"Inoue, Ishida, Chad, what's your situation?" Ichigo greeted them curiously.
Turning around and seeing Ichigo, the three were also excited.
"Ichigo! And Kukaku-san!"
"It's great that you're okay!"
Orihime, wearing a Shinigami uniform, happily ran over, leaping and colliding into Ichigo's arms with her substantial assets.
At the same time, Chad and Uryu approached:
"Ichigo, long time no see!"
"Ichigo, did you really kill a Captain?"
"Of course not!" Regarding Uryu's question, Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Why would I kill a Captain?"
Hearing Ichigo's words, everyone chose to believe him.
Yachiru, Ikkaku, and Sister Mei (Yumichika) walked over and greeted:
"Our Captain thought he'd have to go to the Sokyoku to find you. Didn't expect you to appear behind us instead!"
"Well, can't be helped. I wanted to, but I was tricked!" Ichigo scratched his cheek.
"It's fine. Ken-chan is happily fighting now too. Even though Ichigo-chan didn't come, Ken-chan found an opponent!" Yachiru said cutely.
Hearing this, Ichigo commented sarcastically, "'Found an opponent'? What kind of wild phrase is that?"
"Wow-wow, not important, not important!"
Yachiru jumped onto Ichigo's back, grabbing his hair and pulling his ears, very enthusiastic about Ichigo whom she hadn't seen for days!
Of course, Ichigo, being tormented by the loli, didn't really want this enthusiasm...
After a few exchanges and inquiries, Ichigo also understood the current situation.
"Kenpachi wanted to go to the Sokyoku to find me. At the same time, the 11th Division's members received a mission to station at the foot of the Sokyoku Hill."
"So he was leading you towards the Sokyoku Hill but got intercepted halfway by Tosen Kaname and Komamura Sajin, who wouldn't allow the Ryoka to pass and wanted to arrest them... then a fight broke out."
Ichigo understood the reasons for everyone being here. Except for gathering ordinary members for the stationing mission, it wasn't much different from the original work.
Ichigo asked further, "By the way, how did you end up walking together with the 11th Division?"
"It's like this..." Uryu adjusted his glasses and stepped forward, narrating their experiences these past days.
"I see!" After finishing the letter from Fei Kuan and hearing Uryu's description of their recent situation, Ichigo nodded.
The situation in the Soul Society, the situation of the Players, he fully understood now!
Ichigo looked at Yumichika, nodding gratefully, acknowledging this favor.
He was truly thankful that Sister Mei could have the 11th Division escort Orihime and the other two.
"Alright, since everyone is gathered again, let's continue! To the Sokyoku Hill! To rescue Rukia!"
At this moment, with Zaraki fighting Tosen, Ichigo, being the strongest, became the highest commander of the group.
"Ooohhh!" Everyone nodded, no objections.
Among the ordinary 11th Division's members, the normal natives followed Zaraki's orders, and the rest were Players, who also had no objections.
The large group set off and soon arrived at the foot of the Sokyoku Hill.
However, due to the change caused by Ichigo 'killing' Aizen, another predicament arose!
At the foot of the Sokyoku Hill, there were 'heavy troops' guarding!
9th Division's Lieutenant, Hisagi Shuhei, 7th Division's Lieutenant, Iba Tetsuzaemon, 2nd Division's Lieutenant, Omaeda Marechiyo.
A full three Division Lieutenants, leading a large number of Shinigami, were guarding the foot of the Sokyoku!
In fact, if Momo hadn't left her post to search for Ichigo, even she would be here guarding!
"They really came!" Looking at the crowd of 11th Division, Ran Do, or rather, the public persona of Omaeda, showed a flicker of excitement!
Lan Da had been frantically searching for possible threats to him, finally locking onto the Players.
Upon learning the news that the 11th Division had taken in the Ryoka, Lan Da deduced Yumichika's next course of action. So he specifically informed Ran Do and, under the pretext of heightened security, gathered people here to guard together.
No matter what Sister Mei intended by accepting the Ryoka, his actions placed him in opposition to the Soul Society.
Therefore, Lan Da could leverage the situation!
The many Shinigami and the other two Lieutenants were the influence they leveraged!
Utilizing the local forces, the Seireitei Players from Xiguo vowed to eliminate the Seireitei Players from Dongguo here!
As for the anticipated appearance of Ichigo, Lan Da deduced they didn't need to worry.
Because Ichigo would inevitably appear at the Sokyoku Hill's execution site to directly rescue Rukia. With his strength, he wouldn't bother with small fry!
Lan Da's judgment was quite accurate.
Originally, it should have been like this!
But who told Ichigo encountered a sulking little cat?
Just as Ran Do was smug about finally being able to take out these tough Dongguo Players from the 11th Division-
Beside him, Iba stepped forward, drawing his sword and pointing at Ichigo.
"Kurosaki Ichigo, release Lieutenant Hinamori in your hand! Or don't blame me for not holding back!"
Simultaneously, Iba scolded the 11th Division's members flanking Ichigo:
"This is the villain who killed Captain Aizen! Why are you still associating with him? Has the 11th Division betrayed the Seireitei? I don't recall the 11th Division becoming like this!"
Hearing Iba's words, Ikkaku stepped forward, carrying his sword on his shoulder:
"Hey, what betrayal? Such harsh words, Iba!"
"Our 11th Division is under orders to escort these Ryoka to the Sokyoku Hill. That's the Captain's command!"
"And, Ichigo is not the murderer of Captain Aizen. We are certain of that!"
Hisagi stepped forward: "You say he's not, so he's not? This was Captain Unohana Retsu's own judgment!"
"Reap, Kazeshini!"
Reiatsu surged. Facing the cunning villain who killed Aizen, Hisagi didn't even care about his own disliked Shikai anymore, directly releasing his Zanpakuto!
Following Hisagi's action, the many Shinigami also instantly prepared for battle. The light of various and sundry Shikai releases shone, and all sorts of strange weapons appeared!
In response, the 11th Division members drew their swords.
For a moment, at the foot of the Sokyoku Hill, everyone entered a state of swords drawn and bows bent!
The situation grew tense.
However, among the many who drew swords and released Shikai, there was one exception!
Looking at Ichigo holding Momo with one hand, Ran Do trembled all over.
His heart shook violently. Intense fear even made his teeth chatter!
Inwardly, Ran Do cursed Lan Da frantically!
'You said Kurosaki Ichigo wouldn't appear! Why is this peerless fierce person here!'
'Lan Da, you bastard! The influence we leveraged isn't enough!'
Omaeda's cowardly lizard demeanor was quickly noticed by the serious parties on both sides.
The corners of Yumichika's mouth slightly curved. Hisagi and Iba frowned deeply.
Watching this, the live stream audience laughed heartily.
"Pathetic little Lan Da, laughable, laughable. Calculating and calculating, still miscalculated in the end!"
"Feel sorry for Ran Do, screwed by Lan Da's calculations. Coming to intercept Ichigo with just these people, he's probably going to be sacrificed now!"
The audience mocked and ridiculed Ran Do's situation.
Simultaneously, they discussed:
"Hey, what do you think? With the information from Fei Kuan, will Ichigo kill these Xiguo Players?"
"I think he will! You all know how decisive Ichigo is!"
"The problem is, they're inside. They should know this is a live stream. Killing on stream… aren't Ichigo and the others afraid of causing turmoil in the outside world?"
"Previous commenter, what are you thinking? Isn't the persecution of our Dongguo Players by these Xiguo dogs killing? Are you an apologist public intellectual? Anyway, I support Ichigo!"
"You jerk! Who are you calling a public intellectual? Did I say I didn't support him? I'm just worried!"