opposite them.
"That's enough. I appreciate the captains' goodwill. Kyōraku, take them away. The battle that comes next isn't something they can interfere in."
Somewhere deep within, Tsunayoshi had a feeling.
The five members of Squad Zero standing opposite them were all powerful opponents. If even he saw them that way, then it could only mean one thing: Squad Zero truly had a way to simultaneously produce five Shinigami capable of shaking the world.
If his intuition was correct, the battle that followed was no longer something just anyone could join. Captains who had not learned to surpass Bankai would be nothing more than cannon fodder that lasted slightly longer.
As he spoke, Tsunayoshi silently calculated the strength on both sides.
There were five on the enemy side.
On their side, there were four.
He and Yamamoto each counted as one. The shopkeeper counted as one. Ichigo and Yoruichi each counted as half.
Ichigo counted as half because his entire body was packed with a chaotic mix of powers. At some point, those powers might merge together and erupt in the form of a sudden breakthrough.
As for Yoruichi, Tsunayoshi had frequently sparred with her in the early days. Her combat power could no longer be compared to what it once was. She could now maintain her black cat state for extended periods while remaining fully rational.
After persuading the Gotei Thirteen, Tsunayoshi softly said to Tatsuki behind him, "Take everyone and withdraw. As long as all of you are safe, we'll have the confidence to fight without holding back."
Tatsuki understood what Tsunayoshi meant.
Orihime had to remain unharmed. Her rejection of all phenomena could very likely become an important turning point.
A mature person would not drag their partner down. There was none of the tragic melodrama of "I won't leave unless you leave." Tatsuki did not even leave behind a single sentence. She wrapped an arm around Orihime's waist and vanished from the spot.
Uryū and Chad hurriedly followed.
If Uryū had fully mastered his Vollständig and Schrift, he could have counted as half a fighter too.
Unfortunately, he had not yet reached that point.
Compared to the absolute trust shown by Ichigo's friends from the World of the Living, the captains were not quite so decisive. They still turned back to look at Tsunayoshi, wanting to confirm his thoughts.
"Thank you for your support. Soul Society still cannot do without all of you."
Tsunayoshi smiled.
"Tch!"
Unexpectedly, Kenpachi Zaraki was the fastest to react. He left behind a single sentence before vanishing from the spot.
"Survive. I'm still waiting to fight you."
All the captains understood.
Even after stating their positions, they would still be a burden if they stayed. Among the Gotei Thirteen, the only one who could truly remain was Yamamoto.
Without saying more, each of them gave Tsunayoshi a deep look before disappearing one after another.
They did not return to their barracks. Instead, they found relatively advantageous positions and watched the center of this conflict.
Kyōraku had it a bit worse. He hurried nonstop toward the Kidō Corps.
He did not expect the Kidō Corps' barriers to withstand the aftershocks of the battle between those people. He only wanted to scatter the Kidō Corps throughout the area so they could repair the destruction that would soon be caused by the great battle.
Just as Tsunayoshi had done during the battle against Aizen, this time it was the Kidō Corps' turn to clean up after the battle between Tsunayoshi and Squad Zero.
"Only the three of you are left. You don't truly think you can stop Squad Zero, do you?"
Senjumaru looked at Tsunayoshi, Yamamoto, and Ichigo with a hint of disdain in her eyes.
Among the three of them, the only one she needed to pay attention to was the former Captain-Commander.
As Senjumaru questioned them, the members of Squad Zero simultaneously used their Reiatsu to press down on Tsunayoshi and the other two.
Yamamoto released an even stronger Reiatsu in response.
Several explosive bursts rang through the air. The situation gradually began leaning toward an extreme.
"Bankai!"
The surrounding Reiatsu was so powerful that Ichigo found it difficult to endure. He was the first to release his Bankai in order to vent the pressure weighing on him.
Even with Ichigo joining in, the situation was still unfavorable for their side.
Expecting Yamamoto alone to withstand the Reiatsu of all five Squad Zero members was asking too much of him.
Tsunayoshi still did not act.
Even when Squad Zero's pressure was about to crush down right in front of him, he continued waiting.
Waiting for the right moment to strike.
Then his Hyper Intuition told him that something was strange about a large tree not far away. The trunk did not seem entirely real.
Tsunayoshi smiled.
His Reiatsu erupted without restraint. With his addition, he forcefully pulled the pressure between both sides back into balance.
"This is…?"
Ichibē was slightly puzzled. He carefully savored the nature of Tsunayoshi's Reiatsu, and then a pleasantly surprised smile appeared on his face.
"I didn't expect there to be a buy-one-get-one-free deal. Listen well, all of you. Tsunayoshi Sawada must be taken alive!"
The members of Squad Zero were already used to Ichibē changing his mind on the spot.
Ichigo, however, noticed the blind spot in Ichibē's words.
"What do you mean, buy-one-get-one-free?"
At this point, there was nothing left to hide. Tsunayoshi simply told Ichigo directly.
"He discovered that the nature of my Reiatsu is the same as yours. I also have the qualifications to become a living lynchpin."
"A living lynchpin? What the hell is that?"
Ichigo was shocked. He had never even imagined such a description before.
"That isn't just some thing. It refers to the great Soul King who supports the stability of the Three Worlds."
Tsunayoshi looked at Ichibē and smiled.
"That tool who had his limbs cut off and spends all day staring at scenery that never changes."
This time, Ichigo finally understood what "living lynchpin" meant.
He shouted, "Are you kidding me? I don't want to live that kind of boring life!"
Ichigo's Reiatsu suddenly surged.
Momentum and resolve had too great an influence on his combat power. Once Ichigo Kurosaki understood what he was fighting for, his strength became terrifying.
As for the conversation between Tsunayoshi and Ichigo, Yamamoto remained completely calm. He had already learned the full truth when Tsunayoshi and Urahara came to him for help.
By contrast, on Squad Zero's side, disrespect toward the Soul King was humiliation toward them.
"Ichibē, one Soul King candidate is enough, right? Let me keep the other one for forging a blade!"
Ōetsu removed his sunglasses, revealing a cruel sneer.
As one of the two people who had followed the Soul King the longest, his loyalty to the Soul King far surpassed the other three juniors promoted from the Seireitei.
"Very well. Remember to preserve their soul characteristics. A soul that contains human, Shinigami, Hollow, and Quincy powers all at once is far too rare!"
Ichibē's tone was calm, as if they were discussing how to divide spoils of war.
The other three members of Squad Zero understood.
He was explaining the conditions required to become the Soul King.
Four types of power in one body.
What a harsh requirement.
And yet the final result of possessing such a rare condition was being turned into a living lynchpin. Tenjirō and the others could not help feeling a chill. Fortunately, they were the executioners, not the ones being executed.
Ichibē's patience had completely worn away. He waved his large hand.
"Take them down!"
The four members of Squad Zero moved at once.
The fastest to charge was naturally Tenjirō, known as "Lightning-Fast Tenjirō." However, just as he reached the air, a black shadow forcibly stopped him in his tracks.
It was a dark-skinned beauty with a fiery figure.
Yoruichi Shihōin.
When she received Tsunayoshi's notice, she and Urahara rushed over without pause.
The abnormality Tsunayoshi had noticed earlier was Yoruichi and Urahara hiding near the tree trunk using one of Urahara's tools. Tsunayoshi had waited until everyone was present before beginning his counterattack.
"I've wanted to test for a while just how fast your title of 'Lightning-Fast' really is, senior."
Yoruichi stretched her body as she spoke.
Tenjirō carried his oar over his shoulder and tilted his head.
"I also want to see whether the so-called Flash Goddess spoken of in the Seireitei truly lives up to her name."
Yoruichi's title as the Flash Goddess was famous enough that even the Soul King Palace had heard of it.
"Senior Senjumaru, would you mind not moving around?"
Behind Senjumaru, a somewhat frivolous male voice sounded.
Senjumaru turned her head. When she saw him, she smiled and said, "It has been a long time, Kisuke. What made that reckless boy from back then dare stand in front of me?"
Senjumaru knew Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and she also recognized Kisuke Urahara, this scientific genius. It was just that Urahara's old image of hiding his ability was too deeply ingrained, which was why she casually called him reckless.
Ichigo put on his Hollow Mask and immediately fired a close-range Getsuga Tenshō, forcing the voluptuous Kirio Hikifune all the way toward the edge of the Seireitei.
Flames surged out.
The radiance of Ryūjin Jakka surrounded Ōetsu on all sides.
Yamamoto advanced expressionlessly with his blade in hand.
"Sword God. Let us continue the battle we never finished back then."
Ōetsu shook his head disdainfully.
"No matter how many times you try, your blade cannot harm me. That is an indisputable fact."
"This old man has more than a blade. He also has fists!"
Yamamoto held his sword in one hand and clenched his other hand into a fist, then charged toward Ōetsu.
"What is this? Before I even realized it, the two of us were paired together, Ichibē Hyōsube."
Tsunayoshi slowly drew his Zanpakutō and pointed it at Ichibē.
"Whether you believe it or not, out of goodwill, this old man does not recommend that you call him by his full name."
Ichibē's name seemed to directly touch his sensitive nerves.
In an instant, his aura changed again.
A blood-colored killing intent, so dense that not even Tenjirō's hot springs could wash it away, enveloped Tsunayoshi.
Tsunayoshi's expression did not change.
His Zanpakutō lightly stirred the somewhat sticky air around him.
"What terrifying killing intent. From ancient times until now, just how many people have you killed?"
"Don't tell me all that slaughter was committed under accusations like mine. 'No anchor'? Why not just say you're afraid I won't be under your control?"
Tsunayoshi's aura erupted fully, scattering all of the killing intent Ichibē had wrapped around him.
Against an opponent who released such murderous intent, there was no need to hold back.
"Bankai!"
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