"Got it! So the blond-haired one is the strongest, huh!"
Ikkaku Madarame cracked his knuckles, looking completely fired up. Things had been a bit too peaceful in the Soul Society lately. Despite being the Third Seat of a combat division, he had only been dealing with small-fry recently.
This group of Ryoka had caused quite a stir, so there was no way they were weak. He was finally going to get to enjoy a real fight.
"Actually, no. The strongest among them right now is probably that black cat. If you want a fight, I suggest you go find her."
Asakura Yoh honestly helped analyze the situation for Ikkaku Madarame. Although Yoruichi Shihoin never used a Zanpakuto in the original series, her full power easily put her among the elite of the Captains.
While Ikkaku could use Bankai, his strength was at most quasi-Captain level.
"A cat? What kind of nonsense are you talking about? Whatever, Yumichika, let's go. If we don't hurry, the other squads will take all the credit."
Ikkaku started to run toward the West Gate, the White Road Gate, but he was pulled back by Yumichika Ayasegawa.
"Wait a second, Ikkaku."
Yumichika stared at the relaxed Asakura Yoh. Though he was also part of Squad 11, he wasn't like those meatheads. In just a short time, he had spotted several suspicious things about the boy.
"Hah? Wait for what? If we wait for the Captains' meeting to end, we'll miss out on all the action!"
"Ugh, haven't you noticed how suspicious this guy is?"
"Suspicious? I mean, he does have a bit of a smart mouth..."
"I'm not talking about that!"
Yumichika's gaze swept over the massive stone monument on Yoh's back, his expression growing serious.
"First of all, it's highly suspicious that a common soldier is showing so much disrespect to us, the seated officers. And then there's that strange weapon he's carrying..."
"There are plenty of weirdos among the Soul Reapers. What's there to doubt?"
Yoh watched the two of them analyze him with a look of fearless indifference. In truth, he was also sizing them up.
Yumichika's true Shikai, Ruri'iro Kujaku, could absorb an opponent's spiritual energy and make it his own. That was a great ability, but unfortunately, Yoh wasn't the type to fight by borrowing spiritual power.
Furthermore, Yumichika himself wasn't a particularly powerful spirit. Although he had the strength to defeat a Lieutenant, he wasn't suitable to be Yoh's Guardian Spirit.
As for Ikkaku, while his track record in the original story left something to be desired, Yoh couldn't deny that both his Shikai and Bankai forms were very much to his aesthetic taste.
Especially the Bankai, Ryumon Hozukimaru. Whether it was powerful was one thing, but it was undeniably cool.
Moreover, if it were transformed into an Oversoul, its power would likely be significant.
'However, this guy idolizes Zaraki Kenpachi so much that he keeps his Bankai a secret just so he can keep following him. He won't be an easy one to recruit.'
"Feel it for yourself. You can't sense even a trace of Reiatsu from this guy, and he isn't even wearing a Zanpakuto."
"And think about it. While the rest of Squad 9 is still fighting, why is he wandering around here so casually? Based on what he said, he seems to know a lot about those Ryoka. No matter how you look at it, something's wrong, isn't it?"
As Yumichika continued to point out the anomalies, doubt finally took root in Ikkaku's mind.
"Hey! You! Who the hell are you, really?!"
Ikkaku drew his Zanpakuto and dropped into a combat stance.
"I say, how about becoming my Guardian Spirit? We can negotiate the salary."
Ignoring Ikkaku's demand, Yoh made a direct invitation instead.
"Hah?! What the hell is a Guardian Spirit? Never heard of it. But I guess that counts as a confession. You... you're a Ryoka, aren't you!"
Ikkaku ignored the invitation as well, his face twisting into a grin of pure, bloodthirsty excitement.
"And if I am, what do you plan to do about it?"
Yoh didn't bother hiding it anymore. His disguise was only to find a suitable Guardian Spirit. Now that someone had stepped forward, there was no need to stay under cover.
"Perfect! As long as you admit it! Let me introduce myself again. I am the Third Seat of Squad 11—Ikkaku Madarame! Now, state your name! It's basic etiquette!"
"Asakura Yoh. My profession is being a Shaman."
"I've never heard of any of those words! Yumichika, stay back and watch. This guy is my prey!"
"Fine, fine."
Yumichika didn't object. He acknowledged his friend's strength, and besides, he couldn't feel any Reiatsu from the enemy. He didn't seem like he would be particularly strong.
"That thing on your back is your weapon, right? I've already drawn my sword. How long do you plan on keeping it back there?"
Ikkaku warned him. In a rare fight like this, he didn't want it to end too quickly because his opponent was being careless.
"That? I probably won't need to use it to deal with you."
Yoh's dismissive tone and expression finally pushed Ikkaku's short fuse past its limit. Veins began to bulge one by one across his smooth, bald head.
"Very well... You've certainly got guts!"
Ikkaku used Shunpo to vanish, reappearing instantly in front of Yoh. He swung his Zanpakuto downward, aiming directly for Yoh's arm.
He would take one of the guy's hands first to teach him a lesson, but not so much that he'd lose his ability to fight.
That was the plan...
But the blade felt like it had struck solid steel. It couldn't move an inch further.
Ikkaku's pupils shrank. He jumped back repeatedly to put a safe distance between himself and Yoh. His expression shifted from exaggerated bloodlust to a grim, concentrated intensity.
A full-force strike hadn't even scratched the guy's physical defense. The only other person he'd experienced that with was his own Captain.
"My bad. It looks like I was the one being disrespectful."
Realizing Yoh wasn't exaggerating, Ikkaku's expression became exceptionally serious. He was now fully locked into combat mode.
"Right?"
Yoh stretched his muscles. Since Kurosaki Masaki was once a pure-blood Quincy, her most advanced techniques were the two types of Blut.
With her help, his Furyoku-based versions of Blut Vene and Blut Arterie had become quite refined. An attack of that level was no different from an itch to him.
"Yeah. I apologize for my earlier rudeness. However, you won't be finding things so easy from here on out."
Ikkaku pressed the hilt of his sword against the mouth of his scabbard, his fighting spirit erupting once more.
"Extend—Hozukimaru!"
As he spoke the release command, the katana transformed into a long-handled spear tipped with a blade.