Yo Anyone reading ? Just wanna ask. I'm losing motivation to continue like this. Sigh
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Urahara Kisuke's eyes darted around, and he didn't say a word, as if the person Jidanbō was talking about had nothing to do with him.
Yoruichi, on the other hand, looked a bit embarrassed.
"Ahem, Jidanbō, there's a misunderstanding here. We were framed back then. Even if you don't trust Kisuke, you should trust me. We've returned this time to prove our innocence. Open the gate, and I'll owe you a favor."
"Don't say I didn't warn you, for old times' sake... Once you step into Seireitei, you will die."
Jidanbō said very seriously.
"Well, don't worry~ Ms. Yoruichi and I are very strong, and the young lady next to me is also a master. It might be an exaggeration to say we can run rampant in Seireitei, but self-preservation is definitely not a problem~"
Urahara Kisuke saw his attitude soften and quickly tried to persuade him.
Jidanbō glanced at Urahara Kisuke.
"They all say you're very smart, but I think that's a bit of an overstatement."
"?"
Urahara Kisuke looked at Yoruichi in confusion.
"What does he mean?"
"Perhaps he thinks we're underestimating Seireitei's defenses?"
As they spoke, Jidanbō exerted force with both arms, slowly lifting the heavy city gate.
Yoruichi, seeing this, shouted loudly: "Thanks, Jidanbō!"
Orihime also bowed in thanks, but didn't notice Jidanbō's strange gaze.
The three quickly passed through the gate and arrived on the other side.
However, as soon as they entered, they felt a terrifying spiritual pressure approaching.
"Ah..."
A man like a poisonous snake strolled over.
He smiled at the three people, whose expressions were filled with surprise and doubt, and said: "Should I say... welcome?"
"He is..."
"Ichimaru Gin, Captain of the Third Division, who reported Rukia."
Yoruichi explained in a low voice.
"Although they anticipated our arrival, if it's just you, you won't be able to stop us. So, who else... come out."
Urahara Kisuke, who had seemed slightly frivolous before, stepped forward, appearing extremely calm and composed.
But the subsequent development, even with his composure, was a bit much to bear.
"As expected of the first Director of the Technical Development Bureau, his mind is so sharp, unlike a pure technician."
Bang!
A firm and powerful sound and footsteps.
A tall figure wearing a wooden mask, like a samurai, descended from the sky.
"Captain of the Seventh Division, Komamura Sajin."
Before Orihime could ask, Yoruichi proactively explained.
In her opinion, these were all essential common knowledge.
"A villain who violates justice is executed in front of Seireitei's gate. It's a beautiful sight that I regret not being able to witness. How lamentable..."
A dark-skinned man followed, like a dark cloud.
"Captain of the Ninth Division, Tōsen Kaname..."
At this point, the expressions of Yoruichi and even Urahara Kisuke had already changed.
But it wasn't over yet—
"To actually dare to walk in so openly, it's truly infuriating."
A white-haired boy, with a tight expression, appeared, his hand on the hilt of the sword on his back.
"Those who trample on order shall be punished by order."
A noble, aloof young master arrived gracefully, accompanied by an enraged red-haired lieutenant.
"Urahara Kisuke...! I'll definitely kill you with my own hands, you bastard!"
Seeing these three, Yoruichi's first reaction was not to reveal their identities, but to turn and look at Jidanbō.
The latter stood with the city gate on his back, his expression righteous.
As if saying, "I warned you."
"A trap... is it?"
Five Captains blocking the gate—Urahara Kisuke couldn't think of any other explanation besides "trap."
"They not only anticipated our return but also specifically instructed Jidanbō to open the gate and let us in... Do they intend to annihilate us all at once?"
"Jidanbō! You fool, quickly close the gate!"
A sharp cry came from afar.
Hearing this voice, Yoruichi completely abandoned the idea of fighting.
She grabbed Orihime and turned to run.
—Kisuke!
"Cry, Benihime!"
Urahara Kisuke decisively released his Zanpakuto, unleashing a bloody sword light to disperse the incoming cherry blossoms, and then consecutively released several Kido to briefly hinder the attacks of the others. After doing all this, he ran off without looking back.
What a joke. Fighting five... no, six Captains here, once the city gate closed, it would truly be like trapping a dog in a cage, a cornered beast fighting for its life.
"Damn it!"
Suì-Fēng, who arrived late, saw the familiar figure disappear and her face turned pale with anger.
"Five Captains couldn't even keep one person from getting away, and Jidanbō, why don't you quickly block their retreat?"
"This was Aizen's suggestion, adopted by the Captain Commander... Just driving them away is enough. Forcing them into a desperate situation would inevitably lead to unpredictable changes, thereby disrupting the normal execution of the sentence."
Toushiro explained patiently.
"Allowing the escaped criminals to walk into a trap... Clearly, the Central 46's intention has been achieved."
"The month-long reprieve was enough for him to prepare thoroughly, so he won't easily give up on retrieving the Hōgyoku."
"And what we need to do is to guard Seireitei, maintain a steady defensive posture until the execution is complete, and then apprehend Urahara's group, whose whereabouts will be exposed and whose means exhausted."
"Everyone must remain calm and absolutely not be swayed by him to abandon your posts."
Click.
Byakuya silently sheathed his Zanpakuto and left with Renji, who had a gloomy expression.
"Oh my, as expected of Captain Hitsugaya... unexpectedly mature and steady. If I were a criminal, I wouldn't want to encounter such a strange person at all. It feels like it would be extremely troublesome. Is there any way to make such a person less terrifying? I'll have to think about it carefully, after all... this might also become a tactic adopted by the enemy, and if I can figure it out in advance, I can guard against it~"
Ichimaru Gin didn't even look at them, instead praising Toushiro greatly, though his tone made it hard to detect any goodwill.
"Ichimaru..."
Toushiro frowned, wanting to say something, but the other party shook his head and left. His posture was eerily like a poisonous snake preparing a probing attack, making him feel uneasy, so he could only rush back to the division barracks first.
Tōsen Kaname and Komamura Sajin also left together.
...The last one remaining was Suì-Fēng.
She stood on the inside of the gate, yet she seemed to be isolated and shut out.
Her slender figure looked quite desolate.
But her blood was incredibly hot.
The emotions accumulated over the years surged, making her want to do something.
And so...
Second Division barracks, back mountain stone forest.
Boom!
An earth-shattering explosion rang out.
Suì-Fēng, wearing a sleeveless, backless battle uniform of the Punishers, had high-density, scorching white spiritual pressure wrapped around her hands, feet, and shoulders. Every movement she made brought immense destructive power.
In fact, each move was comparable to a high-level Kido.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a humanoid Kido cannon, where ammunition = stamina / spiritual power.
Within a few kilometers, hardly a single intact rock pillar could be found.
Yet, amidst this terrifying destructive power, a figure moved through the dust almost completely unharmed.
It was Shimiya Takeru.
"Captain Suì-Fēng doesn't seem to be in a very good mood. How about we call it a day? Anyway, isn't your Shunko complete?"
"Shut up!"
A lightning-fast figure sped over.
Shimiya Takeru skillfully dodged while saying: "I sensed a large amount of spiritual pressure gathered at the Hakutōmon. Brother Kurosaki messaged me asking what happened. I told him that acquaintances from the Human World came to visit."
"Those are rogues! They are ryoka who bring disaster to Soul Society... And when did you become so good at dodging!"
Suì-Fēng's rapid-fire attacks were interspersed with angry, gritted-teeth curses.
"After all, there's nothing special about my Shunpo; I only have'stability' as a noteworthy advantage... That being said, having this one advantage is enough."
Shimiya Takeru suddenly slapped away Suì-Fēng's incoming right fist, then turned and delivered a back whip kick.
To be able to somewhat shake a Shunko attack with bare hands and spiritual pressure alone, though she had witnessed it many times, Suì-Fēng still found it somewhat unbelievable.
The anger in her heart faded a bit, and she regained her composure.
But it was too late.
Even though she quickly leaned forward and ducked, narrowly dodging the back whip kick, she supported herself with her hands, flipped over, and brought her heel down like a cleaver, her attack incredibly sharp and swift.
Shimiya Takeru, however, had already retreated a step in advance.
The insights he gained from Shihōin Clan Chiyori greatly enhanced the stability of his Shunpo, allowing him to perform any movement with ease.
This advantage, when applied to close-quarters combat and Hakuda, manifests as superb physical coordination. Even if his movements are slower than the opponent's, he can still react later but strike first, dodging and then counterattacking.
Especially when the opponent is agitated, it's almost impossible for him to fail.
In terms of offense, Shimiya Takeru had not yet developed anything.
But as of now, it could be called... a top-tier self-defense technique!
When Suì-Fēng regained her footing and brought Shimiya Takeru's figure into view, what she saw first was a flash of sword light that, no matter how many times she saw it, was breathtakingly exquisite.
For a moment.
Suì-Fēng felt as if she had died.
"Does it feel like a release?"
Shimiya Takeru loosened his grip on the sword hilt.
His posture gave no indication that he had drawn his sword and swung it.
"..."
Suì-Fēng took a deep breath.
Although she didn't want to admit it, the turbulent emotions within her... were indeed abandoned the moment her instincts sensed death.
As if proving that these things that troubled her were insignificant compared to life.
"Thanks..."
Thud.
Something fell to the ground.