"Since you know Yubikiri, that makes things easier."
Shunsui asked in a calm tone, "I'll get straight to the point. Is Kuten-kyōkoku truly the name of this Zanpakutō?"
Tokinada sighed. "Fine, I'll tell you then. Kuten-kyōkoku's is only the incomplete Shikai of this blade."
"I gave it that name simply because I was afraid I might forget how much I despise you."
"Take a good look. This is the complete Shikai of this blade."
"Sip from the four seas, the heavenly shores entwine. Equally duplicate ten thousands, and sharpen!"
Tokinada raised his Zanpakutō high, and though blood was dripping from his mouth, he completed the release incantation.
At that moment, the blade of his Zanpakutō reflected an intense light, just like a mirror. The light was so dazzling that everyone present was forced to tightly shut their eyes.
When they recovered their vision, they were astonished to find that the blade of Tokinada's Zanpakutō had disappeared.
"Why is the blade invisible?" Nanao voiced the question.
Although Tokinada only held the hilt, she could sense a strange Reiatsu spreading out like vines.
Tokinada looked at the Shinigami gathered behind Shunsui. "There are a few too many of you. It wouldn't be fair to play a game like this."
"Jōkaku Enjō!"
Endless flames engulfed the Shinigami.
"What?"
By the time the Shinigami snapped out of their shock, they were already surrounded by fierce flames.
"That's the Captain-Commander's technique!"
"How can Tokinada use that?"
A flurry of discussion erupted immediately.
Shunsui, who was outside the flames, was equally stunned. "That's old man Yama's Ryūjin Jakka."
"Do you want to know how I can use it?" Tokinada countered with a question, then immediately launched an attack on Shunsui.
"If Tokinada can truly use Captain-Commander's abilities, then Captain Kyoraku's situation is probably dire." Shinji had adopted a rare serious demeanor.
Tōshirō agreed. "Indeed, the most pressing matter is getting out of here."
Soi Fon used multiple Shunpo steps to exit the range of Jōkaku Enjō from above, but the flames relentlessly pursued her until she was forced back inside.
Jūshirō shook his head. "It's no use. We can't break free this way."
He had been trapped by Muramasa using Jōkaku Enjō before. The encirclement was only broken when Yamamoto managed to subdue the Zanpakutō.
"Let me try."
Tōshirō stepped forward.
—
Meanwhile, Shunsui blocked several of Tokinada's attacks with his Zanpakutō, only to find his own sword had become incredibly heavy—so much so that he struggled to grip it.
"Is this the ability of Lieutenant Kira's Zanpakutō, Wabisuke?"
Suddenly, a terrible guess formed in his mind.
"Could your ability be to mimic the powers of other people's Zanpakutō?"
Tokinada complimented him. "As expected of you, Kyoraku—very sharp."
"Enrakyōten can mimic the abilities of all Zanpakutō, and they can be used and stacked simultaneously."
...
"Bankai: Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"
A winged ice dragon appeared, soaring upward. The flames tightly coiled around the ice dragon like ropes.
"Roar!" The ice dragon let out a bellow.
The fiery ropes were frozen solid. At the same time, the ice dragon exhaled a blast of cold air, tearing open a hole in the flame barrier.
"Ryūsenka!"
Tōshirō followed up immediately, working with the ice dragon to forge an ice tunnel.
"Everyone, hurry out!"
All the Shinigami swarmed toward the tunnel exit, but the flames clung to their heels like maggots to bone. Even worse, some flames shattered the ice tunnel, cutting off a portion of the Shinigami.
Ultimately, only a fraction of the Captains and Lieutenants managed to break through the encirclement. The others were forced to remain inside, including Unohana, Zaraki, Kensei, and Jūshirō.
Seeing that some Shinigami had escaped, Tokinada summoned countless white spherical creatures, the size of brown bears and possessing massive teeth, completely surrounding the group.
They had no eyes, nose, or limbs, merely opening their gaping, bloody mouths to reveal sharp fangs.
"Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's Gagaku Kairō?"
"Correct."
Irooni!
"White!"
While the two were speaking, Shunsui suddenly launched his attack.
The rule of Irooni is that they can only strike the color they called out, striking any other color nullifies the attack.
The greater the area of the called color on their own body, the stronger the cutting power.
Shunsui was currently wearing a white Captain's haori, while Tokinada wore yellow noble robes over his black and white shihakushō.
Pshhh!
Shunsui's blade struck the white area across Tokinada's chest.
Tokinada immediately retreated, simultaneously using the ability of Yamada's Zanpakutō, Hisagomaru, to heal his wound.
Hisagomaru absorbs damage to heal wounds, accumulating that damage to eventually unleash it against the enemy.
"Whose Zanpakutō ability is that?" Shunsui couldn't help but ask, seeing Tokinada's wound instantly heal.
"Take a guess?"
Shunsui's ignorance was good news for Tokinada, and he certainly wasn't foolish enough to reveal the name.
The surrounding Shinigami were becoming increasingly frustrated by the countless white spheres.
"You all step back. I'll take care of these." Shinji said to the group.
The Captains who were aware of Shinji's ability quickly retreated, taking their Lieutenants with them.
"Bankai: Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari!"
A pedestal shaped like a fringed pink flower enveloped Shinji, and purple mist permeated the surroundings.
The next moment, all the white spheres began slaughtering each other, and they were quickly consumed.
Shinji's Bankai reverses the cognition of everyone within its range, regardless of friend or foe, causing them to attack and kill one another.
With the white spheres no longer obstructing them, the group immediately launched their assault on Tokinada.
"Everyone, be careful! He can mimic our Zanpakutō abilities!" Shunsui did not forget to warn them.
Yoruichi and Soi Fon used Shunpo, attacking Tokinada simultaneously from the left and right.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura!"
The cherry blossom blades enveloped Tokinada, forcing the two attackers to retreat.
Byakuya, however, appeared inside the central safe zone and stabbed Tokinada straight through the heart.
Crack!
The next second, the Tokinada pierced by Byakuya shattered.
Byakuya's pupils contracted. "Kyōka Suigetsu!"
"White!"
With a single strike, Tokinada gravely wounded Byakuya.
"Brother!"
Rukia immediately rushed to Byakuya's side.
Shunsui's expression was grave as he asked, "When did you activate Kyōka Suigetsu?"
The ability of Aizen's Zanpakutō had left too deep a trauma among the Shinigami.
Tokinada raised the corners of his lips. "Just now."
It turned out that the 'Senbonzakura' attack had merely been a distraction. Tokinada had seized the opportunity presented by the crowd to activate the power of Kyōka Suigetsu.