After Yoruichi and Soi Fon arrived, Shin stopped hiding, flying over to meet up with them.
"Where is Rukia?"
Yoruichi, now in her human form, looked around but did not see Rukia.
Shin replied, "Renji has already rescued her."
"This must be Nohara Shin?" Mayuri approached, accompanied by Nemu.
Mayuri had absolutely no interest in the execution. The only reason he came today was because he had previously implanted monitoring bacteria into Uryū, which informed him that Shin would be present.
He was extremely interested in Shin. As a human possessing such power, he would definitely make excellent research material.
Mayuri's face was alight with fervor. "Nohara, I am very curious about you."
"Curiosity is fine, but don't try anything."
Shin felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at Mayuri's eager gaze. He certainly didn't want to be used as a daily research subject by this scientific madman.
"Perhaps we can cooperate. If you have any needs, you can come to me, provided you supply suitable research materials in return."
Although Mayuri desperately wanted to study Shin, considering the latter's strength, he had no choice but to suppress his eagerness.
"Sounds good."
Shin agreed outwardly, but inwardly, he was complaining.
If Mayuri made him another 'Nemu' model, he might actually consider the offer. After all, who wouldn't want a 'doll' like that?
Still, that was just a fleeting thought. Who knew how many strange concoctions Mayuri would put inside the 'doll'?
And so, the group found themselves in a silent and strange atmosphere.
—
"Bring your Bankai out! You can't stop me just like this!" Ichigo challenged Byakuya with Zangetsu.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, boy!"
"Scatter, Senbonzakura!"
Byakuya held his Zanpakuto vertically, and the blade dissolved into countless cherry blossom petals, flying toward Ichigo.
"Getsuga Tensho!"
Ichigo released a massive blue crescent wave from Zangetsu, easily neutralizing the attack of the petal blades and leaving a long trench in the ground.
His current Getsuga Tensho was far superior to his previous attempts. Byakuya's left arm was injured by the strike.
"I'll say it again, Byakuya. Fight me with your Bankai. I will absolutely defeat you."
Ichigo plunged Zangetsu into the ground, the white bandages fluttering in the air.
"Then I shall let you witness it."
"Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
Byakuya released his Zanpakuto. The blade sank into the ground, and several massive blades rose up behind him. Subsequently, all the blades scattered and flew together, transforming into countless petals.
These petals gathered into streams, attacking Ichigo from all directions, completely enveloping him and preventing his escape.
"Under the attack of these petals, you have nowhere to hide." Byakuya declared, looking at the bloodied Ichigo.
Ichigo gasped repeatedly, "As expected, trying to defeat a Bankai with just a Shikai was underestimating you."
"You talk as if you know how to use Bankai yourself."
"That's right. That is exactly what I mean."
Byakuya's expression finally changed. He refused to believe that Ichigo could have learned Bankai in such a short time.
"Watch closely, Byakuya!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ichigo's Reiatsu surged dramatically, erupting into a towering blue aura.
"Bankai!"
Ichigo held Zangetsu toward Byakuya, the handle's bandage wrapping around his arm.
A wave of Reiatsu rushed straight toward Byakuya Kuchiki. Ichigo's immense Reiatsu whipped up the dust, creating a tornado of sand.
The cherry blossom barrier protecting Byakuya dispersed, revealing Ichigo in a black and red Shihakusho, wielding a pure black, ordinary-looking Zanpakuto.
"Tensa Zangetsu!"
"Something that small is a Bankai? Isn't that just an ordinary Zanpakuto?" Byakuya questioned, feeling confused.
Shin, who was watching the show, almost burst out laughing. Byakuya was right, this wasn't Ichigo's true Bankai.
Byakuya said, "Whether it's destroying Sokyoku or achieving Bankai, it seems you enjoy trampling on our dignity. If that is the case, I will show you the retribution for insulting our dignity."
The sky-high petals rose once more, yet Ichigo had already pressed his Zanpakuto against Byakuya's throat.
For a moment, Byakuya's pupils contracted violently.
"Then, as you said, I will trample on your so-called 'dignity'."
After speaking, Ichigo pulled back, choosing not to pierce Byakuya's throat.
"Do you intend to humiliate me in this manner? You will pay for this." Byakuya launched another attack.
"There won't be a second time, boy."
However, Ichigo's speed had increased dramatically after activating Bankai, Senbonzakura simply couldn't keep up with him.
Ichigo moved rapidly, leaving afterimages around Byakuya, and seized the opportunity to launch an attack but it was blocked by the cherry blossom barrier.
Byakuya immediately began manipulating the streams of petals with his hand. "When controlled by hand, the speed doubles, nothing can escape capture."
The streams of Senbonzakura flew toward Ichigo from all directions, forming a net around him.
"I've got you!"
But Ichigo blocked them all with ultra-high-speed slashes.
Temburenjin!
"How can this be?" Byakuya was plunged into shock.
The next instant, Ichigo was behind him. "You just said there wouldn't be a second time?"
Zangetsu in his hand aimed for Byakuya. But having experienced countless battles, Byakuya caught Zangetsu with his palm, evading the blow that should have pierced his body.
Watching Byakuya repeatedly get humiliated, Shin once again enjoyed the pleasure of spectating.
"Byakuya, your tone is still so arrogant." Yoruichi said with a smile.
Shin asked, "Are you very familiar with him?"
"When he was little, I used to train him often."
Shin thought, 'Was that training? You were clearly messing with him. Byakuya must hate your guts.'
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
After receiving the letter, Toshiro had been conducting an investigation, but unfortunately, he hadn't found any results. Therefore, he now planned to go to the Central 46 Chambers to request that the higher-ups thoroughly investigate Aizen's death.
Arriving at the Central 46 Chambers' office building, he found it strange that no one was guarding it. After announcing his presence and purpose, there was still no response.
Consequently, he broke down the door and headed straight for the underground council chamber.
There, he witnessed an unbelievable scene—the members of the Central 46 Chambers were sprawled everywhere, all of them dead.
He checked them and realized that these people had been dead for quite some time.
So how were the orders during this period issued? And who was issuing them?
As the battle between Ichigo and Byakuya progressed, it reached the finale.
Byakuya spoke slowly, "Crimes must be punished, that is the rule. We, the Kuchiki clan, as one of the Four Great Noble Clans, must set an example."
"If we do not abide by the rules, then who will?"
"I don't care. If I were in your position, I would still fight against the rules." Ichigo propped himself up with Tensa Zangetsu, his gaze unwavering.
Shin listened to their conversation, feeling deeply moved.
The rules of Soul Society were also created by people. While abiding by rules is necessary, if a rule is unreasonable, then break it and establish a new one.
"Is that so? You have shattered my blade. I will no longer pursue Rukia. You win."
With that, Byakuya used Shunpo and vanished.
Ichigo looked at Byakuya's vanishing figure and roared up at the sky.
"Ahhhh—"
Suddenly, a hand slapped him on the back of the head.
"You brat, you're severely injured. What are you howling about here?"
Ichigo rubbed his head, turned around, and realized it was Shin, who had been missing for half a day, accompanied by a purple-haired, dark-skinned beauty.
'Did Nohara ditch me to go pick up girls?'
"Nohara! It was you all along. You disappeared completely, where did you go?" Ichigo looked at the two suspiciously.
Shin said, "I'm practically half your teacher. Show some respect."
"Also, what are you thinking, kid? This is Yoruichi."
Yoruichi reached out to greet him, "Yo! Ichigo."
Ichigo was completely stunned. "This... this is... Yoruichi? Isn't Yoruichi just a... cat?"
"Are you an idiot? How could a cat talk like a human?" Shin looked at Ichigo as if he were an imbecile.
"Kurosaki! Nohara!"
Just then, Orihime and her companions finally climbed up the towering Sōkyoku Hill.
"Inoue, you arrived just in time. Hurry and heal Kurosaki."
(End of Chapter)
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