IW: Chapter 168 - Bai Ye: I'm just pretending, Kisuke Urahara, are you crazy?
"Lieutenant Byakuya, please take care of me during the upcoming mission."
Rukia Kuchiki, who had gathered with Bai Ye to depart for the Human World, bowed solemnly to Bai Ye.Although she had never seen Bai Ye in action, rumors about Bai Ye had always circulated in the Soul Society. Even if he was rumored to be not very strong in combat, Rukia didn't think she could underestimate him.
Especially since Bai Ye was leading the team this time, and his usual gentle personality made him very popular throughout the Soul Society. She wondered who was spreading those false rumors.
Rukia muttered to herself, feeling a bit disdainful of such people. The Fourth Division was not skilled in combat to begin with, so even if Bai Ye's combat ability wasn't great, there was no need to keep harping on it, right?
"Rukia, long time no see."
As a medical division, the Fourth Division had basically dealt with all Shinigami in the Soul Society. Even captains occasionally got injured, some wouldn't come for treatment, while others would come for medicine.
Rukia had completed many missions since graduating from the academy, and naturally, there were times she was injured. Bai Ye had treated her several times, so the two were actually acquainted.
"Yes, I didn't expect to be able to go on a mission with Lieutenant Byakuya this time."
"Just call me by my name, no need to be so formal. Let's go, Rukia, Isane."
Since the three of them knew each other, there was no need to be so distant. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Bai Ye led the two to the Human World.
"This mission is to deal with a few Menos Grande. The rest is up to you two!"
"Eh!?"
Rukia's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Bai Ye.
What did he mean, it was up to them?
Wasn't Bai Ye supposed to lead this mission?
She had a feeling this team was a bit unusual.
"Cough, cough, the Lieutenant might be hoping we give our all. He's too cautious."
Kotetsu Isane, who was beside her, pulled Rukia closer and whispered an explanation into her ear.
After hearing her explanation, a flicker of understanding crossed Rukia's eyes. So that was what he meant. She immediately nodded repeatedly and said, "Don't worry, Bai Ye, I will give it my all!"
Rukia was always very serious about missions, partly because of a past mission of her own.
Rukia, who had desperately wanted to save Shiba Kaien, ended up stabbing him with her Zanpakuto. Although Shiba Kaien, upon regaining consciousness, genuinely thanked her for saving him, it had indeed left a very deep trauma for Rukia.
Even now, Rukia was still tormented by that memory, and ever since that incident, she had never again let down her guard during a mission.
"Let's find the Hollows. These Menos Grande are easy to find."
Upon arriving in the Human World, Bai Ye planned to deal with the mission first.
Most likely, Aizen was monitoring him at this moment, so there was no point in hiding. He had to make a move this time.
If he didn't act, Kotetsu Isane and Rukia, who had come with him, would probably die here.
"Found them already."
Bai Ye closed his eyes and sensed his surroundings. As expected, there were not only three Gillians but also an Adjuchas.
And these four Hollows seemed to be controlled by some power, finding Bai Ye and the others the moment they arrived in the Human World.
"Careful!"
With that, Bai Ye directly raised his Zanpakuto and blocked the attack of a rapidly approaching Hollow for Rukia.
This fierce attack startled Rukia. She had barely reacted when she sensed the opponent's appearance. If it weren't for Bai Ye, she probably wouldn't have been able to dodge!
"There's an Adjuchas, that makes things difficult!"
Kotetsu Isane frowned, already thinking about calling for reinforcements.
These three Gillians plus one Adjuchas were beyond what the three of them could handle.
"You two each take on one Gillian, and the Adjuchas is mine."
Bai Ye was silent for a moment, looking at the Adjuchas before him. This existence, which was initially used to represent the combat power of a Shinigami Captain, could be defeated without even needing Bankai when combat power became unbalanced in the later stages.
However, this thing seemed to have been specially modified by Aizen. Was it an experimental subject of Hollowfication?
"Are you sure?"
Kotetsu Isane suddenly realized that Bai Ye's earlier suggestion to bring Unohana Retsu was indeed correct.
But there was no time to think that much now. Retreating was clearly impossible, and besides, thinking about escaping before even fighting—were they too weak?
"It's fine, I can do it."
Bai Ye reassured them, then drew his Zanpakuto and activated his Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability, beginning to fight the Adjuchas.
Kotetsu Isane and Rukia exchanged glances, then each engaged a Gillian.
"Lord Aizen, is the other Gillian not going to act?"
Tōsen Kaname asked curiously.
Aizen seemed to only want the Adjuchas to fight Bai Ye.
"How is his combat power struggling so much against the Adjuchas?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Ichimaru Gin's eyes. He saw Bai Ye struggling to fight the Adjuchas, but due to his elementalization, he wasn't getting injured, yet he clearly couldn't defeat the Adjuchas.
"Is this guy still pretending?"
Aizen was still unwilling to believe that the genius he had once placed his greatest hopes in had now become like this.
He had thought he would encounter another genius, a genius who could become his opponent, when Bai Ye's spiritual pressure had bloomed across the Soul Society.
But to his disappointment, Bai Ye had been holed up in the Fourth Division for so many years. He seemed to have no interest in combat, yet Aizen occasionally heard that Bai Ye was training.
This gave Aizen a glimmer of hope for Bai Ye, hoping that one day Bai Ye could amaze everyone, including himself.
But the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.
After waiting for a long time, he had grown impatient. He decided to create a new opponent, and Kurosaki ichigo appeared.
"This Hollow is specially made, with some additions. Even a Captain wouldn't find it easy to deal with!"
Aizen was unsure. This was the first time Aizen couldn't see through someone.
"Why don't we let the other Gillian join? Maybe that could stimulate his potential?"
Ichimaru Gin said with a chuckle.
Aizen said nothing, tapping his index finger, weighing the idea in his mind. Perhaps he could give it a try.
If he was pretending, then dying here might be just right.
After all, he had already cultivated a new opponent, Kurosaki ichigo.
Immediately, Aizen also arranged for the Gillian that had been observing to join the fight, but its target was not Bai Ye but Kotetsu Isane.
The abilities of these two Hollows might not be able to harm Bai Ye; that elementalization, in Aizen's view, was indeed quite formidable. But Kotetsu Isane didn't have elementalization. If Bai Ye wanted to save her, he would have to show his true power, right?
"This is really troublesome?!"
Bai Ye was a bit annoyed. He had originally been feigning exhaustion and struggling to cope.
But Aizen, that old schemer, directly sent the Gillian to attack Kotetsu Isane.
Dealing with one was fine, but dealing with two, Kotetsu Isane really wouldn't be able to handle it.
She was retreating step by step. Noticing Bai Ye's gaze, she quickly shouted, "Lord Bai Ye, don't worry, I can..."
Before her words could finish, Kotetsu Isane saw the Gillian's sharp claws about to pierce her.
The unease in her heart had reached its peak.
Was she really going to die this time?
"Isane!!!" Bai Ye's eyes widened, and the lightning on his Zanpakuto flashed: "Bankai · Three Hundred Million Volts · Thunder God Slash!"
Behind Bai Ye, a giant composed of lightning held a massive sword made of lightning in its hand. As Bai Ye swung his sword, the lightning giant similarly slashed at the Menos Grande.
In just an instant, the four Menos Grande were instantly annihilated by Bai Ye's single strike.
And that world-destroying scene, the sight of the Menos Grande dying before her eyes, made Kotetsu Isane's eyes widen in disbelief as she watched. This one move directly wiped out all four Menos Grande?
"Holy crap!? That powerful? I'll just faint first!"
Bai Ye sensed his surroundings, and after confirming there was no danger, he simply closed his eyes and fell from the sky.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Bai Ye, with his eyes closed, forced himself to spit out some blood. Then, feeling it wasn't quite enough, he burst open the blood pack he had prepared on himself.
"Lord Bai Ye!"
Coming back to her senses, Kotetsu Isane quickly flew towards Bai Ye, then embraced him. Seeing the bloodstains at Bai Ye's mouth and his body covered in blood, a hint of heartache flashed across her face.
If it weren't to save her, Bai Ye wouldn't have been so severely injured!
"Are you okay, Bai Ye?"
Rukia quickly flew forward, looking at Bai Ye, who had already fallen unconscious and was covered in blood. A sense of horror filled her heart.
It wasn't just that Bankai, but also Bai Ye's current injuries. Was it because this technique harmed the user?
"I'll use Kaido to heal Lord Bai Ye!"
Kotetsu Isane didn't forget her identity. She had to heal Bai Ye!
But...
After healing for a long time, she was surprised to find that she couldn't wake Bai Ye up at all.
How could this be!?
Her Kaido was one of the best in the Fourth Division.
"Stop healing! If you keep healing, I'm really going to burst and expose myself!"
Bai Ye was exasperated!
He felt like a celebrity with a minor scratch; if he waited any longer to go to the hospital, the wound would already be healed.
He wasn't injured at all, he was just acting. But it seemed he had overacted, making Kotetsu Isane, this kind girl, mistakenly believe he was severely injured. Now she was looking at him with teary eyes, tears constantly dripping onto him.
At this moment, Kotetsu Isane felt no different from a useless person.
She possessed Kaido, yet she couldn't save Bai Ye.
"The side effects seem significant, but the power is indeed strong."
Ichimaru Gin summarized, feeling that if he had been hit by Bai Ye's move, he would probably have died too.
After that one slash, the four Menos Grande couldn't even find their bodies.
But the side effects were also huge; would it even backfire on the user?
Using this move would result in severe injury.
"The power is good, but it's a bit of a shame... I hope he can continue to grow a bit more."
"Not killing him?"
Tōsen Kaname asked.
"No, his ability is quite good. It would be a shame to kill him without even fighting him. Let's go."
Aizen had witnessed a good performance. He felt good about Bai Ye's ability and wanted to try it out.
It seemed he should find time to seek out Bai Ye. Should he try to influence him with Kyōka Suigetsu's ability, or should they have a real battle?!
After a final glance at Bai Ye, Aizen left with Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname. He now had a rough idea of Bai Ye's upper limit.
However, was his Zanpakuto's backlash really that great?
He had never heard of a Zanpakuto causing severe injury to its owner after use.
He wouldn't be pretending again, would he?
A strange thought suddenly flashed through Aizen's mind, but he eventually suppressed it.
There's no need, right?
Would anyone really be that much of a trickster?
"Yo, it looks like young Bai Ye's condition isn't very good!"
"Kisuke Urahara."
Kotetsu Isane stood up, her eyes wary as she looked at him. A rogue Shinigami suddenly appearing here, especially after four Hollows had just been eliminated, made it hard for Kotetsu Isane not to think of something.
"It looks like you're not very welcome!"
After releasing her cat form, Yoruichi also appeared before Kotetsu Isane.
Kotetsu Isane regarded their arrival with extreme vigilance.
"No need to look at me like that. Young Bai Ye and I have a good relationship. He's severely injured now, why don't you let me try? Anyway, you can't save him."
"If you dare to play any tricks, I will never forgive you!"
Kotetsu Isane stared intently at Kisuke Urahara. She truly was out of options, and Bai Ye really seemed to be dying. She dared not gamble.
Bai Ye was in this state because of her. If she really let Bai Ye die, she would truly regret it for the rest of her life.
"Don't worry, I wouldn't stoop that low!"
Kisuke Urahara waved his hand. He was actually well aware of Bai Ye's predicament; it was most likely Aizen's doing.
He had been secretly watching just now. If Bai Ye hadn't unleashed his power at the end, he felt Bai Ye would truly have died there.
Squatting down, Kisuke Urahara examined Bai Ye, frowning. This made Kotetsu Isane and Rukia Kuchiki, who were nearby, incredibly worried: "What's wrong?"
Kisuke Urahara didn't answer their question but frowned and muttered, "That's strange, his vital signs look no different from a healthy person!"
If it weren't for Bai Ye being covered in blood, he would have thought Bai Ye was a perfectly healthy person.
"Are you crazy! Kisuke Urahara, are you crazy?!"
Bai Ye had originally wanted to find a suitable opportunity to wake up, but with Kisuke Urahara doing this, how the hell was he supposed to wake up now?!
Was Kisuke Urahara really not involved in some unspeakable secret deal with Aizen?
Every time Aizen was around, you were there too. Did you two make a pact?
Now Bai Ye was in a dilemma, unable to wake up or stay unconscious. He could only pity Isane, who was crying her eyes out. He couldn't just suddenly get up and say he wasn't injured, and that everything was just to scare her, could he?
If he dared to say that, Kotetsu Isane would definitely punch him in the head.
He dared not gamble, so it was all Kisuke Urahara's fault. If it weren't for him, there wouldn't be so much trouble!
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