Chapter 34: Akira vs. Renji Abarai
Narrator's POV
—"Now, where were we?"
The way Akira treated Rukia didn't go unnoticed by Renji, who now looked even more irritated — not only by the lack of respect but also by how casually Akira interacted with her.
—"The nerve... putting his hands on Captain Kuchiki's sister..." he muttered through gritted teeth as he unsheathed his zanpakutō. "Just remember, you brought this on yourself."
Without another word, Renji lunged forward, closing the distance in a blink. His blade sliced through the air in an upward arc aimed at Akira's chest — a blow that, if it landed, would've left a deep wound... though not a fatal one.
But what happened next froze everyone in place.
CLANG!
Akira raised a single hand — and stopped the blade with his fingers.
No cursed energy. No reinforcement. No visible effort.
Rukia: "...!"
Her eyes widened in disbelief. Renji, too, froze mid-strike. His zanpakutō — stopped as if it were a toy. Akira didn't even look strained.
—"Nice try, but you're too slow," Akira said calmly before making a simple flick of his hand that forced Renji back several steps with sheer strength. "What are you, anyway? Your speed isn't normal," he added, feigning innocence as though he truly didn't know who he was facing.
—"That's what I should be asking you!" Renji growled, eyes narrowing in growing suspicion. "How the hell did a human block my attack so easily?"
—"You just didn't swing hard enough," Akira replied nonchalantly, cleaning a bit of dirt from his ear — a gesture that showed how little he cared about the threat before him. "You can try again if it makes you feel better."
—"Tsk... damn brat," Renji muttered under his breath, but then his expression changed. A confident grin spread across his face as he took a firmer stance. "My name is Renji Abarai! Lieutenant of the 6th Division of the Seireitei!" he shouted proudly, gripping his zanpakutō with both hands. "You want me to attack seriously? Fine. You won't be so lucky this time."
Renji raised his zanpakutō toward the sky.
—"Roar, Zabimaru! Show your fangs!"
The katana shone with a crimson light before transforming. The blade split into multiple segments connected by a flexible spiritual spine. Each segment grew larger from hilt to tip, lined with sharp, fang-like protrusions.
Zabimaru rattled with a mechanical roar as Renji lifted it high, ready to strike. Akira, still completely calm, just raised an eyebrow and motioned with two fingers.
—"Come on... impress me."
—"Now you'll see the power of a Shinigami!" Renji shouted with a defiant grin, pointing his weapon at Akira.
—"You shouldn't use big words like that... they make you sound weak," Akira replied with a faint smile — and for an instant, a subtle gleam crossed his eyes, showing he meant every word.
Renji said nothing. With a sharp motion, he lashed out. Zabimaru extended forward in a flash, the segmented blade whipping through the air like a deadly serpent. It sped toward Akira, ready to tear him apart with sheer force.
But Akira merely arched an eyebrow and stepped slightly to the side, dodging the first strike effortlessly. The blade recoiled like a boomerang, aiming for his back — yet Akira was already moving. He ducked smoothly, letting the weapon sail harmlessly overhead.
—"Do you really think this gives you an advantage?" he asked casually as the blade coiled back toward him. "You should know... with a weapon like that, your opponent can use it too."
And just as he said it — he did it.
In one fluid motion, Akira grabbed one of Zabimaru's segments with his bare hand. Renji's spiritual energy resisted, but it was useless. Akira yanked hard — pulling the Shinigami through the air like a rag doll.
—"Wha—?!" Renji shouted, eyes wide, right before a powerful kick slammed into his chest.
The impact was sharp, direct, devastating. Renji flew backward, crashing violently into the ground before landing right beside his captain — who didn't move an inch. Byakuya didn't even bother to glance at his subordinate.
Akira looked down at Zabimaru still in its Shikai form, dangling loosely from his right hand.
—"So this is your sword...? Eh, I prefer my daggers," he said indifferently, giving one of the segments a light flick as if shaking off trash. "Though honestly, a real man doesn't need weapons — just his fists."
Renji slowly pushed himself up, brushing dirt off his uniform in frustration... and then realized something.
—"Hey! Give Zabimaru back!" he barked, noticing his zanpakutō was still in Akira's hand.
—"Zabimaru, huh? Didn't know it had a name," Akira replied casually, holding it between his fingers as if it were a useless old tool. "Here."
Without ceremony, he tossed the weapon toward Renji, who caught it in midair with both hands — more offended in pride than in power.
A few steps away, Rukia watched the scene unfold in disbelief. Akira had just knocked down a Gotei 13 lieutenant — and with such ease? Things were spiraling out of control, and a knot of unease grew in her chest. If Renji fought seriously...
—"You let your guard down, Renji," Captain Kuchiki interrupted calmly, his voice emotionless, not even bothering to open his eyes. "You underestimated him, and that's why he struck you. You're a lieutenant... but this is disappointing. To be pushed back by a human... perhaps you're not as strong as you think."
The captain's words cut deeper than any sword, stabbing straight into Renji's pride.
—"What!? I'm not weak! That was just a lucky hit!" Renji snapped, spiritual energy flaring around him. "You won't be so lucky this time... I'll fight you seriously!"
—"Perfect," Akira replied with a sharp grin, shifting his stance slightly with his hands still in his pockets. "Let's see if you can give me a good dance this time."
Akira showed a faint smile as he felt Renji's spiritual pressure rising. Not bad at all, considering that Shinigami were usually restricted in the human world. However, even if Renji could unleash all his power, Akira knew with absolute certainty — it still wouldn't be enough to defeat him.
—"Alright... show me your moves," he said mockingly, raising an eyebrow in mild curiosity.
Renji grinned with confidence. He couldn't feel even the slightest trace of spiritual pressure coming from Akira, which only fed his arrogance. That guy had to be bluffing... or so he thought.
—"Zabimaru!" he shouted as the segmented blade extended like a wild serpent, the fragments connected by spiritual tendons shrieking as they cut through the air.
—"You never learn, do you?" Akira sighed, watching as Renji repeated the same move again.
The first strike was easy to dodge. Akira took a sidestep, letting the segments pass harmlessly by. Renji tugged on his zanpakutō, making Zabimaru swing back around to trap Akira from behind — like a boa constrictor closing in on its prey.
But just as the blade was about to coil around him, Akira vanished — gone in an instant, as if he'd dissolved into thin air.
—"What—?!" Renji spun around frantically, searching for his opponent.
—"Over here."
The voice came as a whisper — right next to his ear.
Instinctively, Renji turned, but it was already too late. Akira was there.
A clean, precise punch connected with his face, sending him staggering back several steps. Renji growled and swung up his zanpakutō just in time to block the next strike — but the sheer power behind Akira's fist was overwhelming.
Zabimaru's blade shuddered violently. The segments trembled, and with a sharp, cracking sound, one of them fractured — splintering as if it might shatter completely.
Renji's eyes widened in disbelief. Akira stood calmly before him — relaxed, composed... as if none of this was anything more than a game.
—"No... that's impossible..." Renji muttered in shock, staring at his nearly-broken weapon. For the first time, his expression grew serious, the playful arrogance gone. "What's your name, human?"
Akira's calm smile deepened at the question. Finally, the lieutenant was taking him seriously. Fair enough — he wasn't someone to be toyed with.
—"My name's Akira. No last name — just Akira," he replied casually, cracking his knuckles like someone who was only beginning to have fun.
Byakuya, who until now had remained unmoved, raised his gaze slightly upon hearing that name. His expression stayed cold as ever, but internally something stirred. Akira... He had heard that name before.
He observed the young man carefully. There was something about him — his bearing, his energy — something vaguely familiar. Yet, he couldn't quite remember from where.
—"Akira? Sounds like a girl's name," Renji said mockingly, forcing a smirk as he tried to preserve a shred of pride.
A vein twitched on Akira's forehead. It was the second time someone had made that comment — and he was done with it. His hand clenched slowly, a sharp smile curving across his face.
—"Let's see if you still think that after this..."
In a flash of barely visible speed, Akira vanished.
To Renji, it all happened in the blink of an eye — when he tried to react, Akira was already right in front of him. His eyes widened in pure shock as he saw the young man so close.
Renji raised Zabimaru in a desperate attempt to block, but it wasn't enough.
Akira's punch landed with brutal force. The impact thundered through the air. Zabimaru shattered with a sharp crack, and the blow continued straight through, smashing into Renji's face. The lieutenant was launched backward, crashing hard into the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
Silence.
Byakuya didn't move. His eyes followed his fallen subordinate briefly before returning to Akira.
Rukia stood frozen, unable to tear her gaze away from the figure before her. Her mind struggled to process what she'd just witnessed. A human... no — Akira — had just defeated a lieutenant of the Gotei 13 as if it were nothing.
(Impossible... He defeated Renji. Who are you really, Akira?) Her eyes fell on his back — that firm, unwavering presence standing between her and danger. (And why are you doing this? You barely even know me... Why are you protecting me?)
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End of Chapter.